Backstory Sessions

Goodnight MaryEllen

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!

The Christmas Tapes - Part 2

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. 

The Christmas Tapes - Part 1

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. 

Made For This

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.

Presents and Presence

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!

Long Road To Joy

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. 

Switheart

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.

A Savannah Haunting

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!

Ghosts in the Hills

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!

On the Horizon

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.