Sat, 17 June 2017
The show starts with Mark and an LAPD tale ripped from the headlines. Then, political analyst Michael Shure stops by for THE FAST 15 with some extra time spent on stories of illegal gaming and even an Angela Merkel sighting. Then writer, comedian and performer, Laura House ( Laurahouse.com ) sits in with Mark as they speak with a radio reporter turned podcaster, Jo Kwon (from KFI radio in L.A.) The crew talks about pot (the focus of this season of Jo's podcast) and Jo's podcast generally which is called, Jo Kwon Reporting. Finally, a former NFL cheerleader who is now a leading primatologist and expert on Madagascar, Mireya Mayor, stops in with husband , Phil Fairclough, who produces wildlife shows for television and film. It's just a brief visit but enough to get a picture of the vanishing magical habitat that is Madagascar and why it's a tough fight to save it.
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Tue, 6 June 2017
What do Biff Henderson's Golf Cart of Death, Jerry Seinfeld and David Letterman Have in Common? Spike Feresten
Comedy writer, producer and host, Spike Feresten is involved in many things...He was a writer/producer on both Seinfeld and David Letterman's show. He also had his own successful late night talk show on FOX-TV. How and why that show went away is a story that Spike shares on this episode. Spike also co-wrote Bee Movie, the Jerry Seinfeld film that was a huge success. He talks about the process of writing that film and thinking through the bizarre world of a bee, or at least the bees in the movie. This episode was recorded at Mark's home which is up the road from Spike's. The two neighbors meet though on the wild roads of L.A. as is discussed in this episode. Michael Shure begins the episode with THE FAST 15, 15 minutes of politics and other items. This week, Mark apologizes to Michael for diminishing Michael's NHL fan status. The two also talk London terrorism, animals and Wonder Woman (the Jewish superhero)
Direct download: Spike_Feresten_final_edit_June_6.mp3
Category:Talk & Interviews -- posted at: 5:47pm EDT |
Tue, 30 May 2017
Actress Dana Delany on the Magic and Craziness of Hollywood... Plus, The President Gets Back From His Foreign Trip
Dana Delany rocketed to fame on China Beach, landed on People Magazine's Most Beautiful People issue TWICE, both in 1991 and 2011 (and she comments on how ridiculous that whole thing is on some level). Dana has starred in some of the highest profile movie and television projects of the last 25 years. Promoting those projects, the randomness of events associated with decisions on what projects to take on and and be part of is something Dana talks about. The group talks about Dana's trip to Vietnam during the time she's starring in China Beach, a television show about the Vietnam war. And Mark mentions that he's just returned from a trip there but the group makes fun of him and his trip. We get to the insane, hormonal shoot that was TOMBSTONE. Plus, she also gets into the film EXIT TO EDEN directed by Garry Marshall in which she starred. The episode begins with THE FAST 15: POLITICS AND MORE with Michael Shure, who has just returned from 2 weeks covering Washington in Washington DC. Shure isn't bothered by Trump pushing his way past other NATO leaders for a photo opp. He IS bothered by Jared Kushner's back channel attempt to communicate with the Russians BEFORE the incoming administration is in power and Jared's lying on the disclosure form about his Russian meetings at Trump Tower. Finally, Michael makes a pitch for the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Heather Ankeny and Josh Weinstein join Mark Thompson for the conversation with Dana Delany.
Direct download: Dana_Delaney_Memorial_Day_final_final_final.mp3
Category:Talk Show -- posted at: 4:25pm EDT |
Mon, 22 May 2017
Tyler Cowen is a noted economist and professor at George Mason University in Washington. He has published many books on economics and our culture. His latest is: The Complacent Class: The Self Defeating Quest for the American Dream His book breaks down this moment in time in economic terms. We are not as inventive, entrepreneurial, versatile, daring or even productive as past generations. But within this cultural and economic moment in time there ARE members of society who take chances and make positive economic change happen. J. Elvis Weinstein (Josh) and Heather Ankeny join Mark Thompson for this conversation. Before that, Mark walks us through an Apple lawsuit, Elon Musk's day and a fact about millennials. You can buy Tyler Cowens books by clicking here.
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Thu, 11 May 2017
It's been an eventful period in Washington. Because of that Michael Shure and Mark have a lot to chew on to start the show during THE FAST 15 Then the master of voices and madness, Josh Robert Thompson, explains his new dominance on Facebook Live. Josh has turned that platform into a moneymaker and he's done it quickly. That doesn't stop him from making fun of some of his viewers but they seem to like being the butt of the joke. JRThompson also recounts a bit of his old world with Craig Ferguson as the voice of Geoff the Robot and the other characters on the show. J. Elvis Weinstein (Josh) joins Mark Thompson Editors note: Since this conversation, Josh has actually moved onto the Youtube Live platform. |
Mon, 1 May 2017
One of Mark's favorite podcast hosts is Dan Carlin who does a show called Hardcore History. Mark pumps him for some historical perspective on what's happening today. Is the USA a Fading Empire? How Close Are We to War? How will this moment in time be seen in the view of history? Dan is a clear mind with a keen historical vision. We start with THE FAST 15: Michael Shure who is, oddly perhaps, a fan of how United Airlines handled their PR mess after they threw a passenger off one of their flights. The two also talk Instagram, High Tech Casino Gaming and Famous Amos cookies. |
Sat, 22 April 2017
We start this episode with a quick Earth Day message from Mark. Then, Michael Shure shares the political truth about the "flip the 6th" race in Ga. Plus, he and Mark talk about fishing, whale watching and more. Heather and Josh then join. First they beat up on Mark for Steve Martin retweeting him. Then the crew meets an Uber driver who, months before starting his Uber driving, was a successful lawyer. Why would anyone give up an accomplished legal practice to move to Vegas and drive for Uber? He explains.
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Tue, 11 April 2017
Jimmy Dore is back and he wants to burn down the whole Democratic party. A party that he feels has let down the working class it claims to represent. Jimmy was an advocate for Donald Trump beating the corporatist (as Jimmy puts it) that is Hillary Clinton so Mark asks him if he's happy with the way things have turned out. Also, Michael Shure stops in with THE FAST 15, we read a negative e-mail, talk Sean Spicer, cellphone fingerprint technology that apparently isn't secure & Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist and columnist, David Horsey, visits too. Link to David Horsey columns: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/topoftheticket/ Link to Jimmy Dore: http://www.jimmydorecomedy.com/
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Thu, 30 March 2017
Andy Kindler is back with a free form conversation that J.Elvis Weinstein (Josh) helps along the way. Josh and Andy are best friends and so the two play a comedic, verbal ping pong that makes for a fun hour. Before Andy, we spend time with political analyst, Michael Shure. This week Michael talks about Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and how he's been given a wealth of responsibility for extremely important things but he has virtually no record of accomplishments in the spheres he's been charged with navigating. Also, how the White House is being run like a family business. Mark talks about how that's not surprising if one looks at the way Trump runs his other holdings. Before anything, Michael and Mark talk about the newest entry into the plant based food world: The Beyond Burger. Michael is over the moon for it. The episode is broken down with the first 22 minutes devoted to everything that's not Andy Kindler and after 22 minutes it's everything that IS Andy Kindler. J.Elvis Weinstein and Heather Ankeny join Mark Thompson for the conversation with Andy. Happy listening.
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Thu, 23 March 2017
Carol Leifer has been involved with a remarkable number of hit comedy shows. From Seinfeld to the Academy Awards to her own show which was critically heralded as one of the best shows in primetime television. The crew asks Carol about some of the shows she’s been involved with a special eye on Seinfeld. Having come out as a lesbian late in life and after having been married to a man, Carol’s story is both interesting and extraordinary. The crew quizzes Carol about her wedding and Mark asks Carol about what he calls, “Lesbian World”. Mark’s a fan of her books and asks her about her latest book, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY CRYING. All of Carol's stand-up dates and links to buy her book can be found on her website CarolLeifer.com Heather Ankeny and J.Elvis Weinstein join Mark Thompson for the conversation with Carol Leifer. The show starts with THE FAST 15: Politics and more with Michael Shure. It’s a 15 minute conversation covering the Washington scene and this time Mark and Michael get into the evolution of the ticket broker.
Direct download: Carol_Leifer_march_23_2017.mp3
Category:Talk & Interviews -- posted at: 10:08pm EDT |