Dying To Ask

Darnell Abraham, "Hamilton"

I cannot tell a lie. The actor playing George Washington in San Francisco's production of "Hamilton" may be my favorite podcast yet. Darnell Abraham grew up in Bakersfield knowing he loved entertaining people.   He found his voice, quite literally, in college.  And, what a voice.  He made a HUGE impression on a guy he met at choir camp. That guy? PRODUCER GEOFF!!!  You couldn't make this one up. Now Darnell is starring as George Washington in "Hamilton" at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco after appearing with Hamilton's creator, Lin Manuel Miranda, in "Hamilton" in Puerto Rico.

On this Dying To Ask:

-How Darnell Abraham made it to the biggest stage show of our time, only 5 years after his first audition.

-How he sets new goals and raise his personal bar after achieving a dream as big as starring in Hamilton

-What he does and doesn't do in his downtime to remain successful in his career

-What happened "this one time at choir camp" when Darnell met Producer Geoff

 

Where to follow:

https://www.darnellabraham.com/

Instagram: @dabenyc

To learn more about "Hamilton" in San Francisco:

https://hamilton.shnsf.com/Online/default.asp

Dr. Pimple Popper - Replay

How did you get Dr Pimple Popper as a podcast guest?  It's one of the most frequent questions I get about the Dying to Ask podcast.  The show is about how people come up with an idea and then actually pull it off. I call it "the art of the follow-through."

When we decided to start a new podcast, we knew we needed a huge name with a big social media following to promote the show.  I was approached about interviewing Dr Sandra Lee, AKA Dr Pimple Popper. The problem was that the podcast didn't have a name, a following, or a well thought out concept at that point.

But, I figured out a way to book her anyways and I'm telling the backstory of how I pulled that off and launched our show with a guest who, one year later, is still the one I'm asked the most about.

I'll also tell you some stuff that happened behind the scenes in our interview that made her one of our most surprising guests too.

Then, listen to our launch show with Dr Sandra Lee.   She's likely the best known dermatologist on the planet thanks to a YouTube channel that exploded literally and figuratively  featuring Dr Lee squeezing pimples. Dr Pimple Pimple's videos have been watched more than 2.5 billion times. That YouTube channel now has more than 5 million subscribers and self-described "popaholics" can't get enough.

In this Dying to Ask, Deirdre and Geoff find out the moment Dr Lee realized she was an online star, how she decided to go all-in on being Dr Pimple Popper and why her dad will never have to wait in line at the Apple Store ever again!

Maria Kang, No Excuse Mom - Part 2

Maria Kang is back on the show because of something she posted on social media. Shocking, right?! But, you might be surprised by her latest viral picture.

Maria first went viral in 2013 when she became known as the "No Excuse Mom" .  She posted a smoking hot picture of herself in booty shorts, with ripped abs , and a lot of cleavage with the caption "what's your excuse?"

The internet lost its mind.  She was accused of fat shaming, mom shaming, all the shaming.  

Go back to Episode 21 to catch up on Maria's backstory.

Maria is currently making headlines with another viral picture. It's a topless picture of Maria holding up breast implants in front of her chest. Why? Well, Maria is one of the many women who've chosen to go through an explant procedure because of breast implant illness. And she published the picture to her thousands of fans with a post apologizing for contributing to promoting unreal body expectations.

Yep, the No Excuse Mom said "I'm sorry" and the internet once again lost its mind!

It's all happening at a time when a major breast implant manufacturer is going through a voluntary recall of textured breast implants because of cancer concerns.

 

In this Dying to Ask:

-Maria and her fellow fitness influencer Sandra Augustin join us to talk explants.

-how they made the decision to get their implants removed

-the hell they said they went through for years

-how they honestly feel about their bodies now that they've lost their cleavage

-and the inspiration behind their provocative photo shoot.

 

Follow Maria Kang:

www.noexcusemom.com

Instagram: @mariakangfitness

facebook: @MariaMKang

Twitter: @mariamkang

 

Follow Sandra Augustin:

https://www.fckfifty.com

Instagram: @sassfitness

JenniferJolly, Tech Expert- Part 2

Would you hand over control of your brain to a total stranger? Of course not. But, you do it every time you swipe up on your smartphone.  Tech expert Jennifer Jolly is back to talk about the latest research on screen addiction.   We're breaking down why so many of us are going through "screen fatigue" and why we still won't put down our phones even though they often make us feel crummy.  Bottom line, we're addicted and if you want to make a zillion dollars, get into the "digital wellness" field.  

 

On this Dying to Ask:

-the science behind why we can't stop scrolling, swiping and clicking

-how tech experts like Jenn are fighting their own "screen fatigue"

-the extreme (and expensive) measures Silicon Valley tech execs are taking to unplug

-and what happened when Fitz took Jennifer on a 50k run in the mountains

 

mentioned in the podcast:

link to Kevin Roose's NY Times article

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/23/business/cell-phone-addiction.html

 

Follow Jennifer Jolly:

Instagram:  @jennjolly

facebook: @jenniferjollytech

Twitter: @JenniferJolly

www.techish.com

James "Murr" Murray, Impractical Jokers

The joke's on us in this episode and that's a good thing.  You know James "Murr" Murray as the lead joker on the hit show "Impractical Jokers" on TruTV.   It's described as reverse improv.  The hidden camera show features Murr and three of his childhood best friends pulling pranks .

Murr says, "the guys and I have been friends since we were 13 years old and we never grew up."

Clearly, it's working for them.

But, did you know Murr is also a NY Times best selling author? He writes science fiction. He credits the show for helping him land his book deal and has some great advice for anyone who has that creative itch.  

Kim Conley, Olympian

The one year countdown to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo is this week and Fitz is geeking out with one of her favorite athletes, Kim Conley. 

Kim hopes to make her third U.S. Olympic team in the 5,000 meters.

This Olympic push is different than the first two for Kim. She's already achieved the Olympic standard which means she just has to finish top 3 at the US Olympic Trials next summer to go to Japan. Easy right?!

The Olympic standard is the Olympic hopeful's equivalent to Willy Wonka's golden ticket.

Hank Shaw, Hunter, angler, forager, cook

If you got lost in the woods, could you forage enough food to survive? Chances are your answer is no. But, Hank Shaw could likely find a 5 course meal including dessert.

Shaw is an expert, maybe THE expert on cooking wild game. But, he wasn't always that way.

He worked as a political news reporter for 18 years. Then, he created the "Hunter, Angler, Gardener, Cook" blog. He started writing about what he calls "honest food." Nothing packaged. Nothing raised on an industrial farm.

That blog won the best food blog award by the James Beard Foundation in 2013. It's referred to as the "Oscars of the food world" and Hank's life hasn't been the same since quitting his day job to go all in on food writing.

His writing takes him all over as he teaches fans how to hunt, fish, forage and prepare food in ways they've never thought of before. And, you might be surprised to find out who is following him.

On this Dying to Ask, the signs you're ready to turn a passion into a career, what a day looks like as a food writer and how to know what you can eat in the woods that won't kill you. Spoiler: There's a lot out there that can kill you.

Tina Ferguson, "Face in a Book" bookstore owner

"Dying to Ask" is back with books you'll be dying to read after listening to this episode. Tina Ferguson, owner of "Face in a Book" bookstore, is our hilarious guest and we recorded this episode in front of a live audience in her charming bookstore. Tina just returned from Book Expo in NYC.  It's the book industry's biggest event and it determines the titles you'll see in your local bookstore, library and eventually your nightstand.  Tina explains trends in the publishing industry and the role influencers are playing in the literary world, and everywhere else. Then, Fitz and Tina NERD OUT with their picks for the best summer beach reads.  

Nichole Root, Titan Games

On this Dying to Ask, Nichole walks you through the process of getting on a reality show and weird stuff that happens during taping. She shares her time management tricks to gain and maintain fitness and sanity. And dishes on what hanging out with The Rock is like.

Ret. First Sgt Matt Eversmann,'Black Hawk Down'

In this Dying to Ask, why Ret. First Sgt Matt Eversmann explains why being "average" isn't good enough, why he believes anyone can learn to be a leader and his unlikely road to being a motivational speaker.