The Roundtable with Robert Bannon

Husbands Rick and Steve Simone join The Roundtable to share the story behind their compelling new theatrical adaptation, Kind Stranger, based on a lesser-known short work by Tennessee Williams. With a deep reverence for Williams’ lyrical style and emotional complexity, the Simones bring a fresh and resonant take to this haunting story of longing, vulnerability, and the search for connection. Their...

Classic film fans, this one’s for you! Brandon Davis, the passionate voice behind the Front Row Classics podcast, pulls up a seat at The Roundtable to talk all things golden age Hollywood. As part of the Front Row Network on NPR Illinois, Brandon has become a go-to source for thoughtful, engaging conversations about the films, stars, and legacies that shaped cinema—from Casablanca to Sunset Boulev...

The legendary Lea Salonga returns to The Roundtable with Robert Bannon for another unforgettable conversation. From her iconic roles on Broadway and the West End to her beloved Disney performances, Lea has long been a global favorite. Now, she joins us to share exciting details about her upcoming U.S. tour, offering fans a sneak peek at the music, stories, and magic they can expect on stage. With...

Get ready for a powerful and uplifting conversation with motivational speaker, professor, author, and hip-hop artist Dr. Omékongo Dibinga. Whether he’s speaking truth in the classroom, on stage, or on the page, Dr. Omékongo brings a message of unity, empowerment, and real-world change. With a career rooted in global education, activism, and artistry, his voice is a call to action—and to healing. I...

Get ready to turn up the heat! On this delicious episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we go behind the scenes of the MasterChef Live Tour with producer Stephen Cook and Season 9 winner Gerron Hurt. From the excitement of cooking competitions to taking the culinary action on the road, Stephen gives us the inside scoop on producing live events for one of TV’s most beloved food franchises. A...

Today on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we welcome Detroit’s own BLKBOK — the acclaimed neoclassical pianist and composer who’s redefining the genre with his powerful blend of classical mastery, hip-hop sensibility, and raw storytelling. From growing up in the Motor City to performing on stages around the world, BLKBOK opens up about how Detroit shaped his artistry, his creative process, and t...

Gospel powerhouse DARIUS. stops by The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to celebrate the release of his bold new live album, LIVE BY FAITH (LIVE IN TAMPA)—his first under the TRIBL Records banner. Recorded with the fire of a Sunday morning service, this project blends gospel choir, quartet, soul, and even New Jack swing, featuring legends like Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Jonathan Nelson, and B. Slade. Fr...

Actress and recording artist Steph Payne joins The Roundtable to talk about her role in the gripping Off-Broadway escape show Seven Deadly Sins, starring Lord Nil. This one-of-a-kind theatrical experience blends immersive storytelling with high-stakes illusions, and Steph brings power and presence to a world where nothing—and no one—is what they seem. Outside the stage, Steph’s musical career is e...

Meet Obii—the rising R&B and jazz sensation whose voice and vision are making waves across streaming platforms and social media. Known for his soulful tone, emotionally honest lyrics, and a style that blends vintage jazz with modern R&B, Obii sits down with us for an exclusive conversation about his musical roots, viral success, and the highly anticipated new album that’s about to drop. From the i...

On this heartfelt episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we celebrate the life and legacy of composer and lyricist Peter Foley through the powerful new album Out Of Myself: The Songs of Peter Foley. Joining us are Foley’s wife, Kate Chisholm, and Tony nominee Manoel Felciano, who share the deeply personal journey of bringing Peter’s music to life, preserving his voice, and introducing his r...

🎧 New Episode of The Roundtable with Robert BannonGuests: AJ The Fan Man & Dominique This week, we welcome the fabulous and fearless duo who have flipped, snapped, and blown their way into our hearts—AJ The Fan Man and his incredible mom, Dominique! With over 50 million views and counting, these two have taken social media by storm with their signature fan flips and radiant joy. We dive into thei...

Today on The Roundtable, we welcome a true icon of music and culture—Lisa Lisa! Celebrating an incredible 40 years in the industry, the queen of freestyle and frontwoman of Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam joins us to reflect on her groundbreaking career, the hits that defined a generation, and her powerful legacy as one of the first Latinas to break into mainstream pop and R&B. From “Head to Toe” to “I Wonde...

Beloved actor and voice-over star Michael-Leon Wooley stops by The Roundtable to share all the exciting news coming his way — and there’s plenty! He gives us the inside scoop on his fabulous new voice role in the upcoming animated movie Maxxie LaWow: Drag Super-Shero and what it means to bring such a bold and joyful character to life. We also look back at his unforgettable work in Disney’s The Pri...

Polynesian (Māori) actress Te Ao o Hinepehinga joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about her breakout role as Kupuohi in the highly anticipated Apple TV+ series Chief of War, premiering August 1, 2025. Te stars opposite Jason Momoa in this epic historical drama, which tells the true story of Ka‘iana and the unification of the Hawaiian Islands from an indigenous perspective. Filmed in H...

In this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we welcome filmmaker, writer, and political strategist Ebs Burnough to discuss his powerful new documentary Kerouac’s Road: The Beat of a Nation. Known for his work in both the cultural and political arenas—including his time as White House Deputy Social Secretary under President Barack Obama—Burnough brings a uniquely thoughtful and intersecti...

He’s the ghost with the most, babe! Star of the national tour of Beetlejuice, Justin Collette joins us to talk about bringing this fan-favorite musical to life across the country—including its upcoming run at Detroit’s legendary Fisher Theatre. From donning the striped suit to commanding the chaos eight times a week, Justin shares what it takes to play Broadway’s most irreverent demon and why this...

Get ready for fashion, sustainability, and a whole lot of golden glam! Designer and eco-icon Zero Waste Daniel joins The Roundtable to chat about his viral, fabulous collaboration with The Golden Girls—yes, that Golden Girls—to commemorate the iconic show's 40th anniversary, now streaming on Hulu. With his signature zero-waste ethos, Daniel is turning scraps into style and honoring pop culture leg...

Nicole Burch, comedian, writer, and podcast host, joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon just before her highly anticipated live performance in New York City on August 1st at the Westside Comedy Club! With her razor-sharp wit, heartfelt stories, and stand‑up specials like MAMA DRAMA, Nicole brings truth, vulnerability, and unfiltered laughs. We chat about: Her upcoming one-night-only NYC show on...

On this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we welcome Alexander Diaz, the dynamic Executive Director of Bergen Performing Arts Center (BergenPAC), to spotlight their transformative arts education programming. From offering underserved students access to world-class arts training to cultivating the next generation of performers and arts lovers, Alexander shares how BergenPAC is making a...

Playwright, performer, and producer Paul Oakley Stovall joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to talk about his deeply personal and powerful new play, Immediate Family, being directed by the legendary Phylicia Rashad. The story centers around a family gathering in Chicago that becomes a powder keg of secrets, identity, race, and acceptance when one brother brings his white partner home to meet h...

Bubba Weiler and director Jack Serio join The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to discuss their debut Off‑Broadway play WELL, I’LL LET YOU GO, a powerful portrait set in a small Midwestern town facing crisis. Written by actor-turned-playwright Bubba, and directed by Obie-winner Jack Serio, the play explores grief, memory, and the unraveling of the American Dream—shifting through time with intimacy an...

Morgan James joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon to celebrate her bold new studio album Soul Remains the Same (out August 8!)—a soul‑infused reimagining of iconic heavy rock and metal classics. With her powerhouse vocals and horn‑driven arrangements, Morgan transforms tunes from AC/DC, Soundgarden, Metallica, Black Sabbath, and more into something fresh, fierce, and undeniably soulful. She ope...

Lou Diamond Phillips joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon for a dynamic and wide-ranging conversation, touching on everything from his latest film ET TU to his remarkable, decades-long career. In ET TU, Lou takes on the role of a stage director spiraling into madness while staging a production of Julius Caesar, in a darkly comedic thriller that blurs the lines between theatre and reality. But t...

In this soul-stirring episode of The Roundtable, Robert Bannon welcomes Grammy-winning gospel powerhouse Tasha Cobbs Leonard to share the heartfelt story behind her brand-new studio album, Tasha, set for release on July 25, 2025. Known for chart-toppers like “Break Every Chain” and collaborations with Lecrae, John Legend, Chandler Moore, and Kirk Franklin, Tasha has crafted a deeply personal and g...

Today on The Roundtable, we’re joined by one of musical theatre’s most powerful new voices—composer, storyteller, and orchestrator Jaime Lozano. Dubbed “the next big thing on Broadway” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jaime returns to talk about his deeply personal new project, Songs by an Immigrant Vol. 3, and the upcoming all-star live concert at Sony Hall on August 25. Jaime shares the heart and inspirat...