Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Joe Posnanski Interview | NYT Bestselling Author on Baseball, Kansas City & Fifty Seasons (2027)

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. In this episode, we welcome New York Times bestselling author, Emmy Award winner, and legendary sports journalist Joe Posnanski, one of the most respected voices in baseball and sports writing.

Known to readers as "Poz" or "Joe Po," Posnanski grew up in South Euclid, Ohio, before becoming one of the defining sportswriters of his generation through his groundbreaking work in Kansas City, where he built a Hall of Fame-worthy journalism career. Over the years, he has served as a columnist for Sports Illustrated, earned the title of National Sportswriter of the Year, twice been recognized as America's Best Sports Columnist by the Associated Press Sports Editors, and won two Emmy Awards as part of NBC Sports' Olympic coverage.

Joe is also the acclaimed author of bestselling books including The Soul of Baseball, Paterno, The Machine, and The Secret of Golf. His debut book, The Soul of Baseball, received the prestigious Casey Award for Best Baseball Book, while the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum honored him with the Buck O'Neil Award for preserving and celebrating baseball's rich history.

In this engaging conversation, Joe discusses his upcoming 2027 book, Fifty Seasons: Stories of the Baseball Years That Echo, a captivating countdown of the 50 greatest and most unforgettable seasons in Major League Baseball history. We also explore his early days in Cleveland, his influential years covering sports in Kansas City, his passion for storytelling, the evolution of sports journalism, and what continues to inspire his writing today.

Whether you're a fan of baseball history, Major League Baseball, sports journalism, sports books, the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland sports, or great storytelling, this interview is packed with memorable stories and fascinating insights from one of the greatest sportswriters of our time.

Learn more about Joe Posnanski:
https://www.joeposnanski.com/

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Tara Mae Temple Interview | Healing, Mental Wellness, Faith & Life Hacks for Healing & Harmony

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. In this inspiring episode, we sit down with author, speaker, and women's advocate Tara Mae Temple to discuss her transformative journey of healing, resilience, and finding lasting inner peace.

Tara is the author of Life Hacks for Healing & Harmony, a powerful guide that combines personal experience, practical wisdom, faith, and evidence-based coping strategies to help others navigate emotional struggles and create a more balanced, fulfilling life. Her story of overcoming decades of mental and emotional challenges offers hope to anyone seeking healing, purpose, and personal growth.

With more than 15 years of experience in advertising, communications, healthcare fundraising, and marketing, Tara brings a unique perspective that blends professional expertise with deeply personal insight. During her own healing journey, she discovered practical tools that helped her overcome adversity, embrace resilience, and experience genuine harmony for the first time in her life.

In this conversation, we explore mental wellness, emotional healing, self-discovery, women's empowerment, faith, resilience, healthy coping strategies, and the inspiration behind Life Hacks for Healing & Harmony. Tara shares actionable insights that can help listeners facing life's challenges while encouraging hope, courage, and authentic transformation.

If you're interested in mental wellness, emotional healing, self-improvement, resilience, women's issues, personal development, mindfulness, faith, inspirational stories, and author interviews, this episode is for you.

Learn more about Tara Mae Temple:
https://www.tarasweetawakening.com/

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Frank Swart Interview | Funkwrench Blues – This Is the One! (raison d'être) | Jazz Fusion 2026

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Bay Area bassist, guitarist, arranger, composer, producer, and recording engineer Frank Swart, the creative force behind the acclaimed jazz fusion band Funkwrench Blues.

In this episode, Frank joins us to discuss his exciting 2026 album, This Is the One! (raison d'être), a vibrant recording co-produced with Brian Brinkerhoff that blends jazz, funk, blues, rock, and improvisational music into a bold and expressive listening experience. The album showcases the band's adventurous spirit, dynamic musicianship, and commitment to pushing creative boundaries.

Frank also reflects on his remarkable musical journey—from forming Funkwrench Blues in Boston to helping shape alternative rock history by recording the first-ever demos for the Pixies. Along the way, he has built a diverse career as a performer, composer, arranger, producer, and engineer while championing music as a force for creativity, inclusion, and cultural connection.

During our conversation, we explore the making of This Is the One! (raison d'être), the evolution of jazz fusion, improvisation as a social art form, the current state of music in America, and Frank's vision of creating multicultural, inclusive musical experiences that inspire interaction, reflection, and community.

If you're a fan of jazz fusion, funk, blues, progressive jazz, improvisation, instrumental music, independent artists, and behind-the-scenes music stories, this interview is packed with insight and inspiration.

Get the album:
https://funkwrenchblues.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-the-one-raison-d-tre

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Sergio Pereira Interview | Colors of Time (2026) | Brazilian Jazz Guitar, Bossa Nova & New York Journey

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed Brazilian jazz guitarist, composer, and bandleader Sergio Pereira. In this episode, we explore his outstanding 2026 album, Colors of Time, along with his remarkable musical journey from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to New York City, where he has continued to shape his distinctive voice in contemporary jazz.

Born and raised in Rio, Sergio began playing acoustic guitar at just eight years old, inspired by his older brother and immersed in the rich musical traditions of bossa nova, samba, and Brazilian jazz. Growing up during the vibrant musical landscape of the 1960s and 1970s profoundly influenced the rhythmic energy, melodic sophistication, and soulful grooves that define his music today.

After relocating to New York in the 1980s, Sergio expanded his musical horizons, deepened his knowledge of jazz harmony and guitar, and developed a signature sound that beautifully blends Brazilian rhythms, modern jazz improvisation, Latin influences, and expressive storytelling.

In this engaging conversation, Sergio discusses the inspiration behind Colors of Time, his creative process, the influence of Brazil's legendary musicians, his evolution as a guitarist and composer, and what continues to inspire him as an artist. It's a fascinating look inside the life and music of one of today's most compelling Brazilian jazz musicians.

If you love Brazilian jazz, bossa nova, Latin jazz, jazz guitar, contemporary jazz, world music, and artist interviews, this episode is for you.

Get the album:
http://www.sergiopereira.world/colors-of-time.html

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Tom Kennedy Interview | The Summit (2026) | Jazz Bass Legend on New Album, Dave Weckl & Modern Jazz

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring legendary New York City-based jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader Tom Kennedy. One of the most respected bassists in modern jazz, Tom returns to the show to discuss his outstanding 2026 album, The Summit, released on Autumn Hill Records.

On his seventh solo recording, Tom presents an exciting collection of original compositions and arrangements that showcase an expansive range of grooves, styles, and contemporary jazz influences. The Summit features an all-star lineup of musicians, including Dave Weckl, Terell Stafford, Stu Mindeman, Bob Franceschini, Ryan Devlin, and many more, creating a dynamic and deeply musical listening experience.

During this engaging conversation, Tom takes us inside the making of the album, his writing and arranging process, collaborating with world-class musicians, the evolution of jazz bass, and what inspires him as an artist in today's musical landscape. We also discuss life in 2026, the modern jazz scene, and his remarkable career performing with some of the greatest musicians in the world.

Whether you're a bassist, jazz musician, educator, or simply a fan of exceptional contemporary jazz, this interview offers fascinating insights from one of the genre's true masters.

Get the album:
https://tomkennedymusic.com/

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Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Heather McLean Interview | Air Force Veteran, AI Strategist & CEO on Leadership, Business & Artificial Intelligence

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. In this episode, we sit down with Heather McLean, an Air Force veteran, AI strategist, entrepreneur, world traveler, and the Founder & CEO of McLean Forrester, a veteran-owned and woman-owned technology consulting firm based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Before becoming a trusted voice in artificial intelligence and business strategy, Heather dedicated 20 years to the United States Air Force, where she led logistics and IT operations, managed complex technology portfolios, and developed a leadership philosophy centered on trust, teamwork, and mission success. Today, she helps business leaders move beyond the hype surrounding AI by creating practical strategies, innovative products, and measurable business outcomes.

In this inspiring conversation, Heather shares her remarkable journey from military service to entrepreneurship, discusses the future of artificial intelligence, explains how organizations can successfully implement AI, and reveals why effective leadership always begins with people. She also reflects on building a successful technology company, empowering teams, and adapting to a rapidly changing digital landscape.

If you're interested in AI, leadership, entrepreneurship, business strategy, technology innovation, veteran success stories, women in business, startups, digital transformation, and executive leadership, this interview is packed with valuable insights.

Learn more about Heather McLean and McLean Forrester:
https://mcleanforrester.com/

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Rich Willey Interview | Laid Back, Vol. 1 (2026) | Jazz Trumpeter Blends Big Band, Reggae & World Music

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring acclaimed jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader Rich Willey. In this episode, Rich returns to the show to discuss his vibrant new 2026 album, Laid Back, Vol. 1, along with his recent move from North Carolina to West Virginia, the creative process behind the record, life as a working jazz musician in America today, and what's next on his musical journey.

Laid Back, Vol. 1 is an uplifting and genre-crossing release that seamlessly blends modern jazz, reggae, Latin grooves, world music, and sophisticated big band arrangements into a fresh, melodic sound. The album features an outstanding ensemble, including renowned trumpeter John Swana performing on the Electronic Valve Instrument (EVI), adding a unique sonic dimension to the project.

During this engaging conversation, Rich takes us inside the recording sessions, discusses the musicians who helped shape the album, reflects on his evolution as an artist, and shares why creating music that is both accessible and artistically rich remains at the heart of his work.

If you're a fan of modern jazz, big band music, jazz trumpet, jazz composition, contemporary instrumental music, reggae influences, Latin jazz, world music, and insightful artist interviews, this episode is for you.

Enjoy another great conversation from Neon Jazz.

Get the album:
https://store.spinneymedia.com/products/rich-willey-laid-back-vol-1-cd?srsltid=AfmBOoqbIS0rwcKM0uUWrzNQRSY0kooFqVV4pSS5-zgNbGpEjHq5zaHX

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