5/19 - Paige Hemmis, Ken Davis, Wes Moore,

Paige Hemmis - "Extreme Makeover Home Edition"

Paige Hemmis, part of ABC-TV's design dream team on "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," is a familiar face on construction site, as she's a skilled carpenter, designer and home builder. Now, Paige is picking up her hammer again to join in the National Heroes at Home program, which responds to the urgent need to help military families. The program provides renovations to the homes of active soldiers and American vets who are unable to repair their own homes, due to injuries resulting from service or income challenges.  Heroes at Home is a joint effort between Sears Holdings and Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading non-profit working to preserveaffordable home ownership by providing free home rehabilitation. The mission of Heroes at Home is to ensure that military families are living in safe, warm and comfortable homes - a dream come true for many veterans.  Paige Hemmis will tell  how they can donate to the organization as well as nominate local veterans for the Heroes at Home program. In May, Sears will be kicking-off its national fund-raising effort for the program, encouraging customers to contribute to the cause.  The Heroes at Home program was established in 2007 to provide support to military service members, veterans and their families through joint efforts with various non-profit organizations. Since then, Heroes at Home has raised more than $21 million, and supported the extensive rehabilitation of 505 homes for our nation's deserving military families. The Heroes at Home program was honored in March of this year, with The Peter Glen Award, given annually to a company who gives back to their community in a unique and impactful way.


Wes Moore - "THE OTHER WES MOORE"
THE OTHER WES MOORE is the dramatic, true story of two boys with the same name―one boy becomes the first African-American Rhodes Scholar ever from Johns Hopkins University while the other boy serves a life sentence in prison. In late 2000, the Baltimore Sun published an article with the headline “Local Graduate Named Rhodes Scholar.” That article was about Wes Moore, the author of this book. At the same time, the same newspaper ran a series of articles about a jewelry store robbery that ended in the tragic murder of a police officer. These articles were about another Wes Moore―just two years older and living in the same neighborhood―who would spend his life in prison. For years, as his life took him around the world, from Oxford to a tour of duty in Afghanistan to the White House and Wall Street, the author of this book couldn’t shake the memory of the other man with his name, who was destined to spend the rest of his days in a prison cell. Wes was haunted by a simple question—how could two boys who had so much in common have such radically different futures? Wes Moore decided to write to the other Wes Moore in prison. The two began a deepening relationship consisting of letters and visits, during which both men grappled with the experiences that had shaped their fates. Violence, drugs, single mothers, uninformed choices, mentors, and simple luck all played critical roles in their development.

Ken Davis  "A NATION RISING"

People magazine has written, “Reading ( Davis ) is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had.” A self-made scholar – he coasted through high school and never finished college – Davis is not your typical historian. When his first book Don’t Know Much About History was published 20 years ago, few would have predicted that a little volume promising to teach you, “everything you need to know but never learned” would spend 35 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, rack up more than 1.6-million in sales and become the cornerstone in a twenty-book franchise that adults, children and educators have come to embrace. Amazon.com has called him “The King of Knowing” and The Orlando Sentinel has written, “Kenneth C. Davis may have done more to educate our young people, and the general public, on the topics of history, geography, and science than all of the certified teachers in the country.”  In the new book A NATION RISING, the New York Times bestselling historian Kenneth C. Davis explores six little-known, but monumental moments of America ’s history during this turbulent time – and offers a fresh and illuminating look at how America grew from a tiny, newborn nation to a near-empire stretching from “sea to shining sea.”

5/18 - William Martin , Sean Phillips, Pete Fornatale, Maureen Blaha,

William Martin - "City of Dreams"
William Martin, recipient of the 2005 New England Book Award, is the author of nine novels, an award-winning PBS documentary, and a horror movie now considered a cult classic. His first novel, Back Bay (1980) spent fourteen weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List, and eighth, The Lost Constitution, appeared on the Mass Market List in 2008. The works in between have established him, in the words of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, as a "master story-teller." At the publication of Annapolis, a saga about the U.S. Navy, Publisher's Weekly said "Martin is the maritime Michener." Of his biographical novel, Citizen Washington, USA Today wrote, "Deft, spicy, and excitingly readable... This fiction is so complex in its understanding of humanity as to seem actually true."  And he has joined the historical novel and the mystery-thriller to create a genre all its own. In Back Bay, Cape Cod, Harvard Yard, The Lost Constitution, and now, City of Dreams, his characters track the passage of priceless artifacts through American history while, in alternating chapters, the history comes to life. 

Maureen Blaha - Executive Director - National Runaway Switchboard

Maureen Blaha is the executive director of the National Runaway Switchboard, a position she has held since November 2000. The organization has made great strides under her leadership – the visibility of NRS has grown, and support has increased in both personnel and finances. Also under Blaha’s leadership, NRS co-created National Runaway Prevention Month. During this interview Maureen will discuss why youth run away from home and findings from the research study as well as provide advice for parents having a difficult time with their child, talk about alternatives for children who are thinking about running away from home and explain why the hotline is so important.

Pete Fornatale - "BACK TO THE GARDEN"
BACK TO THE GARDEN: The Story of Woodstock and How It Changed a Generation (Touchstone Books/Simon & Schuster), famed New York radio disc jockey Pete Fornatale goes behind the scenes at the world’s most iconic rock concert to tell Woodstock’s untold stories. Separating myth from reality and fiction from fact, he brings the experience to vivid life through original interviews with Roger Daltrey, Joan Baez, David Crosby, Richie Havens, Joe Cocker, and dozens of headliners, organizers, and fans.  Peter ("Pete") Fornatale is a New York City disc jockey, who was born on August 23, 1945. He was an important figure in the progressive rock era of FM broadcasting. Starting with WOR-FM in 1966, FM was demonstrating a large rift from AM broadcasting. Fornatale was a key figure in this trend with his weekly program, "Campus Caravan," which was heard on Fordham University's WFUV from 1964 to 1970. He began professionally in 1969 at WNEW-FM and also worked at WXRK (nee WKTU). He returned to WFUV in 2001 and is heard weekly on his current shows, "Mixed Bag" and "Mixed Bag Radio," which is also on XM satellite radio. He won the Armstrong Excellence in Broadcasting Award in 1983 . He is a native of the Belmont section of the Bronx and attended Fordham Preparatory School and Fordham University, where he received a B.A. in Communication Arts in 1967. He is a member of the board of World Hunger Year.  Fornatale has also written many books on popular music culture. He has hosted many rock-related programs on WNET, PBS's station in New York City. He has been an on-air consultant for rock music shows and specials on VH1, MTV and HBO

Jeff Lorber - "Now is the Time"
Jeff Lorber Recaptures The Spirit Of Jazz Fusion On "Now Is The Time" .  Playboy Jazz Festival  SAX FOR STAX featuring Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum and Jeff Lorber 6/12/2010.  Over three decades after breaking ground as leader of the pioneering Jeff Lorber Fusion, the Philly-born and bred composer, producer and keyboard legend is still keeping the vibes fresh and the grooves funky, inspiring contemporary jazz fans everywhere to exclaim with each new musical excursion: Heard That. On his highly anticipated Peak Records debut, Lorber keeps the soulful momentum going, collaborating brilliantly on pop, jazz, R&B and blues-influenced tracks--and even harkening back a bit to his early 80s Fusion heyday--with one of urban jazz's top hit makers and sonic architects, Rex Rideout.

Sean Phillips - Yahoo Movies Executive Producer 

 Do you think you are a movie buff who has seen all the classics? -- Yahoo! Movies, one of the prominent movies websites, has released today its list of “100 Movies to See Before You Die: The Modern Classics,” arranged chronologically and they are all notably familiar from awards circuit coverage focused on the last 20 years of cinema from Hollywood and beyond, to name a few such as: James Cameron's 3-D gold mine “Avatar”, Quentin Tarantino's “Inglourious Basterds” and Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow's “The Hurt Locker.” These classics movies - all of which were made between 1990 and 2009 - were chosen based on their artistry, originality, and pure cinematic entertainment, Yahoo! said in a statement. These are the movies that molded pop culture over the past 20 years, offered the most quotable lines, and worked their way into this generation's heart and memory. “Twenty-one of the 100 films are foreign films,” said Yahoo Movies executive producer Sean Phillips. “Hong Kong cinema, you have got French directors, sort of everything across the board.” Some of the movies are from way back, but some are current, and that is what creates an interesting mix of critically acclaimed features "Brokeback Mountain; “American Beauty” with movies that were more admired by the moviegoers themselves.

5/17 - Gordon Grice, Janet Little, Doug Jeffrey

Deadly Kingdom: The Book of Dangerous Animals - Gordon Grice
Gordon Grice  has written for The New Yorker, Harper’s, Discover, Granta, and other magazines. His first book, The Red Hourglass, was named one of the Best Books of the Year by the Los Angeles Times and the New York Public Library. His work has been anthologized in The Best American Essays. He lives with his family in Wisconsin.  How does a tiny box jellyfish, with no brain and little control over where it goes in the water, manage to kill a full-grown man? What harm have hippos been known to inflict on humans, and why? What makes our closest cousin, the chimpanzee, the most dangerous of all apes to encounter in the wild?  In this elegantly illustrated, often darkly funny compendium of animal predation, Gordon Grice, hailed by Michael Pollan as “a fresh, strange, and wonderful new voice in American nature writing,” presents findings that are by turns surprising, humorous, and horrifying. Personally obsessed by both the menace and beauty of animals since he was six years old and a deadly cougar wandered onto his family’s farm, Grice now reaps a lifetime of study in this unique survey—at once a reading book and a resource.

Janet Little - Henry's Farmers Markets

May is National Celiac Awareness Month; it is in Los Angeles this year with a national conference on May 15. Because of its symptoms, which overlap other health disorders, Celiac Disease often goes undiagnosed, although a lifetime commitment to a strict gluten-free diet usually eliminates the variety of severe, often painful symptoms.  Celiac disease is an inherited, autoimmune disease in which the lining of the small intestine is damaged from eating gluten and other proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats. According to Dr. Peter Green, one of the guest speakers at the conference, “going gluten-free seems to be a current lifestyle diet craze among foodies, but for 3 million Americans (1 in 133), a Gluten-Free diet is a necessity. Shockingly, 97% of those affected don't even know it.”  Janet Little, spokesperson for Henry's Farmers Markets, for years has given lectures, led store tours, and developed gluten-free recipes. Henry's has become well- known for their Gluten-Free products, lectures and tours and distributes a comprehensive pamphlet on the disease. They are one of the participating sponsors of the May 15 conference. She can tell listeners how to make quick and easy recipes that are tasty and, of course, gluten-free.

Doug Jeffrey - Producer  Grid 41   -   Accept

MySpace isn't the only social website feeling the "Teutonic Terror" from the brand new video from the German Heavy Metal Band ACCEPT. The band premiered their first video in 10 years, crashing their MySpace site and their band's website as longtime fans of the band clambered to get a look at the video for their new song "Teutonic Terror". One Turkish fan having seen the video entered ACCEPT pwns (meaning owns, or rules in online terms) into the update box on Twitter, only to find out that someone named @pwns was now following him on Twitter. Both the Twitter story and the video spread like wildfire across the internet as the unlikely worlds of Heavy Metal Music and technology blogs including Gizmodo, Mashable, and Blabbermouth picked the story and spread it faster than a metal guitar riff. Gizmodo and Mashable detailed very simple explanations telling their readers how to exploit the security hole, Blabbermouth focused on the fire, tanks and carnage of the video, and Twitter went into panic mode and to fix the "Accept Bug" by resetting everyone's followers back to zero. That's everyone. Even Ashton Kutcher had as many friends as the rest of us... for a couple of hours.  MySpace isn't the only social website feeling the "Teutonic Terror" from the brand new video from the German Heavy Metal Band ACCEPT. The band premiered their first video in 10 years, crashing their MySpace site and their band's website as longtime fans of the band clambered to get a look at the video for their new song "Teutonic Terror". One Turkish fan having seen the video entered ACCEPT pwns (meaning owns, or rules in online terms) into the update box on Twitter, only to find out that someone named @pwns was now following him on Twitter. Both the Twitter story and the video spread like wildfire across the internet as the unlikely worlds of Heavy Metal Music and technology blogs including Gizmodo, Mashable, and Blabbermouth picked the story and spread it faster than a metal guitar riff. Gizmodo and Mashable detailed very simple explanations telling their readers how to exploit the security hole, Blabbermouth focused on the fire, tanks and carnage of the video, and Twitter went into panic mode and to fix the "Accept Bug" by resetting everyone's followers back to zero. That's everyone. Even Ashton Kutcher had as many friends as the rest of us... for a couple of hours.

"Follow the Prophet" - Video on Demand

Based on shocking current events, FOLLOW THE PROPHET is a thriller that critics have called “a must see” and “the dark underbelly of BIG LOVE.”  Robert Chimento (Milk) , Tom Noonan (House of the Devil) David Conrad (Ghost Whisperer), Diane Venora (Heat, Insider & New York film critic award for Clint Eastwood’s “Bird”), Steve Railsback (Charlie Manson in Helter Skelter R.D. Call (Babel, Into the Wild), John Diehl and ingénue Annie Burgstede. "Follow the Prophet" tells the story of 15 year old Avery Coldon who discovers that she is to be given up as a secret bride to the new Prophet of a polygamous cult. She escapes with the help of Army Colonel Jude Marks and a renegade Sheriff named Red When they find out that another younger girl will take Avery’s place they join forces to expose the truth that lies hidden in a town in Utah. From the Executive Producer Jay Wilson, who brought you DOGTOWN Z BOYS, FOLLOW THE PROPHET is a Red Road Presentation brought to life by an award winning team of film-makers including Emmy-award winning Director, Drew Ann Rosenberg, Writer Robert Chimento, Producer Joan Sweeny, Independent Spirit Award winning Cinematographer Walt Lloyd. Following its April 30th THEATRICAL premiere at the Angelika Film Center in Houston, “Follow the Prophet”, an award winning independent feature film can now be seen on Video on Demand on over 100 cable, satellite, telco operator and online outlets including: Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox, Charter, Verizon, Cablevision, DIRECTV VOD, and DISH IPVOD.

5/13 - Lisa Rinna , Kristine Carlson, Yvette Nicole Brown, Doug Brode,

Lisa Rinna - Actress  New Women's Health Campaign
Lisa Deanna Rinna (born July 11, 1963) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Billie Reed on Days of our Lives, Taylor McBride on Melrose Place, and most recently as the host of SoapNet's Soap Talk.  She also competed on the hit ABC series, Dancing  with the Stars and participated in the national Dancing with the Stars tour. With her exotic looks, prodigious talent, infectious energy and savvy business acumen, Lisa Rinna has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. Rinna and husband Harry Hamlin recently finished filming the first season of their TV Land original series, “Harry Loves Lisa”. The new series, premiering in fall 2010, focuses on the relationship between Lisa and Harry as they navigate through the highs and lows as a devoted family living a hectic Hollywood lifestyle.

Kristine Carlson -  "Heartbroken Open"
For a long time, through that winter and well into the summer, I did not stop wishing every day that the outcome was different. I had prayed and dreamed my way out of many things in my life, but this one was irreversible. Finally, that fall, in the beauty and stillness of the season, I let it go. One morning I simply awoke to a different voice, The words were loud and clear: He didn’t leave you, he died. Now, what are you going to do about it?

YVETTE NICOLE BROWN ("Shirley" on NBC's "Community") 

Yvette Nicole Brown plays Shirley, a sassy middle-age divorcee, on NBC’s new comedy series “Community.”  As a young girl growing up in East Cleveland, Ohio, actress Yvette Nicole Brown dreamed of a career on-stage and screen. She began her entertainment career as a vocalist while still in her teens, when after an impromptu audition for Michael Bivins (New Edition; Bell Biv DeVoe) she was signed to Motown Records as a part of the East Coast Family, a group of new talents that included Boyz II Men. Brown was featured on the Motown album, The East Coast Family Vol.1, which included the Top 20 single, “1-4-All-4-1.” As a part of the East Coast Family, Brown appeared on MTV, Showtime at the Apollo, Vh1 and BET, while simultaneously completing coursework that led to a Bachelor of Fine & Applied Arts degree from the University of Akron. Following graduation, she packed her bags and moved to Los Angeles.

Doug Brode - "Mr. Pop Culture America"

Doug talks about the legendary Betty White and her many endearing Television Roles from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show, to Golden Girls" to her mant game show appearnces and her recent hosting of Saturday Night Live. America loves Betty and at 88 she shows no signs of stopping.


Dr. Lisa M. Masterson, M.D.  "The Doctors"

Lisa M. Masterson, M.D. has pioneered the evolution of women's healthcare into the 21st century. A specialist in obstetrics, gynecology, infertility, adolescent gynecology and family planning, Dr. Masterson has redefined the role of the gynecologist into a family care doctor. Dr. Masterson's unique practice includes a myriad of services not found in today's traditional gynecological medicine, paving the way for advancement in her field. She offers a medical spa within her office and is available for house calls to those of her patients unable to make the nine to five business hours. Also at the forefront in education, she holds seminars on adolescent sexuality for teens and parents and has written "Go Figure" a workbook for young girls detailing the changes throughout their bodies.

5/12 - Gary Morgenstein, Jason Cameron, Noel Blanc, D J McHale, Pete Bils,

DJ McHale - "Morpheus Road"


D.J. MacHale is a writer, director, executive producer and creator of several popular television series and movies. As an author, his ten-volume book series: PENDRAGON – JOURNAL OF AN ADVENTURE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE became a New York Times #1 bestseller. He was raised in Greenwich, CT and graduated from Greenwich High School. While in school, he had several jobs including collecting eggs at a poultry farm, engraving trophies and washing dishes in a steakhouse…in between playing football and running track. D.J. attended New York University where he received a BFA in film production.  His filmmaking career began in New York where he worked as a freelance writer/director making corporate videos and television commercials. He also taught photography and film production.  D.J. broke into the entertainment business by writing several ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIALS. As co-creator of the popular Nickelodeon series: ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?, he produced all 91 episodes over 8 years. D.J. also wrote and directed the movie TOWER OF TERROR for ABC’s WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY which starred Kirsten Dunst and Steve Guttenberg. The Showtime series CHRIS CROSS was co-created, written and produced by D.J. It received the CableAce award for Best Youth Series.  D.J. co-created and produced the Discovery Kids/NBC television series FLIGHT 29 DOWN. He wrote every episode and directed several. His work on FLIGHT 29 DOWN earned him the Writers Guild of America award for “Outstanding Children’s Script” and a Directors Guild of America award nomination.  Other notable writing credits include the ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL titled SEASONAL DIFFERENCES; the pilot for the long-running PBS/CBS series GHOSTWRITER; and the HBO series ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN, BOY DETECTIVE for which he received a CableAce nomination for writing.  In print, D.J. has co-written the book THE TALE OF THE NIGHTLY NEIGHBORS, based on his own teleplay and penned the poetic adaptation of the classic Norwegian folk tale EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON. He is currently writing three new book series. MORPHEUS ROAD, a spooky trilogy; THE EQUINOX CURIOSITY SHOP, a fantasy adventure and THE MONSTER PRINCESS, a picture book.

NOEL BLANC   C.E.O. WARNER-BLANC
STEVE PINKNEY ANIMATION  -GREAT AMERICAN INK

Imagine dreaming about growing up in a household filled with the Looney Tunes characters as your childhood friends. For Noel Blanc, the son of late voice acting legend, Mel Blanc, that dream was a reality.  Having earned the nickname "The Man of a Thousand Voices,"  Mel Blanc is regarded as one of the most influential people in the voice-acting industry. He is best remembered for his work as the voice of such well-known and beloved? characters? such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylvester the Cat, Tweety Bird, Foghorn Leghorn, Yosemite Sam, Woody Woodpecker, Barney Rubble, Mr. Spacely, Captain Caveman and? Heathcliff, to name a few. Throughout Noel's childhood and early adulthood, he worked closely with his father on the Looney Tunes voices so that when the time came, he would be able to continue his father's legacy.  After Mel's death, Noel took the mic and continued the voices for the Looney Tunes, and has expanded the reach of the Looney Tunes characters by performing Elmer Fudd on such television shows such as Family Guy.

Jason Cameron  - "Desperate Landscapes" / "Mancaves"

JASON IS THE HOST OF TWO DESIGN SHOWS "DESPERATE LANDSCAPES" AND "MAN CAVES" AS WELL AS A CARPENTER ON TLC'S "WHILE YOU WERE OUT"  - Imagine how much fun it would be to help create a dream dog park that you and your best buddy and your entire community could enjoy. The Beneful® WagWorld™ Dream Dog Park Contest invites dog owners to create a video that answers the question: If you had $500,000 to create the ultimate dog park for you and your best buddy, what would you do? Entrants must also describe in 100 words or less how a makeover of their neighborhood dog park could enhance their daily adventures with their dog. The Beneful WagWorld Dream Team, led by design expert and contractor Jason Cameron, will select the Grand Prize winner whose idea will help serve as inspiration for a $500,000 renovation that will be awarded to a dog park in their area to create the WagWorld Dream Dog Park.

Gary Morgenstein - "Purple Haze"

Gary Morgenstein is co-host of the Purple Haze radio show, Thursdays at 9PM/ET at blogtalkradio.com/mediablvd. In addition to his dating and relationship book How to Find a Woman…Or Not, Morgenstein’s novels include Loving Rabbi Thalia Kleinman, about a divorced man who falls in love with a beautiful woman rabbi; Jesse’s Girl, a powerful story about a father’s search for his adopted teenage son, and Take Me Out to the Ballgame, a political baseball thriller, as well as the baseball Rocky The Man Who Wanted to Play Center Field for the New York Yankees. His prophetic play Ponzi Man played to sell-out crowds at the New York Fringe Festival. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, surrounded by lots of books and rock and roll CDs. He is Director, Communications, for the Syfy Channel. Please visit him at http://www.garymorgenstein.com/

Pete Bils - "Sleep Expert"

Pete Bils, who joined Select Comfort in 1996, is the vice president of sleep innovation and clinical research. Select Comfort designs, manufactures, markets and supports a line of adjustable-firmness mattresses featuring air-chamber technology, branded the Sleep Number bed, as well as foundations and sleep bedding accessories. As Vice President of Sleep Innovation and Clinical Research at Select Comfort, Bils is responsible for exploring the vital relationship between sleep and health. He manages the direction of the company’s efforts in clinical sleep research, from study design to laboratory execution. Bils continually researches and investigates the use of new technologies to promote better sleep, such as computerized pressure mapping to demonstrate the effects of various sleep surfaces on the human body. In addition, Bils is a polysomnographic technician in the Select Comfort research network. He is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, an organization dedicated to the assurance of quality care for patients with sleep disorders, the advancement of sleep research, and public and professional education. He is also on the Better Sleep Council, a member of the National Sleep Foundation.  Bils has more than 10 years experience researching sleep and sleep patterns, and identifying the ideal conditions and behaviors that result in sound sleep and productive wakefulness. He has been interviewed by many national and local media outlets about sleep-related topics including: THE DOCTORS, Parents TV, New York Times Magazine, CNBC, Furniture Today, and Bloomberg News, to name a few. Bils received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida Gainesville. He resides in Minneapolis with his wife and their two children. He is known as @SleepGeekPete on Twitter and his Sleep Number setting is 25.

5/11 - Sandy Botkin, Dr. Dave Hndinda,

Sandy Botkin - IRS Tax Attorney Sanford Botkin is a tax lawyer, a CPA, and a former IRS attorney. As an IRS attorney he worked for the chief Counsels office of the IRS in Washington, and trained other lawyers on how to get more tax dollars from the public.  As an IRS attorney, he saw a great need. Small business owners just did not have the time or resources to know how to take advantage of tax breaks that the U.S. Congress had made available to them to help them grow.  He knew and understood how easy it was to learn and use these good tax laws, so he quit the IRS and started the Tax Reduction Institute about 12 years ago. His organization has now taught over 50,000 small business owners all over the U.S. how to put good tax laws to work for them and audit proof themselves.

Dr. Dave Hnida - Paradise General

CBS4's Dr. Dave Hnida is a busy practicing physician and an award-broadcasting journalist. As the Medical Editor, Dr. Dave brings a family doctor to your television, answering viewer questions and putting medical headlines and complicated issues into easy-to-understand, usable information.  He joined the CBS4 team in September of 1991 covering medicine not only for Denver viewers but also across the country for NBC and CBS News.  Hnida was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his internship and residencies at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center and Denver General Hospital.  He has been working in the Denver area as a family and emergency physician for 25 years.  Hnida is a combat-decorated Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corp. He has served two tours of duty in Iraq since the war began in 2003. His first tour he served as a combat surgeon with the 160th Airborne MP Battalion. His second tour took to a Combat Support Hospital as a trauma surgeon

5/10 - Dave Pratt, Robert Danzinger, Karen Tack, Mike Bender,

 Dave Pratt -  "Dave Pratt, Behind the Mic: 30 Years in Radio"

Dave began his radio career at 16 years old on KELK in his hometown of Elko, Nevada. Dave loved growing up in a small ranch town where he lettered in baseball and basketball, and once rode a horse through a casino (it was a dare). It was 1978 when Dave performed his first air shift on KELK. This October, three decades will be celebrated with the release of his autobiography: Dave Pratt, Behind The Mic, 30 Years in Radio. The book will be released nationally from Five Star Publications. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Dave battled and triumphed over prostate cancer in 2005. After high school graduation he moved to The Valley to attend ASU. In 1981, Dave was hired by KUPD where he stayed for 2 decades and Dave Pratt in the Morning became America`s Longest Running Rock n' Roll Morning Show. In 2002, Pratt joined CBS Radio where today he hosts Dave Pratt in the Morning with Stacey Brooks on KMLE Country 108., which is now the Valley's longest running country morning show. Dave Pratt and his band have sold well over 100,000 albums and live home videos, and he has headlined to sold out shows in major venues throughout the state. He is also part owner of Alice Cooperstown in Downtown Phoenix and MyStreet.com. For three decades loyal Pratt listeners have raised millions of dollars for Arizona charities. In 1996, the Dave Pratt Dental Clinic for underprivileged kids was founded by The Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. The clinic now serves over 6000 kids per year. Dave is thankful to his loyal listeners for an incredible ride, but he is most proud of his family including his wife of 19 years, Paula, and his 4 children.... David 14, Kyle 12, Sammy 9, and Madison 7. Dave and his family reside in Paradise Valley. Many years ago Dave promised his listeners that he would never leave Arizona. This is one Mayor who keeps a promise.

Karen Tack - "What's New Cupcake?"

The authors of Hello, Cupcake are back, this time with the promise of simpler recipes. Relying on doctored, store-bought cake mixes and the option of canned frostings, recipe time is used primarily for assembling and decorating cupcakes that take the form of animals, food items, and holiday-inspired scenes. The TOC may leave readers guessing recipe selections with chapter names such as I Thought You Ordered Chocolate Moose and The House that Boo Built, but the unconventional names embody the playful spirit of this title. Basic techniques, including filling cupcake liners and frosting cupcakes, are explained, and recipes are formatted into clear, easy-to-understand numbered steps accompanied by full-color photos. Kids and adults alike will find joy in the many artful creations, including a pizza supported by cupcakes and topped with fruit pepperoni; a banana split with cupcakes in the form of ice cream scoops, and Chinese takeout complete with Tootsie Roll broccoli florets. This is an innovative title that doesn't hold back.

Mike Bender - "AWKWARD FAMILY PHOTOS "

Based on the hit website, AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com (“painful, regrettable, horrifyingly awesome snaps of family bonding, you will laugh so hard that people in adjoining offices will ask what’s wrong with you”—Esquire), this full color book features never-before-seen photos and hilarious personal stories covering everything from uncomfortable moments with relatives, teen angst, sibling rivalry, and family vacations from hell. Cringe at the forced poses, bad hair, and matching outfits--all prompting us to look at our own families and celebrate the fact that we're not alone. Nothing says awkward better than an uncomfortable family photograph!


Robert Danziger   - "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Energy Independence"

Humorous adventure book takes readers on energy, environmental and musical journey  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Energy Independence by Robert Danziger offers entertaining insight into how the author went from studio musician to a key player in the alternative energies industry . More or less nonfiction, this raucously funny book throws readers the insider’s curveball on oil embargoes, a space race to Uranus, and an elite think-tank that led the US effort on alternative energy. A key player in the alternative energy industry for over thirty years, Danziger was the first person to eliminate an entire class of pollutants from a working power plant. To date, his efforts secured the largest energy conservation and greenhouse gas reduction event in history. He has also produced six albums, including “Never Dreamed” and “1910 Nocturne,” which was on exhibit as a sound sculpture at the Monterey Museum of Art, and “Steinbeck’s Chinatown” which is currently on exhibit at the National Steinbeck Center. He was also awarded a gold medal for Best Original Music at the New York Film Festival, and the Clean Air Award by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. He lives in Carmel with his wife, who is an art historian.

5/6 - John Harrison, Helena Christensen, Lou Manfredini, Serge Traylor, Molly Katz,

John Harrison - Professional Ice Cream Taster -  ICE CREAM ‘FLAVOROLOGY’ 

John Harrison has more than 40 years of experience in the ice cream industry. His interest and expertise in ice cream stems from his family tree where four generations of his family members were involved in the industry. In his youth, ice cream was his favorite dessert; during his college years, he worked (and tasted) his way through college at his uncle's ice cream plant in Tennessee. Harrison joined Edy’s Grand Ice Cream in 1982. Prior to his position with Edy’s, he was with Dari-Tech, an ingredient supplier, for 12-years, where he was the National Sales Manager. During that time he also assisted as an independent consultant for Edy’s new flavor formulas. In addition to Harrison's technical background, he also is an ice cream history and trivia buff. Answering questions ranging from fun facts on the history of ice cream to current trends toward more nutritious ice cream products, is just an added benefit to Harrison's job. His expertise is so crucial to Edy’s that his taste buds are insured for a cool $1 million. He has traveled throughout North and South America, visiting every ice cream plant on both continents and tasted more than a million gallons of ice cream during his career.

Helena Christensen -  Super Model - Breast Cancer

Helena Christensen is certainly one of the leading supermodels of the 1990's. She has had one of the most diverse careers of those belonging to this elite group familiar to most everyone. A veteran of the fashion runways and trade magazines, Helena is still one of the most in-demand models.  The leaders of the fashion world have endlessly showered praise about Helena's captivating looks. The late designer Gianni Versace said she has the most beautiful body. Karl Lagerferld described her as possessing a figure type that's very rare. Nobody has better legs. John Galliano comments, she fills clothes with life and fire. Known for her skills on both sides of the camera, Helena Christensen can speak from an expert point of view on what makes women feel beautiful. Christensen, world famous supermodel, photographer and mother, kicks off a new campaign this week launching Bali’s® innovative Comfort-U™ product line and the brand’s partnership with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Lou Manfredini  - TV Home Improvement Expert and Host of HouseSmarts

Lou Manfredini is a self-made success story in the home maintenance industry. What began as a hardware store job as a teenager and later as a carpenter’s apprentice in college turned into a booming career as a nationally respected home maintenance expert. Manfredini began his media career when WGN Radio in Chicago launched his idea for a home improvement call-in radio show. Currently, he is the official home expert for NBC’s Today Show and a frequent guest on numerous network television stations across the United States. Most recently, Manfredini is the host of his own television show, HouseSmarts, which is syndicated on numerous network stations across the country. Manfredini also has authored five successful DIY books, including Bath Smarts (2004), Kitchen Smarts (2004), House Smarts (2002) and Mr. Fix-It Introduces You to Your Home (2002). Manfredini’s books have been featured in national magazines such as People and Newsweek, as well as major-market newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. In addition to his media engagements, Lou is still true to his entrepreneurial roots and spirit. He is the owner of an Ace Hardware store in Chicago, Ill., where he lives with his wife and four children. A new coat of paint can mean many things, but at a school it can be the difference between inspiration and apathy. An engaging learning environment can stir creativity, motivate learning and invigorate everyone who steps foot on campus. Such physical improvements sometimes fall by the wayside, but with a helpful hand from the Helpful Hands Program, 50 high school campuses across America will get the fresh start they need.  Helpful Hands will provide paint makeovers to one deserving high school in each of the fifty states. From Alaska to Texas, high school students and community members around the country will soon discover that a new coat of paint does more than add color to the wall – it marks a new beginning, boosts spirits and establishes pride where it is needed the most.

Serge Traylor  Brand Manager, Energizer Recharge

Energizer is introducing the new Energizer® Recharge Smart™ Charger by getting consumers involved in a video campaign to drive donations to their favorite charity. The “Kids Take Charge” video campaign asks families across the country to post a video of their child explaining the mischief they can get into when the toys that keep them occupied run out of battery power. The top ten creative entries will receive a portion of the $10,000 donation – based on an online poll – for their charity. Parents can get inspiration from the online ad campaign, also launching today and viewable at www.Energizer.com/SmartCharge, which features kids talking about everything from having tantrums to telling family secrets, each closing with a “Try the Smart Charger….or Else” message. “We’re letting people know about the new Energizer® Recharge Smart™ Charger and how it can make their lives easier by demonstrating its benefits in real-life situations they can relate to….and through the people that know best how to get them to listen: their kids!,” said Jim Olsen, Vice President of Marketing for North America. “We’re eager to view how America’s youth flex their creative muscles and show off the power of persuasion for a good cause.”  The first 250 people to enter a video will receive a free Energizer® Recharge Smart™ Charger. Energizer will select ten finalists based on originality, humor and alignment with the, “Kids Take Charge or Else” theme. Consumers can help determine the amount of money each charity receives by voting for their favorite at www.Energizer.com/SmartCharge. The funds will be allocated based on the percentage of views that each video receives. To enter, visit www.Energizer.com/Smartcharge to review rules and submit a link to an online video posting with the hashtag #SmartCharge before May 17, 2010.

Doug Brode - "Mr. Pop Culture America"

American Idol is falling in the ratings. Why?  Is it because Simon Cowell is leaving, or does it reflect of the caliber of talent being presented? This week Harry Connick , Jr. arranged, conducted and performed as  AI presented a salute to the legendary Frank Sinatra. Doug talks about the performances and a whole lot more.

5/5 - Irwin Kula, Daniel Ruddy, Guillermo Diaz, 1st Lt. Mike Scotti

 Daniel Ruddy  -  "Theodore Roosevelt's History of the US"

Daniel Ruddy grew up on Long Island, New York, where a childhood trip to Roosevelt's home, Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay, triggered a lifelong interest in TR. He is a marketing consultant for Fortune 500 companies, and he holds a master's degree in international relations from the London School of Economics. He is an avid researcher into U.S. history and the presidency. This is his first book. Theodore Roosevelt's ideas about the nation's early days and his own times can be found sprinkled throughout his volu-minous writings, but these "pearls of thought" (as one of his book reviewers described them in 1888) have never before been pulled together into one volume. Now, through the skillful editing of Daniel Ruddy, Theodore Roosevelt's History of the United States provides readers with Roosevelt's unique view of American history from the Revolution to the beginning of the twentieth century.

Rabbi Irwin Kula - "Mother's Day" 

Irwin is the author of Yearnings: Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life. He was listed in Newsweek 3 years in a row as one of the “Top Ten” rabbis in America.  For more on Irwin, people can go to http://www.clal.org/ .


GUILLERMO DIAZ ("Angel Garcia" on NBC's "Mercy")

Guillermo Diaz plays Nurse Angel Garcia on NBC’s “Mercy.” Diaz became a household name after starring as Scarface in the cult classic film “Half Baked,” opposite Dave Chappelle and Jim Bruer. Diaz joined Academy Award winners Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the DreamWorks feature ‘The Terminal” for renowned director/producer Steven Spielberg. His varied resume also includes feature roles in indie hits such as “Party Girl” opposite Parker Posey, Nigel Finch's acclaimed film “Stonewall,” “I’m Not Rappaport” with Walter Matthau, “200 Cigarettes” with Christina Ricci, “High School High” and “Chelsea Walls” directed by Ethan Hawke.  In addition to his feature film credits, Diaz is known for his three seasons on the award-winning series “Weeds” where he plays Guillermo, Mary Louise Parker's drug dealer. He has secured roles in various high-profile television series including “ER,” “Law & Order,” “Chappelle Show,” “The Shield,” “Without a Trace” and “The Closer.” Wednesdays (8-9 p.m. ET) on NBC .

1st Lt. Mike Scotti   "Severe Clear"

Severe Clear is a critically acclaimed, powerful and emotionally charged new film that takes “embedded” to an entirely new level like no documentary on war before. An unrelenting account of frontline battle by U.S. Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom, it’s a uniquely intimate, extreme, often horrific portrait of war.  The story of 1st Lt. Mike Scotti – who filmed with a mini-cam, sharing his thoughts through entries in a battlefield journal – this gritty film is like no other. Capturing the chaos and complexity of war, Severe Clear personifies the fear, turmoil, moral conundrum, heart-pounding reality and sheer adrenaline rush of combat.  Severe Clear is currently in limited theatrical release and will be available April 12 on DVD exclusively at http://www.deepdiscount.com/ .

5/4 - Joan Cusack, James Rippe, Alison Stewart, Jon Meacham

Joan Cusack Actress  "Glad to Give"

Joan Cusack was born in New York City to an Irish American Catholic family. She was raised in Evanston, Illinois  Her mother, Nancy, is a former mathematics teacher and political activist. Her father, Richard Cusack, as well as her siblings Ann, Bill, John and Susie, have also been actors.  Cusack is an alumna of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She is married to Chicago attorney Dick Burke, with whom she has two sons, Dylan John and Miles.She also owns a home in Three Oaks Township, MI.  Cusack has twice been nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her work in Working Girl and In & Out. She appeared with her brother John in the movies Sixteen Candles, Grandview, U.S.A., Class, High Fidelity, Grosse Pointe Blank, Say Anything..., Cradle Will Rock, Martian Child, and most recently, War, Inc. She also starred in the short-lived ABC sitcom What About Joan? in 2001-02. For many years, Cusack was also the commercial spokeswoman for U.S. Cellular.  Cusack was a cast member on the NBC sketch show, Saturday Night Live, from 1985 to 1986. Her recurring characters on Saturday Night Live included, "Salena," a socially inept girl who tries to ask out her boyfriend, "Biff" (played by Jon Lovitz), who is also socially inept. In addition, she did celebrity impersonations of Brooke Shields, Jane Fonda and Queen Elizabeth II.  She currently narrates the public TV animated series Peep and the Big Wide World.  In 2003, both Joan and her brother John signed the "Not in My Name" resolution (along with people such as Noam Chomsky and Susan Sarandon) opposing the invasion of Iraq.  Glad to Give spokesperson Joan Cusack. We’re doing a partnership with an amazing charity called Cookies for Kids’ Cancer , a group that raises money for pediatric cancer research through bake sales. Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for kids in the US, but many treatments remain underfunded. The charity was started by a mom who’s son is battling cancer. She took her love of baking and hosted a bake sale – raising $400,000 in the process – and Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was born. Today, the group encourages others to bake sweet treats to help this important cause

Emmy award winning journalist --  ALISON STEWART  & Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and editor of Newsweek   JON MEACHAM Co-anchors of the New PBS Show  NEED TO KNOW  - A multi-platform current affairs news magazine, created and produced by WNET.org New York  Premieres Friday May 7th on PBS (check  local listings)

Mitch Horowitz VP/ Managing Director  Battelle -   "Hi Tech Jobs"
HOW DOES YOUR STATE RANK IN BIOTECH JOBS?  Doing Enough to Attract New Companies and Create Jobs? What can your state do to promote This Industry? What are the Benefits? Learn How Your State or Region Ranks as Experts Share Stats from the State by State BioScience Initiative 2010 Report The Nation’s bioscience industry continues to grow as states and regions vie to attract high-wage jobs. Get insight from the just released, State by State BioScience Initiative 2010 Report.  The study presents data on national, state and metropolitan bioscience employment and growth trends. It also examines a series of additional key performance metrics and describes state policies and programs designed to accelerate the growth of the biosciences.  During this segment, Mitch Horowitz will be able to discuss: • Where your state ranks  • Pushing Job Growth  • Impact to your area

James M. Rippe, M.D. - "Healthy Snacking"
One of the leading authorities on preventive fitness and healthy weight loss in the US, available to discuss the wonders of snacking. The Harvard-graduate is the author of more than 36 books, including Heart Disease for Dummies and Your Plan for Balanced a Life. Dr. Rippe's work has been featured on Fox News, NBC’s “The Today Show,” ABC’s “Good Morning America,” CBS Morning and Evening News and CNN, as well as in a variety of publications, including: The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal.

5/3 - Dr. Catherine Birndorf, Ashanti, Rolf Benirschke

ASHANTI (Guest Star NBC's "The Biggest Loser")

SINGING SUPERSTAR ASHANTI – It’s one of the most eagerly anticipated events every season – “The Biggest Loser’ makeover episode! First, the remaining six contestants get $1,000 shopping sprees at their favorite stores before heading to the salon to meet celebrity hair stylist Jonathan Antin and begin their makeovers. Then it’s time for amazing reveals and emotional surprise reunions, when the made-over players show off their incredible new looks to loved ones flown in to help them celebrate their big day. Later the contestants and their guests are treated to an unforgettable concert from recording artist Ashanti, who shares her inspirational music. This week’s challenge finds the players climbing Jacob’s Ladder cardio machines while suspended over a pool, with the winner getting a weigh-in related prize. And finally, two contestants fall below the yellow line at weigh-in, leading to a very emotional elimination as another contestant is sent home. Alison Sweeney hosts the series, and trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels also star.

Rolf Benirschke  - San Diego Chargers

Rolf Benirschke was the placekicker for the San Diego Chargers from 1977 until 1987, and set 16 team records. He also received numerous honors: NFL Man of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Hero of the Year, etc. During his second season in the NFL, he was struck with an ulcerative colitis, an intestinal illness that required major surgery the following season, and nearly cost him his life. He also contracted Hepatitis C. Instead of giving up, he is a survivor and an inspiration. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a hepatitis virus. There are several types of hepatitis infections. The three most common in the U. S. are Hepatitis A,B, and C. Hepatitis A is considered the least threatening since it generally does not lead to liver damage, and 99% of those infected fully recover. Hepatitis B is a serious viral disease that attacks the liver. Approximately 2-10% of adults and 25-80% of children under the age of 5 will not be able to clear the virus in six months and are considered to be chronically infected. Hepatitis C also causes inflammation of the liver, with an estimated 80% of those infected developing chronic hepatitis. Many can develop cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), and some may also develop liver cancer.

Dr. Catherine Birndorf  Anxiety Specialist  “Psych Week”  Discovery Health Airs 9pm (ET/PT)

May 2nd – May 6th -  Work life...home life...mortgage...family...kids...career...What causes you stress or anxiety? And how do you know when it crosses the line from ‘normal’ to all-consuming? One in FOUR Americans meet the criteria for mental illness. “Psych Week’ on Discovery Health is trying to enlighten and inform, and anxiety expert Dr. Catherine Birndorf has tips to reduce the anxiety in our daily lives.