CooperTalk

Neil Ratner - Episode 729

Steve Cooper talks with doctor/musician Neil Ratner. Neil learned the music business working as a tour manager, assistant manager and producer for groups like Edgar Winter, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Pink Floyd and T-Rex, among others. After a number of successful years working in the music biz, he had an epiphany and decided to pursue his other childhood dream of becoming a doctor. He finished college, learned Spanish, spent four years at a medical school in Mexico, completed two years of surgical training and an anesthesia residency, and helped create the new specialty of office-based anesthesia in Manhattan. In doing so, he became an expert in the use of the new drug, Propofol. Although he encountered many celebrities in his anesthesia practice, one would change his life... Michael Jackson. One day Michael walked into an office in which Neil was the Director of Anesthesia. He became a trusted friend and personal physician of Michael's from 1994 to 2002, periodically going on tour and spending time with Michael at Neverland. He recently wrote the book called Rock Doc which talks about Rock & Roll, Michael Jackson, Nelson Mandela, a prison sentence with very unexpected results and how helping the poorest of the poor became a key part of his life.

Chris Ballew - Episode 728

Steve Cooper talks with musician Chris Ballew. Chris is best known as the former lead singer and 'basitarist' of the band The Presidents of the United States of America. Their debut album has been certified triple Platinum and contained the hits Lump, Peaches and Kitty. In their 23 year existence they recorded 6 studio albums, toured the world and appeared on such TV shows as Late Show with David Letterman, MAD TV and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Currently Chris performs as a children's artist under the pseudonym Kaspar Babypants and has released a total of 14 albums.

Martin Page - Episode 727

Steve Cooper talks with musician Martin Page. Martin is responsible for writing and co-writng massive hits including We Built This City (Starship), These Dreams (Heart), King of Wishful Thinking (Go West, featured in Pretty Woman), Fallen Angle (Robbie Robertson), and many more for such artists as The Commodres, Barbra Streisand, Tom Jones, Paul Young, Brian Ferry, Phil Collins, Josh Groban and Robbie Williams. He gained success in America for his own band Q-Feel with the dance hit, Dancing in Heaven, and earned a substantial pop and adult contemporary hit with In the House of Stone and Light, the title track from his debut solo album. He has since released five more solo albums on his own Ironing Board records.  

Ricky Byrd - Episode 726

Steve Cooper talks with musician Ricky Byrd. Ricky is a well-recognized musician who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the lead guitarist and former original member of Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. He played with Joan from 1981-1992, and has also recorded or toured with Roger Daltrey, Ian Hunter, Southside Johnny and many other talented musicians since that time. He most recently has been combining his love for music with his passion and mission to help carry the torch of change surrounding the stigma of drug and alcohol use. His recent album Clean Getaway focuses on recovery lyrics which moves people to laugh, cry and think. 

Vinnie Dombrowski - Episode 725

Steve Cooper talks with musician Vinnie Dombrowski. Vinnie is best known for being the lead singer of the band Sponge. Sponge has released 8 studio albums and recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of their debut, Rotting Pinata, which achieved platinum status. The band’s music has been featured in popular movies such as The Craft, Chasing Amy, Mall Rats and Empire Records and they have made network appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and the Conan O’Brien Show.

Glen Sobel - Episode 724

Steve Cooper talks with drummer Glen Sobel. Glen is best known for being the drummer for Alice Cooper since 2011. He has also worked with other musicians/groups including Motley Crue, Hollywood Vampires, Richie Sambora, Orianthi, Beautiful Creatues, Gary Hoey, Tony MacAlpine, Vasco Rossi, Paul Gilbert and Saga.

Steve Hackett - Episode 723

Steve Cooper talks with musician Steve Hackett. Steve is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his years with Genesis. He played with them from 1970 until 1977. During his tenure with them he helped create their sound and was an early proponent for the guitar methods of two-handed tapping and sweep picking. He left the band to pursue his solo career. He has recorded over 20 studio albums and is a popular draw on the concert circuit when he tours. He was also part of the supergroup GTR that included Steve Howe. They released a self-titled album in 1986 which went gold and featured the song When the Heart Rules the Mind which hit number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Wally Palmar - Episode 722

Steve Cooper talks with musician Wally Palmar. Wally is best known for being lead singer and founder of the band The Romantics. The Romantics were one of the most popular American bands of the 80's scoring a gold album with In Heat and releasing the two classic hits What I Like About You and Talking in Your Sleep. They have recorded six studio albums and still tour the USA. Wally is also the founder of the supergroup The Empty Hearts which consists of The Cars' Elliot Easton, Blondie's Clem Burke and The Chesterfield Kings' Andy Babiuk. They are currently working on their second album. he has also toured Ringo Starr & his All-Starr Band.

Gary Kemp -Episode 721

Steve Cooper talks with musician/actor Gary Kemp. Gary is best known as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and principal songwriter for Spandau Ballet. He wrote all 23 hit singles for the band including True, Gold, Through the Barricades and Only When You Leave. His songs were hits all over the world when Spandau Ballet became one of the biggest British bands of the 1980s, generating over 25 million record sales. His acting roles include being one of the leads in the film The Krays as well appearing in Killing Zoe, The Bodyguard and The Larry Sanders Show. He is also a fixture on the London theatre scene and currently plays guitar for Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets.

Derry Grehan - Episode 720

Steve Cooper talks with musician Derry Grehan. Derry is best known for being lead guitarist for the band Honeymoon Suite. He is their primary songwriter and is responsible for their huge hit New Girl Now. The band hails from Canada where they still headline festivals and play to sold-out arenas. They have recorded seven studio albums over their career and are currently working on a new one. In 2015 Derry received three SOCAN Classic Awards based on his songs New Girl Now, Burning in Love and What Does It Take having been played more than 100,000 times each on Canadian radio.

Kathy Valentine - Episode 719

Steve Cooper talks with musician Kathy Valentine. Kathy is best known as the bassist for the band The Go-Go's. She co-wrote the hit songs Vacation and Head Over Heels that were on the band's second and third albums. She has also played in the bands The BlueBonnets and The Delphines and recorded a solo album.

Simon Phillips - Episode 718

Steve Cooper talks with drummer Simon Phillips. Simon is best known for being Toto's drummer from 1993 until 2009. He was the drummer for The Who during the band's American reunion tour in 1989 and played on Pete Townshend's Empty Glass album. To date he has toured and recorded with many bands and artists, including: Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Peter Gabriel, Joe Satriani, Tears for Fears, Judas Priest, Roxy Music, Michael Schenker, Nik Kershaw, Phd., Al DiMeola, 801, Russ Ballard, Robert Palmer, Stanley Clarke, The Pretenders, Jon Anderson, Whitesnake and Dave Gilmour... to name but a few.

 

John Ford Coley - Episode 717

Steve Cooper talks with musician John Ford Coley. John is most revered as half of the Grammy nominated duo England Dan and John Ford Coley. With double platinum and gold records behind him he has shared the stage with many of the music industry’s famous hit makers. Some of those include: Elton John, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Carole King, Bread, Loggins and Messina, Led Zepplin, Carly Simon, Bill Cosby, Steve Miller Band, Randy Bachman, Jesse Colin Young, Air Supply, Ambrosia, Poco, Terry Sylvester (formerly of the Hollies), Orleans, Lou Gramm and Gordon Lightfoot, Dan Hill and Stephen Bishop, to name a few. He's also hosted The Midnight Special and co-hosted The Mike Douglas Show and appeared on The Tonight Show, Merv Griffin, David Soul and Friends, Dinah, American Bandstand, Hollywood Squares (A Special Rock Edition), Make Me Laugh, Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, Prime Time Country, and the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Currently he still records and tours the country.

Saundra Santiago - Episode 716

Steve Cooper talks with actor Saundra Santiago. Saundra is best known for her role as Gina Calabrese on the iconic television show Miami Vice. She made her Broadway debut in Arthur Miller's 1st Tony award nominated revival of A View from the Bridge as Catherine opposite Tony LoBianco. She has continued to move in and out of theatre and TV, being seen in CBS's Person of Interest and the short lived series The Unusuals. She had a recurring role in the 1st season of FX's Damages starring Glenn Close and played the recurring role of Carlotta Vega on ABC's One Life to Live. She also portrayed twins, Jeannie Cusamano and Joan on David Chase's critically acclaimed HBO series, The Sopranos. In between TV gigs, such as Law and Order, Blue Bloods, True Detective, Snowfall, Gotham, Madam Secretary and Gang Related she has done several films, including Spike Lee's, 25th Hour and Hallmark's Meddling Mom.

Stu Cook - Episode 715

Steve Cooper talks with musician Stu Cook. Stu is best known for being bassist and one of the founding members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band, Creedence Clearwater Revival. CCR has sold 28 million albums and their numerous hits include Suzie Q, Bad Moon Rising, Who'll Stop the Rain, Proud Mary, Fortunate Son, Born on the Bayou, Have You Ever Seen the Rain and Down on the Corner. The band broke up in 1972. In 1995 Stu formed Creedence Clearwater Revisited with original CCR drummer Doug Clifford and they have been touring ever since.

Jim McCarty - Episode 714

Steve Cooper talks with musician Jim McCarty. Jim is best known for being the drummer and one of the founders of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Yardbirds. Besides performing and recording with the Yardbirds, he has played with Together, Renaissance, Shoot, Illusion, the Yardbirds reunion band Box of Frogs, Stairway, the British Invasion All-Stars, and Pilgrim, as well as under his own name and as the Jim McCarty Band. Since 1992 he has been playing with the reformed The Yardbirds.

Robert Berry - Episode 713

Steve Cooper talks with musician Robert Berry. Robert came into the spotlight in 1988, when he teamed with Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer (of Emerson, Lake & Palmer fame) and formed the band 3. They recorded one album, The Power of Three and disbanded in 1989 after a successful tour supporting the album. In 2015, him and Emerson signed with Frontier Records and began working on a follow-up to The Power of Three as 3.2. The project was shelved following Emerson's death in March 2016, but Robert would finish the project himself and release it in 2018 under the 3.2 moniker as The Rules Have changed. He has also played in bands such as Hush, Alliance and Ambrosia and currently is with the Greg Kihn Band.

Martin Barre - Episode 712

Steve Cooper talks with musician Martin Barre. Martin is best known for being lead guitarist for the legendary band Jethro Tull. He was with Tull for 43 years and his sound and playing having been a major factor in their success. Album sales have exceeded 60 million units and they continue to be played worldwide, representing an important part of classic rock history. His guitar playing has earned him a high level of respect and recognition; he was voted 25th best solo ever in the USA and 20th best solo ever in the UK for his playing on Aqualung. His playing on the album Crest of a Knave earned him a Grammy award in 1988. As well as numerous Jethro Tull albums, Martin has worked with many other artists including Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Gary Moore, Jo Bonamassa and Chris Thompson and has shared a stage with such legends as Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. He has also recorded many solo albums his latest being Roads Less Traveled which has garnered critical acclaim.

Jim Babjak - Episode 711

Steve Cooper talks with guitarist Jim Babjak. Jim is best known for being lead guitarist for The Smithereens. The Smithereens are a band out of New Jersey that has recorded 11 studio albums and are known for their hits such as Only a Memory, A Girl Like You, Blood and Roses, Behind the Wall of Sleep and many more. Their television credits include Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, MTV's Unplugged, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Uncle Floyd Show, CBS's This Morning, The Dennis Miller Show, and The Arsenio Hall Show. In 2017 their lead singer Pat DiNizio passed away but they are still touring, switching out lead singers Marshall Crenshaw and Gin Blossom's Robin Wilson. 

Greg Kihn - Episode 710

Steve Cooper talks with musician/novelist/radio personality Greg Kihn. Greg is best known for being the front man for the group The Greg Kihn Band. In 1981, he earned his first bona-fide hit on The Billboard Hot 100 with the # 15 single, The Breakup Song (They Don't Write Em'), from the Rockihnroll album. He continued in a more commercial vein through the 1980s with a series of pun-titled albums: Kihntinued (1982), Kihnspiracy (1983), Kihntageous (1984), and Citizen Kihn (1985). His biggest hit was Jeopardy, which reached # 2 Pop, in 1983. The groundbreaking video became an MTV favorite and was spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic as I Lost on Jeopardy. Over his career he has released 17 albums, the latest being Rekihndled in 2017 and the band still tours to this day. From 1996 to 2012 he was a morning radio host for the classic station KUFX in San Francisco and he has also published 6 novels.

Joey Allen - Episode 709

Steve Cooper talks with musician Joey Allen. Joey is best known for being lead guitarist for the band Warrant. Warrant experienced major success from 1989 to 1996 with five albums reaching international sales of over 10 million. The band first came into the national spotlight with their 2× platinum debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, and one of its singles, Heaven, reached No. 1 in Rolling Stone and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band continued its success in the early 1990s with the 2× platinum album Cherry Pie which provided the hit album titled song and music video. Throughout their career they have recorded 9 studio albums. Joey left the band in 1994 but came back in 2004. Lately Warrant is busier than ever, recording a new album in 2017 and performing over 60 live dates a year.

Robin Wilson - Episode 708

Steve Cooper talks with musician Robin Wilson. Robin is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Gin Blossoms. The Gin Blossoms rose to prominence following the 1992 release of their first major label album, New Miserable Experience, and the first single released from that album, Hey Jealousy. Hey Jealousy became a Top 25 hit and went gold, and New Miserable Experience eventually went quadruple platinum and four other charting singles were released from the album. Their follow-up album, Congratulations, I'm Sorry went platinum and the single, As Long as it Matters was nominated for a Grammy. The band broke up in 1997 and reunited in 2007. Over their career they have recorded 6 studio albums and still tour nationally. Besides fronting the Gin Blossoms, Robin recently signed on to front a few concerts by The Smithereens.

Franke Previte - Episode 707

Steve Cooper talks with singer/songwriter Franke Previte. Franke is best known for writing Hungry Eyes and (I've Had) The Time of My Life for the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. The latter won him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and he also received a Grammy nomination. His professional music career started with the band Bull Angus which toured with such acts as Rod Stewart and the Faces, Deep Purple and Fleetwood Mac. Later in his career he started the band Franke & the Knockouts that released three albums and were known for their high energy live performances. He recently wrote the uplifting musical Calling All Divas which is currently playing in theaters all around the country.

David Pasquesi - Episode 706

Steve Cooper talks with actor David Pasquesi. David can currently be seen in HBO's Veep playing Andrew Meyer, in AMC's new hit Lodge 49 and in At Home with Amy Sedaris. His list of movie credits include The Fugitive, Groundhog Day, Natural Born Killers, The Ice Harvest, Leatherheads, Angels & Demons and To Rome with Love. He has been recurring or a regular on shows such as Superior Donuts, The Jamz, Chicago Fire, The Mob Doctor, Boss, Factory and Strangers with Candy and guest starred on Empire, Curb Your Enthusiasm, According to Jim and Madam Secretary to name a few. A veteran of the Chicago improvisational scene he performed at The Second City, iO Theater, Improv Institute and The Annoyance Theater.

Rob Burnett - Episode 705

Steve Cooper talks with writer/director Rob Burnett. Rob is a five time Emmy winner who is best known for being a writer, then head writer then executive producer for Late Night with David Letterman/Late Show with David Letterman. He also created the TV series Bonnie, Ed and The Knights of Prosperity. He recently wrote and directed the film The Fundamentals of Caring which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is available on Netflix.

Megan Gallagher - Episode 704

Steve Cooper talks with actor Megan Gallagher. Megan is probably best known for her roles as Catherine Black in the series Millennium and as Jeannie Sanders in The Larry Sanders Show. She has been a regular or had recurring roles on shows such as Hill Street Blues, The Slap Maxwell Story, China Beach, Pacific Station, Life as We Know it, 24 and Suits. She has guest starred on countless series like Designated Survivor, Major Crimes, Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Mentalist, Boston Legal, Without a Trace, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Picket Fences and L.A. Law. She also appeared on Broadway in the original production of A Few Good Men.

Eric Blakeney - Episode 703

Steve Cooper talks with writer/director Eric Blakeney. Eric is best known for creating the Fox show Booker as well as writing and directing the film Gun Shy starring Liam Neeson and Sandra Bullock. He was nominated for an Edgar Award for his work on Wiseguy and wrote for other shows including Crime Story, Moonlighting and 21 Jump Street which he ended up being the show runner on.

Mark Valadez - Episode 702

Steve Cooper talks with TV writer Mark Valadez. Mark got his start by writing comic books and published four short novels in the "Fright Time" series for young readers. In 2009 he earned a spot in the prestigious ABC-Disney Television Writing Program. Since then he has written on the shows Scrubs, Gang Related, Ice, The Oath, Shadow Show and Queen of the South.

Roger Earl - Episode 701

Steve Cooper talks with drummer Roger Earl. Roger is best known as one of the founding members of the legendary band Foghat. He is the only band member to have performed with the band throughout all of its various incarnations. He still tours with them and is also a member of the band Earl & The Agitators.

Tony Lewis - Episode 700

Steve Cooper talks with singer/songwriter Tony Lewis. Tony is best known as co-founder of The Outfield. Together with John Spinks, the two took the 80s by storm with their infectious pop songs, including Your Love, All the Love and Say it isn’t So. Their debut album, Play Deep, was issued in 1985, and would go on to reach triple platinum sales status and the Top 10 in the US  album charts.  Your Love peaked at No. 6 and is still featured in a number of compilation albums, commercials, and has been covered or remixed over 1,000 times by other artists. After the success of the first album, The Outfield went on to record many more albums with various drummers. Tony recently released his solo album Out of the Darkness and performed on the Retro Futura tour.

Seamus Dever - Episode 699

Steve Cooper talks with actor Seamus Dever. Seamus is best known for playing homicide detective Kevin Ryan for 8 eight seasons on the ABC hit show Castle. In addition he has played authoritative figures on the likes of Army Wives and General Hospital” both of which had him starring as a doctor. Other forays into television include Mad Men, Drop Dead Diva, NCIS, Cold Case, Dark Blue, JAG and all three CSI franchises. He’s also appeared in such films as Hollywoodland with Adrien Brody and Ben Affleck, as well as the independent comedy Ready or Not.

Mark Metcalf - Episode 698

Steve Cooper talks with actor Mark Metcalf. Mark is best known for playing ROTC officer Douglas C. Neidermeyer in the movie classic Animal House, a character he later emulated in the popular Twisted Sister videos We're Not Gonna Take It and I Wanna Rock, portraying The Maestro in Seinfeld and his recurring role as The Master in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He has also been seen in TV shows such as Miami Vice, Angel, Party of Five, Walker Texas Ranger, Hill Street Blues, Teen Angel, Ally McBeal, Melrose Place, JAG and Mad Men.

Jeff Astrof - Episode 697

Steve Cooper talks with TV writer/producer Jeff Astrof. Jeff is the co-creator of the popular NBC series Trial & Error. In a career that has spanned over 25 years he has been a writer or a producer on such shows as Friends, Veronica's Closet, Grounded for Life, The New Adverntures of Old Christine, $#*! My Dad Says, Ground Floor and Angie Tribeca.

Constantine Maroulis - Episode 696

Steve Cooper talks with actor/singer Constantine Maroulis. Constantine first came to prominence as the beloved rock n’ roll underdog on American Idol. He then secured his place in pop culture as a Broadway superstar, best known for his TONY-nominated role in Rock Of Ages. Recently he joined forces with legendary Guns N Roses drummer Steven Adler, touring the world as Adler’s Appetite featuring Constantine Maroulis. He has also starred in the Broadway show Jekyll and Hyde, has appeared on various TV shows and has recorded 3 albums.

Michael McGlone - Episode 695

Steve Cooper talks with actor Michael McGlone. Michael began his career on the screen with his critically acclaimed performance in the Sundance Film Festival Best Film Award Winner, The Brothers McMullen, from where he went on to star in such movies as She's the One, One Tough Cop, The Bone Collector, Dinner Rush, Hard Ball and The Fitzgerald Family Christmas. His TV appearances include recurring roles on Person of Interest, Crash, The Kill Point and That's Life and guest spots on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Psych, and Elementary. He was also the spokeman for Geico insurance posing rhetorical questions and has narrated series for The Learning Channel, Court TV and The History Channel. Besides acting he is an accomplished singer/songwriter who has recorded various albums and EPs and has penned five novels.

Dean Roland - Episode 694

Steve Cooper talks with musician Dean Roland. Dean is best known for being the rhythm guitarist for the band Collective Soul fronted by his older brother Ed. He is also part of the rock duo Magnets & Ghosts alongside Ryan Potesta.

Ian Bagg - Episode 693

Steve Cooper talks with comic Ian Bagg. Ian has had 2 half-hour specials, Comedy Central Presents and HBO’s A Comics Climb and has been featured in 2 seasons of Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution on Comedy Central. His latest one-hour special, Ian Bagg: Getting to F**king Know You aired on Showtime. In 2015, Ian was a fan favorite and placed in the Top 5 on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Some of his other TV appearances include shows such as Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Make Me Laugh, Showcase Comics with Louie Anderson, Fridays on NBC and the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.

  

Matthew Sweet - Episode 692

Steve Cooper talks with singer/songwriter Matthew Sweet. Matthew was part of the burgeoning music scene in Athens, Georgia during the 1980s before gaining commercial success in the 1990s. He is best known for his pop-rock album Girlfriend which was widely considered an artistic breakthrough. It quickly garnered impressive U.S. sales and spawning a Top 10 single with the title track. He has released 13 studio albums as well as the Under The Covers series with Susanna Hoffs that consists of 3 records. His music has also been featured in many TV shows and films such as Can't Hardly Wait, Scrubs, The Heartbreak Kid, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, The Simpsons and the first 3 Austin Power's movies.

Kip Addotta - Episode 691

Steve Cooper talks with comic Kip Addotta. Kip is known for being featured 21 times on The Tonight Show, The Midnight Special, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, Hollywood Squares and the syndicated show Make Me Laugh. He was also featured on The Dr. Demento Show for his music, "Wet Dream" and "Life in the Slaw Lane," songs featuring a series of fish and vegetable malapropisms that, together, form a storyline; and the song, "Big Cock Roach." He hosted the game show Everything Goes on the Playboy Channel and has made a number of film and TV appearances, including the Larry Sanders Show and he just released Confessions of a Comedian: An Autobiography.

Pat Godwin - Episode 690

Steve Cooper talks with comic Pat Godwin. Pat has blossomed into one of the most clever comedians and prolific, award-winning comedy songwriters in the business. He has appeared on every top morning show you can think of, worked for 6 years as a part of Philadelphia’s Morning Zoo, 3 years for The Bob & Tom Show, and was a frequent guest and contributor to both Howard Stern’s radio and TV shows. He also has been charming audiences as a national headliner in comedy clubs, cruise ships and colleges for years and has recorded 4 cd's and his song Gangsta Folk is the Number 1 most requested song on morning radio.

Andy Scarpati - Episode 689

Steve Cooper talks with comedy producer/hypnotist Andy Scarpati. Andy began performing as a stand-up comedian in 1978 and by 1980 he left the teaching profession for a career as a comedy producer and performer. He created Comedy Cabaret, a company that specializes in setting up comedy clubs and at one time had over 15 different venues. He has acted in over a dozen commercials and in 1994 landed a part on the TV Show 'America’s Most Wanted' playing a police officer. In 1994, while studying acting, he enrolled in a self-hypnosis class. Always being curious about hypnosis, he discovered that Self-Hypnosis was a valuable tool for self-improvement. Then, through a series of unexpected events he  decided to shift his focus to helping people. His interest in subconscious programming led him to the prestigious Hypnosis Institute in Manhattan, where he earned his Basic and Advanced Degrees. He still has 3 comedy clubs and privately has hypnosis patients and also does live shows for the public.

 

William Sanderson - Episode 688

Steve Cooper talks with actor William Sanderson. William is best known for his roles on three notable shows HBO’s Deadwood and True Blood, and his eight year stint as a series-regular as “Larry” on Newhart. He is also recognizable for being the spokesman for A & W Root Beer. He has appeared in movies such as Blade Runner, The Client, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Lonesome Dove, Lone Wolf McQuade, Wallace, The Rocketeer, Andersonville, Last Man Standing, Pretty Ugly People, Stanley’s Gig, and Death Hunt and also been a guest star on TV series like Lost, X-Files, Walker Texas Ranger, Monk, and Mike & Molly.

Brian Propp - Episode 687

Steve Cooper talks with former NHL hockey player Brian Propp. Brian played in the NHL from 1979 to 1994. A majority of them were with the Philadlephia Flyers where he is a member of their Hall of Fame. He scored over 1000 points in his career and is second in goals, seconds in assists and third in games played for the Flyers franchise. He played in 5 Stanley Cup Finals in his career and also has been a gold medalist in the Canada Cup and Spengler Cup.

 

Jeffrey Gaines - Episode 686

Steve Cooper talks with singer/songwriter Jeffrey Gaines. Jeffrey's self-titled 1992 debut drew critical praise from far and wide, and put him on the musical map as an introspective folk-rock artist. The hookier, more rock-oriented Somewhat Slightly Dazed followed in 1994 and marked the end of his tenure with Chrysalis. In 1998 he returned with Galore, this time via the Rykodisc label. Always Be, released in 2001, contained a stripped-down cover of Peter Gabriel's 1986 hit In Your Eyes, a longtime staple of his concerts and a song he'd become associated with by many fans. Later that same year he was invited by producer Nile Rodgers to sing on the album We Are Family, which benefited victims of the 9/11 attacks in New York. Still riding some of the success of the In Your Eyes single, He paired up with producer Mitchell Froom to record 2003's Toward the Sun, his second release for Artemis Records. Throughout the next decade, he focused largely on touring both in the U.S. and Europe, releasing the acoustic Jeffrey Gaines Live in 2004 followed in 2012 by Live in Europe, which was captured during a tour supporting Joe Jackson. In 2018, 15 years after his last studio effort, he returned with his sixth album, Alright.

Mia St. John - Episode 685

Steve Cooper talks with boxer/advocate Mia St. John. Mia known as "The Knockout" is the former World Boxing Council champion in the super welterweight division. She is also the former IBA and IFBA lightweight champion. She was in the November 1999 issue of Playboy magazine and has made appearances on such shows as, Jay Leno, Conan O'brien, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, Extra, TMZ, E, and countless others. She has also acted in commercials, played herself on TV shows and has her own Playstation game by EA sports. In November of 2008 she was awarded by the Governor of Zacatecas, Mexico an outstanding achievement award for her role in sports and humanitarianism. The WBC also presented her with the 2008 WBC Goodwill Ambassador Award and In November of 2010, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano joined her and former LA Laker Metta World Peace for an official mental health and suicide prevention training at Napolitano’s district office in Santa Fe Springs. As well as Congress, she speaks in schools and juvenile halls on the importance of education and overcoming hardship. She speaks of her own battles with mental illness, addiction, poverty and overcoming it all, to become a three time international boxing champion.

Nancy Wilson - Episode 684

Steve Cooper talks with guitarist/singer/songwriter Nancy Wilson. Nancy rose to fame alongside her older sister, Ann Wilson, as guitarist and backing vocalist in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame inducted band Heart. She currently is touring and recording with the band Roadcase Royale.

 

Kelly Keagy - Episode 683

Steve Cooper talks with drummer Kelly Keagy. Kelly is best known for being in the band Night Ranger and singing and writing their smash hit Sister Christian. Night Ranger formed in 1979, broke up in 1989 and then reformed in 1991. They recently released their 12th album titled Don't Let Up. Besides playing with Night Ranger he has recorded two solo albums and was part of supergroup The Mob which also included Reb Beach, dUg Pinnick and Timothy Drury.

Fran Strine - Episode 682

Steve Cooper talks with director Fran Strine. Fran is an Award-winning documentary filmmaker. He has toured the world several times over with radio titans NickelBack, Staind, Seether, Dolly Parton and dozens of other artists and made the self-titled documentary for rock band Staind and the Gold Certified live DVD’s with the Iconic Dolly Parton, Dolly, Live in London. He is best known for the in-depth feature documentary Hired Gun, about the hardworking session and touring musicians who are rarely acknowledged for their contribution to popular artist’s work. Completed in early 2016, it’s world premiere was at SXSW, the UK premier was at the Glastonbury Festival and it has screened in over 320 theaters and is now on Netflix where it spent 3 weeks in the “actively trending” category. His new project is a documentary about Ray Parker Jr. titled Who You Gonna Call.

Ray Parker Jr. - Episode 681

Steve Cooper talks with singer/musician/songwriter Ray Parker Jr. Ray is best known for writing and performing the number one on the charts and Academy Award nominated theme song to the 1984 movie Ghostbusters, for his solo music, and performing with his band Raydio and also with Barry White. He has also written songs and did session work for such acts as Stevie Wonder, The Carpenters, Boz Scaggs, New Edition, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, The Temptations and many more. He recently appeared in the documentary "Hired Gun" and will star in "Who You Gonna Call" which is in production and will be about his life and career.

Marc Price - Episode 680

Steve Cooper talks with stand-up comic/actor Marc Price. Marc is best known for his role of Skippy Handelman in the hughly popular sitcom Family Ties. He has been a working and touring stand-ip comic since his earlty teens and still headlines across the country. He has also appeared in various TV series, movies, hosted Teen Win, Lose or Draw and acted as a writer/producer for cable networks such as Disney Channel, Food Network, Animal Planet, GSN, Showtime and TBS.