Hello Backstory Fans! Join us for another fun episode about Mystery Meets. Cat started this business as a traveling mystery dinner theater venture. In this episode we talk about writing, and how much of what is written is based on the writer. We also talk to Kim Miller, one of the actresses in Mystery Meets, and Brooke Stansbury, who is also an actress involved with Mystery Meets.. Kim cowrote the last script "The Reveal, and also the newest offering from Mystery Meets, called "The Game of Homes" Brooke acted in "The Reveal, and is connected to the production of the newest play in a unique way, as she reveals here. Find out Kim and Brooke's favorite moments working on "The Reveal"' as well as what drove them to join the cast of Mystery Meets. Also, who is the Persistent one of the group? Its an interesting look at the writing process, and what it takes to do dinner theater, 

Hello Backstory Fans! In this interesting episode, we chat with author Stephen Jarchow, who co-wrote a new book about Artificial Intelligence. AI has been around for quite awhile, and we talk about its origins, and some of the more recent events related to its evolution. The story is really fascinating, and there is so much promise in the development of AI. But, as with any new technology, there are also downsides. We talk about all of these topics as well as what we can do to limit the downsides. Stephen gives an interesting look at what our collective futures could look like in an episode you don’t want to miss.

Hello Backstory Fans! In this episode we take a look at the path of Jonathan Cilia Faro, who grew up as an orphan in Italy, and made his way to America. He transformed his love for opera into a music career of his own, and is combining his talent for singing with his love for cooking.. His new album, Romantico, traces his path around the world over the past 16 yrs We talk with Johnathan about his amazing story, that has many twists and turns. We get his take on the popularity of opera, and what inspired him to combine his love for cooking with opera. We also talk about how Matt's recent trip to India went. Please enjoy this interesting and different episode. From Jonathan Cilia Faro bio: Jonathan Cilia Faro was born in Sicily. He began studying music at the age of 9, learning both accordion and piano. The young musician found his voice during a music lesson, a nun saw his potential and encouraged him and taught him about the beauty and power of music. Jonathan was 9 years old when he heard a record of La Boheme sung by Luciano Pavarotti and his love for Opera was born.  

Hello Backstory Fans! Join us for an interesting look at the life at baseball player Rickey Hill. From Rickey’s Bio:  All Rickey Hill ever wanted to do was play professional baseball. That Hill was born with a degenerative spine disorder that had doctors doubting he'd ever walk normally was just an obstacle in his mind. Hill, who was signed in 1975 by the Montreal Expos, played four seasons in the minors before his body gave out. Rickey’s brother wrote the story about Rickey’s life as a testament to his drive and inspiring story to have a record of his accomplishments, which was recently made into a movie called “The Hill”. Rickey recounts the story of how the movie came to be, and talks about a few things depicted in the movie, as well as his younger years before signing with the Expos.It’s a great episode we hope you will enjoy!

Hello Backstory Fans!..in this episode we talk with actor, writer, producer and director, Vince Lozano. Vince has a really interesting backstory of how he excelled in sports, was lured to California, started street dancing, and ended up in film, and on tv. Vince is a man who believed in himself, and that he could do whatever he set his mind to, and then did it. He has appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean, and numerous other projects. We chat with him about Pirates, one of his newer projects: Trauma Therapy: Psychosis, the importance of having a plan B (or not), along with other topics. We also chat about how to pronounce Caribbean, our own thoughts on having a plan B, and more. We hope you enjoy this great episode with our interesting guest, Vince Lozano.

Hello Backstory Fans!..in this episode we sit down with JP Pennington from the band Exile. JP was on his way to Nashville to play at the Opry, and chatted with us on the way there during this interview. We talk about the 60th anniversary of Exile, their new album, “A Million Miles Later” and the single, “Rough Around the Edges”. We talk about the Opry, a little about the new album, and get some backstory about the band through the years, and JP’s thoughts on playing “Kiss You All Over” all these years later. It’s always a pleasure to talk to JP, and hear updates on Exile, and what’s happening with their long and amazing career.

Hello Again Backstory fans ! We are back, and welcome you to Season 10! We are happy to return, and have missed doing the weekly episodes for you, although it's nice to take time off now and then..In this episode we talk about a few things we have been up to, and Cat talks about Mystery Meets, and the business she started.. We also talk about concerts, India, and weight loss, along with a few other topics. We also talk about things we have planned for Season 10! We hope you enjoy this episode and look forward to bringing you more great backstories in the weeks ahead!

Hello Backstory fans!.. welcome to the final episode of Season 9..We have had some great guests this past season, and tonight is no different. We chat with singer and songwriter Risha Allen. Risha has a pretty unique story of being a teacher for many years, and then a move to a new state gave her a chance to teach music, work with kids, further her love of writing her own songs, and going viral on social media. It’s a great episode you won’t want to miss with this amazing woman. We hope you enjoy it, and we will see you all in a few weeks with more great backstories!

  Hello Backstory fans!. This episode starts with a discussion about Cat’s new venture: The Tri-County Mystery Meets…this is a new mobile dinner theater concept she has been hard at work on recently.. The first of 2 shows is going to be held on July 29th at the Pennington, in Corbin Kentucky. We chat about how the idea has evolved, Cat’s vision for it, how the script entitled “The Reveal” was developed, and the controversy that happened after the script was released. We also chat with the owner of the Pennington, about it’s storied history, and chat with couple of the actors involved in this fun new show. Find out what will be revealed in this interesting look at what it takes to put a show like this together, and what has motivated people to get involved in it.  This is the link to purchase tickets for July 29th https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mystery-meets-dinner-theatre-presents-the-reveal-tickets-663343216417 This is the link to purchase tickets to the August 6th show https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mystery-dinner-theatre-experience-tickets-667258346677  

Hello again Backstory Fans...In this interesting episode we chat with singer and songwriter Byan Ruby. Bryan has a great story about how he went from playing baseball to playing guitar and writing songs. He has a new single out with Ty Herndon titled The Standouts, and gives us the story behind the song, and it's origins. We also talk baseball, the need for a plan B, and a range of other fun topics (even hot dog eating contests.) We hope you enjoy this episode with another great guest, Bryan Ruby!

Hello Backstory Fans! In this episode we have a chat with Sean O’Reilly. Sean has a long history writing comic books, and owns an animation studio. He has written, directed, and produced many animated movies, as well as worked in tv and the video game genres. His love of crafting stories and direction is apparent, and his excitement for what he’s working on is evident in our conversation with him. We talk a bit about comics, and the roots of his career. It’s a pretty interesting journey we hope you will enjoy hearing about, including his new movie, Heroes of the Golden Masks. 

Hello Backstory fans! In this interesting episode, we chat with actor, director, producer, and writer Jared Cohn. In addition to his filmmaking career, Jared has also written a book about his experiences, and lessons learned in making over 50 movies. We chat with him about his beginnings, some of his movies, and the differences between making a movie vs writing a book. We also discovered we have a connection of sorts with Jared, and Artimus Pyle. Jared wrote and directed the Street Survivors movie about events centered around the infamous plane crash.  We hope you enjoy this fun episode.

Hello Backstory family!. In this episode we talk a bit about writing songs, and then have a long chat with singer/ songwriter Kent Blaze. Kent has had a long and amazing career writing and working with many of the most recognizable names in Country music. He has written many songs with Garth Brooks, and has connections with a whole host of artists too numerous to mention here, along with 7 number one hits. Kent talks about his early days, his love for rock music, many of his influences, and his approach to writing hit records. Kent also has a new album in which he explores some of the influences he has had over the years, and gives us i view into making this record. It’s a fascinating look at the career of an equally uinteresting artist. 

Hello Backstory fans! In this episode we chat with actor Kevin Spirtas. Kevin is a multi Emmy winning actor, who has appeared on stage, film, and television, as well as different web series. He is probably best known for his work on various soap operas. He also co created and starred in the acclaimed web series “After Forever”.  This is a fun look at Kevin’s long career, and what drives him. We hope you enjoy this intriguing episode.  Cat also talks alittle about an exciting upcoming project she is working on. 

Happy Memorial Day weekend Backstory fans!..Join us for another great episode with Film maker Sudeshna Sen.  From her bio: "Her first feature film "Anu" is an adaptation of Anjali Banerjee's novel "Looking For Bapu". Sudeshna describes herself as a filmmaker of quiet moments, interludes of meaning and emotion that are unforgettable to those immersed in them, and unknowable to others." We chat about the film "Anu", and the process of making this, adapting the book to match her vision for it. Its a great chat with alot of insight into how this film came to life. as well as Sudeshna's passion for this project. 

Hello again Backstory fans! In this episode we chat with Charlotte Stewart, who is an actress with a long career in film and tv. She is probably best known for her role as school teacher Miss Beadle, on the well loved tv show “Little House on the Prarie”. We talk a bit about Teacher Appreciation week, and some of the gifts Cat received over the years during her career as a teacher, including her most memorable one. Charlotte talks with us about her interesting beginnings in her acting career, including a memorable trip she took with one of the most legendary singers in music. Some of her stories of living through the 60s and early 70s are not to be missed. She shares some of her triumphs and struggles over the years in this very candid interview, and we are very happy to bring them to you here. 

Hello Backstory Fans, and especially all the moms out there! We want to wish all of these special ladies a Happy Mothers Day!    In this episode we get to sit down with the ladies from Chapel Hart, who happen to have a new album coming out on May 19th. They are gaining a huge following and their appearance on America's Got Talent has pushed them further along the road to success. Getting noticed by country music royalty such as Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn helps too. In this brief interview, we chat with them about these topics, family, the AGT appearance, and their new album, Glory Days, along with their answers to a few other interesting questions. We hope you enjoy this great interview with these amazing ladies.

Hello Backstory family! Welcome to Season 9! In this episode, we chat a bit about a variety of topics ranging from intro music, what constitutes music being classified as an “oldie”, cover bands and impersonators, and more. (You will notice we talk about changing our intro music, but had a technical glitch that prevented us from doing that for this episode. We hope to have that sorted out next week.) We also talk about letting one of us use the others cell phone, and the conversation inspired Cat to write a song, which is at the very end of the episode! Find out what that’s all about, and more in this fun episode.  We want to give huge thanks to the amazingly talented Risha Allen for performing Cat’s new song! 

Hello Backstory Fans! Tonight marks the end of Season 8! We hope you’ve enjoyed our guests this season as much as we have enjoyed talking to them and bringing them to you. In this episode we present Singer/songwriter, author, and Producer, Kelly Lang. Kelly has a new audiobook available, titled “I’m Not Going Anywhere”. In it Kelly relays many of the lessons she has learned during her life from the adversity she has faced over the years. She reveals the genesis of the title, and the sweet story of what cemented that choice for her. We also hear the story of her long friendship with Olivia Newton John, and Barry Gibb. This is a brief but really interesting talk, and we hope to have Kelly back in the future to dive deeper into her fascinating life.  We also want to once again thank you, our fans, for listening, and motivating us every day. We will see you all in the near future with an all new season!

Hello Backstory fans! In this great episode we sit down with country artist, singer/songwriter Makenzie Phipps. Makenzie is a powerhouse vocalist who’s latest single called “A Little of Both” is currently available for streaming, along with some great other songs she was recorded. From covers to originals, Mackenzie’s voice does them all justice. In our chat, she talks about getting her start in music and reforming, and how things are evolving for her currently, performing, and moving to Nashville . It’s a great look  At how her career is gathering steam and moving in the right direction.   

Hello Backstory fans! In this episode, we talk with director April Wright. April had previously produced a movie chronicling the rise and fall of the drive in movie theater. In it she examined the history as well as the current state (as of 2013) of this iconic American pastime. She visited almost every state, and many of the drive-ins in each. Her love of these places started when she was very young, and attended the movies with her family, and she has always been fascinated with them. A recent project of hers, “Back to the Drive-in” examines how the industry has changed, adapted, and tried to compete with streaming services of late. She talks to current owners of these facilities and gets great insight into how they are managing to stay open, the hard work involved, and a myriad of other issues these owners face. It’s a fascinating look at this beloved memory that a lot of us share, whether it be as a child watching a Disney movie for the first time, a teenager on a date to see the latest horror movie, or an adult feeling nostalgic about the fun had at the drive in. We also talk a bit about some of our own drive in memories. We hope you enjoy this really interesting episode the April!

Hello Backstory fans! In this episode we sit down with actor, writer, and producer Mike Manning. He got his start in acting in high school productions, and later was cast for a spot on the MTV series The Real World: DC. This would lead to other roles in a Disney movie, tv series roles, and many other acting opportunities, his recurring roll on the long running soap opera, Days of Our Lives among them. He also has multiple Emmy awards thrown into the mix for acting, and producing to round out his resume. His recent movie, "The Way Out" is available to stream now. We chat with Mike about all of these topics and much more in this intriguing episode. His love of acting is evident, and he gives some great insight into how he approaches roles, and what drives him to act. Mike’s  Bio: Mike Manning is an American actor, producer, reality television personality and activist. Manning gained fame as a cast member on the MTV series The Real World: D.C.[2] before subsequently embarking on an acting career, appearing in a number of films and television programs, such as the 2014 Disney Channel original movie Cloud 9, in which he played Nick Swift, Hawaii Five-0, Love Is All You Need? (2016), Teen Wolf, The Call, Son of the South and Days of Our Lives.[3] As a producer, his work includes the documentary Kidnapped for Christ,[4] and The Bay, which won the 2020 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series.[5] He won the 2021 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Performance By a Supporting Actor in a Daytime Fiction Program for his performance as Caleb McKinnon.[6]

Hello Backstory fans! Join us for this great episode when we sit down with author Mitali Perkins. Mitali has written numerous Young Adult books, and her book, Rickshaw Girl, has been recently made into a movie. She relays the story behind the book, and how the movie came about, her thoughts about the premiere of the movie, and how it felt to walk the red carpet. Mitali also tells us about how she got into writing, some of her travels, and talks about the writing process for her. Its a great interview with a successful author, and very interesting person. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with her, and know you will as well A bit more about Mitali in her own words: ,"I was born Mitali Bose in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, and always tried to live up to my name—which means “friendly” in the Bangla language. I had to! Because my family moved so much, it was the only way I could make new friends. By the time I was 11, I'd lived in Ghana, Cameroon, London, New York and Mexico before settling in California just in time for middle school. Yep, I was the new kid again, in seventh grade, the year everybody barely makes it through. My biggest lifeline during those early years was story. Books were my rock, my stability, my safe place as I navigated the border between California suburbia and the Bengali culture of my traditional home. After studying political science at Stanford and public policy at U.C. Berkeley, I taught in middle school, high school and college. When I began to write fiction, my protagonists were often—not surprisingly—strong characters crossing all kinds of borders, seeking community, and promoting justice."

Hello again Backstory fans! In this episode we bring you a second actress from the series "Three Pines",and chat with Sarah Booth. Sarah talks about getting her start in acting, working as a stunt woman at Universal Studios, and what it's like working with her husband on various film projects, along with much more. There are some great stories in this wide ranging interview, with an interesting woman who has had an equally interesting career, that you won't want to miss! Sarah's IMDb Bio:  Sarah Booth is a Canadian born, classically trained actor. She is a regular on the upcoming series Three Pines (Amazon Prime) from the producers of The Crown and appeared as a Guest Star on Law & Order: SVU (NBC), Star Trek: Discovery (Paramount+) and Heartland (CBC). Sarah trained in Montreal and continues to work on stage, including her critically acclaimed performance as Una in Blackbird. In 2018, Ms. Booth was the recipient of ACTRA's inaugural Breakthrough Artist of the Year award. Additional film and television work includes recurring roles on Y: The Last Man (FX), Helix (SYFY), The Moodys (Fox) and 21 Thunder (Netflix) as well as lead roles in Trapped (Lifetime), The Scarehouse (Universal) and the single-take feature Last Call. Sarah has appeared on American Horror Story (FX), The Bold Type (Freeform) and best-selling game Far Cry 5 (Ubisoft). Sarah was the face of President's Choice 2021 campaign in both English and French. Sarah used to save the day in Universal Studio's Waterworld live stunt show and challenges her adventurous spirit with horseback riding, running and fitness

Hello BackStory fans! In this episode, after we talk a bit about crime dramas, famous Canadians, and Columbo,  we sit down with the amazing actress Anna Tierney. She is an interesting person with an equally interesting backstory, who we thoroughly enjoyed chatting with. A few eclectic topics discussed: renovating houseboats, roller derby, accents, and much more.  From Anna’s bio: Anna Tierney is an English actress, born in Manchester and raised in Northolt, West London. She is the daughter of renowned actor Malcolm Tierney (Braveheart, Lovejoy, Star Wars, Poldark and the original House Of Cards) and visual artist, Andrea Tierney. In August 2021 Anna began filming as a series regular opposite Alfred Molina in the hotly anticipated 'Three Pines' Inspector Gamache series. The stories, based on the best-selling crime novels written by Louise Penny, have been adapted for screen by Emilia Di Girolamo and can be seen on Amazon Prime. Anna trained at the Drama Centre London and was supported through drama school through various awards and the support of actors Jeremy Irons, Ian McKellen, Kitty Aldridge, Timothy West, Ian McShane and Roger Lloyd Pack. After graduating she landed a role In the BBC's long running series 'Doctors', where she played Marianne Hartwell. She created the show 'Skate Hard, Turn Left’ ; a devised, highly physical theatre show performed entirely on roller skates. Over intensive rehearsal periods, she trained the troupe of actors to roller skate, inspired by the sport of roller derby. Anna is a highly skilled skater in real life and played roller derby semi-professionally for 8 years with London Roller Derby. While performing in the hit international tour of the play, ‘Our Country's Good', she performed at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and then for the 25 Year anniversary at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theater. It was here she met her partner, acclaimed musician and singer Gabriel DeSantis.

Hello Backstory fans! It's our Post Valentines Day episode with our friends Corri Ramey, and Johnathan Stephens. Both are previous guests who talked to us about what it was like teaching during the pandemic a couple years ago, and returned later to give us updates on what they were up to a year or so later. In this episode we catch up again with each, and hear the story of how they went from coworkers to dating. While they havent been dating a long time, the conversation reveals how much they admire and care for each other, and how close they have grown in the past months. There is certainly Chemistry between them, and either through coincidence, or divine intervention, there are many signs that pointed the way to each other, as you will discover. It’s a sweet episode you will enjoy as much as we did recording it.  PS: On occasion, the editing software does some unexpected things, and doesn’t give us the desired output. As such, there may be a few odd things you’ll notice during listening. We strive to provide quality audio, but sometimes, no matter what we do, it isn’t as good as we would like. We apologize in advance if you find this is the case. 

Hello Backstory family! In this special pre Valentine's Day episode, we talk with our friends Monica Justice, and CW Graham. This couple met when both were least expecting to meet anyone. Monica had all but given up at finding love again after the death of her spouse, and CW had been through a few bad relationships. Yet, somehow, they found each other. Monica and CW share the sweet stories that have cemented their relationship, and are currently busy planning their upcoming wedding. Its a Valentine's Day episode full of love and we bring this to you in this heartfelt episode. Its a true testament to Monica and CW and their love for each other that we know you will find interesting, funny, and touching. 

Hello Backstory fans! In this episode we talk with author Jeff Rasley about his book “72 Wisdoms” Jeff is a previous guest, and has written an interesting book showcasing 72 different  quotes, or sayings, some which will be familiar, and others maybe lesser known. He discusses the origins of each, the people they are attributed to, and some of his interpretations and stories that stand out about each. Backstory Sessions even gets a mention in the book. It is a very interesting read. Jeff relays a few stories about what prompted him to write the book and a funny one involving the chapter with Backstory Sessions in it. All in all a great episode with lots of insight from a man who is well travelled, and has dug alittle deeper beyond the face of things in his quest for knowledge and understanding.

Hello Backstory fans! In this great episode we welcome actress, author, and stand up comedian, Alison Arngrim, who played the somewhat mean spirited and snobbish "Nellie Oleson" on the popular tv show "Little House on the Prairie".  Alison chats with us about her time on the show of course, and what it was like to play a character that people loved to hate. She wrote a book about the subject, "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch" which was a New York Times Best Seller. Her one woman show of the same name has been performed around the US and Europe. She has also performed in plays, and has appeared in many movies over the years, and is a frequent guest on various tv shows often. Alison also talks about her deep roots in activism, having been involved in AIDS education and awareness, as well as child abuse prevention for many years. While the common perception of the character of "Nellie" is that of a mean girl, Alison is exactly the opposite. Her caring personality, her humor, and her willingness to talk about everything with openness and passion is proof of this. We hope you enjoy this chance to get to know Alison, and we know you will find this interview as enjoyable as we did.  

Hello again Backstory fans! In this special episode we are honored to talk with 4 time Emmy award winning actress, Michael Learned. Michael played Olivia Walton, mother of the Walton clan on the series of the same name for 9 years. She has appeared in many films, tv movies, series, and soap operas over the course of her long career, and currently plays Jeffery Dahmer's grandmother in the Netflix series "Dahmer". We get a very interesting look at Michael's career, and her start in the acting business. Of course, we chat about her time on the Waltons, and being an actress on such a beloved tv show, as well as her more recent projects.  Its a great episode you don't want to miss with this legendary actress.

Welcome back Backstory fans! In this episode we present the second part of Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp. Our guest this week is Britt Lightning. Britt is the musical director for the Fantasy Camp, and also the guitarist for the band Vixen. Britt is also participating in the upcoming all female Fantasy Camp, along side such great artists as Wynona, Vicki Peterson from the Bangles, and Lzzy Hale from Halestorm. This event takes place in Nashville on Jan 19th - 22nd. We talk at length with Britt about her career, and how she got started playing, as well as hear many stories from her time as musical director working with last week's guest, David Fishof. Its a really interesting interview we know you will enjoy as much as we did. 

Welcome Backstory fans!.. This episode begins Season 8 and we are excited to share our conversation with David Fishof, the creator of Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp. This is the first of 2 episodes about the camp.  ‘David began his musical career, and shortly after, stopped performing. At the urging of his father, he started booking various musical and entertainment acts at different resorts in the Catskills. From there he went into sports management, and was very successful. Later, he conceived the idea of Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp. We talk with David about his path from where he got his start, to present day. He has many great stories of the people he has met along the way, and a few hints on what’s next for him. It’s a great interview you don’t want to miss! By the end of this episode, you will be left wanting to unleash your inner Rock star!.

Welcome Backstory fans, and Merry Christmas! This episode marks rhe end of season 7 for us, and the beginning of our Holiday break, but don't worry. We will be back in early January with another great run of episodes we know you will enjoy. We want to wish you all a Happy New Year, and  hope that the coming year is amazing for you all. In this episode, we look back at some of the stand out moments for each of us, and talk alittle about the holidays, the possibility of receiving coal for Christmas, alittle about the Waltons tv show, and a look ahead to Season 8. We also chat with actress Judy Norton, who played Mary Ellen on the Waltons. Judy talks about her time on the show.and what it was like as a child actor, growing up on the show. She talks about her costars, a d how they have remained a family of sorts,even now 50 years later. Judy has also recorded a Christmas album, which has been a long time  dream of hers. We really enjoyed talking with Judy, and know you will really like this episode. See you all In a few weeks with the start of Season 8!

Hello Backstory fans! We are quickly rounding the curve and into the home stretch before the big holiday! We hope everyone is finalizing plans, and grabbing those last minute gifts! Only a week left.  In this episode we present the second half of "The Christmas Tapes" with actor Dave Sheridan.  From Dave's IMDB Page: In addition to his film roles, Dave Sheridan is credited with introducing the reality series to the MTV audience with Buzzkill (1996), a show that featured three slacker buddies staging elaborate pranks and catching it all on video. Sheridan began his career interning at Saturday Night Live (1975). From there, he entered Chicago's famed comedy Mecca, The Second City, where he wrote, directed and produced Dave Sheridan's America, a multimedia stage show. He has also appears in a few videos for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Dave is a really interesting interview and we get to chat with him about all manner of things. We talk about the movie The Christmas Tapes, and his role in it, his playing an astronaut, his kindergarten teacher, filming in Kentucky, and a long list of other topics. We hope you enjoy this fun episode, and thank Dave for his time. 

Welcome back! As part of our interview with 2 of the actors involved in the new movie The Christmas Tapes, we present episode 1. In this very special episode, we chat again with our friend, actor Vernon Wells! Vernon talks with us about his role in the movie in which he gets to play Santa Claus: a first for him. We also touch on a variety of other subjects with Vernon: his holiday plans, what a good gift for him would be, and his plans for the coming year. He shares a bit about a few other movies he has done recently, and much more. We are honored to be able to bring you another great interview with this very busy, funny, thoughtful, and genuine actor, as well as a heck of a nice human being. 

Hello again Backstory fans! In this episode we talk to the amazing Rhonda Vincent!  ‘Affectionately known as the Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda began her professional music career at the age of 5, playing drums with her family’s band, the Sally Mountain Show. She later picked up the mandolin, and the fiddle by age 10. She has become one of the most celebrated Bluegrass artists of our time. With multiple IBMA awards, ans a Grammy for best Bluegrass album, Rhonda has cemented her place among the greats of Bluegrass and Country music.’ We chat about the early days of performing, and growing up in a musical family, jobs she has held, and meeting various celebrities, such as Elton John. Rhonda is a great guest, and we hope to chat with her again soon.

Hello again Backstory fans! Well, Turkey day has passed. We hope you all enjoyed the stuffing and green bean casserole. Since Thanksgiving has passed, and we are almost all tired of leftovers by now, it would seem that our ollective attention has turned toward all things holiday; apple cider donuts, eggnog, and of course, finding the perfect gifts to give loved ones, or maybe to buy for yourself, because, dang it, you deserve it!. In this episode, we throw out a few possibilities for you, and share some thoughts about them. While some of these might not be things you would buy for someone else, you might consider them for yourself. We picked these because we thought they were kinda cool, and will be posting links for the items soon, should you want further information. We hope you enjoy this wide ranging episode, and maybe find a gift idea in it for a loved one, yourself, or your favorite podcasters... Happy Holiday Shopping everyone!

Hello Backstory family! We are back with another great episode talking with drummer,  Bev Bevan! Bev has had a long and successful career in music, and has traveled the world with different bands. Starting back in 1962, and later with The Move, and Electric Light Orchestra, ELO Part 2, Black Sabbath, on through to today with his band Quill, Bev has lived the rock and roll life, and is part of the history of the genre we all know. He has also been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of ELO. Bev shares the chronology of his career, and has many tales about everyone from the Beatles, to Hendrix, to The Rolling Stones. He shares all this and more in this fascinating episode. We also find out what event in Bev’s life he would love to relive every day. We know you will enjoy listening to this icon of rock music. 

Welcome to our 100th episode! We are so happy to have reached this big milestone, and thank you, our awesome listeners for getting us here!  Since it is such a special episode for us, we wanted to bring you a very special guest, and we are honored to sit down with tv legend Loretta Swit! This year marks 50 yrs since MASH first aired, and Loretta spent all 11 seasons playing nurse Margaret Houlihan, appearing in almost every episode. She talks about the early days of filming, her thoughts on the impact that playing such a strong female character has had on women, as well as herself, and many other topics related to her time on the show. Loretta is also deeply involved in many charitible foundations, and talks about her painting, books of paintings and stories behind them, and a new perfume she has out. It was a true pleasure to chat with her, and we are so happy to bring you this very special episode, with an amazing, funny, and very sweet guest for our 100th, and we look forward to many many more.

Hello Backstory fans! This week we bring you another haunted episode, because who doesn’t love Halloween, right? We sit down the actress Gena Shaw, who is in the new film, “A Savannah Haunting”. The film was written and directed by William Mark McCullough, who grew up in the house where the film was shot. The movie is based on true events. And the house itself has a fair bit of creepiness about it. Gena talks with us about all the somewhat unexplained things that went on during filming, and how she decided to take the role in the film in the first place. We also delve deeper int Gena’s backstory, growing up in NJ, and find out what tv show she’d love to be on soon, as well as many other facts about this interesting, funny, and charismatic actress. We are excited to present this wide ranging episode!

Hello all Backstory ghosts, ghouls and goblins! Welcome to another haunting episode. In this one, we chat with Shirlene Edwards, who has spent the better part of her life working at Waverly Hills, just outside of Louisville, KY. Her connection the the property actually goes back generations, with her father and grandparents also working there. Originally opened as a small hospital in the early 1900s, Waverly has a long and storied past, which Shirlene recounts for us. As one would expect, there are many stories of paranormal activity there due to the numbers of patients and workers who lived and died there. We hear about these sightings as well as some of the more creepy things about the property, such as the body chute, and possibly mass graves that may or may not be somewhere on the original property. We also talk with a first time visitor to the property, named Brian, who gives his impressions of what it’s like to tour the building, and if he felt the place is haunted. A truly fascinating look at the history and unexplained sightings at Waverly that you won’t want to miss! Happy Halloween!

Hello Backstory fans! In this episode our former guest, singer/songwriter H. Jack Williams returns. We catch up with him on a number of topics: Jack talks about filming his video released previously called “Beat Me Again”, about abuse, and the amazing woman he sang a duet with in the video. In his newest video, "One More Day", available now on YouTube, Jack invites a couple friends from Lynyrd Skynyrd appear in as well, and it was partially filmed on the beach at Kevin Costner house in California. He also recounts his trip to the UK where he met up with his old friend Roger Daltrey, who he hadn’t seen in 20 yrs. We trade thoughts on seeing the Eagles concert for the first time earlier this year. Jack shares his excitement about being asked by Kevin Costner to be in his movie called "Horizon". He has been friends with Mr. Costner for many years and wrote a few songs with him and occasionally performs with Kevin’s band. He talks about the experience, from Kevin asking him if he wanted to be in the movie, to the actual filming of his scenes, and his path into acting. This is a really interesting episode with a guy who has amazing stories of things he’s done, and people he has met along the way. His enthusiasm is contagious! We love catching up with Jack, and know you all will enjoy hearing what's new with Jack as well.

Hello Backstory fans! In this very special episode we sit down with the amazing and living part of rock history, Artimus Pyle!  discuss how our interview with Artimus came together, and our personal recollections of growing up listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd.  A Kentucky native, Artimus was the drummer for the band, and survived the plane crash that took the lives of some of his band mates back in 77.. In our conversation with Artimus, we talk about his band, the Artimus Pyle Band, their work with various veterans groups and charities, and a recent local event to raise money for the flood victims in eastern Kentucky.  He also shares his feelings about the upcoming 45th anniversary of the plane crash, cover bands, and a few stories about Skynyrd. We also chat about the re-release of Street Survivors, the biopic about events leading up to the crash, and also a tribute album he is working on with other artists to be released soon. We can't thank Artimus enough for coming by to talk with us briefly, and we hope to have him back soon for a longer conversation. Its rare to get to talk to a member of arguably one of the most influential bands in rock, and it was an honor to do so!   

Corbin and London KY comprise 4 of the exits as you head South on I75 toward Tennessee, or just over the Kentucky border as you head north, and as you go farther off the highway, you get to see and experience some of the really interesting and unique things only found in this part of the state. In this episode we chat with the tourism directors of both Corbin (Maggie Kriebel Monhollen) and the London Laurel County Tourism Commission (Kelly Burton). Both of these dedicated women tell us about how they ended up working in tourism, and about all the fun and interesting things going on in the area from October to December and beyond. From festivals, to hiking and camping, and of course chicken, to the world's only place to see a moonbow, the area has something for everyone to enjoy. Lots of great information from our guests that will have you wanting to come by and check out all the Fall festivities and other events happening throughout the year. 

Hello again Backstory family! We have a very special episode for you! Cat’s Whitley County High School class has just had their 40th reunion, and had chosen “Through the Years” way back in 1982 as their class song.  We first have the honor of talking with Steve Dorff, who wrote the song, and shares the story of how it got written, as well as the events that transpired in pitching the song to Kenny Rogers. Steve also shares some additional stories from his long and successful songwriting career. With five decades, 20 top 10 hits, Grammy and Emmy award nominations, and a spot in the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame under his belt, Steve has had his songs recorded by over 250 artists. A truely remarkable career, with no signs of slowing down. We can’t thank him enough for agreeing to sit down with us and talk about the song and share his own impressions of it, as well as feedback he continually gets about it.  We then turn our attention to some of Cat’s classmates who share with us what the song has meant to them looking back at thier high school days, and what it means to them now, 40 years later. We also hear the ways in which life has changed for each of them after high school, and where they are now. It is an interesting mix of stories that are funny, sweet, at times bittersweet, and definitely have many twists and turns. One thing is clear though : The Whitley County class of ‘82 is a special group. The love they share for each other as classmates is evident in every minute of this episode. From the feedback we received in planning the episode, to the lengths they all went to to make sure those who weren’t able to attend the reunion were still able to be a part of it was amazing. We hope you enjoy this sentimental episode, and we congratulate the Whitley County Class of ‘82 on their 40th reunion. Special thanks to our guests (in no particular order): Angie Wilson, Gary Bryant, Nat Hyde, Jim Wilson, Judith Streetman Sherman, Tami Moses Cox Mason, and Teresa Rountree

Welcome to the first episode of Season 7! Its going to be a great one, and we are happy to be back and bringing you all the awesome guests, and their backstories again. We have a great episode for you with our new friend, singer/songwriter Allie Colleen. Allie chats with us about a variety of topics including tattoos, summer jobs, touring, and of course her music. We talk about some of the inspirations for her songs, and how they came to be recorded. Her recent single "Feels Like", was written by Allie, and Kimberly Atwood, and is produced by Lee Brice, and Jerrod Niemann.  We found Allie to be just the nicest person, sweet, funny, intelligent, thoughtful, caring, and engaging. We know you will enjoy this episode and will want to check out more of her music and info at www.alliecolleenmusic.com

Hello again Backstory fans! In this episode we chat with actor, writer, and director Bret Lada. He has appeared in many network tv shows, such as Law and Order, Orange is the New Black, and others. Bret’s film, “The Andy Baker Tape” tells the story of 2 half brothers who are food bloggers, and through a series of twists and turns, end up going missing during a road trip chronicled by one of the brothers. Bret talks about the genesis of the project, the issues he and his team ran into while filming, as well as the long process in getting the film edited, music scored, and a host of other topics. It’s a great look into taking a film project from concept to completion on a small budget, and the highs and lows of it all. Lots of interesting insights from this great guest. This episode also brings an end to Season 6. We chat a bit about the season, and share some of our favorite happenings, and give very vague hints about what’s coming next season. We want to thank our guests from this season, and also you our listeners. Our guests are appreciated for their time and willingness to tell their stories, and our listeners for, well, listening, and providing feedback, and stories of thier own. We are forever grateful! Wel will return on Sept 25th with a new season, and more great Backstorys!

Hello again Backstory fans! In this episode, after talking about the various fairs we have attended, we sit down with singer songwriter Alex Miller. Alex was a contestant on American idol and is currently touring to promote his new album, “Miller Time”. He will be opening for Niko Moon at the Kentucky State Fair later this week.  Alex shares some great stories with us about songs he has written and recorded, his early days of performing, and getting to meet and work with some of his own idols in recently. He is a young rising star in country music, who has worked to bridge the gap between the traditional country music and current country genres. His love for the older icons of country has heavily influenced him, and his willingness to stretch and see what’s possible will keep him going for years to come. His talent, humor, and work ethic comes through in this really interesting interview, and we look forward to having him back again soon. We know you will enjoy it!