DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley

Dennis goes to the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood to chat with Philadelpia-based author Michael Callahan about his fun new novel "The Night She Won Miss America." Michael recounts the amazing true story that inspired his novel; of Betty Cooper, Miss America 1937, who ran away with her male escort on the same night she won the crown. He also discusses his lifelong obsession with beauty pagean...

Documentary filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz returns to the podcast to discuss is new film "The Fabulous Allan Carr" about the legendary, larger-than-life producer of Grease, Can't Stop the Music, the Broadway musical La Cage Aux Folles and the 1989 Oscars where Rob Lowe sang "Proud Mary" with Snow White. Jeffrey talks about what drew him to Carr as a film subject, Allan's crazy, drug-fueled parties, his...

Dennis visits the West Hollywood apartment of Diarra Kilpatrick and Miles Orion Feldsett about their new webseries on ABC.com "American Koko," about a Law & Order-esque team of bad-asses who solve racial problems big and small. They talk about the various roles they played in the production--acting, writing, producing, props--and how the series came to be executive produced Viola Davis and her hus...

Dennis attends an Emmy "For Your Consideration" event for RuPaul's Drag Race at the LA Sporting Club store in West Hollywood where he talks to RuPaul about the role of show during the Trump era, keeping the show fresh, why he loves drag queens and the show's most surprising fans. He also talks to Drag Race contestants Eureka, Aja, Valentina and Morgan McMichaels. Topics include: How Drag Race has...

Dennis sits down with film and TV writer Chuck Hayward to talk about his breakthrough year as a writer and story editor on the Netflix series "Dear White People," and the screenwriter of two upcoming film comedies "Fat Camp" and "Step Sisters." Chuck explains why "Dear White People" was the best writers room experience he's had to date in his career and recalls collaborating with "Moonlight" Oscar...

Dennis visits the Los Feliz apartment of actor Alex Wyse to talk about his current role on the soap "The Bold and the Beautiful" as his recent Broadway turn in the Deaf West Production of "Spring Awakening" on Broadway. Alex talks about what it's like to work on a soap opera--the fast pace, the fans, the hunks--and how it's impacted him as an actor. He talks about the "Spring Awakening" journey, l...

Dennis sits down with NY-based writer Michael Zam in a mutual friend's West Hollywood apartment to discuss the miniseries "Feud," which was based on a feature film script that Michael wrote with his writing partner Jaffe Cohen. Michael explains how the project went from being a red-hot Black List feature script to being an 8-part miniseries starring Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford and Susan Sarando...

Dennis welcomes screenwriter Bennett Yellin ("Dumb & Dumber") to his living room to discuss Bennett's many adventures in the screen trade, from meeting his frequent collaborator Peter Farrelly in college, getting their first script into the red hot hands of Eddie Murphy, the process when writing with the Farrelly brothers, bringing the gang back together for "Dumb and Dumber To," getting inspirati...

Dennis meets comedian-musician Lahna Turner at the Mulholland Tennis Club for a "cross-podding" session with Lahna's Perfect Ten podcast. Lahna talks about her new video album "Limeade," how it was inspired by her recent divorce, shopping for prop dildos and ruining her wedding dress on camera. Dennis and Lahna discuss traveling to Germany, getting naked, perfect days, pursuing crushes and sex in...

After taking a terrific bike tour in Berlin, Dennis talks the guide Sebastian Becker into joining him for lunch and being interviewed about his wonderful city. Sebastian shares a story from his childhood that involves his family, the GDR and a Monopoly game.  He also talks about the Holocaust memorial, the gay mayor that was very popular, the fall of the Berlin wall, what was unique about Obama's...

In this travel-themed episode, Dennis meets up with his friends Jeb Havens and Steven Lee in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for five days of sun, fun, games, chips, guac and on the final morning, a podcast taping. Just over two years ago, Jeb and Steven decided to quit their jobs and backpack around the world together for 14 months. Mexico was the last stop before returning home to L.A. They talk about h...

Dennis visits the Hollywood office of Shawn Chavez, the founder and president of the new wellness and lifestyle brand Recon. He talks about how the company got its name and logo, where he gets the goods and his struggle with Lyme disease and how it ultimately led him to start Recon. Shawn talks about all the different treatments he tried since his diagnosis, his lowest point along the way, what ke...

Dennis meets actor-photographer Brandon Shyptowski at a North Hollywood tea house they both love Tea Pop do discuss Brandon's online photo series "Weather Talk," dedicated to LGBTQ people and their relationships to their fathers. Brandon explains how to project got its title, recalls the long-distance road trip he did with his father that inspired the project and lays out his plans to make it into...

While in Berlin, Germany, Dennis crashes on the couch of his old friend, entertainment journalist Kastern Kastelan who Dennis met in the mid-90's when they would both cover international film junkets. Karsten talks about being born with a catchy byline-ready name, his preference for writing in English over German, what he misses about living in Los Angeles, the traits that are typical of Germans,...

Dennis catches up with musician, author and T shirt designer Tom Judson in the West Hollywood hotel room Tom was staying in during his recent stint in L.A. as musical director for drag legend and "Die Mommy Die" writer Charles Busch. Tom talks about his first meeting with Charles, the thrill of playing together at Lincoln Center, why they click and oddest place they've ever gigged. Tom's other cre...

Dennis visits the Hollywood Hills home of playwright and screenwriter Gary Goldstein to discuss Gary's new play "April, May and June," which just opened at Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills. Gary talks about the play's inspiration, working with actors, the corny knick knacks that feature prominently and the road to getting the play produced. He also discussed the string of movies he's written for the Ha...

For this episode, Dennis ventured to the North Hollywood home studio of singer-songwriter Matt Zarley for a listening party of Matt's new CD "The Estrogen Sessions." The albums named that because the songs were all made famous by female artists like Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Des'ree, Rihanna, Sheryl Crow, Sarah Bareilles, Pink, Oleda Adams, Janet Jackson, Monica and India Arie. As the songs pl...

Dennis visits the hillside Silver Lake home of journalist Greg Hernandez, the man behind the popular blog Greg In Hollywood, which is celebrating its 8th anniversary this month. Greg talks about the downsizing that led to the blog's beginning, his non-snarky tone, the biggest scoop he ever got as a blogger and what goes into choosing his Morning Man hotties. He also discusses his other job writing...

Dennis visits the Sherman Oaks home of actor Jaylen Moore to talk about his role as Fish Bait on the History Channel series "Six." Jaylen talks about the incredible way the role came about, the intense Nave Seal training the cast underwent before shooting and the honor/responsibility of playing the first Afghan-American Muslim US military person series regular on TV. He describes what it means to...

Dennis catches up with Man About World editor Ed Salvato in the West Hollywood apartment where Ed is staying while attending the Travel and Adventure Show at the LA Convention Center. Ed talks about his new book he "Handbook for LGBT Tourism & Hospitality" (co-authored with Jeff Guaricino) and shares some time-honored travel tips like take good cigarettes! to give away. Ed also discusses the desti...

Dennis visits the Hollywood home of John Griffiths, founder of the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA) to discuss the group's annual Dorian Awards for film and television, which were just announced this month. John talks about what inspired him to create the organization, how past honorees have responded and this year's crop of nominees and winners (Moonlight, Transparent, T...

Dennis braves the pouring rain to visit the L.A. home of game designer Myles Nye, out of which Myles runs the team building events company he co-founded called Wise Guys Events.  Myles talks about the types of games he creates, how team building events work to build camaraderie among co-workers and his proudest moments as a game creator. He also talks about his love of musicals, sings the praises...

In this super-sized episode, Dennis braves the El Nino-esque rains to visit the L.A. apartment of writer and film enthusiast Michael Dougherty to discuss the Year in Movies 2016 with Dougherty and film reviewer Glenn Gaylord of the Glenn On Film blog. Dennis shares his annual Unsung 10 list of movies that he enjoyed from last year than probably aren't on anyone's Oscar list. Glenn and Michael shar...

Dennis visits the Hollywood home of Kevin Stea to talk to Stea and Carlton Wilborn about the new documentary they appear in "Strike a Pose," which reunites the male dancers from Madonna's ground-breaking Blonde Ambition Tour from the early 90's. They talk about how the film came about, what it was like to be together again after 25 years, on-the-road romances and whether or not Madonna has seen th...

Dennis visits comedian, radio host, author and all-round delight Frank DeCaro at his San Fernando Valley apartment to talk about Frank's latest gig, opening for comedian Lisa Lampanelli on the road. He talks about the thrill of getting the offer, the first time he met Lampanelli and the intervention she staged that led to his recent dramatic weight loss. He shares how he's lost nearly 100 pounds,...