Media Path Podcast

Dan Partland has amassed an impressive body of documentary film work including, American High, Intervention, American Style, American Race and Apple’s top selling doc of all time, #Unfit, which studies the dangerous psychology of Donald Trump. Along with Rob Reiner, Dan is now bringing us God + Country, opening in theaters this Friday. Dan joins us to talk about the film which chronicles the curre...

If you’ve ever wondered how Beaver’s pal Gilbert turned out, he’s doing real neat. Stephen Talbot moved on from Mayfield to become a broadcast journalist for PBS, making investigative, news-making documentary films for Frontline, Bill Moyers and American Experience. Steve joins us to discuss his boomer journey from the streets of mythical 50s suburbia to counter-culture activism, to groundbreaking...

We’re going deep with Democratic candidates on the primary ballot for Congress and for the California State Assembly. Gil Cisneros is running to replace a retiring Grace Napolitano for CA 31 in the San Gabriel Valley. And local businessman and Swing Left organizer Steve Pierson is running for the 44th Assembly district in California. Gil is a former Naval Officer who served previously in Californi...

When Fritz and Weezy were developing a Comedy Central pilot with Henry Winkler called, The Couch, their bright, ambitious intern was an up and coming young comic named Eric Schwartz who dutifully made coffee, sandwich and cue card runs. Today, Eric’s comedy special. Delivery, is all the rage on Youtube, and Fritz brought him a sandwich. Eric joins us to discuss his unique blending of his talent pa...

Best-selling author Chris Whipple’s newest book is The Fight Of His Life and it chronicles the first two years of the Biden administration. Chris’s extraordinary access to White House insiders provided him with an exclusive look into the workings, challenges and accomplishments of Team Biden. Chris’s earlier works include The Gatekeepers and The Spymasters and he is a frequent contributor to The W...

85-year-old Annie Korzen is a TikTok starlet! She’s an actor/storyteller/writer/author and you may recognize her from Seinfeld where she played Doris Klompus but now, she calls herself “an accidental influencer.” Her TikTok channel has over half a million followers and her viral fan base is in their teens and twenties. Our 16-year-old intern, Garrett nearly lost his footing when he walked in and s...

Comedy and Democracy are on the bill. We are welcoming Congressional Candidate Dave Min from Orange County, CA and comedian Taylor Williamson. State Senator Dave Min is running to fill Katie Porter’s seat in Congress. He has her endorsement and he is entirely determined to keep CA 47 Blue and bring his passion for gun violence prevention, climate action, small business advocacy, and reproductive r...

Prepare to be inspired: we're chatting with bold women who are dynamically improving our world for us and for future generations. Dr. Roxy Manning and Sarah Peyton have co-written The Anti-Racist Heart: A Self-Compassion and Activism Handbook. It’s a hands-on approach to teaching anti-racist action, combining neuroscience and mindfulness with social justice. Plus, Assembly Member Laura Friedman is...

We are celebrating the most important gifts of any season: love, companionship and connection. Our guests are author Pilley Bianchi whose book, For The Love off Dog celebrates our rich canine bestie history and invites you to teach your any-age dog some new tricks. And TJ Lubinsky joins us to discuss his newest My Music Presents/PBS Special, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme: Memories of My Mom And D...

It’s a not entirely merry episode of Media Path with some hard but cautionary truths about guardianships AND, a new Christmas musical that celebrates our festive diversity. Greg Thirloway and Maurice Godin are launching a new musical called Oy To The World, that celebrates the Jewish composers who brought us so many carol classics like Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Oh, Holy Night and I’ll Be Home...

Many young people raised within the restrictive discipline of a strict, Christian evangelical childhood are pulling away from that narrow and dogmatic framework as adults and finding comfort and guidance in a podcasting community of fellow travelers who are walking a similar path.   Among these bold podcasters are two former church leaders who are now critical voices in a campaign against Christia...

Every boomer was gutted and then rocked by the tragedy of JFK’s assassination followed by the joy of The Beatles’ arrival at the airport named in his honor. Both topics continue to resonate. Today on the show, broadcasting pioneer and JFK assassination historian John Barbour joins us to discuss his latest film, John Barbour & William Shakespeare’s Last Word On The Murder of JFK. And Breakfast...

Filmmakers possess the unique ability to immerse us in the lived experiences of others and in so doing, promote kindness, compassion and empathy.   Directors Tracy Droz Tragos and Charles Mudede join us to share their newest projects. Tracy’s film is called Plan C and it follows a network of courageous women who are working to ensure access to pregnancy terminating medications. Charles directed Th...

Bruce Belland’s new book is called Icons, Idols and Idiots of Hollywood: My Adventures in America’s First Boy Band and boy, did he have adventures! Bruce founded The Four Preps while still in Hollywood High School. They became Ricky Nelson’s backup band, co-starred in Gidget and The Adventures of Ozzy & Harriet and went on to score massive hits with 26 Miles Across The Sea, Big Man, and Down B...

In the pop culture pantheon there are those few and proud performers who have indelibly imprinted the landscape to the point where our digital age invites new fans to discover and embrace their iconic work. Among these are Dinah Manoff and JoBeth Williams. Dinah breathed delightful life into Pink Lady Marty Maraschino in Grease. She has starred in Soap, Empty Nest and Neil Simon’s You Oughta Be In...

Singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan continues to grace audiences around the globe with his wit, warmth, whimsy and musical genius as he has been doing since 1970 when he stirred UK audiences with Nothing Rhymed and then captured and broke hearts around the world with Alone Again, (Naturally.) The song has been covered over 75 times, including by Nina Simone, Neil Diamond, The Pet Shop Boys and El...

Concetta Tomei's richly recognizable presence has warmed screens for 40 years. Her Italian roots, the American dreams of her parents and grandparents and her midwestern upbringing, plus four years as a seventh and eighth grade teacher prepared and sustained her as she faced show biz rigors and rejections.  Her acting chops were masterfully honed on the New York stage where she performed off-Broadw...

Craig Kilborn has indelibly and stylishly stamped his unique, hosty  brand across the worlds of Sports and Late Night Comedy. Mixing a patrician personality, with a razor sharp wit and folding in a pinch of irreverent snark, Lord Kilby has now taken up residency at manner houses in the lands of Instagram and podcasting.  A star high school athlete, Craig excelled at basketball, knowing that his fu...

Craig Shoemaker believes in the power of laughter and he's experienced its transformational force firsthand. The showbiz vet with decades of experience in writing, producing, acting and stand up comedy is fully invested in helping others, through humor with his organization, Laughter Heals. To this end, he speaks frankly, lives courageously and is persistently seeking the higher self that will ens...

In the late 1980's and early '90s, the TV sitcom landscape was dominated by an unstoppable force known as Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions. It’s the creative juggernaut that brought us Soap and Benson in the late 70s, evolving into the force field behind The Golden Girls. A series so iconic, it launched the spin-offs, Nurses, The Golden Palace and Empty Nest, co-starring our guest, David Leisure. Th...

Listening to Radio Luxembourg on his family's transistor as a teen in the British countryside, Simon Kirke  heard the siren song of The Beatles and was instantly hooked. Determined to make music his career, he spent two years in London before a fateful meeting with guitarist Paul Kossoff put him on a course to make his rock 'n' roll fantasy a reality. Along with Andy Fraser and Paul Rodgers, they...

eff Melvoin has written an inspiring and comprehensive guide to the art & science of what may be the most momentous, yet mysterious title in Hollywood: Showrunner. At its core, the job is described as a writer/producer hybrid. But it encompasses so much more than just that. Jeff joins us to talk about Running The Show: Television From the Inside, and he shares his unique perspective on what it...

On the Autism Spectrum, there are some people who are never able to speak more than a few words. The inability to verbally communicate indicates no lack of intelligence and it can be incredibly frustrating for those who have much to offer but whose thoughts and ideas are locked inside their own minds. Among these shrouded geniuses is 19-year-old Jacob Rock, son of Wild Honey Foundation Founder and...

Robby Benson is living proof that character is destiny, guided by his values, integrity, talent and curiosity, Robby has overcome much to achieve more. He is an actor, writer, producer, director, author, musician, photographer, professor, songwriter, novelist, activist and former teen idol!  Robby’s early screen stardom was just scratching his creative surface and Robby’s immense devotion to his w...

A new documentary about actress Vernée Watson is very aptly titled: You Look Familiar, and she does. But only to anyone who’s watched TV in the past five decades! Vernée has been in so many important and iconic series over the years that a journey through her IMDB page requires a packed lunch. And remember to hydrate. Vernee’s resume includes the boomer classics, Welcome Back Kotter, The Jefferson...