LAURA BONARRIGO

A longtime friend of Brandon's Buzz, the incredible Laura Bonarrigo --- best known for her role as Cassie Callison Carpenter Buchanan on ABC's classic soap One Life to Live --- has put show business on the back burner and transitioned into a new role as a life coach.  Inspiried in part by the dissolution of her own relationship, Bonarrigo has recently created an online course to help her clients navigate the treacherous waters of divorce, and she is stopping by the Buzz to give us all the details!LINKS:doingdivorceschool.com laurabonarrigo.com@laura_bonarrigo -- Twitter@laura_bonarrigo -- Instagram

A longtime friend of Brandon's Buzz, the incredible Laura Bonarrigo --- best known for her role as Cassie Callison Carpenter Buchanan on ABC's classic soap One Life to Live --- has put show business on the back burner and transitioned into a new role as a life coach.  Inspiried in part by the dissolution of her own relationship, Bonarrigo has recently created an online course to help her clients navigate the treacherous waters of divorce, and she is stopping by the Buzz to give us all the details! LINKS: <a href="http://doingdivorceschool.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">doingdivorceschool.com</a> <a href="http://laurabonarrigo.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">laurabonarrigo.com</a> @laura_bonarrigo -- Twitter @laura_bonarrigo -- Instagram

Doing divorce smarter with soap queen LAURA BONARRIGO on Brandon's Buzz!

Kassie DePaiva

SUSAN BATTEN

A soap sensation in the early 1990s with her starring role as Darlene 'Luna' Moody Holden on ABC's One Life to Live, the incredible SUSAN BATTEN left the suds grind far behind two decades ago in search of fulfilling other facets of her creative spirit.  Now a burgeoning mover-and-shaker behind the scenes, Batten's latest project --- a charming Lifetime film entitled Showing Roots, which takes a personal look at continuing racism in a small Louisiana town in the late 1970s --- has just arrived on DVD, and she is stopping by the Buzz with her former One Life co-star --- and fellow Roots co-producer --- KASSIE DePAIVA to discuss Showing's roots and to dish on their daytime television salad days.

Actress/screenwriter SUSAN BATTEN & actress KASSIE DePAIVA stop by the Buzz!

On the occasion of Guiding Light's heart-wrenching series finale in 2009, the show's fiercely brilliant former headwriter PAMELA K. LONG --- who sent the soap's ratings into the ionosphere throughout the 1980s with her incredible, inspired characters and couplings --- stopped by the Buzz for a rollicking two-hour gabfest which continues to rank among our top ten most downloaded episodes ever.  Long has been laying low of late in the entertainment world, but a couple of years ago, fate tossed her into country icon Dolly Parton's orbit when the opportunity to adapt Dolly's classic smash 'Coat of Many Colors' into a television movie for NBC landed in her lap.  The film was an instant hit, and a sequel quickly followed; both films have just been released on DVD, and now Long is returning to Brandon's Buzz to discuss how these projects came to life and to (hopefully!) clear up a few lingering soap-related questions from our first conversation.

a BRANDON'S BUZZ exclusive: catching up with the fabulous PAMELA K. LONG!

Eric Braeden

In 1980, partly spurred on by the advice of his pal Dabney Coleman, who urged him not to dismiss acting on a soap opera as beneath him, the great ERIC BRAEDEN --- who had already made quite a name for himself throughout the 1970s playing featured roles in films and guesting on the prime-time series of the day --- accepted what was originally intended to be a three-month role as a villain on The Young and the Restless.  Little did Mr. Braeden know at that time that his short-term part --- that of ruthless billionaire corporate raider Victor Newman --- would catch fire with the audience, and that Victor would still be the primary mover and shaker among the Genoa City society elite a full thirty-seven years later.Eric has just documented the story of all of the above --- as well as how he made the journey from war-torn Germany, where he was born, to the wilds of Hollywood --- in his brand new memoir, I’ll Be Damned, a spectacularly dishy, rip-snorting read which has just landed in bookstores via the HarperCollins, and he is stopping by the Buzz to talk about why he decided this was the right time to a publish an autobiography, to reflect on various of his co-stars from throughout his four decades on Y&amp;R, and to discuss how he feels about the current turbulent political climate in this country in the months since last November's stunning presidential election!

In 1980, partly spurred on by the advice of his pal Dabney Coleman, who urged him not to dismiss acting on a soap opera as beneath him, the great ERIC BRAEDEN --- who had already made quite a name for himself throughout the 1970s playing featured roles in films and guesting on the prime-time series of the day --- accepted what was originally intended to be a three-month role as a villain on The Young and the Restless.  Little did Mr. Braeden know at that time that his short-term part --- that of ruthless billionaire corporate raider Victor Newman --- would catch fire with the audience, and that Victor would still be the primary mover and shaker among the Genoa City society elite a full thirty-seven years later. Eric has just documented the story of all of the above --- as well as how he made the journey from war-torn Germany, where he was born, to the wilds of Hollywood --- in his brand new memoir, I’ll Be Damned, a spectacularly dishy, rip-snorting read which has just landed in bookstores via the HarperCollins, and he is stopping by the Buzz to talk about why he decided this was the right time to a publish an autobiography, to reflect on various of his co-stars from throughout his four decades on Y&amp;R, and to discuss how he feels about the current turbulent political climate in this country in the months since last November's stunning presidential election!

Soap icon ERIC BRAEDEN ('The Young and the Restless') stops by BRANDON'S BUZZ!

ERIKA SLEZAK

With six Daytime Emmy wins for Outstanding Lead Actress, she is easily the most decorated and most respected performer in the history of American soap opera, and her four decades spent standing in Victoria Lord Riley Burke Buchanan Carpenter Davidson Banks Buchanan's regal shoes have made her a television icon.  Now, in part two of her first-ever longform podcast interview, the Queen of Llanview herself --- One Life to Live's incredible, electrifying ERIKA SLEZAK --- comes to Brandon's Buzz for an extended conversation full of reflections and memories regarding forty years of co-stars (Phil Carey, Robin Strasser, and Nathan Fillion, among many others) and producers (Paul Rauch, Linda Gottlieb, Frank Valentini, anyone?).  PLUS: Slezak reveals how she got the word about One Life's cancellation, and spills more than a little tea on the chaotic and ill-fated 2013 online reboot of the classic soap.

An exclusive conversation with Emmy-winning soap legend ERIKA SLEZAK --- [Pt. 2]

With six Daytime Emmy wins for Outstanding Lead Actress, she is easily the most decorated and most respected performer in the history of American soap opera, and her four decades spent standing in Victoria Lord Riley Burke Buchanan Carpenter Davidson Banks Buchanan's regal shoes have made her a television icon.  Now, in part one of her first-ever longform podcast interview, the Queen of Llanview herself --- One Life to Live's incredible, electrifying ERIKA SLEZAK --- comes to Brandon's Buzz for an extended conversation about her early life growing up in the shadow of her Tony-winning father, why she decided to forge her own path as a performer, and how she made her way --- fortunately for us all --- to the world of daytime television.

An exclusive conversation with Emmy-winning soap legend ERIKA SLEZAK --- [Pt. 1]

Michael Logan

Brandon's Buzz hits the century mark in high style with a two-part blowout spectacular, as TV Guide Magazine's vaunted soaps guru MICHAEL LOGAN stops by for a rare in-depth conversation about the just-celebrated twenty-fifth anniversary of his employment at one of America's premier publications. In the second half of our conversation, Logan reminisces about some of his most fascinating interview subjects, offers his view on some of the more controversial moments that have occurred in his column over a quarter of a century, and offers his take on the current goings-on across the soap landscape!

The BRANDON'S BUZZ 100th EPISODE SPECTACULAR w/ TV Guide's MICHAEL LOGAN [pt. 2]

Brandon's Buzz hits the century mark in high style with a two-part blowout spectacular, as TV Guide Magazine's vaunted soaps guru MICHAEL LOGAN stops by for a rare in-depth conversation about the just-celebrated twenty-fifth anniversary of his employment at one of America's premier publications.  In tonight's first installment, Logan discusses how he made his way to TV Guide in the fall of 1989, how he got lucky in landing a couple of key early interviews that put his column on the showbiz map, and how he feels about the evolution of soaps throughout his quarter-century tenure covering the troubled genre!

The BRANDON'S BUZZ 100th EPISODE SPECTACULAR w/ TV Guide's MICHAEL LOGAN [pt. 1]

A balls-to-the-wall suds sensation in the late-'70s and early-'80s for her role as hell-on-wheels schemer Raven Alexander Whitney on ABC's legendary soap The Edge of Night, Emmy-nominated icon SHARON GABET bounced around the daytime landscape for another half-decade after Edge came to an end, before heading out to California to heal her wounded soul.  Now a published author, with a terrific new tome --- the just-released Spiritual Magic (available as an e-book from Amazon and iBooks) --- on tap, the glorious Gabet is stopping by Brandon's Buzz for a fun conversation about her scandalously soapy past and her spectacularly centered present.

an exclusive conversation with peerless soap icon SHARON GABET on the Buzz!

B. Smith

The 2014 Daytime Emmy Awards are being handed out this coming weekend --- in a ceremony that, for the first time in over three decades, will not be televised --- and in honor of the big event, Brandon's Buzz offers this exclusive presentation:  a loving look back at a time when the Emmys were a respected celebration of television excellence.  Exactly twenty years ago, the most justified and well-earned Emmy victory we at the Buzz have ever witnessed --- that would be the divine Hillary B. Smith's much-deserved win as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her grueling, superlative work as embattled defense attorney Nora Gannon the previous season on One Life to Live --- took place, and as we prepare to see which lucky actors will be taking home this year's golden trophies, we asked Hillary to reminisce about the staggering storyline that helped her win the coveted statuette, about hearing her name called on Emmy night in 1994, and about the rest of her electrifying, extraordinary career.

an Emmy week conversation with "One Life to Live" icon HILLARY B. SMITH!

My blog comes to the BlogTalkRadio network with an exciting new radio show!  The Buzz is THE place to connect with your favorite singers, actors, authors, and stars!

Nate Berkus

DAVID LANZ

Twenty-five years beyond the chart-topping success of his breakthrough smash Cristofori's Dream, the brilliant DAVID LANZ is still going strong, with a terrific new record --- the lush Movements of the Heart --- on tap, and he is coming by the Buzz to discuss the staggering breadth of his career, as well as his thoughts on the current music scene.  PLUS: Oprah's favorite designer --- the incredible NATE BERKUS --- stops by to spill some dish on his fun new NBC competition series, American Dream Builders!

Musician DAVID LANZ and design icon NATE BERKUS stop by Brandon's Buzz!

Jeff Giles

You may or may not recognize JEFF GILES' name on sight, but if you're a die-hard fan of ABC's late, great classic soap opera One Life to Live, get ready to wonder how the hell you ever lived without his electric, earth-shattering new book for so damn long.  The tome is called Llanview in the Afternoon, and it is an oral history of the soap's extraordinary four-decade run, made up of brand new interviews --- over fifty of them, in fact --- that Giles himself conducted with everybody who was anybody connected with the show, from creator Agnes Nixon and producers Joe Stuart and Linda Gottlieb, to stars like Erika Slezak, Robert S. Woods, Kassie DePaiva, Judith Light, Brynn Thayer, Michael Storm, and countless others.  Llanview is an utterly extraordinary read, and Jeff is stopping by Brandon's Buzz to break down for us in glorious detail how the idea for this book popped into his head to begin with, and how he set about the momentous task of compiling this magnificent masterpiece.

Author JEFF GILES stops by Brandon's Buzz!

Early in his career, he seemed bound for the life of the typical dime-a-dozen character actor, but fate clearly had other plans for the dashing, magnificent A MARTINEZ.  And when his destiny finally revealed itself --- in the form of a true-blue good guy cop called Cruz Castillo on NBC's singularly offbeat soap opera Santa Barbara --- Martinez suddenly became one of the most beloved and most popular performers in all of television. Never one to rest on his laurels, Martinez is keeping busy these days on both sides of the camera:  as an actor, with a recurring role on A&amp;E's hit series Longmire and a supporting role in the latest Chucky film, and as a writer/director, with his latest project, a heartfelt family affair entitled Before Your Eyes.  And he's stopping by the Buzz to discuss his decision to leap into the director's chair for the first time, as well as his adventures in daytime television, and why HE mourned the loss of his character Cruz every bit as much as we, his ardent fans, did!

Early in his career, he seemed bound for the life of the typical dime-a-dozen character actor, but fate clearly had other plans for the dashing, magnificent A MARTINEZ.  And when his destiny finally revealed itself --- in the form of a true-blue good guy cop called Cruz Castillo on NBC's singularly offbeat soap opera Santa Barbara --- Martinez suddenly became one of the most beloved and most popular performers in all of television. Never one to rest on his laurels, Martinez is keeping busy these days on both sides of the camera:  as an actor, with a recurring role on A&amp;E's hit series Longmire and a supporting role in the latest Chucky film, and as a writer/director, with his latest project, a heartfelt family affair entitled Before Your Eyes.  And he's stopping by the Buzz to discuss his decision to leap into the director's chair for the first time, as well as his adventures in daytime television, and why HE mourned the loss of his character Cruz every bit as much as we, his ardent fans, did!

a conversation with Emmy-winning actor A MARTINEZ

Alicia Coppola

An entire generation of us crazy soap fans will forever adore her for her work as the original Lorna Devon --- the badass chick with the tough exterior above and the tender heart below --- on NBC's late, lamented daytime classic Another World, but a great many of us never understood the full extent of the pain that has driven her rich, riveting work in her two-plus decades as an actress.  But the brilliant ALICIA COPPOLA has just peeled back the veil of her personal pain with a shattering new memoir, Gracefully Gone --- which details her father's brutal decade-long battle with brain cancer, via alternating entries from his journal and from her own --- and she is stopping by Brandon's Buzz to discuss the rigors of hopping a rocketship to Another World while fighting like hell to just keep putting one foot in front of the other in this one.

the astonishing ALICIA COPPOLA stops by Brandon's Buzz!

Joan Van Ark

Slip this one in the "better late than never" slot:  earlier in the spring, the glorious actress JOAN VAN ARK returned to the proverbial scene of the crime when she briefly reprised her most iconic and most beloved television role:  that of ever-agitated Valene Ewing on TNT's vaunted reboot of the classic prime-time soap Dallas.  Van Ark was my seventh guest all the way back in this show's nascent early days, and I was thrilled to welcome her back to Brandon's Buzz for a sneak preview of the action, and though a series of crazy events in my life prevented me from getting this interview edited and assembled prior to the aforementioned Dallas episode's premiere, I suspect you'll still enjoy hearing Joan's invaluable insights about reuniting with her television family, about honoring the memory and incredible legacy of the peerless Larry Hagman, and about how it felt to slip back into poor Val's shoes some thirty years after she first donned them.

the incredible JOAN VAN ARK returns to Brandon's Buzz!

Linda Dano

It's always a blast whenever the glorious LINDA DANO pays a visit to the Buzz, and in honor of her long-awaited return to QVC --- with whom she begins celebrating her 20th anniversary of dazzling us with her innovative designs this week --- we have managed to wrangle her back here as well for her sixth appearance, whereupon she shall regale us tales of winter weather, sudsy soaps, and the arduous process of bringing us the greatest line of home decor accessories that television home shopping has ever seen.

the exquisite LINDA DANO returns to Brandon's Buzz!

CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN

The soaps are dwindling in number, but the ever-opinionated Marlena De Lacroix soldiers on, and her fabulous alter ego --- the crazy-cool CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN --- is popping into Brandon's Buzz for her ninth appearance to discuss the thrilling relaunch of her website --- http://www.marlenadelacroix.com --- as well as her thoughts on the "new" General Hospital, the One Life to Live gang's seamless entry into Port Charles, the turmoil across the daytime landscape, and the riveting return of that old dinosaur, the primetime soap!

The soaps are dwindling in number, but the ever-opinionated Marlena De Lacroix soldiers on, and her fabulous alter ego --- the crazy-cool CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN --- is popping into Brandon's Buzz for her ninth appearance to discuss the thrilling relaunch of her website --- <a href="http://www.marlenadelacroix.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.marlenadelacroix.com</a> --- as well as her thoughts on the "new" General Hospital, the One Life to Live gang's seamless entry into Port Charles, the turmoil across the daytime landscape, and the riveting return of that old dinosaur, the primetime soap!

CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN returns to Brandon's Buzz!

Bill Bell

MICHAEL MALONEY

Three years ago, the esteemed Lee Phillip Bell --- widow of the legendary Bill Bell, creator of the classic CBS soaps The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful --- hand-picked veteran soap journalist Michael J. Maloney to write her husband's long-overdue authorized biography, and with the book finally set to arrive in bookstores later this week, Michael is stopping by the Buzz with an exclusive sneak peek at the daunting process of distilling the real story behind the life of one of the world’s masterful tellers of televised tales.

the life of BILL BELL with veteran reporter MICHAEL MALONEY

Nia Peeples

The gloriously gorgeous NIA PEEPLES makes her fourth appearance on Brandon's Buzz to discuss the latest iteration and evolution of her online self-help series The Elements of Life, as well as to drop a little dish on this week's hotly-anticipated second season finale of ABC Family's smash teen soap Pretty Little Liars!

True beauty --- and pretty "Liars" --- with NIA PEEPLES!

SUSAN BEDSOW HORGAN

Thom Racina

A brand-spankin'-new DVD box set of classic episodes of the legendary soap As the World Turns has just been released, and since my new pal SUSAN BEDSOW HORGAN --- who was the head writer for World Turns for a time in the mid-'80s, and whose May 2011 appearance on Brandon's Buzz has been far and away my most popular installment of this year --- has some work included in this set (and since I'd been dying to have another chat with her anyway), I was thrilled to invite her --- and, as luck would have it, her great friend THOM RACINA, whose early-'80s work on General Hospital and Days of Our Lives is the stuff of soap legend, and who just happened to be visiting Susan the day I interviewed her --- back to Brandon's Buzz for another chat about a life spent spinning suds!

SUSAN BEDSOW HORGAN & THOM RACINA on Brandon's Buzz!

I just discovered this podcast in the past year and I&#39;m a big fan.  Good interviewer with a diverse list of interview subjects that you don&#39;t hear from often enough.  Brandon&#39;s interview style is thoughtful and probing.  He can be hyperbolic at times but I take that to be his inner fanboy geeking out about the people he interviews, often people he&#39;s admired for a long time.  His enthusiasm and passion for this is evident and contagious!

Great podcast!

It is wonderful to listen to so many different interviews.  It isn&#39;t just soap opera people that Brandon interviews, he also interviews singers.  With the Pam Long interview, I do wish that he had asked, or, had brought up the fact that Jay Hammer&#39;s character had interacted heavily with the Bauer and Reardon families his first two years on the show.  Something that Long&#39;s critics tend to ignore or dismiss.  Also, frequently ignored by Long&#39;s critics (re: the Bauers) is that she was responsible for developing/co-developing the characters of Rick and A-M, two members of the Bauer family, into fan favorites.

Wonderful interviews

Brandon's Buzz

Best known for her incredible fifteen-year run as Valene Ewing on the classic CBS primetime series "Knots Landing," legendary actress Joan Van Ark is dropping by the Buzz to talk about her amazing career and her latest projects.

Legendary "Knots Landing" star JOAN VAN ARK drops by Brandon's Buzz!

As a member of Michael Malone's Emmy-winning head-writing team on "One Life to Live" in the early '90s, she actually created (and named!) the soon-to-be-iconic character of Todd Manning, and as the series' executive producer from 1994-96, she was instrumental in shepherding and executing some of the most important, most memorable, and most compelling storylines --- Joey and Dorian's illicit affair, Asa and Alex's whirlwind courtship (and crazy Egyptian-themed wedding!), Viki Lord Carpenter's irrevocably shattered psyche, the staggering revelation that Todd was in actual fact Victor Lord's long-lost son, and the arrival in Llanview of dashing Irishman Patrick Thornhart --- in the classic soap's rich, riveting history.  Now, with the recent announcement that "One Life" will be wrapping up its four-decade run next January, the spectacular SUSAN BEDSOW HORGAN is stopping by the Buzz to reminisce. and to remember the incredible years she spent hanging out with the folks in Llanview, PA.

Former "One Life" boss SUSAN BEDSOW HORGAN on Brandon's Buzz

LINDA EDER

She is widely regarded as this generation's Streisand, and her gloriously angelic five-octave range seems to know no bounds.  Best known for her triumphant run in Broadway's "Jekyll and Hyde," she has just released her latest album --- "Soundtrack," a terrific collection of her favorite movie tunes --- and now, the amazing LINDA EDER is stopping by Brandon's Buzz to discuss her newest project and her spectacular career.

The divine LINDA EDER stops by Brandon's Buzz!

DAVID HUDGINS

Kelli Giddish

On a special episode of Brandon's Buzz, California singer/songwriter KELLEY RYAN discusses how she decided to break away from astroPUPPIES and strike out on her own with her solo debut album "Twist."  Plus:  the star and creator of the new Fox series "Past Life," actress KELLI GIDDISH and writer/producer DAVID HUDGINS, discuss how their previous experiences in television have prepared them for their new series!

Musician KELLEY RYAN, plus "Past Life" star and creator KELLI GIDDISH & DAVID HUDGINS, on the Buzz!

JOEL BROOKS

Beth Maitland

She is the Emmy-winning star of "The Young and the Restless"; he is the famed character actor best known for his regular roles on "My Sister Sam" and "Six Feet Under."  Together, they have just created the terrific new website Auditions LA --- find it at www.auditionsla.com --- which aims to help give actors of any experience level a leg up when it comes to nabbing the part they're trying for, and they're stopping by the Buzz to talk about their new venture and their incredible careers!

She is the Emmy-winning star of "The Young and the Restless"; he is the famed character actor best known for his regular roles on "My Sister Sam" and "Six Feet Under." Together, they have just created the terrific new website Auditions LA --- find it at <a href="http://www.auditionsla.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.auditionsla.com</a> --- which aims to help give actors of any experience level a leg up when it comes to nabbing the part they're trying for, and they're stopping by the Buzz to talk about their new venture and their incredible careers!

Actors BETH MAITLAND and JOEL BROOKS drop by Brandon's Buzz!

She took a brief hiatus at the beginning of the year, but the irrepressible Marlena De Lacroix has come roaring back with her signature sassy soap criticism, and her alter ego, the amazing CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN, is heading back to Brandon's Buzz to offer her unique take on "All My Children's" glorious renaissance, the staggering "One Life to Live" cast bloodbath, and all of daytime's other hot-button issues!

Checking in with CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN on Brandon's Buzz!

Michael Fairman

The 2009 Daytime Emmys are finally here, and to mark the occasion, soap expert MICHAEL FAIRMAN is returning to Brandon’s Buzz to reveal who he thinks should and will win the awards, as well as to reveal exclusive details about the tribute to “Guiding Light” that he is spearheading for the Emmy telecast, and to discuss his thoughts on “All My Children’s” controversial move west and the other hot soap topics!

Soap expert MICHAEL FAIRMAN returns to Brandon's Buzz!

Her legendary column "Critical Condition" --- written under the romantic nom de plume of Marlena De Lacroix --- was a staple of Soap Opera Weekly's award-winning coverage for twelve glorious years. After stepping away from the scene in 2001 to get married and return to school, the terrific Connie Passalacqua Hayman moved her signature sassy sagacity into the blogosphere with a fun new website (www.marlenadelacroix.com), and she is coming by the Buzz for a discussion of the latest goings-on inside the crazy soap world!

Her legendary column "Critical Condition" --- written under the romantic nom de plume of Marlena De Lacroix --- was a staple of Soap Opera Weekly's award-winning coverage for twelve glorious years. After stepping away from the scene in 2001 to get married and return to school, the terrific Connie Passalacqua Hayman moved her signature sassy sagacity into the blogosphere with a fun new website (<a href="http://www.marlenadelacroix.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.marlenadelacroix.com</a>), and she is coming by the Buzz for a discussion of the latest goings-on inside the crazy soap world!

Veteran soap journalist CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN comes to Brandon's Buzz!

LOUISE SHAFFER

She won a well-deserved Emmy playing Rae Woodard on the classic ABC serial "Ryan's Hope," and is now an acclaimed novelist, with a brand new book, entitled "Serendipity," now in stores and a full career behind her both in front of the camera and away from it, and now the incredible Louise Shaffer is dropping by the Buzz to discuss her life and her amazing work!

Emmy-winning actress turned author LOUISE SHAFFER comes to Brandon's Buzz!

KATHY TROCCOLI

She first broke through in the early '80s as a superstar in the burgeoning contemporary Christian music movement, then crossed over to the pop world in the '90s with a massive radio hit called "Everything Changes."  She still moves back and forth between the genres with relative ease, and she has just released her latest album --- a collection of classic pop covers entitled "Heartsongs," on which she tackles legendary tunes from the likes of The Beatles, Elton John, Jim Croce, and others --- and now, the captivating KATHY TROCCOLI is coming by the Buzz to discuss the highs and lows of her triumphant career, and to reveal what she REALLY thinks of the state of pop music today!

Grammy-nominated recording artist KATHY TROCCOLI stops by Brandon's Buzz!

Sean Kanan

No second acts in American lives?  Don't tell that to this guy:  he rose to fame playing alcoholic rich kid A.J. Quartermaine on ABC's "General Hospital," and lost that job under --- to say the least --- tough personal circumstances.  But he picked himself up, dusted himself off, and landed the star-making role of bona-fide bad boy Deacon Sharpe on "The Bold and the Beautiful," and never looked back.  He crossed Deacon over to "The Young and the Restless" last year, and in his spare time, he produces and stars in independent films, performs stand-up comedy, and tries to instruct young men across the world how to become 21st century gentlemen, and now the amazing SEAN KANAN is stopping by Brandon's Buzz to discuss all of this and so much more!

Sean Kanan of 'Young and the Restless' 

Lacy J. Dalton

Her fascinating and instantly recognizable voice --- equal parts Tammy Wynette and Janis Joplin --- brought Lacy J. Dalton a stunning string of twenty top 40 country hits in the ‘80s, including “Takin’ It Easy,” “16th Avenue,” and “Black Coffee.”  She still performs and tours regularly, and she has gotten seriously involved with the plight of Nevada’s endangered wild horses by helping to write legislation to protect them, and she’s dropping by the Buzz to talk about all of this and more!

Legendary country star LACY J. DALTON drops by Brandon's Buzz

Gloria Loring

She co-wrote the theme songs for "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life," among others, and she's a renowned actress ("Days of Our Lives") and singer (the #1 smash "Friends and Lovers"), and now the incredible Gloria Loring is dropping by the Buzz to discuss her life, her amazing career, and her new musical revue show!

Actress and singer GLORIA LORING comes to Brandon's Buzz!

Marlena De Lacroix

Using her sophisticated and outrageous nom de plume Marlena De Lacroix, she was instrumental in introducing and perfecting the art of modern soap opera criticism with her peerless column Critical Condition, which made its debut inside the pages of Soap Opera Weekly twenty years ago this week.  That magazine has strayed far away from what its founders intended it to be, but Marlena gloriously endures with typical panache on a hilarious website which bears her name, and on the occasion of her 20th anniversary, the magnificent CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN makes a long-awaited return to Brandon's Buzz to reminisce and to offer up beaucoup bon mots about her two decades trying to keep the soaps honest!

the 20th anniversary of Marlena De Lacroix with the one and only CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN!

The "World" turns no more, but Marlena remembers:  we sent "As the World Turns" off to soap heaven last week, and the peerless CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN --- Marlena De Lacroix herself --- is making her sixth appearance on Brandon's Buzz to help me put the iconic series' 54-year run in proper perspective, to discuss her memories of and experiences with folks like Douglas Marland, Liz Hubbard, and Eileen Fulton, and to offer her exclusive thoughts regarding the noteworthy developments on the six remaining daytime soaps!

A final farewell to "As the World Turns" with the one and only CONNIE PASSALACQUA HAYMAN

DAVID SELBY

He shot to fame in the late '60s as romantic werewolf Quentin Collins on the beloved daytime soap "Dark Shadows," and later became a global television icon as charming rogue Richard Channing on CBS' classic prime time drama "Falcon Crest."  Now, he is front and center among the ensemble of fall's most talked about film "The Social Network," and the incredible DAVID SELBY is stopping by the Buzz to discuss his staggering career and his role in the year's hottest movie!

"Social Network" star DAVID SELBY stops by Brandon's Buzz!

The best podcasts about ourselves as well as the world through the lense of Science. Specific topics include things about our brain, emotions to biology, physics and more!

OwlTail

Right now, billions of neurons in your brain are working together to generate a conscious experience -- and not just any conscious experience, your experience of the world around you and of yourself within it. How does this happen? According to neuroscientist Anil Seth, we're all hallucinating all the time; when we agree about our hallucinations, we call it "reality." Join Seth for a delightfully disorienting talk that may leave you questioning the very nature of your existence.

TED Talks Science and Medicine

Your brain hallucinates your conscious reality | Anil Seth

Using examples from vacations to colonoscopies, Nobel laureate and founder of behavioral economics Daniel Kahneman reveals how our "experiencing selves" and our "remembering selves" perceive happiness differently. This new insight has profound implications for economics, public policy -- and our own self-awareness.

TED Talks Daily

The riddle of experience vs. memory | Daniel Kahneman

Best Episodes on Science, Humans & The World

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

"It all started around 1997, with a guy named Marc Randolph and his mathematician friend Reed Hastings. Randolph and Hastings knew they’d have to take on Blockbuster, but what they didn’t anticipate was that their business model would take on network television and eventually change the entire movie industry.
This was an 8-year total war that left innumerable casualties in its wake: thousands of hollowed out buildings and economic losses in the billions."

An 8-part series on the brutal business battle between Netflix and Blockbuster, and later HBO.

This is Episode 1 of an 8-part series on the brutal business battle between Netflix and Blockbuster, and later HBO.It all started around 1997, with a guy named Marc Randolph and his mathematician friend Reed Hastings. Randolph and Hastings knew they’d have to take on Blockbuster, but what they didn’t anticipate was that their business model would take on network television and eventually change the entire movie industry.This was an 8-year total war that left innumerable casualties in its wake: thousands of hollowed out buildings and economic losses in the billions.Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Business Wars

This is Episode 1 of an 8-part series on the brutal business battle between Netflix and Blockbuster, and later HBO.It all started around 1997, with a guy named Marc Randolph and his mathematician friend Reed Hastings. Randolph and Hastings knew they’d have to take on Blockbuster, but what they didn’t anticipate was that their business model would take on network television and eventually change the entire movie industry.This was an 8-year total war that left innumerable casualties in its wake: thousands of hollowed out buildings and economic losses in the billions. Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Netflix vs Blockbuster - Sudden Death | 1

You don't have to like tennis to like this. There is so much to learn from how this rivalry made each player better. This series explores the unique tennis rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal-- two very different players, both exceptional, in pursuit of perfection. Swiss-born Roger Federer was seemingly born with a racquet in his hand and at a young age he quickly masters the game, but what he needs to reach the top is to learn how to master his emotions. Meanwhile, Spaniard Rafael Nadal learns the game under the tutelage of his uncle Toni on the clay courts of Mallorca, where the decision to make him a left-handed player separates him early from his competition.

A 7 part series on Federer and Nadal

In this series we explore the unique tennis rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal-- two very different players, both exceptional, in pursuit of perfection. Swiss-born Roger Federer was seemingly born with a racquet in his hand and at a young age he quickly masters the game, but what he needs to reach the top is to learn how to master his emotions. Meanwhile, Spaniard Rafael Nadal learns the game under the tutelage of his uncle Toni on the clay courts of Mallorca, where the decision to make him a left-handed player separates him early from his competition. Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Sports Wars

In this series we explore the unique tennis rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal-- two very different players, both exceptional, in pursuit of perfection. Swiss-born Roger Federer was seemingly born with a racquet in his hand and at a young age he quickly masters the game, but what he needs to reach the top is to learn how to master his emotions. Meanwhile, Spaniard Rafael Nadal learns the game under the tutelage of his uncle Toni on the clay courts of Mallorca, where the decision to make him a left-handed player separates him early from his competition.  Support us by supporting our sponsors!

Brandon's Buzz

Weekly hand curated podcast episodes for learning