On Mic Podcast

Jeffrey Deaver is one of the world’s most popular novelists with a line of winning thrillers led by  his Lincoln Rhyme Series. The New York Times bestselling master of suspense is back with a riveting thriller entitled “Hunting Time,” with reward seeker Colter Shaw plunging into the woods and racing the clock in a case where nothing is quite what it seems.   We will talk about his love of the craf...

In another of our live audience podcast tapings from the Millennium Tower in Boston, we welcome T.J. Winick, author of the new book, “Reputation Capital: How to Navigate Crises and Protect Your Greatest Asset.”  T.J. is a long time colleague from his days as a TV reporter in Boston and the ABC Network.  Currently he leads the crisis practice at Issues management Group, an award-winning  strategic...

Joining me for a live taping at the Millennium Tower in downtown Boston is the lovely Lisa Lewtan, author of “Busy, Stressed and Food Obsessed.”  Lisa is a health and life  coach  with  a common sense approach to  recovering life balance and feeling empowered.   Listen in for tips on how you can  look and perform better, improving your physical, mental and spiritual states of being.  Lisa’s deligh...

He’s a real radio guy, a Hall- of- Famer who sailed to the top of the ratings for decades in Southern California, forging a lasting broadcast legacy with his talented partner.  We talk shop and more with Mark Thompson, who has penned a terrific memoir about his life and times in and out of radio.   It’s entitled, “ Don’t Bump the Record, Kid: My Adventures with Mark and Brian.”   Enjoy a ride-alon...

Meet Cat Burkey, a creative apparel designer who is giving back in a unique and inspiring way.   She has been a key catalyst  in a project called “Double Take,” a first-of-its-kind fashion show, with start-to-finish SMA ( spinal muscular atrophy) community involvement, that aims to increase disability visibility, break down stereotypes and champion adaptive fashion.     You’re about to hear how th...

John Koblin is a journalist who covers media for the New York Times.  He is also the co-author of a fascinating new book on the  story of HBO entitled, “It’s Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO.”   Join us as we do a deep dive into the origins of Home Box Office and the state of television as a result.

She’s rock and roll royalty! Enjoy a conversation with legendary musician and composer Robin Lane.  Robin is the subject of a new documentary entitled “When Things Go Wrong” and is famous for multiple hits with her group Robin Lane and the Chart Busters.  She just cut a new album and has a non-profit organization that actively helps women and others suffering from trauma.

Rachel Silber Devlin has written the most in-depth biography or her late father, the towering figure John Silber. Her new memoir is entitled “Snapshots of My Father, John Silber,” and it tells the whole story of the man in Texas who overcame a physical handicap to become a leader in higher education.  He was a complex public figure who provoked debate.  But he was also a dedicated Dad and Husband...

Meet Master Chef Giovanna Huyke, currently  serving  the most delicious Latin and Puerto Rican cuisine at a Boston area restaurant known as La Fabrica Central. Giovanna , dubbed The Julia Child of Puerto Rico, blazed a trail as the first female chef to host and co-produce the first TV cooking show on the island.   She is helping us explore the wonders of Latin cuisine as she whest our appetites wi...

Joan Wallace-Benjamin is a woman of accomplishment and that is an understatement!   She has served the public sector in a variety of leadership roles with  The  New England Home for Little Wanderers, the ABCD Head start Program, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston and as Chief of Staff during the early months of the Governor Duval Patrick administration in Massachusetts.   Through her many years of...

As a proud “Monster Kid,” ( and don’t worry we will define that term ) your fanboy host is proud to welcome Julian David Stone,  a founding member of the MC club, to the podcast.   Julian is a successful screenwriter and documentarian who spends much of his time these days writing books about the coolest of  pop culture topics. His latest creation  is called  It’s Alive!, a novel about the making...

The multifaceted Michael Oren joins us today to talk about his thrilling new WWII novel Swann’s War. Michael is a respected historian, novelist, politician and military veteran who recently served as Israel’s ambassador to the United States. He is also one fine storyteller who weaves an exciting tale about a rarely mentioned aspect of the Second World War. We’ll talk a little geopolitics as well w...

Today, we examine how people choose to look and feel better about themselves as we focus on the essence of beauty.  Our guest is nurse practitioner Mary Dealy, owner /operator of BeautoxEtc, a cosmetic dermatology practice located near Boston.  Mary shares with us the  many safe and proven non-surgical  options for looking younger  as well as the visible  emotional lift one receives.

We welcome back one of our favorite Renaissance men,  the inimitable Larry Ruttman. Larry has penned books about baseball, and Jewish American history along with a fascinating memoir covering eight-plus decades of his rich life.  His latest project is a book called Intimate Conversations: Face to Face with Matchless Musicians. We talk about conversations Larry has had with the world’s top classica...

Vincent Paterson is one of the  top choreographers and directors in the nation, with a host of show business accomplishments and milestones.  He tells us about working with countless superstars from Michael Jackson to Madonna.  His memoir  entitled Icons and Instincts: Choreographing  and Directing Entertainment’s Biggest Stars chronicles the career highs and occasional setbacks of one of this era...

Joining us today is celebrated film critic Ty Burr whose career has  included long stints with  Entertainment Weekly Magazine, HBO and many years as a top flight film critic for the Boston Globe. Now Ty Burr delivers reviews and movie news direct to you with Ty Burr’s Watchlist, a terrific source of info for movie lovers, all  you need do is subscribe. Talking movies is one of my favorite passions...

Meet the energetic entrepreneur behind one of the area’s most successful distilleries.  Rhonda Kallman and her colleagues are true artisans, crafting the finest in locally produced whiskey, gin, rum and distilled beer. She is becoming known nationwide for creating a solid brand with deep historic Boston roots. And her story of making it in a male-dominate industry is super impressive.  Three cheer...

Meet the extraordinary Allison Blei, co-producer and co-writer of  Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium arriving in Boston as  part of a national tour. This irreverent traveling tented entertainment experience is in partnership with Harpoon Brewery while in our fair city. It’s a mind-bending variety and vaudeville-style show featuring acrobats, jugglers, contortionists and lots of laughs. Allison k...

Meet Michael Dispezio, this generation’s “Mr. Wizard.” Michael is well-respected science educator with writing and editing credits on hundreds of K-12  science texts.  He is also a nationally recognized speaker and entertainer, making science understandable and a great deal of fun for audiences of all ages. He’s been featured on national platforms such as National Geographic and Discovery Channel....

Legacy is a gift we are all capable of giving.  Capturing moments that crystalize one’s legacy is an honor. Especially when it’s someone I love and respect as much as I do.  In this case, I get the chance to converse with my 93-year-old father. Marty Rich has led a full and productive life and he’s not done by any means. By launching this special edition of my podcast, I hope to inspire you to cap...

Time for some straight talk about finance and investing from a man who has done it successfully for over four decades. Milton Ezrati, author of the book Bite Sized Investing: A Complete (and Jargon-Free) Guide to Your Investing Success, has made it his mission to explain practical economics and investing to all of us who have had it with confusing terminology. Milton has done a masterful job of ke...

Meet one of the broadcast industry’s most innovative pioneers. Peter Smyth joins us to talk about his success as head of a major chain of radio stations, the advance of streaming and HD Radio in which he played a major part, and his long standing contributions to making  radio better. Peter is the recipient of numerous awards including the “Giant of American Broadcasting” honor from the Library of...

Historian, author and playwright David Kruh joins us with his own well-researched spin on a fascinating story steeped in myth and mystery. He’s written Inseparable: An Alcatraz Escape Adventure, a fictional account based on the famous escape by three men from “The Rock,” back in 1962. There is credible evidence that some of the escapees survived, perfect fodder for a thrilling novel you won’t want...

Writer Ken Sheldon presents one of the most fascinating true crime stories you’ll read about, a murder that happened over a hundred years ago in a sleepy northern New England hamlet. You’re sure to be swept away  by the  gripping story in Deep Water -Murder, Scandal and Intrigue in a New England Town. The author does an incredible job researching the case and surmising a solution to a century old...

Getting back to our roots with one of the nation’s top voice-over artists and mentors Dan Lenard. Dan is known as “The Knowledgeable Voice” and when you hear him speak you’ll understand why.  He’s achieved a lot of success, paying it forward by helping others. One of his worthy projects is www.world-voices.org , an organization for and about voice actors of all levels.  Dan has much to say and he...