Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino: 2026

Friday, August 14, 2026

NicoleYvette Interview | Say Yes (2026) | Jazz, Gospel Roots, Prince & Finding Her Voice

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with acclaimed jazz vocalist and composer NicoleYvette.

On this episode, we dive into her powerful 2026 debut recording, Say Yes, and the remarkable life in music that led her to this moment.

Say Yes is a deeply personal and fully realized jazz statement—one that explores identity, faith, resilience, transformation, self-discovery, and the journey from the dark night of the soul to the dawn of the self.

NicoleYvette's debut features an extraordinary collection of artists, including Kurt Elling, Terri Lyne Carrington, Joel Ross, J. Ivy, Keyon Harrold, and Paul Cornish. The album was produced by three-time GRAMMY® Award winner Sara Gazarek, bringing together an exceptional group of musicians around NicoleYvette's distinctive artistic vision.

But Say Yes isn't simply about the impressive names surrounding the recording. At its heart is NicoleYvette's story—her gospel roots, her relationship with music, her love of Prince, and the experiences that shaped her voice as both a vocalist and composer.

The album feels like a lifetime of departures and arrivals, capturing the emotional process of leaving one version of yourself behind and stepping fully into another.

This is a conversation about jazz, soul, gospel, faith, Prince, personal transformation, and the courage it takes to finally say yes to yourself.

NicoleYvette's debut is more than an introduction—it is a declaration.

NicoleYvette Official Website:
https://nicoleyvettemusic.com/

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Luiza Girardello Interview | Brazilian Jazz, Cancer Survival, Immigration & Finding Her Voice

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with award-winning Brooklyn-based singer and songwriter Luiza Girardello.

In this deeply personal conversation, we catch up with a young and rising artist whose music is shaped by a life lived between worlds. Born in Brazil, educated at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and now based in New York City, Luiza has spent much of her life navigating questions of identity, belonging, culture, and artistic expression.

Those experiences have become central to her music.

Luiza's sound draws from Brazilian rhythms, jazz, alternative rock, and contemporary songwriting, creating a musical identity that refuses to fit neatly into a single genre.

Her journey has also included an extraordinary personal challenge. Before earning international recognition by winning the Jazz/Blues category at the New England Songwriting Competition, Luiza survived an aggressive form of ovarian cancer that temporarily affected her coordination and voice and forced her to relearn how to sing.

Now in remission, she has transformed those experiences into music that reflects the perspective of a Brazilian immigrant, cancer survivor, educator, songwriter, and artist.

This is a conversation about music, identity, immigration, resilience, survival, creativity, and finding your voice after life forces you to begin again.

Luiza Girardello is an artist with a fascinating story—and her music reflects the complexity of a life lived across cultures, genres, and experiences.

Official Website:
https://www.luizagirardello.com/

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Teri M. Brown Interview | Peg Unhinged, Midlife, Menopause, Divorce & Reinvention

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we reconnect with acclaimed writer and author Teri M. Brown, four years after our original conversation in 2022. A lot has happened since then—including the release of her newest novel, Peg Unhinged.

Teri returns to the show to talk about a story that is funny, raw, honest, and deeply relatable.

Meet Peg. She's good at a lot of things: selling beachfront homes, raising two kids, and holding her life together with duct tape and dark humor.

What she's not particularly good at? Menopause. Divorce. Or watching her soon-to-be ex-husband flirt with women half his age—especially when one of those women works in her office.

Peg Unhinged dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, uncomfortable, and ultimately liberating territory of midlife, relationships, menopause, divorce, identity, reinvention, and discovering who you are when you finally stop trying to hold everything together.

In this return conversation, Teri and Joe explore the evolution of her writing, what has changed since their first interview, the inspiration behind Peg, and the realities of creating fiction around experiences that can feel both incredibly personal and universally recognizable.

Peg Unhinged is ultimately a story about letting go, starting over, embracing the messy middle of life, and becoming the person you've been underneath all the expectations.

Teri M. Brown Official Website:
https://www.terimbrown.com/

More Books / Reader Resources:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ttu1o27s6h

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Will Hammond Interview | Backward Brilliance, Future Vision, Business Innovation & Growth

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Will Hammond, founder of Backward Brilliance, a company built around an unconventional framework for leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations that refuse to settle for the status quo.

Will's approach starts in a very different place than traditional problem-solving. Rather than beginning with today's challenges and making small, incremental improvements, he starts with a radical vision of the future and works relentlessly backward to determine what must happen in the present to make that vision a reality.

He doesn't simply solve business problems—he works to dismantle them, challenge assumptions, rethink systems, and identify the decisions and actions required to create meaningful transformation.

While many organizations focus on incremental gains, Will's work is centered on pursuing seismic growth, bold innovation, strategic thinking, and transformational change.

From his base in California, we get into his professional timeline, the vision behind Backward Brilliance, his unique approach to business strategy, and why starting with the future may be the key to building something truly different.

This is a fascinating conversation about business innovation, leadership, strategy, growth, vision, disruption, and the power of thinking differently about what is possible.

If you're an entrepreneur, founder, executive, business leader, or someone looking for a fresh perspective on how to approach difficult challenges, this conversation with Will offers plenty to think about.

Backward Brilliance:
https://backwardbrilliance.com/

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Lou Lachman Interview | Cult Survivor, Psychotherapist, Healing, Embodiment & Energy Work

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Lou Lachman, Life Coach in the United States, Psychotherapist in the United Kingdom, Facilitator, Trainer, and longtime teacher of awareness and energy practices.

For more than 30 years, Lou has taught tools designed to help therapists and clients develop greater awareness, peace, embodiment, and connection. Lou's professional work is deeply connected to a personal journey of healing.

Lou is a cult survivor, having been raised in a cult from infancy and remaining within that environment throughout childhood. Lou's experiences with neglect, abuse, trauma, and recovery ultimately became an integral part of a path toward becoming a therapist and helping others navigate their own healing journeys.

In this powerful conversation, Lou discusses how personal experience shaped a defined professional calling and how awareness-based practices can help people reconnect with themselves, their bodies, their emotions, and their sense of freedom.

Lou's philosophy is rooted in a powerful belief: “None of us is free until we are all free.”

We explore trauma recovery, embodiment, awareness, energy practices, therapy, personal transformation, and the lifelong process of reclaiming your sense of self.

Lou's story is a reminder that healing isn't simply about moving past the difficult parts of our lives—it can also become a source of wisdom, compassion, connection, and purpose.

Official Website:
http://www.loulachman.com

Lighten Saturday 2026 Workshop:
https://energycounselling.co.uk/event/lighten-saturday-2026/

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Tessa Crews Interview | Human-Centered Design, Sustainability, Creativity & Purpose

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Tessa Crews, Visual Designer, Communications & Brand Strategist, and TEDx Speaker who believes design can be a powerful force for positive change.

Tessa leads brand strategy for Georgetown University's Residential Living and Conference Services teams and has brought her perspective on creativity, sustainability, and human-centered design to major audiences—including the White House Forum for Climate Solutions.

Through her thought-provoking TEDx talk, “We Designed This Broken World. Now Let's Fix It,” Tessa challenges us to reconsider the systems and environments we create and asks an important question: What if we used human-centered design and creativity to intentionally build a better future?

Her work sits at the intersection of design, communications, sustainability, branding, creativity, and social impact. But this conversation goes beyond professional accomplishments.

We also explore intentional living, creative leadership, finding purpose, navigating life's challenges, and the ways our own experiences can shape how we approach the world and the problems we want to solve.

This is a fascinating conversation about creativity, design thinking, sustainability, leadership, purpose, communications, and the responsibility we have to intentionally shape the world around us.

Tessa brings an inspiring perspective on what happens when we stop accepting broken systems as inevitable—and start thinking creatively about how we can redesign them.

Official Website:
https://www.tessacrews.com/

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Dr. Lillian Emlet Interview | Transforming Healthcare, Physician Leadership & Executive Coaching

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Dr. Lillian Emlet, physician, executive coach, and founder of Transforming Healthcare Coaching®.

Lillian's work begins with a simple but powerful idea: when leaders are well, teams are well—and when teams are well, organizations are well. She believes meaningful change in healthcare culture happens one person at a time.

What makes Lillian's perspective unique is that she isn't coaching healthcare leaders from the sidelines. She is a practicing critical care and emergency physician, working in the same high-stakes, high-pressure environments as the clinicians and leaders she coaches.

She understands the realities of healthcare leadership because she lives them.

Through Transforming Healthcare Coaching®, Lillian works with clinicians, physicians, executives, and healthcare organizations through one-on-one executive coaching, Systemic Team Coaching®, and her medTHRIVE® group coaching program.

Her work focuses on helping healthcare professionals develop stronger leadership skills while creating healthier, more sustainable teams and organizational cultures.

This is a fascinating conversation about healthcare leadership, physician wellbeing, organizational culture, executive coaching, teamwork, resilience, and what it takes to create meaningful change in one of the world's most demanding professional environments.

Lillian brings the rare perspective of someone who is both inside the healthcare system and actively working to transform it.

Transforming Healthcare Coaching®:
https://transforminghealthcarecoaching.com/

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Laura Richards Interview | Narcissistic Abuse, Midlife Healing & Married to a “Nice” Guy

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Laura Richards—podcaster, speaker, bestselling author, coach, and advocate dedicated to helping women in midlife heal after difficult relationships and reclaim their lives.

Through her global podcast, That's Where I'm At, and her bestselling book Married To A "Nice" Guy: Getting Over Narcissistic Abuse, Laura shares her deeply personal journey of recovery following a 32-year marriage to a narcissist.

Laura's work shines a light on the often confusing dynamics of narcissistic abuse, particularly when unhealthy behavior can be hidden behind the image of someone who appears charming, caring, or like the proverbial "nice guy."

Her mission is straightforward but powerful: to help women recognize that they are not alone, that their experiences matter, and that healing and rebuilding are possible.

We get into Laura's personal story, what she learned throughout her recovery, the challenges of healing in midlife, and how she transformed a painful chapter of her life into a mission to help others.

This is a powerful conversation about relationships, self-discovery, healing, resilience, boundaries, and finding yourself again after a difficult chapter.

If you or someone you know has struggled to understand a complicated relationship or is trying to rebuild life after emotional abuse, Laura's story offers an important message: you are not alone, and your story isn't over.

That's Where I'm At Podcast:
https://www.thatswhereimatpodcast.com/

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Wendy J. Swift Interview | A Dream Life, Marriage, Shame, Loss & Finding Self-Possession

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with former educator and author Wendy J. Swift, whose powerful memoir A Dream Life explores marriage, motherhood, loss, shame, denial, social mobility, and the difficult journey toward reclaiming your own identity.

Wendy's story is rooted in an extraordinary chapter of her life. After her then-husband began serving a prison sentence in the 1990s for a white-collar crime, Wendy suddenly became solely responsible for supporting her three young daughters while navigating the emotional and social consequences of incarceration.

Her memoir examines the complicated reality of trying to hold a family together while confronting loss, uncertainty, shame, denial, and the collapse of a life that once appeared secure.

At the heart of A Dream Life is Wendy's deeply personal exploration of her search for validation through marriage, motherhood, and social mobility—and what happened when that carefully constructed dream began to unravel.

But this is ultimately a story of transformation and self-discovery. Wendy examines the consequences of denial while exploring the restorative power of self-possession, honesty, resilience, and finding the strength to build a life on your own terms.

Wendy is also an accomplished essayist whose work has appeared in HuffPost, Memoir Magazine, Brevity Blog, and other publications. In 2006, she received the Press Club of Long Island Award for her essay “Ritter's Pond,” and in 2022, she received an Honorable Mention from the Connecticut Press Club for “The Sentencing.”

This is an intimate conversation about family, identity, marriage, motherhood, consequences, resilience, and the courage it takes to reclaim your own life.

Official Website:
https://www.wendyswift.com/

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Dr. JonRobert Tartaglione Interview | The Psychology of Influence, Persuasion & Human Behavior

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Dr. JonRobert Tartaglione, Cambridge Ph.D., psychologist, behavioral scientist, Founder & CEO of Influence 51, and a world-renowned expert on the psychology of influence.

From his base in London, Dr. Tartaglione takes us through an engaging journey from his Rhode Island roots to a career spent studying and teaching the science behind how people think, behave, communicate, persuade, and make decisions.

Through Influence 51, he works with clients around the globe on persuasion, strategic communication, behavioral science, leadership, and influence. His work explores one of the most fascinating questions in human behavior: How do we actually influence the way people think, behave, and choose?

We also explore the seminal moments that shaped his professional life, his academic journey, the psychology behind influence and persuasion, and what leaders, communicators, entrepreneurs, and organizations can learn from behavioral science.

This is a fascinating conversation about influence, persuasion, psychology, behavioral science, communication, leadership, and the forces that shape human decision-making.

Influence 51:
https://www.influence51.com/

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Thursday, August 13, 2026

Hannah Marks Interview | Feed the Fire (2026) | NYC Jazz Bassist, Composer & Educator

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with NYC-based jazz bassist, composer, and educator Hannah Marks.

We originally caught up with Hannah back in 2019, before she made the trip to Kansas City to promote her debut album. Now, years later, she returns to Neon Jazz with a major new chapter in her musical journey—her 2026 album Feed the Fire.

On her second release, Hannah makes a monumental creative leap, leading a fierce, adventurous acoustic jazz quartet featuring Nathan Reising on alto saxophone, Lex Korten on piano, and Steven Crammer on drums.

The music brings together modern jazz, straight-ahead jazz, and avant-garde influences, creating a sound that is both rooted in tradition and fearless in its exploration.

Produced by acclaimed jazz pianist and bandleader Jason Moran, Feed the Fire captures Hannah's passion for jazz in its many forms. The album is a statement of artistic independence, musical curiosity, and the freedom to explore, experiment, take risks, and grow alongside trusted bandmates.

For Hannah, the project represents another important step in staking her claim as a New York City bassist and composer while embracing the unpredictable and rewarding musical journey ahead

Feed the Fire is ultimately about passion, freedom, experimentation, and refusing to put limits on where jazz can go.

It's wonderful to reconnect with Hannah and hear how much her artistry has evolved since that first conversation in 2019.

Hannah Marks Official Website:
https://www.hannahmarksbass.com/hannah-marks-quartet-1

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Jonathan Karrant Interview | Full Circle with Diane Schuur (2026) | Jazz, Mentorship & Legacy

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series with acclaimed jazz vocalist Jonathan Karrant.

In this special conversation, we dive into Jonathan's powerful 2026 album, Full Circle, a deeply personal collaboration with Grammy-winning jazz vocalist and pianist Diane Schuur.

The album represents far more than a collection of songs. It is a celebration of friendship, mentorship, musical legacy, and the passing of the torch from one generation of jazz artists to the next.

Jonathan and Diane have shared a close friendship and deep musical connection for many years. Diane's influence and mentorship have played an important role in Jonathan's artistic journey, and following her retirement from touring and live performance, Jonathan was inspired to honor their relationship and her extraordinary contribution to jazz through this project.

Full Circle becomes an especially meaningful recording because it represents a symbolic moment in both artists' careers. It celebrates Diane's legacy while highlighting her belief in Jonathan as one of the next generation of jazz vocalists.

The project also carries profound historical significance as Diane Schuur's final studio recording, making this collaboration an especially poignant chapter in her remarkable career.

Jonathan Karrant has become a regular and much-loved voice around these Neon Jazz parts, and this conversation offers a fascinating look at the personal relationships, musical traditions, and artistic connections that keep jazz moving forward.

Full Circle is ultimately a story about where jazz has been, where it is going, and what happens when an iconic artist passes her wisdom and musical spirit to someone she believes in deeply.

Jonathan Karrant Official Website:
https://www.jonathankarrant.com/

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Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Jennifer Chassman Browne Interview | Disability Advocacy, Inclusion, Storytelling & See US, Know Us

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Jennifer Chassman Browne—disabled educator, keynote speaker, writer, storyteller, and disability advocate.

Jenn has lived with Rheumatoid Arthritis since she was six years old, an experience that has shaped her understanding of disability, resilience, education, accessibility, and the importance of belonging. For much of her professional life, she worked as an English teacher and school leader, building meaningful relationships with generations of teenagers—many of whom remain part of her life today.

Today, Jenn works as a DEI and Disability Advocate, helping organizations and individuals understand not only the barriers faced by people with disabilities, but also the strengths, perspectives, talents, and gifts that disabled people bring to their communities and workplaces.

Her message goes beyond awareness. Jenn emphasizes the importance of creating allies, systems, structures, accessibility, and genuine inclusion so people with disabilities can fully participate and belong.

She has also earned certification as a listener poet, bringing poetry, storytelling, and deep listening into her work. Through these creative practices, she helps people build empathy, challenge assumptions, connect across differences, and develop a deeper understanding of one another.

Jenn is also the author of the upcoming book See US, Know Us: Profiles of Disability, scheduled for release in October 2026.

This is a powerful conversation about disability, education, advocacy, creativity, resilience, empathy, accessibility, and belonging.

From her base in California, Jenn shares an honest and inspiring story about transforming lived experience into a mission to help others see disability through a broader and more human lens.

Official Website:
https://jenniferchassmanbrowne.com/

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T.A. Thompson Interview | The Mark, Dark Fiction, Dystopian Worlds & Arcing

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Michigan-based author T.A. Thompson, a fiction writer who creates stories designed to make readers gasp, question what they believe, and develop complicated feelings about the characters they follow.

An avid reader and gamer, Thompson draws inspiration from dark fiction, epic fantasy, role-playing worlds, and unpredictable storytelling where no outcome feels guaranteed. His influences include literary and genre giants such as Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, and Robert Jordan, along with the expansive world-building traditions of Dungeons & Dragons.

His professional background brings another fascinating dimension to his fiction. With more than 12 years in commercial insurance, as well as experience in sales, banking, public speaking, and training, Thompson has spent years thinking about risk, consequences, uncertainty, and worst-case scenarios—all powerful ingredients for a fiction writer.

We get into his current novel, The Mark, a thought-provoking dystopian thriller built around a biological catastrophe that radically changes human life and forces society to confront survival, morality, power, motherhood, and the consequences of a world without time.

We also look ahead to Arcing, his upcoming book scheduled for October 2026, and discuss his evolving approach to storytelling, world-building, writing, gaming, and creating characters readers can't easily forget.

If you're a fan of dystopian fiction, dark fantasy, psychological thrillers, speculative fiction, horror, epic fantasy, or immersive world-building, this is a conversation you'll want to hear.

T.A. Thompson Official Website:
https://tathompsonwriter.com/

T.A. Thompson's official site describes The Mark as a dystopian thriller exploring survival, power, motherhood, morality, and a world where biological collapse changes humanity's relationship with age and time.

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