Ira's Everything Bagel

Comedy writer, songwriter and actor

This week, Ira spoke with comedy writer, songwriter and actor Bruce Vilanch. In this eclectic (and hilarious) episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Bruce talks about his connection to the comedians of the Catskills; his move from the East Coast to Ohio and on to Hollywood; writing for the Academy Awards shows, Joan Rivers and Bette Midler; his relationship with his mother, who adopted him and just recently finding his birth mother; whether the deli will survive; raising funds for charity, including AIDS; why he loves writing and performing, but never wanted to be a producer; aging out in Hollywood; collaborative writing vs writing by yourself; and his new project (a musical), featuring an imaginary Dolly Parton (but with the real Dolly Parton music).

One of the most sought-after jokesmiths in the entertainment industry, Bruce has become a recognizable face in his own right, thanks to the feature-length documentary “Get Bruce!” (1999) and his one-time stint as a regular on “Hollywood Squares” (1998), for which he ( Bruce Vilanch ) also served as head writer.

He began contributing to Academy Awards telecasts in 1989, collaborating with the likes of Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and David Letterman, and graduated to head writer in 2000. He has roasted celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and President Clinton. His resume also includes “You Made Me Watch You,” the touching Emmy-winning valedictory Midler crooned as a send-off to Johnny Carson.

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Author, Behind the White House Curtain: A Senior Journalist’s Story of Covering the President—and Why It Matters

This week on Ira’s Everything Bagel Podcast, host Ira engages in a profound conversation with Steven L. Herman, author of the fascinating book Behind the White House Curtain: A Senior Journalist’s Story of Covering the President—and Why It Matters. In this insightful episode, Steven shares his firsthand experiences from decades of reporting for the Voice of America (VOA), taking listeners behind the scenes of White House journalism and offering a rare glimpse into the delicate balance between government transparency and press accountability.

A Journalist’s Journey: Why Steven L. Herman Wrote This Book

In Behind the White House Curtain, Steven L. Herman meticulously details the challenges of covering the U.S. President, from everyday press briefings to monumental national events. His career spans from early days reporting on nuclear testing in Nevada in the 1970s to the heights of covering the White House as chief national correspondent for VOA. The book offers an insider’s perspective on why public access to accurate and unbiased information is critical for democracy.

One key reason Steven wrote this book was to demystify the inner workings of the White House press corps, sharing how journalists navigate the daily pressures of reporting on the most powerful office in the world. He delves into the behind-the-scenes mechanics of news coverage, vetting by the Secret Service, and the rigorous standards that journalists follow to ensure the public gets factual, timely news.

Understanding the Role of Voice of America (VOA)

The Voice of America (VOA) is unlike any other media outlet. Steven explains that VOA is the only news organization mandated to be objective, making it a crucial source of unbiased information, especially in times of political turbulence. He elaborates on VOA’s role in the press pool, which is responsible for disseminating accurate information directly from the White House to other media outlets. Being part of this pool gives VOA unique access to top-level news and policy changes.

Steven also discusses his deep respect for VOA’s journalistic ethics, highlighting the organization’s commitment to accuracy over speed—a guiding principle that contrasts with the hyper-speed of modern news cycles. This approach ensures that every piece of information is fact-checked and verified before it reaches the public, reinforcing the importance of trustworthy journalism in preserving democracy.

The White House Press Pool: What It Really Does

Have you ever wondered how White House journalists are vetted or why there are exactly 49 seats in the press briefing room? Steven takes us into the world of White House journalism, where the White House Correspondents Association determines the seating chart in the press briefing room, and where journalists are frequently vetted by the Secret Service before they can even step foot in the building. These press members play a pivotal role in conveying the administration’s messages to the public while also holding it accountable.

Herman sheds light on how journalists work tirelessly to ask the hard questions and get truthful answers—even in situations where government officials are reluctant to provide transparency. Through anecdotes and personal stories, Steven shows how the press is both the eyes and ears of the public, offering clarity on why freedom of the press is essential for a functioning democracy.

Radio: Steven Herman’s First Love

Despite his impressive career in television and digital journalism, Steven L. Herman reveals that radio remains his first love. He fondly reminisces about the early days of his career when he worked in radio, emphasizing the unique challenges and rewards of audio journalism. For Steven, the intimate nature of radio reporting allows journalists to connect more deeply with their audience, providing critical news coverage in real time, especially during crises such as natural disasters or political upheaval.

Challenges and Surprises in White House Reporting

Throughout his career, Steven has faced numerous challenges, including covering the Trump administration, which often clashed with the press over the concept of “confirmation bias”. In his book, he explains how this bias plays a significant role in the public’s perception of news, especially in today’s politically polarized environment. His experiences during this era led him to the conclusion that unbiased, fact-based reporting is more critical than ever before.

Among the most sur...

Author, Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct & Produce the Life You Want

This week, Ira spoke with Emmy Award winning producer Maria Baltazzi, author of Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct & Produce the Life You Want. In this happy episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Maria talks about her epiphany while acting as supervising producer of “Survivor”; her journey in self-reflection and exploring her own happiness; everyone’s untapped potential; why she looked at the chapters in her book as a series episode; why action is important; the benefits of journaling; how her book differs from other books on the subject; why she wanted to write a book relevant to her background; how pictures of one thing a day brought her joy; why she considers herself a happiness explorer; how the key to happiness is choice, followed by action; and why happiness can also be defined as resilience.

Maria Baltazzi has climbed the 15,000-foot trail (46 miles) to Machu Picchu, led African safaris, and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro twice among her other adventures. But it was a small television stage lit by tiki torches in the middle of the jungle in the South China Sea, that gave her pause. As supervising producer of CBS’s Survivor for seven seasons, one of the longest-running unscripted series on television, Maria had a front row seat to this bold new era of television filled with drama, tears, machinations, and revelations. While watching the contestants, she had her own epiphany.

Utilizing her own experience as a producer, she channeled her energies into building a healthier state of being for herself and had fun while doing it. Her creative use of her cell phone to chronicle her story, a natural idea for a heartfelt storyteller who made her living envisioning life in snapshots, and her extensive studying, led her to develop a unique viewpoint and path to peace and happiness.

Maria Baltazzi Website

Maria Baltazzi LinkedIn

Maria Baltazzi Instagram

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Author, Be The Weight Behind The Spear

This week, Ira spoke with Colonel Joshua M. McConkey, M.D., author of Be The Weight Behind The Spear. In this leading episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Joshua talks about why the book title is his personal leadership ethos; how he worked with people in the military who are the tip of the spear; why the weight behind the spear is important ; his concern with the “Covid” generation, which has problems communicating with people on a face-to-face basis and has a sense of “entitlement”; why they lack leadership skills; how it’s important to get everyone engaged in the community; the mental health crisis in the United States; why his kids don’t have any social media accounts: how he won the lottery (literally); how his time in Iraq changed him as a person; how holding kids accountable in essential; why teachers need to be empowered; why he advocates one-on-one mentorship for that Covid generation; and how it’s free to teach accountability, integrity and leadership.

Colonel Joshua M. McConkey, M.D. has served in the military for more than two decades, been an ER doctor for over 20 years, run for Congress, taught at Duke University, and has written an award-winning and best-selling book, Be The Weight Behind The Spear. His message is about hope for America to help infuse our nation’s youngest generation with the leadership skills and attitude this country will need to succeed.

Joshua presently is the Commander for the 459th Aeromedical Staging Squadron and overseas the training of 122 medical professionals. He is credited with saving many lives and was awarded the Air Medal and Army Commendation for his deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Further, he has served for three years on the Air Force association Council, helping to make legislative and policy recommendations to Congress regarding quality of life, equipment modernizations, and military construction issues that impact the Air Force Reserve.

Joshua has logged more than 90 rotor wing combat hours of medical evacuation and air assault support as well as providing aeromedical evacuation support as a critical care transport team flight surgeon. He has earned several distinctions, including Chadron State College Distinguished Alumni Award, Alliance Public Schools Hall of Fame, Winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution History Award, Independent Press Award, and numerous military decorations, including Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and an Air Medal.

He has been interviewed or featured on dozens of news media outlets, including Newsmax, Breitbart, Kirkus Reviews, NPR.org, iHeartRadio, Patriot XM Radio, War Room with Steve Bannon, The Daily Mail, The Independent, Yahoo Finance, CBS-TV, ABC-News, and The News Observer.

Joshua holds multiple FEMA certifications and is board certified in Emergency Medicine and EMS/Disaster Medicine, both through the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

He was a professor and adjunct faculty member for a combined six years at Duke University. Joshua received his Doctor of Medicine from University of Nebraska in 2003 and a Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Science in 1999.

Born in Renton, WA, Joshua was raised in Nebraska. He has also lived in Omaha, NE; Akron, OH; Georgetown, TX, New Zealand, and Australia. With his wife and three children, he resides in Apex, North Carolina.

Josh McConkey for America Website

Weight Behind The Spear Website

Josh McConkey Facebook

Josh McConkey LinkedIn

Josh McConkey YouTube

Josh McConkey X

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Photographer, Educator and Creative Explorer

This week, Ira spoke with photographer, educator and creative explorer Benita VanWinkle, who photographs and documents America’s vanishing movie theaters. In this celluloid episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Benita talks about how she started on her road to capturing theaters on film; how beautiful theaters that couldn’t sustain as film venues could be preserved and repurposed to meeting venues, etc.; how she maps out a trip to photograph 65-90 movie houses in small towns; why she never knows whether she will get inside a theater or not; the wide variety of design elements in movie houses; the best camera she recommends to her students; how she has photographed 1,100 theaters; why she’s partial to small-town theaters; and what they represent in American culture.

Benita VanWinkle is an associate professor of art at High Point University, in High Point, NC. Benita’s work has been exhibited and recognized with awards in numerous international and nationally juried art exhibitions.

Benita received her MFA from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. She continues to work with many non-profit organizations in NC and is a former youth director at Brookstown United Methodist Church in Pfafftown, NC. She lives with her husband, two rescued dogs, and her neighbor’s horses and free range chickens over the back fence.

Benita VanWinkle Website

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