Bob Barry's Unearthed Interviews

You need to be a country music fan for this podcast. We're going back to one of country music's most graceful and underrated voices. Helen Cornelius arrived in Nashville with determination, powerhouse vocals, and enough talent to stand toe to toe with the biggest names in country music. Then came the hits, the awards, and the unforgettable duets with Jim Ed Brown that helped define country radio i...

From the golden age of truck-stop coffee, CB radios, and jokes your uncle definitely shouldn't have told at church, comes the comedy duo that turned southern storytelling into an American art form – Hudson & Landry. One was smooth, one was loud. Together they sounded like two guys holding court at a roadside diner somewhere between Nashville and trouble. They gave us a collection of timeless routi...

On this podcast we rewind the late-night clock to the era of cigarette smoke, sideburns, and the king of double entendre, Carol Wayne. She was the platinum blonde with the breathy voice, and the unforgettable "Matinee Lady" beside Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. More than a hundred appearances turned her into a pop culture icon of the 70s. But behind the laughter and punchlines was a life far m...

Today's podcast goes behind the scenes of an actor, producer, and former undercover operative Steve Collura. Before stepping in front of the camera, Steve spent years working deep undercover in organized crime investigations, living another identity, gaining trust in dangerous circles, and helping law enforcement bring criminals to justice. Steve took those real-life experiences and brought them t...

Time for some smooth harmonies, warm Tennessee charm, and the unmistakable voice of Jim Ed Brown. Long before country music became stadium lights and arena tours, Jim was bringing elegance and heart to the airwaves, first with his sisters as The Browns, delivering the timeless hit "The Three Bells" and later as a solo star with classics like "Pop a Top" and "Morning." He made performing on televis...

On today's podcast, a guy who turned anxiety into an art form, arguments into punchlines, and imaginary phone calls into comedy gold. Long before stand-up had edge, Shelley Berman had nerves and always sold-out night clubs. He didn't just tell jokes, he unraveled in real time…and audiences loved every minute of it. He was a pioneer and a storyteller. Shelley was brilliantly frazzled, the original...

Seventy years ago this month, Elvis Presley topped the Billboard Music charts and redefined popular music in America with "Heartbreak Hotel," his first single for the RCA label. Mae Boren Axton co-wrote the song and introduced Elvis to Colonel Parker. She was a 41-year-old English teacher, and singer, songwriter, who knew Presley when he was a teenager. Mae was one of the first people to interview...

Today's podcast takes us into the golden age of show biz gossip, when the movie studios were powerful, the stars were glamorous, and the columns were read before the morning coffee was finished. Our guest was one of the sharpest observers of that world: A journalist who knew where the stories were and who the players were. She chronicled the triumphs, scandals, romances, and rivalries of Tinseltow...

Today's podcast features comedy royalty. He was there at the very beginning, when Saturday Night Live was live, dangerous, and nobody knew if it would make it to a second season. He's an original cast member, a trailblazer, and the man who could steal a sketch with one look, one line, or one perfectly timed glare. You know him from "SNL," the "Jeffersons," "Two Broke Girls," and the sci-fi movie "...

Today's podcast features a man who didn't just work in radio, he rewired it. Back when morning radio was safe, polite, and sponsored by decaf, Jonathan Brandmeier showed up with a wicked grin and absolutely no intention of behaving. He turned drive time into prime time, mixed satire with rock 'n' roll and proved you could be smart, outrageous, and fearless, all before most of us finished our first...

For today's podcast, we step back into the golden age of radio. Yes, radio, that magical wooden box that once entertained America before we all started staring at our phones and arguing with our wi-fi. Today we're rewinding the clock to when sound effects were made with coconut shells, scripts were held together with hope and caffeine, and one show stopped the nation in its tracks, "Amos' n' Andy....

Welcome to the Bob Barry podcast, featuring a six-time Emmy and Tony nominee, a film and television legend, and a woman whose voice can command a courtroom or a comedy club. From portraying Golda Meir, to lighting up screens in shows like her role of Deanna Monroe in "The Walking Dead" and Neomi in "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," she brings intelligence, fire, humor, and heart to everything she touches. At...

Many of you who are familiar with our podcast know that music legend Bobby Vinton has been a friend of ours for many years. Recently the Wisconsin Historical Society unearthed an interview with Bobby that hasn't been heard on this program. Those of you not familiar with this chart- topping sensation I only need to tell you he was the voice that defined romance. When the world needed a love song, h...

Strap in and fire it up. This podcast has the man, the machine, and a quarter mile of pure nerve. They call him Big Daddy Don Garlits, the pioneer who changed drag racing forever. He was a multiple world champion, founder of the legendary swamp rat dragsters and a hall of fame icon, whose name still echoes down the strip every time the lights drop. Garlits helped turn drag racing into a national s...

Today's podcast guest is one of those actors where you say, 'Wait a minute, I love her…what do I know her from? And the answer is: Everything. Broadway, film, television, award-winning drama, awkward family dinners – she's done it all. She's been nominated for an Oscar, stolen scenes from Hollywood legends and made us laugh cry and rethink Thanksgiving conversations.  If you've ever watched a movi...

Some of your probably grew up watching Robert Carradine as Lewis in "Revenge of the Nerds." He was the guy who made being smart not just cool, but heroic. But that's just one chapter in a really interesting career, as he will reveal. Bob comes from one of Hollywood's most well-known acting families that included his father John and brother David Carradine. Robert has spent decades working in film...

Welcome back to the podcast. Today's guest is someone you're going to love hearing from, Kim Morgan Greene. You might remember her from her breakout role on the classic tv hit "Dynasty," or from her many stage and screen performances since then. Kim's an actress, a singer and a storyteller, with plenty of great experiences to share. But trust me, Kim is way more fun than any soap opera plotline. W...

If Captain Kangaroo was a part of your childhood, then you'll remember Debbie "Feebee" Weems. She was a regular on the "Captain Kangaroo" show from 1973 to 1978. She acted, sang songs, and was the voice of the puppet character, Baby Duck. This short interview took place during the filming of the Kangaroo show at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. If you Google "Debbie Weems," you'll see...

In March of 1960, Stanley Kramer had the honor of being the first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Now, nearly 3,000 stars later, this podcast shines a light on one of Hollywood's most fearless filmmakers. Kramer, known as the message movie master, never shied away from tackling the big issues of his time – racism, war, nuclear fear, and social justice. With classics like "Guess Who's Coming to...

Today, we're joined by a true legend of country music, a man whose storytelling has shaped generations of songs and singers. With a career spanning over six decades he's given us unforgettable hits like "Detroit City" and "500 Miles From Home," plus one that we'll talk about, that caused some controversy and was banned from play at some radio stations. Bobby Bare has been celebrated as one of Nash...

We're going waaaay back for some Milwaukee nostalgia today. We're cranking up the big band vibes as we welcome none other than the trailblazing bandleader Woody Herman, a true pioneer who led "The Herd" to jazz greatness. He was one of the featured halftime performers at Super Bowl VII. His band appeared for Frank Sinatra's television special "The Main Event" and they performed on the album of the...

She was the golden voice of the big band era, lighting up ballrooms, radios and TVs across America. She sang two of the greatest big band hits ever recorded: "Green Eyes," and "Tangerine." And, she had a voice that could melt hearts. Helen O'Connell left an indelible mark on American music and culture. She continued to entertain after those sold-out swing crowds faded and she was here in Milwaukee...

Today we've got a real treat. If you've watched sports on TV at any point in the last few decades, you've probably heard this man's voice. He's called everything – Super Bowls, Final Fours, big-time college football games and baseball games. He's been courtside, ringside, trackside, you name it. He's the guy who made us all lean in a little closer to the TV with that classic "You are looking live…...

Buckle up, because today we're riding full throttle into Hollywood history. He's the rebel on two wheels, the heartthrob of the 80s, and the man who made being a "Renegade" look effortless. Or maybe you were a fan of "Falcon Crest," where he played Lance, the irresponsible grandson of Angela Channing, played by Jane Wyman. In this podcast you'll hear the other side of Lorenzo's life, his incredibl...

You might not know his name right away, but you've definitely heard his voice, if you were around in the 1960s. He's the man behind the iconic "Call for Phillip Morrris," a sound that echoed across radios, televisions and even theaters during the golden age of advertising. But Johnny Roventini was more than just a pitchman. His birth name is Dale, but the advertising folks thought it would be bett...