The Roundtable with Robert Bannon

🎭 Broadway star Benjamin Pajak joins Robert Bannon on The Roundtable to talk about his incredible journey from making his debut in The Music Man alongside Hugh Jackman, to wowing audiences in Oliver! and now stepping into film with his powerful role in Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck. 🌟 Benjamin opens up about growing up inspired by Wicked and Phantom, performing on some of Broadway’s biggest...

⚠️ Explicit Content – Listener discretion advised Buckle up—because this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon pulls zero punches. Making his podcast debut, TikTok firecracker Loutiet joins us for a no-holds-barred conversation full of heart, humor, and some very colorful language. He’s a gay Italian from Brooklyn with a potty mouth, a sharp tongue, and a fearless online presence that’s tak...

On this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we're diving deep into the world of theatre, storytelling, and creative risk-taking with special guest Rishi Varma, the brilliant mind behind the new play Sulfur Bottom. Rishi joins Robert for an engaging conversation about the journey of writing Sulfur Bottom—a bold, genre-bending theatrical experience set to premiere at the Jerry Orbach Theat...

On this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, the soulful, chart-topping artist Kem joins Robert for an inspiring and heartfelt conversation. Kem opens up about the stories behind his newest music, offering a glimpse into the creative process that has made him a beloved voice in R&B. From songwriting inspiration to collaborating with other musicians, Kem shares the passion and purpose that...

“Songs of Black Folk,” a stirring 26‑minute short film directed by Justin Emeka and Haley Watson, debuted at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival as part of the “Shorts: Embrace the Music” lineup. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Juneteenth, it chronicles the Pacific Northwest’s first official celebration in Seattle via an intergenerational musical event. Centered around the visionary conductor and c...

The Rose: Come Back to Me is an intimate documentary chronicling the remarkable journey of The Rose— from their humble beginnings as a South Korean indie band to their emergence as a global sensation. Through heartfelt moments and honest reflection, the documentary captures how each member fell in love with music, as well as the challenges of navigating the K-pop system. Directed by Eugene Yi, thi...

On this episode of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we welcome the incredibly talented Juan Pablo Di Pace. Known for his charismatic performances on Fuller House, Dancing with the Stars, and countless stage and screen projects, Juan Pablo now takes a powerful turn in his new film Before We Forget — not only as its star, but also as co-director and writer. He opens up about stepping into a deeply...

Austin and the Powers is a high-energy band known for their electrifying blend of funk, soul, and rock that gets crowds dancing from the first note. Fronted by charismatic lead singer Austin, the group brings a retro flair with a modern twist, channeling the spirit of classic Motown and 70s funk while keeping things fresh and original. Their tight rhythm section, punchy horn lines, and infectious...

Welcome to The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, where today we’re thrilled to sit down with actor and producer Jay Ellis. Fresh off the stage in the electrifying new play Duke and Roya at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, Jay brings us behind the scenes of this gripping production, sharing what drew him to the project and how it connects with his powerful body of work across television and film. From his...

Camp Broadway, Broadway’s Original Destination for Theater-loving kids, is returning to New York City on July 7-11, 2025, with its signature programs MAINSTAGE (ages 10-17) and SHINING STARS (ages 7-9) Founded in 1995 by Susan Lee of the Broadway Education Alliance (BEA) and 5 time Tony Award-Wining producer Dori Berinstein, Camp Broadway is an exciting and fun “crash course” into being a Broadway...

The Lambchop is here! The iconic star is here with Mallory Lewis, the daughter of Shari Lewis, to talk the legacy and life of the trailblazing legend herself. They also announce a brand new documentary called " Shari & Lambchop" that will debut at Doc NYC before it rolls out across the country on July 18th. Shari Lewis was a dancer, singer, and magician but is best known as the ventriloquist behin...

KILLING MARY SUE writer-director James Sunshine is here to talk all about his new film with an all-star cast that sounds like a blast! Starring Dermot Mulroney and Sierra McCormick, James Sunshine's tongue-in-cheek satire of the "Mary Sue" archetype is explored in KILLING MARY SUE when a corrupt senator arranges for the murder of his biggest liability—his erratic burnout step-daughter—only for her...

Abandoned at five years old and surviving a terminal cancer diagnosis by 28, accountant-turned-singer/songwriter Miist defied the odds when she discovered her musical gift at 34 and last year, became the 1st native Chinese artist to break into Billboard’s Top 25 AC chart, collaborating with legends like Santana and Curtis Williams (Kool & The Gang). When I tell you this is a story like no other, t...

Boundless Theater and producer Tommaso Cartia will present BOY MEETS GIRL - The Trials & Tribulations Of A Queer Man Living Under A Curse - written by Chetan Rao and Nalini Sharma and directed by David James Parr. This unique and dynamic autobiographical coming-of-rage show is a life-affirming, irresistibly funny, and profoundly moving story chronicling the journey of self-discovery of an Indi...

Surviving racism, homophobia and childhood trauma, Carl Bean found his voice through song – first as a gospel singer in Harlem’s Christian Tabernacle Choir and then later performing with his group Carl Bean and Universal Love on their 1974 album “Universal Love.” But it was the recording of the 1977 Motown hit “I Was Born This Way” that would earn him fame; the song was celebrated as the world’s f...

Leon Isaac Kennedy is a trailblazing dj, actor and filmmaker. He started his career in the media at the age of 15, working as a dj in various radio markets – Cleveland, Detroit, Washington, DC, Houston and Los Angeles  -- known to his listeners as the legendary “Leon the Lover!” By 19,  he served as the writer producer and host of a syndicated tv show, called OUTTA SIGHT, a precursor to the long-r...

You know we try to stay on top of things here at The Roundtable! Well we are telling you, this is the next TV smash! We caught this at Tribeca and had to share! Mother, May I Have a Kidney? is a heartfelt comedy-drama about Doug Andrews, a thirty-something navigating a full-blown midlife crisis when he’s hit with even worse news: he needs a kidney transplant. The only viable donor? His estranged m...

If you are like me, you grew up on Zeppelin! My mother was in love with them and they were the soundtrack to our lives! Well, an all female Led Zeppelin cover band called "Lez Zeppelin" exists and I did not know!? Well I know now! There is no other band like Lez Zeppelin. Since 2004, this all-girl powerhouse quartet has captured the essence, spirit, power and seductiveness of Led Zeppelin both ons...

Jeff Hiller is here. You know him from "Somebody Somewhere," "American Horror Story," and more. He has a new book "Actress of A Certain Age" that I promise will have you laughing out loud. It is the Pride Pick of the Week! If you have a Fire Island or P Town Book Club, well we did the picking for you! Jeff swung by with a great chat you can not miss! The book is available wherever books are sold!...

We adore Nathan Lee Graham. From his roles on Broadway and Off-Broadway, (I mean did you see Titanique?!) to his film work (We love a Zoolander moment!), we love it all! Nathan had an amazing year earning rave reviews in "Mid Century Modern" with Nathan Lane and Matt Bomer! They had chemistry for days and made hard physical comedy look easy! We stan the show! We caught up with Nathan and talked hi...

We had a blast with podcast superstar Patrick Hinds! He is coming to NY this week, but hurry! It is pretty sold ou! Come for the show, stay for the party! Patrick Hinds (co-host of the podcasts True Crime Obsessed and Golden Girls Deep Dive Podcast) is bringing his one of a kind storytelling event back across the country. This time he’s mashing up a hilariously disastrous evening he spent with Gol...

We have so much fun at Tribeca and their are way too many amazing projects! We will be showing you some of the best all week long! Today we have comedy superstar Tim Heidecker to kick it off to talk "Fior Di Latte." Desperate for inspiration and drowning on a deadline, New York playwright, Mark, turns to an unlikely muse: huffing an old bottle of Italian perfume. Convinced the fading scent holds t...

Onne of the All-Star Drag Race Queen Superstars makes her Roundtable Debut! Alyssa Edwards is here! She is coming to my neck of the woods! How about closing out Pride with Alyssa at Bergen PAC in Englewood, NJ? She tells us all about her show, her story, and why Pride in NJ is going to be a MOMENT! We talk the importance of Pride, her growing up in Texas, and why this show in NJ is so important th...

One of our favorite events of the year is here! Tribeca Film Festival rolled into NYC and we were there! Adrienne Garzillo hit the red carpet for our first day of coverage! We start off with a political one-two punch! Cory Booker & Jasmine Crockett are here! Listen to their advice for the world we live in! We had the chance to step on the carpet for Storytellers with Music Superstars Mark Ronson &...

One of our favorite events of the year is here! Tribeca Film Festival rolled into NYC and we were there! Adrienne Garzillo hit the red carpet for our first day of coverage! We start off with the co-founder of the festival Jane Rosenthal. Then it is off to Paradise Records to talk to Logic, Kevin Smith, David Krumholtz, and more! We had the chance to step on the carpet for Storytellers with Jim Gaf...