On Mic Podcast

Everyone has a favorite dish. The WISHDISH Project is a high-impact, grass roots organization making favorite dishes of the homeless communities in Boston and New Orleans. The goal is to engage in and cultivate authentic conversations about food and culture in our cities.  The WISHDISH Project was founded by today’s guest Jeanie Gruber, owner of Miss Jeanies Catering and Events Co., an acclaimed B...

Meet former pro wrestler turned actor who has sent thrills and chills down the spines of many with his performances as psycho killer Michael Myers in Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” films.  Tyler has also portrayed Sabretooth in the X-Men film series along with countless other roles in film and television.  He’s the creator of “The Last Spartan” graphic novel series and frequently meets his fans at conve...

Bob Waxler and David Beckman met as freshmen at Brown University in the early 1960’s. They discovered they had a lot in common including a fascination with language, literature, and the life of art.  They kept in touch over the years and began sharing emails with Bob on the east coast, David out west.  It ultimately led to a touching anthology of correspondence in the book “You Say, I Say: Staying...

Welcome to a milestone episode, # 500!  Today’s guest portrays one of the giants of the 20th century.  Meet British actor and producer David Payne who brings his one-man show “Churchill” to Boston October 7th through 12th.  Churchill visited Boston several times between 1900 and 1949 making this production locally meaningful.  David’s performance highlights Churchill’s wit, enthusiasm, unique rela...

Join us as we travel along Boston’s Freedom Trail to meet up with historian .  Nat is the President and CEO of Revolutionary Spaces  which brings people together to explore the American struggle to create and sustain a free society, singularly evoked by Boston’s Old South Meeting House and Old State House. These two nationally relevant  historic capture the essence of the American struggle to crea...

We welcome artist and author David Sherwin Parker with his book, “Cringe Worthy: An AI Generated Character Assessment.”  The character in question happens to be one of the famous personalities on planet earth, President Donald J. Trump. With immediate access to practically unlimited information, covering subjects from business to politics, legal matters to personal behavior, the author presents us...

Today we introduce you to a model program that is making a real difference.  The Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College (TUPIT) provides transformative educational experiences for incarcerated and on-campus students and faculty in an environment that encourages bold critical thinking, higher levels of civic engagement, and a greater sense of community. TUPIT aims to facilitate creativ...

A strange object from deep space, known as 3I/ATLAS is making headlines all over the world. Is it just a big rock or something more?  This interstellar “traveler” has come a long way and with its weird trajectory and shape, it has some scientists suggesting it could be a probe of some kind sent by aliens. John Gertz, longtime SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) expert is the author of...

Jay S. Winuk is co-founder and executive vice president of 9/11 Day, the nonprofit organization that annually organizes the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. On September 11, 2001, Jay’s brother Glenn J. Winuk, an attorney, volunteer firefighter and EMT, was killed in the line of duty at the World Trade Center. Inspired by his brother’s devotion to community service and courage...

Sarah Gardner is the founder of the non-profit Yoga Reaches Out, which has raised millions for Boston Children’s Hospital.  She is a skilled yoga teacher who has inspired thousands with her knowledge and love for yoga.  In today’s episode, we chat with her about her book “Daily JAM: 366 Meditations, Daily Enlightenment in Just a Minute.” The “Daily JAM” offers simple words of wisdom that will help...

Meet a man who is on the run, helping to make the world a better place.  Dan Alperin is a radio executive who took p running several years back and is now an accomplished marathoner, often raising money for charity.  There’s a lot to learn from this running man’s perspective about the rigors of the sport, the physical and mental benefits it provides and the inner drive to keep pushing onward.  Wha...

The devastating Southern California wildfires in early 2025 destroyed hundreds of residences and businesses.  Lives were upended with the rebuilding for some  still underway.  Today’s guest is Rabbi Daniel Sher, who along with his fellow clergy and congregants at Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades saw his family destroyed by the flames.  Miraculously, the synagogue was spared any damage and has...

Carl Stevens is an award winning radio journalist and a colleague of mine at WBZ, Boston’s top rated news station.  Carl has covered stories small and large, local and international and always with professionalism, integrity and empathy.   Carl is also a talented poet whose works are frequently part of his  broadcasts, poems that are witty, moving and always in perfect rhyme scheme.   Meet a veter...

Meet Dr. Missy Lahren an environmental lawyer and activist for the past three decades.  She now proudly refers to herself and her colleagues as “Earth Lawyers.”  All of her education and training in law, philosophy and science has prepared her for the important work she is doing to protect the environment.  She is currently chair of the board of an NGO called The Earth Law Center based in Durango,...

Time for some laughter and insight into the world of standup comedy! Today’s guest is Tom Cotter who took the comedy scene by storm since becoming a breakout star on Season 7 of America’s Got Talent.  Tom hails from New England and is constantly on the road entertaining large crowds in clubs and corporate events.  Known for his rapid fire delivery and exceptional timing, he is a master craftsman w...

Meet Dr. Kris Verburgh, internationally renowned expert on longevity and the future of medicine. He is a medical doctor, researcher and author of many important books including, “The Longevity Code.” Join us as Dr. Verburgh tackles issues such as why we grow old and offers practical tips on slowing down the biological clock while maximizing wellness.

On today’s episode we take a virtual trip to the moon!   Created by Lightroom and Paquin Entertainment Group, The Moonwalkers is debuting in Boston this summer.  It is a thrilling an video experience brought to life using rare NASA archival footage, cutting-edge spatial audio, and moving storytelling by the one and only Tom Hanks who also co-wrote the piece.  My conversation with CEO Richard Slane...

Meet Stephen Dalton, an accomplished actor and voice-over artist who also happens to be a gifted Irish storyteller.  I discovered Stephen quite by accident, while looking for the perfect  guided meditation to help me sleep.  Finding Stephen Dalton’s  “Sleep Stories” on YouTube did the trick!  His series has helped me and thousands around the world achieve a more restorative and restful sleep.  Ste...

For more than twenty-five years, Quantum Health has been defining the field now known as healthcare navigation.  Our guest today is Kara Trott, whose goal was to ensure that no patient go through the difficult healthcare journey alone.  So she rose to the challenge, established a billion dollar plus business that is now an established leader in the healthcare space.  She writes about it in her mem...

Marschall S. Runge, M.D., Ph. D., is the executive vice president for Medical Affairs at the University of Michigan, dean of the Medical School, and CEO of  Michigan Medicine . He earned his doctorate in molecular biology at Vanderbilt University and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he also completed a residency in internal medicine. He is the author of more than 250...

Today we honor a cultural film icon. We present  the story of actor Robert Shaw. His nephew Christopher Shaw Myers shares much about the British artist’s family upbringing, his talents as a novelist and playwright and Robert Shaw’s impact on screen in such films as “Dr. No,” “A Man for All Seasons,” and of course the classic summer blockbuster “Jaws” premiering fifty years ago. Shaw was a complex,...

Boston based filmmaker and screen writer Eric Aronson joins us to talk about his feature directing debut, a comedy thriller  heist film called “Any Day Now.”  Billed as a “true-ish” story, the movie is inspired by the actual events of March 18,1990, when $500 million worth of priceless art was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.  The art has never been recovered and there still exists...

Today we sit down with Saleema Vellani, who believes in the power and promise of innovation.  She has written a fabulous book about it entitled, “Innovation Starts With I: Increase Your Influence.  Ignite Your Impact.”   Her life mission is to serve entrepreneurs globally and she is well on her way to accomplishing that!

Dr. Otello Stampacchia is a globetrotter of the first order, traveling around the world as the head of investor relations and strategic initiatives for his firm Omega Funds. He is heavily involved in several of Omega’s therapeutic areas of interest, particularly oncology and inflammatory disorders.  Omega’s investments have resulted in over 50 life changing drugs, approved and on market.  Join us...

John Rinaldo is a passionate writer who shares his love for writing through published books and daily inspirational stories on Substack at rinaldoj.substack.com .  John uses these platforms to offer insights and experiences about life purpose and intentions. His latest book is entitled, “Dancing Letters: A Boy’s Journey Through Words and Strength.” It’s a semi- autobiographical novel about overcom...