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
Ted Page – Author (Good Grandpa) / Marketing Executive (Captains of Industry)
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Ted Page
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Ted Page. Ted is a marketing executive with his own firm, as well the author of several books. In this episode we discuss his early days in advertising; working for McCann- Erickson, and what led him to start his own company called Captains of Industry. Next, we get into a couple of the books that he has written previously, including a collection of family stories, and a book about branding & marketing. Then we talk about his most recent book Good Grandpa: Stories From the Heart of Grandfatherhood. Along the way, we discover that he worked with a previous guest of my show, more than 30 years ago! We dive into the impact that his own grandfathers had on him growing up, and why he felt that it was important to be that figure in the lives of his own grandchildren. We touch on the book and some of the folks that he interviewed and some of the things that he learned during this process. Ted shares anecdotes about Monarch butterflies, City Slickers, ‘The Number One Thing’, and ‘The Greatest Generation’. This book is a fantastic read, even if you may never be a grandparent. The book is worth the read just for life lessons and the engaging stories from his family’s campground on Lake Willoughby in Vermont. Special thanks to previous guest and really good dude; Greg Payne of The Cool Grandpa Podcast for making this happen.
Brian Huskey – Comedian / Writer / Actor (Bob’s Burgers / Mr. Neighbor’s House/ Veep)
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Brian Huskey
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Brian Huskey. You know Brian’s face from such iconic shows as Veep, Neighbors, Search Party & Mr. Neighbor’s House 1 & 2. You know his voice from mega hits like Bob’s Burgers, Beavis and Butt-Head, and Central Park. In this episode, we chat about his path to television & film. Brian started making movies in high school with some friends but didn’t really pursue it as a career until college. He shares some of that inspiration and some of the moments that let him know that this was a legitimate career option for him. We touch on some of his early work as a writer, as well as his early days as the bass player for a band called Bicycle Face. (Spoiler alert, he lets me play his favorite track from their album). Next, we talk about getting involved with the Upright Citizens Brigade, Naked Babies improv, comedy, and writing his own projects. Mr. Neighbor’s House is one of his favorite projects that he has ever been part of. He created it, wrote it, executive produced it, & starred in it. He did the same a few years later with Mr. Neighbor’s House 2. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t grill him about his previous podcast called Bald Talk! Naturally we discuss his VH-1 television show Free Radio, some of his earliest acting memories, and his upcoming horror film Thinestra. Follow Brian on Instagram and see / hear him on just about everything you watch.
Dana Teller – Comedian
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Dana Teller.
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know comedian Dana Teller. In this episode, we chat about where she grew up and what made her decide to become an accountant. She shares wonderful stories about how supportive her parents were, and continue to be. Next we discuss how her brother giving her 5 minutes notice that she would be giving a toast at his wedding, inspired her to become a comedian. Dana worked her butt off as an accountant, and socked away enough money to give her a bit of a bumper, so that she could pursue her dream to become a stand up comedian. Dana routinely travels the country crushing at sold out shows from Los Angeles to Miami. Next we get into some specific instances where her parents, and even her siblings, have helped her gain the confidence to make this massive career change. We talk about how to treat hecklers, some of the crazy stuff that happens to female comics, and her ‘no excuses’ mentality that has served her so well. We end the show talking about her pending nuptials, and whether she will change her name when she finally does get hitched! I should add that Miles Teller is her brother; though this interview is not about him, we do talk about him a tiny bit. Follow Dana on all the socials, and go laugh at her on stage if she is anywhere near you!
Anna Vocino Returns! – Actress (Dead Poets Society / Free Radio) / Food Entrepreneur (Eat Happy Kitchen)
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Take a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know even more about Anna Vocino. Anna’s first appearance on the show was released on 6.13.22. I recommend going back and checking that one out, as it was A BLAST! This time around, we discuss some different stuff. We kick the show off talking about her first experience on a film set. Anna was in the classic film Dead Poets Society, where she got to hang out with the late, great Robin Williams. We then transition into her work on another Robin Williams project, this time for television. The Crazy Ones was one of Robin’s last projects, so naturally I ask her about working on that with him. Anna and I then talk about a series she worked on called Free Radio, and she tells some great stories from that set as well. Then we move onto the subject of her health. Anna has some fairly unique immune related issues that she deals with on a daily basis. She is fine, but does navigate some challenges, and she is very open about dealing with those. Of course, we discuss her working with the wonderful Vinnie Tortorich and their podcast Fitness Confidential, before we dive into her Eat Happy empire! Anna has released 3 cookbooks (a fourth to be released in October of 2026), and an ever-growing product line! Eat Happy Kitchen currently offers: 4 pasta sauces (marinara, arrabbiata, puttanesca, pink crema), and 1 seasonal pasta sauce (pumpkin marinara), as well as 4 spice mixes (BBQ Dust, Taco Seasoning, Dill Ranch Seasoning, Salt / Onion Dust), and now offering 3 flavors of Crispy Crunchy Cheese Bites (Cheddar & BBQ, White Cheddar & Onion, Monterey Jack & Onion). We talk about all of these products, and where to find them. They are all available at EatHappyKitchen.com, as well as myriad grocery stores nationwide. Anna shares some behind the scenes stories about what it takes to get a product on the shelf at your local grocery store. As always, no matter what we are talking about; Anna brings the funny! Oh, and pay special attention because we decide to offer a special deal to all of the listeners!
Dr. Jeffrey Burke – Director of Education for Kokora Life
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Dr. Jeffrey Burke
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Dr. Jeffrey Burke. Dr. Burke has been an expert in the natural products & herbal supplement industry for the past 4 decades. In this episode, we chat about how he got into that field, and why he decided to become a Naturopathic Practitioner, as well as a Master Herbalist. We discuss his 20,000 plus episodes of his national radio show, and why he ended it after 40 years. Dr. Burke also explains what a naturopathic practitioner is, what a master herbalist is, and what it means to be a certified nutritional consultant. Dr. Burke extolls the virtues and benefits of several natural products including: Ashwagandha, Turmeric, & others; and then tells me about how those herbs help alleviate the symptoms of stress, inflammation, and allergies. We discuss The Mediterranean Diet, and how the things that we become allergic to change with our environment. Dr. Jeffrey Burke recently became the Director of Education for Kokora Life; and as such, he tells me all about the new style of farming that Kokora is taking part in. The owner of Kokora Life is Ric Scalzo, a leader in the field for decades, and he has instituted Certified Regenerative Agriculture practices on his farm in Costa Rica. Dr. Burke tells me what that means, and why it is transforming the farming & agricultural landscape worldwide. Finally, we discuss his podcast: Honest Health With Dr. Jeffrey Burke. On his podcast, he speaks with industry experts, as well as athletes, dieticians, and food health professionals. He even does deep dives on some of the specific herbs & products offered by Kokora Life. His goal with that podcast is to educate folks on the benefits of these supplements, whether they use his company’s brand or not. Find His show on Spotify & YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.
Geoffrey Blake- Actor (Young Guns / Forrest Gump) – Teacher / Screenwriter
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Geoffrey Blake Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Geoffrey Blake. You know Geoffrey from such iconic hits as: Young Guns, Forrest Gump, Contact, Midway, and more. In this episode, we chat about almost none of those projects. Instead, we get to know Geoffrey. We find out how & where he grew up, why they moved around so much, how his health is these days, and some crazy stories about his family. Next, we move into some of the acting classes that he was part of when he was just getting started, as well as the acting class that he teaches these days. Naturally, we touch on Young Guns, and his work with Emilio Estevez & Lou Diamond Phillips. He shares a crazy story about paparazzi in Santa Monica, involving him, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, and the city council. This story is insane. Of course, we talk about some of his past and upcoming writing projects, and so much more! Geoffrey has promised to come back on the show for round 2, and maybe THEN he will share the story of the time he met Lizzo!
Sophie Flack – Ballerina (NYC Ballet) / Author (Bunheads) / Jewelry Designer (Mad Fine)
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Sophie Flack
Take a walk me down Fascination Street Podcast, as I get to know Sophie Flack. I was first introduced to Sophie as a result of a conversation with previous guest Yul Vazquez. Sophie is a former member of The Corp De Ballet with The New York City Ballet. After she retired from that, she got a degree from Columbia University, and then wrote a best-selling Young Adult novel called Bunheads, which explores the intricacies and heartaches of the life of a professional ballerina. Sophie has written for multiple magazines and publications about her experiences and has helped shine a light on some of the ways that these dancers are treated. Fairly recently, Sophie started a jewelry company which focuses on pieces that help de-stigmatize mental health and eating disorders. Her company is called MAD FINE, and some of the pieces include ‘in the know’ references to: Zanex, Klonopin, Prozac, and the abortion pill. She has pieces that align with emotional baggage, and even silly trophies. All of these pieces are designed to bring these issues to light and for the wearer to engage in conversations with like-minded individuals. These pieces are stunning, and unique. My personal favorite is the mixed metals cassette tape! Sophie is very vulnerable in this conversation. She openly discusses her previous battles with anorexia, self-doubt, and thoughts of suicide. Check out her jewelry, read her book, heck, just reach out and tell her you enjoyed her candor.
Drew Arnott – Musician (Strange Advance)
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Drew Arnott
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Drew Arnott. In this episode, Drew and I chat about his growing up between Scottland and Canada, and why. Then we do a bit of a deep dive on the unique and rare instrument called The Mellotron. Drew shares some fun and nutty stories about his own Mellotron, and then we get into why he and Darryl Kromm started Strange Advance in the first place. Strange Advance signed a deal with Capitol Records and released TWO albums; having never played a single live show. Drew explains how that is even possible, and why that happened. The first THREE records released by Strange Advance sold GOLD in Canada, and then they stopped making music….. for 33 years. I ask Drew what the heck happened, and he gives me the deets. Strange Advance has released a new record. Thier fourth record, aptly titled ‘Strange Advance 4’ is out now, and is a banger! Drew graciously agrees to let me play ‘Flow My Tears’, my favorite track from the new album, and you will understand why that is my fave. Currently, you can catch Strange Advance playing in and around Canada, at various shows and events. Make sure you follow them on social media, specifically Facebook, and check out their website to find out when they will be playing a show near you.
Bård Ylvisåker – Norwegian Comedian & Musician (Ylvis)
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Bård Ylvisåker
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Bård Ylvisåker. Bård is one half of the Norwegian comedy & music duo “Ylvis”. In this episode, we chat about how growing up in Africa and abroad helped him and his brother (Vegard) develop their own sense of comedy. He shares stories of the brothers getting started and finding the way to their own unique sound and comedic voice. I also ask him about some of the variety television shows that him & Vegard participated in and developed. They hosted a radio show for several years on Norway; as well as several comedy television series in the region. Obviously, we talk about his experience on ‘Taskmaster’ (Kongen Befaler) as well as the show “I Kveld med Ylvis”. Then, in 2013, Ylvis rocketed to worldwide stardom with the smash comedy-pop hit song “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)”. This song became a global phenomenon, with over 1.2 BILLION views on YouTube. Bård explains what the song is about, and what the success of it did for him and his brother. He describes what it was like to tour the world, while having a brand-new baby, and how that kept him grounded. We also discuss a 7-episode comedy series made for Norwegian television called ‘Stories From Norway’. This series was based on true events where a group of Norwegian scientists launched a rocket carrying scientific equipment to study the Aurora Borealis. Due to an error in communication within Russia; officials there mistook it for a nuclear warhead headed toward Russia, launched by an American submarine off the coast of Norway. The story is absolutely insane, but true, The Ylvis television series made light of the event, while also spreading the knowledge that it was the closest we have come to an actual nuclear war on Earth. Hard to believe, but the songs from this project are hilarious! You can find those songs on Spotify and elsewhere; but the TV show itself, is nearly impossible to locate. So, if anyone has, or can find it…. SEND IT TO ME! Naturally, Bård lets me play ‘The Fox’, and another song by Ylvis that is also one of my favorites. Check them out at Ylvis.com and see what they are up to.
Matt Borlenghi – Actor (Cobra Kai / Can You Feel The Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story
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Matt Borlenghi
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know actor Matt Borlenghi. In this episode, we chat about growing up in Los Angeles and attending the famed Beverly Hills High School. Then we discuss his godfather Jerry Vale and Matt’s thoughts on nepotism in the industry. Jerry could have helped Matt along in his career, very early on, with an introduction to Martin Scorsese; but Matt turned him down. So, I dive deep on whether Matt has changed his mind about favors from friends and family. Next, we talk about how Matt’s best friend seemingly changed almost overnight, once the friend got famous. Matt was a breakout star on All My Children as Brian Bodine, after having delivered a well noticed performance on the cop drama Hunter. So naturally we cover his time on the soap opera, and how his leaving, led to Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos marrying and building their empire. Then I ask Matt why he has personally participated in over 50 autopsies in Las Vegas. That’s a wild story. Matt i part of the cast of the new film ‘Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story’; which is generating a lot og buzz about the iconic female musician. We close the episode by touching briefly on a few projects that Matt has been working on lately, and then focusing on the skateboard culture themes streetwear clothing line that he has come up with, and why he decided to move forward with it. Check out Matt in these and other projects and follow him on all the things!