So Important: The Interview Podcast!
Episodes
Sunday May 26, 2019
Cesar Brioso on THE END OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL IN CUBA!
Sunday May 26, 2019
Sunday May 26, 2019
Well, it's Memorial Day Weekend, and that means baseball! Join me in talking with Cesar Brioso about his recent book, Last Seasons In Havana: The Castro Revolution and the End of Professional Baseball in Cuba." Cesar is a digital producer for USA Today Sports, where he served as baseball editor from 2003 to 2004, and traces his lineage to Havana - a topic we briefly discuss at the end our conversation.
The book is an absolutely fascinating read, chronicling how the revolution brought an end to professional baseball in Cuba - but never dampened the passion of the Cuban people for the game they dearly love.
The book is filled with unforgettable characters and anecdotes, and we barely skimmed the surface in our talk - so that means, you gotta read the book! And you can purchase it on Amazon and just about everywhere.
You can check out the facebook page for the book, and follow Cesar on Twitter at @cbrioso - a great way to keep up with Cesar's guest appearances. It's a great book, and please do check it out!
Thank you, Cesar!
And may I make a plea to listeners everywhere to follow the podcast, give it a good review in I-Tunes, all those good things. I usually don't push on all that in the podcast itself, but it's important and appreciated. Thanks!
Saturday May 18, 2019
Tom Mirenda on PRESERVING ORCHIDS!
Saturday May 18, 2019
Saturday May 18, 2019
Tom Mirenda knows orchids. He is the Chairman of the American Orchid Society's Preservation Committee and he has traveled the world investigating, and talking about, the many species of orchids that inhabit our planet. Currently living in Hawaii - a great launching point for investigating the world's orchids - Tom has been a mainstay of the Orchid community for many, many years. He worked for over 15 years as the Orchid Collection Specialist at the Smithsonian Institution, and until recently was the leading Orchid authority at the Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden on the "Big Island," a locale notably lush with all manner of orchids. Tom writes extensively for Orchids magazine and other orchid-focused publications, and he has co-authored a book on orchids, entitled The Book of Orchids.
As I said, the man knows his orchids!
Tom and I talked extensively about the beauty and attraction of the orchid, and the important work Tom is undertaking to help preserve orchids in light of climate change and other factors. It was a pleasure speaking with Tom. I learned a lot, and I hope you do as well!
In addition to the links provided above, you can keep up with Tom on his Facebook page and his book is widely available, including on Amazon. I hope you enjoy my chat with Tom - I certainly did!
Thank you Tom, and thank you everyone for listening!
Tuesday Apr 30, 2019
Sweet Lizzie Project on THEIR MUSIC - AND THEIR AMAZING HISTORY!
Tuesday Apr 30, 2019
Tuesday Apr 30, 2019
Hello and Welcome! My guests today are Lisset Diaz and Miguel Comas, two members of the terrific young band, the Sweet Lizzie Project. These guys have a story to tell!
Some time ago, PBS went to Cuba to learn more about the music scene there. That led to the migration of Lisset, Miguel, and the rest of the Sweet Lizzie Project band to the United States. Here's the amazing story of how it happened!
I saw the band at a small house party about two months ago and I was instantly hooked. The band resides in Nashville, and their music uniquely reflects influences from both residences. Yet it is unequivocally and uniquely their own and I can't recommend it enough. Diaz is a powerhouse of a singer; Miguel Comas produces their music, and adds his signature lead guitar to the mix; and together they lead this young band that you need to learn more about.
And here's your opportunity!
The songs you'll hear are Something, from the debut album Heaven, and their recently released duet with Raul Malo and the Mavericks, entitled Flower's In The Seed. Diaz is a truly unique stylist as these songs attest; but make sure you check out the entirety of the Heaven album. It's been in my heavy rotation for some time now, and for good reason! And a new album, entitled Technicolor, is coming soon!
You can find all of it on their comprehensive website. They also have a Facebook page and they're on Instagram. And check out the first rate videos for both Flower's In the Seed and Turn Up The Radio - a true classic, as we discuss on the show. Both - and many others - can be found here.
Thank you Lisset and Miguel for joining me. And to all of you who like the show, please share it, rate it, and all those good things. In the meantime, enjoy getting to know the Sweet Lizzie Project!