NORTH PALM BEACH LIFE
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      • Road Trip! - Mogollon Rim
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      • Road Trip! - California
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Celebrity Tour
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
      • Road Trip! - Festival in Palm Springs
      • Road Trip! - Willcox, Arizona and Apple Annie's Orchard
      • Road Trip! Willcox Wineries
      • Road Trip! Chiricahua National Monument
      • Road Trip! Tombstone, Arizona
      • Tombstone, Part Two
      • Road Trip! - Epilogue
    • Traveling With Joe >
      • Beartooth Highway
      • North Cascades National Park
      • A Visit to the Philippines
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Glacier National Park
      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Hiking in Bear Country
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
      • The Kerrville Folk Festival
      • Building Hope in the Rio Grande Valley
      • Yellowstone Camping Tales
    • Unknown Yellowstone >
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Heart Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Summit Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Shoshone Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Grizzly Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Riddle Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Pelican Cone
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Mt. Washburn
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Specimen Ridge
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Avalanche Peak
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Divide Creek
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interviews

For More "Gigi in the 561," Go HERE.

                                 NICK GRANELLO

​Originally from New Orleans, our Gigi the 561 guest, Nicholas Granello, now resides in Dallas. He qualifies as a man-about-town! After the year-long lockdown and the February ice storm with its lengthy power outage, Nick recently returned from a much-needed Spring Break trip to the Flagstaff and Sedona area. A longtime travel lover, Nick is anxious to do more, as well as work on some potential music projects. His cat, Dima, likes to hang out with him, even on car trips. Listen in as we chat about his thoughts on being a mixologist, music, the pandemic and...hot dogs! A FUN podcast!

                    GO TO THE PODCAST
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STEVE HIBBERT

Steve Hibbert – who is a recent transplant to Colorado - had a nearly 3 decade-long career as a professional actor, theater director, improv/sketch writing teacher, and as a TV/screen writer. He now teaches improv and sketch writing at the Bovine Metropolis Theater in the historic Larimer Square District of Downtown Denver. Steve got his start in the '80s and early '90s as a performer, writer (later teacher and director) at the justifiably famous breeding ground for comedy: The Groundlings Theater in L.A. And, yes, he played ‘The Gimp’ in "Pulp Fiction."

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GO TO THE
PODCAST

TOM TURNER

​A native New Englander, Tom Turner dropped out of college and ran a Vermont bar. Limping back a few years later to get his sheepskin, he went on to become an advertising copywriter, first in Boston, then New York. After 10 years of post-Mad Men life, he made both a career and geography change and ended up in Palm Beach, renovating houses and collecting raw materials for his novels. A previous resident of Charleston and Skidaway Island, outside of Savannah, he currently  resides in West Palm Beach. Palm Beach provides the setting for ​his murder-mystery series of books.
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PAMELA SKJOLSVIK

Pamela Skjolsvik has been published in literary journals like Ten Spurs, Creative Nonfiction and Witness.  She has won, placed and been honorably mentioned in a few writing contests...Creative Nonfiction, Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference and Writer's Digest. Listen in  as she talks about the Quarantine Book Club and her book, "Forever 51," about middle-age vampires.

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RON DeFORE

​Ron DeFore is the second son of movie, television and Broadway star, Don DeFore who appeared in more than 35 movies and is perhaps best known for his TV role as "Thorny" in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and as "Mr. B" in the 1960s TV series, Hazel.  Ron’s new book, "Growing up in Disneyland," is a metaphor for Ron's life in a celebrity family filled with Fantasyland adventures.
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DJ LYDIA

DJ Lydia has over 25years experience as a DJ in South Florida. She has been on panels at The New Music seminar and The Winter Music conference. She has a Bachelor's degree in Communications and Broadcasting. DJ Lydia has worked with Best Buy as the official DJ for all their South Florida events.

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DENNY S. BRICE

​Denny writes historical fiction, and her debut novel, Wild Women and the Blues from Kensington Books will be on sale on March 30, 2021. A public relations professional, she spent more than 20 years running her marketing and public relations firm. For nearly 10 of those years, she wrote and read Buffy/Spike fan fiction. A devoted fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and Angel (the TV series), she is also a classic film buff and loves genre TV.

Before fanfiction, and her days as a PR Diva, the graduate of Barat College at DePaul University, was a professional dancer, part-time singer, and “bad” actress. She worked with professional dance companies in Chicago and New York, and a theatrical

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FRANCIS GARY POWERS, JR.

​Francis Gary Powers Jr.  is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of The Cold War Museum located at Vint Hill, VA. He is the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Cold War Theme Study which assists the National Park Service to identify historic Cold War sites for preservation. ​In 2015, he consulted for a Steven Spielberg thriller, Bridge of Spies, about the 1962 spy exchange between KGB spy Rudolph Abel and CIA U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, Sr. Gary is the author of Letters from a Soviet Prison and Spy Pilot. He lectures internationally, appears regularly on news broadcasts.

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RICH HEILAND

Rich Heiland is a former newspaper reporter, editor, and publisher. He was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. He taught journalism at Western Illinois University and leadership at Woodbury College in Vermont. For nearly 20 years he operated an international consulting, speaking and training business specializing in customer service, general management, leadership and staff development for clients such as New York Life, General Motors, Apple, Honeywel and, HewlettPackard,

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SUSAN GOLDFEIN

​Everyone needs a laugh these days, right?  A good place to start is  Susan Goldfein's blog, "UNFILTERED WIT," (her blog posts also are featured HERE on North Palm Beach Life). With a doctorate in Communication Disorders from Teachers College, Columbia University, she found success as a clinician, teacher, and consultant, which she says "has done absolutely nothing to prepare her for creating her books." Nevertheless, she has plunged into a second career writing humorous essays about life with wit, wisdom, and a touch of irony.

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CHRIS COSTELLO

​I had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Costello -- daughter of Lou Costello of the legendary comedy team, Abbott and Costello -- a few years ago (GO HERE to read it). Since then, she has added podcasting to her repertoire of many interests. Her award-winning podcast, ON CUE, can be found on all the major podcast platforms. Join us as we talk fascinating people, her famous father, cruising and much more.

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JEFF KOZ

Jeff Koz, ​brother of jazz saxophonist and composer Dave Koz, has found success in both music and business. More recently, he and his sister, Roberta, have launched Dr. Norm's Wellness, featuring a variety of CBD products that promote health and well-being, including their trademark cookies, available in a variety of flavors. Jeff took time from his busy schedule to do a podcast -- or as he called it, a "potcast?" -- for Gigi in the 561.  Listen as he talks about his business and shares some never-before-told stories.

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JOHNNY SIMMONS

"I am a married father of 3 amazing kids residing in West Palm Beach Florida. My passion for photography began when I picked up my first Minolta 35mm camera in 1995 while in my photography class in high school. Two years later I went to college for T.V production, computer graphics and I worked in a family portrait studio. These events fueled my passion for the art of photography and set me on my path."

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NANCY BARRY

​​Nancy Barry spent 25 years in the corporate world, then walked away from a dream job in 2005 to start her own speaking business and write a book, When Reality Hits: What Employers Want Recent College Graduates to Know. She was born and raised in Dallas and in 2018 moved from Texas to Alabama to live closer to her two children and their families. Now retired, she lives on a beautiful lake and loves her new title, Mimi, given to Nancy by her five precious grandchildren.

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CHLOE LODDO

We met Chloe while on a cruise through the Panama Canal on Carnival Miracle, where she was the ship's cruise director. It's a job that fits her perfectly, because above all else, she loves people.

Growing up in Gibraltar, where she currently resides, she describes herself as a "successful entertainer with a genuine love of people." With the cruise industry currently on hold with the pandemic, she is tackling new vistas with her trademark enthusiasm, including a new morning radio show. Find out more by listening to the podcast

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PENNY TALKS SOAP OPERAS

Penny Davis, a ​Broadway Wardrobe Supervisor for decades, also spent time working on soap operas, ​ and has some great stories to tell, including one about a shrunken head. Take a listen!
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DIANA BRANDENBERG

Diana Brandenberg, born in Wichita Falls, Texas, is a successful marketing executive, artist and children's book author. she and husband Brock, an engineer and entrepreneur, have two sons -- Max, 12, and Charlie, 10. Max has challenges with ADHD and Charlie has Down syndrome. She's a big animal lover who has a number of cats and one dog, Waffles. Throughout her life she has rescued and helped animals in need.

GO HERE for the Podcast

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PAIGE PAULEY

"I have been working as a designer for advertising all of my life. My design career also had me designing paper products such as gift wrap and gift bags for Pier 1 and multiple others. My diversified design background and personal artistic endevours eventually led me to jewelry and creating my own unique style utilizing natural elements from the earth especially the ocean."

GO HERE for the Podcast

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JAMES E. 'JIMMY' HIBBARD

James E. "Jimmy" Hibbard has spent more than five decades in the entertainment business as a dancer, actor and teacher. "It is a rarity to still be dancing at my age. I'm 77 but don't feel it. I've had a resurgence in my dancing career in the last three years. I've done eight movies, 12 TV shows, and musical plays. I have a current recurring role of the Janitor on the Netflix series,  'Julie and the Phantoms '. It's amazing...I'm out dancing with babies half my age and younger. "

GO HERE for the Podcast

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DAVE HAFER

Dave Hafer, who hails from from Montana, currently resides in Cathedral City, Ca., with his husband Mike Lewis, and their puppy pack of six dogs. Dave spent his career in customer service in Texas and Montana, but left the snow for the desert mountains recently. Tending to the puppy pack, being in lockdown with his husband, as well as cooking, gardening and trying to get settled into their new home, keeps Dave very busy.

GO HERE for the Podcast

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PENNY DAVIS

​Meet Penny Davis, a ​Broadway Wardrobe Supervisor for decades, who worked on a wide variety of productions, as well as with many well-known stars. Currently retired and living in Miami with her husband and two cats, she remains a mentor to young people interested in theater, and an involved advocate for the Coconut Grove Playhouse in the 305.
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GO HERE for the Podcast.

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Contact us: [email protected]

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  • Home
    • Weather >
      • Hurricane Readiness
  • Cruise/Travel
    • Cruise Reviews and Stories
  • Gigi in the 561
    • Gigi's Wine Shelf
    • Gigi in the 561 Interviews
    • Cora
    • My Father's Tales >
      • My Father's Tales - Photo Album
    • Travel Bistro
  • Blogs
    • Gerry Pronounced Gary
    • Rock and Roll Rewind
    • Susan Goldfein -- Blog >
      • Susan Goldfein
  • Video
  • Explore
    • October Odyssey >
      • Cartagena, Columbia
      • Panama Canal
      • Antigua, Guatemala
      • Cabo San Lucas
      • Birds and Bees Speakeasy in Los Angeles
      • We Love LA
      • Coast Starlight
      • Napa Wine Tour
      • California Zephyr
      • California Zephyr Part Two
      • Chicago
      • Amtrak Capitol Limited
      • Washington DC
    • Pam - Traveling in Style
    • Road Trip! >
      • Road Trip! -- Tucumcari, New Mexico
      • Road Trip! -- The Painted Desert
      • Road Trip! - Sedona, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - Sedona Wineries
      • Road Trip! Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
      • Road Trip! - Mogollon Rim
      • Road Trip! - Verde Canyon Railroad
      • Road Trip! - Jerome, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - California
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Celebrity Tour
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
      • Road Trip! - Festival in Palm Springs
      • Road Trip! - Willcox, Arizona and Apple Annie's Orchard
      • Road Trip! Willcox Wineries
      • Road Trip! Chiricahua National Monument
      • Road Trip! Tombstone, Arizona
      • Tombstone, Part Two
      • Road Trip! - Epilogue
    • Traveling With Joe >
      • Beartooth Highway
      • North Cascades National Park
      • A Visit to the Philippines
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Glacier National Park
      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Hiking in Bear Country
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
      • The Kerrville Folk Festival
      • Building Hope in the Rio Grande Valley
      • Yellowstone Camping Tales
    • Unknown Yellowstone >
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Heart Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Summit Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Shoshone Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Grizzly Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Riddle Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Pelican Cone
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Mt. Washburn
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Specimen Ridge
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Avalanche Peak
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Divide Creek
  • Contact
    • Media Kit
    • Pamela Barker - Author
    • The Story of StarText
  • Search