December 18, 2025 • 22 mins
In this episode of Stories Worth Hearing, host John Quick sits down with Danny Murphy, a journalist, host, and pop culture commentator who has built a career by mixing humor, honesty, and hard work. Danny shares how he got started in media, the risks he took along the way, and what he learned from navigating the fast paced world of entertainment and pop culture journalism.
The conversation dives into Danny’s work with Page Six, including his shows on SiriusXM’s Page Six Radio and Virtual Reali Tea, where he brings personality and perspective to celebrity and reality television coverage. Danny also talks about launching the Reality Television Awards this year, why he felt it was important to celebrate the people behind reality TV, and what it takes to turn an idea into something real.
This episode is both entertaining and motivating, offering insight into creativity, confidence, and building a career by leaning into who you are.
Check out his shoes here: https://pagesix.com/author/danny-murphy/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to Stories Worth Hearing.
I'm your host, John Quick. Today I'm joined by Danny
Murphy, a journalist, host and pop culture commentator who
somehow manages to be both funnyand genuinely inspiring.
Danny is best known for his workwith Page 6, including hosting
Sirius X, Ms. Page 6 Radio and the wildly popular show Virtual
(00:24):
Reality T. He is also the creator of the
Reality Television Awards, whichlaunched this year and
celebrates the people and stories behind one of the most
influential corners of modern entertainment.
In this conversation, we talk about how Danny got started,
what he has learned from workingin pop culture and media, how
(00:45):
humor has played a role in his career, and what keeps him
pushing forward creatively. I'm glad you're here.
Let's get into it. Well, Danny, welcome to the
show. Super excited to have you on.
This will be fun to kind of catch up with you and see how
you're doing. Oh, thank you.
I know it's been so long. I'm excited to see you too.
And this is very, very fun. A perfect little like end of the
(01:06):
year treat celebration time. Yeah, this is cool.
So what we're chatting a little bit about a little before, man,
you are killing it. Does it?
Does it? Do you ever have to pinch
yourself and be like, man, how the heck did I get here?
It feels a lot of, especially this year, I feel it has been a
lot of disbelief and excitement of like seeing things that were
(01:26):
on like the vision board for so long, like actually happen.
And then like when the emails for the planning and all of it
comes through, I'm like, OK, this is this.
I've, I've like pretended I've gotten this e-mail before, but
then it's actually like coming to my e-mail address.
So I have to respond to it and Ihave to prepare for it and then
do a good job with it. But it's all it's exciting
pressure. Though does it get overwhelming
(01:47):
at times or is it still like do those new things just feel
amazing and and the overwhelmingNess doesn't doesn't?
I mainly get hit with like the gratefulness and like the fun of
it. I think it helps cause like my
brother is literally like an ER doctor, so he works with like
trauma intense stuff all the time.
(02:08):
So whenever I like start to feeloverwhelmed, I'm like, I'm
talking about reality TV. Like I can exhale this will I
can, I can handle this. And I'm lucky that I have like
do a lot of it with my Co host Evan, who we help balance each
other out so we can like talk through things to make
everything a little bit less stressful.
That's awesome. So let's let's chat a little bit
kind of how you first got started.
(02:28):
What first got you started in the media and entertainment
reporting business? Because I feel like that's like
such prob. I feel like a hard thing to get
a in AT and you've seem to be somewhat successful.
So how did it all start for you I?
Appreciate it. It is not an easy like you were
saying, it's not the easiest thing to break into.
I started it at like because I went to school in the city at
(02:51):
Fordham University and then I just interned constantly.
And really full circle, one of my most helpful internships was
at Sirius XMI was an intern there for a year on the show,
the Bennington Show, and they'reamazing.
Ron, Gale, Chris and Earl and all of them.
And a just when I was there, they really let me kind of do
what I wanted to do They becauseit was a comedy show, but they
(03:13):
were like, oh, you're obsessed with pop culture and stuff like
just come on and joke about it and everything.
So I always from then I was like, OK, I'm obsessed with
talking about celebrity news andetcetera and everything.
So it feels really full circle that now I have a morning show
on SiriusXM, which like intern me was like dreaming about that.
So I was like, OK, this is very incredible.
(03:34):
And then from there it was really like staying.
But before getting to now, like it was a lot of staying in
contact with the people that I've met and work with.
And I don't know if it's changednow doing a lot of work for
free. The internship was paid, but
like a lot of just like free, like going doing free shows,
doing free everything just to kind of like get build up
experience and clips. And honestly, like the rhythm of
(03:56):
it too, because I feel it's likea lot of people where it's like,
Oh, I want to just do that because it looks fun and it is
fun. But I feel like when I first was
starting, I, there was a lot of time in like my early 20s and
everything. I was like, why am I not on TV
right now? And then I look back on myself
there I was like, Oh, thank God I wasn't because I don't think I
(04:17):
was like, I was like, hey, looked a mess.
But that's neither here nor there just because I was like,
I'm like, I, I did not know how to properly like trim my beard,
but that's not the main thing. But also just, I was like, not a
not, I feel like I didn't know myself in the sense of how to
communicate on a scale like that.
You know, something be said about the hustle and the grind
(04:38):
and you're not an overnight success because you put in all
the work beforehand, right? You put in years and years and
years and years and years of work to be able to get to the
place you're at now. There's there's a certain kind
of crowd out there that wants tograduate from college and then
be the CEO of the company 4 daysinto the job.
Talk to me a little bit about that hustle and grind that you
had to do for years, laying the foundation to get to where
(05:00):
you're at today. I know I feel it is and like for
anybody who is in that like senior year or like right after
it stage or just in a stage of like maybe you're starting a new
career or something like that and you're like, why is it not
happening like tomorrow like andall that stuff.
Which is it? It feels annoying when you're in
it, but I, it is that hustle andgrind where I feel like getting
(05:23):
up and working for it every day really made me commit to this as
my job. You know what I mean?
Like I had to really because there were days where I was
like, OK, this has to really be what I want because I'm not
thinking of any other option to do when it's hard and doesn't
seem promising, which was reassurance and the fact that
I'm on the right path. And then also, I just feel
(05:46):
there's an added level of like appreciation for all of the more
minor things along the way and the major things that come where
if I like, if you're like 22, you got to show, you got to
Emmy, but you're kind of like, OK, what's next?
And then also you just sort of expect life to always work that
way, I would assume. But versus if you kind of have a
(06:08):
slower burn, you just want to savor so much more.
Yeah. And then also I feel too with
that I get very excited when someone will reach out for
advice or something because thenI'm like, Oh, I actually can
like kind of give them advice orI'm like, I can.
It's also a thing to where everything's changing where I
will always be like, this is what I did a decade ago or like
everything now. Like I wasn't TikTok wasn't
(06:28):
there when I was in college, but.
Yeah, imagine if it was. I know, Oh my.
But also like can I say I am so grateful for that?
I was like because I don't know about you, but my college days
were fun. So I don't know if I would want
all of my antics on TikTok. Yeah, nothing is documented.
Nobody can go look back. No, no, no.
There were no jungle juice recipes or anything like that,
(06:49):
no. So you're getting, you know, I
saw a clip maybe yesterday, I think you were, it may not have
been from yesterday, but I saw it yesterday.
You're on Jenna's TV show. You've been doing a lot of TV
shows lately. Tell me a little bit about
what's that's like. Because it's that's different
than radio, right? That's a whole different world.
Full different ball game. I but it's a it's a very fun a
(07:11):
different ball game because it'sa it's like like Jenna and
Franz. It's about to be Jenna and
Chanel because they announced the new Co host, which is so
exciting. It's I was just like I'm like
that felt like a dream to go on that I was like dreaming of it,
but I like almost the back of myhead because I'm like that feels
so far away. So the fact that it like came to
(07:32):
be very, very grateful and exciting and exciting and felt
very like reassuring and what I'm doing.
And it is such a different thingbecause it's like such a fun
quick moment because of the segment that me and Evan do for
it. We've done it twice now.
The Scoop, which is about like entertainment news and
everything. It's like 3 to 4 minutes, but
all the moving parts in it, it just makes me so appreciate what
(07:57):
goes into TV productions and productions of everything
because I mean, well, that's serious.
Like we have a really just on our show, we have a small but
mighty team of like 3 to 4 people.
And I'm like everyone's doing their part, doing like 1000
things at once. And then when you go over to
like the Today show, I'm like, there are like so many people
running around. There's like. 300 people back
there doing stuff. Yeah, and they're all in a great
(08:18):
mood all the time. I do not know how.
I mean, it's, it seems like justlike the most magical place on
earth because everyone is so nice and so sweet there.
But it really, it's kind of one of those things where I'm like,
Oh my God, it's such, it's so inlike so much work to make
something look easy, you know what I mean?
So have you gotten to who's somebody that has maybe been
(08:39):
your favorite interview and thenwho's somebody that you haven't
interviewed yet that's just likeon your list of like, I really
want to interview that person? Favorite interview We, I.
We've had her on twice. Zara Larsson is a pop star who's
really fun. She's like blowing up this year,
making great music and I like that.
(08:59):
We kind of have been able to grab her twice as her career.
She's been doing that. She's been grinding for over a
decade or so, but her career is really in a new heights now.
So being able to talk to her andcatch up with her was really
fun. And also because we mainly do a
lot of me and Evan do a lot of reality TV guests with virtual
reality, our podcast with Page 6and the show just by
(09:20):
happenstance and passion and because we love reality TV, but
to talk to someone like the music space was very cool and
different. So I, I definitely enjoyed
having her on a lot. We also just had Justin
Sylvester on, who was really funand very great because he's a
entertainment host and everything like that too.
So it's really great just to kind of like catch up with him
(09:41):
and talk about all of that. I would love because Bravo's
doing in real houses of Rhode Island.
So that season's coming out nextyear or it's premiering next
year. I'm very excited to talk to all
those ladies because the trailerlooks very good.
I don't remember all their names, but I will once the show
comes out. And I'm excited to get to get
into that because I just love tothat.
It's like kind of crazy because next year's like the 20 years of
(10:04):
Real Housewives and I'm like thefact that new Housewives cities
are forming 20 years in, I'm like, it's such a very
impressive. What's your creative process
for, you know, talking about just kind of boring everyday
facts or things that are happening and balancing the
entertaining factor of that? Because I think when I've
listened to you before with the with the true crime podcast
(10:28):
specifically, is you found a wayto keep it fun.
So how? How have you developed that
craft? Or even do you even think about
it? Or is this natural?
I do feel it comes just kind of,I have always appreciated the
silliness and like the mundane vibes.
Like I kind of just, I look around and I feel I'm just kind
(10:49):
of like I constantly like to entertain myself.
So then it's kind of great that the career I'm in is providing
entertainment for other people where I feel a lot.
And also it's kind of like because like I always think I'm
like the day-to-day stuff is sort of the fun.
Like that's kind of where like the funniest things happen and
also the most relatable things happen where if it's like you're
just in line at a coffee shop orsomething, a lot of people also
(11:11):
deal with that are like, and something goes wrong and you
kind of just like laugh it off where I feel then you just are
in on the joke of life playing at you.
So I feel that kind of just makes it easier and fun too.
You still do stand up comedy andwhat's that been like trying to
juggle all that and still do stand up?
I it's easy to juggle because I don't really do it that much
(11:32):
anymore. I kind of because I was always
doing stand up. And that was sort of the thing
where I was doing stand up and improv because it was at a time
where AI was just kind of like testing the waters of
everything. And BI wanted to host, but no
one was having me host anything.So I was like, oh, I guess if
I'm just like on stage talking and then I can show that I'm
like, I'm like, OK, there's photos of me with a microphone
(11:52):
in my hand. Like something will lead to
something. So then after when I started
getting into my like full on more hosting duties, took a step
back from that, especially also because the morning shows every
day from 8:00 to 10:00. So I wake up pretty early for
it. So I was like to do stand up at
night to that in the morning. I like my, I like my at
nighttime skin care routine and my 8 hours of sleep.
I'm very much particular with that.
(12:14):
Yeah. And you can't really do that
when you're doing this when at night, this comedy club at like
midnight. That's quite no.
And also like if I'm up at midnight I'm probably especially
when I wake up at 6 now I'm likekind of a bitch and in a bad
mood at midnight. If I'm up past then I feel like
it's like indefinitely hangry. So I don't know if anybody would
enjoy seeing that on stage also.So what's on the vision board
for like you're I, you're a showor award show or something like
(12:38):
that that you want to host? Is there something on there
where you're like, man, if I host that, I know that I'll, you
know, have made it. Except, you know, yeah, you
know, at least in your terms of,like, pushing through a glass
ceiling. Yeah, I, I mean, honestly, like
the vision board I see for 2026 is to grow the things that are
already happening and like to keep on.
(12:59):
I'm like as many times that the Today show will put my name on
the security list for the day. Like I will keep on going there.
I'm always like, I'll come on like a Sunday at 3 for them.
I'll set my alarm at any time. But in terms of things hosting,
I like to host like a New Year'sEve broadcast or like the
Thanksgiving Day parade. I feel that would be like
tippity top fun, even though, because like even though I'm not
(13:21):
the biggest fan of going out on New Year's Eve, I would
definitely love to like I love the fun sparkle glitters of it
all. So I think doing something like
what Andy and Anderson are doingor being a part of something
like that. And also the Thanksgiving Day
parade, I just feel like it's like such a platform and I love
Macy's. I always love to shop there.
So I kind of feel like I would just be a natural fair or they
can even have me just like live streaming, shopping at Macy's
(13:45):
while doing the Thanksgiving DayParade.
I'm open to anything, but those are the two major things I
always think. Of I like that.
Macy's, if you're listening, this is your guy, Danny.
Give him a call. I am there.
I I'm shocked I don't see a Macy's brown bag somewhere in my
vicinity right now, especially with the holiday shopping I'm
doing. So for folks listening, there's
a lot of folks that listen in that are like that are either a
entrepreneurs or B wannabe kind of entrepreneurs or you know,
(14:07):
like start their own thing or whatever it may be.
What kind of advice would you give folks to who are maybe on
the front end of starting their own thing?
It it could be anything. I mean, you, you started your
kind of your own brand, right? And so you started this thing
where wherever you go, you're the main focus.
Some people sell widgets, some people do other things.
What kind of advice would you give to somebody that's kind of
(14:28):
starting out in the entrepreneurial world?
Definitely, I would say using your network is very important.
I feel there's a lot of that. I feel because it's a thing
where if you have the entrepreneurial mindset, there's
a chance and maybe people will not internally about this, but
deny that in front. Like you could be a little
stubborn and you kind of think that you know best, which is
(14:48):
fair because you kind of are being yourself leader.
But I feel to ask for help and to know your weaknesses is kind
of like to identify all of that as early on as possible will
really help you in the long run.Because I am a big proponent of
admitting when I'm not well versed in something and being
like, OK, I don't know how to dothat, but I know someone who
(15:10):
knows someone who can help me with that.
So instead of me wasting time trying to figure out something
that doesn't, I don't have to figure out on my own to
collaborate with someone that helps with that.
And also because it just kind of, I feel even when asking for
help, it kind of breathes in more ideas too, for you to kind
of even grow more from there to elevate to new levels and also
to maybe think about something in a way you wouldn't think
(15:32):
about before. Yeah.
Do you have somebody that's maybe been a mentor in your life
or somebody that you looked up to along your journey?
I definitely do feel forever indebted to the Bennington show
at Sirius because I started my internship there.
I just went on their show again a few weeks ago.
They're just so fun and supportive.
So I'm really, really always grateful for them.
(15:53):
And then I look at like, I feel there's just so many.
I kind of like love having like icons that are like my peers,
you know what I mean? Even not, and not in the sense
of like jumping up to being likehi Oprah, but like the people
that I'm just like seeing grinding like on a red carpet
with me that I'm like, Oh my God, they're doing that so well.
I just really took my hat to them.
(16:14):
Like me and Evan always talk about access.
Hollywood has this Housewives Nightcap podcast with Emily and
Lauren and they're really impressive and impeccable.
And just like be able to get to meet people and then getting to
support them is definitely a really fun thing because then it
also can go both ways where it'speople you can also talk to and
lift up through that. What, What keeps you going?
(16:34):
Because there's got to be at some point where you're like
tired, miserable for the day, you know, something goes wrong.
I think what separates a lot of people being successful not as
they have that kind of next gearin them to keep going.
What is it for you? Is it, is it family, is it
faith, is it community? Is it the idea of success?
What gets you to kind of kick itinto that next gear when it's
(16:58):
having a really shitty day or something like that?
I feel it's like remembering thefun of it, you know what I mean?
Because when there's a day whereit's like, Oh my God, I have
like there, there's some days where it's like, OK, there's
five interviews of people all from different things.
So it's a lot of prep and it's alot of running around and people
are running late and everything's all chaotic and you
have to miss that. You have to miss an appointment.
But then I like stop myself and I'm like, and if I start to get
(17:22):
stressed or annoyed about that, I stop myself.
And I'm like, no one like forcedyou to do all this.
You're doing it because you wantto and you love it and you're
kind of having moments that a past self of me and even
presence of me would like dream of.
So just enjoy that and embrace it and know like I was, I'm
(17:43):
like, tomorrow can be easier. You know what I mean?
So so definitely like remembering, reminding myself
why I do it and that I love to do it.
And also that like I love to finish off with To Do List and
then to have a day of I love to schedule in my days of rest and
chilling. Nice.
So what's the what's the big goals for 2026 for Danny?
(18:03):
Give me a little peek behind thecurtain of what's going to
happen in In Your World. Oh, I definitely want to
continue growing the morning paychecks radio show.
I feel we have a lot of fun things coming up with that.
And also the podcast, the virtual reality podcast where
we're looking to expand our intolike some bigger live events and
(18:23):
another award show. We started one this year,
didn't. You do an award show right this
last year. For this year very exciting yeah
the VRT Awards, which is so muchfun so we kind of want to like
now that we know all the moving parts of it for the most part we
want to like kind of like up the.
Air Was there anybody else doinga virtual reality award show or
were you the first one? This was the first one, So this
was the first VRT award. So we all, it was like a
(18:44):
learning curve for everybody. It went so well, which is we
were all shocked by. We're like, hey, we didn't know
we could. OK, this is great.
So now I kind of want to take itto the next level with that.
I always like, I want to, I feellike it'd be very great to start
seeing if our podcast and radio show could get some awards of
itself just to kind of, you know, we love to host the
awards, but I would love to alsogo to the award shows and then
(19:07):
kind of continue having those TVmoments like with when it
becomes a Jen and Chanel just kind of continuing growing a
relationship. They are because they are, it's
just so much fun and it's like incredible opportunity and
something that I was like, it's just such a joy to do.
So I want to keep on just staying busy but having fun with
all the busyness. Do you get noticed when you're
(19:28):
walking down the streets of New York, or can you still keep to
yourself? I can.
I'm good. I don't mean I don't.
It'll happen on occasion, and that's always very exciting,
especially because it's like a reality TV fan.
So we like talk about some of our favorite shows.
But I don't have. I'm not Taylor Swift in the box
yet. Hey, give it a couple more
years. Right.
All right, we'll see. And did you guys create this the
(19:50):
Reality TV Show Award? Did you help create that or did
you host it? Tell me a little bit about that
story of how that came to be. So it came to be because me, I
Co host the virtual reality podcast and we've been doing
that for a few years and we weredoing live shows like a just
live interviews and everything like that.
And they were selling out, selling well.
And then we kind of were all thinking internally like what
(20:11):
would be the next step of this? And there's not really.
That many award shows that honorreality TV, like the law school,
Teresa's Awards, kind of do it in a humorous way, and they're
so funny. And the Critics Choice now has a
Real TV award for reality television.
Because that's like one category.
It's not a whole show. Yeah.
So we were like, we want to likekind of have it be like a moment
(20:31):
for some of our favorite realitystars to be honored because they
were like, they just, they contribute so much to our lives
and television. So we were kind of like, let's
have a little fun with it. So you guys literally invented
the show? Yes, Yeah.
Start to finish. We drew up the fun ideas for the
award statues themselves. They're giant teacups.
And was it all tenders? It was, yeah.
(20:53):
It was at the big room in City Winery in the city.
And it was sold out, which was amazing.
So we want to think like, OK, how can we like keep this
momentum going in a really fun way?
So that's ginormous. I mean, there's not every day
somebody creates their own awardshow that doesn't have a niche
yet. I know, right?
I know it's very, it was like very, we were like, how did no
one already do this? But we're not going to ask
(21:14):
questions. We're just going to start doing.
It so you're going to definitelydo it in 2026. 100%, yeah,
definitely, probably in the sametime of year in September.
We're just trying to figure out exactly what it's going to look
like because we might want to make it a little bit bigger in
vava voomier. Yeah, that's like, I mean, to
me, that's a pretty awesome thing.
(21:37):
I mean, that could become a very, very big deal pretty
quickly. Which is very fun.
Which is kind of cool. I know fingers.
Danny, I really appreciate you joining us here. 20 minutes has
gone by in a flash. Do you have any last minute
thoughts here before we head off?
No, but I just hope that you andeverybody listening is going to
have a great holiday season to relax a little bit.
This is like the bedrock time ofyear for even if the all the
(21:58):
entrepreneurs and hustlers out there, no one's going to reply
to your emails anyway. So just just next week and the
week after, just chill because then we hit the ground running
and vision boarding. I love to vision board so I also
always hate to do that. Awesome.
Well, Danny, you're killing. It's fun to see your journey and
you're welcome back anytime and we hope you have a great rest of
your day. Thank you so much, Jonathan.
You too.
Welcome to Stories Worth Hearing.
I'm your host, John Quick. Today I'm joined by Danny
Murphy, a journalist, host and pop culture commentator who
somehow manages to be both funnyand genuinely inspiring.
Danny is best known for his workwith Page 6, including hosting
Sirius X, Ms. Page 6 Radio and the wildly popular show Virtual
(00:24):
Reality T. He is also the creator of the
Reality Television Awards, whichlaunched this year and
celebrates the people and stories behind one of the most
influential corners of modern entertainment.
In this conversation, we talk about how Danny got started,
what he has learned from workingin pop culture and media, how
(00:45):
humor has played a role in his career, and what keeps him
pushing forward creatively. I'm glad you're here.
Let's get into it. Well, Danny, welcome to the
show. Super excited to have you on.
This will be fun to kind of catch up with you and see how
you're doing. Oh, thank you.
I know it's been so long. I'm excited to see you too.
And this is very, very fun. A perfect little like end of the
(01:06):
year treat celebration time. Yeah, this is cool.
So what we're chatting a little bit about a little before, man,
you are killing it. Does it?
Does it? Do you ever have to pinch
yourself and be like, man, how the heck did I get here?
It feels a lot of, especially this year, I feel it has been a
lot of disbelief and excitement of like seeing things that were
(01:26):
on like the vision board for so long, like actually happen.
And then like when the emails for the planning and all of it
comes through, I'm like, OK, this is this.
I've, I've like pretended I've gotten this e-mail before, but
then it's actually like coming to my e-mail address.
So I have to respond to it and Ihave to prepare for it and then
do a good job with it. But it's all it's exciting
pressure. Though does it get overwhelming
(01:47):
at times or is it still like do those new things just feel
amazing and and the overwhelmingNess doesn't doesn't?
I mainly get hit with like the gratefulness and like the fun of
it. I think it helps cause like my
brother is literally like an ER doctor, so he works with like
trauma intense stuff all the time.
(02:08):
So whenever I like start to feeloverwhelmed, I'm like, I'm
talking about reality TV. Like I can exhale this will I
can, I can handle this. And I'm lucky that I have like
do a lot of it with my Co host Evan, who we help balance each
other out so we can like talk through things to make
everything a little bit less stressful.
That's awesome. So let's let's chat a little bit
kind of how you first got started.
(02:28):
What first got you started in the media and entertainment
reporting business? Because I feel like that's like
such prob. I feel like a hard thing to get
a in AT and you've seem to be somewhat successful.
So how did it all start for you I?
Appreciate it. It is not an easy like you were
saying, it's not the easiest thing to break into.
I started it at like because I went to school in the city at
(02:51):
Fordham University and then I just interned constantly.
And really full circle, one of my most helpful internships was
at Sirius XMI was an intern there for a year on the show,
the Bennington Show, and they'reamazing.
Ron, Gale, Chris and Earl and all of them.
And a just when I was there, they really let me kind of do
what I wanted to do They becauseit was a comedy show, but they
(03:13):
were like, oh, you're obsessed with pop culture and stuff like
just come on and joke about it and everything.
So I always from then I was like, OK, I'm obsessed with
talking about celebrity news andetcetera and everything.
So it feels really full circle that now I have a morning show
on SiriusXM, which like intern me was like dreaming about that.
So I was like, OK, this is very incredible.
(03:34):
And then from there it was really like staying.
But before getting to now, like it was a lot of staying in
contact with the people that I've met and work with.
And I don't know if it's changednow doing a lot of work for
free. The internship was paid, but
like a lot of just like free, like going doing free shows,
doing free everything just to kind of like get build up
experience and clips. And honestly, like the rhythm of
(03:56):
it too, because I feel it's likea lot of people where it's like,
Oh, I want to just do that because it looks fun and it is
fun. But I feel like when I first was
starting, I, there was a lot of time in like my early 20s and
everything. I was like, why am I not on TV
right now? And then I look back on myself
there I was like, Oh, thank God I wasn't because I don't think I
(04:17):
was like, I was like, hey, looked a mess.
But that's neither here nor there just because I was like,
I'm like, I, I did not know how to properly like trim my beard,
but that's not the main thing. But also just, I was like, not a
not, I feel like I didn't know myself in the sense of how to
communicate on a scale like that.
You know, something be said about the hustle and the grind
(04:38):
and you're not an overnight success because you put in all
the work beforehand, right? You put in years and years and
years and years and years of work to be able to get to the
place you're at now. There's there's a certain kind
of crowd out there that wants tograduate from college and then
be the CEO of the company 4 daysinto the job.
Talk to me a little bit about that hustle and grind that you
had to do for years, laying the foundation to get to where
(05:00):
you're at today. I know I feel it is and like for
anybody who is in that like senior year or like right after
it stage or just in a stage of like maybe you're starting a new
career or something like that and you're like, why is it not
happening like tomorrow like andall that stuff.
Which is it? It feels annoying when you're in
it, but I, it is that hustle andgrind where I feel like getting
(05:23):
up and working for it every day really made me commit to this as
my job. You know what I mean?
Like I had to really because there were days where I was
like, OK, this has to really be what I want because I'm not
thinking of any other option to do when it's hard and doesn't
seem promising, which was reassurance and the fact that
I'm on the right path. And then also, I just feel
(05:46):
there's an added level of like appreciation for all of the more
minor things along the way and the major things that come where
if I like, if you're like 22, you got to show, you got to
Emmy, but you're kind of like, OK, what's next?
And then also you just sort of expect life to always work that
way, I would assume. But versus if you kind of have a
(06:08):
slower burn, you just want to savor so much more.
Yeah. And then also I feel too with
that I get very excited when someone will reach out for
advice or something because thenI'm like, Oh, I actually can
like kind of give them advice orI'm like, I can.
It's also a thing to where everything's changing where I
will always be like, this is what I did a decade ago or like
everything now. Like I wasn't TikTok wasn't
(06:28):
there when I was in college, but.
Yeah, imagine if it was. I know, Oh my.
But also like can I say I am so grateful for that?
I was like because I don't know about you, but my college days
were fun. So I don't know if I would want
all of my antics on TikTok. Yeah, nothing is documented.
Nobody can go look back. No, no, no.
There were no jungle juice recipes or anything like that,
(06:49):
no. So you're getting, you know, I
saw a clip maybe yesterday, I think you were, it may not have
been from yesterday, but I saw it yesterday.
You're on Jenna's TV show. You've been doing a lot of TV
shows lately. Tell me a little bit about
what's that's like. Because it's that's different
than radio, right? That's a whole different world.
Full different ball game. I but it's a it's a very fun a
(07:11):
different ball game because it'sa it's like like Jenna and
Franz. It's about to be Jenna and
Chanel because they announced the new Co host, which is so
exciting. It's I was just like I'm like
that felt like a dream to go on that I was like dreaming of it,
but I like almost the back of myhead because I'm like that feels
so far away. So the fact that it like came to
(07:32):
be very, very grateful and exciting and exciting and felt
very like reassuring and what I'm doing.
And it is such a different thingbecause it's like such a fun
quick moment because of the segment that me and Evan do for
it. We've done it twice now.
The Scoop, which is about like entertainment news and
everything. It's like 3 to 4 minutes, but
all the moving parts in it, it just makes me so appreciate what
(07:57):
goes into TV productions and productions of everything
because I mean, well, that's serious.
Like we have a really just on our show, we have a small but
mighty team of like 3 to 4 people.
And I'm like everyone's doing their part, doing like 1000
things at once. And then when you go over to
like the Today show, I'm like, there are like so many people
running around. There's like. 300 people back
there doing stuff. Yeah, and they're all in a great
(08:18):
mood all the time. I do not know how.
I mean, it's, it seems like justlike the most magical place on
earth because everyone is so nice and so sweet there.
But it really, it's kind of one of those things where I'm like,
Oh my God, it's such, it's so inlike so much work to make
something look easy, you know what I mean?
So have you gotten to who's somebody that has maybe been
(08:39):
your favorite interview and thenwho's somebody that you haven't
interviewed yet that's just likeon your list of like, I really
want to interview that person? Favorite interview We, I.
We've had her on twice. Zara Larsson is a pop star who's
really fun. She's like blowing up this year,
making great music and I like that.
(08:59):
We kind of have been able to grab her twice as her career.
She's been doing that. She's been grinding for over a
decade or so, but her career is really in a new heights now.
So being able to talk to her andcatch up with her was really
fun. And also because we mainly do a
lot of me and Evan do a lot of reality TV guests with virtual
reality, our podcast with Page 6and the show just by
(09:20):
happenstance and passion and because we love reality TV, but
to talk to someone like the music space was very cool and
different. So I, I definitely enjoyed
having her on a lot. We also just had Justin
Sylvester on, who was really funand very great because he's a
entertainment host and everything like that too.
So it's really great just to kind of like catch up with him
(09:41):
and talk about all of that. I would love because Bravo's
doing in real houses of Rhode Island.
So that season's coming out nextyear or it's premiering next
year. I'm very excited to talk to all
those ladies because the trailerlooks very good.
I don't remember all their names, but I will once the show
comes out. And I'm excited to get to get
into that because I just love tothat.
It's like kind of crazy because next year's like the 20 years of
(10:04):
Real Housewives and I'm like thefact that new Housewives cities
are forming 20 years in, I'm like, it's such a very
impressive. What's your creative process
for, you know, talking about just kind of boring everyday
facts or things that are happening and balancing the
entertaining factor of that? Because I think when I've
listened to you before with the with the true crime podcast
(10:28):
specifically, is you found a wayto keep it fun.
So how? How have you developed that
craft? Or even do you even think about
it? Or is this natural?
I do feel it comes just kind of,I have always appreciated the
silliness and like the mundane vibes.
Like I kind of just, I look around and I feel I'm just kind
(10:49):
of like I constantly like to entertain myself.
So then it's kind of great that the career I'm in is providing
entertainment for other people where I feel a lot.
And also it's kind of like because like I always think I'm
like the day-to-day stuff is sort of the fun.
Like that's kind of where like the funniest things happen and
also the most relatable things happen where if it's like you're
just in line at a coffee shop orsomething, a lot of people also
(11:11):
deal with that are like, and something goes wrong and you
kind of just like laugh it off where I feel then you just are
in on the joke of life playing at you.
So I feel that kind of just makes it easier and fun too.
You still do stand up comedy andwhat's that been like trying to
juggle all that and still do stand up?
I it's easy to juggle because I don't really do it that much
(11:32):
anymore. I kind of because I was always
doing stand up. And that was sort of the thing
where I was doing stand up and improv because it was at a time
where AI was just kind of like testing the waters of
everything. And BI wanted to host, but no
one was having me host anything.So I was like, oh, I guess if
I'm just like on stage talking and then I can show that I'm
like, I'm like, OK, there's photos of me with a microphone
(11:52):
in my hand. Like something will lead to
something. So then after when I started
getting into my like full on more hosting duties, took a step
back from that, especially also because the morning shows every
day from 8:00 to 10:00. So I wake up pretty early for
it. So I was like to do stand up at
night to that in the morning. I like my, I like my at
nighttime skin care routine and my 8 hours of sleep.
I'm very much particular with that.
(12:14):
Yeah. And you can't really do that
when you're doing this when at night, this comedy club at like
midnight. That's quite no.
And also like if I'm up at midnight I'm probably especially
when I wake up at 6 now I'm likekind of a bitch and in a bad
mood at midnight. If I'm up past then I feel like
it's like indefinitely hangry. So I don't know if anybody would
enjoy seeing that on stage also.So what's on the vision board
for like you're I, you're a showor award show or something like
(12:38):
that that you want to host? Is there something on there
where you're like, man, if I host that, I know that I'll, you
know, have made it. Except, you know, yeah, you
know, at least in your terms of,like, pushing through a glass
ceiling. Yeah, I, I mean, honestly, like
the vision board I see for 2026 is to grow the things that are
already happening and like to keep on.
(12:59):
I'm like as many times that the Today show will put my name on
the security list for the day. Like I will keep on going there.
I'm always like, I'll come on like a Sunday at 3 for them.
I'll set my alarm at any time. But in terms of things hosting,
I like to host like a New Year'sEve broadcast or like the
Thanksgiving Day parade. I feel that would be like
tippity top fun, even though, because like even though I'm not
(13:21):
the biggest fan of going out on New Year's Eve, I would
definitely love to like I love the fun sparkle glitters of it
all. So I think doing something like
what Andy and Anderson are doingor being a part of something
like that. And also the Thanksgiving Day
parade, I just feel like it's like such a platform and I love
Macy's. I always love to shop there.
So I kind of feel like I would just be a natural fair or they
can even have me just like live streaming, shopping at Macy's
(13:45):
while doing the Thanksgiving DayParade.
I'm open to anything, but those are the two major things I
always think. Of I like that.
Macy's, if you're listening, this is your guy, Danny.
Give him a call. I am there.
I I'm shocked I don't see a Macy's brown bag somewhere in my
vicinity right now, especially with the holiday shopping I'm
doing. So for folks listening, there's
a lot of folks that listen in that are like that are either a
entrepreneurs or B wannabe kind of entrepreneurs or you know,
(14:07):
like start their own thing or whatever it may be.
What kind of advice would you give folks to who are maybe on
the front end of starting their own thing?
It it could be anything. I mean, you, you started your
kind of your own brand, right? And so you started this thing
where wherever you go, you're the main focus.
Some people sell widgets, some people do other things.
What kind of advice would you give to somebody that's kind of
(14:28):
starting out in the entrepreneurial world?
Definitely, I would say using your network is very important.
I feel there's a lot of that. I feel because it's a thing
where if you have the entrepreneurial mindset, there's
a chance and maybe people will not internally about this, but
deny that in front. Like you could be a little
stubborn and you kind of think that you know best, which is
(14:48):
fair because you kind of are being yourself leader.
But I feel to ask for help and to know your weaknesses is kind
of like to identify all of that as early on as possible will
really help you in the long run.Because I am a big proponent of
admitting when I'm not well versed in something and being
like, OK, I don't know how to dothat, but I know someone who
(15:10):
knows someone who can help me with that.
So instead of me wasting time trying to figure out something
that doesn't, I don't have to figure out on my own to
collaborate with someone that helps with that.
And also because it just kind of, I feel even when asking for
help, it kind of breathes in more ideas too, for you to kind
of even grow more from there to elevate to new levels and also
to maybe think about something in a way you wouldn't think
(15:32):
about before. Yeah.
Do you have somebody that's maybe been a mentor in your life
or somebody that you looked up to along your journey?
I definitely do feel forever indebted to the Bennington show
at Sirius because I started my internship there.
I just went on their show again a few weeks ago.
They're just so fun and supportive.
So I'm really, really always grateful for them.
(15:53):
And then I look at like, I feel there's just so many.
I kind of like love having like icons that are like my peers,
you know what I mean? Even not, and not in the sense
of like jumping up to being likehi Oprah, but like the people
that I'm just like seeing grinding like on a red carpet
with me that I'm like, Oh my God, they're doing that so well.
I just really took my hat to them.
(16:14):
Like me and Evan always talk about access.
Hollywood has this Housewives Nightcap podcast with Emily and
Lauren and they're really impressive and impeccable.
And just like be able to get to meet people and then getting to
support them is definitely a really fun thing because then it
also can go both ways where it'speople you can also talk to and
lift up through that. What, What keeps you going?
(16:34):
Because there's got to be at some point where you're like
tired, miserable for the day, you know, something goes wrong.
I think what separates a lot of people being successful not as
they have that kind of next gearin them to keep going.
What is it for you? Is it, is it family, is it
faith, is it community? Is it the idea of success?
What gets you to kind of kick itinto that next gear when it's
(16:58):
having a really shitty day or something like that?
I feel it's like remembering thefun of it, you know what I mean?
Because when there's a day whereit's like, Oh my God, I have
like there, there's some days where it's like, OK, there's
five interviews of people all from different things.
So it's a lot of prep and it's alot of running around and people
are running late and everything's all chaotic and you
have to miss that. You have to miss an appointment.
But then I like stop myself and I'm like, and if I start to get
(17:22):
stressed or annoyed about that, I stop myself.
And I'm like, no one like forcedyou to do all this.
You're doing it because you wantto and you love it and you're
kind of having moments that a past self of me and even
presence of me would like dream of.
So just enjoy that and embrace it and know like I was, I'm
(17:43):
like, tomorrow can be easier. You know what I mean?
So so definitely like remembering, reminding myself
why I do it and that I love to do it.
And also that like I love to finish off with To Do List and
then to have a day of I love to schedule in my days of rest and
chilling. Nice.
So what's the what's the big goals for 2026 for Danny?
(18:03):
Give me a little peek behind thecurtain of what's going to
happen in In Your World. Oh, I definitely want to
continue growing the morning paychecks radio show.
I feel we have a lot of fun things coming up with that.
And also the podcast, the virtual reality podcast where
we're looking to expand our intolike some bigger live events and
(18:23):
another award show. We started one this year,
didn't. You do an award show right this
last year. For this year very exciting yeah
the VRT Awards, which is so muchfun so we kind of want to like
now that we know all the moving parts of it for the most part we
want to like kind of like up the.
Air Was there anybody else doinga virtual reality award show or
were you the first one? This was the first one, So this
was the first VRT award. So we all, it was like a
(18:44):
learning curve for everybody. It went so well, which is we
were all shocked by. We're like, hey, we didn't know
we could. OK, this is great.
So now I kind of want to take itto the next level with that.
I always like, I want to, I feellike it'd be very great to start
seeing if our podcast and radio show could get some awards of
itself just to kind of, you know, we love to host the
awards, but I would love to alsogo to the award shows and then
(19:07):
kind of continue having those TVmoments like with when it
becomes a Jen and Chanel just kind of continuing growing a
relationship. They are because they are, it's
just so much fun and it's like incredible opportunity and
something that I was like, it's just such a joy to do.
So I want to keep on just staying busy but having fun with
all the busyness. Do you get noticed when you're
(19:28):
walking down the streets of New York, or can you still keep to
yourself? I can.
I'm good. I don't mean I don't.
It'll happen on occasion, and that's always very exciting,
especially because it's like a reality TV fan.
So we like talk about some of our favorite shows.
But I don't have. I'm not Taylor Swift in the box
yet. Hey, give it a couple more
years. Right.
All right, we'll see. And did you guys create this the
(19:50):
Reality TV Show Award? Did you help create that or did
you host it? Tell me a little bit about that
story of how that came to be. So it came to be because me, I
Co host the virtual reality podcast and we've been doing
that for a few years and we weredoing live shows like a just
live interviews and everything like that.
And they were selling out, selling well.
And then we kind of were all thinking internally like what
(20:11):
would be the next step of this? And there's not really.
That many award shows that honorreality TV, like the law school,
Teresa's Awards, kind of do it in a humorous way, and they're
so funny. And the Critics Choice now has a
Real TV award for reality television.
Because that's like one category.
It's not a whole show. Yeah.
So we were like, we want to likekind of have it be like a moment
(20:31):
for some of our favorite realitystars to be honored because they
were like, they just, they contribute so much to our lives
and television. So we were kind of like, let's
have a little fun with it. So you guys literally invented
the show? Yes, Yeah.
Start to finish. We drew up the fun ideas for the
award statues themselves. They're giant teacups.
And was it all tenders? It was, yeah.
(20:53):
It was at the big room in City Winery in the city.
And it was sold out, which was amazing.
So we want to think like, OK, how can we like keep this
momentum going in a really fun way?
So that's ginormous. I mean, there's not every day
somebody creates their own awardshow that doesn't have a niche
yet. I know, right?
I know it's very, it was like very, we were like, how did no
one already do this? But we're not going to ask
(21:14):
questions. We're just going to start doing.
It so you're going to definitelydo it in 2026. 100%, yeah,
definitely, probably in the sametime of year in September.
We're just trying to figure out exactly what it's going to look
like because we might want to make it a little bit bigger in
vava voomier. Yeah, that's like, I mean, to
me, that's a pretty awesome thing.
(21:37):
I mean, that could become a very, very big deal pretty
quickly. Which is very fun.
Which is kind of cool. I know fingers.
Danny, I really appreciate you joining us here. 20 minutes has
gone by in a flash. Do you have any last minute
thoughts here before we head off?
No, but I just hope that you andeverybody listening is going to
have a great holiday season to relax a little bit.
This is like the bedrock time ofyear for even if the all the
(21:58):
entrepreneurs and hustlers out there, no one's going to reply
to your emails anyway. So just just next week and the
week after, just chill because then we hit the ground running
and vision boarding. I love to vision board so I also
always hate to do that. Awesome.
Well, Danny, you're killing. It's fun to see your journey and
you're welcome back anytime and we hope you have a great rest of
your day. Thank you so much, Jonathan.
You too.
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