Somewhere In Vegas

We took a trip to Portland, Oregon recently and had to chance to meet a person who is looking to literally touch people's lives.Samantha Hess opened "Cuddle Up to Me" over a year ago in the Rose City to help with her demand for touch therapy business. Hess and her staff offer non-sexual “cuddle” sessions in which to treat many problems like stress, depression, and recovery from anything from addiction, abuse, or a simple break up.Hess also authored a book about her creating her brand of therapy called “Touch: The Power of Human Connection”.We talked to Hess about the growth of her business and how her techniques have been helping people throughout the world.

Hailing from one of Canada's entertaiment meccas, Aida King is looking to take the acting world by storm.King, an accompished violinist, went to study business in college when she fell in love with acting. She also has an active modeling career.We will talk to King about her upcoming projects and her blossoming acting career.

This week's Throwback Thursday takes up back seven years to 2008 as we talked to Eric Bloom one of the founding members of Blue Oyster Cult.The group has been rocking for 48 years now, pumping out hits like "Burning for You" and "Godzilla". They found popularity again when Saturday Night Live in 2000 when their song "Don't Fear the Reaper" inspired the now famous "Cowbell Sketch."We talked to Bloom about the sketch, his side work of creating works of art on guitars, and the longevity of the band.

We start our new series "Throwback Thursday" to an interview we did in December 2013.With Saturday Night Live celebrating it's 40th anniversay, many people may not know the show had an African-American female writer on staff when the show started. Sylvia Traymore Morrison was the first to break barriers on the historic show. She also helped roast "The Greatest of All Time" Muhammad Ali and has opened for legends Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, The Temptations, and Cher.We talked to Morrison about her time on SNL and working with some of the best talent around.

As the southeastern US becomes the next hot bed of filmmaking, Tay Smith and Christopher Young are looking to get locla talent in big productions.Young and Smith have managed musicians before taking his talents to actors. The transition has been successful as they now represent several stars including actor Columbus Short ("Scandal"), WWE wrestler, David Otunga, hip hop artist/actor Zane "Lil Zane" Copeland, T.I.'s son Messiah Harris and "R&B Divas" reality star LaTavia Roberson.  We talk to the duo about the ever expanding film scene in the southeast and about the talent they are seeing in the area.

This is our last episode of our “Sundance Film Festival” series.Actor Rob Steinberg has got a long resume in acting. From stage to small screen to big screen, he has shared the spotlight with some big names in Hollywood. In 2013, he landed his most prominent role as Parker in the Oscar winning “12 Years a Slave”.We talk to Steinberg about his acting career and seeing Sundance grow over the years. 

An up and coming actor, Stan Houston got one of his bigger roles to date in the Oscar nominated "Selma" as Sheriff Jim Clark. Houston shared the screen with many of the stars of the movie including rising star David Oyelowo.Houston is currently working on a new tv show in "South of Hell" starring Mena Suvari.We will talk to Houston on his growing career and working on such a high touted movie.

We continue out series from the Sundance Film Festival with two women who are helping break the glass ceiling in Hollywood.Actress and Producer Jenae Altschwager has appeared in "The Longest Yard", "Click", "Fast and Furious 4", "A Dark Day's Night", "Spread", "3 Days Gone", and "Poseidon."  She has branched out into filmmaking with the short film "The Ladies Room" and the feature film "Officer Down" starring Stephen Dorf.She was at Sundance to help promote Jennifer Lopez's movie "Lily and Eve".We talk to her about her transition to filmmaking and her upcoming projects.Our other interview is with a veteran in television and film producing Jamee Natella. Her production company, Blueyed Pictures, has produced some of the best Super Bowl commercials for car companies and have branched out into feature films in "Chilly Christmas" and “Opposite Day”. She has several major productions in the works.We will talk to her about working internationally, and thinking globally when it comes to creating media.

This week is Valentines Day and for those singles out there not the best of holidays.With the abundance of dating websites out there, one new idea hope to revolutionize the idea on finding that special someone.SettleforLove.com takes on the notion that "no one is perfect" and encourages people to reveal thier flaws as well as their good attributes.We will talk to David Wheeler, Co-Founder of SettleForLove.com on how the concept is working and the future for the innovative dating site.

This week is Valentines Day and for those singles out there not the best of holidays.With the abundance of dating websites out there, one new idea hope to revolutionize the idea on finding that special someone.SettleforLove.com takes on the notion that "no one is perfect" and encourages people to reveal thier flaws as well as their good attributes.We will talk to David Wheeler, Co-Founder of SettleForLove.com on how the concept is working and the future for the innovative dating site.

We continue our series from the Sundance Film Festival with the creators of the Slamdance Film Festival selected documentary “20 Years of Madness”.Director Jeremy Royce tells the story of a group that produced a show ahead of its time. “30 Minutes of Madness” was a local cable access show in Detroit created by a group of talented teenagers in 1992. The group’s off the wall sketches and original soundtrack preceded many shows to follow like “Tim and Eric” and Tom Green.Jerry White Jr., producer and director of the show, decided to shoot an episode 20 years after the show’s 14 episode run had ended. Royce documents the group as they prepare to relive and revive the show, having grown apart so many years ago. We will talk to White and Royce about the documentary and bring back a show that not too many outside of Detroit knew about.

We continue our series from the Sundance Film Festival with the creators of the Slamdance Film Festival selected documentary “20 Years of Madness”.Director Jeremy Royce tells the story of a group that produced a show ahead of its time. “30 Minutes of Madness” was a local cable access show in Detroit created by a group of talented teenagers in 1992. The group’s off the wall sketches and original soundtrack preceded many shows to follow like “Tim and Eric” and Tom Green.Jerry White Jr., producer and director of the show, decided to shoot an episode 20 years after the show’s 14 episode run had ended. Royce documents the group as they prepare to relive and revive the show, having grown apart so many years ago. We will talk to White and Royce about the documentary and bring back a show that not too many outside of Detroit knew about.

A rising star in Hollywood, Drew Stephenson molded a successful modeling career into acting, getting his biggest gig to date in the upcoming season of "The Vampire Diaries" on the CW.Stephenson was recently featured on the USA Netowrk show "Complications".The looks and brains are also paired with musical talent, as he plays the trumpet, piano, french horn, and tuba. He looks to get into scoring tv and movies on top of acting.We will talk to Stephenson about land the role of Collin on the hit CW show and his rapid climb in Hollywood.

A rising star in Hollywood, Drew Stephenson molded a successful modeling career into acting, getting his biggest gig to date in the upcoming season of "The Vampire Diaries" on the CW.Stephenson was recently featured on the USA Netowrk show "Complications".The looks and brains are also paired with musical talent, as he plays the trumpet, piano, french horn, and tuba. He looks to get into scoring tv and movies on top of acting.We will talk to Stephenson about land the role of Collin on the hit CW show and his rapid climb in Hollywood.

20 years ago Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon released his masterpiece in Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... The album would reach #2 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums' chart and sell 1.1 million copies. It is also ranked in the top 20 rap albums list by several major publications. It also help influence a new generation of rappers.We were at Sundance at the Power and Industry screening of the new trailer for "The Purple Tape Files" documentry which will feature several artists that are true fans of the record. You will hear from Raekown and Ghostface Killah about the album's impact and shooting the documentry. 

20 years ago Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon released his masterpiece in Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... The album would reach #2 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums' chart and sell 1.1 million copies. It is also ranked in the top 20 rap albums list by several major publications. It also help influence a new generation of rappers.We were at Sundance at the Power and Industry screening of the new trailer for "The Purple Tape Files" documentry which will feature several artists that are true fans of the record. You will hear from Raekown and Ghostface Killah about the album's impact and shooting the documentry. 

Having shared the big screen with Jim Caviezel, Sam Sherpard, Andie MacDowell, and Tyler Perry, Clay Chappell has his biggest movie role to date in the Golden Globe winning "Selma", produced by Oprah Winfrey. Chappell was previledged to share the scene with Winfrey in one of the most climatic scenes in the movie.The Georgia native not only acts, but is an accomplished golfer and he teaches junior golf He also co-owns and operates the Athens Area Junior Golf Tour and Oconee Junior Golf League.We will talk to Chapell about working with a talented cast, his future projects, and his mission to bring golf to the next generation.  

Having shared the big screen with Jim Caviezel, Sam Sherpard, Andie MacDowell, and Tyler Perry, Clay Chappell has his biggest movie role to date in the Golden Globe winning "Selma", produced by Oprah Winfrey. Chappell was previledged to share the scene with Winfrey in one of the most climatic scenes in the movie.The Georgia native not only acts, but is an accomplished golfer and he teaches junior golf He also co-owns and operates the Athens Area Junior Golf Tour and Oconee Junior Golf League.We will talk to Chapell about working with a talented cast, his future projects, and his mission to bring golf to the next generation.  

One of the most recognizable venues for independent films, the Sundance Film Festival is set to start this week. The week and a half event explores talent in filmmaking in multiple genres, which could be the future of movies.One of the producers of the event, Danny Thompson, will help celebrate the 5th year of the Independent Filmmaker’s Lounge at Sundance, an event that will feature Film screenings, junkets and Q&A sessions with stars such as Michael Cera, John C Reilly, Jack Black, Keanu Reeves, and Nicolas Cage.Thompson will give us a rundown of the Lounge, and help us with a preview of the festivities in Park City, UT.

One of the most recognizable venues for independent films, the Sundance Film Festival is set to start this week. The week and a half event explores talent in filmmaking in multiple genres, which could be the future of movies.One of the producers of the event, Danny Thompson, will help celebrate the 5th year of the Independent Filmmaker’s Lounge at Sundance, an event that will feature Film screenings, junkets and Q&A sessions with stars such as Michael Cera, John C Reilly, Jack Black, Keanu Reeves, and Nicolas Cage.Thompson will give us a rundown of the Lounge, and help us with a preview of the festivities in Park City, UT.