Fine Beats & Cheeses

We take a trip back to the 70s, 80s and back to now as we sing, in a gravelly soulful voice, the praises of one Michael McDonald, Brother of Doobie, maestro of the piano, and owner of cool hair. Our guest is our friend, musician, author, and mental health advocate Andrew Walen, who is a longtime friend of Lynne and Leslie's, and a longtime devoted fan of Michael McDonald's. This was a really reall...

We'll tell you what we want, what we really really want, and that's for you to listen to this hilariously awesome conversation with past guest Melinda Hare about The Spice Girls'1997's classic campy music movie extravaganza, "Spice World". It was a hoot and a half and we hope you love it. About Melinda: "Born/raised in Northern California, I have a background in costume design and construction for...

You ever make a deal with evil spirits and stop aging but all your oldness and evil goes into a painting you have hidden in your house? Me either, but Dorian Gray from the Oscar Wilde novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" did, and we discuss the 1945 movie based on that novel with visual artist Donja Hamlin Houston (who Leslie and Lynne have known since middle school). This was a really thoughtful co...

2/3 of the Fine Beats team and their people are out of town on Leslie's book tour for her new novel, "Family And Other Calamities" (which you should totally read), so today we go back to November 2023 for this rewind episode! Once upon we were falling in love, but now we're only do a podcast!! Today we are talking about the dramatic 1980s classic "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler with o...

You ever been annoyed by a show or movie, but something keeps you watching it anyway? Then listen to today's new episode, where we talk Hatewatching with our guest Paula Chase. We discuss finding something good in the things that we kinda don't like. It's a fun one. Co-founder of award-winning blog, The Brown Bookshelf, Paula Chase is a long time Inclusion advocate and recipient of the ALAN Konigs...

Come go on the hunt for mysterious creatures as we talk the CW's long-running show, "Supernatural" with author Beth A. Freely . With nine full-length novels and five novellas under her belt, award-winning author Beth A. Freely recently moved to the village of Hope, New Mexico, with a population of “113 if you count our cats.” She is currently writing multiple novels at the same time while also edi...

(We had some tech issues earlier with this episode where it posted the wrong one. This is the right one now :) ) Get ready to be delighted by a delightful episode of a delightful TV show with a delightful guest, as we discuss sweet Australian animated kids (and everyone else) fave, "Bluey", with podcaster Juan Santana. This was a really sweet conversation about how wisdom falls from the mouths of...

Get ready to con the rich for the right reasons as we talk " Leverage" and its reboot, "Leverage: Redemption", along with other shows with con artists with a heart of gold. Our guest is writer, musician and stand-up comic Jelani Greenidge. We talk the Leverage shows, as well as awesome shows like "Burn Notice" and the like. I love theses shows, and I loved this conversation. Jelani Greenidge is a...

It's a "Yes" from us, Dawg, as we talk classic TV singing competition "American Idol" with our guest, writer Tonya Abari. We start with exuberantly motivational auditioner William Hung and being yourself, even if people don't get it. This was a wonderful musical trip down Memory Lane to a time where we were seated and tuned in to see what Kelly, Justin, Fantasia and the gang were gonna sing every...

In celebration of Taylor Swift buying her masers back and regaining control of HER music, please enjoy this encore episode of FB&C from April 30, 2024. It's a delightful talk with the delightful Melissa Leygan. Smiling thinking about it. Read more below.. We know All Too Well that you will enjoy this episode, as we talk all things Taylor Swift with our guest Melissa Leygan, who is a huge fan (...

Put on your wind machine and wear something that billows in the breeze as we talk Romance Novels with writer Ashley Hawthorne. Ashley Hawthorne is a soft hearted idealist who wants to live in a world where love really does conquer all. She writes stories that challenge us to believe that we can find light in the darkest places, and her goal is to make us all more grateful for love, family, and for...

We're going back, back, back to school again to March 2024 for this Rewind episode where we talk about the cheesy classic "Grease 2", and our guest is journalist and author, Baltimore's own Laura Lippman . We laugh, we sing, we talk about how cute Adrian Zmed is, and why this movie falls short of the first one, yet we still can belt all of the songs. Loudly. Laura Lippman was a reporter for twenty...

Go find a tailor and get your fabulous outfit ready as we discuss last week's Met Gala 2025! Our guest is Alexis Frank of Lexi P Coaching, who specializes in helping eldest daughters. We think that's cool. This is a timely and lively talk and we hope you like it! Alexis says: I stand at the intersection of power, truth, and identity, guiding the next generation of leaders, culture-shapers, and vis...

In honor of Mother's Day, we are doing Christmas in May, as we Rewind to Decemeber 2023 to talk to about Hallmark Christmas movies with one of our favorite moms, friend of the show Olivia Dreizen Howell , Co-Founder and CEO of Fresh Starts Registry (and one half of the sibling duo that we call "The Sisters" around here with her sister, Genevieve Dreizen )! It's an episode full of women executives...

Get your long ears and tails to match together for this DELIGHTFUL episode about the underrated and misunderstood cult classic film, 2001's "Josie and the Pussycats". Our guest is costume designer and podcaster, Melinda Hare, and we talk about the tragedy it is that this movie wasn't a hit when it came out, although it has a big following now. We love this movie and we loved doing this episode. Ab...

Get ready to be your best you as we go back to February 2024 to talk about self-help books with writer Arianna Bradford! We talk about why we love them (or not) and why we are drawn to the advice that we're drawn to. Arianna Bradford is many things, including a writer/author, ADHD coach, herbalist, wife, mommy, and expat. She is the author of the book "Shame On You: Big Truths From a Bad Mom", and...

Pack your bags for Port Charles, NY, as we talk classic ABC soap, "General Hospital", with our amazing guest, veteran audiobook narrator and really one of the funniest people ever, Tony Penny. Such freaking daggone fun. CW: Mention of sexual assault and how it has been depicted wrongly at times on soaps. Tony Penny is the Principal of Red Hill Productions, LLC< and is an award-winning audiobook...

Gather your Family around and listen to this episode on the film saga "The Fast and the Furious" and all of its related movies and media. We talk to podcast host Chris Smith and it is a real hoot. Because, as Vin Diesel assures us over and over, we're Family. Yes. Meet Chris: "Hi, I’m Chris Smith! I’m the voice behind Podtastic Audio and one-half of the fun-loving team that hosts the Kris and Kris...

Travel with us to July 2024 with this conversation with our lifelong friend, Glenda Crest, who also listens to Fine Beats and Cheeses more than anyone who isn't Lynne, Leslie or Sam. We love her. Do you yell at us through your speakers? Long time friend of the Podcast, Glenda, gets to do just that in person... About Glenda: Younger of 2 siblings, Watches wayyy too much TV. Been on various choirs s...

Get out your dust cloth and prepared to wax on and off as we talk all things Karate Kid (and its sequel series Cobra Kai) with writer M.C. Benner Dixon. This is an awesome discussion of how good guys and bad guys are not always as clear as we imagine them to be. We hope you love it!! M. C. Benner Dixon lives, writes, and grows things in Pittsburgh, PA. She is quick to make a pun and slow to cut he...

Yes, today we talk gastric distress and more with author Marla Taviano. It's not just about the farts, though!! We talk about what we all have in common, even when it's uncomfortable. It's a really honest conversation and we hope you like it. Marla Taviano is into books, love, justice, globes, anti-racism, blue, gray, rainbows, and poems. She reads and writes for a living, wears her heart on her t...

Get your honey sticks, baked donuts and balloon arches ready as we discuss Meghan (formerly Markle), Duchess of Sussex's new Netflix lifestyle show, "With Love, Meghan". Our guest is the wonderful Donyelle Marshall, Media and Entertainment Development Advisor. We talk domestication, making nice stuff, and why some people seem ready to not like anything that the Duchess does. I hope you like it. We...

2/3 of the Fine Beats team are either sick or have a sick kid, so this week, Fine Beats and Cheeses goes up to 11 as we bring you this hilarious Rewind Episode from October 2023 where we discussed the classic Rock Mockumentary, "This Is Spinal Tap" with our guest, author and radio host Brant Hansen. I think this episode has more instances of communal giggling than any other episode we have done. W...

Author Julie Whitehead talks about how music helped to inspire her while writing Hurricane Baby: Stories Spoiler alert, we've got an eerily similar 80's playlist going on... Julie Liddell Whitehead lives and writes in Mississippi. Her debut book is Hurricane Baby: Stories from Madville Publishing. She loves Peanuts, the Muppets, Hamilton: An American Musical, and 80s music. You can find her on Lin...

The terror that flaps in the night! Wait, we've crossed pop culture streams! Joining us is guest Wendy Gibson to discuss all the Batmen and their effect on us and on pop culture! Wendy says: I am a long time educator with a passion to encourage others. In addition to working in public education, I recently opened my own business WendysWavesSwimSchool . I would love to share my passion for teaching...