Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino

Monday, March 2, 2026

Larry Douglas Returns with Music Speaks for Me (2026) | Neon Jazz Interview

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Atlanta-based jazz multi-instrumentalist Larry Douglas. He returns in 2026 with a bold and unique EP, Music Speaks for Me, blending electric jazz, R&B, and both new and old school hip-hop into a dynamic sonic vision. Rooted in his philosophy of “sound painting,” Larry creates layered, expressive compositions that reflect both personal evolution and the times we live in.

We first caught up with Larry in 2022, and now he joins us again from his Atlanta base to talk about getting back into music following COVID, the creative process behind this new project, the current state of America, and how jazz continues to evolve through fusion and experimentation.

If you love electric jazz, jazz fusion, hip-hop influenced jazz, and innovative independent artists pushing genre boundaries, this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen to the album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/music-speaks-for-me-ep/1735666598

Enjoy this in-depth Neon Jazz interview.

For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/
Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/neonjazzkc
Subscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-joe-dimino/id546432639?mt=2

The Home of Neon Jazz: http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER

How to Build Healthy Relationships Using Data with Dr. Merideth Thompson

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series featuring Founder of Partner Lab, Coach, and Social Scientist Dr. Merideth Thompson. With a background in psychological research, executive coaching, and a self-described “data nerd,” Dr. Merideth launched Partner Lab to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to live their best relationship lives.

Driven by her own experience of staying too long in a dysfunctional relationship, navigating single life, and then entering the dating world with a research-focused mindset, she developed a passion for helping others build healthy, intentional partnerships. Using data-driven insights and behavioral science, she helps people make informed decisions — whether that means strengthening a relationship or bringing it to a mindful and safe end.

From her base in Utah, we dive into the science of dating, emotional intelligence, relationship psychology, modern dating strategies, breakups, personal growth, and building lasting, healthy partnerships.

More Dr. Merideth: https://www.mypartnerlab.co/

For More Famous Interviews: Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgi6GpDDDrc_PgOzaERGbLQ Subscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-with-joe-dimino/id1660256991
Subscribe via Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7j92QDS13LXgajPt80X2dh

The Home of Famous Interviews: http://famousinterviewswithjoedimino.blogspot.com/

Contribute to Famous Interviews via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_b

Subtraction Activist Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey on Women, Leadership & Sustainable Success

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series featuring Subtraction Activist Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey. In this powerful conversation, Nell shares how she helps high-performing women and mission-driven leaders build success that feels as good as it looks. Harvard-trained and educated by horses, she blends elite global education with deep real-world leadership experience.

Early in her career, Nell worked in high-stakes nonprofit and humanitarian environments where the work mattered deeply and the consequences were real. Later, after pursuing elite education across multiple institutions, she noticed a troubling pattern — the hardest-working, most capable, and values-driven leaders were often the most depleted. That contradiction shaped her mission: helping women do more good without piling on more to-do’s.

We dive into leadership burnout, sustainable success, subtraction as strategy, women in leadership, nonprofit leadership, humanitarian work, executive coaching, high-performance culture, emotional intelligence, purpose-driven careers, and redefining ambition in today’s world.

More Nell: https://www.nell3d.com/

The Home of Famous Interviews: http://famousinterviewswithjoedimino.blogspot.com/

Contribute to Famous Interviews via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_b

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Michigan-based Jazz Pianist, Composer, Performer & Educator Rick Roe

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Michigan-based jazz pianist, composer, performer and educator Rick Roe. In this engaging episode, we dive into a dynamic 2025 that saw the release of two standout albums, Wake Up Call and Tribute, the latter celebrating the music of Gregg Hill. A respected force in the southeastern Michigan jazz community, Rick Roe continues to balance performance, composition and education at the highest level.

Over the years, Rick Roe has produced and co-produced more than a dozen recordings featuring original compositions and inventive interpretations of jazz standards. His playing reflects deep roots in straight-ahead jazz while embracing modern harmonic exploration and lyrical improvisation. Roe has shared the stage with legendary figures including Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Belgrave, Frank Morgan, Louis Hayes, Clark Terry, Louis Smith and Rodney Whitaker, underscoring his deep connection to jazz tradition and innovation.

In this conversation, we explore jazz composition, collaborative recording, the Detroit and southeastern Michigan jazz scene, mentorship, music education and sustaining a creative career across decades. If you are a fan of modern jazz piano, hard bop influences, jazz education, Detroit jazz history or contemporary jazz recordings, this episode offers insight into one of the Midwest’s most consistent and accomplished artists.

Discover more about Rick Roe, his albums Wake Up Call and Tribute, tour dates and recordings at https://www.roejazz.com/

Neon Jazz continues to spotlight influential jazz musicians from across the country, celebrating the history, evolution and future of creative jazz through thoughtful interviews and deep musical exploration.

The Home of Neon Jazz: http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Kansas City-based Jazz Singer, Drummer & Radio Host David Basse on the 2025 Album War Within

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Kansas City-based Jazz Singer, Drummer and Radio Host David Basse discussing his powerful 2025 live album War Within. Recorded at the iconic Kulak's Woodshed, this intimate and emotionally charged performance captures David on drums and vocals alongside pianist Stuart Elster and acoustic bassist Lester Hughes.

The idea to bring this project to Kulak’s came from acclaimed LA vocalist Mark Winkler, with guidance on the venue’s unique performance approach from Cathy Segal-Garcia. The result is a raw, honest and musically rich live jazz recording that showcases David Basse’s artistry, vulnerability and rhythmic command.

For decades, David Basse has been a cornerstone of the Kansas City jazz scene. He is the longtime host of the nationally syndicated radio program Jazz with David Basse, publisher of JAM Magazine in Kansas City and a passionate jazz educator dedicated to preserving and advancing the music. His new album War Within reflects both personal introspection and seasoned musicianship, blending vocal jazz, live improvisation and heartfelt storytelling.

In this in-depth interview, we explore the making of War Within, the Los Angeles recording session, the intersection of radio and performance, Kansas City jazz history and David’s ongoing impact as a musician, broadcaster and cultural advocate.

Listen to War Within here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-war-within/1827572475

Neon Jazz continues to spotlight top jazz artists from Kansas City and beyond, celebrating live performance, jazz heritage and the evolving sound of modern creative music.

The Home of Neon Jazz: http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER

Veteran LA-based Jazz Singer and Pianist Mark Christian Miller

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring veteran Los Angeles-based jazz singer and pianist Mark Christian Miller. In this in-depth conversation, we explore his fourth album as a leader, Strange Meadowlark, a richly textured and emotionally resonant release that builds on the momentum of his critically acclaimed 2022 album Music in the Air.

On Strange Meadowlark, Mark Christian Miller is joined by a legendary rhythm section featuring Joe La Barbera on drums and Chuck Berghofer on bass, creating a masterful blend of swing, subtlety and West Coast sophistication. Known for singing with warmth, sweetness and intimate storytelling, Miller delivers performances that feel personal, inviting and deeply rooted in jazz tradition.

Originally from Iowa and a respected presence on the Los Angeles jazz scene since the 1990s, Mark Christian Miller has built a storied career across music and the arts. His work reflects classic American songbook influences, modern jazz sensibilities and the timeless craft of vocal interpretation. In this interview, we dive into his artistic evolution, recording process, collaboration with jazz greats, and the enduring vitality of the West Coast jazz sound.

If you are a fan of jazz vocalists, contemporary straight-ahead jazz, piano-driven jazz albums, American songbook standards, LA jazz artists or legendary rhythm sections, this episode offers rich insight and musical depth.

Get Strange Meadowlark and learn more about Mark Christian Miller at https://www.markchristianmiller.com/general-clean

Neon Jazz brings you interviews with top jazz musicians from Kansas City, Los Angeles and around the world, celebrating the history, evolution and future of jazz through compelling artist conversations.

The Home of Neon Jazz: http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/

Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER

Author, Podcaster and Workforce Retention & Confidence Strategist for Women in the Trades Samantha Kaye Harris

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino featuring Author, Podcaster and Workforce Retention & Confidence Strategist for Women in the Trades Samantha Kaye Harris. In this empowering episode, we connect with Samantha from New Jersey to explore her 25+ years of experience working and leading in male-dominated industries, including aviation and maintenance, and how she now helps women stay, lead and thrive in the careers they fought hard to enter.

Samantha Kaye Harris specializes in workforce retention, leadership confidence and communication strategies for women navigating skilled trades and technical fields. Having often been the only woman in the room, she understands what it feels like to be overlooked, interrupted or doubted — and she equips women with practical tools to maintain their voice, authority and self-trust in high-pressure environments.

She is the host of the empowering podcast Rooted in Your Confidence, where she shares conversations and strategies designed to strengthen professional identity and resilience. Samantha is also the creator of the Brag Bag™ Strategy, a powerful framework that helps women document their wins, own their accomplishments and confidently articulate their value in the workplace.

In this conversation, we dive into women in the trades, leadership development, workplace equity, career confidence, communication skills, navigating male-dominated industries, retention strategies, and building sustainable careers in aviation, maintenance and technical professions. If you are interested in women empowerment, blue-collar leadership, skilled trades advocacy, professional growth or building confidence at work, this episode delivers actionable insight and inspiration.

Learn more about Samantha Kaye Harris and her work at https://www.theskhsolutions.com/

Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino features conversations with authors, entrepreneurs, leaders and innovators focused on growth, resilience, leadership and impactful storytelling. Subscribe for more in-depth interviews spotlighting professionals creating meaningful change in their industries.

The Home of Famous Interviews: http://famousinterviewswithjoedimino.blogspot.com/

Contribute to Famous Interviews via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_b