Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino: December 2025

Thursday, December 4, 2025

KC-based Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Drew Williams on the 2025 Album Demons Hate Fresh Air

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with KC-based Jazz Saxophonist & Composer Drew Williams discussing his 2025 album Demons Hate Fresh Air out December 5, 2025. This new project chronicles a period of deep personal transformation since his debut album Hazel—from becoming a parent to getting sober, moving back to Kansas City, and earning a doctorate. It’s also rooted in the rediscovery of the tenor saxophone during the darkest days of lockdown.

The album presents Drew’s take on the saxophone trio format, expanded with overdubs of synth, guitar, bass clarinet, and tape loops to create a layered, exploratory sound world. We get into the writing, the evolution, the emotional themes, and the creative process behind this new chapter. Great to have him back on the show. Enjoy.

🎧 Get the album: https://www.williamsdrew.com/

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Co-Founder & Bassist Randy Wong of Waitiki 7

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Co-Founder & Bassist Randy Wong of The WAITIKI 7. Speaking from his base in beautiful Honolulu, we dig into the band’s brand-new 2025 album Exotica Reborn: In Studio and Live at House Without a Key, their vibrant history, and the evolution of Exotica music.

The WAITIKI 7 is a modern Exotica supergroup blending jazz with global influences to create an immersive, transportive sound. Rooted in Hawaiʻi’s golden age of Waikiki, Exotica was shaped by legends like Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman, and the band carries that legacy forward while redefining the genre for today’s listeners. Featuring conservatory-trained musicians, GRAMMY winners, and symphonic performers, they’ve spent 20 years preserving and advancing this unique musical tradition.

Founded in Boston by Hawaiʻi musicians Randy Wong and Abe Lagrimas Jr., The WAITIKI 7 emerged in the wake of the 1990s lounge revival and has continued to expand the boundaries of Exotica. We cover their history, mission, musicianship, and the creation of their new album. Enjoy this deep dive.

🎧 Get the album: https://www.waitiki.com/exoticareborn

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Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Pastor, Coach & Strategist Joshua Delp

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Pastor, Coach & Strategist Joshua Delp — a faith-driven leader passionate about helping people experience breakthrough and walk boldly in their God-given purpose. For more than a decade, Joshua served in full-time ministry before founding Rising Leadership, a coaching and consulting practice equipping leaders and organizations to lead with clarity, conviction, and strategic effectiveness.

He is also the founder of Risen Men, a growing community helping men strengthen their faith, leadership, and emotional intelligence, and the soon-to-launch Risen Project, expanding that mission even further. Joshua believes deeply in the dignity and potential of all people and is committed to seeing individuals thrive and purpose-driven organizations prevail. From Jacksonville, Florida, he and his wife Lisa are building a life and ministry rooted in faith, integrity, and impact.

Dig this uplifting and purpose-filled story.

Chief Wellbeing Officer for Burned Out Gen X Women Jennifer Bassman

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. In this episode, we talk with Chief Wellbeing Officer for Burned Out Gen X Women, Jennifer Bassman. She is a speaker, author, and burnout recovery coach helping high-achieving women ditch stress and reclaim their sanity without quitting their careers or burning everything down.

With more than 15 years studying stress and burnout, Jennifer blends science-backed strategies with humor, clarity, and heart. Her Triumphs Toolkit gives women practical tools to break free from unrealistic expectations while building long-lasting resilience. She is also a three-time author living in Dallas with her husband and four rescue dogs who run the house.

Dig into this full, inspirational conversation about burnout recovery, wellbeing, mindset, and thriving as a Gen X professional.

Esteemed Author & Empowering Women 50+ to Reinvent, Thrive & Live Boldly Tina Coleman 

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Esteemed Author Tina Coleman, a powerful voice empowering women 50+ to reinvent, thrive, and live boldly. She is the force behind an upcoming book that redefines what it truly means to be a woman at midlife—one grounded in freedom, confidence, and intentional reinvention.

After more than two decades as a licensed massage therapist, Tina’s career was abruptly halted by a car accident. But instead of letting that moment define her, she chose transformation. Her path began with solo travel, an act that awakened courage, clarity, and an entirely new sense of possibility. That journey ultimately led her to move abroad to Mexico, where she continues living a life designed with purpose, authenticity, and fearless evolution.

Today, Tina shares her story as living proof that it’s never too late to rewrite your life. From resilience to global adventure to midlife empowerment, this is a stellar conversation. Enjoy.

More on Tina:
https://www.instagram.com/transform.be.courageous?igsh=am9hdjVxOXV2d3h4&utm_source=qr

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CPA, MBA, Author, Husband and Father of Four Albert Butler

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with CPA, MBA, Author, Husband, and Father of Four Albert Butler. Today, he is the Resident Partner-in-Charge of a national accounting firm, leading with integrity, strategy, and purpose for more than 25 years. As a father of four, youth coach, and committed servant leader, Albert brings hard-earned wisdom to every conversation—turning personal trials into lessons on resilience, faith, leadership, and financial discipline.

His philosophy is clear and compelling: Accounting is the heartbeat of business and the key to personal finance success. From his base in Atlanta, Georgia, we get into his journey, his work, his book, and the intentional life he strives to build every day. Enjoy this story.

More on Albert:
https://albertbutler.com/about/

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Jazz Royalty & Acclaimed Singer Carmen Bradford

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Royalty & Acclaimed Singer Carmen Bradford. We talk with her about her new 2025 CD Carmen Sings Carmen, her charmed life in the jazz world, and an extraordinary career that has taken her from Count Basie to global acclaim. A five-time Grammy nominee and recipient of the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s Jazz Vocalist Award, Carmen Bradford embodies versatility, soul, and technical brilliance. Her legacy continues to shape and preserve America’s great art form—jazz.

Born in Austin, Texas and raised in Altadena, California, Carmen is the daughter of two jazz legends: cornetist and composer Bobby Bradford, and world-renowned vocalist, composer, and author Melba Joyce. Her own rise began when Count Basie hired her at the age of 22—and she has been a force in jazz ever since. We get into the new album, her musical lineage, the road, the stories, and a life dedicated to the craft. Enjoy this interview.

Get the album:
https://www.uncjazzpress.com/product-p/cd18025.htm

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Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Globally Recognized CMO, GTM Architect & Growth Operator a.k.a “The King of Scaling Companies” Kurt Uhlir

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Globally Recognized CMO, GTM Architect & Growth Operator Kurt Uhlir — known around the world as “The King of Scaling Companies.” Throughout his career, Kurt has helped lead more than 60 acquisitions and exits, supported an $880 million IPO, and scaled multiple organizations through periods of intense hypergrowth.

He has built powerful go-to-market systems, high-performing marketing engines, and repeatable growth frameworks that have generated massive revenue across B2B SaaS, consumer platforms, real estate, martech, and more. But Kurt is more than a marketer—he’s a true company builder. His leadership spans organizations from early-stage startups to enterprises exceeding $1.4 billion in revenue, and he is a well-known advocate for servant leadership and empowering teams at every level.

Whether he’s optimizing GTM strategy for mid-market companies, guiding founders through critical inflection points, or coaching C-suite leaders on sustainable growth, Kurt brings practical wisdom and a proven methodology. Enjoy this insightful and dynamic career retrospective.

Author, Inventor, Tech Entrepreneur & Future Cyborg Dr. Corinna Elisabeth Lathan

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Author, Inventor, Tech Entrepreneur & Future Cyborg Dr. Corinna Elisabeth Lathan. She is an award-winning CEO, board director, and pioneering technology innovator who has spent more than 25 years developing breakthroughs that reshape human potential. Her work includes creating robots for children with disabilities, virtual reality systems for the International Space Station, and wearable sensor technologies for training surgeons and soldiers.

Her bestselling book, Inventing the Future: Stories from a Techno-Optimist, chronicles her remarkable journey as an engineer and visionary who believes technology should help us build a better world—and that everyone can play a role in designing that future. This is a powerful, inspiring, and fascinating conversation with a true trailblazer. Enjoy this story.

More on Dr. Lathan – http://inventthefuture.tech/

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Author, Singer/Songwriter & Creative Force Nikki Allen

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Author, Singer/Songwriter & Creative Force Nikki Allen. She is the author of Loved You, Hated You—a bold and emotionally charged novel inspired by real-life heartbreak. What began as a single song, then evolved into a screenplay, ultimately became a gripping work of fiction exploring betrayal, identity loss, resilience, and the power of choosing yourself.

Nikki writes with raw honesty and cinematic intensity, and in this interview she dives into her creative process, emotional healing, and the deeper truths that fiction can illuminate. From her base in Los Angeles, she shares an incredible story of survival, reinvention, and artistic evolution. Enjoy this powerful conversation.

More on Nikki – https://officialnikkiallen.com/

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Life & Career Coach Sophia Mikelionis

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Life & Career Coach Sophia Mikelionis, a transformational guide helping ambitious women stop outsourcing their self-worth to their résumés. As the founder of Gearing Together, she supports high-achieving professionals—especially first-gen success stories and mission-driven leaders—who are ready to lead with clarity instead of burnout.

With more than 15 years in corporate finance at global brands like AbbVie, Kellogg, Ferrero, and Kraft, Sophia knows firsthand the pressure to be productive, polished, and perpetually “on.” She navigated that path herself, earning an MBA from Syracuse University and a BBA from Howard University before building a high-performance career in finance and analytics. Today, she brings that same strategic rigor to her coaching and workshops—minus the burnout. It’s a compelling, empowering story.

More on Sophia – http://www.gearingtogether.com/

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Speaker, Author & Survivor Avonley Lightstone

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Speaker, Author & Survivor Avonley Lightstone. She is the author of Strength of Scars, a raw and redemptive autobiography that takes readers through a childhood marked by tragedy, trauma, and abuse — and the unwavering faith that helped her rise above it all.

At just three years old, Avonley attempted to save her mother from a house fire. Her mother did not survive, and soon after, her father placed her up for adoption. What followed was a long journey through emotional, physical, and mental abuse — but also a powerful path toward healing, resilience, courage, and forgiveness. Through her book, her speaking appearances, and her bold transparency, she helps others find beauty in brokenness and strength through their scars. It’s an incredible story you won’t want to miss.

More on Avonley – http://www.avonleylightstone.com/

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The Smart Rewiring™ Scientist & Executive Coach Lizette Warner

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with The Smart Rewiring™ Scientist & Executive Coach Lizette Warner. She helps senior leaders accelerate promotions, make better decisions under pressure, and beat burnout using neuroscience-backed tools.

Her journey began when, as a corporate Chief Science Officer, she hit her own wall of stress — sleepless nights, declining health, and a career that no longer felt fulfilling. When her global organization was dismantled overnight, Lizette realized that achievement without sustainability is a system failure. That revelation led her into Trust & Leadership Coaching and to developing the Smart Rewiring™ method, a proven framework that tracks and guarantees leadership growth and career acceleration.

Today, she coaches executives at companies like Chief, Philips, KPMG, and UNICEF, helping leaders stop working harder and start working smarter. It’s a powerful and insightful conversation. Enjoy the story.

More on Lizette – https://www.trustandleadership.com/

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Jazz Composer, Arranger, Producer, Bandleader, Guitarist & Educator Socrates Garcia

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Composer, Arranger, Producer, Bandleader, Guitarist & Educator Socrates Garcia. We discuss his new 2025 CD Shadows of Tomorrow and explore a full, rich life spent in the music world. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Socrates is now a Full Professor of Music and Director of Music Technology at the University of Northern Colorado, where he teaches advanced Music Technology and has taught Advanced Jazz Arranging.

His journey spans continents, cultures, and genres — from his musical roots in the Dominican Republic to his expansive work in the American jazz landscape. We talk about creativity, heritage, education, and what it means to pass musical wisdom to younger generations. It’s a wide-ranging and deeply insightful conversation. Enjoy.

Listen to the album – https://www.socratesgarcia.com/music/shadows-of-tomorrow/

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Speaker, Author & Founder of the Horse and People Project Maria Alessandri

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Speaker, Author & Founder of the Horse and People Project Maria Alessandri. As the creator of this unique program and author of the forthcoming book Ask Like You Mean It: Lessons in Communication from My Horse, Maria blends leadership, communication, and relationship-building lessons with compelling, real-life stories from the barn.

Her work helps teachers understand where they lose student engagement, supports CEOs in recognizing the value of feedback, and shows parents how easily they can unintentionally push their children away. All of it began 20 years ago when she adopted a horse from a kill pen—thinking she could re-train him with ease. She quickly learned otherwise, and the transformative journey that followed now fuels her mission to help people communicate with more clarity, empathy, and intention.

Enjoy this insightful and uplifting interview.

More on Maria – https://www.horseandpeopleproject.com/

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Monday, December 1, 2025

CEO and Co-Founder of Spines Yehuda Niv

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. In this episode, we talk with Yehuda Niv, CEO & Co-Founder of Spines, the world’s first tech-driven book publishing platform. Based in Israel, Yehuda shares how his frustration with the outdated publishing industry led him to create Niv Publishing, which became Israel’s largest publishing house—responsible for 15% of all new books in the country within a decade.

Realizing the deeper need for innovation, he launched Spines, a platform that modernizes and streamlines the authorship journey, empowering writers to focus on storytelling rather than the complexities of publishing. We dive into his entrepreneurial path, the future of publishing technology, and the mission behind Spines.
Enjoy his inspiring story.