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. 

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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. 

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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.

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Senior Executive, CEO and Business Transformation & AI for Operations Alain Cohen

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino featuring Senior Executive, CEO and Business Transformation & AI for Operations leader Alain Cohen. In this in-depth conversation, we connect with Alain from Paris to explore his two decades of global leadership experience across logistics, supply chain management, consulting and AI-powered operational excellence.

Alain Cohen has led multinational organizations throughout Europe and beyond, managing large profit centers, complex cross-functional teams and high-stakes business transformations. As a strategic executive and hands-on operator, he specializes in helping companies scale profitably through digital transformation, artificial intelligence integration, operational efficiency and innovation-driven leadership.

In this episode, we dive into AI for operations, supply chain optimization, enterprise transformation, leadership in the age of automation, digitalization strategies, operational excellence frameworks and the future of global logistics. Alain shares insights on building resilient organizations, navigating disruption, driving profitability and aligning technology with human capital to achieve sustainable growth.

If you are interested in CEO leadership strategies, business transformation, artificial intelligence in business, operations management, consulting, global executive leadership or scaling companies in competitive markets, this conversation delivers high-level insight and real-world experience from a seasoned international executive.

Learn more about Alain Cohen and his work at https://famla.com/

Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, innovators and global thought leaders focused on leadership, growth, technology and impactful storytelling. Subscribe for more interviews highlighting professionals shaping the future of business and innovation.

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Friday, February 27, 2026

Jazz Vocalist, Composer & Bandleader Katie Bull on the 2026 Album The Hope Etudes

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring Jazz Vocalist, Composer and Bandleader Katie Bull discussing her powerful 2026 album The Hope Etudes. We reconnect with Katie more than a decade after her first 2015 appearance on Neon Jazz to explore a project shaped by survival, reflection and profound artistic evolution in a post-pandemic world.

Set for release on April 10, 2026 via Orchard of Pomegranates Records, The Hope Etudes is Katie Bull’s most intimate and conceptually expansive recording to date. The album unfolds as a deeply personal yet universally resonant meditation on mortality, resilience, nonlinear time and what she calls “hope in action.” Drawing from experiences of isolation, hospice care and loss, the project was profoundly shaped by Katie’s time caring for her beloved mentor Joy Clayton during home hospice.

Joined by her longtime New York-based collaborators — bassist Joe Fonda, drummer George Schuller, guitarist Jeff Lederer and pianist Mara Rosenbloom — Katie delivers a moving, exploratory jazz recording that blends improvisation, poetic lyricism and emotional depth. The Hope Etudes captures the spirit of modern creative jazz while honoring lineage, mentorship and the enduring power of artistic community.

In this in-depth conversation, we dive into the making of The Hope Etudes, contemporary jazz composition, vocal improvisation, the impact of caregiving, navigating grief through music and the evolution of an artist over time. This episode is essential listening for fans of modern jazz, avant-garde vocalists, women in jazz, New York jazz musicians and anyone interested in music born from resilience and transformation.

Katie Bull’s Hope Etudes at Loove Annex, Presented by Continuum Arts and Culture
(with support from the NYC City Council)
May 30, 2026, 8 pm, at the Loove Annex in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Discover more about Katie Bull, upcoming performances and The Hope Etudes at https://www.katiebull.com/

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Thursday, February 26, 2026

Keynote Speaker, Leadership Consultant & Executive Coach Julia Rock


Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino featuring Keynote Speaker, Leadership Consultant and Executive Coach Julia Rock. In this powerful episode, we connect with Julia from Las Vegas to explore her mission of transforming workplace dynamics and helping leaders build cultures where employees don’t just work — they truly thrive.

Julia Rock is a sought-after leadership expert who has successfully managed and scaled global teams, overcoming challenges like burnout, disengagement and workplace inequality. Through her consulting and executive coaching work at Rock Career Development, she empowers organizations to create inclusive, high-performance environments rooted in clarity, accountability and purpose-driven leadership.

Her personal and professional journey led her to the TEDx stage, where she shared insights on career growth, equity and building workplaces that foster belonging and opportunity. Over the course of her career, Julia has coached and mentored more than 1,000 professionals and leaders, guiding them toward meaningful, fulfilling and sustainable career paths.

In this conversation, we dive into leadership development, executive coaching, employee engagement, workplace culture transformation, burnout prevention, inclusive leadership strategies and building scalable global teams. If you are interested in management training, women in leadership, organizational development, career advancement, professional growth or creating thriving company culture, this episode delivers practical insight and inspiration.

Learn more about Julia Rock and her work at https://www.rockcareer.com

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Tech Leader, Award-Winning Author & Podcast Host Sheekha Singh

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino featuring Tech Leader, Award-Winning Author and Podcast Host Sheekha Singh. In this compelling episode, we connect with Sheekha from Toronto to explore her global journey from India to Omaha and now Canada, and how her immigrant experience shaped her leadership style, ambition and resilience in the tech industry.

Sheekha Singh is the author of Unburnable Ambition, a powerful guide for high achievers who want to succeed without sacrificing their well-being. She is also the author of The IT Girl, which earned the prestigious Dan Poynter's Global Ebook Awards Gold Award in the Tech category. Her work dives into ambition, identity, burnout prevention, leadership development and building a version of success that feels sustainable rather than exhausting.

Beyond her books, Sheekha is the host of Rise & Tell with Sheekha, where she features honest conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives and leaders about growth, reinvention, storytelling and navigating career pivots with confidence. With more than a decade of leadership experience in tech, she offers insight into women in technology, immigrant entrepreneurship, personal branding, career growth and balancing drive with self-care.

This episode is essential for anyone interested in tech leadership, women in STEM, immigrant success stories, sustainable ambition, personal development, career reinvention and authentic storytelling in business. Sheekha Singh brings a perspective rooted in grit, cultural expectations and intentional growth that resonates with ambitious professionals worldwide.

Learn more about Sheekha Singh and her work at https://sheekhasingh.com

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TEDx Speaker, Bestselling Author & Founder of Liberté Press Teresa Rodriguez

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino featuring TEDx Speaker, Bestselling Author and Founder of Liberté Press Teresa Rodriguez. In this powerful episode, we connect with Teresa from San Francisco to explore her inspiring journey as an entrepreneur, publisher and transformational storyteller helping women turn their personal stories into lasting legacies.

As the founder of Liberté Press, Teresa Rodriguez has built a boutique publishing house dedicated to empowering women leaders, creatives and change-makers to step fully into their voice, claim their narrative and publish books that create influence, impact and income. Her work blends emotional truth with strategic storytelling, guiding authors through the process of transforming life experience into authority, brand power and meaningful connection.

A dynamic TEDx speaker and bestselling author, Teresa brings insight into personal branding, thought leadership, women in business, independent publishing, and building a purpose-driven company in today’s digital landscape. This conversation dives into entrepreneurship, legacy building, confidence, storytelling as a business strategy and the power of owning your narrative in a crowded marketplace. 

If you are interested in women entrepreneurship, book publishing, author coaching, personal development, leadership, brand storytelling, self-publishing, empowerment for women, or building influence through authorship, this episode delivers actionable inspiration and insight. Teresa Rodriguez is helping redefine what it means for women to share their truth and build authority through books that matter.

Learn more about Teresa Rodriguez and Liberté Press at https://libertepress.com/

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Entrepreneur, Creator & The Heart Behind The ASK Game Filipa Cardoso

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino featuring Entrepreneur, Creator and Co-Founder of The ASK Game, Filipa Cardoso. In this inspiring episode, we connect with Filipa from Portugal to explore the intentional mission behind The ASK Game, a powerful conversation tool designed to deepen human connection in a world increasingly dominated by social media and artificial intelligence. Alongside her brother Nuno Cardoso, Filipa transformed a simple tupperware box of handwritten questions shared at a dinner party during the pandemic into a global movement centered on presence, vulnerability, curiosity and meaningful dialogue.

With backgrounds in holistic health, consciousness studies, emotional design and brand marketing, Filipa and Nuno built The ASK Game into a transformative experience that is strengthening relationships, improving communication and helping people reconnect on a deeper level across the world. This conversation dives into entrepreneurship, purpose-driven business, conscious living, emotional intelligence and the power of asking better questions in both personal and professional relationships.

If you are interested in personal growth, authentic communication, relationship building, mindfulness, self-awareness, conscious entrepreneurship or tools that foster deeper conversations, this episode delivers valuable insights and inspiration. The ASK Game is redefining how we connect in modern times and creating meaningful experiences that go far beyond small talk.

Get The ASK Game and learn more at https://www.theaskgame.com/

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Award-Nominated Multi-Instrumental Musician, Performer & Composer Carolyn Trowbridge

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview series. We caught up with Austin-based award-nominated multi-instrumentalist, vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer Carolyn Trowbridge to talk about her debut 2026 album Found Memories and her dynamic life in music and education.

A vital force in the Austin, Texas music scene, Carolyn’s new release features her regular quartet, expanded with additional musicians — most notably flutist Alex Coke — creating richly layered, ensemble-driven performances filled with color, drama, and unpredictable grooves.

Known for her innovative fluency and deep passion for sound, Carolyn crafts immersive sonic experiences that bridge modern jazz, chamber textures, and global influences. From the United States to Australia, her résumé includes collaborations with a wide range of forward-thinking artists.

In this conversation, we explore:

  • The making of Found Memories

  • Vibraphone and percussion in modern jazz

  • The Austin jazz scene in 2026

  • Ensemble-oriented composition

  • Jazz education and artistic development

  • Building a global career as a multi-instrumentalist

This is contemporary jazz fueled by energy, imagination, and fearless creativity.

🎶 Get the album & more:
https://www.carolyntrowbridge.com/

Subscribe to Neon Jazz for more interviews with today’s leading jazz innovators.

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Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Podcaster, Author, Behavioral Scientist & Former Senior Executive Sam Sivarajan

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with podcaster, author, behavioral scientist, and former senior executive Sam Sivarajan. He is the author of The Uncertainty Edge and host of The Future-Ready Advisor podcast.

Over his career, Sam has built and led three major wealth firms overseeing $80 billion in assets. Today, he helps leaders transform uncertainty from a threat into a strategic advantage. His proven frameworks replace analysis paralysis with confident, future-ready decision-making.

From his beginnings in India to professional chapters in the UK and now Toronto, Canada, Sam’s journey spans law, banking, executive leadership, and behavioral science.

In this powerful conversation, we explore:

  • How to lead during uncertainty

  • Behavioral science and executive decision-making

  • Managing risk in high-stakes financial environments

  • Overcoming analysis paralysis

  • Building future-ready organizations

  • Lessons from overseeing $80B in assets

This episode is essential viewing for executives, financial advisors, entrepreneurs, and leaders navigating volatility in today’s global economy.

🔗 More Sam: https://www.samsivarajan.com/

Subscribe for more interviews with world-class leaders, authors, and innovators. 

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Tech Diva, Seasoned Brand Strategist, Entrepreneur & Podcast Host Audrey M Wiggins

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Tech Diva, seasoned brand strategist, entrepreneur, and podcast host Audrey M Wiggins. With more than 30 years of experience in marketing and digital communications, Audrey helps entrepreneurs — especially wise women — and organizations elevate their brands, increase visibility, build trust, and boost sales using smart, tech-forward strategies.

She is the host of the Tech Diva Biz Talks podcast and a champion for innovation, authenticity, and sustainable brand growth.

In this inspiring conversation, we explore:

  • Branding strategies that build authority and trust

  • Leveraging technology to grow your business

  • Digital marketing evolution over 30+ years

  • Visibility strategies for women entrepreneurs

  • Podcasting as a brand-building tool

  • How to innovate without losing your authentic voice

From her early beginnings in marketing to becoming a respected voice in tech-forward branding, Audrey shares a fascinating journey filled with insight, resilience, and forward-thinking leadership.

🔗 More Audrey: https://altogether.biz/

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders, innovators, authors, and entrepreneurs.

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Juno-Nominated Toronto Jazz Vocalist, Composer & Arranger Alex Samaras Meets Judy Garland (2025)

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. We talk with Toronto jazz vocalist, composer, and arranger Alex Samaras about his 2025 Juno-nominated album Alex Samaras Meets Judy Garland and his remarkable journey in the music world.

As a child, Alex spent hours in the basement of his family home singing along to Judy Garland recordings. The intensity and emotional power of Judy Garland left a permanent imprint — and this album fulfills a lifelong artistic dream.

Known for his extraordinary vocal range and fearless genre-blending approach, Alex pushes vocal jazz beyond traditional boundaries. His work seamlessly incorporates classical, world music, and contemporary influences, creating a sound that is both deeply personal and boldly innovative.

In this conversation, we explore:

  • The making of Alex Samaras Meets Judy Garland

  • Reinterpreting iconic repertoire through jazz

  • Vocal range, technique, and artistic risk

  • Genre fusion in modern vocal jazz

  • The emotional legacy of Judy Garland

  • The Canadian jazz scene and global influence

This is a heartfelt and visionary tribute that feels like a dream realized.

🎶 Get the album:
https://tryal1.bandcamp.com/album/alex-samaras-meets-judy-garland-3

Subscribe to Neon Jazz for more interviews with today’s leading jazz voices and innovators.

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Jazz Trumpeter & Composer Dave Douglas on the 2026 Album Transcend

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. We talk with jazz trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas during a historic blizzard in New York about his powerful 2026 album Transcend, out April 24, 2026 via Greenleaf Music.

This new release continues Douglas’ deep exploration of legacy, spirituality, and ensemble innovation. The album features his all-star GIFTS Quintet, including DownBeat Artist of the Year tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, members of the Oscar-nominated post-rock trio Son Lux — guitarist Rafiq Bhatia and drummer Ian Chang — along with cellist and MacArthur “Genius” Fellow Tomeka Reid.

Blending electronics, lyricism, chamber textures, and high-energy interplay, Transcend stands as a spiritual and contemporary response to the landmark Sacred Concerts of Duke Ellington, performed between 1965–1973 and widely regarded as the spiritual culmination of Ellington’s career.

In this conversation, we explore:

  • The making of Transcend

  • Spiritual jazz in modern America

  • Ensemble innovation & cross-genre collaboration

  • The influence of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts

  • The GIFTS Quintet’s sonic architecture

  • Jazz legacy in 2026

This is modern jazz at its most urgent and transcendent — needed now more than ever.

🎺 Get the album: https://davedouglas.bandcamp.com/album/transcend

Subscribe for more in-depth conversations with the world’s leading jazz artists.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2026

International Communication Strategist, Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Expert & Executive Coach Don Weber

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with International Communication Strategist, Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Expert, and Executive Coach Don Weber. He teaches CEOs and highly influential leaders how to communicate with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact.

But it wasn’t always this way.

As a teenager growing up in Prairie Village, Kansas, Don struggled with deep insecurity. Watching others navigate life with ease, he set out at 19 on a personal development journey to master communication, psychology, and influence.

Over the years, he studied the work of masters including Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Les Brown, Wayne Dyer, and Richard Bandler, applying powerful communication frameworks across public and private sectors around the world.

 In this conversation, we explore:

  • Executive communication strategies

  • Human Intelligence (HUMINT) in leadership

  • Influence psychology for CEOs

  • Overcoming insecurity through skill mastery

  • Persuasion, confidence, and stage presence

  • Communication as a strategic advantage

From Kansas to California and beyond, Don shares a journey of transformation and leadership insight that will resonate with executives, entrepreneurs, speakers, and anyone seeking influence with integrity.

🔗 More Don: http://drwebercoaching.com/homepage

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