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
Phil Varone – Drummer (Saigon Kick / Panic Boom)
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Phil Varone
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Phil Varone. Phil is the drummer for the bands Saigon Kick and Panic Boom. In this episode, we chat about Saigon Kick and Phil let’s me play their massive 1992 hit “Love Is On The Way”. He tells us a little bit about his time with Skid Row and Vince Neil. Then we discuss his stint on the reality show ‘Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew’, and OF COURSE I ask him about his December 2010 cover & centerfold appearance for Playgirl magazine. Finally, we talk about his new band Panic Boom, and he let’s me play their new single “Revolution”; before we close out talking about his upcoming documentary “Thirty Years A Drummer.
Follow Phil on social media:
Twit: @RealPhilVarone
Insta: @RealPhilVarone
FB: Phil Varone
Website: PhilVarone.com / 30yearsadrummer.com
Courtney Warner Shrem – Crypto Advocate / Actress (Ask Me To Dance)
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Courtney Warner Shrem
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Courtney Warner Shrem. Courtney is an advocate for crypto currencies and an actress in the new film Ask Me To Dance. In this episode, we chat about her previous career as a hip hop dancer, and why she made the move to acting. We discuss her new film Ask Me To Dance, which stars previous guests Gabriel Jarret, Jesse Kove, and Tom Malloy. She tells us how much fun it was to be on set, and how this experience made her and her husband (Charlie Shrem) want to get into the world of producing. Of course we discuss crypto currency, Bitcoin, and some of the infinite possibilities associated with this new wave of block chain technology. Look for Ask Me To Dance everywhere you watch movies!
Follow Courtney on social media:
Twit: @CourtMWarner
Insta: @crtac4lif
FB: Courtney Marie Shrem
Tom Malloy Returns! – Actor / Producer (Ask Me To Dance)
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Tom Malloy Returns!
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know even more about Tom Malloy. Tom is a writer, producer, actor, and now director. Having produced over a dozen films, Tom finally decided to direct one! In this episode, we chat about why he decided to finally take that next step, and how that made him want to type cast himself as a director. He tells us all about his new film Ask Me To Dance; which he wrote, starred, produced, and directed. It also stars previous guests Gabriel Jarret & Jesse Kove; as well as the enigmatic Joyce DeWitt!. Tom shares stories from the set, and even gives us some glimpses into some fun he had on other sets…. like when he got to dance with Betty White in a film! Tom explains what a producer is and what a producer does (because I am always confused about that); and finally, he explains a little about crypto currency and how it is making it’s way into financing productions in film and television.
Keep your eyes out for his new film: Ask Me To Dance!
Follow Tom on social media:
Twit: @TomMalloy
Insta: @TomMalloy
FB: Tom Malloy
website: Filmmakingstuff.com
Website: GlassHouseDistribution.com
Dusty Grant – Musician (Dusty Grant)
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Dusty Grant
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Dusty Grant.
Dusty is a musician in Kansas who is quickly making a name for himself in and around the music scene; not just locally, but regionally, and even nationally. In this episode we chat about why he moved from the Omaha area to the Wichita area, and what got him into music. We discuss some of the pitfalls associated with the music business, and he stresses the importance of being prepared for when an opportunity presents itself. Because of his tireless dedication and persistence; Dusty has had a phenomenal past year and a half or so. He has opened for some giant national acts like: Danielle Nicole, Daughtry, Candlebox, Blacktop Mojo, and more. He even had a couple of songs make Stange Currency’s top 10 list of local releases om NPR affiliate KMUW. Dusty lets me play one of those songs, and I think you will understand why it made the list, and why his star is rising.
Follow Dusty on social media:
Twit: @DustyGrant57
Insta: @DustyGrant57
FB: Dusty Grant
TikTok: @DustyGrant57
YouTube: Dusty Grant
Steven O’Reilly Returns! – Musician (Soul Circus Cowboys)
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Steven O’Reilly Returns!
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I catch up with previous guest Steven O’Reilly in his return appearance. In this episode, we chat about how it’s going since he moved from Louisville, Kentucky to Tampa Bay, Florida a little over a year ago. He tells us about the status of his podcast: The Bar Star Podcast, his new band: Soul Circus Cowboys, and all about this new adventure his wife and he are about to embark on. Steven and I chatted for well over two hours, so it was really hard to get down to a reasonable length episode. We do play one of Soul Circus Cowboys’ songs, and I think you’re gonna dig it!
Follow Steven on social media:
Twit: @OreillyDrums
Insta: @OreillyDrums
FB: Steven O’Reilly
Follow Soul Circus Cowboys on social media:
Twit: @SoulCircusTweet
Insta: @SoulCircusCowboysMusic
FB: Soul Circus Cowboys
Soulcircuscowboys.com
Richard Stanley – Bank Robber / Author (Up On Game Series)
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Richard Stanley
Take a walk down Fascination Street as I get to know Richard Stanley.
Richard was convicted of robbing thirteen banks in southern California in the early 2000’s. Known as ‘The Skinny Bandit’; Richard learned most of what he needed to know from a television show called The FBI Files. He used the show as a sort of ‘how to’ video series of what NOT to do. In this episode, we chat about what about growing up in Otay, Ca. would make him want to rob banks, and what made him think he could get away with it. He takes us step by step through the events of his very first bank robbery. We talk about how he got caught, and a little about his time in prison. Then we cover what some of his jobs were after prison, and why he decided to write the ‘Up On Game’ series of books. There are two in the series so far: ‘Up On Game: From Robbing Banks To Stacking Bitcoin’ and the sequel; “Up On Game: When I Ruled The World’.
Previous guest Mike Dawson reads the audiobook versions of both books, which are available everywhere fine books & audiobooks are sold. We also touch briefly on his crypto trading and the world he is building in the metaverse on Decentraland.org. This was a very fascinating and engaging conversation. We didn’t even really cover the second book, which was written after some statutes of limitations expired. If I had to guess, I would say that Richard will return for a second episode!
Follow Richard on social media:
Twit: @UpOnGameBook
Insta: @Up_On_Game_Book
Metaverse: Decentraland.org Coordinates: 59 -139
Jason Ritter RETURNS! – Actor (Raising Dion Season)
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Jason Ritter RETURNS!
THIS IS PART OF MY RAISING DION SEASON 2 WEEK-LONG PODCASTING EVENT
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know even more about Jason Ritter.
Jason is a third generation actor who has more than a hundred acting credits, and counting. In this episode we chat about a fairly recent short form documentary about his father (John Ritter) that aired on ABC, called ‘Superstar: John Ritter’. Then we get caught up with what it’s like to be a dad, and how Jason and his family endured Covid. Finally; we discuss all things Raising Dion season 2 (no spoilers). Raising Dion season 2 is out now on Netflix. Revisit season 1 and then forge right ahead into season 2. This is a great family friendly show with excitement and plot twists.
Follow Jason on social media:
Twit: @JasonRitter
Insta: @Jason_Ritter
FB: Jason Ritter
TikTok: JasonRitter1980
Ja’Siah Young – Actor (Raising Dion)
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Ja’Siah Young.
THIS IS PART OF MY RAISING DION SEASON 2 WEEK-LONG PODCASTING EVENT
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know actor Ja’Siah Young.
Ja’Siah is a ten-year-old actor who stars in the hit Netflix show Raising Dion (now in it’s second season). In this episode, Ja’Siah and I chat about what made him want to become an actor, what he wants to be when he grows up, and what it feels like to be the lead character of a show at such a young age. He tells us how he spent his time during Covid, and how he likes to spend his time when he isn’t working. This episode is part of my week long special podcast event focusing on the release of Season 2 of Raising Dion. Make sure you catch all 5 episodes in the series!
Catch Raising Dion on Netflix (OUT NOW!)
Follow Ja’Siah on social media:
Twit: @Ja’SiahYoung
Insta: @Ja’SiahYoungOfficial
FB: Ja’Siah Young
TikTok: Ja’SiahYoungOfficial
and his YouTube channel: Ja’Siah Young
Sammi Haney RETURNS! – Actress (Raising Dion)
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Sammi Haney RETURNS!
THIS IS PART OF MY RAISING DION SEASON 2 WEEK-LONG PODCASTING EVENT
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know even more about return guest Sammi Haney. This is Sammi’s second appearance on the show, and she holds the record for being the youngest guest ever to appear on Fascination Street Podcast. Sammi is an actress and inspiration. She plays Esperanza on Netflix’s Raising Dion, which just released their second season. In this episode we chat about Sammi, Ja’Siah (Dion), and Gavin (Johnathan) playing on the set, and getting up to shenanigans when they aren’t working. We also talk about how much she is looking forward to season two. Sammi tells us how she spent her Covid, about some recent surgeries, and her new pet! We also have some laughs about how much fun it is to work on Raising Dion and to be best friends with the other kids on the show. I mean they all play Minecraft together!
Obviously there are no spoilers for season two; but go back and watch season one if you haven’t. Special thanks to Sammi’s parents Matt and Priscilla for once again making this happen.
Follow Sammi on social media:
Insta: @SammiHaney
FB: Disability Shirts
Check out her website: DisabilityShirts.com
Gavin Munn – Actor (The Righteous Gemstones / Raising Dion)
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Gavin Munn
THIS IS PART OF MY RAISING DION SEASON 2 WEEK-LONG PODCASTING EVENT
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Gavin Munn.
Gavin is a child actor who is quickly making a name for himself. Starting at age 5; Gavin is fairly well accomplished at the tender age of 12. Having starred in a film with Robert Deniro, and currently acts on not one; but TWO very popular tv shows! Gavin stars as Abraham Gemstone on HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones (currently in its second season) and as Jonathan King on Netflix’s Raising Dion (currently in its second season). In this episode, we chat about what it is like to work with Robert Deniro, as well as John Goodman, and Danny McBride. We also talk about being real life friends with his co-stars on both sets, plus what kinds of daredevil activities he likes to get up to while not filming. Gavin is pretty down to earth and has just about as much fun working, and he does playing. Check out Season 2 of The Righteous Gemstones and season 2 of Raising Dion; both available now!
Follow Gavin on social media:
Insta: @GavinWMunn