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
Angela Parchetta – Singer / Songwriter
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Angela Parchetta
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Angela Parchetta. Angela is a singer songwriter currently based in Nashville, Tn. In this episode we chat about why she wanted to be a music teacher growing up, how she achieved that goal, and then set new goals for herself in becoming a passionate singer and songwriter. We have a lot of fun going back and forth, making each other laugh, and Angela lets me play her new single Never Again! She explains the reasons for her move to Nashville from upstate New York, and some of the meanings behind her lyrics.
Follow Angela on social media:
Twitter: @AngelaParchetta
Instagram: @AngelaParchetta
FB: Angela Parchetta
Scott Russo Returns! – Singer / Songwriter (Unwritten Law)
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Scott Russo Returns!
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know MORE about return guest Scott Russo. Scott is the lead singer for the punk / pop punk band Unwritten Law. In this episode we chat about their new album THE HUM, which was just released three days ago. He shares his passion for this new music, as well as what it took to get it made and released. Scott explains why they made it, why they released it now, and his thoughts on the two different colors of vinyl you can get the album in! Plus, he lets me play the first song off the new album.
The Hum is the first album of NEW music released by Unwritten Law in over a decade.
Out now and available everywhere!
Follow Scott on social media:
Instagram: @ScottRusso / @UnwrittenLawOfficial
Twitter: @Unwritten_Law
FB: Unwritten Law
Simon Majumdar – Food Critic / Author & Podcaster (Food Network / Eat My Globe)
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Simon Majumdar
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Simon Majumdar. After decades in the book publishing business, Simon decided to jump feet first into a new career. He became a world traveling food critic and author. That led to him becoming a frequent guest critic and personality on various Food Network programs, for over a decade now. We talk all about Simon’s journey from then to now, as well as his podcast: Eat My Globe; now entering its NINTH season! We talk about how his life has been affected by Anthony Bourdain, Alton Brown, Guy Fieri, and food in general. He explains what he loves about food and food history, and he regales us with several food history stories that will make you re-think EVERYTHING you know about your food!
See Simon on Food Network shows like:
*Tournament of Champions
*Guy’s Grocery Games
*The Next Iron Chef
*Beat Bobby Flay
*Good Eats: The Return
*Iron Chef America
*The Best Thing I Ever Ate
Follow Simon on social media:
Twit: @SimonMajumdar
Insta: @SimonMajumdar
FB: @SimonMajumdar
Check out Simon’s podcast: Eat My Globe available wherever you get finer podcasts.
Chris Ballew – Musician (The Presidents of the United States of America / Caspar Babypants)
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Chris Ballew
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Chris Ballew. Chris is a musician and founding member and lead singer of the alternative rock band The Presidents of the United States of America. Chris is also known as Caspar Babypants; catering music for parents and kids to enjoy together. In this episode we chat about why he was drawn to music, touring as a band member with Beck for 2 tours, forming The Presidents, managing huge hits like Peaches, and Lump, and some of the strangely stringed instruments he has played in those songs. He shares stories about Sir Mix A Lot, Beck, Madonna, and even a great story about Kurt Cobain’s GHOST! We talk about he second, third, and now fourth musical incarnation; including Caspar Babypants, writing music for tv, film, and commercials, and his latest project, ethereal music. All of this and more, Chris HAS to com back!
Follow Chris on social media:
Insta: @ChrisBallew
Check out his music at: ChrisBallew.org & Babypantsmusic.com
Tripp Mickle – Author / Journalist (After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion Dollar Company and Lost It’s Soul)
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Tripp Mickle
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street ss I get to know Tripp Mickle. Tripp is a journalist having previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, and currently working at The New York Times. He is also the author of the new book ‘After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul’. In this episode we chat about why he wanted to be a journalist, and what took him to The Wall Street Journal. He tells us why he felt the need to write this book, and why the focus on the post Steve Jobs era of the company. Naturally Tripp explains how (and why) he went from the WSJ to The New York Times. We talk pretty in depth about this book and I have tons of questions about some of the stories in it. We do a deep dive on Jony Ive (the Chief Design Officer for Apple for many years) and Tim Cook (the current Chief Executive Officer for Apple). We discuss some of the design elements of several Apple products and some of the turmoil inside the company at the very top. This book is a fantastic read; weather you like Apple or not. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. As a matter of fact, we are giving away a copy of this book! Pay attention to the giveaway rules at the end.
Follow Tripp on social media:
Twit: @TrippMickle
Joanna Kerns – Actress / Director / Exec Prod (Growing Pains / A Million Little Things)
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Joanna Kerns
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Joanna Kerns. Beginning her showbiz career as a dancer, Joanna worked with legends such as Gene Kelly and Dean Martin! We talk about those icons, and then discuss how she landed the historic role of Maggie Seaver on the hit TV show growing Pains. She shares stories about working with Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron and Tracy Gold. Then we move into her directing career, where she has directed a ton of TV shows spanning sit-com’s, to drama’s, to dramedies. Finally, we talk about A Million Little Things. Joanna is co-executive producer, and director of this smash hit on ABC. We chat about what exactly her role as co-EP entails, and a little bit about working with James Roday and Jason Ritter before briefly sharing the news that she will be directing one of the episodes of the resurrected TV show Night Court! In the end we make each other a promise, and I don’t know if l can fulfill mine!
Follow Joanne on social media:
Twit: @JoannaKerns
Insta: @The.Real.joannaKerns
FB: @JoannaKerns
Chrystee Pharris – Actress (Passions, Scrubs, Monogamy)
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Chrystee Pharris
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know actress Chrystee Pharris. In this episode we chat about when she decided that she wanted to be an actress, (it was younger than anyone I have ever had on the show!). We also talk about her time on the daytime soap opera Passions, she tells a great story about auditioning for Scrubs, and her show Monogamy, which recently finished it’s third season. I ask Chrystee about her one woman show, and the TWO talk shows that she is working on! Of course I had to ask her about her friend and mentor Ted Lange!
Follow Chrystee on social media:
Twit: @ChrysteePharris
Insta: @ChrysteePharris
FB: Chrystee Pharris
Chuck Shute – Podcaster (The Chuck Shute Podcast)
Chuck Shute
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know podcaster Chuck Shute.
Chuck is the host of the Chuck Shute Podcast, which features a variety of guests. Everything from world famous music legends, hilarious comedians, ex-Navy Seals, celebrity fitness trainers, and TV & movie stars! In this episode we chat about his career in education, and what made him leave that field to start a podcast. We discuss some of the mutual guests that we have both had on our respective shows, and how our interview styles differ. Then we get into what his hopes for the future of his show are, and the steps he is taking to ensure that it happens.
You can find The Chuck Shute Podcast on Apple, Spotify, everywhere you get podcasts.
Be sure to check out his show on YouTube as well.
Follow Chuck on social media:
Twit: @ChuckShute
Insta: @ChuckShute / @ChuckShutePodcast
Anna Vocino – Comic / Podcaster (Fitness Confidential) / Cookbook Author (Eat Happy & Eat Happy Too)
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Anna Vocino
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Anna Vocino. I first hear Anna on the podcast Fitness Confidential with Vinnie Tortorich, and I finally got her on the show. Anna is an actress, voice over actress, comic, cookbook author, podcaster, and she even sells her own line of foods; like pasta sauces and spice blends! In this episode we chat about all of that, and why she decided to each of these things. We also discuss how she came to be part of the NSNG universe, why she started selling her own branded foods, and what is coming up next for her. We trade Paul Cappelli stories (R.I.P.) We laugh all through this thing! Go get her cookbooks: Eat Happy & Eat Happy Too!
Follow Anna on social media:
Twit: @AnnaVocino
Insta: @AnnaVocino
FB: Anna Vocino
Website: EatHappyKitchen.com
Marc David Levine – Tony Award Winning Producer (Company / Fly More Than You Fall / American Buffalo)
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Marc David Levine
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Marc David Levine. After starting many businesses while growing up, and into his adulthood; Marc found himself in the business of producing Broadway Musicals. Marc has had a hand in producing tons of shows including: On Your Feet, Tina: The Tina Turner Story, Company, Hadestown, Fly More Than You Fall, American Buffalo, and Mr. Saturday Night. Marc won his Tony award for producing Hadestown. In this episode we talk about a few of those musicals, and some of the companies that Marc has started including Gemini Theatrical Investors, Premier Party, and Model Bartenders. Marc shares a fun story about partying so hard he got thrown out of a hotel, and I share an embarrassing story about one of my experiences on Broadway.
Follow Marc on social media:
Insta: MarcDLevine
FB: Marc Levine
Follow Gemini Theatrical Investors on social media:
Insta: GeminiTheatrical
FB: Gemini Theatrical Investors LLC