Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino

Sunday, January 4, 2026

Miami-based Jazz Pianist Martin Bejerano on The Purple Project & More

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. On this episode, we talk with Miami-based jazz pianist Martin Bejerano about The Purple Project and more, taking a deep dive into his 2025 release The Purple Project: A Reimagining of the Work of Prince and his vibrant life in live music.

Martin has seen Prince many times in concert and was deeply influenced by the way Prince often performed his own songs in radically different ways from night to night. A lifelong lover and aficionado of jazz—shaped in part by his father, a jazz pianist—Prince embodied relentless creativity and innovation. These jazz arrangements were inspired by that same spirit of fearless reinvention.

The Purple Project reimagines Prince’s music through a jazz lens while honoring the essence of his songwriting, groove, and improvisational daring. In this conversation, we explore the album’s origins, the challenges of interpretation, and how Prince’s creative philosophy aligns naturally with jazz.

Over the course of his career, Martin Bejerano has performed with an extraordinary list of jazz luminaries, including Russell Malone, Roy Haynes, the Christian McBride Band, Dave Holland, Pat Metheny, and Ron Carter. We cover this Prince homage, his journey as an artist, and much more.

🎧 Enjoy this deep and soulful conversation.

👉 Get the album and learn more:
https://www.martinbejerano.com/

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Saturday, January 3, 2026

Slovakia Life Coach, Author & Finance Girl at ECB Karin Velická

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with life coach, author, and “Finance Girl” at the ECB, Karin Velická, diving deeply into her work, her story, and her healing journey. Karin is the author of Dear Me Letters, a book born from personal reflection and written with compassion for the version of herself that needed it most.

What began as a private healing practice has grown into a broader movement focused on breaking limiting beliefs, healing generational patterns, and learning to live with greater self-trust, clarity, and intention. Karin shares how her coaching practice and writing help others reconnect with their inner voice and build a more conscious, aligned life.

Joining us from her base in Slovakia, Karin also reflects on her career path, early dreams, personal growth, and the lessons that shaped her into the coach and author she is today.

🎧 Enjoy this thoughtful and uplifting conversation.

👉 Learn more about Karin Velická:
https://www.velickakarin.com/

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Author, Entrepreneur & Stagnation Assassin Todd Hagopian

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with author, entrepreneur, and “Stagnation Assassin” Todd Hagopian, a proven leader who has transformed businesses at Berkshire Hathaway, Illinois Tool Works, Whirlpool Corporation, and JBT Marel, helping sell more than $3 billion in products.

Todd doubled the value of his own manufacturing business acquisition in just three years before selling, while generating over $2 billion in shareholder value across his corporate leadership roles. As the Founder of the Stagnation Intelligence Agency, he is a leading authority on Stagnation Syndrome, corporate inertia, and enterprise-level transformation.

Todd has written more than 1,000 pages on Corporate Stagnation Transformation, earning recognition from Manufacturing Insights Magazine, Fox Business Manufacturing Marvels, and Forbes.com. In this wide-ranging conversation, we dig into his insights on leadership, growth, and his upcoming 2026 book, The Unfair Advantage: Weaponizing the Hypomanic Toolbox—a bold look at how leaders can break free from stagnation and drive disproportionate results.

🎧 Enjoy this high-impact conversation on leadership, innovation, and business momentum.

👉 Get Todd Hagopian’s book, articles, and more:
https://www.toddhagopian.com/

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Author, Communication Strategist & Behavioral Psychology Specialist Jake Stahl – Part II

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we welcome back author, communication strategist, and behavioral psychology specialist Jake Stahl for Part II of our conversation. We first explored his full story in 2023, and now he returns to dive deeply into his new book, Own the Room: How to Communicate to Be Seen, Heard and Respected.

In Own the Room, Jake goes far beyond surface-level communication tips and into the psychology of presence. Most leaders lose the room in the first five seconds. This book is the playbook for getting it back—and keeping it. Drawing on neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and his proprietary STRATATM framework, Jake teaches readers how to read people in real time, identify resistance before it surfaces, and turn stalled conversations into momentum.

We also explore Jake’s personal journey—from addiction to redemption, and how that transformation shaped his understanding of influence, communication, and leadership. This conversation blends science, story, and practical insight for anyone who wants to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact.

🎧 Enjoy this deep and thought-provoking interview.

👉 Get the book Own the Room:
https://www.amazon.com/Own-Room-Communicate-Heard-Respected-ebook/dp/B0G4X3SW4B/

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NYC-based Jazz Bassist & Composer Jakob Dreyer on the 2025 Album Roots and Things

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. On this episode, we talk with NYC-based jazz bassist and composer Jakob Dreyer about his 2025 album Roots and Things, a vibrant and forward-looking statement from one of modern jazz’s most versatile voices.

German-born and deeply rooted in the New York jazz scene, Jakob assembled a formidable ensemble for this project, featuring vibraphone sensation Sasha Berliner, acclaimed tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, and in-demand drummer Kenn Salters. Together, they created a session full of energy, clarity, and contemporary swing.

Jakob’s third release for the Barcelona-based Fresh Sound New Talent label, Roots and Things delivers 15 swinging original compositions that reflect both tradition and the modern world we’re navigating. In this conversation, we explore the album’s concept, the creative process, collaboration, and how today’s jazz artists balance roots with forward motion.

🎧 Dig this deep dive into modern jazz composition and performance.

👉 Get the album Roots and Things:

https://freshsoundrecords1.bandcamp.com/album/roots-and-things?from=discover_page

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Business Mentor & Success Coach Camilla Calberg

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we talk with Business Mentor and Success Coach Camilla Calberg, who has spent the last seven years supporting some of the most inspiring leaders around the world. Each year, she guides hundreds of women into soul-led careers and next-level leadership, rooted in truth, purpose, and personal power.

Before founding her coaching company, Camilla led multi-million-dollar transformation programs across industries including oil & gas, technology, and pharmaceuticals. Her work bridges strategic execution with deep personal alignment.

In this powerful conversation, Camilla opens up about her personal journey of rising from the rock bottom of psychological abuse, healing herself and her daughter, and turning that experience into a mission-driven leadership practice. She is the creator of the 3I Framework (Influence, Innovate, Inspire) and the founder of the Authentic Leadership movement, which empowers women to lead without abandoning who they are.

We cover her journey, her methodology, leadership in today’s world, and what it truly means to build success from the inside out.

🎧 Enjoy this inspiring and deeply human conversation.

👉 Learn more about Camilla Calberg:
https://www.calbergcoaching.com/

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Friday, January 2, 2026

Internationally Renowned Jazz Drummer, Percussionist, Clinician, Author & Educator Steve Houghton

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series. On this episode, we sit down with internationally renowned jazz drummer, percussionist, clinician, author, and educator Steve Houghton, joining him from his base in Indiana to talk about his new 2025 album And Then Some and a remarkable life dedicated to jazz.

This new recording was a pure joy for Steve, bringing together longtime friends and centering on music he truly loves. The album reflects the depth, swing, and musical wisdom earned over decades of performing, teaching, and recording at the highest level.

Steve first gained international acclaim at just 20 years old as the drummer for Woody Herman’s Young Thundering Herd, launching a career that has since included collaborations with jazz greats such as Freddie Hubbard, Dave Samuels, Dave Stryker, Walter Smith III, Harold Land, Bobby Hutcherson, and many more.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore his early years, his evolution as an artist and educator, the creative process behind And Then Some, and what lies ahead for one of jazz’s most respected master musicians.

🎧 Dig in and enjoy this deep dive into jazz history, artistry, and forward momentum.

👉 Get Steve Houghton’s music:
https://houghtonmusic.com/recordings/

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