Citywide Blackout
377 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 17 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsCitywide Blackout is the home for artists of all kinds, from filmmakers to musicians to authors and everything in between. The show also covers comic-cons, book expos, and film festivals.
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Episodes
Dennis Hopeless shares his past in new comic series
April 27, 2024 14:49 - 41 minutes - 45.6 MBDennis Hopeless is known for titles such as X-Force, Darth Vader, Suicide Squad and Invader Zim. Now, he shares a true-life story in the Comixology-exclusive title “She’s Running on Fumes.” Set in Deepwater, Missouri circa 1984, a criminal named Jody is severely injured in a car wreck and his wife discovers he was a drug trafficker and begins her own criminal career in a desperate bid to keep her family afloat. The twist is that this tale of crime and survival is inspired by Hopeless' own p...
Citywide Bytes-Mark Maia takes into his new dark comedy comic series
April 20, 2024 15:41 - 30 minutes - 33.8 MBOur next guest in the Citywide Bytes series is set to release an 8-issue dark comedy series, “So-Called Living” set in a world much like our own…Well, except for all the vampires, werewolves and zombies, that is. Mark Maia’s story focuses on a guy named Jack, whose life is turned upside down when he finds himself unwillingly transformed into a vampire. With the help of his friends, he tries his best to adapt to this new way of "living." Unfortunately for Jack, he's gotten himself mixed up ...
Amanda Blake shares the meal to end all meals in “Question Not My Salt”
April 20, 2024 15:04 - 38 minutes - 42.5 MBEver been to a dinner and you just know it’s going to go badly? Well, you may have a new perspective after reading Amanda Blake’s extreme horror story, “Question Not My Salt,” available through Crystal Lake Entertainment. Here’s a little taste of what’s in store: “Sierra's first American Thanksgiving promises to be unforgettable when her college roommate, Zoe, invites her to the Samuels family feast. But as the ten-hour banquet unfolds, it becomes clear this is no ordinary holiday gathering...
Mystery boxes and twist endings with “Jill and the Killers”
April 13, 2024 14:43 - 48 minutes - 52.6 MBWho doesn’t love a good mystery? Oh, what’s that? It’s a real crime? And we need to solve it? And we could be killed? Yeah, that’ll be fine. In the Oni Press four-part series, “Jill and the Killers,” teenager Jill Estrada is dealing with the unsolved disappearance of her mother, a police detective, and trying to get back to a normal life. . . . even as her friends become obsessed with Box Killers, a true-crime subscription game where each month’s “unsolved case” is custom-tailored to the li...
Citywide Bytes-Joseph Macolino takes us on a tour of the world of Evorath
April 06, 2024 17:17 - 23 minutes - 25.9 MBIn the latest live episode of Citywide Bytes, Max talked with author Joseph Macolino for his recently-finished (or is it?) “Evorath Trilogy.” He released the third book, “The Battle for Erathal,” and we go into how this wraps up the story, as well as what he has planned next. This series is years in the making, and Joseph talks about the lengthy world-building he did, which included a lot of education to expand his knowledge and create a more varied Evorath. He also shares the character cre...
Tim Facciola talks amnesiac gladiators and extensive worldbuilding for his epic trilogy
April 05, 2024 23:58 - 53 minutes - 59.5 MBOur next guest is a familiar name, having been featured as part of our artist Q&A series. We had such a great time, we knew we had to have him back to talk about his third book. Author Tim Facciola joins us to talk about his soon-to-be-released “The Age of the End,” out on April 16. Here’s a quick synopsis of the overall story. In a world where blood is a short resolution for rebellion, Zephryus only knows two things: he is prophesied to bring peace and balance to the world, and he doesn’t ...
Escape The Paradigm shares 11 years of music
April 01, 2024 02:24 - 47 minutes - 53.7 MBOver the years, brothers Brandon Brodzinski and Johnathan Rockwood with Donny Hoover III have made a lot of memories while playing in Escape The Paradigm, and they hop on the show to give us all the details. From touring with All That Remains to playing some kickass full houses, there’s a lot to go over, along with how this three-member band came together and what’s kept Escape The Paradigm going for more than a decade. Escape The Paradigm came to our attention through Curtain Call Reco...
Citywide Bytes— Andrew Yampolskyi of Homeless Radio talks musical tributes
March 30, 2024 18:26 - 25 minutes - 28.8 MBThe lesson here is to make the call…the worse thing they’ll say is no. Years ago, Andrew Yampolskyi took that chance when he reached out to Sunset Alliance of California, and in 2021, his band Homeless Radio released their debut EP, “The Truth.” In our March 30 Citywide Bytes show, Andrew joins Max to talk about how this Ukranian rock band formed in 2016, making a name for themselves locally and growing over the years. The band faced adversity in 2022 during the Russian invasion, dispersi...
The RealGMat talks YouTube careers and musical adventures
March 23, 2024 16:43 - 53 minutes - 60.5 MBI’m not gonna lie—I’ve been looking forward to this all week. In this episode, YouTuber The RealGMat joins us to talk about his many years on the platform and how it all got started. With over 30,000 subscribers, GMat goes into the community that he’s built and the interactions he has via his videos and Twitch streams. He talks about some of the different videos he’s done and his first videos. Along with his own channel, he’s worked with companies like Gameology and Watch Mojo and sh...
Citywide Bytes-Nick Roberts sinks his teeth into “Mean Spirited”
March 16, 2024 15:24 - 21 minutes - 23.5 MBThey say you should never judge a book by its cover, but in the case of Nick Roberts’ new release, “Mean Spirited,” it’s that wonderfully terrifying art that captures the feel of this new horror story. The book is released through Crystal Lake Entertainment. Released just a day before this recording, the story centers on how an alcoholic teacher and father’s world spirals out of control when a former student is killed and he is left with her dog and the dark presence that follows it. Nick ...
The Pastor of Horror returns with a found footage nightmare
March 16, 2024 14:57 - 39 minutes - 43.2 MBEzekiel Kincaid, known as “The Pastor of Horror” and “The Paranormal Pastor” returns to the show to talk about his new book. “The Tetromet Tapes,” a part of his ongoing Tetromet Universe. Set in 1990 in a small town in Louisiana, the book adapts the found footage movie style as a literary device. Five 12-year-old boys find some VHS tapes in the trash can of their neighbor, Edgar Craddock. The sickening footage leads the five friends down a rabbit hole of shadows and darkness, seeking to dis...
Citywide Bytes—Jack Flint of The Sea Gods talks debut singles and band meetings
March 09, 2024 16:24 - 25 minutes - 28 MBThe Sea Gods have gotten off to a great start with their debut singles, “Are You Here Now” and “Tell Me,” and they’ve got a lot more in the works. In this recording of our March 9 Citywide Bytes episode, band founder Jack Flint tells us how he, Marty Taylor and Carl Donoghue met and what led to the band’s founding. Each band member brings a lot of experience with other projects, and we go into how the past work may influence the current. Jack and I talk about the stories behind the two sing...
Book, books, fantasy, science fiction, monster, magic, apocalypse, love, romance
March 09, 2024 15:54 - 28 minutes - 31.7 MBAuthor Maria Guglielmo was last on the show some years back for her debut book, “Summoned,” and since then, she’s been up to quite a bit, including debuting her new “Riftworld” series with “Witch City Rift” and “Rifted Hearts,” which drops on March 19. Curtis and I talk with Maria about this new series and what went into building the world behind it. We do a deep dive into her main character, Remi Gatti, a con man who seems to find himself in over his head in both stories. We look at his po...
Citywide Bytes-Chris Lengyel gives this episode the magic touch
March 02, 2024 19:59 - 21 minutes - 23.8 MBFor our newest Citywide Bytes, Max is talking with Chris Lengyel, as he puts it “a dude who does magic tricks.” And he’s been doing them for almost 20 years, for the likes of Las Vegas duo Penn and Teller, TruTV's "Impractical Jokers" and the cast of NBC's "The Voice.” Now, Chris is hitting the road, embarking on his Illusions Plus Alcohol (I.P.A.) tour. On this live interview, we talk about where he’s going and what people can expect at his shows. He shares some backstory on how he got int...
Father-son comics duo creates a beautiful apocalypse in “By A Thread”
March 02, 2024 19:26 - 47 minutes - 52.3 MBWell, if the world has to end, at least it looks amazing. Comics great Scott Snyder has teamed up with his son Jack to pen the ComiXology series “By A Thread,” now three issues in, with issue four to be released on March 26. Set amidst a desolated Earth, The Shroud has consumed nearly the entire surface of the planet, with just a handful of outposts remaining. Jo and his friends live on five “Needles,” spikes of diamonds, the only substance that The Shroud cannot devour. It’s a hard life, ...
Sarah Blacker returns with her signature style on “Horizon Line”
February 24, 2024 23:03 - 37 minutes - 41.5 MBOur next guest was among the first on Citywide Blackout, and so it’s fitting that she joins us for our post-hiatus interview. Singer-songwriter Sarah Blacker is back with a new EP, “Horizon Line” “Horizon Line,” Sarah Blacker’s new studio EP is described as a “raw, stripped down and vulnerable, just the way she wanted it to be.” Recorded (mostly) live and mixed at Boston Music Award-winning producer, Sean McLaughlin’s 37’ Productions studios, it was performed and co-produced by Blacker and ...
Kicking off a new Citywide segment, Nadia Vaeh talks musical therapy and video production
February 24, 2024 16:19 - 22 minutes - 24.9 MBThis episode kicks off a brand-new segment called Citywide Bytes, where I do live interviews on the Citywide Blackout Instagram page. This is the recording of that interview, so be sure to check out the live segment, every Saturday at 10 a.m. EST. Opening this new segment is poptimistic-rock artist Nadia Vaeh. She’s released two amazing singles, “Sorry I Was Not OK” and “When U Think About Love,” on Jan. 5 and Feb. 2, respectively, and we go into the inspiration for these singles and som...
A new project and a musical reunion for Lovina Falls
January 28, 2024 14:26 - 42 minutes - 47.1 MBIf you’ve been in the Boston music scene, the name Valerie Forgione is likely a familiar one. She made her name as the lead singer of the band Mistle Thrush, and now she’s back with a new solo project, Lovina Falls—trust me, this is one to check out. In this episode (the first recorded in 2024), Valerie and Max talk about the origins of Lovina Falls, the name of which is family-inspired. While all the music was written, arranged and produced by Valerie, she had some help in the recording...
Thirteen journeys into the wild are captured in “Solo Passage”
January 19, 2024 02:51 - 38 minutes - 53 MBOver the course of several years, author and artist Glenda Goodrich discovered herself through a series if wilderness quests. Traveling into the remote wilds of Oregon, Washington and California, she learned about life, death and what it means to be happy—and chronicled those experiences in her new book, “Solo Passage: 13 Quests, 13 Questions.” In this episode, Glenda talks about the inspiration for her journeys and what she experienced while on them. We talk about the things she learned an...
Kaitlyn Croker explores Nashville and her musical styles
January 13, 2024 00:12 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MBCurrently residing in Nashville, singer-songwriter Kaitlyn Croker has made a name for herself with her debut singles, “Dead Man Walking” and “You’re the Hero.” In this interview, Max and Curtis talk about these two songs and their varied styles. Kaitlyn talks about how she’s been exploring music and some potential new paths she’d like to walk. “You’re the Hero” has a very personal connection, as it’s a reflection on military families. Kaitlyn’s father was a fighter pilot for 26 years and no...
Zombies and dream horror in Crystal Lake double-header
January 07, 2024 18:19 - 1 hour - 93.4 MBIn this episode, we’re talking to four of the horrific minds behind two recent releases by Crystal Lake Publishing: “Never Wake: An Anthology of Dream Horror” and “Dark Tide 10: The Dead Shall Rise.” In the first interview, Max talks with Kenneth Cain and Tim Meyer, the editors of this collection of short stories with a dream horror theme. We talk about what dream horror is and how the different authors express it in their stories. Kenneth and Tim go into the editing process and how they w...
Audrey Gales takes us on a thrilling ride through the annals of medical history
December 29, 2023 15:12 - 41 minutes - 45 MBIn her Depression-era thriller “The Human Trial,” author Audrey Gale shares the story of Dr. Randall Archer, who changed medicine forever with his groundbreaking microscope. Overnight, he’s catapulted from the steel mills to the upper echelon of Bostonian society. But many challenges await, from the devastation of the Great Depression to the battle to maintain his place. In this episode, Curtis and Max talk with Audrey about what inspired this book and the creation of Archer. We look at he...
Being in front of and behind the camera with Tonya Todd
December 26, 2023 15:58 - 30 minutes - 41 MBFor my next guest, between all she does on set, behind the camera and behind the mic, I’m glad she found the time to talk with me. This episode features Las Vegas-based actress, podcaster and writer Tonya Todd. Tonya and I dive into her various projects, starting with her work on the series “Dark Ops,” which is on Knight TV+. Dark Ops follows the inner workings of the FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit 2 whose mission is to hunt down and dismantle ransomware crime syndicates global and we take a...
Fantasy, children’s lit and more at the Rhode Island Author Expo
December 18, 2023 20:55 - 1 hour - 104 MBThe weekend of Dec. 2 saw the return of the annual Rhode Island Author Expo. Citywide host Max Bowen was there to not only emcee the event, but interview some of the great writers who were there. Kicking off this episode is Nishita Roy-Pope to talk about her new book, “Courage Kids: The Magic Soccer Ball.” It’s her debut book and we talk about how her background in business and as a diversity leader helped prepare her for this new role. Nishita talks about the different characters, how her ...
Reflecting on a ‘sterling’ career
December 14, 2023 00:53 - 54 minutes - 72.8 MBSterling Golden is retiring. Those are four words I never thought I’d say. But, here we are. As of Jan. 1, 2024, Sterling Golden will bring a 15-year career in music, nightlife, events, radio, and podcasting to a close and enter his next phase-focusing on family. In this interview, Sterling and I talk about the decision to retire made early this year and how he’s processed it in the months that followed. Sterling shares his thoughts on stepping down and how he’s already begun adjusting to ...
New book defines the meaning of home
December 11, 2023 23:37 - 33 minutes - 37.5 MBFor Roberta Kuriloff, much of her life has been spent finding her home—from living in an orphanage following the deaths of her mother and aunt and separation from her father to standing on a plot of land in Maine preparing to build her new house. In “Framing a Life: Building a Space to Be Me,” Kuriloff chronicles this journey, bringing together several journals that she kept over the years. The book details an eight-year spiritual quest where she explore her Jewish roots, how she came to...
New EP from Gabby & The Gondolas gives listeners a musical snapshot
December 07, 2023 00:54 - 34 minutes - 38.7 MBSince hearing, “Pottery God” from Gabby & The Gondolas, it was clear this was a band to watch. The mix of sounds and honest lyrics were refreshing and compelling to listen to and it’s clear there’s more to come. In this interview, Max and Curtis chat with Kyle Neveau, the band’s founder. We talk about how Gabby came to be and the origin of this unique band name. We do a deep dive into their EP “Pollyanna” and the diverse sounds and stories that make it up. It’s described as “a snapshot i...
Ben Chou meets the minds behind the movies at BAAFF
November 22, 2023 00:51 - 54 minutes - 59.2 MBThe Boston Asian American Film Festival has a special meaning for us, as it’s one that we had the pleasure of covering back in the show’s early days. In October, the festival returned for its 15th year and my co-host Ben Chou was there for it. In this three-interview collection he speaks with the great filmmakers whose works were screened as part of BAAFF. First up is Michele Rae Jouse for her documentary, “Nurse Unseen.” The film explores the little-known history and humanity of the uns...
Rhode Island Author Expo: Political chaos and real-life adventures across the world
November 19, 2023 22:50 - 36 minutes - 49.4 MBAs the big day approaches, here’s the final of the two-part series previewing the Rhode Island Author Expo, which takes place on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. It’s a free event with more than 100 writers, panels, raffles and more. David Shoorens is up first and his book, “The Refuge,” may have that “ripped from the headlines” sound, but I assure you, it is a work of fiction….for now. The U.S. is a broken country, with a far-right president granted unprecedented power over their ...
Author’s debut memoir shows hope amidst a battle against addiction and abuse
November 14, 2023 00:46 - 38 minutes - 55 MBMaya Golden’s life seems perfect—award-wining journalist, loyal wife, and a new mom. But in private, she battled addiction, perfectionism, and rage from sexual abuse at the hands of many people. In her new memoir, “The Return Trip,” (Rising Action Publishing Collective) Maya shares her journey to end the secrets of her life and the three moments of divine intervention that saved her. In this interview, Curtis and Max talk with Maya about what inspired her decision to share her story, how...
Lessons from fish and lessons from life
November 09, 2023 01:51 - 37 minutes - 50.2 MBIt’s that time again—the return of the annual Rhode Island Author Expo, happening on Dec. 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. As part of our coverage, I’m once again previewing this event by speaking with a handful of the 100-plus writers that you can meet there. Opening this episode is Brielle Lilygarten, who’s released two children’s books: “Fishy Fishy” and “Fishy Fishy Goes to School.” Brielle and I talk about how she’s made the pivot from middle school teacher and realtor to children’s writer. We loo...
Maggie Giles takes us on a “twisted” murder case
October 31, 2023 00:23 - 35 minutes - 38.1 MBIt all starts out with a simple jewelry heist…until things take a most unexpected turn! When cracked open, the case morphs into a full-fledged murder investigation with an unknown drug that seemingly connects a string of deaths. Quite a story, eh? Well, buckle up, because in this episode, Curtis and I talk shop with author Maggie Giles for her new book, “Twisted.” Along with being a great crime thriller, the story explores the different sides of crime and mental health and asks the quest...
Legends and myths tie together a three-story horror collection
October 25, 2023 01:44 - 21 minutes - 23.2 MBIt’s that time of year, so what better to talk about than a three-story release form Crystal Lake Publishing? “Dark Tide 9: An Unholy Triquetera,” features new works by William Meikle, Curtis M. Lawson, and Jason Parent. Jason joins us to talk about his story, “A Knot Within a Knot,” in which the survivor of a plane crash finds himself going from bad to worse. Meanwhile, an elderly woman faces off against a god of night and his steed from the confines of her airplane seat, while another ...
Father-daughter writing duo pen extensive fantasy series
October 20, 2023 16:42 - 42 minutes - 45.6 MBI love a good fantasy story, so it was a real pleasure to speak with Dr. Michael Nelson and his daughter Isabelle for their “Annie Abbot” series, now two books in with “Annie Abbott and the Druid Stones,” and “Annie Abbott and the Race to the Red Queen.” The story’s got a real-life inspiration, as some of the people and locations are based on Michael and Isabelle’s own adventures around the world. It was great to talk about the writing process and how these two decided to pen a fantasy s...
Two comics for the price of one!
October 16, 2023 23:15 - 43 minutes - 47.2 MBThe name Scott Hoffman (AKA Babydaddy) is well known in the world of music as co-founder of the disco glam band Scissor Sisters. And now we can add “comic writer” to his resume with the release of his two series, “Nostalgia” and “Wag,” both available through Comixology Originals. Scott and I talk about how both these series came to be. “Nostalgia” is about a reclusive rock star in a dystopian future, and you can bet Scott channeled some of his time in the music industry into this title. ...
George Franklin takes us into the hallways of Washington in his new book
October 12, 2023 15:06 - 41 minutes - 44.7 MBLet’s face it: politics is pretty nuts. And who better to capture that wild, sometimes insane nature than George Franklin, a longtime lobbyist in Washington, D.C., Congressional candidate, and author. In his new book, “A Feeding Frenzy in Washington,” this former Fortune 500 corporate executive and Capitol Hill staffer pokes fun at DC and the politicians who comprise the circus we call Congress. But don’t let the characters fool you—this is entirely a work of fiction. No, really, it is. ...
Meeting the creative minds at MICE
October 08, 2023 15:33 - 50 minutes - 68.7 MBRecently, Ben Chou and I went to the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE). For me, it’s been many years since I went there, and remember what a great collection of comics they had, many of which I still have today. Well, this year did not disappoint. Held at Boston University’s Fuller Building, the event featured dozens of comics creators, some at the start of their careers and others with a slew of titles to their names. In this episode, Ben and I talked with a some of artis...
Boston Asian American Film Festival celebrates 15 years
October 08, 2023 15:14 - 19 minutes - 21.4 MBThe Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) is an event that will always have a special place in my heart. It was among the first events that we covered on this show, and I loved the diverse assortment of films that were shown. From its early days hauling the films in a box from venue to venue, BAAFF has grown a lot over the years, showcasing films from around the globe by some of the best in the business. Now, in 2023, it’s entering the 15-year mark, and doing so with works in every...
A haunted mask and ancient evil take the stage in Kevin Lucia’s new book
October 03, 2023 15:53 - 47 minutes - 52.3 MBIt’s that time of year and we’re kicking it off with one hell of a horror story! Friend of the show Kevin Lucia joins us to talk about his debut novel, “The Horror at Pleasant Brook,” out on Oct. 13 through Crystal Lake Publishing. This Halloween, a malevolent, creeping horror invades a small, isolated town nestled deep in the Adirondacks. It cares nothing for this town’s secrets, prejudices, or flaws. Its only desires are to consume everything in its path and spread, until nothing else ...
Michael Eon holds back nothing in “These Things Happen”
September 25, 2023 15:26 - 46 minutes - 49.8 MBIn his recently-released book, “These Things Happen,” writer Michael Eon weaves his own battles with substance abuse and a challenging childhood into the story of Daniel Zimmer. I loved this book from the first page and was drawn into the story of Daniel’s early life, which we see transposed with his later years. This book is available through Girl Friday Books. The characters are really amazing, from Daniel’s brother Max—whose struggles with mental health frame much of his life—to love ...
William Sterling shows us why puppets are just terrifying
September 20, 2023 10:28 - 46 minutes - 50.4 MBI think we can all agree on that one, right? So of course these creepy dolls would find themselves into the pages of William Sterling’s soon-to-be-released book, “String Them Up,” out on Sept. 22 through Crystal Lake Publishing. In this interview, William takes us through the town of Hollow Hills, which is plagued by a series of brutal murders. We meet the toymaker, once a beloved member of the community, now the prime suspect in the killings. William talks about Sinclair Redman, a man w...
Jonathan Panetta talks mental health and music
September 15, 2023 21:32 - 40 minutes - 45 MBAs it says in his bio, Jonathan Panetta is “trying to heal the world with a hard rock brain and a punk rock heart.” In this episode, we talk about how songs like “Inner Demons” deal with mental health and what he hopes people take from listening to them. Jonathan shares the creation process behind his new EP and the different avenues he goes down when it comes to sound and style. Jonathan’s done some collaborating, particularly with friend of the show Dany Horovitz on the single “Mak...
Death is just the beginning in Susannah Marren’s new book
September 10, 2023 21:36 - 43 minutes - 47.7 MBIn mystery thrillers, a death often happens right off the bat. Such is the case with our next guest, but we also get a slew of tightly-held family secrets. In this interview, Curtis and I sit down with author Susannah Marren to talk about her newest book, “Maribelle's Shadow,” in which the death of Maribelle Walker’s adored and impressive husband Samuel unearths the secrets and lies between Maribelle and her sisters. Curtis and I talk about the theme of secrets, a common element in Susan...
Jennifer Tefft talks new music, old venues, and working with the best
August 30, 2023 23:06 - 32 minutes - 36.9 MBIf you’re part of the Boston music scene, then the name Jennifer Tefft likely rings a bell. If not, you’ve got some listening to do! In this episode, Curtis and I talk with Jenn about the recent release of the acoustic version of “Going Out,” all about escaping for a night on the town. We talk about its sound and what the full band version will be like. She’s got another single, “Love & War,” and goes into what we can expect from that. Friend of the show Nina Pickell was the executive pr...
The heroic (and steamy) world of Ryder O’Malley
August 23, 2023 23:20 - 46 minutes - 50.6 MBYou’ve toured the world of superheroes in author Ryder O’Malley’s Heroes of Vanguard series. Now, it’s time for something a little bit darker. This writer (whom I have never spoken to before, honest!) used his love of comics to craft a M/M romance series, now four books long. On Sept. 14, Ryder debuts the Villains of Vanguard with the first installment, “Corrupted Desire.” Here’s a look at what’s in store: The world is going to burn, and I’m the one holding the match. Prison hardens...
Todd McKay shares the therapeutic mission of Help; Hear; Heal
August 19, 2023 19:29 - 29 minutes - 31.7 MBTherapy is one of the most important tools to help someone who has experienced from abuse—but it’s so expensive that many cannot access it. That’s where Help; Hear; Heal comes in. Since their founding, they’ve connected people with the resources to get the help they need. Founder and CEO Todd McKay joins us to share the organization’s progress since it was launched just one year ago and some of the dedicated people who’ve joined. We discuss how they provide financial support to help peop...
Chris Cuffaro takes us on a journey through 50 years of music photography
August 16, 2023 23:01 - 45 minutes - 49.8 MBAs the man said, “I have a million stories and the photos to prove it.” Over the last four-plus decades, Chris Cuffaro has photographed the biggest names in the music industry and now those photos—and the stories behind them, have been collected in a new app called “Greatest Hits.” Using the app, you can see some of the photos he took of all the greats and hear a brief tale of the experience. But this is just the beginning, Chris says. In this interview, we talk about the app’s o...
It’s a magical dystopian paradise in “The Lioness and the Rat Queen”
August 09, 2023 23:00 - 29 minutes - 31.9 MBDid I say paradise? Because I meant wasteland….as in, there’s a part of the world called “The Wastes.” It’s just one of the many things that we go into talking with author Noah Lemelson for the continuation of his steampunk-apocalyptic-noir trilogy, “The Lioness and the Rat Queen” (August 29, 2023, Tiny Fox Press). But that’s not all! For this episode I welcome back Curtis Hughes as my new co-host. Curtis was a part of the show way back when, and instrumental in its early success with hi...
Lorenza Wildcard off to a stellar star with debut singles
August 06, 2023 17:45 - 44 minutes - 50.6 MBWith just two songs, singer-songwriter Lorenza Wildcard has captured the attention of the music world, being named an artist of the month and charting high on several stations. She joins Citywide to talk about her debut singles, “You & I” and “My Army.” Both songs come from different points in her life—the first from one of her most difficult moments and the other showcasing the strength to move forward. We look at how she went from recording a song at home during the early days of the p...
“The Science Fictionary” defines the undefinable
August 02, 2023 02:34 - 27 minutes - 29.8 MBAuthor Robert Bly is a longtime fan of—and writer of—the world of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. But what is a black hole? And how does warp speed work? And how many kinds of demons are there? Robert set on the most epic of quests in “The Science Fictionary,” now available through Crystal Lake Publishing helping reader to understand the unique language of these genres. In this interview, we talk about what inspired this book and how he went about learning the precise definitions f...