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
Laura Niemi, Wendy Hopkins, Scott Cummins (Pool Boy)
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Laura Niemi, Wendy Hopkins, Scott Cummins (Pool Boy)
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know playwright Wendy Hopkins, director Scott Cummins, and get caught up with return guest; actress / producer Laura Niemi. In this episode; Wendy explains why she decided NOT to be a figure skater, but chose screenwriting & playwriting, Scott tells us why he got into the theater, and Laura explodes with excitement over working with them both! From there, we jump straight into their new play POOL BOY. Written by Wendy, directed by Scott, produced and staring Laura; this play takes place on location, at a house on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, and is all about isolation and the need for human contact during the recent Covid19 pandemic. POOL BOY runs July 17th through August 22, 2001 and is being put on by The Lost Angels Theatre Company in LA.
More information and tickets can be found at:
LostAngelsTheatreCompany.com or PoolBoyOnMulholland.com
Follow Laura, Wendy, and Scott on social media:
Laura:
Twit: @LauraNiemi
Insta: @LauraNiemi
FB: Laura Niemi
Wendy:
Insta: @WendyLHopkins
FB: Wendy Hopkins
Scott:
Insta: @ScottCummins66
FB: ScottCummins66
J. Keebler – Musician (Good Stuff)
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J. Keebler
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know J. Keebler from the band Good Stuff. In this episode J and I chat about him growing up in the Pocono Mountains, falling in love with music and getting his first guitar. Then he tells me about the time he came home to his parents’ house with a piano someone had given him! We discuss the therapeutic aspect that writing and performing music has on him, and he lets me play a song. We cover what it is like not being able to perform during the Covid pandemic and what his plans are coming out of it; before we end with an EXCLUSIVE new song by his band Good Stuff!
Follow J. and Good Stuff on social media:
Twit: @GSKeebler
Insta: @GoodStuffTheBand
FB: Good Stuff
Sandy Forster – International speaker / Author (How To Be Wildly Wealthy Fast)
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Sandy Forster
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Sandy Forster. Sandy is an international best selling author and public speaker who focuses on showing people how to understand and use The Law OF Attraction in their daily lives. In this episode we chat about growing up in Australia and shares a VERY wild thing her family did when she was younger (which blew my mind). Then we talk about the circumstances that left her more than $100,000 in debt and living on $7500 per year of welfare. Sandy then explains how; mainly due to a shift in her mindset, she was able to turn that situation around and become a LITERAL millionaire in 3 years. Finally, she tells us about her Inspired Spirit Coaching Academy, and then gives us 3 tips that can help all of us adjust our mindset, and help us get to a happier, and more mindful place in our lives. We laugh, we joke, we have fun along the way; but make no mistake, there is some golden life advice in this episode!
Follow Sandy on social media:
Insta: @SandyLForster
FB: @SandyForster
Website: WildlyWealthy.com
Janelle Arthur – Singer / Songwriter
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Janelle Arthur
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Janelle Arthur. Janelle is a country singer & songwriter in Nashville, and 5th place finalist on season 12 of American Idol. In this episode, we chat about her first job ever (as a 7 year old) working at Dollywood portraying a young Dolly Parton, and her experience auditioning & being on American Idol. Then we talk about her first ever movie Runnin From My Roots, where she played the lead role. Lastly we discuss her new single Hand Me Downs and how she was able to get Dolly Parton to sing it as a duet with her. She does let me play that song, as well as the title track from her film Runnin’ From My Roots. This is a sweet, genuine, and generous young lady, and I had a great time speaking with her.
Follow Janelle on social media:
Twit: @JanelleOArthur
Insta: @JanelleArthur
FB: Janelle Arthur
TikTok: @ JanelleArthur1
Chris Kidwell – Singer Songwriter (Texas Taliban / Not My Master)
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Chris Kidwell
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Chris Kidwell. Chris is the singer / songwriter for the new Thrash Metal band out of El Paso, Texas called TEXAS TALIBAN. In this episode Chris and I chat about where he grew up and how he got into music. Next we discuss the importance of widening your horizons and seeing (and hearing) things from outside of your town; which is why he joined the US Army and got to see and experience the world. We discuss how Texas Taliban was formed and some of the bands the members are also in. He lets me play my favorite track off of their debut EP called Tu Rey Muerto. And finally Chris has a message for all fans of all musicians.
Follow Chris and Texas Taliban on social media:
Twit: @2Krunked / @Texas_Taliban
Insta: @Kidwell03 / @Texas_Taliban
FB: Christo Cydwell / Texas Tali3an
Orianthi – World Renowned Guitarist
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Orianthi
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Australian born, and world renowned guitarist Orianthi. In this episode The Queen of Shred and I chat about growing up in Australia, and being turned onto decades old music by her father, and how she fell in love with the older rock and blues sound. Then Lady O shares stories from her career including playing with: Prince, Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Richie Sambora, Alice Cooper, Steve Vai, and more. Then we talk about her new signature Gibson J200 guitar, her forthcoming album, her fall 2021 tour, and her now multi- platinum single According To You; which recently hit a new milestone. Orianthi lets me play a song from her previous album O; and we end the show talking about her June 19th live stream concert being streamed from the SANRE Geosphere!
Follow Orianthi on social media:
Twitter: Orianthi
Insta: @IAmOrianthi
FB: Orianthi
TikTok: @OfficialOrianthi
Check out her website: IAmOrianthi.com
Buy tickets to the livestream: SanreStreaming.com
Hugh Fink – Comedy Writer (SNL / Martha & Snoop)
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Hugh Fink
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know comedy writing icon Hugh Fink. Hugh has written for such shows as: The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, and he spent SEVEN years writing for Saturday Night Live. In this episode we chat about what it was like growing up in a Jewish family in a VERY unlikely; and UN-Jewish place. Then we jump right into how and why he got into comedy and tv writing. Hugh tells us some fun stories about working in the industry, including stories about SNL, the time he almost got David Spade beat up by Eddie Murphy, and even a phone call he had with OJ Simpson! Finally, we discuss Hugh’s classes where he teaches; both how to write comedy sketches, and how to write for late night television. I had such a great time sitting down with Hugh! Special thanks to our mutual friend Stephen Krueger for making this happen. Enjoy!
Hugh is not on social media but you can connect with him at HughFink.com
Kinky Friedman Pt.2 – Musician/ Activist/ Echo Hill Camp/ LEGEND
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Kinky Friedman Pt. 2
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I conclude my conversation with Texas Treasure Kinky Friedman. In this episode we start off by having a toast and a shot of bourbon! Then we launch into the wonderful things that Kinky and his sister are doing with their Echo Hill Ranch; which is reviving it as a Echo Hill Camp for children of Gold Star Families and children of First Responders. Kinky tells some more stories, tells a joke or two, lets me play my favorite song from his previous album (Resurrection); and the show concludes with The Kinkster playing (LIVE) one of the songs off of his upcoming album The Poet of Motel 6. What a LEGEND.
Follow Kinky on social media:
Twit: @FriedmanKinky
Insta: @KinkyFriedmanOfficial
FB: Kinky Friedman / Echo Hill Ranch (Official)
Website: KinkyFriedman.com
Donate to the camp: EchoHill.org
BJ Thomas 1942-2021 (Re-Release)
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This is a RE-release of an earlier episode.
In December of 2020, I released my interview with BJ Thomas.
A short 4 months later he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
BJ passed away today; May 29th, 2021 at the age of 78.
He was super nice to me and generous with his time.
Please enjoy my conversation with a true music legend.
Rest easy BJ.
-Steve
Kinky Friedman Pt.1 – Musician/ Author/ Politician/ Activist/ LEGEND
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Kinky Friedman
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know a legend, in part 1 of my conversation with Kinky Friedman. Richard “Kinky” Friedman is a singer / songwriter, musician, author, activist, and former politician. In short…. Kinky is a LEGEND. In this episode, The Kinkster and I chat about moving to Texas when he was 1 year old because he couldn’t find work, and eventually becoming a musician. We discuss some of his songs, (including one that was very important to Nelson Mandela while he was in prison). We also talk about the current state of the music industry, and some of Kinky’s more recent albums; including his forthcoming release ‘The Poet Of Motel 6’. Then we spend some time talking about a new project where (previous guest) Mike Dawson is narrating all TWENTY of Kinky’s detective novels as audio books! Along the way, Kinky shares stories about Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and even Abbie Hoffman; plus, Kinky lets me play a couple of his songs. This is part 1 of my conversation with the great Kinkster. Make sure you come back for part 2, and the conclusion of our talk.
Follow Kinky on social media:
Twit: @FriedmanKinky
Insta: @KinkyFriedmanOfficial
FB: Kinky Friedman
KinkyFriedman.com