Frank Buckley Interviews

Cristela Alonzo is a comedian, actress, show creator-writer, and an author with a new book "Music to My Years: A Mixtape-Memoir of Growing Up and Standing Up." Her stand-up special "Lower Classy" is streaming on Netflix. She is the first Latina to create, produce, and star in her own primetime network sitcom "Cristela." During this podcast, Cristela talks about her life growing up in San Juan, Texas including the time her family lived as squatters in an abandoned diner. She also discusses her career choices, her sitcom, her connection to fans, and her reasons for turning down a permanent slot as a host on "The View."

Paul Tazewell is a Tony and Emmy Award winning costume designer whose most recent work is featured in the film "Harriet" about Harriet Tubman, the iconic abolitionist who escaped slavery and then helped hundreds of other slaves to escape as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Paul Tazewellbegan his Broadway career in 1996 as costume designer for "Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk" for which he was nominated for a Tony. He won a Tony for his work on "Hamilton" and an Emmy for "The Wiz Live!" on NBC. During this podcast, Paul explains his process as a costume designer and the research that informs his work. He also talks about the education and training he undertook to become a costume designer, and Paul reveals the joy he experiences when actors don his designs.

Larry King is a talk-show host who currently appears on Ora.Tv and Hulu hosting Larry King Now and PolitiKING with Larry King. He began his career on radio in Miami in the 1950s and became nationally known as the host of the Mutual Broadcasting System's overnight radio program The Larry King Show which launched in 1978. From 1985-2010, he hosted Larry King Live on CNN. During this podcast, Larry discusses his life and career and reveals that after a stroke in March, he considered suicide. "I thought I was just going to bite the bullet. I didn't want to live this way," Larry King told Frank Buckley Interviews."I didn't want to live dependent on others. I've had a full career. There is nothing I could add to it except just to do more. And I thought...I don't know how to commit suicide. How do you commit suicide?" Larry also talks about what inspired him to keep going and about who he looks forward to interviewing in the year ahead.

Frank Buckley Interviews is wishing you health, happiness, and prosperity in the new year! We're looking back at conversations with incredible individuals to start your 2020 with some optimism! First, Dr. David Fajgenbaum shares how he saved his own life from his deadly Castleman disease, and how several instances on the brink of death taught him how to appreciate life. Actor Walton Goggins shares how he lives each day with gratitude for his full life and career, and how his childhood shaped his outlook today. OPI co-founder Suzi Weiss-Fischmann reveals her immigrant story of success, and how her humble beginnings helped shape her as a beauty industry entrepreneur!

As 2019 comes to a close, we're taking a look back at our five most downloaded episodes of the podcast! First, "America's Sleep Doctor" Dr. Michael Breus shares tips to recover from the holiday season and get better sleep. Comedy legend Richard Lewis' relationship with Curb Your Enthusiasm creator Larry David is just as hilarious off-screen as it is on-screen. He opens up about their real-life friendship. Pod Save America host Jon Lovett shares his thoughts on our current political climate, and how we can improve. Kunal Nayaar, star of The Big Bang Theory, shares his big plans for his future now that the hit sitcom has ended, and how he hopes to bring joy to others. Finally, UCLA gymnast and viral sensation Katelyn Ohashi opens up about how she hopes to use her platform to make a difference in the world.

Cyndi Lauper is a singer-songwriter who has sold more than 30 million albums and is known for hit songs like "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "Time After Time," and "True Colors" among many others. Cyndi is also a Broadway composer whose "Kinky Boots" garnered six Tony awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score for Cyndi. She is also a co-founder of True Colors United which works to end homelessness among LGBTQ youth.During this podcast, Cyndi talks about her life and career and reveals the personal pain she endured while growing up that has pushed her to help others. She also discusses her struggles with psoriasis and tells us how she's encouraging people to share their stories at the social media hashtag #PsOatWork and through her partnership with Novartis.

On this episode of the podcast, it's a look back at conversations with some notable authors. Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel The Sympathizer was just named to Esquire Magazine's list of top 11 books of the decade. He shares how fleeing to the U.S. from Vietnam as a child influenced the spy novel. It was recently announced that Tembi Locke's book From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily and Finding Home would be adapted into a limited series for Netflix. She shares her story of love, loss and healing. Nature journalist Richard Louv shares stories of meaningful connections with animals from his book Our Wild Calling: How Connecting With Animals Can Transform Our Lives. And finally, thriller writer Brad Meltzer discusses his book The Escape Artist, and how some of the book's most fascinating elements are based on truth.

Reza Aslan is a religious scholar and the author of three international best-selling books including the #1 New York Times Best Seller "Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth." He is also the host of "Rough Draft with Reza Aslan" on the new Topic streaming service on which he interview writers and authors about writing, and he co-hosts the "Metaphysical Milkshake" podcast. Reza is also a TV and film producer whose projects have included executive producing "Of Kings and Prophets" on ABC and the documentary series "The Secret Life of Muslims."During this podcast, Reza discusses growing up in America as an Iranian American and his conversions from Islam to Christianity and back to Islam, he talks about his work as a religious scholar, and Reza reveals what he plans to write next and how he works when it comes to writing.

Camilla Townsend is a Distinguished Professor of History at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. She is an expert on Native American history. During this special Thanksgiving Day edition of Frank Buckley Interviews, Professor Townsend discusses America's first Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. Professor Townsend explains why the religious separatists (who we refer to as pilgrims) who had arrived in America from England in 1620, decided to hold a celebration feast. She reveals what was on the menu, who was invited, and how Native Americans participated. Professor Townsend also explains the relationship between the pilgrims and Native Americans and how it changed over time.

Ambassador Susan Rice served as national security adviser and as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Obama Administration. In September 2012, she appeared on several national Sunday morning news programs to provide the administration's understanding of the circumstances surrounding the attack on the American diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya that resulted in the deaths of four Americans: Ambassador Christopher Stevens, foreign service officer Sean Smith, and CIA security contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. Ambassador Rice was criticized and accused of misleading the public for describing the attack as arising from spontaneous demonstrations after it was later learned that it was a planned terrorist attack. During this podcast, Ambassador Rice discusses her explanation of the Benghazi attack, and reveals the personal toll the criticism had on her family including her young daughter. Ambassador Rice also talks about what she feels were the successes and failures of

Greg Grunberg is an actor who has starred in TV shows like Felicity, Alias, Heroes, and Lost among others. He also plays Temmin "Snap" Wexley, a recon pilot in the blue squadron of the Resistance's Starfighter Corps in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and in the soon to be released (December 2019) Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Greg is also the creator and co-author of the Dream Jumper graphic novel series for children.During this podcast, Greg talks about his enduring friendship with childhood friend and filmmaker J.J. Abrams who has cast him in many TV shows and films including the Star Wars movies. Greg also tells us why Epilepsy Awareness Month (November) is so important to him personally, and he reveals how one lucky fan can enter a sweepstakes to attend the premiere and after party for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Richard Louv is a nature journalist and the author of "Our Wild Calling: How connecting with animals can transform our lives--and save theirs." Richard is the author of 10 books including "Last Child in the Woods" in which he introduced the phrase "nature deficit disorder" to describe what he calls "the price that humans pay for their alienation from the rest of nature." Richard is the recipient of the Audubon Medal and the co-founder of the Children and Nature Network.During this podcast, Richard discusses his new book in which he asked friends, colleagues, and others to describe their "brief encounters and longer-term relationships with other animals, wild or domestic." Richard explains something he calls "species loneliness," and he talks about why he believes humans need to connect with animals and nature.

Mark Kriski is the weathercaster on LA's #1 morning news program, the KTLA 5 Morning News. He has been with the program since its inception in 1991. Mark is also a professional boxing and MMA ring announcer, and his voice can be heard on radio and TV commercials and as a radio station imaging announcer. Mark is the recipient of numerous awards including multiple Emmys and was once named Funniest Weatherman in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Times.During this podcast. Mark talks about his life and career including his early days in broadcasting, and the early days of the KTLA 5 Morning News. He recalls some personal highlights from his time on the program, and he reveals how illness kept him off the air for several months.

Mark Synnott is a big wall climber, adventurer, and writer who is the author of the New York Times Best Seller "The Impossible Climb: Alex Honnold, El Capitan, and the Climbing Life." Mark is also a public speaker who presents the program  "Life on the Vertical" to audiences at National Geographic Live events. During this podcast Mark discusses his life in climbing, including how he handles fear and how he balances his family life as he travels around the world. Mark also talks about some of the adventures he's experienced and the species he's helping to discover through some of his climbs. Mark also discusses Alex Honnold's free solo climb of El Capitan.

Kevin Nealon is an actor and comedian best known for his nine-year-long run on Saturday Night Live and for his many other TV and film roles including his role as Doug Wilson on Weeds on Showtime and Don Burns on Man with a Plan on CBS. Kevin also hosts Hiking with Kevin on YouTube.During this podcast, Kevin reveals behind the scenes stories from his work on Saturday Night Live, he tells us how his friend Dana Carvey played a pivotal role in getting that role, how his father encouraged him to keep going when it appeared as if his comedy career would never take off, and he talks about his YouTube show Hiking with Kevin.

Josh Campbell is a former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and Special Assistant to former FBI Director James Comey. He served in the FBI for 12 years conducting terrorism and kidnapping investigations and served overseas with CIA teams and military special operations units. He is now a CNN law enforcement analyst. Josh is the author of a new book "Crossfire Hurricane: Inside Donald Trump's War on the FBI."During this podcast, Josh takes us inside the early days of the Russia investigation (codename: Crossfire Hurricane) and explains how FBI agents came to focus on allegations of collusion between some members of the Trump campaign and Russia. He also gives us a fly-on-the-wall view of the events surrounding Director Comey's decision not to prosecute Hillary Clinton in the email scandal. Josh also reveals what it was like to be with Director Comey in a room full of FBI agents in LA as Comey learned on TV that he'd been fired by President Trump.

Dr. David Fajgenbaum is a medical doctor and University of Pennsylvania researcher who experimented on himself to save his own life. Dr. Fajgenbaum discovered he had Castleman disease, a rare disease that ravaged his body and nearly killed him. After experiencing several bouts of the disease, he set about researching his condition to determine what if anything could be done to "cure" it. He chronicles the story in his new book "Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope into Action."During this podcast, Dr. Fajgenbaum details the near-death experiences he had while hospitalized, and recounts the process by which he researched his disease and ultimately discovered a cure. Dr. Fajgenbaum also talks about how he helps others with Castleman disease and how being in remission made it possible to marry the woman he loves, to be a father to their child, and to appreciate every day of his new life.

Walton Goggins is an Emmy-nominated, Critics Choice Award-winning actor known for his roles in Justified, Vice Principals, The Righteous Gemstones, Deep State, Six, Sons of Anarchy, and The Shield. His movie work includes roles in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln and Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight. Goggins won as Oscar in 2001 for the short film The Accountant which he starred in and produced along with his partners at Ginny Mule Pictures. Walton is also a partner with founder Matthew Alper in Mulholland Distilling based in Los Angeles. During this podcast (recorded at Mulholland Distilling in the Arts District of Los Angeles), Walton discusses his childhood in Georgia, his TV and film career, his love of LA, and his partnership in Mulholland Distilling.

As Hollywood prepares for this weekend's Emmy Awards, we're looking back at conversations with actors who have been part of Emmy-winning shows! Legendary comedian Richard Lewis reflects on his long friendship with Curb Your Enthusiasm creator Larry David, and takes us behind the scenes of shooting a scene for the show. Emmy-winning actress Carrie Preston explains her process of bringing her characters to life in shows like The Good Wife and Claws. Kunal Nayyar, who starred as Raj on The Big Bang Theory, speaks candidly about his emotions as the long-running sitcom was coming to an end.

Kimmy Chedel's late husband Frank Doyle, 39, was the head of equity trading at a firm in the World Trade Center's south tower on September 11, 2001. He was on the 89th floor when the tower was hit by United Airlines Flight 175 which had been hijacked by terrorists. Frank died when the south tower collapsed. Kimmy lost her husband and their children Zoe, 2, and Garrett,1, lost their father. In the wake of Frank's death, Kimmy created Team Frank in 2002 to honor him through a series of athletic events and challenges. In 2017, Team Frank Africa was created to build pre-schools in remote areas of Africa. During this podcast, Kimmy Chedel discusses the events of 9/11 and how she experienced it, she reveals what kept her going after that horrible day, and how it was important that her children learned about who their father was. Kimmy also tells us why it was so important for her to create Team Frank and Team Frank Africa.