Noshing With Rebecca Weintraub & Steven Lewis – April 14, 2022

04/14/22 • 29 min

Authors, InCredible Communication: Uncover the Invaluable Art of Selling Yourself

This week, Ira spoke with Rebecca Weintraub and Steven Lewis, authors of InCredible Communication: Uncover the Invaluable Art of Selling Yourself (published by Bloomsbury Business). In this communicative episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Rebecca and Steven talk about their successful remote partnership (with only one in-person meeting at USC; why they wanted to make the book approachable, yet filled with data; what the research tells us about communication; why perception is reality (“their perception is your reality”): why your credibility doesn’t live within you; the art of active listening; why the best communication is when you understand the motivation of the listener; how, in the realm of employment interviews, Zoom is a great eliminator but not a great hirer; the demise of the water cooler factor in virtual work; and the importance of “connective tissue” within an organization.

Rebecca Weintraub, PhD is an expert in strategic communication, leadership and organizational communication. She is a Clinical Professor of Communication and Director of the Master’s Program at the USC Annenberg School of Communication. Over the course of her career she has worked as a communication consultant and a corporate communication executive. Her clients have included senior executives from an array of industries including infrastructure, publishing, aerospace, automotive and military.

Steven Lewis is a Communication Strategist with an extensive background in training creative corporate leaders on their presentation skills. He is an elite personal presentation trainer who has worked with senior executives at NBCUniversal, Warner Bros., Verve Mobile, Hulu, Paramount, Fox and Stitch Fix. He has worked with various directors and actors for their promotional tours, including Tom Cruise, Zac Efron and Jennifer Lawrence.

He is also an Emmy Award winning TV Executive Producer, with a keen understanding of how to bring out the best in talent. Previously, Steven co-founded Greystone Communication, and has worked as a Producer at MTV. He was then a partner at Media Savvy, a media coaching firm.

Authors, InCredible Communication: Uncover the Invaluable Art of Selling Yourself

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Noshing With Sweet Dick Whittington – April 7, 2022

Legendary Southern California air personality

This week on Ira’s Everything Bagel Podcast, host Ira Sternberg sits down with the legendary “Sweet” Dick Whittington, a revered air personality who dominated the Southern California airwaves for decades. In this deeply personal episode, Dick Whittington opens up about his remarkable journey in broadcasting, reflecting on the highs and lows of his illustrious career, the influences that shaped his unique style, and his passion for the creative process that has kept him going all these years.

Early Beginnings: From Fighter to Broadcaster

Dick Whittington‘s journey to becoming one of Southern California’s most beloved radio personalities wasn’t a straight path. Before he found his voice on the airwaves, Whittington dabbled in various jobs, including fighting and selling pots and pans door-to-door. These early experiences were crucial in shaping his tenacious spirit and his ability to connect with people from all walks of life. As Whittington shares in the podcast, it was during these formative years that he began to refine the personality and style that would later make him a household name in Southern California.

Finding His Voice: The Influence of Joe Pyne

One of the key influences on Dick Whittington‘s broadcasting career was the controversial and groundbreaking talk show host Joe Pyne. Pyne, known for his combative style and no-holds-barred approach to talk radio, had a profound impact on Whittington. As Whittington recalls, it was Pyne’s fearless attitude and his ability to engage listeners that inspired him to push the boundaries of what was possible in radio. Whittington admired Pyne’s dedication to being true to himself, a quality that he would later embrace in his own career.

The Spiritual Home: KGIL

For Dick Whittington, one of the most significant periods of his career was his time at KGIL, a station that he fondly refers to as his “spiritual home.” It was at KGIL that Whittington was given the freedom to truly be himself on air. Unlike other stations where he felt constrained by format and expectations, KGIL provided Whittington with the creative space to explore his ideas and develop the persona of “Sweet Dick Whittington.” This freedom allowed him to connect with his audience on a deeper level, and it was during this time that he cemented his place as one of Southern California’s most beloved radio personalities.

The Origins of “Sweet Dick”

The nickname “Sweet Dick” is as iconic as the man himself, but its origins are as intriguing as they are amusing. In this episode, Whittington shares the story behind the name, explaining how it came about and why it stuck. The moniker, while playful, became a key part of Whittington‘s brand, symbolizing the warmth, humor, and approachability that his listeners came to love. As Whittington explains, the name wasn’t just a catchy title—it was a reflection of the persona he cultivated on air, one that was both endearing and memorable.

The Love of the Creative Process

At the heart of Dick Whittington‘s long and storied career is his love for the creative process. As he discusses with Ira Sternberg, it is this passion for creativity that has driven him throughout his career. Whether it was crafting the perfect on-air segment or developing a new character, Whittington always found joy in the act of creation. This love of the creative process is something that has kept him going, even during the challenging times when his self-destructive behavior threatened to derail his career.

Self-Destructive Behavior and the Road to Self-Acceptance

In a moment of introspection, Dick Whittington candidly discusses the self-destructive behavior that plagued him during his career. He opens up about the struggles he faced, both personally and professionally, and how they affected his work and relationships. However, he also shares how he eventually overcame these challenges, learning to accept himself and finding peace in who he is today. Whittington‘s journey to self-acceptance is a testament to his resilience and his unwavering commitment to being true to himself.

A Private Person in a Public World

Despite his public persona, Dick Whittington describes himself as a private person. In this episode, he explain...

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Noshing With Marilyn Greenwald – April 21, 2022

Coauthor, Eunice Hunton Carter: A Lifelong Fight for Social Justice

This week, Ira spoke with Marilyn Greenwald coauthor (along with Yun Li) of Eunice Hunton Carter: A Lifelong Fight for Social Justice, published by Empire State Editions (Fordham University Press). In this prosecutorial episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Marilyn talks about how she discovered the fascinating life and career of Eunice Hunton Carter (it happened in a visit to Las Vegas); how Carter worked with Thomas Dewey to bring down the mob and provided the link that others could not see; her background in education and social work; the challenge of being black and female at a time when minorities were rare in prosecution circles; how her parents were supportive of her work; and the lessons Marilyn learned in writing the book.

Marilyn Greenwald is a professor emerita of Journalism at Ohio University, where she taught courses in news reporting, biography writing and the writing of reviews and criticism. She also worked for ten years as a news reporter and business writer at daily newspapers in Ohio. She is the author of four biographies,including The Secret of the Hardy Boys: Leslie McFarlane and the Stratemeyer Syndicate (2004); and A Woman of the Times: Journalism, Feminism and the Career of Charlotte Curtis, (1999) about New York Times associate editor Curtis, which was named a Notable Book of the New York Times. Her latest book, Eunice Hunton Carter: A Lifelong Fight for Social Justice, co-authored with Yun Li, received the Top Biography/Autobiography Award in 2022 from the Association of American Publishers.