Pierson To Person

ERIC WELCH has been delighting the birthday boys and girls of celebrity clients such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Larry King and Ben Affleck for the last 15 years. When it comes to throwing awesome children's birthday parties for LA's junior well-to-do, Eric's AMAZING KID COMPANY is in a class all by itself. (39:41)     EPISODE NOTES: There are all kinds of businesses in LA that cater to the rich and famous. And when it comes to the business of throwing awesome children’s birthday parties for the junior well-to-do, THE AMAZING KID COMPANY is in a class by itself. For the last 15 years, ERIC WELCH has been delighting the birthday boys and girls of celebrity clients such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Larry King and, more recently, Ben Affleck. As Eric reveals in THE PARTY GURU, it was difficult in the beginning for him to go to work in the homes of famous actors because, for a long time, he aspired to be a famous actor himself. (Eric had a recurring role as Corky’s bully, Brian Russo, on the ABC series “Life Goes On.”

ASHER HARTMAN is a transgender playwright, director and respected practitioner in LA's experimental theater scene. His provocative play The Silver, the Black, the Wicked Dance was commissioned by LACMA and explores alienation, violence and the pervasive feelings of shame, anxiety and fear in American culture. (47:38) EXPLICIT     EPISODE NOTES: A friend had an extra ticket to a play at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and asked if I wanted to go. I must confess, I didn’t know much about museums commissioning performance art, as LACMA had with “The Silver, the Black, the Wicked Dance.” The dark comedic play was written and directed by ASHER HARTMAN and it was, at least for me, a real mind bender. But then, I don’t have a whole lot of experience with experimental theater. My friend knows Asher, so once the house lights in the 600-seat Bing Theater came up, I suggested we go back stage and talk to him about what we’d just seen. I had questions – a lot of them. But, as it turns out, being back stage immediat

STEVE WILCOX is a Venezuelan born actor who had early success in American Me. It was rap icon Tupac Shakur's favorite movie and he sampled one of Steve's lines in Death Around the Corner. Working on the film was a watershed experience that still keeps Steve pursuing his dream 25 years later. (36:35)        EPISODE NOTES: The 1992 film “American Me” was Edward James Olmos’ directorial debut. But the movie also marked the professional acting debut for STEVE WILCOX who played teenaged J.D., the white kid who becomes a member of a Chicano gang in 1950s East LA. William Forsythe was cast as the adult J.D. and Steve had to adopt some of Forsythe’s mannerisms and physical attributes. As Steve tells me in VENEZUELAN-AMERICAN ME, he was fitted with an unwieldy dental prosthetic that gave him an unintended lisp, which he had to learn to speak without. A few years later, Steve worked with rap icon Tupac Shakur in “Gang Related” who told him that he’d actually – unbeknownst to Steve -- sampled some of his dialogue from “

CYNTHIA JAMIN is a former sitcom actress who had recurring roles on Friends and Veronica's Closet as well as other NBC "Must See TV" shows. Cynthia now designs whimsical clothes for girls and the joy they bring to those who wear them helps ease the pain of her own abusive childhood. (43:09) EXPLICIT      EPISODE NOTES: Remember the "Must See TV" sitcoms of the 1990s? CYNTHIA JAMIN certainly does. She was a working actress who had roles on several NBC shows back in the network's comedy block heyday, including "Friends." In fact, as Cynthia tells me in TWIRLYGIRL she was invited to audition for one of the principal characters on "Friends" (originally called "Six of One") after series co-creator Marta Kauffman saw her perform at a small LA theater. She read for the part of Rachel. So did Jennifer Aniston. And the rest is TV history. But Marta K. really liked Cynthia and asked her to play a waitress on the pilot. After the show got picked up, she was given the recurring role of Jasmine -- Phoebe's co-worker at th

MATT LABOV is a veteran Hollywood publicist who specializes in representing A-list comedians. Matt's clients have included Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Jack Black, Sasha Baron-Cohen, Jon Stewart and many others -- including Dave Chappelle, who he represented at the time of his very public disappearance. (40:08) EXPLICIT       EPISODE NOTES: When I decided to start my PIERSON TO PERSON podcast I made a list of several people I wanted to interview. MATT LABOV wasn't on it. I hadn't seen or talked to Matt in over 25 years. But serendipity changed that when a friend and I were standing at the counter of Delicious Pizza (the "hip-hop pizza shop" in the West Adams district) and I heard someone say: "Brent Pierson?!?" I turned and didn't recognize the bearded guy standing behind me. I quickly studied his face, but couldn't put a name to it. 'Do I know you?' "Yeah," he said. "It's Matt Labov." Big smile. Big hug. 'Matt, I'm doing a podcast ...' THE FLACK is my 11th episode, and it's a fun one. Matt and I reminisce abo

NICK STEIN was flying high as the executive producer of Border Wars for the National Geographic Channel. It was the most exciting television series he’d ever been in charge of. But then Fox Cable Networks took over Nat Geo, leading Nick to the greatest existential crisis of his life. (36:36)       EPISODE NOTES: FROM BORDER TO BUDDHA with NICK STEIN is the pilot episode of PIERSON TO PERSON. Nick is fearlessly candid in our conversation about the personal and professional struggles that led to his journey to mindfulness. In a world of increasing distractions, what Nick says about being more aware and present in our daily lives really resonates with listeners. Some have reached out and told me that hearing about Nick's life-saving experience with meditation has inspired them to try it for the first time -- or to try it again after previous attempts. Since recording this episode, Nick has been certified as a Mindfulness Facilitator by the Engaged Mindfulness Institute in Massachusetts and has begun leading mind

JAMES RAINEY is a senior film reporter at Variety and covered the Oscar-winning movie Spotlight. The “Best Picture” resonated with Jim who spent 29 years as a staff reporter for The Los Angeles Times. But no amount of news experience could have prepared him for the media attention he got after experiencing a personal tragedy. (41:32)     Many thanks to the composers of the music featured in this episode royalty free through Creative Commons licensing: 1. "The Journey" by Marcos Bolanos  2. "Curiosity" by Lee Rosevere - leerosevere.bandcamp.com 3. "Under Suspicion" by Lee Rosevere - leerosevere.bandcamp.com 4. "Wisteria" by Blue Dot Sessions - sessions.blue/sessions/ 5. "Places Unseen" by Lee Rosevere - leerosevere.bandcamp.com      

TANYA GREEN is a former non-fiction television producer who turned her love of wine into a show biz exit strategy. Tanya now owns Wine 661, a once struggling wine bar and bottle shop where she enjoys holding court and helping her loyal customers develop their own wine palates. (41:34)   Many thanks to the composer of the music featured in this episode royalty free through Creative Commons licensing: 1. "Melting Warmth" by Jared C. Balogh 2. "Burgundy Eve" by Jared C. Balogh 3. "Brick by Brick, Day by Day" by Jared C. Balogh 4. "Lost Without" by Jared C. Balogh 5. "Where" by Jared C. Balogh 6. "Melting Warmth" by Jared C. Balogh 7. "The Bi+-Polars of Jazz with Hot Sauce" by Jared C. Balogh 8. "Good Morning, Good Evening, Good Night" by Jared C. Balogh 9. "Provident Winds" by Jared C. Balogh 10. "Nice and Simplistic" by Jared C. Balogh Visit Jared C. Balogh's website at: alteredstateofmine.net      

JULES SYLVESTER is Hollywood’s go-to guy for camera-ready reptiles, spiders and creepy crawlies of all kinds. Raised in Africa, Jules moved to America while in his twenties and joined a traveling circus before landing an animal training job that led to his working on hundreds of movies, including Snakes on a Plane. (40:29) EXPLICIT     EPISODE NOTES: If you’ve been a Southern California moviegoer long enough you may remember the entertaining trailers the Los Angeles Times used to present as part of the Coming Attractions. These minute-docs profiled industry professionals working interesting behind-the-scenes jobs on movie sets. And one of them featured my favorite Hollywood animal trainer and wildlife expert, JULES SYLVESTER. Check out “The Bug Wrangler” In THE SNAKE CHARMER, Jules tells me the silver screen exposure led directly to his stepping in front of the camera to host three television series – two of which took him on exciting adventures around the world. Today, Jules is busier than ever supplying ev

BRENT GREEN has been called the Johnny Appleseed of Los Angeles. He has personally planted, at his own expense, hundreds of trees on once barren city streets. Brent is on a mission to not only beautify the part of LA he lives in, but to change the way other Angelenos view his neighborhood. (31:06)   Many thanks to the composers of the music featured in this episode royalty free through Creative Commons licensing: 1. "City Limits" by Blue Dot Sessions - sessions.blue/sessions/ 2. "Calvin" by Adam Selzer 3. "Carefree by Kevin MacLeod - incompetech.com 4. "Seed" by PC III  5. "Happy Birthday" by Kevin Lax - kevinlax.com 6. "Streamer" by Blue Dot Session - sessions.blue/sessions/   EPISODE NOTES: Los Angeles native BRENT GREEN lives in a charming 1920 Spanish bungalow – or “jungalow” as he calls it because of all the lush foliage encircling the property. (It’s been featured in Sunset magazine.) In GREEN’S TREES, I talk with Brent about his personal crusade to plant a variety of drought-tolerant trees along the st

DARWYN METZGER is the founder of Phantom, a social-media-driven disruption agency that specializes in engineering and seeding digital propaganda on behalf of celebrities, films and TV shows. Ten years ago, Darwyn had absolutely zero interest in the tech world, but both he and his interests have evolved. (37:10) EXPLICIT    EPISODE NOTES: Shortly after recording this free-wheeling episode with DARWYN METZGER he invited me to the opening of Phantom’s new offices on Hollywood Boulevard. Darwyn’s “subversive digital propaganda” agency is now located just a few doors down from old school eatery Musso & Frank in an amazing creative space that could easily be mistaken for a contemporary art gallery. The focal point of the 4,500-sq-foot suite is an eye-popping pop art mash-up of original images by Richie Velazquez (aka Deladeso) superimposed on vintage paintings Darwyn acquired from various LA thrift stores. The open bar featured a signature party drink dubbed “The Phantom” (Maker’s Mark whiskey, Barenjager honey

CYNTHIA GRAHAM owns and operates RPM Fitness Studio, one of the largest and longest-running spinning studios in Los Angeles. Cynthia believes indoor cycling is the highest form of cardiovascular exercise. And while it has low or no impact on a rider’s joints, she admits the bike’s seat can still leave her saddle sore. (36:06)   Many thanks to the composer of the music featured in this episode royalty free through Creative Commons licensing: 1. "Saunter" by Podington Bear  2. "Funk" by Podington Bear  3. "Sonstiges" by Podington Bear  4. "Sunset Stroll" by Podington Bear  5. "Lip Gloss" by Podington Bear  Visit Podington Bear's website at: soundofpicture.com