Storybeat With Steve Cuden

I had a blast chatting with the great Australian-born actor and world-class raconteur, Thaao Penghlis, about his career and creative process.  If you’re a fan of NBC’s long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives, then you’re also likely to be a fan of Thaao's. He's had a remarkable four-decade, 1500+ episode run on the show playing both the seductively villainous Count Tony DiMera and the Count’s evil look-a-like impersonator Andre DiMera. Thaao has earned 3 Emmy nominations for Outstanding Leading Actor and a Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite Return.Thaao’s infamous dual roles are on top of playing a wide-range of characters on various TV series, movies, and plays, including two other daytime series, General Hospital and Santa Barbara, as well as appearances on the 1980’s prime time reboot of Mission Impossible, in which Thaao played master-of-disguise Nicholas Black. Other notable appearances include the films Slow Dancing in the Big City, Ken Russell’s Altered States, The Bell Jar, Sadat, Sidne

Writer-director Richard Bakewell is a veteran cinematographer and television camera operator who has worked with major media figures like Gordon Ramsay and Oprah Winfrey, and on noted TV docuseries such as Cops, Last Chance U, and Cheer. Richard has written and directed the feature film, Roswell Delirium, as a response to both his own journey back from PTSD and the global response to the 2020 pandemic.  The film stars 1980’s legends like Anthony Michael Hall, Lisa Whelchel, Dee Wallace, Reginald Vel Johnson, and Sam Jones. I’ve seen Roswell Delirium and can tell you it’s a complex story set in the 1980s that explores the emotional depths of a strong-willed young woman driven to uncover her own truth, even as she faces her own destruction. 

Damyanti Biswas is a Singapore-based fiction writer. Her short fiction has been published at Smokelong, Ambit, Litro, and Puerto del Sol, among others. And she's the coeditor of The Forge literary magazine. Her popular blog damyantiwrites.com, where she speaks about the writing life and interviews publishing professionals, turned 15 this year.She's the author of You Beneath Your Skin, an Amazon-bestselling crime novel, which has been optioned for screens by Endemol Shine. Her next crime novel, The Blue Bar was published by Thomas & Mercer USA. It received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Goodreads named it one of 2023's Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers. The sequel, The Blue Monsoon, is out now and receiving positive buzz from readers.

Fritz Coleman is a 5-time Emmy Award Winning Stand-Up Comedian and former NBC Weathercaster. He’s opened all over the United States for entertainment icons like Ray Charles, Debbie Reynolds, Jay Leno, George Benson, the band America and too many more to mention. He made 8 appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. He spent 40 years as the main weathercaster for NBC Los Angeles until he retired in 2020. He currently has a new comedy special “Unassisted Living” that is available now on Tubi!  And his Award-Winning special “It’s Me Dad” played on KCET as their Father’s Day programming for several years in a row. Fritz also co-hosts a wonderful podcast called Media Path with Louise Palanker in which they have insightful conversations with great guests about meaningful subjects.If you want to see Fritz perform live, you can catch him at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood in 2024 on February 25, March 24, April 28, and May 26.

Skye Fitzgerald founded Spin Film to bear witness to unfolding crises with the intent to deepen empathy and understanding. He recently completed a trilogy of films on the global refugee crisis. The first, 50 Feet from Syria, focused on doctors working on the Syrian border and was voted onto the Oscar® shortlist. The second, Lifeboat, documents search and rescue operations off the coast of Libya and was nominated for an Academy Award® and national Emmy®.The third, Hunger Ward, explores the impact of the war and famine in Yemen on children, families, and healthcare workers and was nominated for an Academy Award®.I’ve seen Lifeboat and Hunger Ward and can tell you they are both powerful and insightful explorations of people working to prevail under the most challenging and harrowing of circumstances. I highly recommend Skye’s excellent work to you.As a Fulbright Research Scholar, Skye directed the film Bombhunters and has worked with organizations as varied as the Sundance Institute, the U.S. Institute of Peace,

Shelley Herman is an Emmy-nominated writer, actress, and host whose career began as an NBC Page in Burbank, CA. Shelley’s written over 1000 hours of television, contributed to numerous books for Dove/Phoenix Books, starred in the TV series Off the Wall and Night Rap, and co-hosted ESPN's Battle of The Monster Trucks and Mud Bog Spectacular. In addition, Shelley has guest-starred on numerous TV shows and hosted eight infomercials and national talk radio programs.She’s perhaps best known for her work on the game shows Supermarket Sweep, Liar's Club, Love Connection, Breakaway, Outdoor Outtakes, Trivia Unwrapped, Balderdash, Show Me the Money, and The Million Second Quiz. Shelley was twice a contestant on The Dating Game. And in 1985, for her work on Breakaway, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Writing. Shelley's autobiographical memoir, My Peacock Tale: Secrets Of An NBC Page, details her time at NBC in the 1970s where, as a Page, she worked on several varie

Leslie S. Klinger is the multi-award-winning New York Times best-selling editor of more than 75 books, focusing primarily on the history of crime and supernatural fiction. In addition to heavily-annotated editions of classics like the stories of Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, Frankenstein, the work of H. P. Lovecraft, and most recently, Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, he’s edited numerous anthologies of classic and contemporary fiction. Les served as co-editor of the 8-volume Haunted Library of Horror Classics series sponsored by the Horror Writers Association and published by Poisoned Pen Press. He’s also the current editor of the Library of Congress Crime Classics series (now spanning more than 15 titles), co-published by the Library of Congress and Poisoned Pen Press. Les is currently Secretary of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and is actively involved in the Baker Street Irregulars, the international literary society. He also served as Treasu

Making a return for his second appearance on StoryBeat is the great jazz and world flutist, Michael Mason. Michael’s been playing professionally for more than 40 years.  He’s led off for Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, had master classes with James Newton, been influenced by Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, performed with New Orleans Saxophonist Edward “Kidd” Jordan and Chicago’s legendary Fred Anderson. He’s also collaborated with James Galway and many artists from the legendary AACM organization.Michael’s musical influences include Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Sun Ra, and Yusef Lateef.More than a composer and musician, Michael was also a working firefighter for 38 years and is now Retired Lieutenant Michael Mason of the Downers Grove, Illinois Fire Department. He was one of the first responders from the Chicago area to fly to New York City after the World Trade Center Towers were attacked. There he worked with the New York City Fire Department and Port Authority for many weeks. You can read more about his

Author-publisher Stephen Games came to publishing after a lifetime of reflecting on the creative arts. Stephen is a former architecture correspondent for The Guardian, documentary maker for the BBC, and opinion writer for the Los Angeles Times. He has a PhD from Cambridge University for research into the work of the celebrated German architectural historian, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, about whom he’s published four books. And Stephen has produced another four books on the writings of the conservation campaigner and UK poet laureate, Sir John Betjeman. He also studied Graphic Design and Architecture and has taught as an adjunct for Temple University, Boston University, and the University of Kent. Stephen launched Envelope Books in 2020, with a philosophy that states, “What is a book but a letter from a writer to a reader?” As such, EnvelopeBooks, which is a generalist micro-publisher—and postal service of the mind—is a spin-off from the UK’s largest books magazine, Booklaunch. The imprint aims to select manuscripts

The actor and writer, Joe Coyle has appeared in such movies as Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise, Promised Land with Matt Damon, Frances McDormand, Emily Blunt, and John Krasinski, and Where’d You Go, Bernadette?, starring Cate Blanchett.Joe hails from Sewickley, Pennsylvania.  He’s been a paperboy, journalism student, university newspaper writer/photographer, magazine junior executive, TV/Film actor/writer/producer, bartender, landman and salesman, so he’s heard and told his share of stories.His most recent work, titled Just Trash, appeared in Roger Williams University’s literary magazine, Mount Joy.  His story, Just Outside Lisbon, appeared in Oregon Greystone Press. And in 2017, a series of his essays were published in Boomers, edited by a favorite StoryBeat guest, Robert Crane.Joe continues to write, working on short stories, poetry, screenplays and his memoir. 

Al Olson is one of a select handful of eccentric, quirky, and entertaining people who helped grow American Renaissance Festivals into being a very popular ticket. He shares his story in his comprehensive book, A History of the American Renaissance Festival.While attending the University of Minnesota, working nights in a parking ramp and pumping iron at Dove’s Bicep Gym, Al also performed his original songs in the same coffee houses on the west bank of the Mississippi that Bob Dylan had played just a few years earlier. The artistic director of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival attended a theatrical presentation of Al’s original works at Theatre in the Round and hired him on the spot.Al began performing at Renaissance Faires as a member of the group, “Pumpkin,” writing original Renaissance music. After less than a season, he noted the greater crowd impact of performers like Penn and Teller, Avner the Eccentric, the Flying Karamazov Brothers, and Puke and Snot. As a result, Smee and Blogg were formed out of fru

Screenwriters/Producers, Brian Gunn and Mark Gunn, are cousins who grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and attended the same high school and college, where they launched a sketch comedy troupe and began writing together.They moved to Los Angeles and landed their first job by writing the MTV movie 2gether, a spoof about a fictional boy band. It spawned a concert tour, two top-40 albums, and a TV series created and executive produced by the Gunns.Since that time Brian and Mark have transitioned from TV into film. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, starring Dwayne Johnson and Michael Caine – a modern-day take on the 19th-century Jules Verne novel – was their first widely released theatrical movie. It was a box-office hit, with global grosses of over $330 million.Recently, the Gunns wrote and executive produced the superhero horror movie Brightburn, starring Elizabeth Banks, which has become a worldwide success. Brightburn delivers an unusual and unexpectedly eerie twist on the superhero genre. Brian and Mark are curre

Greg Weisman has been a storyteller all his life.  His first professional work was as an Editor for DC Comics, where he also wrote Captain Atom.Greg was Director of Series Development at Walt Disney Television Animation, where he created and produced Gargoyles.  Later, he wrote the Gargoyles and Gargoyles: Bad Guys comic books for SLG, and the Gargoyles and Gargoyles: Dark Ages comics for Dynamite.Greg developed, produced, wrote, story-edited and voice acted in Sony and Marvel’s The Spectacular Spider-Man.  At Warner Bros. he held the same jobs on four seasons of Young Justice, while writing the comics Young Justice and Young Justice: Targets for DC.Greg was a writer and Executive Producer on the first season of Star Wars Rebels for Lucasfilm and Disney and wrote the spin-off comic Star Wars Kanan, plus Starbrand & Nightmask for Marvel.Greg’s first novel Rain of the Ghosts was followed by its sequel, Spirits of Ash and Foam.  He’s also written two World of Warcraft novels and two Magic: The Gathering nove

Ron Destro is an award-winning writer, actor, director, and teacher. Trained in the US and UK, his mentors have included Royal Shakespeare Company founder John Barton, Oscar-winner F Murray Abraham, TV legend Lucille Ball, painter Pierre Matisse, and teachers at the Iowa Writers Workshop. He received the Kennedy Center New American Play Award for his work, Hiroshima, for which Yoko Ono wrote the original score.             He runs the nonprofit New York and London summer-based Oxford Shakespeare Company, which trains actors and presents Shakespeare plays in historic locations, including Hamlet in Elsinore, Macbeth in Birnam Wood, and Richard III on Bosworth Field.             He’s lectured on the Shakespeare authorship question at Harvard University, Chautauqua Institution and the Edinburgh Skeptics Society.             His new book, The Starre, The Moone, The Sunne, is an Elizabethan murder mystery, the solving of which just happens to reveal the identity of the real “William Shakespeare.” I’ve read The Star

The award-winning French Algerian American playwright, librettist and activist, Catherine Filloux, has been, for the past 3 decades, traveling to conflict areas writing plays that address human rights and social justice.             Catherine’s new play, “How to Eat an Orange,” will open at La MaMa Theatre in New York City, and her new musical “Welcome to the Big Dipper” (written with composer Jimmy Roberts of, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” fame) will premiere Off-Broadway at the York Theatre in New York. It’s a National Alliance for Musical Theatre finalist.             Catherine’s play, “White Savior” is nominated for The Venturous Play List. Her many plays have been produced around the U.S. and internationally. I’ve read her play Lemkin’s House and can tell you it’s an intense and engaging exploration of the politics of genocide through the surreal landscape of the mind of Raphael Lemkin, the man who invented the word genocide.            Catherine’s also the librettist for four produced operas,

My guest today, Dr. David Sharp is a writer, performer, and spiritual teacher. Through his business, Power for Life Now, David produces and presents workshops, retreats, videos, music and performances for personal and spiritual growth.             David is an ordained Presbyterian minister and has worked as a pastor, university lecturer, and seminary professor.             As a performer, David has sung, danced, and acted on Broadway, television, and film and has been a talk show host.             He’s written for numerous publications and is an award-winning author with four books published including: Annie Ruth’s Truths, Power for Life, I’m a Black Man, Who Are You?, and Voicemaster. I’ve read Power for Life and Annie Ruth’s Truths and highly recommend David’s excellent writing to you. His books are easy reading pleasures with positive, upbeat messages. He’s also recently finished writing a new musical and is soon to publish an illustrated book of poetry.              David and his wife, Dr. Jeannine Goode-

The noted Connecticut artist, Amy Genser, has been creating mixed-media artwork for more than 20 years. She opened her studio after receiving her MFA in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design, where one class in paper making changed the arc of her career.             Amy uses paper, paint and other materials to explore her fascination and obsession with texture, pattern, and color. The natural world is a clear source for Amy’s work. She’s fascinated by the flow of water, the shape of beehives, and the organic irregularity of plants, flowers, rock formations, barnacles, moss, and seaweed. Her pieces bring to mind aerial landscape views, satellite imagery, and biological cellular processes.             Amy’s work can be found in hospitals, corporate offices, private collections and museums worldwide. Her latest project was developing a site-specific installation for the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts. She had a vision of her work coming to life beyond the walls and becoming sculpt

Peter Brosius has served as the Artistic Director of Minneapolis’s Children’s Theatre Company since 1997, where he’s directed the world premieres of Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches The Musical; The Last Firefly; Seedfolks; Animal Dance; and many others, all of which were commissioned and workshopped by Children’s Theatre Company. Previously, Peter was the Artistic Director of the Honolulu Theatre for Youth and the Improvisational Theatre Project at the Mark Taper Forum.             During Peter’s tenure at CTC he’s produced more than 187 shows, brought to life more than 70 new works from commission to fully developed stage productions, served more than 5 million children and community members, founded innovative educational programming, and championed equity, diversity and inclusion efforts to eliminate barriers to participation for those underrepresented in theatre. Peter’s passion has been at the core of CTC's mission to educate, challenge, and inspire young people and their communities through extraordinary

Actor-Writer-Director-Producer, Skip Lackey started his career as a Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown after graduating from clown college. Skip’s acting credits include: Big River on Broadway, National Tours of The Secret Garden, Barnum, Big River, lots of Regional Theater, and numerous Off and Off-Off Broadway developmental musicals.             He also had the distinct honor of spending 2-years with Sanford Meisner in a professional hand-picked acting class.            On camera, Skip co-starred in Jim Carrey’s first film Once Bitten. TV credits include: The Guiding Light, the mini-series, The Blue and the Grey, and host for Nickelodeon’s Ace-Award winning Think Fast. He’s also been seen in over 100 national network commercials, and he’s recorded over 1000 voice-overs. Skip even spent 3-seasons working as Santa Claus alongside the Rockettes in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Chicago.            A graduate of the Vancouver Film School, Skip co-wrote, directed and produced the low bu

Lisa Barnes has spent two tours of duty as an actress in New York. First, after graduating from the University of Southern California’s theatre department, she spent a number of years in the Big Apple. She acted in plays Off-Broadway and in regional theaters while studying with the legendary Stella Adler. As well, along with a favorite StoryBeat guest, Casey Childs, Lisa co-founded the renowned off-Broadway theatre company, Primary Stages.            She subsequently headed to Los Angeles where she performed in television and theatre, winning numerous acting awards, including two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. But in time, a stage show she did in L.A., directed by the late, great Orson Bean, moved Off-Broadway, and Lisa then spent more than a decade in Gotham once again.             Occasionally, when in New York, Lisa performs “All of Us,” a piece that she co-wrote via Zoom with 6 other New York actress-writers during the two-year Covid lockdown.