WELCOME TO THE SHOW
My name is Steve Owens and I meet a lot of people; sometime in my travels, sometimes in my own home town. Several times (quite by accident), I have stumbled into what I consider to be fascinating stories. So after way too many got away, I decided to start recording them. Some of these conversations will be fascinating ONLY to me. Some will be fascinating to you too. In the end, I guess this podcast is just an excuse for me to get to travel, meet, and talk to more people. So if you are so inclined…
Walk with me, down Fascination Street!
Recent Episodes
Makenzie Phipps Returns! – Singer / Songwriter (Life Gives You Love)
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Makenzie Phipps Returns!
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know even more about Makenzie Phipps. This is a return episode, so we don’t start from the beginning of her story. If you missed it, go back and check out her first appearance on the show (7/3/23). Makenzie is a country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Her music has been featured on Country Rebel, as well as television, radio, and all of the streaming platforms. In this episode, we chat about what Makenzie has been up to since we last spoke. We discuss her move to Nashville, the passing of Loretta Lynn, meeting and working with Rhonda Vincent, and various charities that she works with. We then go on to talk about the difference between her country songs, and her gospel hymns, plus some fun stories about her and her writing / music partner Shane Bagley. Finally, we chat about her recent Alice Rising Star Award, he children’s charity Amp Up For Kids, and her new singles. While ‘You Bring The Beer (I’ll Bring The Noise)’ is climbing the charts, Makenzie released an even newer single called ‘Life Gives You Love’; which she graciously allows me to play in this episode! Don’t miss her Christmas tune ‘Christmas Snow’, and catch her debuting songs left and right on RFD-TV, and stay tuned for 2024 tour dates across the country.
D. Elliot Woods – Actor (Everything) / Author (Rise of the Unicorn)
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D. Elliot Woods
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know D. Elliot Woods. Elliot is an actor, and author. In this episode, we chat about how he got into acting, and some of the super talented people that have helped him along the way. For starters, his babysitter was a man who went on to be one of the most celebrated actors of all time! One of his college professors, is one of the most highly regarded, and respected actresses of all time! Even his cell phone number used to belong to a time traveling super star. We discuss some of his projects, including Friends, and Star Trek. Elliot tells me about the differences between working on Friends one week, and Star Trek the next. He shares fun stories from the set, working with: Patrick Stewart, Michael Dorn, and Jonathan Frakes. Of course, I ask him to tell the story of how “The D. Elliot Woods Rule” came to be, and how he set the bat for Wal Mart commercials. Finally, we dive into his new novel: Rise of the Unicorn. This book is a fantastic suspense thriller. It is action packed, with great storytelling, and even an underlying message of morality, and justice. The audiobook is available EXCLUSIVELY through Audible; but the dead tree version is available everywhere. We do touch a little on his forthcoming novel: Eleven Minutes and Fourteen Seconds. Enjoy!
Chef Aaron McCargo Jr – The Next Food Network Star (Season 4 Winner)
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Chef Aaron McCargo Jr.
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Chef Aaron McCargo Jr.
Aaron was the winner of season 4 of The Next Food Network Star; a reality show competition on The Food Network. In this episode, we chat about what got Aaron into cooking in the first place, and what made him audition for this competition show. We also discuss how the show changed his life, and some of the behind the scenes secrets of his cooking show Dig Daddy’s House; which ran for several seasons on The Food Network. Aaron tells stories about growing up in Camden, NJ, and some of the crazy antics he got into with his sister’s Easy Bake Oven! Next we jump into Chef McCargo’s very own line of The Spice & The Sauce, what he created them for, and where you can get them. Don’t sleep on Aaron’s cookbook: Simply Done, Well Done. We briefly touch on why he partnered with Fresenius Health Care, & The Family Dollar. Finally, the Big Daddy himself, tries not to cry while he tells me all about his non-profit: Play To Win. Also, Chef Aaron tells me about the new food education and restaurant space he, and some partners are opening up in Camden.
David Packouz – Former International Arms Dealer / Entrepreneur (Singular Sound *BeatBuddy)
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David Packouz
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know David Packouz. After growing up in Jerusalem, Israel and moving to Miami, David became an international arms dealer; sourcing arms & munitions for The United States Army, to help supply wars and conflicts in The Middle East. In this episode, David tells me how exactly this came to be, how successful he was at it, and how he ended up getting into some serious trouble with The U.S. Department of Justice. David was looking at the possibility of more than 300 years in prison! David’s story became the inspiration behind the 2016 film War Dogs, directed by Todd Phillips; starring Miles Teller as David. The film was based on an in-depth article written by Guy Lawson, for Rolling Stone magazine. We also discuss his post arms dealing career as an inventor and entrepreneur. David founded Singular Sound, a company that develops and manufactures innovative new products for musicians. Singular Sound products have garnered huge accolades in the music industry, and continues to rank among the top companies that musicians swear by. Singular Sound’s first and most notable creation is the BeatBuddy “Drummer in a Foot Pedal” device that was actually inducted into the Guitar Player’s Hall of Fame in 2015. We also talk about the several other innovative products this company offers. Then we get into David’s NEWEST invention, that has nothing to do with music at all! He, and his brother, re-invented the water pick. Instead of a single jet stream of water, The InstaFloss has 12 independent jet streams! This episode goes all over the place, as you can see. David even lets me play one of his own songs! ENJOY!
Riya Sokol – Singer (Awaken As Love) / Inspirational Public Speaker
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Riya Sokol
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Riya Sokol. Riya speaks to me from Poland for this inspirational episode. In this episode, we chat about her growing up in Warsaw, and becoming a touring sensation as a 6-year-old child. We also discuss how & where she spent her Covid pandemic time, and the poem she wrote and released that made her a viral sensation. She shares very personal stories of her depression, as well as successfully navigating divorce while staying friends with her ex. Riya explains how she became obsessed with vibrations, the subconscious, and reprogramming your mind to be more receptive to: courage, love, freedom, and abundance. I ask Riya to explain mantras & the Tantra lifestyle, and what exactly are The Riya Sokol Codes; which are cheat codes for life hacking. Finally, Riya explains the meaning behind her hit song Ho’oponopono, and she lets me play another of her hit songs called Awaken As Love, before helping us understand why we should embrace even the mundane things in our lives.
Nicole Arlyn – Actress (Til Death Do Us Part)
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Nicole Arlyn
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know actress, author, producer Nicole Arlyn. In this episode, we chat about her growing up in a small community where there may have been some artistic elements to the local water source! Then we discuss what made her choose Ohio State University, and compete in The Miss Ohio beauty pageant, before leaving it all behind to follow her dreams as an actress in Paris, France. She tells us what brought her back to New York to study at The Neighborhood Playhouse, and what famous magician finally talked her into going to Los Angeles to make a name for herself in Hollywood. Along the way, Nicole shares stories of some of her acting projects like: Pot Luck, Clay Pigeons, and Til Death Do Us Part. Of course, I ask her what it was like to work with such greats as: Joaquin Phoenix, Michale Imperioli, and Jason Patrick. Finally, we get into why she decided to write 26 fantasy novels, including The Sugarspear Chronicles…. which she is turning into films with her 8 year old son and their Bird I The Wild production company. This is a lot of fun, and a wild ride, to be sure. Enjoy!
Arielle Raycene – Actress (Confidential Informant / Bupkis)
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Arielle Rayene
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Arielle Raycene. Arielle is an actress, model, and tech start up entrepreneur. In this episode, we chat about how she got started in modeling at a very young age, then transitioned into commercial work, before taking some time off to go to college. Next, we dive into how she got back into modeling, and acting, we discuss some of her recent credits including, Kill Her Goats, Confidential Informant, and Bupkis. Arielle tells us what it is like to work with Mel Gibson, and Pete Davidson, and she explains what the ladies see in Pete. Naturally we talk a little bit about the SAG / AFTRA strike, before finally covering her new tech start-up company called Real AF. This new company will work with Apple Goggles in the spatial web. Along the way, we talk about child obesity, catch 22s, Andy Warhol, Kim Kardashian, and a whole lot more!
Greg Payne – Podcaster (The Cool Grandpa) / Author (My grandpa’s Grandpa)
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Greg Payne
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Greg Payne. Greg is the host of; The Cool Grandpa Podcast, the author of ‘My Grandpa’s Grandpa’, and a friend. In this episode, we chat about the experiences Greg had with his grandparents, growing up, that made him want to start a podcast dedicated to grandfathers. We exchange stories about our respective grandparents, and we discuss what drew Greg to podcasting in general. Greg touches on some of the early difficulties of starting his own show, and how its going now. Then we talk about the new children’s book: My Grandpa’s Grandpa. This is a sweet story about a grandson who doesn’t want to go to sleep, and stretches bedtime out by asking his grandpa, about HIS grandpa. This is a heartwarming story that came from Greg’s actual life (more or less), and it is perfectly executed in this children’s book. All along the way, we trade stories about podcasting, getting older, who this book & podcast are for, and of course, grandparents!
Greg has graciously provided a discount code for #streetwalkers who want to purchase this book. For the rest of 2023, anyone who uses the promo code FS25 at checkout, will receive a 25% discount!
Make sure you snatch this book just in time for the holidays!
Jonathan Cilia Faro – Tenor (Opera) / Chef (The Mob Chef)
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Jonathan Cilia Faro
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Jonathan Cilia Faro. Jonathan is a professional opera singer; more specifically, a tenor. In this episode, we chat about his growing up in Sicily, listening to opera, and why. We also talk about how he honed his singing skills, and what brought him to the United States. (Spoiler alert, he came to the U.S to follow “The American Dream”. Jonathan explains why he is grateful to be an American citizen, and what America means to him. We discuss some of his recent singing projects, including working with Alan Parsons, Gary Chapman, and Donny Most. Plus, we get into his upcoming show alongside comedian Brad Stine: Spirit of America, on November 12th, at the Fisher Center in Nashville, TN. Along the way, we talk about how and why Jonathan became known as ‘The Mob Chef’, and why he enjoys cooking so much. He often appears on television programs and talk shows Cooking and singing at the same time! Jonathan has a new album out called Romantico, and he lets me play one of his newest releases, a duet with Vanessa Campagna!
***PLUS, THERE IS A GIVEAWAY!!!
Stewart Anstead – Artist / Painter (The DK Series)
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Stewart Anstead
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Stewart Anstead. Stewart is an artist, more specifically a painter. He has produced some of the most beautiful and unique pieces I have ever seen. Some of his art is inspired by automobile racing, some is inspired by iconic athletes; but all of his pieces are themselves inspiring. In this episode, Stewart takes us on a journey of finding that thing in life that pulls you, that part of you that won’t be ignored. He shares with us the path that led him from California’s North Bay (Chico) to Utah (BYU), and the artistic steps along the way. We discuss the artistic value he sees in brands like: Nike, Converse, lettering, and even the human hand. Of course, we talk about such greats as: Warhol, Klimt, Picasso, Pollock, Banksy, and Bob Ross. Stewart’s art is hanging in many homes & businesses, including The San Francisco Giants back offices, and comedian Adam Carolla’s home. His art features the likes of: Paul Newman racecars, Shelby American, Secretariat, Rudy Ruettiger, Madison Baumgartner, and tons more. Stewart has an inspiring story, and I thank him so much for sharing. You can actually commission an Anstead Piece of your own, as he gives his contact info toward the end.