Veteran film and TV sound expert Ric Viers, author of The Sound Effects Bible and The Location Sound Bible, joins Kevin Walsh following a workshop Ric gave to Michigan high school students on his 10 Location Sound Commandments, which offer important life-skills as well.  

They discuss:

• Soft Skills and Reputation-how the most skilled person on the set may not be the one who stays on the set.
• How Does One Begin as a Sound Guy?
• Fatherhood and the osmosis of sound-awareness
• Gathering sound-effects (and where to leave your keys)
• Publishing a book (after finding a niche)
• The "Oh Crap" Kit

Kevin Walsh interviews author and educator Dr. Erik Bean on his most recent books, including:

- Rigorous Grading Using Microsoft Word AutoCorrect

- WordPress for Student Writing Projects, Grades 6-12

They discuss...

- Overcoming student and teacher fatigue essay-fatigue with the technology

- Student and teacher reactions to new tricks for the old dog of MS Word

- Advantages of blogging for students (and overcoming stage fright)

- Trolling (and how to address them)

- Getting published--five times!

Kevin Walsh interviews Sandy Barris, a longtime marketing expert.  

He is the author of 97 Marketing Secrets to Make More Money and the app, Sales Goal On Fire Pro.  More information at www.SandyBarris.com

He shares his lifelong journey and lessons, including:

- Writing a book, not to sell but to use as a giant business card of credibility

- How Google's AdWords works, and which words cost the most)

- Creating an App (or hiring the right people to do it for you)

- Marketing a la carte (one-day turnaround for customers who just need booster-shots)

- War stories (successes and failures)

- Election Ads (does negativity work?)

Following the intense rain within a single four-hour period in August, 2014, thousands of metro Detroiters found their basements flooded with sewage and little to no assistance from their insurers "flood" coverage.

Attorney, Judy Herman, discusses her 27 year career dealing with insurance companies and offers some advice for consumers and ethical guidelines both companies and customers would be wise to follow.

First time novelist, longtime educator Judy Burke shares with Kevin her eight year journey transforming a fantasy into a international espionage thriller--and it all started with an Irish lighthouse and appears in bookstores in November.  They discuss:

• Elmore Leonard and his influence
• The writing process and when life gets in its way
• Characters, even when they're great, and how to kill them off
• Dialogue's importance
• Publishing companies vs. self-publishing
• Knowing when to end the book

Visit Judy's website to get a sneak peek at:  www.JudyBurke.com

How do you make a movie?  What does a producer do?  Are English accents tough?

Kevin is joined by Adam and Daniel Cooper who wrote, directed and edited the short film "The Fourth Wall," winner of the international festival for young filmmakers Urban 15's Josiah Media Festival in San Antonio.

Producer Jeremy Shecter and Jonathan D'Ambrosio join the Cooper Brothers to discuss the film, teamwork, making it in the film industry and surprises along the way.

The film won the category for best narrative and is now in competition for the festival's Best of Show award that will occur live via streaming at 7pm July 10-12 via the group's site:  http://www.urban15.org/

Ryan Fishman decided last September to run for his term-limited Michigan state senate district after a series of his op-ed articles convinced others to convince Ryan that he should leave the GOP and take a shot at a traditionally right-leaning district.

Ryan and Kevin discuss:

- Difficulties (or not, really) in switching parties

- Reagan Republicans and Reagan Democrats

- The bad business logic of Right to Work, removing unions and poor short-sighted infrastructures

- Door-Knocking and Lawn Signs

- Being under 30 and running for office

- Problem with planning for just 7 of 9 innings

After 30 years playing in bands, guitarist and veteran Detroit rocker Garvin Cooper recently formed his first band.  He and keyboardist Tim Schoenherr discuss:

• The impact/importance of Social Media
• The Detroit band market
• The impact of the smoking ban in Michigan
• Capital outlay in forming a band
• The impact of 80s music today

The Best (or at least most optimistic) Week in Sports

Kale Davidoff, Matt Moss and Aaron Lebovic join the show a week after their teams took hits on the way to the Big Dance but still find the energy to examine:

• NCAA Weekend #2:  From 16 to 4
• Wolverine and Spartan Nation reactions
• Unionization of College Athletes
• Baseball's Opening Day vs. Mardi Gras
• Detroit Tigers changes and chances
• Masters without Tiger--worth watching?

Be sure to check out Kale's blog on Opening Day at this link.

Contributing writer, Kale Davidoff, joins Kevin Walsh and media professionals Aaron Lebovic and Matt Moss to analyze the opening weekend of March Madness.

Topics include:

- Why is this event so special?

- What non-basketball part of the event do you like/dislike most?

- Review of brackets busted and intact

- Best/Worst of CBS coverage

- What changes would you make to either the tournament itself or its programming?

Kevin Walsh is joined by Sheri Horwitz, Aaron Lebovic and Collin Ward as they dissect the  2014 Oscars, including...

Prediction Accuracy:  Those Pesky Costume Awards!

Cringeworthy Moments:  Kim Novak’s Vertigo, etc.

The Big Surprises:  Shutout for Hustle

What Should Be Cut:  Montage-less Dreams

 Ellen:  Too-low key and casual?

Kevin and Sheri break-down the Oscars, past and present.

- Who is likely to win?

- What category is the most fun/painful to watch?

- New categories to increase viewership.

- Which three Best Picture nominations should be voted off the island?

- The predictability of the method-actor winning.

- Which movies were snubbed?

- Do Amy Adams and Jonah Hill have to wait for a few more gray hairs?

- "Fun Movies" vs. "Important Films"

Kevin and Doug discuss the resurgence in the popularity of beards, following the Boston Red Sox World Series and the success of Harley Davidsons and Duck Dynasty. 

Doug explains the nostalgic turn that many Americans find themselves taking in a fast-paced, latest-phone world.

He also explains how a start-up company can be made at home, while not giving up your day job.

Kevin Walsh interviews Badass Teacher's Association leaders Marla Kilfoyle, a high school social studies teacher from Long Island, and Melissa Tomlinson, a middle school math/special education teacher from New Jersey, who also received national attention in November 2013 when Governor Chris Christie shouted at her when she asked him a question. 

This interview follows Kevin's January 24, 2014 post:  Public Education Going the Way of Netscape Navigator? Common Core, Bill Gates and BATs

Topics include:  BATs exploding membership, What's in a name?, Common Core Standards, Addressing teacher Isolation, Post-Christie life for Melissa, Reaction of parents/colleagues, Creating a strong voice in the unions, Pleasant surprises, Current needs.

Background on the BATs:  In June, 2013, Mark Naison, a professor of African-American Studies at Fordham University, together with Priscilla Sanstead an education activist, formed the provocatively titled, “Badass Teacher’s Association”—a grassroots organization “for every teacher who refuses to be blamed for the failure of our society to erase poverty and inequality, and refuses to accept assessments, tests and evaluations imposed by those who have contempt for real teaching and learning"

In 6 months, the group has grown to 36,000 members, and they’re not all teachers.  Parents, students, retirees and anyone who believes in the founding goals of public education has a found a voice in this dynamic group.

Film producer, Jason Potash, of Storyboard Entertainment shares his experiences adapting writer/director Maggie Kiley's feature film from a 2010 Tribeca-Winning short ("Some Boys Don't Leave" with Jesse Eisenberg) to a January 31, 2014 release of a feature after its successful run at the Austin Film Festival in October 2013.

Topics Include:

• Some Boys Don’t Leave and the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival

• Maggie Kiley (How did you meet?

• How does one fund an independent film?

• How to lure quality actors for an indie?

          Allison Janney (CJ on West Wing, Juno)

          Peter Jacobson (Dr. Chris Taub on House)

          Clark Gregg (Agent Colson in The Avengers)

• The festival process

• Working with 15 high school students invited to come to New York to be extras

• What does a producer do?

• Upcoming release Beside Still Waters winner of the  Audience Award for Narrative Feature Film at Austin Film Festival

• What’s next for Storyboard Entertainment?

Kevin Walsh and Kale Davidoff discuss the hits and misses of the 2013 movie year.

Topics include:

• Golden Globes vs. Oscars (Movies vs. Film)
• The strong year for women (Jennifer Lawrence, Melissa McCarthy, Sandra Bullock)
• Movies that are critically panned but do well.
• Bombs
• The Shawshank-Factor:  What will slip under the radar and become immortal?
• Topics from our readers:  Quality (or overhype) of cable series like "Breaking Bad," favorite films and bombs, "Spring Breakers" and James Franco, dangers of ensemble casting ("American Hustle")
• Predictions for 2014

• Kale’s more successful blog posts, including  Tales from the Michigan Diaspora
• Living and working in Michigan
• Sports and Michigan grit
• What makes certain posts go viral?
• Twitter vs. Facebook