Rock 'n Roll Ghost

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost welcomes former Congressman, political commentator and host of The Social Contract podcast, Joe Walsh joins the Ghost to talk the madness of the Trump administration and the cult of MAGA.Just this past week, Walsh made a surprising decision to register as a Democrat. His move from Tea Party firebrand in 2010 to now is important. We need more conservatives to break with the Trump Republican Party.#Resist #ImpeachTrumpLinks:The Social Contract with Joe Walsh - https://socialcontractwithjoewalsh.substack.com/Joe Walsh on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/walshfreedom.bsky.socialJoe Walsh apologizes for Tea Party past - https://www.pbs.org/video/joe-walsh-apologizes-past-and-attacks-trump-bspjgo/

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost welcomes cinematographer Juanmi Azpiroz (Shadow Force - in theaters now). Azpiroz discusses his role as cinematographer, how he got his start, his multi-film collaboration with Shadow Force's co-writer/director Joe Carnahan (Wheelman, Point Blank, Boss Level, El Chicano, and Copshop), his and Carnahan's shared love of Raiders of the Lost Ark, and he teases the pair's upcoming films RIP (starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Steven Yuen due out later this year on Netflix, and Not Without Hope starring Zachary Levi and Josh Duhamel - no release date just yet).Shadow Force from Lionsgate is now in theaters. Links:Juanmi AzpirozShadow Force

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost welcomes back author/political strategist Rick Wilson (The Lincoln Project, as well as being one of the strongest anti-Trump voices for years) to discuss the chaos and insanity of the second Trump administration. With particular focus on Trump's capitulation to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Wilson details Trump's subservience to Putin, Marco Rubio selling his soul and more. Wilson is, for my money, the one person who speaks full truth about what Trump, his cabinet of evil morons and the entire Republican party are doing to dissolve democracy and give away as much money as possible to people like the stupidest Bond villain ever, Elon Musk (as well as other billionaires/corporations), and trying to take away Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security from all of us. We are in the most dangerous time in American history. Trump and his band of authoritarian lunatics need to be stopped. Not just for liberals, but for all Americans. He's lied to the people who voted for him and he has dictator visions. Call your congressional representatives and tell them to do their job - protect America, keep their oath to the constitution and work for ALL Americans. Only we can stop him. Links:Rick Wilson's Intel & Observations SubstackRick Wilson on Blue SkyThe Lincoln Project

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with actor Penelope Ann Miller about her role as Nancy Reagan in the film Reagan (which is in theaters now). Miller discusses working on the film, her research into Reagan, as well as touching on her work in The Freshman (with some funny stories about star Marlon Brando), Carlito's Way and The Relic. Reagan is in theaters now. Links: Penelope Ann Miller Reagan

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with Michael Muser, director of operations and co-owner of Chicago's two Michelin-starred restaurant Ever. Muser discusses his and Ever's executive chef/co-owner Curtis Duffy's relationship, which stretches back to their time at Avenues at The Peninsula, moving to Grace (both restaurants are no more, but were highly rated, Grace ended its run with three Michelin stars) and then opening Ever during the pandemic. He also talks about how important service is to him and Duffy, the restaurant's feature placement on the hit FX series The Bear, and the things that are most important to him. Links: Michael Muser Ever Ever reservations on Tock

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with current James Beard nominee Jenner Tomaska chef and co-owner of Micheline starred restaurant Esme in Chicago. Tomaska, who got his start working under notable chefs like Erick Williams, Dave Beran and Grant Achatz, opened Esme with his wife Katrina Bravo during the pandemic and has gone on to receive immense critical acclaim. He discusses Esme's fusion of food and art (the restaurant collaborates with local artists to shape their menus), where he came from and how he got to where he is now. Links: Esme Jenner Tomaska

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with Bear McCreary about his new concept album, graphic novel and future tour (with a preview performance at the Fonda Theatre on May 12th), The Singularity. McCreary, who you may know for his scoring work on The Walking Dead, Battlestar Galactica, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Foundation and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, started work on The Singularity all the way back when he was a teenager. The Singularity features a wide variety of guests including Rufus Wainwright, Slash (Guns 'n Roses), Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Joe Satriani, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) as well as his brother Brendan McCreary on vocals across the album. Actors Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy), Ryan Hurst (Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead) and Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead, Black Panther) provide spoken word pieces as well. McCreary also discusses how he was connected with the late, great composer Elmer Bernstein as a young musician just starting out and disucsses becoming Bernstein's protege. The Singularity is out Friday, May 03rd digitally and on May 10th on CD & vinyl. The graphic novel is out via Image Comics on May 08th. See The Singularity performed live on May 12th at the Fonda Theatre (links for all below). Links: Bear McCreary Site Purchase The Singularity on CD & vinyl Purchase / Listen to The Singularity digitally See Bear McCreary and guests perform The Singularity on May 12th at the Fonda Theatre Purchase The Singularity graphic novel via Image Comics

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with chef/restaurateur John Manion (El Che Steakhouse & Bar) about his newly opened restaurant Brasero in Chicago's West Town neighborhood. Manion talks about how Brasero came to be and what diners can expect when visiting. The restaurant has strong ties to South American cuisine, cocktails and wines. Manion lived in South American as a child and has always had strong ties to the cuisine across his years as a chef. Links: Brasero - https://www.braserochicago.com/ El Che Steakhouse & Bar - https://www.elchechicago.com/ John Manion Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/juanmanjuan/ Brasero Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/braserochicago/?hl=en El Che Steakhouse & Bar Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/elchechicago/

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with James Beard award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer of Chicago restaurant Kindling. Along with discussing Kindling, Chef Sawyer talks about his career cooking with such luminaries as Charlie Palmer and Michael Symon (even appearing along Iron Chef Symon on numerous episodes of Food Network's Iron Chef America). He also goes into the issues he had with substance abuse and maintaining his sobriety. Links: Chef Jonathon Sawyer Instagram Kindling Chicago

Welcome back to the Rock ‘n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with filmmaker Mel Eslyn about her new film Biosphere starring Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass, which is available in theaters and on video now. Eslyn talks about working with Mark and Jay Duplass' production company, co-writing the film with Mark and working with both him and Brown in this unique film centering on possibly the last two men on Earth. Links: Biosphere - https://www.biosphere.movie/ Mel Eslyn - https://www.instagram.com/meleslyn/?hl=en

Welcome back to the Rock 'n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with celebrity chef Tiffani Faison (Partner/Chef in Boston’s Big Heart Hospitality which includes Sweet Cheeks Q, Tenderoni’s, Bubble Bath, Dive Bar and Fool’s Errand, as well as the runner up on the very first season of Top Chef and the winner of Food Network’s Tournament of Champions III). Faison discusses the changes she and her company have had to make in the wake of the Covid pandemic, including closing a couple of restaurants (Tiger Mama and Orfano’s) and opening three concepts in the food hall at High Street Place in Boston (Tenderoni’s, Dive Bar and Bubble Bath) and the difficulty of the changes coupled with her divorce during the same period of time. She also talks about her beginnings - not only as an Army brat jumping from base to base with her family and how she got her start in the restaurant business (note: she never went to culinary school, unlike the false information that keeps following her), and how she learned what not to do from terrible restaurant environments. The conversation also wades into the topic of LGBTQ concerns, a subject that Faison, who identifies as queer, holds close to her heart. She works hard to break down barriers on women and LGBTQ people in the food world, including on food TV. As shown in my introduction, I’m not as eloquent as I expected myself to be, but Faison indicates that at least we’re having the conversation, which is important for everyone to be doing in order to move things forward. You can see Faison competing to retain her Tournament of Champions title every Sunday on Food Network. Links: Tiffani Faison Big Heart Hospitality Tournament of Champions IV 

Welcome back to the Rock 'n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with musician Jimmy Gnecco, founder/lead singer/guitarist for the alternative rock band Ours.    Gnecco talks the band's latest self-titled release, the band's history, recording part of their debut album. Distorted Lullabies, with Steve Lilywhite (U2, Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel), recording Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy with Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and now touring across the country, with a stop at Chicago's Beat Kitchen on April 14th where the band will play the entirety of Distorted Lullabies.    Links:  Ours Ours at Chicago's Beat Kitchen April 14th

Welcome back to the Rock 'n Roll Ghost Podcast. On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with musician Randy Schrager of Jesse Malin's band. Schrager discusses the work on Malin's new album, Sad and Beautiful World, as well as his time in the band. He also talks about his start into music, who inspired him and charts his work over the years, including time with acclaimed eletro-pop band Scissor Sisters. Links: Randy Schrager Instagram Jesse Malin Official Site Purchase Jesse Malin's Sad and Beautiful World Contact Us:   E-mail: rockandrollghost@gmail.com    Like Us:   Instagram  Facebook