Frank Buckley Interviews

On this episode of the podcast, we look back at conversations with everyday people who are doing extraordinary things. After her daughter Mallory lost her battle with cystic fibrosis, Diane Shader Smith made sure her memoir was published so others could see the amazing way she lived her life despite the disease. MaryLinda Moss survived a violent hostage situation at the Trader Joe's in Silverlake, and helped bring it to a peaceful end. Finally, Jason Coffman, the father of the late Cody Coffman, lost his son in a mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, yet continues to lead his life with strength and gratitude.

On this episode of the podcast, it's conversations with three people who represent the best of Los Angeles in their respective fields. Chef Roy Choi, one of the founders of the food truck movement in America with his Kogi BBQ Korean Tacos, talks about coming up on the streets of L.A. and creating a restaurant to provide healthier food for the people of Watts and beyond. Father Greg Boyle discusses founding Homeboy Industries and what he's learned over decades of working with gang members and his approach to healing them. Finally, breast cancer surgeon and founder of the Pink Lotus Breast Center, Dr. Kristi Funk, discusses her determination to empower women.

Dr. Rahul Jandial is a neurosurgeon and scientist at City of Hope in Duarte, California. His research focuses on the biology of cancer metastasis to the brain. Dr. Jandial is an associate professor and has authored 10 books and more than 100 academic articles on surgery, neuroscience and cancer biology. As a surgeon, Dr. Jandial helps patients with cancer. Dr. Jandial is also a regular contributor to the KTLA 5 Morning News. During this podcast, Dr. Jandial takes listeners inside the human brain and inside real-life patient cases. He also discusses his new book "Neurofitness: A Brain Surgeon's Secrets to Boost Performance and Unleash Creativity."

We are celebrating 3 years of Frank Buckley Interviews! In this episode, we look back at three of the the many legends who were featured on the show. Legendary basketball player Kobe Bryant reflects on his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and explains the "Mamba mentality." Yeardley Smith, best known as the voice of Lisa Simpson on The Simpsons, shares what it's like portraying "America's favorite middle child." Finally, legendary rock star Gene Simmons discusses his life & career and takes us inside the formation of KISS.

On this episode of the podcast, it's stories from some of the amazing athletes we’ve had on Frank Buckley Interviews. Revisit excerpts from conversations from incredible people like Jake Olsen, a USC student who didn't let the fact that he is blind stop him from achieving his dream of playing for the football team. Viral sensation Katelyn Ohashi recounts how she rediscovered the joy for gymnastics after a devastating injury. Hear the incredible story of Victoria Arlen, who went on to win an Olympic gold medal as a swimmer after emerging from being locked in her body in a vegetative state. Finally, Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm to a shark attack, shares how she fought back to continue to compete in surfing at the highest levels.

Jon Lovett is a co-host of the popular progressive politics podcast, Pod Save America, with fellow Obama Administration staffers Jon Favreau, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor. Jon also hosts the Lovett or Leave It podcast for the company he co-founded Crooked Media. Jon was a speechwriter for President Barack Obama before becoming a Hollywood writer. He co-created NBC's 1600 Penn and was a producer on HBO's The Newsroom. During this podcast, Jon reveals how Pod Save America was created and provides his views on why the podcast has become so popular especially among political progressives, he compares the podcast to right-leaning media, and Jon also discusses the 2020 presidential election and the large slate of democratic candidates for president. Jon also previews Pod Save America's upcoming show at The Greek Theatre on August 17th.

Colonel Terry Virts is a former NASA astronaut, retired Air Force fighter and test pilot, and a filmmaker/photographer. Terry went into space twice--first in 2010 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor, and then in 2014-2015 for a 200-day flight aboard the International Space Station. In July, he participated in a record setting flight around the world over the North and South poles in a project called One More Orbit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. During this podcast, Terry reveals what it's like to live in a space station, and he discusses the joys and dangers that accompany space flight and exploration. He also provides his perspective as an astronaut on the importance of the Apollo 11 mission.

Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer who was attacked by a tiger shark while surfing off Kauai in 2003 when she was 13 years old. Her left arm was bitten off in the attack. Her life is the subject of the new film "Unstoppable" playing in theaters now. During this podcast, Bethany discusses her life as a competitive surfer, wife, and mother to young children. She reveals what it was like to recover from the attack and to find a way to continue surfing with only one arm. And she explains her drive to surf and to compete. Bethany also talks about the role religion has played in her life.

Dr. Charles Elachi is Professor (Emeritus) of Electrical Engineering and Planetary Science at the California Institute of Technology. He was the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory from 2001 to 2016. During his tenure as JPL Director, JPL launched 24 missions into space. Professor Elachi is featured in the KCET original "Blue Sky Metropolis," a four-part documentary miniseries about the history of aerospace in Southern California premiering on July 14th at 8 p.m. on KCET followed by airings on PBS SoCal on August 1st at 7 p.m. During this podcast, Professor Elachi discusses the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing (on July 20, 1969) and the importance of aerospace in Southern California. Dr. Elachi also talks about the state of space exploration today, about the dramatic Mars landing in 2012, and he reveals his views on whether humans on earth will someday discover life on other planets.

Jim Acosta is CNN's Chief White House Correspondent. He is the author of the New York Times best seller "The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America." The book takes readers behind the scenes of his reporting on the Trump White House and his confrontations with President Trump and the Trump Administration. During this podcast, Jim talks about the challenges of covering and fact-checking President Trump, and he discusses CNN's fight to restore his White House press credentials after his press pass was revoked by the Trump Administration. Jim also reveals why he chose to be confrontational with the president and administration officials. And he answers critics who say his confrontational style is grandstanding to draw attention to himself.

William Wang is the CEO and co-founder of Irvine-based VIZIO, a leading manufacturer of TVs and sound bars as well as speakers and the Smartcast app. William graduated from USC in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering and began his career in tech support for a Chinese company selling computer monitors. He would go on to create his own computer monitor companies before founding VIZIO in 2002. During this podcast, William discusses his work ethic, the decision to take on the major TV manufacturers with the industry-disrupting VIZIO, and he details the major airline crash that he survived that changed his life and his approach to business.

Scott Mantz is a film critic and co-Founder of the LA Online Film Critics Society. He was resident film critic and film segment producer for "Access Hollywood" from 2008-2018. He now reviews movies for Collider and appears regularly on a number of TV shows including the KTLA 5 Morning News. Scott is also a longtime member of both the Producers Guild of America and the Broadcast Film Critics Association. During this podcast, Scott reveals how he became a film critic, he discusses his passion for movies and his thoughts on the current state of the movie industry, and he also gives listeners a few reviews of films playing in theaters this summer.

Bernie Taupin is a songwriter whose five decades long collaboration with Elton John is considered to be the most successful songwriting partnerships in history is chronicled in the new film "Rocketman." Bernie and Elton's songs have resulted in 35 gold and 25 platinum albums along with 30 Top 40 hits in the U.S. Bernie is also a lifelong visual artist who started concentrating on painting in the 1990s later sculpture. His visual art exhibition "Bernie Taupin: The Artist, The Raconteur & His Blowtorch" is open to the public now at Galerie Michael in Beverly Hills through June 30th. During this podcast, Bernie discusses his art and his music and the intersection of the two. He discusses his successful 50-year collaboration with Elton John, his process and inspiration in both art and music, and Bernie reveals his review about the movie "Rocketman" in theaters now.

Tembi Locke is an actress and author of "From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home." The literary debut details her love affair with her late husband, Saro, a chef from Sicily whose family initially rejected Tembi and refused to attend their wedding because he was marrying a black actress from America. Saro's mother and family eventually did embrace them and their daughter, Zoela. But then tragically Saro was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. During this podcast, Tembi talks about her love affair with Saro and her decade of caring for him. She recounts the eventual bonding that happened with Saro's mother during summers spent in Sicily, cooking and healing. During this conversation, Tembi also provides guidance and inspiration for others dealing with grief and loss, as she does on the website she founded, The Kitchen Widow.

Carrie Preston is an actress currently starring as "Polly" on TNT's "Claws" which premieres its third season on June 9th. The show is about five manicurists in a South Florida nail salon who are also involved in the underworld. Carrie is also known for roles on TV including her Emmy-winning portrayal of Elsbeth Tascioni on "The Good Wife" and as waitress Arlene Fowler on "True Blood." Carrie has also appeared on Broadway in "Festen" and "The Rivals," and in numerous films including "My Best Friend's Wedding," and she directs and produces films through her production company Daily 3 Pictures. During this podcast, Carrie talks about her life and career and the joy of starring in the female-driven comedy-drama "Claws." Carrie also reveals the one thing non-acting directors do that she really doesn't like. And, she tells us where she gets her nails done.

Akbar Gbajabiamila is a host of NBC's "American Ninja Warrior" which begins its 11th season on May 29th. Akbar is also the author of a new book "Everyone Can Be A Ninja: Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams." He is a former NFL player and sports broadcaster. During this podcast, Akbar discusses growing up as one of seven children of Nigerian immigrants in the Crenshaw community of Los Angeles, he talks about how he cried the first time he practiced as a football player and tried to quit, and he recounts a disastrous first episode and difficult first season as co-host of American Ninja Warrior.

Valerie Jarrett served as senior advisor to President Barack Obama overseeing the White House Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. She was also chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls. Jarrett is the author of the new book “Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward.”During this podcast, she discusses her life and career including her longtime friendship with the Obamas dating back to her days as deputy chief of staff to Chicago’s Mayor Richard M. Daley, she reveals what it was like to serve in the Obama Administration, and she addresses the racist tweet from comedian Roseanne Barr (“muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.”) that resulted in Barr’s firing from ABC and the cancellation of her sitcom “Roseanne.”

Bob Bergen is an actor and voice over artist best known as the voice of Porky Pig. This year, he's celebrating 29 years of acting in the voice of that character. Bob is also the voice of Tweety, Luke Skywalker in Star Wars video games, Winter Soldier in Avengers Assemble and countless voices in animated features including A Bug's Life, Cars, Finding Nemo and many more. Bob has voiced hundreds of commercials and he's the imaging branding voice for numerous radio stations across the U.S. Bob is a three-time Emmy nominee. During this podcast, Bob reveals how he snuck his way onto a movie studio lot as a teenager to meet the legendary "Man of 1000 Voices" Mel Blanc to watch his idol work. Bob also discusses his career and how a thank you note to  Casey Kasem for an autographed picture led to his biggest break. Bob also tells us how he develops the voices of characters. 

Norman Mineta served as the Secretary of Transportation from 2001-2006 during the George W. Bush presidency (including on 9-11). He had previously served as Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton as the first Asian American to hold a cabinet post. He began his career in public service in 1967 as a member of San Jose's city council. In 1971, he became the first Asian American mayor of a major American city. He then served in the House of Representatives from 1975-1995 becoming the first Japanese American elected to the House from the contiguous United States. He is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. During this podcast, Mr. Mineta talks about his career of public service and about the events of 9-11 including ordering all aircraft flying over the U.S. to land immediately. He also discusses his experience as a child being sent to an internment camp during World War II along with other Americans of Japanese descent. He det

Father Gregory Boyle is a Jesuit priest and the founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries, a world famous gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in Los Angeles. The program provides training and employment to former gang members along with services like tattoo removal, substance abuse support, and mental health therapy. Homeboy Industries products include items sold in grocery stores like Gelson's and Ralphs and street wear and bakery items sold online and at Homebody Industries in downtown LA. During this podcast, Father Greg discusses what he's learned about why people join gangs and commit violence, he reveals how he and others help former gang members to heal, grow and transform into productive and healthy individuals, and he talks about a new documentary "Healing Trauma: Beyond Gangs and Prison" from Brave New Films and director Robert Greenwald.