Best Tom Shoemaker Podcasts (2025)

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350: Darrell Hammond - Uncovering Cray 1:08:55

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3d ago1:08:55

1:08:55

My HoneyDew this week is comedian, Darrell Hammond! Check out Darrell’s one man show Cray, now on Audible. Darrell joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of his long battle with addiction and the wild journey of discovering the reason behind it all! Darrell shares one of the most powerful stories I’ve ever heard about one therapist who was able to unl…

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344. Wulf Moon Discusses Three Lessons from the Blind Skier or the Nine Elements of Story Structure 1:03:00

3d ago1:03:00

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Today’s guest is Wulf Moon, who many of you already know from any of our past three interviews since he was on as a Writer winner in Volume 35 back in 2019 with his short story “Super Duper Moongirl and the Amazing Moon Dawdler.”Wulf Moon won his first writing award at the age of 15 and has now won over 60 awards in writing and 30 in public speakin…

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349: Kym Whitley - Surprise Motherhood 59:27

9d ago59:27

59:27

SPONSORS: PrizePicks -Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/HONEYDEW and use code HONEYDEW and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! My HoneyDew this week is actress Kym Whitley! Check Kym out in the film Happy Gilmore 2 on Netflix, Killing Mary Sue on Prime, and her own podcast Two Funny Mamas cohosted with Sherri Shepherd. Kym…

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343. Crafting a Novel from Short Stories with Martin L. Shoemaker 59:18

10d ago59:18

59:18

How do you weave short stories into a cohesive novel? In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome back award-winning author Martin L. Shoemaker, a “Writers of the Future Volume 31” winner, to discuss his latest novel, “A Fine and Dangerous Season.”Martin shares his unique process of transforming a series of short stories, all written in October 2023…

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348: Paul Rodriguez Jr. - 20 Years of P-Rod's Nike SB Legacy 1:04:58

17d ago1:04:58

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SPONSORS: Quince -Keep it classic and cool — with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to https://www.Quince.com/HONEYDEW My HoneyDew this week is legendary professional skateboarder Paul Rodriguez Jr! Paul joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of his skateboarding career! We talk about what it was like for Paul growing up with a famous dad before sk…

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342. Nev March Discusses How Writing Murder Mysteries Is Different Than SF&F 1:03:54

18d ago1:03:54

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Join us as Nev March, the first Indian-born winner of the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Award for a First Crime Novel and 2024 NY Chapter chair, shares her journey into murder mystery. A departure from our usual SF&F, we explore new genres, as top authors recommend reading broadly.By John Goodwin

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347: Gene Simmons - God of Thunder 1:18:25

23d ago1:18:25

1:18:25

SPONSORS: BetterHelp -The HoneyDew is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit https://www.Betterhelp.com/HONEYDEW to get 10% off your first month SimpliSafe -Visit https://www.SimpliSafe.com/HONEYDEW to claim 50% off a new system with a professional monitoring plan and get your first month free! My HoneyDew this week is music legend Gene Simmons! Gene sits …

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341. Lydia Sherrer Writing Urban Fantasy with Snarky Humor 1:02:49

25d ago1:02:49

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Lydia Sherrer is a USA Today bestselling author and has published multiple novels, including “Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus,” a delightful urban fantasy with snarky humor. In this episode, we discuss writing urban fantasy fiction and how to add a bit of snark to make it even better.Learn more at www.lydiasherrer.com.…

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346: Jiaoying Summers - 1 Child Policy 1:06:06

1M ago1:06:06

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My HoneyDew this week is comedian Jiaoying Summers! See Jiaoying on tour and check out her Tiger Mom Podcast. Jiaoying Highlights the Lowlights of growing up in China before coming to America on her own! We talk about the complexities of being born during China’s one child policy, and how Jiaoying's family was able to conceal her birth. Jiaoying ta…

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340. N. V. Haskell How to Create Magic Systems 57:03

1M ago57:03

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Nicole “N. V.” Haskell was a Writers of the Future winner in Volume 38 with her fantasy short story, “The Mystical Farrago.” Her recent novel, “The Malice of Moons and Mages,” is an epic fantasy novel, first in a series, where Nicole creates a world filled with magic but with special rules and laws. In this episode, we discuss how to world-build a …

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345: Marc Maron - Partying with Sam Kinison 1:13:45

1M ago1:13:45

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My HoneyDew this week is comedian Marc Maron! Check out his latest special Panicked on HBO now. Marc joins me this week to Highlight the Lowlights of his early years living in L.A. and dealing with addiction! We talk about Marc’s time working as head doorman at the Comedy Store, how it influenced his spiral with substances, and the crazy situations…

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339. Laurence O'Bryan Founder BooksGoSocial 1:01:30

1M ago1:01:30

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Laurence O’Bryan is an author and the Founder of the International Dublin Writers’ Festival and BooksGoSocial. In this episode, we discuss how BooksGoSocial provides personalized book promotion with expert feedback, Amazon ad optimization, and extensive social media reach to boost sales. Galaxy Press uses this service, and we want to make this know…

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344: Sammy "The Bull" Gravano - Mafia Hitman 1:13:55

1M ago1:13:55

1:13:55

My HoneyDew this week is American former mobster, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano! Sammy joins me this week to Highlight the Lowlights of rising to the position of underboss in the Gambino crime family of New York City before ultimately becoming a government witness. Sammy talks about becoming a made-man and shares one of the best mafia love stories you’l…

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338. Django Degree Empowering Authors with Ownership and Royalties of their Wor 59:01

2M ago59:01

59:01

Django Degree is the founder and CEO of Focus on Words, a book platform that gives authors full ownership of their work, royalties, and audience. He’s also the author of “I Hope You Wake Up” and “They Lied To You,” books that dive deep into truth, identity, and how we break free from the systems that shape us.His mission is clear: help authors recl…

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343: Joe Mantegna: Acting Meets Autism Advocacy 56:49

2M ago56:49

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Sponsor: BetterHelp -The HoneyDew is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit https://www.Betterhelp.com/HONEYDEW to get 10% off your first month My HoneyDew this week is actor Joe Mantegna! You’ve seen Joe in Criminal Minds, and you can check out the book The Long Branch by his assistant Dan Ramm. Joe joins me this week to Highlight the Lowlights of battlin…

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337. Craig Martelle Founder IASFA (Independent Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Authors) 57:59

2M ago57:59

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Craig Martelle is an international bestselling author of thrillers and science fiction. His nonfiction book, Wit and Wisdom, provides incredible advice to authors. His first podcast interview was based on his thriller Ian Bragg Series. This interview is built around his book—a must-read for writers wishing to improve their game.He founded IASFA (In…

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342: Ali Siddiq's 9-Pack of Parenthood 1:12:56

2M ago1:12:56

1:12:56

SPONSORS: SimpliSafe Visit https://www.SimpliSafe.com/HONEYDEW to claim 50% off a new system with a professional monitoring plan and get your first month free! My HoneyDew this week is comedian Ali Siddiq! Check out Ali’s latest special Rugged, out now on YouTube. Ali joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of his journey through fatherhood. He shares …

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336. Bea Jackson from Illustrating Fan Fiction to International Bestselling Artist 59:30

2M ago59:30

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Brittany “Bea” Jackson illustrated the New York Times bestselling picture books, “Parker Looks Up,” about America’s First Lady, and LeBron James’s “We Are Family,” and her own “Lilly’s Dream,” which she both wrote and illustrated.She is a former grand prize winner of the Illustrators of the Future Contest and was published in “L. Ron Hubbard Presen…

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341: Ari Matti and the Estonian Experience 1:07:57

2M ago1:07:57

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SPONSOR: Quince -Stick to the staples that last—with elevated essentials from Quince. Go to https://www.Quince.com/HONEYDEW My HoneyDew this week is comedian Ari Matti! Ari joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of growing up in Estonia after its newly gained independence in 1991. We dive into his unconventional upbringing with a stepfather who had th…

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335. Tom Wood: World Class Fantasy Artist Discusses "An Artist's Path" 1:03:59

2M ago1:03:59

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Tom Wood is a fantasy art illustrator among the best-selling poster artists in the US and Canada. We met at the Dragon Con in Atlanta 10 years ago, where he exhibited at a booth next to ours. We became friends, then great friends. We also appreciated his desire to help other artists. We invited him and he has been an Illustrators of the Future judg…

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340: Steph Tolev Pleads the Filth 59:30

2M ago59:30

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SPONSORS: True Classic -Upgrade your wardrobe and save on trueclassic at https://www.TrueClassic.com/HONEYDEW! #trueclassicpod My HoneyDew this week is comedian Steph Tolev! Check out Steph’s new comedy special Filth Queen, out on Netflix now! Steph joins me this week to Highlight the Lowlights of navigating hate in day to day life, and toxic relat…

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334. Robert J. Sawyer: From Contestant to Contest Judge and Winner of all Major SF Awards 1:00:26

2M ago1:00:26

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Robert J. Sawyer entered Writers of the Future and won three Honorable Mentions before disqualifying himself by selling professionally. We met 20 years ago at Torcon III, where he won his first Hugo award. The following year, he was invited to Hollywood to attend the Gala and subsequently invited to be a judge. He agreed and has been a judge for 20…

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339: Ester Steinberg: Bagels, Ballots, and The Tampa Toss 1:01:05

3M ago1:01:05

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My HoneyDew this week is comedian Ester Steinberg! Check out Ester’s latest special, Schmear Campaign, out now on Apple and Amazon. Ester joins me this week to Highlight the Lowlights of her wild upbringing with her part-lawyer, part-comedian father. From a bagel boudoir, to helping little people get tossed in Tampa, we explore all the unbelievable…

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333. 3X World Fantasy Award Winner Tim Powers Tells Why Fantasy Must be Believable 59:21

3M ago59:21

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Tim Powers is a three-time World Fantasy Award winner and Writers of the Future Contest judge and instructor. In this podcast, we discuss why fantasy has to be believable...and how to make that happen!By John Goodwin

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338: Shapel Lacey's Survival Guide to Grandma Guilt 57:32

3M ago57:32

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My HoneyDew this week is comedian Shapel Lacey! Check out Shapel’s latest special, Three Dads, Two Moms, now on his YouTube. Shapel joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of grief, guilt, and the complicated nature of family after losing a loved one. Opening up about his grandma’s recent passing, Shapel and I dive into what it’s like to navigate emoti…

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332. Sean Williams: #1 NYT Bestselling Author, Writer Contest Winner and Judge 1:02:45

3M ago1:02:45

1:02:45

Sean Williams was a Writers of the Future winner in 1992 and published in Volume 9. He became a judge in 2003. He is a NYT bestselling author of 60 books and over 120 short stories for adults, young adults, and children.Sean wrote the cover story based on Craig Elliot’s cover art for “L. Ron Hubbard Presents Volume 41” titled “Under False Colours.”…

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337: Trae Crowder and His Pillbilly Background 58:00

3M ago58:00

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My HoneyDew this week is comedian Trae Crowder! Check out Trae’s special Trash Daddy, out on YouTube today. Trae joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of growing up in rural Celina, Tennessee during the opioid epidemic—and how it affected his upbringing and influences his parenting today. BALTIMORE! I’m coming home! Catch me at the Horseshoe Casino o…

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331. Volume 41 Illustrator Winners Discuss the Contest, Art, and the Illustrator Forum 59:54

3M ago59:54

59:54

Four Illustrators of the Future winners: CL Fors, illustrator of "A World of Repetitions"; Tremani Sutcliffe, illustrator of "Ascii"; Breanda Petsch, illustrator of "Karma Birds"; and Daniel Montifar, illustrator of "The Boy from Elsewhen." We discuss their journeys as artists, Illustrator Workshop week, illustration, and the Illustrators of the Fu…

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336: Aaron Weber and the 48 First Cousins 58:45

3M ago58:45

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My HoneyDew this week is comedian Aaron Weber! Check out Aaron’s comedy special Signature Dish on his YouTube, and you can catch him on The Nateland Podcast! Aaron joins me this week to Highlight the Lowlights of recently becoming a father, complications he and his wife experienced with the baby post-birth, and having to spend almost a month in the…

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330. Winners from year 41 at the Writers & Illustrators of the Future workshop and awards gala. 1:04:49

3M ago1:04:49

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These eight winners from year 41 at the Writers & Illustrators of the Future workshop and awards gala: Seth Atwater, Jr., author of "A World of Repetitions," Jefferson Snow, author of "The Rune Witch," Joel C. Scoberg, author of "The Stench of Freedom," Sandra Skalski, author of "Slip Stone," T.R. Naus, author of "Storm Damage," Haileigh Enriquez, …

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335: Gary Owen and the Absent Gliding Father 1:10:10

4M ago1:10:10

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My HoneyDew this week is comedian Gary Owen! Check out Gary’s new special No “S” on MintComedy.com. Gary joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of his stepfather who loved to fight, his biological father who loved to hang glide, and the wild family dynamic that shaped his upbringing. He shares a story about a memorable brawl at the Pipe Fitters Picnic…

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329. Volume 41 winners: David Hoffrichter, Lauren McGuire, Barlow Crassmont, Patrick MacPhee 1:00:14

4M ago1:00:14

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These four winners from year 41 at the Writers & Illustrators of the Future workshop and awards gala: David Hoffrichter, illustrator of "The Rune Witch"; Lauren McGuire, author of "Karma Birds"; Barlow Crassmont, author of "The Boy from Elsewhen"; and, Patrick MacPhee, author of "Thirty Minutes or It's a Paradox."…

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334: Joe Dombrowski is the Kindergarten's Comedian 55:18

4M ago55:18

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My HoneyDew this week is comedian Joe Dombrowski! Be sure to check out his past special Don’t Eat the Crayons and his more recent show tapings, both available on his YouTube channel. Joe joins me this week to Highlight the Lowlights of his transition from kindergarten teacher to stand-up comedian. He shares his journey of discovering a love and pas…

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328. Volume 41 winners: Robert Lowell, Jordan Smajstrla, CL Fors, Ian Keith 1:00:30

4M ago1:00:30

1:00:30

These four winners from year 41 at the Writers & Illustrators of the Future workshop and awards gala: Robert Lowell, author of "Kill Switch"; Jordan Smajstrla, illustrator of "Kill Switch"; CL "Cherrie" Fors, illustrator of "A World of Repetitions"; Ian Keith, author of "Blackbird Stone."We discuss their journey as creative individuals and what mak…

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333: Shane Todd has a Punch Loving Father 57:24

4M ago57:24

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My HoneyDew this week is comedian Shane Todd! Check out Shane’s newest special, Mommy on his YouTube, or his own podcast Tea with Me. Shane joins me this week to Highlight the Lowlights of being raised outside of Belfast, Ireland, becoming a father, and living with Crohn's disease. We dive into Shane’s upbringing, including a character of a father …

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327. Jonathan Merkh President Forefront Books, #2 Fastest Growing Publisher in the US 1:07:47

4M ago1:07:47

1:07:47

Jonathan Merkh is the President and Publisher at Forefront Books. Andrea Fleck-Nesbit, president of the Independent Book Publishers Association and a previous podcast guest, introduced Merkh to the host. Merkh previously served as vice president and publisher at Thomas Nelson Publishers, led Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, and Guidepo…

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332: Craig Shoemaker: What Comes Around, Cults Around 1:24:10

4M ago1:24:10

1:24:10

My HoneyDew this week is comedian Craig Shoemaker! Be sure to check out his newest book, Laffirmations: A 40-Day Cleanse. Craig joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of a life shaped by chaos, cults, comedy, and complicated family ties. We get into what it was like growing up with a scam-artist father who ran his own cult, the terrifying week-long ki…

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326. Isaac Stewart VP Creative Development Dragonsteel Entertainment 54:46

4M ago54:46

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Isaac Stewart, once an independent author and artist, now serves as the Vice President of Creative Development at Dragonsteel Entertainment. Isaac designed and illustrated the interior art for Brandon Sanderson’s “The Way of Kings,” including the Alethi Women’s script, maps, Shallan’s and Navani’s notebook pages, and additional artwork. He also cre…

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331: Kelsey Cook and the Dementia Hat Trick: Jokes, Genes, and Greif 58:43

5M ago58:43

58:43

My HoneyDew this week is comedian Kelsey Cook! Check out her latest special, Mark Your Territory, now available on YouTube and Hulu, and her podcast, Pretend Problems, co-hosted with comedian Chad Daniels. Kelsey joins me in the studio this week to highlight the lowlight of her mother's battle with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We dive into the em…

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325. Making the Writers of the Future 41 Audiobook - Kirby Heyborne and Jim, Tamra, Taylor Meskimen 1:19:31

5M ago1:19:31

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Today’s guests are Jim, Tamra, and Taylor Meskimen along with Kirby Heyborne. The Meskimens were recorded in a studio in Los Angeles while Kirby was from his home in Utah. This episode discusses creating the Writers of the Future Volume 41 audiobook.Jim is an actor, comedian, and impressionist best known for his voice-over work in video games. His …

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330: Jeff Dye Quit Drinking After THIS Wild DUI Story 51:10

5M ago51:10

51:10

My HoneyDew this week is comedian Jeff Dye! Jeff joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of his journey through sobriety, a DUI gone sideways (like… really sideways), and the unexpected lessons that came along the way. Jeff opens up about the moment he knew he had to quit drinking, how jail gave him minor PTSD, and why his love life actually improved a…

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324. Grand Prize Winners Randyn Bartholomew, Writer, and Jordan Smajstrla, Illustrator 58:42

5M ago58:42

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On the evening of Thursday, April 10, 2025 at the 41st Annual Writers of the Future and the 36th Annual Illustrators of the Future L. Ron Hubbard Achievement Awards Gala in the genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Randyn C. J. Bartholomew from Brooklyn, NY was named the 2025 Grand Prize Writer Winner and Jordan Smajstrla of Boerne, TX was named t…

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329: Piff the Magic Dragon Goes Clone 59:42

5M ago59:42

59:42

My HoneyDew this week is magician and comedian John van der Put a.k.a. Piff the Magic Dragon! Check out his special Piff the Magic Dragon: Reptile Dysfunction, or catch him performing live at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. Piff joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of his journey to becoming a performer. We dive into what inspired his love for magic, how…

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328: Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block 59:13

5M ago59:13

59:13

My HoneyDew this week is musician Joey McIntyre! Check out Joey on his recent tour and album called, Freedom. Joey sits down with me this week to Highlight the Lowlights of becoming a pop sensation with New Kids on the Block back when he was 12 years old! Joey recounts early career breakthroughs and the influence of radio DJs. We reflect on the cha…

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327: Harland Williams' Grandma was the King of KFC 57:50

6M ago57:50

57:50

My HoneyDew this week is comedian Harland Williams! Check out Harland’s podcast, The Harland Highway, and keep an eye out for his newest film, Wingman, coming out later this year. Harland joins me this week to highlight the lowlights of losing both his grandmothers. We dive into the iconic life of Grandma Flo VanGundersplatt—a roller derby queen tu…

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323. Robert Hatch: How Does a Writer Go About Getting A Book Made Into a Movie 1:02:05

6M ago1:02:05

1:02:05

Robert Hatch has over thirty years experience as a director/producer/writer of dramatic films, documentaries, and television series, and his films have received over three hundred awards and honors from film festivals in the U.S. and internationally.He stated that he is always on the lookout for new material to turn into movies.…

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322. David Howard From Galaxy Quest Story and Screenplay to Newly Published Author 59:37

6M ago59:37

59:37

David Howard, renowned for his screenplay of DreamWorks’ Galaxy Quest, brings a wealth of experience from television and live theatre. Interestingly, his spot on the podcast isn’t just due to his film industry credentials. The mix-up between Galaxy Press and Galaxy Quest, a common occurrence at conventions where fans routinely confuse the two, made…

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326: Philip Bowen Finds Fiddling Through Sesame Street 59:14

6M ago59:14

59:14

My HoneyDew this week is musician Philip Bowen! You can listen to his music on any streaming platform. Philip joins me in the studio to Highlight the Lowlights of growing up in West Virginia and chasing his dream of making music. He shares insights into his Lebanese heritage and the cultural diversity of West Virginia. We also discuss the challenge…

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321. Jen Finelli The Meaning and Purpose of Suffering in Storytelling 59:50

6M ago59:50

59:50

Jen Finelli is a physician and injured adventurer. Her real-life adventures have ranged from the funny and silly (like getting herself locked in a German nunnery by accident) to the beautiful (like scuba diving with sharks) to the severe and tragic (like breaking her spirit as she held the dying and watched sexual assault victims suffer without jus…

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325: Thomas Araujo and the Brother-Cousin-Uncle Confusion 1:01:08

6M ago1:01:08

1:01:08

My HoneyDew this week is Thomas Araujo, aka Dope as Yola! Thomas joins me in the studio to Highlight the Lowlights of a friend's wild family entanglement that he's been dealing with for the past couple of years. He dives into the betrayal, how everyone is still involved despite the chaos, and how the family dynamics have left everyone wondering if …