Fascination Street

Throwback: Paul Feig - Director (Bridesmaids / A Simple Favor)

Hey Streetwalkers. This is a throwback episode with actor, producer, and director extraordinaire Paul Feig. Paul has been on the show 4 times, but he first appeared on the show on 9.6.18 It was such a compelling & fun episode, l decided it needed to be re-visited! Enjoy this throwback episode, tell a friend, and thanks for listening!  Paul Feig - Director (Bridesmaids / A Simple Favor) This week acclaimed director & producer Paul Feig joins me on the show. We talk about why he got into show business, Freaks and Geeks, why he dresses like a dapper British spy, The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale, and his new Hitchcockian psychological thriller A Simple Favor (starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively) IN THEATERS NOW! Follow Paul on social media: Twit: @PaulFeig Insta: @PaulFeig FB: Paul Feig also: @ASimpleFavor on Twitter & Instagram

Imaad Wasif - Musician (Imaad Wasif / The Yeah Yeah Yeahs)

Imaad Wasif Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Imaad Wasif. Imaad is a musician, singer, and songwriter from the California Desert. In this episode, we chat about how his family wound up living in the desert, and what it was like growing up as 'The Weird Indian Kid' in that fairly tightknit community. We do discuss his parents and their influences on his musicality as well as his overall worldview. While his family comes from India, his parents thought it might be a good idea to make a hasty retreat from their home country due to one of his folks being Muslim, while the other is Hindu. After a stint in Canda, then London, the family moved to Palm Desert. Imaad's influences know no bounds. Though his father was a Ghazal singer, the family spoke no Urdu at home, and Imaad grew up attending 'generator parties' in the desolate lands that are now famous for Coachella! Imaad generously lets me play my favorite song from his very first solo album from twenty years ago. The we do a deep dive into 'The Devine', the 'Super Consciousness', and what it means to have an 'awareness of self'. Naturally I ask how he came to be basically the fourth member of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs; with whom he has play for twenty years as well. Finally, we dig into Imaad's newest record. This is his SEVENTH solo album, and it is called 'Superconsciousness', and it was released in mid-March of this year. All of the songs are avail in all of the usual places, but YOU SHOULD PURCHASE the new album on Bandcamp. He is eve selling it on vinyl and includes several demo versions of some of the tracks. Speaking of which, Imaad is such a rad gut, that he lets me play my favorite track from the new record. The making of this record was severely hampered by the catastrophic wildfires in Altadena, California. Imaad lost some stuff but was very lucky overall, thank goodness. Follow Imaad Wasif on Instagram to see where he will be playing live next! ***LIVE AT PERMANENT RECORDS IN LOS ANGELES JULY 3RD***

Throwback: Vinnie Tortorich - Celebrity Fitness Trainer - Parts 1 & 2

Hey Streetwalkers. This is a throwback episode with celebrity fitness trainer, author & podcaster Vinnie Tortorich. Vinnie has been on the show 6 times. Far more than anyone else, but he first appeared on the show on 10.8.17. It was such a compelling & fun episode, l decided it needed to be re-visited! Enjoy this throwback episode, tell a friend, and thanks for listening!  Vinnie Tortorich - Celebrity Fitness Trainer - Part 1 Join me as I sit down with celebrity personal trainer, podcaster, and endurance cyclist Vinnie Tortorich. He tells us about how he grew up in a Louisiana bayou, and became one of the most respected names in training and fitness (not his words). He also shares very specific details about a pretty scary time in his life. Vinnie Tortorich - Celebrity Fitness Trainer - Part 2 Vinnie finishes his scary story, and tells us what he decided to do about his cancer diagnosis. Vinnie also talks about his book Fitness Confidential, and of course he regales us with a quaint love story involving a Bond Girl. Vinnie will surely be back...... Follow Vinnie on social media: Twit: @VinnieTortorich Insta: @VinnieTortorich FB: Vinnie Tortorich

Nils Rasmussen Returns! - Musician (Uncle Outrage)

Nils Rasmussen Returns! Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Nils Rasmussen even more. Nils first appeared on the show on 9.30.24. In this episode, we chat about what Nils has been up to since we last spoke. In that time, he has recorded and released another album. 'Probably Robots' is the newest record by Nils Rasmussen A.K.A. Uncle Outrage. I pepper him with questions about his last record 'Greatest Shit', and the indie record label he hooked up with to make that vinyl release happen. Shout out to Peter Illing over at Cacophony Clan Records for making that happen. Nils shares some of the inspiration behind some of the songs on the new record, and then we dive into the very specific and uplifting culture of the Uncle Outrage fandom. The fans of Uncle Outrage are and have always been some of the most inclusive and welcoming group of folks. Some of these fans have followed the band for nearly 20 years. We do chat a bit about Nils' father, Gerry Rasmussen, the internationally renowned cartoonist & previous guest of the show. Along the way, we discuss the moon, aliens, robots, UFOs and UAPs, plus fan mail, Bandcamp, and the post Covid live show scene in the Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Run over to Cacophony Clan Records to get the new album by Uncle Outrage, 'Probably Robots', or reach out directly to Nils for an autographed copy at the email address he gives at the end of the episode. Nils lets me play my favorite track from the new record "Make It Rot'! Keep your eyes peeled for the Nils Rasmussen / Uncle Outrage profile in Absolute Underground Magazine!

Throwback: Dicky Barrett - Musician (The Mighty Mighty BossToneS / The Defiant) [Episode 400]

Hey Streetwalkers. This is a throwback episode with Mighty Mighty BossToneS frontman & founding member of The Defiant Dicky Barrett. Dicky first appeared as guest for the 400th episode on 2.26.24  It was such a compelling & fun episode, l decided it needed to be re-visited! Enjoy this throwback episode, tell a friend, and thanks for listening!  Dicky Barrett Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Richard Michael Barrett. Better know as Dicky; he is also called The Godfather of Skacore. Dicky is former frontman and founding member of The Mighty Mighty BossToneS, and current frontman and founder of the new super group The Defiant. In this episode, we chat about how he came to be the bow-tied plaid leader of The Bosstones, and some of the cool things he got to do along the way. He tells the story of getting to open for The Misfits while he was still in high school, as well as getting to play Fenway Park many years later. Dicky shares stories of meeting and befriending Adam Carolla and Jimmy Kimmel when they were just getting started; and some of the fun things he got to do as a result of these friendships. Adam uses Bosstones' songs in the intro and outro of his Adam Carolla Show podcast; and Dicky was the announcer for Jimmy Kimmel Live for nearly 20 years. Of course, I ask Dicky if I can play my all time favorite MMB song... and he says yes! Obviously we discuss how MMB ended up in the cult classic iconic film Clueless, and what made them decide to do it. Next, Dicky explains what happened between him and the other Bosstones, as well as his relationship with the Jimmy Kimmel Live late night show. Finally, we discuss his new band The Defiant. This super group features former members of: The Mighty Mighty BossToneS, The Offspring, Smash Mouth, Street Dogs, and The Briggs. The Defiant is: Pete Parada, Greg Camp, Johnny Rioux, Joey LaRocca, and Dicky Barrett. Their debut album "If We're Really Being Honest" was released in late October 2023. Naturally I ask him if I can play my favorite song from this new album.... and Dicky said yes again! I had such a blast talking with Dicky, I think we are best friends now! Don't be surprised if you hear more from Dicky on Fascination Street Podcast. This dude is rad as balls. Thanks Dicky! And thanks Mike Dawson, you know what you did.