Burke Allen's Big Time Talker Podcast — by SpeakerMatch

Beach Boys fans, listen up ! Summer is officially here and this week on the Big Time Talker podcast with Burke Allen, we celebrate summer in style! There’s plenty of sun, surf and sand between our toes during this special encore presentation of our conversation with longtime Beach Boys band member Bobby Figueroa from California Surf Inc. Go behind the scenes and get the inside story about one of t...

Recording artist Ryne Brashear joins Burke Allen on the Big Time Talker Podcast to share his journey from growing up on a sixth-generation cattle farm in Upton, Kentucky, to building a music career in Nashville. Ryne talks about how farm life shaped his work ethic, the lessons he learned playing on Broadway, and how his sound blends country, gospel soul, and gritty rock and roll. He also opens up...

In Part Two of this special live Big Time Talker Podcast event, Burke Allen continues his conversation with New York Times No. 1 bestselling author Homer Hickam at the Washington County Public Library in Abingdon, Virginia. Homer shares the fascinating story behind the title change from Rocket Boys to October Sky, reflects on his relationship with his brother Jim, and answers audience questions ab...

In this special live episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen sits down with New York Times No. 1 bestselling author Homer Hickam during the Sunday with Friends Author Series at the Washington County Public Library in Abingdon, Virginia. Best known for Rocket Boys, the memoir that inspired the acclaimed film October Sky, Homer shares the fascinating stories behind his journey from growi...

On this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen sits down with Chris McCallister, founding member of Second Helping, America's longest-running Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band. Chris shares the remarkable story of how the band began, his personal friendships with members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the guidance he received from legendary guitarist Ed King. From backstage stories and exclusive in...

In this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen sits down with the cast and musicians behind Gilligan's Yacht Rock Revue, the unique tribute act that combines the smooth sounds of Yacht Rock with the beloved characters of Gilligan's Island. The group discusses how the idea was born, why Yacht Rock has become a cultural phenomenon, and what audiences can expect from their high-energy li...

In this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen sits down with Brad Mills, author of Pub Prodigies: Inside the World of Competitive Bar Trivia. Brad shares how he became one of West Virginia’s leading Team Trivia hosts, what makes a great trivia team, how pub trivia brings people together, and the strategy, stories, and fun behind this growing social phenomenon.

In this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen sits down with Danny Bedrosian, longtime keyboardist and musical director for George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. Danny shares his journey from growing up in a musical family to becoming part of one of the most influential and longest-running groups in American music history. He also talks about his work as an author, historian, and...

In this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen speaks with award-winning author Dan Hendrickson about his new book, Railroad Man: Legacy Son. Dan shares the history behind the story, including railroad expansion, the Crow Nation, the cattle industry, and life in the American West. He also talks about building strong characters, writing action and plot twists, and how his Wyoming upbri...

In this inspiring episode of The Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen sits down with Broadway expert, performer, author, and business coach Kimberly Fay Greenberg to explore what it truly takes to build and sustain a successful career in the performing arts. From arriving in New York City with two suitcases and a dream to becoming a nationally recognized Broadway insider, Kimberly shares powerful...

In this episode of the Big Time Talker podcast, Burke Allen sits down with filmmaker Chris Hudson, director of the award-winning documentary The Mayberry Effect. Chris shares the story behind his fascination with the cultural impact of The Andy Griffith Show and how it continues to bring people together across generations. From his upbringing in North Carolina to discovering passionate fan communi...

In this episode of the Big Time Talker podcast, host Burke Allen sits down with retired LAPD sergeant and YouTube creator Marlon Marrache. Marlon shares an inside look at policing, internal affairs, and accountability—offering perspectives most people never see unless they’ve worked behind the badge. From common misconceptions about internal affairs to the realities of investigating fellow officer...

In this episode of the Big Time Talker podcast, Burke Allen speaks with award-winning author John Dragonetti about his book The Falcon and the Sheikh. John shares stories from his decades living in the Middle East, including his time in Cairo and Dubai during a period of major transformation in the region. The conversation explores the history behind Dubai’s development, the cultural and political...

In this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen sits down with actress, vocalist, author, and cancer awareness advocate Rhayne Thomas for a powerful and unforgettable conversation. Rhayne shares her journey from a difficult childhood in the Bronx to building a lasting career in entertainment, including theater, music, and live performance. She also opens up about the inspiration behind...

In this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen sits down with novelist Mark Mustian to discuss his latest novel, Boy With Wings. Set in the American South during the Great Depression, the book follows the unforgettable story of a boy born with wings and explores themes of difference, belonging, faith, and survival. Mark also shares insights into his writing process, the inspiration be...

Can lasting love really exist in Hollywood? On this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen sits down with TV icon Kathy Garver (Family Affair) and co-author Doug Hartline to talk about their new book, Romancing with the Stars: Inspiring Hollywood Love Stories. The book reveals the real-life romances behind some of Hollywood’s most beloved stars, proving that enduring love is possible...

What does it really take to self publish a book successfully? On this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, Burke Allen sits down with author, ghostwriter, and publishing expert Jenna Robbins, co author of the Amazon bestseller The Self Publishing Roadmap. Jenna has written her own books, ghostwritten more than three dozen titles, and helped countless authors navigate the complex world of publis...

U.S. Marine Corps Colonel William Dunn joins Burke Allen for a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, and his new book Gunfighter’s Rule. From rising through the enlisted ranks to commanding the legendary “Gunfighters” squadron in Iraq, Dunn shares lessons forged in combat, the mindset required to lead under pressure, and the personal resilience that shaped his extraordinary 33-year m...

In this episode of the Big Time Talker podcast, Burke Allen sits down with Gerard Wouters, known as the “Transatlantic Taoist,” to explore how ancient Eastern wisdom can help navigate today’s chaotic world. Gerard shares insights from his book How to Make Life Simple, Happy and Successful the Taoist Way, explaining how unlearning fear, redefining setbacks, and understanding universal principles ca...

Rebecca Holden joins Burke Allen for a wide-ranging conversation about her journey from classical music training to national commercials and a long run of TV appearances. They discuss her experiences on set, memorable roles, and why shows like Knight Rider still connect with audiences today. https://www.rebeccaholden.com/

In this Zoom Into Books and Big Time Talker Podcast simulcast, award winning author Andy Ross joins interviewer Burke Allen of Allen Media Strategies to discuss his new international thriller, Attacking the Dragon. Ross shares the real world experiences that inspired the story, including his business travel across China, his perspective on China’s global expansion and the Belt and Road Initiative,...

On this episode of the Big Time Talker podcast, host Burke Allen sits down with master photographer Bette Marshall, whose lens has captured some of the most iconic figures in music, film, and culture. From intimate early photographs of a young Whitney Houston to portraits of world-famous entertainers, Bette shares the stories behind the images that shaped how we remember these legends. Bette refle...

On this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, host Burke Allen welcomes first-time author Dale Morton, whose novel The Return of the Flying Boat has been more than two decades in the making. Set in 1999 and inspired by the legendary Howard Hughes Spruce Goose, the book blends aviation history, high-stakes adventure, and imaginative what-if storytelling into a gripping aviation thriller. Recorded...

On this episode of Big Time Talker, host Burke Allen records live from Saint John in the U.S. Virgin Islands and sits down with Margie Smith Holt, author of Not on Any Map: One Virgin Island, Two Catastrophic Hurricanes, and the True Meaning of Paradise. Margie shares her remarkable journey from an Emmy Award–winning television journalist in Philadelphia to leaving it all behind for a one-way tick...

On this episode of the Big Time Talker Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Josh McConkey and Joseph Yakovetic to explore why leadership and resilience must start at a young age. Dr. McConkey—military colonel, ER physician, and author of Be the Weight Behind the Spear—shares why today’s mental health challenges inspired him to write his first children’s book, The Heart of a Leader. Joined by world-class...