The TanGent Show

Ep. 9: "I Dream of Joni" Author Henry Alford

Henry Alford is a distinguished humorist and journalist with over two decades of contributions to The New Yorker. Alford, also a former columnist for The New York Times and a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, has authored six books, including the Thurber Prize-winning Big Kiss: One Actor's Desperate Attempt to Claw His Way to the Top. Years ago, I somehow ended up on his bcc email distribution. He'd ask if we had anything to add to a piece of his, and—I love this—would always ensure we included "the WHERE and WHEN in any anecdote so it isn't unspooling in undefined space. "Unspooling in undefined space" has always stayed with me. In fact, when I did reply, I ended up in The New York Times, in an article of his: "The Remarkable Shelf Life of the Offhand Comment [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/fashion/comments-manners-insults.html%23:~:text%3DSometimes%2520a%2520seemingly%2520trivial%2520comment,that%2520of%2520pemmican%2520or%2520granite.&ved=2ahUKEwiP1pyvmsqLAxWhh-4BHVSoAGMQFnoECCMQAw&usg=AOvVaw09VemaFsS7pfVPh34R3_CW]." Our conversation centered on his latest work, I Dream of Joni: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell in 53 Snapshots. This book offers a fresh perspective on the legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, exploring her journey from her childhood in Saskatoon, Canada, to her influential years in Laurel Canyon. Alford's portrayal is both witty and comprehensive, weaving together anecdotes, quotes, and lyrics to paint a vivid picture of Mitchell's multifaceted persona. During the discussion, Alford shared insights into his creative process and the challenges of capturing such a complex figure in a non-linear narrative. He emphasized his intent to present Mitchell's life in a manner that reflects her artistic spirit—unconventional and richly textured. I loved our convo, as I felt I got to know the book and the author in equal measure. I can now consider both "defined space." I Dream of Joni: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell in 53 Snapshots is available now from Gallery Books.

Ep. 8: "The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh" Creator Vijal Patel

How do you turn your comedy into a TV series? We cover a lot but that's the main theme of this episode. The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh has been ranked the #1 comedy streaming on Amazon Prime, so we turn to its creator Vijal Patel for the answer.

Ep. 7: P&G's Top Salesperson Joe Cucci

Of all the people I know, Joe Cucci is the one I admire the most in the business world. He's been a mentor of mine for 30 years. He headed up all of Procter & Gamble's salespeople in North America for decades. He's full of wisdom so I can't recommend this episode enough. Enjoy.

Ep. 6: Comedian Jimmy Dore

Self-described "jagoff nightclub comedian" Jimmy Dore has well north of 1 million YouTube subscribers. He is one of the most prominent true progressive voices in America. He is also one of the nicest guys in the game and it was super cool of him to come sit down with me in my Burbank studio. This marks the first time I've ever given this long of an introduction as I had that much to say about it. Jimmy made more claims in an hour than I think I've ever heard anyone make in any conversation, podcast or otherwise. And I wanted to provide my perspective as someone who has been following US politics for 30+ years. That all said, I felt I owed it to my more experienced and accomplished guest to allow my (and his) audience to hear him unfiltered. So, though the overall length is daunting, you can cue up to 41:39 to hear all of Jimmy's thoughts. Again, I cannot thank him enough for giving me unfettered access to his mind. Enjoy.

Ep. 5: Comedian Trae Crowder

In most American cities, comedian Trae Crowder can sell over 1,000 tickets. He's absolutely killin' the game with his video posts. In January 2024, I shared a stage with him here in Burbank as we both performed with the former Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony. NGL, I did great. But Trae absolutely crushed. So I was honored when he accepted my invitation to come over and answer my questions. Hilarious and insightful, please enjoy my conversation with the self-described Liberal Redneck, Trae Crowder.