Lost in Jersey

At the Montclair Film Festival , Lost in Jersey sat down with Shine Global —the award-winning team behind War/Dance and Inocente —to explore how real stories drive change far beyond the screen. Co-founders Susan MacLaury  and Albie Hecht trace their journey from a family trip to a war zone that inspired War/Dance to an Oscar win for Inocente and a mission to put children’s voices at the center of...

Nine-time Grammy winner Christian McBride says life is jazz —part preparation, part improvisation, and pure rhythm. In this conversation, the bassist, composer, and longtime NJPAC Jazz Advisor shows how listening deeply, reacting honestly, and staying curious keep his music (and life) in time. We discuss the surprising bass that travels the world with him, the art of arranging compositions for sin...

What if the moment that nearly ended your life became the one that finally made sense of it? Veteran CBS reporter Jim Axelrod joins us for a raw, free-flowing conversation that moves from Iraq’s war zones to quiet moments with Bruce Springsteen. He reflects on how growing up in New Jersey—and summers working the Shore—taught him the art of connection. This one’s about resilience, reflection, and t...

What happens when your reputation is on the line? Karen Kessler has been in the room for some of the toughest calls in crisis PR—guiding clients through scandals, lawsuits, and the headlines they never wanted. In this episode, she shares why she walked away from Roger Ailes, how her firm later supported the women who spoke out, and what drives her firm's every decision. We discuss the anatomy...

The Bellevue Theater is back and so is the Montclair Film Festival . We sit down with Montclair Film’s Artistic Director, Tom Hall, to break down the 14th edition: what’s bold, what’s risky, and what’s bound for awards season. Highlights include opening night's Jay Kelly , Noah Baumbach’s meta comedy starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler. Nicholas Britell who scored the film will be there...

What does it really take to turn dreams into reality? In this inspiring episode of Lost in Jersey , we talk to Steve Edwards, President of the New Jersey Hall of Fame , to uncover the success secrets he’s gleaned from interviewing over 100 of the state’s most extraordinary achievers. Born and raised in Jersey (on the very same date as Bruce Springsteen and Jason Alexander!), Edwards has dedicated...

What if the arts could transform not just audiences, but entire cities? In this episode of Lost in Jersey , we sit down with John Schreiber, President and CEO of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) , to explore how a lifelong passion for music and culture became the engine behind Newark’s cultural and economic revival. From his early days as an 11-year-old Broadway superfan to producing...

What does it take to dedicate sixty years to a life in art? Artist Tom Nussbaum has been answering that question since childhood—first by tinkering in his dad’s Minnesota workshop, later by filling New York lofts with his whimsical, deeply human creations, and now through monumental public works that thousands encounter every day. With his first major retrospective opening at the Montclair Art Mus...

What happens when you grow up in a war zone and decide the solution to division is… more conversation? For Desh Amila, witnessing the devastation of civil war in Sri Lanka shaped a lifelong mission: bringing people together to talk across differences with honesty, nuance, and humanity. From reinventing the way Australia engages with big ideas—marketing philosophers and scientists like rock stars—t...

This week, our guest Dana Hawkins-Simons takes us on a journey that’s anything but ordinary — from her roots in rural Kansas to adventures around the globe. A celebrated journalist, singer, and tireless advocate, Dana’s story is equal parts grit, globe-trotting, and groove. We talk about her career in international journalism (including the Barcelona Olympics!), her battle with Pernicious Anemia,...

Have you ever experienced the emotional rollercoaster of sending your child off to college? For Rachel and me, Janette, that momentous milestone came with a whirlwind of emotions, from meticulous dorm preparations to chaotic last-minute packing. We'll take you back to our personal journeys from a year ago, sharing the raw feelings and surprises—like my son's unexpected transfer back home...

Who is Evie McGee Colbert? Most known as Stephen Colbert's wife, in this episode of Lost in Jersey , we get to know the many other facets of this remarkable woman.  Evie joins us to talk about her journey from Charleston, SC, to Montclair, NJ—and how a lifelong love of the arts became a powerful tool for building community. As president and co-founder of Montclair Film , she has helped grow i...

In this episode of Lost in Jersey , we sit down with renowned saxophonist Baron Raymonde—New York Blues Hall of Famer, longtime music educator, and go-to sideman for some of the biggest names in the business. Baron shares stories from a remarkable career that’s taken him from New York to Texas and back again, through jazz clubs, world tours, and iconic New Jersey venues. A classically trained musi...

What does protest mean in 2025—and does it still work? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Julie Cohen—acclaimed filmmaker behind RBG and Julia —and her neighbor Liz Figenshu, a dedicated volunteer advocate. In the wake of growing political unrest, they found themselves walking the streets of Bloomfield, NJ, not just to clear their heads but to find a way forward. What emerged was organizin...

The Bat-Signal lit up the sky because one Jersey kid had a vision: bring a darker, more human Batman to the big screen. In this episode, Michael Uslan—the executive producer behind every Batman film since 1989—shares how his childhood love for comics sparked a cinematic revolution. Uslan takes us from Ocean Township to Hollywood, revealing how a decade of rejection, a strategic law degree, and lun...

Tune in to our talk with acclaimed author Warren Zanes about his road to writing music biographies, including his outstanding  book, "Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska.” Film adaptation will be released in October 2025 with a roster of superstars including Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, and Stephen Gram. The album "Nebraska" was recorded by Spri...

🎙️ Finding Strength, Community, and Purpose in Disability Parenting When Alma Schneider moved from a bustling apartment in New York City to suburban New Jersey, she didn’t expect to feel adrift. But after her son was diagnosed with disabilities, the shift in identity was both profound and isolating. In this heartfelt and powerful episode of Lost in Jersey , Alma shares how one conversation—a frien...

Ready to go from hopeful scribbler to published author? The Book Doctors, Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, are here to spill the literary tea. With years of industry smarts, hard-earned wisdom, and plenty of laughs, they break down what it really takes to get your book into readers' hands. In this episode, you'll learn: 📚 The two A’s every author must master: Authority (why you )...

What’s it like to be the right hand to two of the most iconic and complicated chefs of our time? Laurie Woolever dishes on life behind the scenes with Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali, revealing the chaos, contradictions, and quiet moments that shaped her memoir, the New York Times Bestselling Care and Feeding . From a small town in upstate New York to the kitchens and offices of culinary giants,...

Our guest today takes us from Iran to innovation. Dr. Ali Houshmand’s journey to the top of Rowan University is anything but typical. Hear how he’s reinventing college with bold ideas, groundbreaking programs, and a hot sauce that funds scholarships. 🌍 From Tehran to Transformation : Born to illiterate parents in Iran, Dr. Houshmand worked his way through college in London, driven by grit and vis...

In this episode of "Lost in Jersey," we sit down with Governor Phil Murphy for a wide-ranging and candid conversation. Murphy opens up about his journey from Massachusetts to New Jersey, sharing how his early experiences shaped his path to public service. He reflects on seven years in office—covering major accomplishments, ongoing challenges, and his approach to leadership. With the June...

The surprising power of a camera to tell stories and to connect you and us to the community.  We sit down with Montclair photographer Armando "Out There" Diaz to discuss his recent proclamation award from Mayor Renee Baskerville and his journey as a community documentarian. Through his powerful photography, Armando captures the essence of Montclair's Fourth Ward and diverse communit...

From the shadowy Pine Barrens to the stages of New Jersey's most atmospheric venues, "The Devil and Daisy Dirt" brings cryptid folklore to life through an extraordinary blend of puppetry, murder ballads, and feminist storytelling. Our fascinating conversation with creators Alex Dawson and Dan Diana reveals the magical collision of their creative worlds. Despite growing up a thousand...

Neal Lipschutz, former deputy editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal and standards editor, discusses his transition to fiction writing with his debut novel, " No Write Way to Die, " exploring characters from Brooklyn who take different life paths before their worlds collide. • Neal shares his journey from Brooklyn to New Jersey and his 40-year career in journalism • As WSJ's sta...

Ever wondered what it takes to transport stars, crew, and equipment for major film productions? In this fun and educational conversation with Nick Day, co-CEO of Edge Auto , we learn how New Jersey has transformed into a filmmaking powerhouse that rivals any location worldwide. The Garden State is experiencing a cinematic renaissance, fueled by Governor Murphy's film tax credit program that h...