Lost in Jersey

Nine-time Grammy winner Christian McBride says life is jazz—part preparation, part improvisation, and pure rhythm. In this conversation, the bassist, composer, and longtime NJPAC Jazz Advisor shows how listening deeply, reacting honestly, and staying curious keep his music (and life) in time. We discuss the surprising bass that travels the world with him, the art of arranging compositions for singers, and the balance between leadin...

What if the moment that nearly ended your life became the one that finally made sense of it? Veteran CBS reporter Jim Axelrod joins us for a raw, free-flowing conversation that moves from Iraq’s war zones to quiet moments with Bruce Springsteen. He reflects on how growing up in New Jersey—and summers working the Shore—taught him the art of connection. This one’s about resilience, reflection, and the question that keeps him grounded...

What happens when your reputation is on the line? Karen Kessler has been in the room for some of the toughest calls in crisis PR—guiding clients through scandals, lawsuits, and the headlines they never wanted.

In this episode, she shares why she walked away from Roger Ailes, how her firm later supported the women who spoke out, and what drives her firm's every decision. We discuss the anatomy of a genuine apology, the distincti...

The Bellevue Theater is back and so is the Montclair Film Festival. We sit down with Montclair Film’s Artistic Director, Tom Hall, to break down the 14th edition: what’s bold, what’s risky, and what’s bound for awards season.

Highlights include opening night's Jay Kelly, Noah Baumbach’s meta comedy starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler. Nicholas Britell who scored the film will be there for a Q&A. Get tickets for headlin...

What does it really take to turn dreams into reality? In this inspiring episode of Lost in Jersey, we talk to Steve Edwards, President of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, to uncover the success secrets he’s gleaned from interviewing over 100 of the state’s most extraordinary achievers.

Born and raised in Jersey (on the very same date as Bruce Springsteen and Jason Alexander!), Edwards has dedicated his life to celebrating the Garden Sta...

What if the arts could transform not just audiences, but entire cities? In this episode of Lost in Jersey, we sit down with John Schreiber, President and CEO of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), to explore how a lifelong passion for music and culture became the engine behind Newark’s cultural and economic revival.

From his early days as an 11-year-old Broadway superfan to producing jazz festivals with legends like Dizzy...

What does it take to dedicate sixty years to a life in art? Artist Tom Nussbaum has been answering that question since childhood—first by tinkering in his dad’s Minnesota workshop, later by filling New York lofts with his whimsical, deeply human creations, and now through monumental public works that thousands encounter every day.

With his first major retrospective opening at the Montclair Art Museum this fall, Tom sits down with us...

What happens when you grow up in a war zone and decide the solution to division is… more conversation? For Desh Amila, witnessing the devastation of civil war in Sri Lanka shaped a lifelong mission: bringing people together to talk across differences with honesty, nuance, and humanity.

From reinventing the way Australia engages with big ideas—marketing philosophers and scientists like rock stars—to launching Thinkable in Montclair, ...

This week, our guest Dana Hawkins-Simons takes us on a journey that’s anything but ordinary — from her roots in rural Kansas to adventures around the globe. A celebrated journalist, singer, and tireless advocate, Dana’s story is equal parts grit, globe-trotting, and groove.

We talk about her career in international journalism (including the Barcelona Olympics!), her battle with Pernicious Anemia, and the Wall Street Journal article ...

Have you ever experienced the emotional rollercoaster of sending your child off to college? For Rachel and me, Janette, that momentous milestone came with a whirlwind of emotions, from meticulous dorm preparations to chaotic last-minute packing. We'll take you back to our personal journeys from a year ago, sharing the raw feelings and surprises—like my son's unexpected transfer back home. This episode aims to support and ...

Who is Evie McGee Colbert? Most known as Stephen Colbert's wife, in this episode of Lost in Jersey, we get to know the many other facets of this remarkable woman.  Evie joins us to talk about her journey from Charleston, SC, to Montclair, NJ—and how a lifelong love of the arts became a powerful tool for building community. As president and co-founder of Montclair Film, she has helped grow it into a nationally recognized cultur...

In this episode of Lost in Jersey, we sit down with renowned saxophonist Baron Raymonde—New York Blues Hall of Famer, longtime music educator, and go-to sideman for some of the biggest names in the business. Baron shares stories from a remarkable career that’s taken him from New York to Texas and back again, through jazz clubs, world tours, and iconic New Jersey venues.

A classically trained musician, Baron carved out his path in ja...

What does protest mean in 2025—and does it still work?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Julie Cohen—acclaimed filmmaker behind RBG and Julia—and her neighbor Liz Figenshu, a dedicated volunteer advocate. In the wake of growing political unrest, they found themselves walking the streets of Bloomfield, NJ, not just to clear their heads but to find a way forward. What emerged was organizing a weekly protest that has lasted ov...

The Bat-Signal lit up the sky because one Jersey kid had a vision: bring a darker, more human Batman to the big screen. In this episode, Michael Uslan—the executive producer behind every Batman film since 1989—shares how his childhood love for comics sparked a cinematic revolution.

Uslan takes us from Ocean Township to Hollywood, revealing how a decade of rejection, a strategic law degree, and lunch with Tim Burton helped erase the ...

Tune in to our talk with acclaimed author Warren Zanes about his road to writing music biographies, including his outstanding  book, "Deliver Me from Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska.” Film adaptation will be released in October 2025 with a roster of superstars including Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, and Stephen Gram.

The album "Nebraska" was recorded by Springsteen on a simple cassette recorde...

🎙️ Finding Strength, Community, and Purpose in Disability Parenting

When Alma Schneider moved from a bustling apartment in New York City to suburban New Jersey, she didn’t expect to feel adrift. But after her son was diagnosed with disabilities, the shift in identity was both profound and isolating. In this heartfelt and powerful episode of Lost in Jersey, Alma shares how one conversation—a friend encouraging her to reconnect with ...

Ready to go from hopeful scribbler to published author? The Book Doctors, Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, are here to spill the literary tea. With years of industry smarts, hard-earned wisdom, and plenty of laughs, they break down what it really takes to get your book into readers' hands.

In this episode, you'll learn:

📚 The two A’s every author must master: Authority (why you) and Audience (who’s reading)
🔍 ...

What’s it like to be the right hand to two of the most iconic and complicated chefs of our time? Laurie Woolever dishes on life behind the scenes with Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali, revealing the chaos, contradictions, and quiet moments that shaped her memoir, the New York Times Bestselling Care and Feeding.

From a small town in upstate New York to the kitchens and offices of culinary giants, Woolever's journey is raw, rive...

Our guest today takes us from Iran to innovation. Dr. Ali Houshmand’s journey to the top of Rowan University is anything but typical. Hear how he’s reinventing college with bold ideas, groundbreaking programs, and a hot sauce that funds scholarships.

🌍 From Tehran to Transformation: Born to illiterate parents in Iran, Dr. Houshmand worked his way through college in London, driven by grit and vision.

🏥 Revolutionizing Rowa...