Worth the Price of Admission

In this episode of Worth the Price of Admission, I sit down with Olympian and multi‑hyphenate horseman Doug Payne for a candid, fast‑paced tour through his life in the tack and beyond. We trace his roots on a New Jersey farm, the mentors and tricky horses that shaped him, and the engineering mindset he’s carried from RIT to the judge’s box to the biggest arenas in the world. Doug opens up about th...

In this episode, I sit down with bandleader and percussionist Tito Puente Jr. for a heartfelt, high-energy conversation about carrying the torch of his father, the Mambo King, while forging his own path.  From growing up in Spanish Harlem and falling for rock and metal, to learning clave on the road, honoring family, and choosing a more balanced life than the 300‑shows‑a‑year grind, Tito shar...

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Cheryl Howard, daughter of New York Yankees legend Elston “Ellie” Howard—the first Black player on the Yankees, 1963 AL MVP, and later the American League’s first Black coach. Cheryl reflects on growing up in the Yankees family section surrounded by icons like Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Whitey Ford; the warmth of Old Ya...

In this episode, I sit down with world-renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to revisit the winter night in 1989 when he helped my family uncover the truth about my husband, Billy Martin's, fatal accident.  From the injury patterns that indicated Billy was the passenger to the early use of DNA that matched hair in the windshield to the driver, Dr. Baden walks us through the science...

What do Frankie Valli, the London Symphony Orchestra, Don Rickles, and Vanilla Fudge have in common? They have all shared a stage with Robby Robinson. In this episode, recorded in February 2024 at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, I sit down with the legendary Robby Robinson, Frankie Valli's longtime music director, conductor, and keyboardist (affectionately known as the "Fifth Season"). Robby...

Gerry "Gentleman" Cooney was the number one-ranked heavyweight in the world when he faced Larry Holmes for the title in 1982. In this conversation, he opens up about growing up in a turbulent home, finding purpose through boxing, and the self-sabotage that shadowed his rise. He relives the 54-second Ken Norton knockout and the epic night with Holmes, sharing what he saw in opponents' eyes and how...

Every story reminds us that a meaningful life is worth preserving. Worth the Price of Admission brings documentary-style conversations to audio, letting you listen anywhere, while walking, driving, or taking a quiet moment for yourself. Gentle reminders of hope, courage, and human connection. Watch full videos at worththepriceofadmission.com In this brief introduction, I explain why we're turning...