WDEK Podcast Ep. 72: Greg Dubin, Chelsea White & Tash Neal - 7/30/2019

Greg Dubin, Christian Felix, Shonali Bhowmik, Tash Neal, Chelsea White, photo by Daria Huxley

The Red Room has new air conditioning and WDEK is soaking it up. Christian and his washcloth went to a nude beach. Shonali is feeling like a real New Yorker.  Their guests on July 30, 2019 are magician Greg Dubin - "The Great Dubini," Comedian Chelsea White and Musician Tash Neal. 

Shonali thought Greg Dubin aka "The Great Dubini" was a comedian when she met him but found out he was much more than that - he's funny and he's also a professional magician! He does tricks for us at the top of his interview and even Shonali & Christian who are standing beside him can't figure them out.  Greg started out doing magic as a kid, went to magic camp and stuck with it.  Find out how he avoids feeling like a hack.  Greg was born on the same day (not year) that Houdini arrived in America.  Do you know what Houdini's real name is AND what Greg's worst line is during his magic routine? Go see Greg perform his one hour show at The Slipper Room on September 4th. 

Shonali went to San Diego to visit a family immigrant shelter run by Jewish Family Services of San Diego. She was moved and saddened after hearing stories from families who have been in detention.  She was also moved and inspired a week later in Atlanta when out of the blew she got to meet Rep. John Lewis.  She pleads everyone to get involved and to react to injustice by calling it out which was requested by Rep. Lewis. In his words, we must "make good noise." 

Christian and Shonali's second guest is a comedian, host, writer and producer Chelsea White  She is wearing the loveliest jumpsuit and sandals.  Chelsea hosts a podcast called "Ghosted" offering up stories of being ghosted and being a ghoster.  She dated a self-titled "recovering sociopath" for a second. She also hosts Adulting, a web series show on Bravo which features Bravolebrities (first time we've heard of that term.) Chelsea shares a tip on how to break up with a toxic friend. She loves cats and has a web series show called Show Me Ur Kitty.  She produced MTV's Girl Code.  But Shonali's most excited about the fact that Chelsea met a superstar from the show Dateline at Crime Con.  Who could that be? Look for Chelsea's Instagram Live talk show coming out in September called What A Delight with Chelsea White!

Shonali and Christian's last guest is phenomenal musician Tash Neal.  Tash's parents are super talented.  His mom is an opera singer who sings with the Philharmonic and his dad Michael Neal can play 27 instruments.  Tash tries to keep up with them. He's performed with his band The London Souls for about 10 years and is now going by Tash Neal. Listen to Tash describe his favorite NYC public access show with THE guy with the record player and a single camera and let us know if you know THE guy!  It sounds so good. We need him on this show. Tash knows Slash!  Tash tells us about a horrible car accident he was in 7 years ago which caused him to be in a coma. He's lucky to be alive! We are lucky he's alive!   Tash performs two songs, Isabel and Sweet Cup and boy is it SWEEET!!! Go see Tash perform at Pianos on August 29th. 

WDEK_Ep._72_Final.mp3

WDEK Podcast Ep. 71: Ato Essandoh, Sam Morrison & Kendra Morris - 6/25/2019

It's the beginning of the real summer of NYC.  Its time to bus out your washcloths y'all!  Christian and Shonali went to Mexico City and must poll the audience on flip flops. The first guest of WDEK Ep.

Christian Felix Ato Essandoh Sam Morrison Shonali Bhowmik Kendra Morris, photo by Justin Joseph Hall

It's the beginning of the real summer of NYC.  Its time to bus out your washcloths y'all!  Christian and Shonali went to Mexico City and must poll the audience on flip flops. The first guest of WDEK Ep. 71 is accomplished actor Ato Essandoh.  Christian starts reading off his IMDB which is way too long to list here but check it out for yourself. Currently he's one of the television stars of CBS' The Code, was the star of Netflix' Altered Carbon and HBO's Vinyl; also holding roles in movies such as Django UnchainedBlood DiamondJason Bourne and so many more. Ato shares his journey from being a chemical engineering student at Cornell to becoming a professional actor.  Christian and Ato get educated as to the new national dance craze, The Git Up by Shonali. Ato is refreshingly humble for being such an accomplished actor.  He comments on luck in the business and his obligation to help others out.  By all accounts Meryl Streep is perfection in a human. 

Shonali shares a personal story about her love for Bigfoot and shares and special email she received about Bigfoot from her friend Steve in Savannah, GA.

WDEK's second guest is comedian Sam Morrison.  He too went to Cornell as Ato did.  Who knew artists graduated from Cornell? Sam is more interested in having a conversation with Ato than Shonali and Christian but they lock him down and find out that within two years of graduating and living in NYC, Sam's comedy career has skyrocketed. Shonali wants to call his mom Pam to explain his success. Sam came out as a gay man on stage mostly because he was bombing.  Sam won the Make Me Laugh Comedy Contest and his solo show Hello, Daddy! is previewing from July 12 - July 27, 2019 at 59 E. 59 before he goes to Edinburgh.  Check it out! 

Christian tells a story which makes him look bad when the show is interrupted by Theo The Choreographer.  Theo claims the "show is off the rails."  Theo who was hired by Shonali and Christian instructs them as to how to improve the show. Shonali & Christian promise they will work harder. 

WDEK's last guest is soul singer-songwriter musician and animator Kendra Morris. Kendra is from Florida as is our guest Sam Morrison. Kendra comes from a family of musicians. She quit after one semester of college to focus on her music career and partying. After quitting her "shitty' all female band which she moved with to NYC and in which SHE confesses was the problem, Kendra shares how she gained perspective in NYC and also specifically gained inspirational insight from her old friend Anton of Brian Jonestown Massacre.  Kendra was recently featured on both last year's Czarface Meets Metalface and this year's Czarface Meets Ghostface albums.  Catch Kendra on tour this coming fall! 

Thanks to our guest appearance by Theo The Choreographer, aka Theo Koppel. Our next show is on July 30, 2019. See you there and follow us on all socials at wdekpodcast!

WDEK_Ep._71_Final.mp3