Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino

Sunday, October 4, 2026

Acclaimed Pianist Armen Donelian | Inquiry, His 15th Album & a Four-Year Creative Journey

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Armen Donelian, discussing his remarkable 2026 album Inquiry. With Inquiry, Donelian takes another bold creative step on his 15th album, released by Sunnyside Records. The project is the result of a four-year studio process that was carefully conceived, patiently developed and painstakingly executed — ultimately becoming one of the most distinctive and introspective recordings of his long career.

The story behind the album is just as fascinating as the music.

Inquiry began as a series of unaccompanied demo recordings featuring Donelian's newest compositions and arrangements. From that stripped-down beginning, the project continued to evolve, transforming into a haunting and deeply reflective work with little precedent in his extensive body of music.

In this wide-ranging Neon Jazz conversation, we get into the making of Inquiry, the evolution of the project from its original demos, Donelian's creative process, composition, arranging, recording and the many ideas that shaped this extraordinary new chapter.

It's a conversation about patience, experimentation, artistic evolution and what can happen when a musician gives an idea the time and space it needs to become something much larger.

🎹 Get Armen Donelian's Inquiry:
https://armendonelian.bandcamp.com/album/inquiry

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Saturday, October 3, 2026

The Lost Roy Harris Trombone Symphony Comes to Life | Jim Pugh & Jim Anderson on New American Symphonies

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with GRAMMY-winning Engineer & Producer Jim Anderson and Distinguished Trombonist, Composer & Educator Jim Pugh on New American Symphonies.

We get into their work on this remarkable project, which reunites two old friends and brings a long-abandoned piece of American musical history back to life.

New American Symphonies features the first-ever recording of Roy Harris's long-lost Trombone Symphony, a major work written for legendary trombonist and bandleader Tommy Dorsey in 1938. The piece was abandoned after a single rehearsal and remained unheard for nearly 90 years.

Decades later, Jim Pugh discovered the missing work in the Library of Congress and reconstructed the score for this recording, giving Roy Harris's Trombone Symphony a new life through a remarkable modern recording.

Jim Anderson brings his extraordinary experience as a GRAMMY-winning engineer and producer to the project, while Pugh's decades as a trombonist, composer and educator provide a unique connection to the music. Pugh's career includes more than 4,000 recording sessions with artists including Steely Dan, Yo-Yo Ma, Philip Glass, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd and Frank Sinatra.

In this conversation, we explore the story behind New American Symphonies, Roy Harris, Tommy Dorsey, the discovery and reconstruction of the Trombone Symphony, recording technology, orchestral music, jazz, trombone and the extraordinary process of bringing forgotten American music back into the world.

We cover the whole project and so much more.

Enjoy this interview.

Listen to New American Symphonies:

Listen to the album

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Friday, October 2, 2026

Author & Physicist Randy Lyman on Emotional Intelligence, Leadership & 30x Business Growth

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Author, Physicist & Entrepreneur Randy Lyman.

Most leadership advice focuses on strategy, systems and execution. Randy Lyman explores what can determine whether those strategies actually work: the emotional patterns driving leaders beneath the surface.

Randy helps CEOs, founders and business owners use emotional intelligence as a practical operating system for better decision-making, stronger team dynamics, healthier workplace cultures and sustainable business growth.

His approach is rooted in his own journey. As Randy developed greater emotional awareness and addressed unconscious triggers influencing his decisions, communication and relationships, his companies experienced more than 30x growth.

In this conversation, we explore emotional intelligence, leadership, entrepreneurship, business growth, decision-making, communication, company culture and the often-overlooked emotional forces shaping how leaders operate.

This is a story about looking beneath the traditional formulas for success and understanding how greater emotional awareness can transform the way leaders build companies, relationships and their own lives.

More Randy Lyman:
Randy Lyman – Official Website

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Author & Developer John Wylie on the Unified Absorption Model, Hypnosis & Lasting Change

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Hypnotherapist, Author & Developer of the Unified Absorption Model John Wylie. John's Unified Absorption Model is a framework for understanding how attention, emotion, identity and automatic patterns shape human experience and change.

Drawing on more than two decades of clinical work, John explores why anxiety, addiction, habits, trauma responses and personal transformation are not simply matters of willpower. His work brings together hypnosis, psychology, neuroscience and real-world behavior change to explore how people become stuck, why insight alone may not be enough, and how lasting change can become possible when attention, emotion, expectation and identity begin working together.

In this conversation, we get into the origins of the Unified Absorption Model, hypnotherapy, the psychology of change, automatic behavior, attention, emotion, identity, anxiety, habits, addiction and the relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind.

From his base in Boise, Idaho, John shares the full story behind his work and his approach to understanding how people can change deeply rooted patterns.

More John Wylie:
The Absorbed Mind – John Wylie

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Podcaster & Storyteller Amy Boyle on Women's Empowerment, Photography & Finding Your WHY

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Multimedia Journalist & Women's Empowerment Champion Amy Boyle. Based in Chicago, Amy is a photographer, podcast host, educator and storyteller whose work is dedicated to highlighting phenomenal people and the stories behind their accomplishments. She teaches at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, where she earned her MSJ in 2023.

Amy's photography has appeared in more than 200 publications, including The New York Times and Forbes. For more than eight years, she has also hosted Speaking of Phenomenal, now in its sixth season, with listeners in 96 countries and 62 episodes published.

At the heart of every conversation is one question Amy has never stopped asking: What's the WHY behind your WHAT — right now?

In this conversation, we explore Amy's journey through photography, multimedia journalism, podcasting, women's empowerment, education, storytelling and the pursuit of purpose. From her Chicago roots to her work with people around the world, Amy shares the experiences that shaped Speaking of Phenomenal and her approach to finding meaning behind what we do.

We cover the whole ride — creativity, journalism, photography, women's stories, podcasting, purpose and the power of asking better questions.

More Amy Boyle & Speaking of Phenomenal:
Speaking of Phenomenal

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Ryan Barry Interview | If I Did Not Speak Out, Brooklyn Jazz & New Music

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Brooklyn-based jazz saxophonist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Barry.

We dig into his compelling new 2026 album If I Did Not Speak Out and the artistic world behind it. This is an album that captures Ryan at a defining moment — bringing together lyrical tenor saxophone playing, original compositions and a close-working quintet for a concise statement filled with warmth, reflection and conviction.

Ryan's music draws from the language of modern jazz while maintaining a deeply lyrical and contemporary voice. His connection to improvisation began early, eventually leading him to discover jazz while performing in his university big band. That experience helped set the course for a career built around composition, collaboration, exploration and the constant pursuit of a distinctive musical voice.

In this wide-ranging Neon Jazz conversation, we talk about If I Did Not Speak Out, Ryan's development as a saxophonist and composer, his approach to improvisation, the chemistry of his quintet, the Brooklyn jazz scene, his multi-instrumental work and the experiences that have shaped his music.

It's a conversation about finding your voice, trusting your artistic instincts and creating music that has something meaningful to say.

Dig into the music. Dig into the story. And dig the jazz, my friends.

🎷 Get If I Did Not Speak Out:
https://ryanbarryjazz.bandcamp.com/

🌐 More Ryan Barry:
https://ryanbarrymusic.com/
https://ryanbarryjazz.eventbrite.com/

📸 Instagram: @rbarrymusic

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CEO, Author & Speaker Judy Gaman on Longevity, Healthy Aging & Living a Longer Life

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Seasoned Podcaster, Healthcare CEO, Award-Winning Author & National Speaker Judy Gaman.

Judy is the CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas, an award-winning author, national speaker and host of the Stay Young America! Podcast. She has built her career around helping people live longer, healthier lives by sharing research, drawing from her experience as a healthy living expert and teaching through the power of storytelling.

Her work explores the many factors that contribute to healthy aging, longevity, wellness and a better quality of life. Through her podcast, speaking, writing and healthcare leadership, Judy brings research and real-world experience together to help people make meaningful changes in how they approach their health and their lives.

With one foot in Texas and the other in Tennessee, Judy brings an energetic personality and a passion for connecting with people. In this conversation, we get into her career, healthcare, longevity, healthy living, storytelling, podcasting and the mission behind Stay Young America!

More Judy Gaman:
Judy Gaman – Official Website

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