Just a Good Conversation

You can’t say Long Beach Press Telegram with saying Jim McCormack. For more than 40 years that newspaper was his life. He worked as a beat writer covering Long Beach State athletics, copy editor, Sports Editor, he did lay out, was a Religion Editor and even got his hands on a camera from time to time get a photos in the paper. We talk about his career and the newspapers future.

Michael Coronado is an old soul, a true newspaper man. He’s covered the news for small local papers and traveled half way around the world to cover the war in the middle east. Now a professor at Cypress College he’s teaching the next generation of journalist on how to cover the next big story and the smallest ones as well. Michael and I talk about journalism, mustaches and Land Rovers.

Peter Proemba worked at Dynalite Lighting for over 40 years, 28 as the CEO. One of the best strobe company in the photo business for many of those years. In January of 2020 the New Jersey-based company founded in 1970 filed for Chapter 7. Peter and I sit down and talk about finding the business, it's growth and the end.

Bill Alkofer hails from the hinterlands of North Dakota. He received a degree in journalism in 1985 and has been shooting pictures professionally for over 42 years, including stints at the Orange County Register, the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Daily News. Bill was shooting a football game in late to 2018 when he started having trouble lifting his arms. Weeks later Bill was diagnosed with ALS.&...

Bill Alkofer has been shooting pictures professionally for 42 years, including stints at the Orange County Register, the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Daily News. In spite of a dearth of opportunities in Southern California, Bill is a prolific curler, having won the 1979 Walsh County, North Dakota Curling Championship. He drew up in Minnesota, lives in Long Beach—but is a die-hard Pittsburgh Stee...

Ben Liebenberg is a 4-time Emmy award winning, Los Angeles based photographer. His passion and drive has allowed Ben to travel the world. For the last 14 years, Ben has worked for the National Football League as the Director of Photography and Lead Photographer. He has covered and managed the imaging of hundreds of games and professional media events, including many Super Bowls. 

Coach Ted Jablowski lives his life motivating others. He wants you to be the BEST at the one thing you desire to dominate. Ted Jablowski is a passionate man who has coached many sports including Live-Action Chess, Interpretive Dance Battles, Aqua Badminton, Kick-Ball, Greco-Roman Mud Wrestling, and Frisbee Golf. He was cast as “Lil’ Lightning In A Bottle” on the television show American Gladiators...

Part 2: Marcus Yam is a roving Los Angeles Times foreign correspondent and staff photographer. Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he left a career in aerospace engineering to become a photographer. In 2019, Yam was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Journalism Award for his unflinching body of work documenting the everyday plight of Gazans during deadly clashes in the Gaza Strip. H...

Part 1: Marcus Yam is a roving Los Angeles Times foreign correspondent and staff photographer. Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he left a career in aerospace engineering to become a photographer. In 2019, Yam was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Journalism Award for his unflinching body of work documenting the everyday plight of Gazans during deadly clashes in the Gaza Strip. H...

Stephanie Sampson was an athlete at Long Beach State were she was on the track team. We talk about working in sports at UCLA and Long Beach State and dealing with the craziness that comes with the jobs. She has been working at LAX for 6 years now, the last two as the Director of Communications at airport. We dive into all that and more.

It's been a year and I thought I'd have a conversation with my two youngest son Malcolm and Willem Brown about Covid and how it's been for them. When the pandemic start Willem was in 8th grade enjoying time with buddies and getting ready for high school. Malcolm was a sophomore at Servite high school where he was doing great and loving to learn how to pole vault. A year and I wanted to see what th...

Ric is commercial photographer with an emphasis in creating sports imagery. He has been recognized three times by the National Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio for Action Photography. Ric’s work has been viewed by millions of people across all platforms including: Los Angeles Rams billboard, Sports Illustrated covers, ESPN poster, Skechers in-store displays, Kia television commercial, and all...

Demian Brown graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 1997 with a degree in communications, Brown was a four-year letter winner for former Head Coach Al Mistri as a defender for the Titans from 1992-94 and 1996, helping Fullerton to the semifinals of the 1993 College Cup. Over the last 16 years as both an assistant coach and head coach, Brown has helped the Titans to seven Big West regular season tit...

John Benton: switching loyalties from GM car culture to the aircooled Porsche world at 23, John Benton has never looked back. His 912, which he still drives today, is a rolling manifestation of all his dreams over the years. That love has translated into the brick and mortar establishment we know today as Benton Performance. A chat with him usually reveals two things; his deep knowledge of all tha...

John Benton: switching loyalties from GM car culture to the aircooled Porsche world at 23, John Benton has never looked back. His 912, which he still drives today, is a rolling manifestation of all his dreams over the years. That love has translated into the brick and mortar establishment we know today as Benton Performance. A chat with him usually reveals two things; his deep knowledge of all tha...

I sit down with Jennifer Bauer to discuss marketing at Intel and the LA Angels to finding her new career in Life Coaching. We dive deep into her 20 Year journey after her mom’s suicide and dealing with covid-19 now and in the future. Jenn has a hiding passion....It's photography! She has traveled to many beautiful places in the world and put together a book "Nature Guides" full of wonderful photos...

Nick Carver photo career started off in 2006 and in 2008 he began teaching private photography lessons in Orange County, CA. His success as a one-on-one instructor eventually grew to include popular group classes, field workshops, and online courses. Although Nick still offers private lessons, the bulk of his efforts now are spent on commercial architectural photography work, online photography co...

Eric Sorenson is one hell of a good writer for D1 Baseball and Athlon Sports. You've seen him on ESPN and College Baseball Today. There aren't a lot of guys who dedicate to covering a college baseball nationally, Eric is one of them. We sit down and talk about growing up in the midwest, finding writing and his love of college baseball. If you enjoy a good read and a better laugh check him out on t...

Mel Franks was a sports reporter for the Daily News Tribune and a   public relations representative the California Angels before coming to Cal State Fullerton were he spent the next 32 years the Sports Information Director. Mel was inducted into the Cal State Fullerton Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. Mel Franks was one of the best to ever do it. When it came to relating with the media and kee...

Joseph Mahon has been involved in the restaurant industry since he was 16 years old. Joseph quickly moved through the ranks in the local restaurant scene and enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Joseph's drive and passion landed him working weekends for free in New York City's 3 and 4 star kitchens. Eventually, he earned an intern position at Cafe Boulud with Andre...

Don Bartletti is Southern California based photojournalist. His 32-year career at the Los Angeles Times and 10 years prior with other San Diego County newspapers took him throughout the United States and around the world for news. Don is a Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist dedicated to creating photo essays, videos, exhibits, lectures and guest teaching to promote a greater understanding of c...

Eric Vallely is a 4th generation Newport Beach resident and he has a huge passion for the ocean. He began surfing at the age of 5 at Blackies, which is located next to Newport Pier. He bought a camera and was determined to figure it out. It took a few years to really begin capturing images the way he wanted and imagined them. He spends time making beautiful images of his hometown of Newport Beach.

Dave Martinez, the founder of the La Habra boxing club, a former amateur boxer in the U.S. Army, a well-respected professional cut man and a lifelong La Habra resident who grew up in the camps. David was award the Silver Star Medal as an Army medic during the Vietnam War. He sits down and talks about his humble and beautiful life.

My guest is Cal State Fullerton mens soccer goalkeeper coach Andy Gutierrez. He dodged gangs and murder while growing up in South Central LA. He fell in love with soccer has a teenage. We talk about growing up in a life of gangs and missing a chance to play D1 basketball basketball and what he likes in a goalkeeper. 

Maggie Weston has been a real estate agent for over 30 years. She is the host of The Face of Fullerton Youtube channel that is posted weekly were they share short videos about the city of Fullerton, Ca. and its surrounding cities. From where to eat, to where to play, to its rich history. Maggie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and again 2014. We talked about those challenges and more.