Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino

Friday, September 25, 2026

NYC-based Haruna Fukazawa: Plays at the Wrong Time | Jazz Flute, Frank Wess & Creative Freedom

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Japanese-born, New York-based flutist & improviser Haruna Fukazawa.

Dig this interview as we get into her brilliant new 2026 album, Plays at the Wrong Time, her journey through the world of jazz, and the creative philosophy behind bringing the flute forward as a complete jazz voice.

Clear, swinging, lyrical, and rhythmically playful, Plays at the Wrong Time turns “wrong time” into a creative principle — embracing surprise, wit, freedom, and the unexpected. Fukazawa brings together original music and fresh interpretations of familiar repertoire while drawing on both her classical discipline and the improvisational spirit that has shaped her artistry.

Her journey began as a classical flutist before she discovered a deeper creative home in jazz. A major influence along the way was legendary saxophonist and flutist Frank Wess, whose mentorship and encouragement helped bring Fukazawa to New York City and strengthened her belief in the flute as a complete improvising voice.

In this conversation, we explore her new album, her musical evolution, the influence of Frank Wess, the possibilities of the jazz flute, improvisation, creativity, and what it means to embrace the unexpected.

Listen to Plays at the Wrong Time: Apple Music

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Lawyer, Artist & Coach Julie Waas: The Midlife Reboot, Reinvention & Unstoppable Mornings

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series .. On this episode, we talk with Author, Certified High Performance Coach, Practicing Attorney & Artist Julie Waas.

After more than 39 years practicing law, Julie has built a remarkable life that reaches far beyond the courtroom. She is also a self-taught abstract artist whose work has been showcased internationally in New York, London, Madrid, Miami, Milan, Venice and Innsbruck.

But Julie's most powerful work may be the personal transformation that inspired her mission.

A devoted mom to three adult sons, including one with autism, Julie knows firsthand the challenges and possibilities that can come with major life transitions. Her own experience navigating the empty nest became the foundation for a powerful new chapter — and a mission to help women embrace midlife as an opportunity for reinvention.

Julie is the author of The Midlife Reboot and the Unstoppable Mornings Journal. Through coaching programs, retreats, inspirational talks and transformational journaling tools, she helps women rediscover purpose, build momentum and create a life that feels deeply their own.

In this conversation, we dig into midlife transformation, empty nest life, reinvention, high performance, creativity, motherhood, purpose, personal growth and why getting older can actually open the door to something extraordinary.

More Julie: juliewaas.com

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Musician, Sound Designer & Educator Michael Flannery: From Atlantic Records to Sound Design & Songwriting

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Musician, Sound Designer & College Professor Michael Flannery.

Michael's career began in 2001 when he was signed to LAVA/Atlantic Records, and since then he has built an extraordinary career across virtually every corner of sound and music — from songwriting and recording to film scoring and sound design for art exhibited in museums around the world.

As one half of the children's music group The Flannery Brothers, Michael sold out small theaters throughout New England. His songwriting has earned recognition from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Parents' Choice Awards, American Library Association, and International Songwriting Competition.

Today, Michael teaches sound recording, audio post-production, and songwriting at Stevens Institute of Technology, bringing decades of real-world music and audio experience into the classroom.

And now he's turning that experience into a new book.

Coming this November through Bloomsbury, The Practice of Songwriting explores the craft, discipline, creativity, and process behind writing songs.

In this conversation, we get into Michael's journey from Atlantic Records to sound design, film music, children's music, songwriting, teaching, and authorship — and what he's learned along the way about making, hearing, and understanding sound.

It’s an incredible story.

More Michael Flannery & The Practice of Songwriting: The Practice of Songwriting

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Bullhorn Leader Brad Flowers: From NBA Dreams to Brand-Building Entrepreneur

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Brad Flowers, Co-Founder of Bullhorn, an agency specializing in brand transformations for professional service firms.

Brad leads Bullhorn's work in naming, brand strategy, and brand language — helping organizations rethink how they present themselves and communicate what they do. He is also the author of The Naming Book, a five-step guide to creating memorable and meaningful brand names.

But Brad's story starts somewhere very different.

From his base in Kentucky, we get into his early dream of playing in the NBA, the experiences that eventually pushed entrepreneurship into his life, and the journey that led him into the world of branding, business, and creative strategy.

Brad is also the co-founder of Broke Spoke, a nonprofit bicycle shop focused on making cycling more accessible while creating opportunities within the community.

In this conversation, we explore entrepreneurship, branding, naming businesses, creative strategy, professional services, community, taking unexpected turns, and the fascinating path from childhood ambitions to building a career around ideas.

It’s quite a tale.

More Brad Flowers & Bullhorn: Bullhorn Creative

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Thursday, September 24, 2026

Pittsburgh, PA-based Guitarist Ken Karsh on Jazz Guitar, Jimmy McGriff, Bobby McFerrin & a Life in Music

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Pittsburgh, PA-based Guitarist Ken Karsh.

Ken began playing guitar at age 9 and has spent a lifetime immersed in music, performance, and music education. After attending Berklee College of Music, he earned both a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree in performance and went on to build an incredibly diverse career across jazz, theater, film, recording, and education.

Over the years, Ken has performed live and on recordings with nationally and locally known musicians including Jimmy McGriff, Bobby McFerrin, Lee Konitz, Larry Elgart, Joey DeFrancesco, Jack McDuff, and many others.

One of his proudest musical moments came through his work as guitarist on the soundtrack for the documentary film In My Hands. His performance career has also taken him into some of the best-known productions in musical theater, including Legally Blonde, Swing, Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, Chicago, and many more.

Ken's commitment to music extends into education as well. He currently serves on the faculty at Slippery Rock University and California University of Pennsylvania, continuing to share his experience with the next generation of musicians.

In this conversation, we cover the whole journey — discovering the guitar at nine years old, studying at Berklee, his jazz heroes, legendary musicians he's worked with, theater gigs, recording, film, music education, Pittsburgh's music scene, and the many chapters of a career that continues to evolve.

It's a conversation about jazz, guitar, performance, teaching, and a lifetime spent following the music wherever it leads.

Enjoy this interview with Ken Karsh.

More Ken:
https://kenkarshguitar.com/

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Matthew States: From Addiction & Homelessness to Purpose & Recovery

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Matthew States, founder of Divine Chosen Ones and Soul Shine Struggle, two purpose-driven communities focused on helping veterans rebuild their lives after alcohol addiction through identity, faith, practical skills, and community.

Matthew's journey was anything but a straight path.

After serving more than two decades in the U.S. Navy and working as a Department of Defense contractor, he faced some of life's most difficult challenges — including addiction, divorce, homelessness, and the daunting process of rebuilding his life from the ground up.

Those experiences ultimately became part of a larger mission.

Matthew believes recovery is about more than simply quitting alcohol. It's about discovering who you are, developing practical tools for moving forward, finding meaningful community, and ultimately creating a life worth protecting.

In this deeply personal conversation, we get into Matthew's military background, addiction and recovery, homelessness, faith, identity, resilience, veteran support, purpose, and the experiences that transformed his own struggles into a mission to help others.

It's a story about falling down, getting back up, and discovering that the hardest chapters of your life can become part of the reason you help someone else keep going.

More Matthew States & Divine Chosen Ones: Divine Chosen Ones

Follow Matthew on TikTok: Matthew States on TikTok

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Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Stuart Perrin Part II: Meditation, Healing & the Jazz Metaphor for Living

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we welcome back Author & International Rundra Meditation Teacher Stuart Perrin for Part II of our conversation.

Born and raised in New York City, Stuart has spent more than 40 years teaching meditation, healing, personal growth, and the art of living with greater awareness. He is the author of seven books focused on transforming life's tensions into greater joy, love, and understanding through practical and accessible approaches to meditation and healing.

This time around, we get into some of the blocks of modern living — the pressures, patterns, expectations, distractions, and internal struggles that can keep us from experiencing life more fully.

And then comes the jazz metaphor.

What can jazz teach us about living well? About improvisation, listening, responding to what is happening in the moment, embracing uncertainty, and finding our own rhythm while remaining connected to the world around us?

Our conversation moves through healing, meditation, personal growth, joy, self-awareness, modern life, improvisation, and the inevitability of being human.

Stuart brings a thoughtful, deeply human perspective to all of it, and this return trip to Famous Interviews becomes a rousing conversation about how we navigate the beautiful imperfections of being alive.

More Stuart Perrin: Stuart Perrin Official Website

Stuart is amazing. Enjoy his insights.

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