Thoughts Maybe Feelings

This episode hits close to home in a good way for me . I have childhood memories that are now a bit more solid thanks to this conversation with Paul Helman , my second cousin . He generously gives me some clarity and insight on what it was like growing up in the same house - his parents Herb and Helen on the first floor , my grandparents Meg and Jack on the second floor, and my great grandmother on the third floor in Brooklyn. Very helpful to hear his perspective on the family dynamics in the House and his recollections of the relationships of these beloved family figures that live forever in our memories.

Cynthia Spiece is a renowned intuitive reader, quantum energy practitioner, meditation guide, a medium with an ability to have actual dialogue with loved ones who have passed , and she offers sessions that are customized energy therapy plans for her clients . I know first hand how helpful and insightful her sessions are and I continue to benefit from them tremendously. In a world of energy healers and mediums - she, for lack of better words , is the " real deal". Hear her talk about what it's like for her too communicate with a spirit, her understanding of what happens to a soul on the other side , how she experiences their presence, and her understanding of the evolution of spirits on earth and beyond . We discuss the tools she uses to tune in to an energy , thoughts about her intuition , the power of intention, ways to raise our frequency, the healing services she offers , and how to be more of a creator in our own reality . Big topics that deserve attention and I'm so glad she shared her experiences and thoughts so eloquently and generously .

www.cynthiaspiece.com

cynthiaspiece or reimagine that on instagram

She offers a free call for anyone interested.

Highly recommended....

A few days before the TONY 2026 theater awards , I briefly met a lady full of energy and warmth - turns out she is the production stage manager of " Becky Shaw" on broadway , a play that I loved so much that I had to see it twice .

Bess Marie Glorioso has a huge resume of stage Managing off Broadway and Broadway shows for many years . Hear about her experiences, a few specific reflections on " Becky Shaw", stories about prior shows , the joys and challenges of being a Stage Manager, recollections of Linda Lavin and Martin Short, stories about crazy times behind the scenes, paying it forward for new talent , and putting out fires while being ( relatively) calm . Thank you Bess for your generous insight of what professional stage management is like .

Kylie Ora Lobell is an award winning journalist. She is known for inspirational essays and speeches on Judaism . Her book " Choosing To Be Chosen " is an engaging memoir chronicling her life story , how she came to embrace god and Judaism, and her meaningful conversion to being an Orthodox Jew . We discuss key points of her book , her turning point towards faith , and she answers many difficult questions about faith and purpose with very insightful answers .

If you walked around strawberry Fields area in the past few years, you might have seen and heard Jules Avalon play and sing Beatles songs and some of his own . he has recorded 4 albums so far - and we concentrate on his 2025 gorgeous record " where the water goes " . His songs have a beautiful relaxed vibe , have a familiar feel but also use a generous amount of space and ambience that is not always found in songwriting these days , making the familiar new again .

Hear his trajectory , how he started writing and recording songs - the thoughts behind certain songs , and also an inspiring personal philosophy about living a fulfilling life .

Dave Schlossberg is an award-winning, pianist and composer, a member of numerous musical groups in New Jersey-, focusing on Jewish folk, music and jazz, a musical director for the music theater program of teen arts of Middlesex County in New Jersey, and offers a wide variety of services, including composition, arrangement, transcription, and virtual choir production. He travels around the country doing artist in residences performances of his compelling program called " Facing The Music "- the story of his journey through spinal cord injury. Our conversation focuses on how he was able to deal and reframe his accident and disability into rebirth , empowerment and inspired personal growth and purpose . Hear the details of the accident, his rehabilitation period , his challenges with acceptance and faith , and how he was gradually able to reframe loss and weakness into hidden strengths and opportunities for growth . His thoughts on forgiveness, Faith, his healing Music life are all here to show how he turned tragedy into a more positive state of mind , resulting in love , forgiveness, musical achievement, and inspiration. He now offers presentations of his reflections to inspire others . His strength and insight is totally uplifting- And we had a conversation I will never forget.

It's hard to figure out James Houston but I did the best I could . James is definitely a character, on and off stage..... excelling in Comedy and Drama, and creating memorable eccentric performances for many years . He also has a wild sense of humor, which is very contagious . Between random remarks , which I admit to be guilty of , we get to learn a little about his early years, his tough times and his triumphs , his higher power , his theatrical life , and his advice for me which I probably won't follow .

Scott and Brian Bricklin have given their fans and me a huge gift - a great second album with 10 exquisite songs - 40 years after their first record " Bricklin " was released . Though they have never stopped making music in different capacities and projects , this is the first time in 27 years since they recorded together. Their last collaboration was " Martin's Dam "- they recorded 2 great records called " The Healing " and " The Sky Above ". Bricklin 2 follows the release of their great anthology that came out in 2024. Which featured a huge amount of unreleased songs from their various bands. This set the stage for the making of a brand new album of new material . Hear how this album came to be, what it was like recording it., the joy and the difficulty of creating it, and we get to hear a lot of insightful information about the songs themselves.

Find the album on

www.bandcamp.com

Sheldon Gomberg is a highly experienced bass player, music, producer, and engineer with a passion for creating outstanding sound. He has worked with a diverse range of artists to bring their musical vision to life. We get to hear a bit of his trajectory, his early years, , how he learned to become a producer after many years of bass playing in various projects, And some stories about specific artists like Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams, , Warren Zevon and Peter Himmelman.

Tom Dolan has been part of the Philadelphia music scene for many years, with different bands, along the way, including the ska- funk band The Freakin's cads. Here , we talk about his latest project, a unique and compelling recording called "Civil War Stories " . You can find it streaming under the name "The Old High Hat". Tom , along with music producer and songwriter Brian Bricklin , created a very original and sonically, stunning album, combining characters and stories from the Civil War era, set to melodic and musically thrilling songs. The songs feature fantastic and diverse vocalists including : Ben Arnold , Tom Gilliam, Scott Bricklin , Isabelle Gottfried, Harrison Black and Silas Freeman. The atmosphere is full of lush melodies , with a fusion of traditional instruments and loops that make for a very fun and involving listening experience.

Hear the idea behind the project, the recording process, and you get to hear parts of the actual songs as well. Who says history and rock music can't go together?

Maya Ogea ( pronounced oh - jay) already has many years of experience in performing and writing songs , her tenacity and work ethic is very inspiring . This is an exciting time for her as she is about to release her new single called " holding on " with collaborator Kyle Szalay on July 19, 2025, as well as her own songs by at the end of the year, Denver , Nashville , studying music and songs structure for 4 hours a day, busking on the streets , playing in clubs - these are all part of the musical trajectory of maya , with an astonishing voice that combines feeling with strength and vulnerability that is impressive in its impact .

It's exciting to hear her story and her dedication to her art - I'm very interested to see how her career , music and life will play out .....

Find her on instagram , Facebook and her website- and look for " holding on " on streaming platforms on 7/19/25.

This Time I get to talk to a huge inspiration to for me for over 30 years . Joan Jones has graced my life with her beautiful voice, lyrics, melodies, and songs and I am so lucky to hear her tell us her story in her own words, to go over specific songs, to hear her trajectory from a Hollywood high schooler to her early band life , forming Far Cry with David Russo, evolving into " sun 60 " which made three extra extraordinary albums in the early to mid 90's , and toured extensively to support them . A very varied style of songwriting,, From real scorching rockers to softer ones , with great lyrics and orchestration that still hold up today . Joan talks about making those records , some specific songs that I point to, what it was like, being on the road, and the evolvement of each record.

She tells us what it was like afterwards, to build her own songwriting career, which continues until today with new music being released frequently

Check the sun 60 records out on Spotify , iTunes , and YouTube , and check out her releases mostly on her website www.clubjoan.com .

You can also be up-to-date with her on Instagram as well. Definitely an amazing voice and songwriter that deserves recognition.

Dana Marisa Schoenfeld has created, directed, written and starred in a great first season of her series " East". She has managed to create a character named Ella who is so endearing in her pursuit of a better life , with NewYork and the entertainment industry serving as her background and her search for finding herself, all done with very witty dialogue and funny, and sometimes heartbreaking situations. She talks about how she created the show, how she managed to get it together , the challenges of making it happen , Acting and the writing process, and the great team she assembled to make such a fun and memorable show . The pilot episode is free on YouTube , and the rest of the season can be watched on www.easttheseries.com. Very inspiring to hear how she has juggled writing, directing, Acting, and editing to make the show what it is. Here!s hoping for for a second season !

Throughout the history of song, there has always been a beauty to melancholy. Especially if it's wrapped up in a beautiful melody.. Such is the case with David Upp, who has been working on his first album in Nashville for many years. Songs born out of grief over loss of parents, and coming to terms with a loss of a romantic partner- are all fuel for these beautiful and cathartic sounds that David has created. We discuss how are the songs evolved , the process of recording them, and we get to hear a little bit of a few of them, " goodbye true blue " , "lonesome Dove " , and " miss your fire " .., the album is not released yet as of June 2025, but a few songs are out on streaming services.

We discussed what it's like to be a new songwriter in Nashville, the steps that it takes to get started , how ADD can be a blessing and a curse , musical influences, and how to live with a sense of grief and loss . Find him easily on instagram and Spotify ....

I was lucky enough to see a wonderful production at Mccarter theatre in Princeton called " Legacy of Light " - and here I get to talk to two of the wonderful actors in it ,Lenne Klingaman and Allen Gilmore . They tell me about their experience doing the play, what it was like for them to act together., some of their process as actors, their trajectory, the ups and downs of being an actor, what they do to help them be in the moment of acting on stage, some memorization tricks, community theater vs professional theater, what they feel like before they go on stage , and the beauty of doing live theatre . This conversation literally pulls the curtain of what it's like to be a professional actor working today ..

Vanessa Lively's music is not just interesting melodies, not just interesting lyrics, it's a journey of sheer beauty and poetry that is both healing and comforting at the same time. It's original yet familiar , beautiful but not obvious , it's grounding and uplifting in a very organic way. Hear her thoughts on creativity , the value of rituals , how to get over your critical voice, her trajectory in music and in her life, the evaluation of her creative process, and living purposely as an artist for herself and for her community...

There is a lot to learn from Toni Nagy, one of the most authentic and unique artists that I've ever met. She has so many facets that all lead up to unique self expression and thought provoking insight into the world around us - she is a stand-up comedian, writer, and content creator, most known for her visual videos, where she interpretive dances, her philosophies while participating, gyrating, and questioning culture. She has over 600,000 followers on various social media platforms. Hear her talk about her trajectory, how she uses the mind-body connection to get her points across, and how thinking outside the box is essential for authentic expression and ultimately, radical compassion .

Amazing for me to have some time with a true rock 'n' roll legend. Mitch Ryder is known for iconic songs like " Jenny take a ride ", " devil with the blue dress " and many others . His legacy has lasted all these decades and he is still going strong with a grest new album called " with love ". Hear him tell us about what it was like to write those hits in the mid 60s, hanging out with Muhammad Ali, how he started a new career in Europe that is still lasting today, incredible ups and downs and yet still persevering, some musical, high points and low points, marriages , and I also get a short music lesson . His spirit and will is inspiring to hear . He is not done yet .

Chris Simmons brings his substantial guitar skills to whatever he plays. He has toured, recorded and played with incredible musicians, including a long tour with , Legendary Leon Russell. These days he is on the road with Paul Thorn and his great band., showcasing Paul's great new record - " life is just a vapor". Hear Chris talk about the making of the record, what it's like to be on tour with Paul , his own four releases that are talked about here with some snippets from the songs., what his audition process was, what it's like to be on the road while juggling family life, his musical inspirations, growing up in Alabama, his musical trajectory, and how he made the guitar his friend .

If you ever wondered what it's like to be in the music business, this conversation is for you. Jim Cardillo has signed many important bands including Green Day , Gin Blossoms, Soul Asylum, Keb Moe, Cracker, and many others . He has also been a talent development producer and has many interesting stories and insight that could hardly be contained in a two hour conversation.

Hear some specific stories about certain artists , and conversation about what the record industry used to be like, and what it is now.

Pat Byrne will tell you that he is working on being a great songwriter and I will tell you that he is already there. Hear his story of coming from Ireland to Austin, Texas, and starting to write songs at the age of 26 . What his trajectory has been., his musical influences, specific songs that he has written and is performing, what it's like to be an opener for famous songwriters, how he has learned to be comfortable on stage, and what it is like to follow your own dream in a world of uncertainty.

If you're lucky, at some point in your life, you start to realize that giving beyond yourself is really the way to open up your little world of worry and self preservation to a world of empathy and even personal freedom. And if you are not sure how to give.- that's where Deborah Goldstein comes in. She is a seasoned advisor and facilitator, offering unique opportunities to all types of people who wish to engage in philanthropy. We discuss her trajectory , the meaning of philanthropy, the steps that people take to learn about where to find a nonprofit organization to give to, the motivation of people to want to give, and how she works with individuals and families to achieve their giving goals.

Sometimes you run into a person that you have an endless amount of topics to talk about. Laura Neeter is that person , I am just along for the ride . Which is fitting , because I met her while driving her around our town . We probably could've talked for many more hours, which we actually did after this conversation was over. We cover her life story , different types of jobs, trajectory of life events, all interesting , but they are all just window dressing to the spirit and energy of her being, which comes through loud and clear when you speak with her. And I also got a nice grilled cheese sandwich afterwards. I was really looking to find the meaning of life, but what I got was a really entertaining day . Who could ask for more on a Sunday ?

Kevin Hanson is a versatile guitarist, songwriter, touring and recording artist with many different artists, including his own bands, first with Huffamoose and now with The Fractals. This conversation covers many topics, including the Philadelphia music scene in the 90s, different styles of songwriting, years touring with Huffamoose, his own musical trajectory, we get to listen and talk about different specific songs, his own way of coming up with songs, his musical influences, what makes a unique guitar sound, differences between jazz and rock, and of course, his favorite Beatles album .

www.thefractals.com

www.kevinhansonmusic.com

Laura Flowers has her own great podcast called "Rediscovering You". I was very taken with her great hosting skills and just had to invite her on my show. She is a life coach, a Reiki energy healing practitioner, and most of all she is following her life purpose -

Which is to help people that are stuck and disconnected find their authentic selves and reclaim authenticity . She excels in combining practical strategies with spiritual alignment.

We talk about how to find a purpose, and how to shift a person from feeling helpless to a more empowered state of being .. I found the conversation very inspiring. Hope you will too.

Peter Himmelman is a Grammy and Emmy award nominated rock and roll performer, songwriter, film composer, visual artist and award winning author . Here we discuss his latest book " Suspended By No String- A Songwriter's reflections on faith, aliveness, and wonder ". Here we discuss how the book came about, the way it was written , the main ideas that flow through the writing, and, as it always goes with Peter, the conversation often goes into unexpected and thought-provoking subjects. The book is full of moments and beautifully written reflections that are sometimes linear and sometimes not. I have read this book many times and I always find something new in it, and always come away uplifted. Much like the way I feel when I listen to Peter's music. Concepts like Faith, ordinary moments and finding beauty in the mundane. are all explored here. I am very thankful for the book and for this conversation.

Jeff Greenberg is not a household name. He's not even an apartmenthold name. But- he is very funny and he has a passion for a comedy. That is very contagious. in a good way. Conversation includes.: growing up as a wise cracking kid who got into funny trouble regularly- so much that his mom was embarrassed to pick him up from school, thoughts on old school comedy heroes and movies , how his wife tolerates him, and of course it concludes with him giving me a colonoscopy advice. I could think of worse ways to spend an afternoon .

Joop has had incredible experiences working with legendary bands - Dire Straits, Van Halen, Squeeze, Jackson Browne , Ultravox, Neil Young , Whitney Houston- to name just a few . He wore many different hats- sound production, playing percussion on stage, stage management, and extensive touring . As a massive Dire Straits fan I just had to ask about his experienceswith them in great detail, but we also managed to talk about other bands as well. He also has a history with late-night television and news shows, but this particular episode focuses on his adventures with bands . 2 hours wasn't enough !

My conversation with Mark Jason Williams covered a lot of ground , his trajectory of becoming a playwright and an essay writer of many publications, the book he co-authored cleverly titled : "Out In The World " ( with Amy B. Scher)- which is a very cool and unique travel guide, his battle with Leukemia when he was a kid, becoming comfortable with his own identity, his thoughts on labels in our society , and what it's like to become a writer. It's ultimately a story of becoming comfortable in your own skin, which is everyone can learn and be inspired by .

Amanda Walther writes beautiful songs and sings them even more so. Her soundtrack to the great movie "walk With Me" is full of subtle beauty that perfectly complements the film. Hear her talk about the process of making the soundtrack, the trajectory of her partnership with Sheila Carabine as the duo Dala, thoughts on specific songs that can be heard throughout the episode, her jazz standard original band Dizzy And Fay, the freedom of wearing many musical hats, and of course, her favorite Beatles record .

Dala music.ca

amandawalther.com

Willie Aron has managed to be many different things in the music world - singing with perfect pitch , composing , performing, songwriting, producing, session playing , being in many bands , playing many instruments- all done with integrity, no compromise , and for the love of it all . Our conversation covers : music , faith , his band trajectory, knowing and playing with musicians such as Leonard Cohen, Peter Himmelman , Susanna Hoffs and Marvin Etzioni, being a producer vs. being produced , personal life stories , the music scene in the 80's, advantages and disadvantages of recording in this day and age, leaving a legacy behind , optimism , and musical integrity . Check out www.theeholybrothers.com.

www.williearonkidsmusic.com

And Spotify : the balancing act , thee holy brothers

It's tricky being a nice guy and also dealing with prosecution and criminal convictions, but Ed Stier has found a way to successfully navigate these complexities. The first part of the conversation focuses on his early life , his deep connection with my family, his relationship with religion , how he met his wife, and his memories and thoughts on my dear uncle Bobby. The second part focuses on his work life, as chief of the criminal division of the New Jersey US attorney's office and director of New Jersey, criminal justice, to his later years in private practice. He has convicted hundreds of racketeers and public officials resulting in dramatic reduction of organized crime on New Jersey government.

Throw in a few stories about dealing with psychopaths versus "regular" criminals and you have a compelling conversation with a very human and decent man that I'm proud to know very well.

Paul Taylor is a writer, former journalist for the Washington Post for 15 years , a published author, served as the bureau chief in South Africa , had many encounters with world leaders, currently serves as the president of a beautiful lake community in upstate New York, but above all - he and his family are and have been great close friends to my own family. Hear Paul telling us some stories and recollections of my amazing uncle Bobby, how Paul met his wife, his work trajectory as a journalist and a public speaker and many other roles, some political thoughts , and some ruminations on life , aging , and the unknown mysterious forces that we all face .

Paul's books : See How They Run, The Next America : Boomers, Millennials, And The looming Generational Breakdown.

It looks like we might get a new one sometime in the future...,

Dwaine Keith was ( and hopefully still is ) the main songwriter of the amazing band " Grey Eye Glances " - they toured heavily mostly in the east coast from the early 90's to roughly 2007, and recorded 4 amazing studio records, one EP, one official live album , some unofficial live records , and a boatload of demos that are astonishing in their beauty and depth . The music had it all , drama, romance , depth , and poetry - topped with the most melodic hooks you'll ever hear . The lyrics , melodies and vibe were the perfect companion to Jennifer Nobel's beautiful and touching voice , achieving a unique mix of being fragile and powerfully vulnerable . Literally every song was a gem , and their fans truly adored them . Hear the trajectory , the thoughts behind the songs , and the challenges they faced . And hear me literally begging for Dwaine to release new songs . His gift is too great to be dormant .

Loved this conversation with Jay Byham about the art of crafting songs, promoting music in this day and age, his musical trajectory , musical influences , teaching guitar and songwriting, and how Paul McCartney's drummer ruined his chance to be Paul's best friend ...

My Brother David helps me make sense of our turbulent childhood in Haifa , Israel . A childhood where darkness and light collided with each other with constant frequency , resulting in us still dealing with the memories, unresolved grief and anger that we both still carry with us today in different ways . How can one come to grips with feelings of fear and trauma that were intertwined with feelings of temporary safety and joy ?

Healing is constantly moving - living along the traumatic memories . It has been my life struggle to make peace with both sides of my childhood .

This podcast is a cathartic step in the right direction . Thanks to my brother for being my rock during those years and for still being a role model today . Looks like we made it .

Following up on my episode with Kiersten Parsons Hathcock and her extraordinary memoir " Little Voices " - Her husband Scott lets us into his experience of her story , how he used their 3 year separation to work on himself and evolve . Using the principle of " not taking things personally " allowed him clarity and understanding and this eventually leads the way to them finding each other again in a healthier and more fulfilling way .

"Little voices" is the true story of an ordinary woman's unexpected psychic mediumship journey, that uncovered buried secrets of sexual abuse in her own life and the lives of children who died long ago – and helped her escape the grasp of a seductive predator who nearly destroyed her.