Classic Conversations: Pop culture Interviews with Jeff Dwoskin

From a gapped-tooth kid who dreamed of Hollywood to the woman who gave Kim Kardashian her first TV appearance and generated over a million dollars a day on home shopping, Dr. Forbes Riley has built one of the most extraordinary careers in entertainment and sales history.

In this conversation, Forbes opens up about the acting career that took her from Splatter University to Broadway opposite Christopher Reeve, the pitching philosophy that turned her into a $2.5 billion force in infomercial history, and why her brand new book, Pitch Secrets A to Z, is really a life skills manual disguised as a business book.

Show Highlights:

The story behind how Forbes invented her own talent agency, complete with a fictional British manager named Lindsay Maxwell, and booked herself into Broadway, commercials, and movies before anyone found out.

Forbes was the woman in the room when Kim Kardashian filmed her very first television appearance, and she shares what she remembers about that day.

She played Lily Tomlin's iconic one-woman show for six months straight, learning every one of 250 pages through hypnotherapy after nearly quitting the production.

Forbes breaks down a live pitch in real time, getting a yes out of thin air using just a question and an embedded command.

Her philosophy that pitching is not selling but enrolling, and why the people who find it pushy are usually the ones who need it most.

You're going to love my conversation with Forbes Riley

IMDB

Instagram

ForbesRiley.com

Pitch Secrets A to Z by Dr. Forbes Riley

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter

The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter

Podcast website

Podcast on Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

Buy me a coffee (support the show)

Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!

Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Marc Sotkin has written and produced some of the most beloved sitcoms in television history, and the stories behind those shows are even better than the episodes themselves.

From selling underwear in Houston to running the writers room on Golden Girls, Sotkin's career is a masterclass in persistence, instinct, and surviving chaos with a sense of humor.

Show Highlights:

How an underwear salesman from Texas talked his wife into moving to Hollywood and somehow made it work.

The $15 quiz show question that was rewritten before it ever aired, and why it still bothers him.

The secret comedy duo Marc Sotkin formed with a young Gary Shandling before either of them were famous.

The Laverne & Shirley season that included a star quitting, a cast member dying the night before a shoot, and Jim Belushi saving the day.

Why the showrunner of Golden Girls eventually ran the show from Boulder, Colorado, flying in twice a week.

You're going to love my conversation with Marc Sotkin

IMDB

Time Off for Bad Behavior

The Comatose Adventures of Lenny Rose

Kind of Dirty Paris Confessions

Marc's website

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter

The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter

Podcast website

Podcast on Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

Buy me a coffee (support the show)

Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!

Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Greg Evigan has lived one of the most colorful careers in Hollywood, and this conversation brings all of it rushing back.

From the stages of Broadway to the cab of a big rig, from a home recording studio he built himself to Abbey Road in London, Greg sits down to revisit the stories, the shows, and the music that have defined his remarkable life. Along the way, he reveals that he has never stopped chasing the thing that started it all: the music.

Show Highlights:

Greg wrote the iconic My Two Dads theme song in just 20 minutes with writing partner Lenny Macaluso, then had to play it for producer Michael Jacobs on a cassette tape in a car 15 times before getting the greenlight.

BJ and the Bear pulled a staggering 47 share on its premiere night, meaning nearly half the country was watching. NBC executive Fred Silverman had tried to kill the show by scheduling it against the movie Network, and it crushed the competition anyway.

Greg turned down the lead role in Knight Rider, and he has no regrets. As he puts it, after years of talking to a chimp, he was not about to start talking to a car.

The new album, Greg Evigan with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, features 8 original pieces Greg wrote and performs on piano, recorded with a 65-piece orchestra at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London.

Greg shares a jaw-dropping story from the Grease memoir book about a well-connected New Jersey "relative" who offered to handle a casting problem the old-fashioned way, involving Jeff Conaway's knees. Greg politely declined.

You're going to love my conversation with Greg Evigan

IMDB

Greg's website

Instagram

Buy the album

Facebook

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter

The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter

Podcast website

Podcast on Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

Buy me a coffee (support the show)

Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!

Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A deep dive with Lindsay Denninger into the cultural phenomenon of Gossip Girl reveals just how powerful storytelling can shape generations.

From downloading episodes overseas to becoming fully immersed in the fashion, music, and drama, Lindsay Denninger shares how Gossip Girl became more than just a show, it became a defining force in pop culture. Through her new book, she explores the lasting influence of the series, from its groundbreaking pilot to its commentary on fame, identity, and the rise of digital surveillance. This conversation unpacks the nostalgia of early 2000s television while examining why certain storylines still resonate—and others don’t. It’s a candid look at fandom, storytelling, and the messy brilliance of iconic TV.

Show Highlights:

The unexpected rise of Gossip Girl during the 2007 writers strike

How teen dramas shaped identity and pop culture in the 2000s

The behind-the-scenes reality of writing about television and celebrities

Why the show’s themes feel more relevant today than ever

A critical look at controversial storylines and character arcs

You're going to love my conversation with Lindsay Denninger

Lindsay's website

Lindsay's book

Instagram

Linday's substack

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter

The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter

Podcast website

Podcast on Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

Buy me a coffee (support the show)

Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!

Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lahna Turner opens up about a journey shaped by creativity, loss, resilience, and reinvention.

From a shy photographer hiding behind the lens to commanding stages as a comedian, her path was anything but predictable. A life-altering car accident pushed her to confront fear head-on, ultimately leading her into stand-up comedy and a deeply transformative relationship with Ralphie May.

Her latest project, Come What May, is more than a documentary—it’s a decade-long labor of love capturing Ralphie May’s life, struggles, and legacy. Through raw storytelling, unseen footage, and personal reflection, Lahna reveals the complexities behind fame, addiction, grief, and healing. This conversation explores not only Ralphie’s rise and impact, but also the emotional weight of telling a story that’s both deeply personal and universally human.

Show Highlights:

How a near-death car accident pushed Lahna Turner to pursue comedy and abandon fear

The unexpected love story between Lahna Turner and Ralphie May before fame

Behind-the-scenes insight into Come What May and why it took nearly a decade to complete

The truth about Ralphie May’s rise to fame and the pivotal role of Jay Mohr

Lahna Turner’s personal growth, grief journey, and rediscovering love after loss

Lahna Turner shares the emotional journey of creating Come What May and what it revealed about love, loss, and legacy

You're going to love my conversation with Lahna Turner

Lahna's website

Come What May webssite

Instagram

YouTube

Lahna on Amazon

IMDB

to squish a bug (daughter's book)

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter

The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter

Podcast website

Podcast on Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

Buy me a coffee (support the show)

Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!

Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.