Before the Lights
The show to find out how they made their mark!
Episodes
His journey begins with a childhood connection to a character from "The Outsiders," leading to a stint in a junior high gang. Amidst this, music and breakdancing emerge.
His writing career began with a Greek publication that led him to mainstream. His path intertwined with his father's café near Kennedy Airport, frequented by mob figures. A youthful venture into bookmaking at 13 prompted questio...
A renowned musician and drummer, known for his contributions to the iconic supergroups Free and Bad Company, reminisces about his childhood in rural Wales. Following a gig with a local cover band, The Manicas, he formed his own band, Heatwave where he did both vocals and drums that was inspired by Ringo Starr after watching him on television.
His life took a pivotal turn when a coin toss determined his fate, a...
She boasts extensive experience as a food and prop stylist, with a vast array of clients. Her journey began as a young ballet dancer and was a creative child who eventually landed a career as a dental hygienist—a role she continues to fulfill today. Jody delves into her interpretation of beautification, which Tommy links to her involvement with
visual, performing arts, and design. As longtime member of Ag...
Several members of Before the Lights assembled for a podcast, including some from my hometown, Streator, IL. Kelly Burgin from Northern California shares news about Family Dollar closing numerous stores, sparking a discussion with Missy Mital on its impact on zip code 61364, which boasts several dollar stores and transitions into a comparison of Dollar General versus Family Dollar. Larry Henry from Arkansas w...
A renowned chef, both a James Beard Semifinalist and Michelin Recommended, who is the proud owner of not one, but two thriving restaurants—Poppy & Rose and Poppy & Seed—sets the stage by delving into the essence of garden-fresh ingredients, the core principles of flavors, and the indispensable role of quality kitchen tools.
Before embarking on his culinary journey, he pursued studies at UCSB while also...
Renowned for his expertise in 19th-century history, Nevada & Las Vegas welcomes a distinguished historian to the show to delve into the rich history of Tropicana. Beginning our discussion with his experiences in Las Vegas and his tenure at The Valley Times, which intersected with organized crime, we segue seamlessly into his initial impressions upon hearing the name "Tropicana."
Set to become the...
The greatest male Mexican professional of all time with over 700 PGA Tournaments under his belt, graces our show to share his remarkable journey from humble beginnings – a childhood devoid of plumbing and adorned with dirt floors. He discusses the unwavering determination demanded on the PGA Tour, a path that emerged after a stint in boxing cut short by appendicitis, where he first learned of the legendary Ju...
An infamous bootlegger and gambling tycoon, renowned for his role in creating the iconic Stardust Casino & Resort in Las Vegas, Tony "The Admiral" Cornero was a legendary figure. His entrepreneurial spirit led him from the humble origins of an Italian village to the bustling streets of America. Yet, his journey was marked by turbulence and intrigue.
Born into hardship, with his family facing fina...
The tale of the Cuban Cowboy hailing from South Florida unfurls with the melody of multiple instruments, a narrative that began in his youth when he stumbled upon a harmonica cascading from a pinata. Prior to embracing country rhythms, the beats of hip hop and rap coursed through his veins. However, a serendipitous encounter with line dancing at a country bar transformed his musical trajectory irrevocably, pr...
He indulges in eating, drinking, and storytelling, commencing with an exploration of whether law was his initial path, having attended Brooklyn Law School while also immersing himself in the Rock & Roll scene. His journey includes working at the iconic CBGB punk club in NYC, where he developed a fondness for certain bands and elucidates his reasons for favoring them.
Fueled by a lifelong passion for food, ...
The Executive Director of the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Winterset, Iowa, known for producing Buffalo Bill-style Wild West Shows, reminisces about the iconic figures of the old West and reflects on his sentiments towards modern Western movies. After spending a day with "The Duke" at his California home, he shares insights into John Wayne's character, a story about a memorable encounter for...
Larry Henry, the mastermind behind the inception of The Mob Summit in 2018, offers a glimpse into its origins, past venues, notable attendees, and the outlook for 2025, emphasizing the necessity of this year's event.
2024 Mob Summit
June 1st
5-9pm at Dom DeMarco’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar, 9785 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV
Tentative Schedule:
5-6: Social Hour, mingling with book signings by mob experts.
...
From Dom DeMarco’s Pizzeria in Las Vegas, NV, we're joined by the founder of ICONic Clothing Brand & the mastermind behind Operation Stolen Base, a notorious sports memorabilia fraud. This former professional baseball player shares his remarkable career journey, including the staggering amount of money he never earned. Prior to Operation Stolen Base, he ran a legitimate business on eBay, detailing it...
She emerged as a five-time World Boxing Champion and graced the pages of Playboy, all while staunchly advocating for mental health awareness. Returning to her mother’s homeland for a championship bout, she delved into Tae Kwon Do and took up fighting in grade school to combat bullying. Her struggle with alcohol began at a tender age of 11, prompting her journey to sobriety, which now entails a daily structure...
Giuseppe “Joseph” Parisi while sitting in his jail cell penned a diary that serves as the foundation for this intriguing narrative. The epic unfolds in Southern Italy, where 17-year-old Giuseppe embarked on a journey to America. As the year 1920 marked the onset of Prohibition, a wave of feuds swept the nation, and West Springfield, MA, was no exception. The catalyst? The murder of Carlo Siniscalchi, the King...
The show welcomes a professional baseball player from the Cincinnati Reds, known as Captain Chaos. TJ discusses the benefits of playing multiple sports and shares his journey from being a preferred walk-on at the University of Nevada to becoming the most valuable position player in 2016, thanks in part to a motivational tweet.
His misunderstanding of the MLB draft rule led to him receiving the biggest bonus e...
Clips are from interviews with:
John Barbour
Bower Yousse
Jim Meskimen
Michael Gutenplan
John Leary
Steve Westfield
Oliver Wolfe
Jimmy Bowen
George Martorono
Patricia Kara
Sam Rosenberg
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Recorded from Dom DeMarco's Pizzeria in Las Vegas. He is the longest serving first time non-violent offender that was given a life sentence without parole. After serving 32 years and being the most appealed prisoner, he was released.
George explains what Gunman’s Row in Philadelphia where he grew up and as a two-year old seeing Benny the Gimp get shot in front of him. He was given the nickname of Cowboy,...
The owner of Dom DeMarcos Pizzeria & Bar shares tales from the Best of LV Gold Winner located in Las Vegas, NV at 9785 W. Charleston. From being a pizza fanatic to opening the first pizza place in Fresno, CA in 1966, Albert's journey unfolds. His love for De Lorenzo’s Tomato Pies in Trenton, NJ leads to a 5-year deal-making process to acquire Dom DeMarco’s from Di Fara’s in Brooklyn, NY.
The menu boa...
The best in state teacher multiple times by Golf Digest and founder of the JRL Academy with his son, Grant who is a rising player in the game.
The story behind as a ten-year old going on a trip to Florida resulted in John being introduced to the game of golf and 6 months later he wins his first golf tournament. He has worked with Eddie Merrins and his short game coach was Dennis Sheehy who worked with the gre...
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