November 24, 2025 • 35 mins
In the second hour, Alicia Witt joins Ryan Schuiling to discuss her new Christmas album.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
To the Day Christmas Review, the title track to her
new album coming out just in time for the Holidays,
and she joins us now on Ryan Schuling Live. Alicia
Witt multi talented actress of stage and screen and now
(00:29):
into the music world with this tremendous edition. Alisha, thank
you so much for your time.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Thank you, Ryan, Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Now, Constructing an album is more than just deciding you're
going to do it. There's so many moving parts, things
that go into it, people that collaborate with it. Can
you take us through that process, what that was like
and how it all came together.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well, I guess I've been thinking about making a Christmas
album for a long time now with the various Christmas
movies that I made over the years, and I've had
a number of Christmas songs that were used in those movies,
and it felt like the right time to get into
(01:17):
the studio was some of the most incredible musicians I
know and create this. It's nine original songs and three traditionals,
and we recorded all of them live, meaning all the
instruments played at the same time in the same moment,
so we had that old school nineteen fifties, nineteen sixties energy.
(01:42):
I think about the album and it was so much
fun to feel like we were making something that hopefully
would be a part of people's Christmas traditions, very different
than the other things that I've recorded.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Indeed, Alicia at our guests talking about her new album,
I think I'm spending Christmas with you, and she has
just embarked upon her new tour spending Christmas with Alisha
Witt too, or you can find out more online at
her website Alisha witmusic dot com. Alisha, you and I
are almost exactly the same age, and I remember, yes,
we've both looked young for our age. By the way,
(02:20):
I want to throw that out there, but I remember
the show that's incredible. And then I just looked this
up on YouTube before bringing you on with me, with
John Davidson reciting a portion of Romeo and Juliet in you,
at age five, were able to recite that scene. I mean,
take us back. I guess you can't even remember not performing,
but how you were able to perform in that moment,
(02:43):
how you were able to get ready to prepare, and
what launched you into this. You obviously did it from
a very young.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Age That's Incredible appearance was more of a twist of fate.
It was not at all by design, not on my
part or my parents' part. It's crazy how that happened.
I believe it was truly nothing less than destiny coming
(03:12):
in and helping guide me to the life that I'm
supposed to have, because my mother had sent a photo
of me reading Good Housekeeping magazine at age three to
the editor of Good Housekeeping, thinking they might run it
in the letters Letters to the Editor section, and they
(03:35):
decided instead, they were like, wait a minute, she really
reading or just looking at the pictures, and they sent
someone out and we had it documented that I was
in fact a really young reader, and they did a
story on me, and the producers of That's Incredible saw
that story in Good Housekeeping, called my mother found her number,
(03:57):
and that's how I ended up on Credible. And then
two years later, when I was seven, the casting director
for the movie Dune, the original David Lynch version of Dune,
happened to really need to find a child who was
a very advanced reader and writer, sorry, reader and speaker,
(04:18):
because I had to say lines and sentences that were
meant to be coming out of an adult. This child
had the knowledge of generations before her. Anyway, they the
casting director called, that's incredible to see if they had
any ideas because she was coming up empty with the
(04:41):
bank of actors that were available, the children that were
actors at that time. So I found myself in New
York auditioning for Doune and I got the part. I
wasn't a child actor. I didn't have an agent or
anything like that, but I was very curtain from the
(05:01):
moment I arrived and walked onto the soundstage for the
first time, I thought, oh, I'm going to do this
for the rest of my life.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Alicia whitt Our guest, no doubt you've seen her over
the years, whether it was that That's incredible appearance, way
back when the original movie Dune, I remember when that
came out. She of course was prominently featured in Twin Peaks,
also by David Lynch. The thing that I notice here
about your career, Alesha, not many people can say this
is you have a knack for picking the right project.
There aren't a lot of clunkers in here. I mean,
(05:32):
you also worked with David Chase the Sopranos, and in
my view, it is one of the most memorable cameo
appearances by an actor or actress in that series that
was not a recurring character, and that was the episode
d Girl and the chemistry, the fire, the passion between
you and Michael imperially as Christopher Malta Sante was palpable,
and Jon Favreau big part of that episode as well.
(05:55):
I just want to take you back in time to
participating in that franchise, an all time great television series,
and that particular episode.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
I felt like I never wanted it to end. I
felt like I was making a really great movie and
it was kind of kind of incredible to even think
that it was a series on HBO. I hadn't seen
(06:26):
the show when I filmed it, but having only had
experience at that point with network television. It's like that
old campaign that HBO had it's not TV, it's HBO.
Well that's how I felt, because I thought, oh, I'm
going to do an episode of this TV series and
(06:47):
it wasn't that it was a movie. It was amazing,
amazing work and if it had been a movie, it
would have been one of the best I had ever
worked on. And I loved the character and absolutely loved
Michael imperially and the whole cast, jim Yandelpemi. Even though
(07:08):
we didn't share any scenes, he was there at the
table read, of course, and it was so nice to me.
And for years after, whenever I'd run into him somewhere,
he just would stop everything and come over and talk
to me and tell me how much he admired my
work in that episode. And it's amazing to be part
(07:29):
of that legacy.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
The Girl the name of the episode there, Alicia witt
Our guest starring in that, and of course part of
that entire canon of the Sopranos. One of the great
all time television productions, and really launched HBO into the
stratosphere with that commercial free programming. Alicia, you mentioned work
in commercial television, but now this being your seventh release
as a musician, you're first as a solo producer of
(07:55):
this album, I think I'm spending Christmas with you. You've
kind of dabbled in the arts on various levels, whether
it be on the stage or screen. We talked about
in films in the music realm. However, where did that
really begin in terms of recording with the means of
reproducing an album. The thought of going on tour. What
(08:16):
was that motivation for you?
Speaker 2 (08:19):
It was something that I also in much a similar
way to making that first movie, and feeling like that
was part of my destiny. I had a sense in.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
My heart.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
That I was supposed to be making original music and
going on tour with it. But the issue with that
is that if you don't make yourself sit down and
write the songs and take the chance they're not going
to all be great, and write and write and write
(08:52):
and write and write, it's probably not going to happen.
And it took me a while to realize that, I
think because the acting stuff, in a way, I was
already that I had taken off ahead of my music,
and I found myself with a successful acting career, and
(09:14):
the dream of creating my own music was something. I
would sit down and write a song now and then,
and sometimes i'd write one I really liked, and then
sometimes i'd write one and I'd play it back and think,
maybe I'm not that good at this, and I would
just not write another song for a year. So that's
not the way to make a dream come true.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
And it was.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
After a significant breakup that I guess it's just sort
of unleashed the knowing that the time had arrived, and
the first song poured out of me as he closed
the door behind him with the last of his things,
and that song ended up being recorded. It was called
(09:59):
Blow and I haven't stopped writing since. That was almost
twenty years ago. And the first thing that I recorded
that did get released was in two thousand and nine
my self titled EP with the song Anyway on it,
which got some some play and the video was I
(10:26):
was on MTV, h VH one a little bit and
that's that just that really started at all. And it
was from that year on that I just started playing
shows really, although I did play a few shows before that,
but until you really have something out in the world,
it feels like it's like a preview.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Almost, And that's the interesting thing is crossing the rubicon
for Alisha Witt joining us here. You can find out
more on our website alishawitmusic dot com. Currently in the
midst of her Spending Christmas with Alisha Whitt tour and
the release of her Christmas album and single I Think
I'm Spending Christmas with You, also a video you can
find on YouTube there. I don't want to undersell this
part of Alicia, and that is you mentioned three standards
(11:11):
on the current album, Oh Holy Night, the first Noel
I'll Be Home for Christmas. Fantastic, But it really is
a bold endeavor to embark upon trying to write new
Christmas standards, new Christmas songs. And I think you've tapped
into something here obviously with the title track, but not
just that, to create those, to get into that headspace,
to reinvent the wheel in a way for holiday standards
(11:34):
that stand the test of time. That's a big project.
How did you undergo that and what made you feel like,
you know what? This is it and I've got it
and these are the twelve tracks and here we go.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I had a feeling that it was just the perfect
time and it was as simple as that. And then
I reached out to the various people I wanted to
work with, the various musicians, but I was hoping to
have on it, and they all had a window of
time that we could that we could do it in,
(12:11):
and so we went for it. But neat thing to
point out about the timing of it is that originally
I was planning on co producing it, as I've done before,
and I had a co producer lined up, and then
a month before we were due to go in the studio,
he said, you know what, I'm sorry. I think I'm
(12:32):
too busy, and I was like, oh, oh, all right.
So then I started a bit of a scramble because
I didn't want to lose my window with the studio
and the musicians and the engineer who I knew I
needed that engineer, David Kalmuski is one of my favorites,
and I couldn't imagine making this without him. So it
(12:57):
was my friend Mandy Barnett, who's a great and at remember,
and we sing together on a song we wrote on
the album called I Think Is This the Christmas? But
I was telling her about my issue and saying, oh gosh,
I hope I don't have to reschedule this. I don't
know when I'm going to do it again, and she said,
(13:17):
why don't you just produce it yourself. You know exactly
what you want out of this album. You've got some
of these great people working with you. I think you
can produce it yourself. And she's the one who really
gave me that idea and then sparked the confidence that
maybe I could do it myself.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
So I did.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Mark Hill was the music director for the recording sessions,
and we recorded everything live with all the musicians playing
at once in the studio, and it felt like the
perfect timing had aligned to make certain that we would
(13:59):
make this album in exactly the way that we made it,
and I don't think it could have existed at any
other time, and it turned out.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
To be a truly remarkable project, just in time for
the holiday season. Unfortunately for us, she's not coming as
far west as Denver, but that doesn't mean you can't
find the album. You can do so online at her website,
aliciawitmusic dot com. All part of her album I think
I'm spending Christmas with you. You heard a portion of
it to start this interview. We'll play the whole thing
(14:30):
as we go out to break But Alicia, thank you
so much for your time, tremendous stories. I could have
talked to you for about an hour. Maybe next time.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Oh, thank you so very much. Same here, and I
also want to point out wherever you are you can
join my tour with several live streams, including on December thirteenth,
there's a live stream taking place which you can buy
tickets to from anywhere in the world. We well December third,
(15:01):
right here in Nashville with my.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Band Nashville on the third, and on the thirteenth of
December in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. You can find that online and
your favorite streaming service is also available this album Spotify,
Apple Music. I Think I'm spending Christmas with you and
the producer, the singer, the collaborator, everything on this album
joining us here on Ryan Schuling Live Alicia witt Alisha again,
(15:26):
thank you so much for your time, best of luck
with the tour and with the album. Merry Christmas to
you and yours.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Thanks Ryan, same to you.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Take this time out and as I said, we'll hear
the entire song right now. I Think I'm spending Christmas
with You by Alisia witt.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
In makes no sense. I haven't even been invited, but
then again, somehow I'm feeling song exciting.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
There's nowhere right would rather spend the waiting sad Thos
and Lindsey. It's weird, but still it's true.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
If the spandy Christmas swear, I'm sitting alone, but I
can feel your hand Invite.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
Happy to home.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
At last, We've found a perfect time and.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
If the crystal.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Ball watched the future be sasful line.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
We get to see this.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
Through thig of spaning Christmas wind s emly it is
that's not making memory, Sam Inside the games abound fair
and selfactions. You're out there wondred if it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
I've got no planners except to answer when you ask me.
I'm ready to go out a chat about.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
The fine brains for a wind.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
To be around so.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Big of spaning Christmas with you, it's so spat ships.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
You are out their wondering if it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
I've gotten no except you answer when you ask.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Me, swe would rather be than your ribs on Christmas
Eve ninety.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Come here and see this through.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Thinking of spany Christmas, kind of spending Christmas, thinking of
spandy Christmas.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
You, Alicia Witt, I think I'm spending Christmas with you,
(19:07):
available on your favorite music platform, your tax five seven
seven three nine. We've come back after this.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
Happy Thanksgiving. I can't believe that even that now is
a political issue.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
It is a real shame.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
What's happened to this holiday which used to be all
about the good f's food, friends, family, football, fun, and
now it's you. You're not even invited because you've voted
for the wrong person. I'm so tired of liberals ghosting
half this country. Conservatives do it too, but not nearly
(19:47):
as much. Look whoever's doing it, it's got to stop
because we're at a point now where politics has broken
up more families than letting your wife see your phone.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Wisdom of Bill Maher love his take here, Want to
get yours? Five seven seven three nine, Ryan Shulding live
on this Monday before Thanksgiving? Are your plans all set?
Do you have your meal itinerary all locked down? I
think I've got some things going, but I'm flying home,
but I might have a little you know, you know
the people do what these friends givings? Do you do that, Zach?
(20:22):
It's big with you. Gen Z's out there, the friends giving.
Do you have one of those?
Speaker 7 (20:26):
I did in college, but now everyone's like in different countries. Okay,
it's falling apart, but hopefully hopefully Sunday.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
That's a little sad and I get it. I get it.
You go your separate ways. There is that kind of
turning of the page. Once you leave college. You got
you got all these college buddies, friends, whatnot. You had
the similar interests, probably in the same kind of school
in terms of your major parties, you know, social life,
and then it all gets ripped apart, and you kind
(20:53):
of promise that you're gonna stay in touch. And I
think generally it's a little bit more successful when you
try to do that, Zach than when you're coming out
of let's say high school. Right, you stay closer maybe
your college friends than your high school friends. That might
be different for people. For me, that's how it was definitely.
Speaker 7 (21:09):
I think everyone kind of branches off and you know
it enters adulthood, goes on their own paths and adventures
and whatnot. Once that happens, and as a result, a
lot of my friends, you know, got jobs elsewhere, went
to the grad programs in different cities, and then wound
up a landing there long term. Everyone just took a
different path.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah, and it brings me back to you know, sometimes
I go home and I want to see my friends
from back home. This would even like my high school
friends Grass Lake, Michigan. Shout out Jason Dunham. If you're
driving around, listen, your boy hollers at you. I know
Derek Klutchki is around here too, and that's my high
school baseball team at the cattle Rancher lives north of here,
(21:48):
but back in Grass Lake, I am going to attend
Thanksgiving gathering hosted by my sister Angie, and I love
her and we're fine. But when my mom passed, we
were the only two Trump voters, so I at least
had a bulwark. And my mom was feisty. She was
a strong personality. I miss her every day. It's been
(22:08):
a little over three years, but I miss her in
this particular circumstance because now I'm I'm on an island.
My dad hates Donald Trump viscerally, personally, it's very personal.
And I just watched The Godfather again. That's you know,
I can wait and watch that every night. But when
Michael suggests that he is going to take out Salatso
(22:28):
and the crooked Cott McCluskey, you know, Sonny turns it
around because he had just had an argument with Tom Hagen,
like this is business, it's not personal. And then he jokes,
think of Michael's taking it very personally, He's business. You
don't get my dad takes it very personally with Donald Trump.
They're almost the exact same age. In fact, Donald Trump
is one year older than my father, but you wouldn't
(22:50):
know it because Donald Trump's a dynamo. My dad's got
some issues. Okay, he's got peripheral neuropathy. I'm going back.
I'm gonna help. I'm gonna love my dad. I had
a great dad growing up. I have no comes. But man,
we cannot talk about politics. That is sideline. And the
thing is the irony about all this is, you know,
I get painted as this rock ribbed red voting Trump,
(23:11):
supporting Maga America first. And I'm the one that's gonna
bring it up a Thanksgiving right, you know what. I'm
not the one who brings it up a Thanksgiving one.
I know, I'm outnumbered. What am I gonna do? Be
that guy, be to my nieces, that uncle jerk Ryan
who comes over and starts trouble, and I don't bring
it up. It's not important. I do the show every day,
(23:31):
and maybe maybe that's a form of Catharsis for me,
so I can talk about it here. I don't need
to talk about it at home. I don't want to
talk about it at home. But my family members look
at me like I'm an alien, and I don't mean
an illegal alien. I mean like X files, like I
came from outer space, Like Ryan, this is my brother's take.
(23:53):
Oh you hold a college degree, I mean you're smart.
Why would you vote for Trump? Like? Are you telling
me that somebody intellectual capacity, that their intelligence level is
directly proportional to how they vote? Meaning the smarter you are,
the more Democrat you vote. Now, I will agree to
one part of his concept. The more college tripe you
(24:14):
consume through these indoctrination centers on America's college campuses, Yes,
you are more likely to vote left because you've got
brain rot from this experience. Luckily I survived, and throughout
my college experience, I never went on what took as
gospel what my professors taught me, And to their credit,
(24:34):
my professor's never told me to take their word as gospel.
They wanted me to do my own research. They wanted
to teach me how to think, not what to think.
That's the experience I had in the nineteen nineties going
through college, at least at Central Michigan University and in
a very liberal department broadcast in cinematic arts, in which
I can't even name for you a professor who I
(24:56):
knew or thought or suspected was conservative. There was one
when I was a graduate assistant. There Renee Blatte, who
is he's one of us? That was it, though I'm
talking the whole department. But I was never made to
feel less than or an outsider or outcast, or I
had a warrior scarlet letter, or I'm a Trump voter,
therefore I'm deplorable and it's unacceptable for me to be
(25:21):
in polite society with any of the No, none of that.
But listen to this Jimmy Kimmel's wife, and yeah, she's
as bad as you think. She is giving her family
members ultimatums and then mar with a slam dunk.
Speaker 6 (25:37):
Molly McNerney, Jimmy Kimmel's wife and head writer, went public
on this topic recently, so I feel it's fair to
comment respectfully in public. She says she's lost relationships with
relatives because she wrote them an email before the election
with ten reasons why they shouldn't vote for Trump, and
some still didn't obey.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
You know, ten reasons.
Speaker 6 (26:04):
I could think of a hundred, but I would never
present it to someone as an ultimatum. Ultimatums don't make
people rethink their politics.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
They make them rethink you thing though, that's exactly right.
So my sister lives she's kind of agnostics. She doesn't
participate in politics. I think she lives her life mostly
personally conservatively. But she does not like Donald Trump either.
And there's no way that she voted for him last
time around, anytime around. Angie my sister, and she hates
(26:36):
when I talk about her, but I just wanted very
broad strokes here. Okay, she's a teacher, she's in a union,
but she is the one family member that will come
up to me and really want to know what I think.
Because I'm not being asked what I think. I'm being
asked why am I an alien? How could I support
Donald Trump? I have a brain and I graduated from
college and Ryan, I taught you better than that. My
(26:57):
dad might say something like, an't she's right, I just
don't know why how you can vote for him?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (27:04):
I hate that guy. Oh I don't understand it. He
gets really agitated with my dad. So I don't bring
it up. But I remember Angie coming up to me
and just right, can you explain to me, like exactly
why vote for Donald Trump? And I encountered with well,
(27:24):
I'm a very logical kind of binary person when it
comes to elections and voting. It's real simple for me.
It's real simple. If you present me the alternative of
a brain dead Joe Biden or an absolutely maniacally evil
Hillary Clinton or a maniacally stupid Kamala Harris, she is
(27:44):
just not smart. I'm sorry. I know she checks all
the woke boxes and I'm not supposed to say that.
But if she was a white dude, nobody would know
her name, same skill set, same abilities, same intellect. We
wouldn't know Kamala Harris's name, we would not prove me wrong.
So when those are the alternatives and the starting point,
do I think Donald Trump's perfect?
Speaker 2 (28:03):
No?
Speaker 1 (28:04):
I don't. Is he infinitely preferable to those alternatives? Yes?
Am I gonna be a dope and vote for a
libertarian who will never win? No? Because I don't want
the Democrats to win. See, it's real basic kind of
you know, deductive reasoning here, process elimination. Plus the fact
that most of the policy positions that Donald Trump holds
(28:24):
I support. So the man the messenger don't care. Is
life going to be better under the Orange man? If
the answers yes, then I'm voting for him. This seems
to be a difficult concept for family members to grasp
and accept, so I don't bring it up. So I
know most of you and our audience likely are Trump supporters.
How do you navigate the holidays? Do you bring it up?
(28:47):
Do you serve as an agitator? You know, kind of
like a dishwasher, there's a washing machine, there's an agitator
in there, and you're just trying to clean it up
and clear it out. I just don't think it's worth it,
Just not worth the squeeze. I'm not going to change
their minds. And to Bill Meher's point, like I'm not
going to give family members ultimatums because they didn't vote
for Trump, I know they're not going to. I think
they're wrong. But what am I here to do. I'm
(29:10):
here to celebrate Thanksgiving, to enjoy time with my family,
especially since I don't live in the state anymore and
I don't get to see them as often. So why
would I ruin it bring politics to the dinner table?
And here's Bill Maher with the final point.
Speaker 6 (29:25):
Somewhere along the way, my values became code for I'm
the only one with the moral compass. You know, it
would have been a better exercise write a top ten
list to yourself where you try to imagine ten reasons
why seventy seven million Americans didn't want to trust you
with taking power. And I say that as someone who
votes Democratic, as I like to remind my very pure friends,
(29:49):
we voted for the same person. You're just why she lost.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
I quip a little bit at the end. I think
Kamala Harris is why Kamala Harris lost. She's a terrible candidate,
historically bad. But that being said, I agree with much
of the tone, tenor, and substance of what Bill Maher
is saying, and the irony of it all. Bill Maher
doesn't strike me as a particularly warm, friendly person. He's smart,
he's smart, he's provocative, he's he makes you think. But
(30:16):
I'd have an easier time sitting down talking about politics
with Bill Maher than any member of my immediate family.
And that's just the way it is. So I'm going
to enjoy Thanksgiving, and I hope you do too well
at full shows both tomorrow and Wednesday, including Courtney Odell
tomorrow on the program. Always like to have her on
Sweet Seas designs, last minute, affordable, tasty home run accompany
(30:40):
means to your Thanksgiving dinner. We'll have those for you
to close out tomorrow's show. We're closing out today's with
your text five seven seven three nine. And you're listening
to Ryan Schuling Live. Then you on the other side
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(31:04):
Be sure to subscribe, download, listen, share with your friends,
share the good word, and I want to share your text.
Five seven seven three nine. Jim says, what a great
and different interview with Alisha Witt. Had no idea she
was a talented singer. Yeah, and I've been following her career.
As I mentioned, we're about exactly the same age. She's
a little less than a year younger than me. She
(31:25):
was on That's Incredible reciting Shakespeare when I was studying
for being the lead in the Mister Thanks Thanksgiving play
the same time, I believe and my dad, bless his heart,
I was just talking about in the previous segment he
was working with me on my lines. I did fairly well.
But here she is. She's a kindergartener reciting Shakespeare with
(31:46):
John Davidson, and that's incredible. A lot of you older types.
Gen Xer is an older remember that show. And she's
just been in some remarkable projects and I found to
be a fascinating conversation. I hope you enjoyed it as well.
I always like to change things up a little bit,
bring somebody on that I find interesting and that I
hope you do too, and then try to ask that
person who's been asked, you know, a thousand questions under
(32:07):
the sun, maybe a different question a different way. And
I think you could hear her the wheels return and
making her think about, you know, how did this all
come together? For She's a very unique talent, as I mentioned, stage,
screen music. There aren't many people that can pull off
all of these talents the way that she does. So
I was very very pleased to talk to her. And
(32:27):
you can catch on the podcast if you missed it,
because Patty didn't. She was there and she says Ryan
time and again, you prove to be the best of
ka how good interviews today. Patty appreciate your support. As
I mentioned in a direct text to her, we appreciate
Patty Patty too, even if she's petty with me, and
I deserve it, then you go ahead and send it.
But that's how I know that her praise is sincere.
(32:49):
Jason says how he's going to get through the Thanksgiving
holiday with relatives that disagree with him politically. Beer, lots
of beer, and if needed, whiskey. Jason heads up, you're
gonna need the whiskey. Maybe lead with that, you know,
was it liquor before beer? You're in the clear, beer
before liquor. Never been sicker. Now that's an old wives
tale and it just sounds good because it rhymes. You're
(33:11):
gonna get sick if you mix and match anyway, so
you might as well have fun doing it. Let's go
to another text here, tired of the f the Mormons
chants by fans during away BYU basketball and football games.
Are these still going on, Zach, you're plugged into the
sports world.
Speaker 7 (33:29):
Yeah, a lot of b YU games.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
It's pretty common. I think that's terrible. I wouldn't want
to be a part of that, and I would call
it any fans doing that. It's just it's remarkable the
types of discrimination that will stand because certain groups are
okay to attack and others are not. I just I'm
not on board with any of it. And that's from
Darren and Colorado Springs appreciate him tuning in.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Ryan.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
Great interview with Sheriff mike' sell. Thank you, iView. I
enjoyed that conversation too. You know, he's a guy. I
think he's shooter, he's a sheriff, he's a businessman. You know,
I think name recognition is going to be a challenge
for him. He acknowledge that. And it's difficult to get
out there to meet and greet, to shake hands, kiss babies,
you know, the whole drill. But you got to do
it right and you got to come on shows like
(34:15):
this one and answer questions. Sheriff Mike Sel not only
was he willing to do that, he contacted me to
come on this show. And I can't say that's the
case for other candidates, and I'll leave it at that.
There are other major candidates who will willfully come on
whenever I ask. That includes Greg Lopez, that includes Barb Kirkmeyer.
But both of they know that they come on and
(34:37):
I'm going to ask them very direct questions that people
want to know, that criticism that might be out there
to give them kind of a primer course platform for
when they really get into the fray and they sit
down with a comrade Kyle or an adversarial member of
the media. It's not that I'm adversarial necessarily, but I
want to have an honest exchange of ideas, question and answer,
(34:57):
and any candidate running for governor should be willing and
enthusiastic to do that.
To the Day Christmas Review, the title track to her
new album coming out just in time for the Holidays,
and she joins us now on Ryan Schuling Live. Alicia
Witt multi talented actress of stage and screen and now
(00:29):
into the music world with this tremendous edition. Alisha, thank
you so much for your time.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Thank you, Ryan, Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Now, Constructing an album is more than just deciding you're
going to do it. There's so many moving parts, things
that go into it, people that collaborate with it. Can
you take us through that process, what that was like
and how it all came together.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well, I guess I've been thinking about making a Christmas
album for a long time now with the various Christmas
movies that I made over the years, and I've had
a number of Christmas songs that were used in those movies,
and it felt like the right time to get into
(01:17):
the studio was some of the most incredible musicians I
know and create this. It's nine original songs and three traditionals,
and we recorded all of them live, meaning all the
instruments played at the same time in the same moment,
so we had that old school nineteen fifties, nineteen sixties energy.
(01:42):
I think about the album and it was so much
fun to feel like we were making something that hopefully
would be a part of people's Christmas traditions, very different
than the other things that I've recorded.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Indeed, Alicia at our guests talking about her new album,
I think I'm spending Christmas with you, and she has
just embarked upon her new tour spending Christmas with Alisha
Witt too, or you can find out more online at
her website Alisha witmusic dot com. Alisha, you and I
are almost exactly the same age, and I remember, yes,
we've both looked young for our age. By the way,
(02:20):
I want to throw that out there, but I remember
the show that's incredible. And then I just looked this
up on YouTube before bringing you on with me, with
John Davidson reciting a portion of Romeo and Juliet in you,
at age five, were able to recite that scene. I mean,
take us back. I guess you can't even remember not performing,
but how you were able to perform in that moment,
(02:43):
how you were able to get ready to prepare, and
what launched you into this. You obviously did it from
a very young.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Age That's Incredible appearance was more of a twist of fate.
It was not at all by design, not on my
part or my parents' part. It's crazy how that happened.
I believe it was truly nothing less than destiny coming
(03:12):
in and helping guide me to the life that I'm
supposed to have, because my mother had sent a photo
of me reading Good Housekeeping magazine at age three to
the editor of Good Housekeeping, thinking they might run it
in the letters Letters to the Editor section, and they
(03:35):
decided instead, they were like, wait a minute, she really
reading or just looking at the pictures, and they sent
someone out and we had it documented that I was
in fact a really young reader, and they did a
story on me, and the producers of That's Incredible saw
that story in Good Housekeeping, called my mother found her number,
(03:57):
and that's how I ended up on Credible. And then
two years later, when I was seven, the casting director
for the movie Dune, the original David Lynch version of Dune,
happened to really need to find a child who was
a very advanced reader and writer, sorry, reader and speaker,
(04:18):
because I had to say lines and sentences that were
meant to be coming out of an adult. This child
had the knowledge of generations before her. Anyway, they the
casting director called, that's incredible to see if they had
any ideas because she was coming up empty with the
(04:41):
bank of actors that were available, the children that were
actors at that time. So I found myself in New
York auditioning for Doune and I got the part. I
wasn't a child actor. I didn't have an agent or
anything like that, but I was very curtain from the
(05:01):
moment I arrived and walked onto the soundstage for the
first time, I thought, oh, I'm going to do this
for the rest of my life.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Alicia whitt Our guest, no doubt you've seen her over
the years, whether it was that That's incredible appearance, way
back when the original movie Dune, I remember when that
came out. She of course was prominently featured in Twin Peaks,
also by David Lynch. The thing that I notice here
about your career, Alesha, not many people can say this
is you have a knack for picking the right project.
There aren't a lot of clunkers in here. I mean,
(05:32):
you also worked with David Chase the Sopranos, and in
my view, it is one of the most memorable cameo
appearances by an actor or actress in that series that
was not a recurring character, and that was the episode
d Girl and the chemistry, the fire, the passion between
you and Michael imperially as Christopher Malta Sante was palpable,
and Jon Favreau big part of that episode as well.
(05:55):
I just want to take you back in time to
participating in that franchise, an all time great television series,
and that particular episode.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
I felt like I never wanted it to end. I
felt like I was making a really great movie and
it was kind of kind of incredible to even think
that it was a series on HBO. I hadn't seen
(06:26):
the show when I filmed it, but having only had
experience at that point with network television. It's like that
old campaign that HBO had it's not TV, it's HBO.
Well that's how I felt, because I thought, oh, I'm
going to do an episode of this TV series and
(06:47):
it wasn't that it was a movie. It was amazing,
amazing work and if it had been a movie, it
would have been one of the best I had ever
worked on. And I loved the character and absolutely loved
Michael imperially and the whole cast, jim Yandelpemi. Even though
(07:08):
we didn't share any scenes, he was there at the
table read, of course, and it was so nice to me.
And for years after, whenever I'd run into him somewhere,
he just would stop everything and come over and talk
to me and tell me how much he admired my
work in that episode. And it's amazing to be part
(07:29):
of that legacy.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
The Girl the name of the episode there, Alicia witt
Our guest starring in that, and of course part of
that entire canon of the Sopranos. One of the great
all time television productions, and really launched HBO into the
stratosphere with that commercial free programming. Alicia, you mentioned work
in commercial television, but now this being your seventh release
as a musician, you're first as a solo producer of
(07:55):
this album, I think I'm spending Christmas with you. You've
kind of dabbled in the arts on various levels, whether
it be on the stage or screen. We talked about
in films in the music realm. However, where did that
really begin in terms of recording with the means of
reproducing an album. The thought of going on tour. What
(08:16):
was that motivation for you?
Speaker 2 (08:19):
It was something that I also in much a similar
way to making that first movie, and feeling like that
was part of my destiny. I had a sense in.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
My heart.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
That I was supposed to be making original music and
going on tour with it. But the issue with that
is that if you don't make yourself sit down and
write the songs and take the chance they're not going
to all be great, and write and write and write
(08:52):
and write and write, it's probably not going to happen.
And it took me a while to realize that, I
think because the acting stuff, in a way, I was
already that I had taken off ahead of my music,
and I found myself with a successful acting career, and
(09:14):
the dream of creating my own music was something. I
would sit down and write a song now and then,
and sometimes i'd write one I really liked, and then
sometimes i'd write one and I'd play it back and think,
maybe I'm not that good at this, and I would
just not write another song for a year. So that's
not the way to make a dream come true.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
And it was.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
After a significant breakup that I guess it's just sort
of unleashed the knowing that the time had arrived, and
the first song poured out of me as he closed
the door behind him with the last of his things,
and that song ended up being recorded. It was called
(09:59):
Blow and I haven't stopped writing since. That was almost
twenty years ago. And the first thing that I recorded
that did get released was in two thousand and nine
my self titled EP with the song Anyway on it,
which got some some play and the video was I
(10:26):
was on MTV, h VH one a little bit and
that's that just that really started at all. And it
was from that year on that I just started playing
shows really, although I did play a few shows before that,
but until you really have something out in the world,
it feels like it's like a preview.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
Almost, And that's the interesting thing is crossing the rubicon
for Alisha Witt joining us here. You can find out
more on our website alishawitmusic dot com. Currently in the
midst of her Spending Christmas with Alisha Whitt tour and
the release of her Christmas album and single I Think
I'm Spending Christmas with You, also a video you can
find on YouTube there. I don't want to undersell this
part of Alicia, and that is you mentioned three standards
(11:11):
on the current album, Oh Holy Night, the first Noel
I'll Be Home for Christmas. Fantastic, But it really is
a bold endeavor to embark upon trying to write new
Christmas standards, new Christmas songs. And I think you've tapped
into something here obviously with the title track, but not
just that, to create those, to get into that headspace,
to reinvent the wheel in a way for holiday standards
(11:34):
that stand the test of time. That's a big project.
How did you undergo that and what made you feel like,
you know what? This is it and I've got it
and these are the twelve tracks and here we go.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I had a feeling that it was just the perfect
time and it was as simple as that. And then
I reached out to the various people I wanted to
work with, the various musicians, but I was hoping to
have on it, and they all had a window of
time that we could that we could do it in,
(12:11):
and so we went for it. But neat thing to
point out about the timing of it is that originally
I was planning on co producing it, as I've done before,
and I had a co producer lined up, and then
a month before we were due to go in the studio,
he said, you know what, I'm sorry. I think I'm
(12:32):
too busy, and I was like, oh, oh, all right.
So then I started a bit of a scramble because
I didn't want to lose my window with the studio
and the musicians and the engineer who I knew I
needed that engineer, David Kalmuski is one of my favorites,
and I couldn't imagine making this without him. So it
(12:57):
was my friend Mandy Barnett, who's a great and at remember,
and we sing together on a song we wrote on
the album called I Think Is This the Christmas? But
I was telling her about my issue and saying, oh gosh,
I hope I don't have to reschedule this. I don't
know when I'm going to do it again, and she said,
(13:17):
why don't you just produce it yourself. You know exactly
what you want out of this album. You've got some
of these great people working with you. I think you
can produce it yourself. And she's the one who really
gave me that idea and then sparked the confidence that
maybe I could do it myself.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
So I did.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Mark Hill was the music director for the recording sessions,
and we recorded everything live with all the musicians playing
at once in the studio, and it felt like the
perfect timing had aligned to make certain that we would
(13:59):
make this album in exactly the way that we made it,
and I don't think it could have existed at any
other time, and it turned out.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
To be a truly remarkable project, just in time for
the holiday season. Unfortunately for us, she's not coming as
far west as Denver, but that doesn't mean you can't
find the album. You can do so online at her website,
aliciawitmusic dot com. All part of her album I think
I'm spending Christmas with you. You heard a portion of
it to start this interview. We'll play the whole thing
(14:30):
as we go out to break But Alicia, thank you
so much for your time, tremendous stories. I could have
talked to you for about an hour. Maybe next time.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Oh, thank you so very much. Same here, and I
also want to point out wherever you are you can
join my tour with several live streams, including on December thirteenth,
there's a live stream taking place which you can buy
tickets to from anywhere in the world. We well December third,
(15:01):
right here in Nashville with my.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Band Nashville on the third, and on the thirteenth of
December in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. You can find that online and
your favorite streaming service is also available this album Spotify,
Apple Music. I Think I'm spending Christmas with you and
the producer, the singer, the collaborator, everything on this album
joining us here on Ryan Schuling Live Alicia witt Alisha again,
(15:26):
thank you so much for your time, best of luck
with the tour and with the album. Merry Christmas to
you and yours.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Thanks Ryan, same to you.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Take this time out and as I said, we'll hear
the entire song right now. I Think I'm spending Christmas
with You by Alisia witt.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
In makes no sense. I haven't even been invited, but
then again, somehow I'm feeling song exciting.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
There's nowhere right would rather spend the waiting sad Thos
and Lindsey. It's weird, but still it's true.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
If the spandy Christmas swear, I'm sitting alone, but I
can feel your hand Invite.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
Happy to home.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
At last, We've found a perfect time and.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
If the crystal.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Ball watched the future be sasful line.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
We get to see this.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
Through thig of spaning Christmas wind s emly it is
that's not making memory, Sam Inside the games abound fair
and selfactions. You're out there wondred if it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
I've got no planners except to answer when you ask me.
I'm ready to go out a chat about.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
The fine brains for a wind.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
To be around so.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
Big of spaning Christmas with you, it's so spat ships.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
You are out their wondering if it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
I've gotten no except you answer when you ask.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Me, swe would rather be than your ribs on Christmas
Eve ninety.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Come here and see this through.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Thinking of spany Christmas, kind of spending Christmas, thinking of
spandy Christmas.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
You, Alicia Witt, I think I'm spending Christmas with you,
(19:07):
available on your favorite music platform, your tax five seven
seven three nine. We've come back after this.
Speaker 6 (19:18):
Happy Thanksgiving. I can't believe that even that now is
a political issue.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
It is a real shame.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
What's happened to this holiday which used to be all
about the good f's food, friends, family, football, fun, and
now it's you. You're not even invited because you've voted
for the wrong person. I'm so tired of liberals ghosting
half this country. Conservatives do it too, but not nearly
(19:47):
as much. Look whoever's doing it, it's got to stop
because we're at a point now where politics has broken
up more families than letting your wife see your phone.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
Wisdom of Bill Maher love his take here, Want to
get yours? Five seven seven three nine, Ryan Shulding live
on this Monday before Thanksgiving? Are your plans all set?
Do you have your meal itinerary all locked down? I
think I've got some things going, but I'm flying home,
but I might have a little you know, you know
the people do what these friends givings? Do you do that, Zach?
(20:22):
It's big with you. Gen Z's out there, the friends giving.
Do you have one of those?
Speaker 7 (20:26):
I did in college, but now everyone's like in different countries. Okay,
it's falling apart, but hopefully hopefully Sunday.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
That's a little sad and I get it. I get it.
You go your separate ways. There is that kind of
turning of the page. Once you leave college. You got
you got all these college buddies, friends, whatnot. You had
the similar interests, probably in the same kind of school
in terms of your major parties, you know, social life,
and then it all gets ripped apart, and you kind
(20:53):
of promise that you're gonna stay in touch. And I
think generally it's a little bit more successful when you
try to do that, Zach than when you're coming out
of let's say high school. Right, you stay closer maybe
your college friends than your high school friends. That might
be different for people. For me, that's how it was definitely.
Speaker 7 (21:09):
I think everyone kind of branches off and you know
it enters adulthood, goes on their own paths and adventures
and whatnot. Once that happens, and as a result, a
lot of my friends, you know, got jobs elsewhere, went
to the grad programs in different cities, and then wound
up a landing there long term. Everyone just took a
different path.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
Yeah, and it brings me back to you know, sometimes
I go home and I want to see my friends
from back home. This would even like my high school
friends Grass Lake, Michigan. Shout out Jason Dunham. If you're
driving around, listen, your boy hollers at you. I know
Derek Klutchki is around here too, and that's my high
school baseball team at the cattle Rancher lives north of here,
(21:48):
but back in Grass Lake, I am going to attend
Thanksgiving gathering hosted by my sister Angie, and I love
her and we're fine. But when my mom passed, we
were the only two Trump voters, so I at least
had a bulwark. And my mom was feisty. She was
a strong personality. I miss her every day. It's been
(22:08):
a little over three years, but I miss her in
this particular circumstance because now I'm I'm on an island.
My dad hates Donald Trump viscerally, personally, it's very personal.
And I just watched The Godfather again. That's you know,
I can wait and watch that every night. But when
Michael suggests that he is going to take out Salatso
(22:28):
and the crooked Cott McCluskey, you know, Sonny turns it
around because he had just had an argument with Tom Hagen,
like this is business, it's not personal. And then he jokes,
think of Michael's taking it very personally, He's business. You
don't get my dad takes it very personally with Donald Trump.
They're almost the exact same age. In fact, Donald Trump
is one year older than my father, but you wouldn't
(22:50):
know it because Donald Trump's a dynamo. My dad's got
some issues. Okay, he's got peripheral neuropathy. I'm going back.
I'm gonna help. I'm gonna love my dad. I had
a great dad growing up. I have no comes. But man,
we cannot talk about politics. That is sideline. And the
thing is the irony about all this is, you know,
I get painted as this rock ribbed red voting Trump,
(23:11):
supporting Maga America first. And I'm the one that's gonna
bring it up a Thanksgiving right, you know what. I'm
not the one who brings it up a Thanksgiving one.
I know, I'm outnumbered. What am I gonna do? Be
that guy, be to my nieces, that uncle jerk Ryan
who comes over and starts trouble, and I don't bring
it up. It's not important. I do the show every day,
(23:31):
and maybe maybe that's a form of Catharsis for me,
so I can talk about it here. I don't need
to talk about it at home. I don't want to
talk about it at home. But my family members look
at me like I'm an alien, and I don't mean
an illegal alien. I mean like X files, like I
came from outer space, Like Ryan, this is my brother's take.
(23:53):
Oh you hold a college degree, I mean you're smart.
Why would you vote for Trump? Like? Are you telling
me that somebody intellectual capacity, that their intelligence level is
directly proportional to how they vote? Meaning the smarter you are,
the more Democrat you vote. Now, I will agree to
one part of his concept. The more college tripe you
(24:14):
consume through these indoctrination centers on America's college campuses, Yes,
you are more likely to vote left because you've got
brain rot from this experience. Luckily I survived, and throughout
my college experience, I never went on what took as
gospel what my professors taught me, And to their credit,
(24:34):
my professor's never told me to take their word as gospel.
They wanted me to do my own research. They wanted
to teach me how to think, not what to think.
That's the experience I had in the nineteen nineties going
through college, at least at Central Michigan University and in
a very liberal department broadcast in cinematic arts, in which
I can't even name for you a professor who I
(24:56):
knew or thought or suspected was conservative. There was one
when I was a graduate assistant. There Renee Blatte, who
is he's one of us? That was it, though I'm
talking the whole department. But I was never made to
feel less than or an outsider or outcast, or I
had a warrior scarlet letter, or I'm a Trump voter,
therefore I'm deplorable and it's unacceptable for me to be
(25:21):
in polite society with any of the No, none of that.
But listen to this Jimmy Kimmel's wife, and yeah, she's
as bad as you think. She is giving her family
members ultimatums and then mar with a slam dunk.
Speaker 6 (25:37):
Molly McNerney, Jimmy Kimmel's wife and head writer, went public
on this topic recently, so I feel it's fair to
comment respectfully in public. She says she's lost relationships with
relatives because she wrote them an email before the election
with ten reasons why they shouldn't vote for Trump, and
some still didn't obey.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
You know, ten reasons.
Speaker 6 (26:04):
I could think of a hundred, but I would never
present it to someone as an ultimatum. Ultimatums don't make
people rethink their politics.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
They make them rethink you thing though, that's exactly right.
So my sister lives she's kind of agnostics. She doesn't
participate in politics. I think she lives her life mostly
personally conservatively. But she does not like Donald Trump either.
And there's no way that she voted for him last
time around, anytime around. Angie my sister, and she hates
(26:36):
when I talk about her, but I just wanted very
broad strokes here. Okay, she's a teacher, she's in a union,
but she is the one family member that will come
up to me and really want to know what I think.
Because I'm not being asked what I think. I'm being
asked why am I an alien? How could I support
Donald Trump? I have a brain and I graduated from
college and Ryan, I taught you better than that. My
(26:57):
dad might say something like, an't she's right, I just
don't know why how you can vote for him?
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (27:04):
I hate that guy. Oh I don't understand it. He
gets really agitated with my dad. So I don't bring
it up. But I remember Angie coming up to me
and just right, can you explain to me, like exactly
why vote for Donald Trump? And I encountered with well,
(27:24):
I'm a very logical kind of binary person when it
comes to elections and voting. It's real simple for me.
It's real simple. If you present me the alternative of
a brain dead Joe Biden or an absolutely maniacally evil
Hillary Clinton or a maniacally stupid Kamala Harris, she is
(27:44):
just not smart. I'm sorry. I know she checks all
the woke boxes and I'm not supposed to say that.
But if she was a white dude, nobody would know
her name, same skill set, same abilities, same intellect. We
wouldn't know Kamala Harris's name, we would not prove me wrong.
So when those are the alternatives and the starting point,
do I think Donald Trump's perfect?
Speaker 2 (28:03):
No?
Speaker 1 (28:04):
I don't. Is he infinitely preferable to those alternatives? Yes?
Am I gonna be a dope and vote for a
libertarian who will never win? No? Because I don't want
the Democrats to win. See, it's real basic kind of
you know, deductive reasoning here, process elimination. Plus the fact
that most of the policy positions that Donald Trump holds
(28:24):
I support. So the man the messenger don't care. Is
life going to be better under the Orange man? If
the answers yes, then I'm voting for him. This seems
to be a difficult concept for family members to grasp
and accept, so I don't bring it up. So I
know most of you and our audience likely are Trump supporters.
How do you navigate the holidays? Do you bring it up?
(28:47):
Do you serve as an agitator? You know, kind of
like a dishwasher, there's a washing machine, there's an agitator
in there, and you're just trying to clean it up
and clear it out. I just don't think it's worth it,
Just not worth the squeeze. I'm not going to change
their minds. And to Bill Meher's point, like I'm not
going to give family members ultimatums because they didn't vote
for Trump, I know they're not going to. I think
they're wrong. But what am I here to do. I'm
(29:10):
here to celebrate Thanksgiving, to enjoy time with my family,
especially since I don't live in the state anymore and
I don't get to see them as often. So why
would I ruin it bring politics to the dinner table?
And here's Bill Maher with the final point.
Speaker 6 (29:25):
Somewhere along the way, my values became code for I'm
the only one with the moral compass. You know, it
would have been a better exercise write a top ten
list to yourself where you try to imagine ten reasons
why seventy seven million Americans didn't want to trust you
with taking power. And I say that as someone who
votes Democratic, as I like to remind my very pure friends,
(29:49):
we voted for the same person. You're just why she lost.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
I quip a little bit at the end. I think
Kamala Harris is why Kamala Harris lost. She's a terrible candidate,
historically bad. But that being said, I agree with much
of the tone, tenor, and substance of what Bill Maher
is saying, and the irony of it all. Bill Maher
doesn't strike me as a particularly warm, friendly person. He's smart,
he's smart, he's provocative, he's he makes you think. But
(30:16):
I'd have an easier time sitting down talking about politics
with Bill Maher than any member of my immediate family.
And that's just the way it is. So I'm going
to enjoy Thanksgiving, and I hope you do too well
at full shows both tomorrow and Wednesday, including Courtney Odell
tomorrow on the program. Always like to have her on
Sweet Seas designs, last minute, affordable, tasty home run accompany
(30:40):
means to your Thanksgiving dinner. We'll have those for you
to close out tomorrow's show. We're closing out today's with
your text five seven seven three nine. And you're listening
to Ryan Schuling Live. Then you on the other side
of this listening device, be it a radio or a
phone or a computer, Ryan Scherling Live coming at you.
(31:04):
Be sure to subscribe, download, listen, share with your friends,
share the good word, and I want to share your text.
Five seven seven three nine. Jim says, what a great
and different interview with Alisha Witt. Had no idea she
was a talented singer. Yeah, and I've been following her career.
As I mentioned, we're about exactly the same age. She's
a little less than a year younger than me. She
(31:25):
was on That's Incredible reciting Shakespeare when I was studying
for being the lead in the Mister Thanks Thanksgiving play
the same time, I believe and my dad, bless his heart,
I was just talking about in the previous segment he
was working with me on my lines. I did fairly well.
But here she is. She's a kindergartener reciting Shakespeare with
(31:46):
John Davidson, and that's incredible. A lot of you older types.
Gen Xer is an older remember that show. And she's
just been in some remarkable projects and I found to
be a fascinating conversation. I hope you enjoyed it as well.
I always like to change things up a little bit,
bring somebody on that I find interesting and that I
hope you do too, and then try to ask that
person who's been asked, you know, a thousand questions under
(32:07):
the sun, maybe a different question a different way. And
I think you could hear her the wheels return and
making her think about, you know, how did this all
come together? For She's a very unique talent, as I mentioned, stage,
screen music. There aren't many people that can pull off
all of these talents the way that she does. So
I was very very pleased to talk to her. And
(32:27):
you can catch on the podcast if you missed it,
because Patty didn't. She was there and she says Ryan
time and again, you prove to be the best of
ka how good interviews today. Patty appreciate your support. As
I mentioned in a direct text to her, we appreciate
Patty Patty too, even if she's petty with me, and
I deserve it, then you go ahead and send it.
But that's how I know that her praise is sincere.
(32:49):
Jason says how he's going to get through the Thanksgiving
holiday with relatives that disagree with him politically. Beer, lots
of beer, and if needed, whiskey. Jason heads up, you're
gonna need the whiskey. Maybe lead with that, you know,
was it liquor before beer? You're in the clear, beer
before liquor. Never been sicker. Now that's an old wives
tale and it just sounds good because it rhymes. You're
(33:11):
gonna get sick if you mix and match anyway, so
you might as well have fun doing it. Let's go
to another text here, tired of the f the Mormons
chants by fans during away BYU basketball and football games.
Are these still going on, Zach, you're plugged into the
sports world.
Speaker 7 (33:29):
Yeah, a lot of b YU games.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
It's pretty common. I think that's terrible. I wouldn't want
to be a part of that, and I would call
it any fans doing that. It's just it's remarkable the
types of discrimination that will stand because certain groups are
okay to attack and others are not. I just I'm
not on board with any of it. And that's from
Darren and Colorado Springs appreciate him tuning in.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Ryan.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
Great interview with Sheriff mike' sell. Thank you, iView. I
enjoyed that conversation too. You know, he's a guy. I
think he's shooter, he's a sheriff, he's a businessman. You know,
I think name recognition is going to be a challenge
for him. He acknowledge that. And it's difficult to get
out there to meet and greet, to shake hands, kiss babies,
you know, the whole drill. But you got to do
it right and you got to come on shows like
(34:15):
this one and answer questions. Sheriff Mike Sel not only
was he willing to do that, he contacted me to
come on this show. And I can't say that's the
case for other candidates, and I'll leave it at that.
There are other major candidates who will willfully come on
whenever I ask. That includes Greg Lopez, that includes Barb Kirkmeyer.
But both of they know that they come on and
(34:37):
I'm going to ask them very direct questions that people
want to know, that criticism that might be out there
to give them kind of a primer course platform for
when they really get into the fray and they sit
down with a comrade Kyle or an adversarial member of
the media. It's not that I'm adversarial necessarily, but I
want to have an honest exchange of ideas, question and answer,
(34:57):
and any candidate running for governor should be willing and
enthusiastic to do that.
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