Elite Spotlight

What does it take to bring history to life on the page? On this episode of Elite Spotlight , Michael talks with author and coach Larry Sommers about the research, imagination, and persistence behind his books. Larry shares the stories behind The Price of Passage , a historical novel about American slaves and Norwegian immigrants, and Izzy Strikes Gold , a middle-grade adventure set in 1957. He als...

What makes a speech memorable? In this episode of Elite Spotlight , Michael talks with public speaking coach Peter George about connecting with an audience from the very first words. Peter shares his AMPT framework—Audience, Message, Presentation, and Delivery—and explains why understanding your listeners comes first. He explores the difference between informing people and inspiring lasting change...

He was a CPA. His father was a rockabilly singer for Capitol Records, and music ran through Rick Norris's life from the very beginning. Now Rick writes books where characters sing to you. Literally. Scan a QR code mid-chapter and hear the song. But that's not even the wildest part. Rick's faith journey started at a stream during a retreat. A moment so intense it turned him into an online missionar...

Elite Spotlight • Nancy Jason Ensley What can a lifetime spent caring for others teach us about life, death, and everything in between? On this episode of Elite Spotlight , Michael Masci and Blanca Degarr Masci sit down with Nancy Jason Ensley , an 85-year-old nurse, author, and lifelong storyteller whose remarkable journey spans decades in healthcare. Nancy shares how witnessing a plane crash as...

What if science could prove that life after death exists, but only for a genetically chosen few? On this episode of Elite Spotlight, Michael Masci chats Don Schechter: CEO, filmmaker, author, and professor, to explore his science fiction novel, Ascendants. Set in 2060, Ascendants imagines a world where technology has confirmed the existence of life after death for a select group of people, creatin...

Special Feature: Michael Masci on MANNA — Faith in Life, Leadership & Business In this special featured episode of Elite Spotlight , we turn the microphone around. Michael Masci recently joined MANNA: Ordinary Men of Faith as a guest for a meaningful conversation about the role faith plays in his personal life, business, leadership, and the decisions that have shaped his journey. Rather than i...

CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL Breakout Artist of the Year. 6.25M streams. This is Dave McElroy’s story. 🎙️ A Billboard Hot 100 country chart debut. But before all that, Dave McElroy was just a Wisconsin kid fixing farm equipment with his dad and chasing deer through the woods. In this episode, Blanca and Michael sit down with the country music artist, Outdoor Channel host, and Las Vegas developer to talk abo...

Small Decisions, Big Shifts: How the Choices We Make Change Everything | Chip Scholz What happens when life forces you to start over? On this episode of Elite Spotlight , our guest is author, speaker, coach, and craftsman Chip Scholz. Enjoy our conversation about success, resilience, purpose, and the small decisions that can completely change the direction of our lives. After decades of coaching s...

Firefighter, Author, Comedian | Mark Andrew In this episode of Elite Spotlight , our guest is Mark Andrew , a retired firefighter, paramedic, author, and stand-up comedian whose career has been defined by leadership, service, and resilience. After nearly three decades in the fire service, Mark shares what he learned about leading people under pressure, building trust, preparing teams for high-stak...

What happens when a lifelong passion for music and storytelling becomes more than a creative outlet? On this episode of Elite Spotlight, Michael Masci chats with musician and author Dean Russell for a conversation about creativity, music, writing, and the experiences that have shaped his life. Dean has built a remarkably diverse career, serving in the U.S. Air Force, working as a business executiv...

We’re wrapping up our New England journey in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island—and this time, you’re coming along for a classic New England lobster bake! Set against the spectacular backdrop of Newport, we’ll take you inside the experience as the lobster, clams and all the fixings are prepared in traditional fashion. Then comes the moment everyone is waiting for: the tarps come off and the feast is...

From Skeptic to Stage: How an NCAA D1 Coach Became a Motivational Hypnotist | Tim Miller What happens when a lifelong skeptic discovers that the very thing he dismissed might actually change lives? In this episode of Elite Spotlight , Michael Masci talks with Tim Miller , a former NCAA Division I head football coach who took an extraordinary turn from the football field, to becoming an internation...

Food Network Star, Author, Tv Host | Melissa d’Arabian In this special Elite Spotlight Archive Edition , Michael and Blanca Masci revisit a heartfelt conversation with celebrity chef, television personality, author, and Food Network Star winner Melissa d’Arabian . Long before television success, Melissa experienced firsthand what it meant to grow up without much money, and sometimes without enough...

It Was The 4th of July… or Was It? | Roger Smith Join us aboard the American Pioneer for a special presentation with guest enrichment speaker Roger, recorded during a 15-day voyage with American Cruise Lines. Throughout the cruise, Roger brought American history to life through a fascinating series of enrichment presentations. In this culminating program, he brings together many of the stories, pe...

Originally recorded in May of 2016 and digitally remastered for today's listeners, this special episode is part of the Elite Spotlight Archives , featuring memorable conversations from our original On The Air Live broadcasts. In this entertaining conversation, hosts Michael & Blanca Masci welcome renowned impressionist, singer, and comedian Tom Stevens . With a career built on unforgettable ce...

📺 Watch the full video version on YouTube What happens when an equine veterinarian is also a stand-up comedian? In this episode of Elite Spotlight , we sit down with Dr. Matt Evans to discuss his remarkable journey from knowing almost nothing about horses to becoming a successful horse veterinarian, author, and comedian. Inspired by the writings of James Herriot, Matt shares the stories behind hi...

Step into the remarkable career of Anita Gillette in this special archive episode of Elite Spotlight . Originally recorded in 2016 in Anguilla, Michael Masci sits down with the legendary actress and singer to discuss her extraordinary journey through Broadway, television, film, and music. From Match Game and The $10,000 Pyramid to Modern Family and countless stage performances, Anita shares storie...

After a brief getaway, we’re back behind the microphone to catch you up on everything that’s been happening. In this episode, I share a few highlights from our vacation, what’s been going on behind the scenes, and our upcoming journey aboard the American Pioneer , where I’ll once again be serving as the resident entertainer. Whether you’ve been following the podcast from the beginning or you’re ju...

Elite Spotlight Archives takes you back to one of our favorite conversations from the original Michael Masci Live broadcasts from Anguilla, professionally restored for today's listeners. This episode was originally recorded in April 2016 and has been digitally remastered for today's listeners. As part of the Elite Spotlight Archives , it preserves a candid conversation with Blanca DeGarr Masci abo...

What does the future of river cruising look like? In this episode of Elite Spotlight , host Michael Masci sits down with Christian De La Rosa , Hotel Manager for American Cruise Lines , to discuss why more travelers are discovering America’s rivers and why so many guests return year after year. From exciting new itineraries and state-of-the-art ships to the personalized service that sets American...

Thinking about working on American Cruise Lines? In this episode of Elite Spotlight, Michael Masci sits down with Jayden Hood, a dining room server with American Cruise Lines, to discuss what it’s really like to live and work aboard one of America’s premier river cruise lines. Jayden shares how he was hired, what training is like, what a typical workday looks like, and offers advice for anyone con...

How Documentary Films Bring American History to Life | Laurence Cotton Welcome to the premiere episode of Elite Spotlight, where host Michael Masci shines a light on extraordinary people and their remarkable stories. Today’s guest is Laurence Cotton, public historian, documentary filmmaker, and American Cruise Lines Guest Speaker. Together, they discuss the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted, the imp...

Welcome to Elite Spotlight ! I’m your host, Michael Masci, and I’m excited to welcome you to this new podcast dedicated to inspiring people to thrive. Each episode features engaging conversations with entertainers, entrepreneurs, innovators, authors, and leaders who are making a positive impact in the world. Together, we’ll explore the stories behind their success, the lessons they’ve learned, and...