William Wang is the CEO and co-founder of Irvine-based VIZIO, a leading manufacturer of TVs and sound bars as well as speakers and the Smartcast app. William graduated from USC in 1986 with a degree in electrical engineering and began his career in tech support for a Chinese company selling computer monitors. He would go on to create his own computer monitor companies before founding VIZIO in 2002. During this podcast, William discusses his work ethic, the decision to take on the major TV manufacturers with the industry-disrupting VIZIO, and he details the major airline crash that he survived that changed his life and his approach to business.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scott Mantz is a film critic and co-Founder of the LA Online Film Critics Society. He was resident film critic and film segment producer for "Access Hollywood" from 2008-2018. He now reviews movies for Collider and appears regularly on a number of TV shows including the KTLA 5 Morning News. Scott is also a longtime member of both the Producers Guild of America and the Broadcast Film Critics Association. During this podcast, Scott reveals how he became a film critic, he discusses his passion for movies and his thoughts on the current state of the movie industry, and he also gives listeners a few reviews of films playing in theaters this summer.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bernie Taupin is a songwriter whose five decades long collaboration with Elton John is considered to be the most successful songwriting partnerships in history is chronicled in the new film "Rocketman." Bernie and Elton's songs have resulted in 35 gold and 25 platinum albums along with 30 Top 40 hits in the U.S. Bernie is also a lifelong visual artist who started concentrating on painting in the 1990s later sculpture. His visual art exhibition "Bernie Taupin: The Artist, The Raconteur & His Blowtorch" is open to the public now at Galerie Michael in Beverly Hills through June 30th. During this podcast, Bernie discusses his art and his music and the intersection of the two. He discusses his successful 50-year collaboration with Elton John, his process and inspiration in both art and music, and Bernie reveals his review about the movie "Rocketman" in theaters now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tembi Locke is an actress and author of "From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home." The literary debut details her love affair with her late husband, Saro, a chef from Sicily whose family initially rejected Tembi and refused to attend their wedding because he was marrying a black actress from America. Saro's mother and family eventually did embrace them and their daughter, Zoela. But then tragically Saro was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. During this podcast, Tembi talks about her love affair with Saro and her decade of caring for him. She recounts the eventual bonding that happened with Saro's mother during summers spent in Sicily, cooking and healing. During this conversation, Tembi also provides guidance and inspiration for others dealing with grief and loss, as she does on the website she founded, The Kitchen Widow.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Carrie Preston is an actress currently starring as "Polly" on TNT's "Claws" which premieres its third season on June 9th. The show is about five manicurists in a South Florida nail salon who are also involved in the underworld. Carrie is also known for roles on TV including her Emmy-winning portrayal of Elsbeth Tascioni on "The Good Wife" and as waitress Arlene Fowler on "True Blood." Carrie has also appeared on Broadway in "Festen" and "The Rivals," and in numerous films including "My Best Friend's Wedding," and she directs and produces films through her production company Daily 3 Pictures. During this podcast, Carrie talks about her life and career and the joy of starring in the female-driven comedy-drama "Claws." Carrie also reveals the one thing non-acting directors do that she really doesn't like. And, she tells us where she gets her nails done.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Akbar Gbajabiamila is a host of NBC's "American Ninja Warrior" which begins its 11th season on May 29th. Akbar is also the author of a new book "Everyone Can Be A Ninja: Find Your Inner Warrior and Achieve Your Dreams." He is a former NFL player and sports broadcaster. During this podcast, Akbar discusses growing up as one of seven children of Nigerian immigrants in the Crenshaw community of Los Angeles, he talks about how he cried the first time he practiced as a football player and tried to quit, and he recounts a disastrous first episode and difficult first season as co-host of American Ninja Warrior.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Valerie Jarrett served as senior advisor to President Barack Obama overseeing the White House Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. She was also chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls. Jarrett is the author of the new book “Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward.”During this podcast, she discusses her life and career including her longtime friendship with the Obamas dating back to her days as deputy chief of staff to Chicago’s Mayor Richard M. Daley, she reveals what it was like to serve in the Obama Administration, and she addresses the racist tweet from comedian Roseanne Barr (“muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.”) that resulted in Barr’s firing from ABC and the cancellation of her sitcom “Roseanne.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bob Bergen is an actor and voice over artist best known as the voice of Porky Pig. This year, he's celebrating 29 years of acting in the voice of that character. Bob is also the voice of Tweety, Luke Skywalker in Star Wars video games, Winter Soldier in Avengers Assemble and countless voices in animated features including A Bug's Life, Cars, Finding Nemo and many more. Bob has voiced hundreds of commercials and he's the imaging branding voice for numerous radio stations across the U.S. Bob is a three-time Emmy nominee. During this podcast, Bob reveals how he snuck his way onto a movie studio lot as a teenager to meet the legendary "Man of 1000 Voices" Mel Blanc to watch his idol work. Bob also discusses his career and how a thank you note to  Casey Kasem for an autographed picture led to his biggest break. Bob also tells us how he develops the voices of characters. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Norman Mineta served as the Secretary of Transportation from 2001-2006 during the George W. Bush presidency (including on 9-11). He had previously served as Secretary of Commerce under President Bill Clinton as the first Asian American to hold a cabinet post. He began his career in public service in 1967 as a member of San Jose's city council. In 1971, he became the first Asian American mayor of a major American city. He then served in the House of Representatives from 1975-1995 becoming the first Japanese American elected to the House from the contiguous United States. He is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. During this podcast, Mr. Mineta talks about his career of public service and about the events of 9-11 including ordering all aircraft flying over the U.S. to land immediately. He also discusses his experience as a child being sent to an internment camp during World War II along with other Americans of Japanese descent. He details the lifelong friendship that began in the camp with fellow Boy Scout Alan Simpson who would go on to become a senator from Wyoming. Mr. Mineta also discusses the film showing on PBS TV stations on May 20th "Norman Mineta and His Legacy: An American Story."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Father Gregory Boyle is a Jesuit priest and the founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries, a world famous gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program in Los Angeles. The program provides training and employment to former gang members along with services like tattoo removal, substance abuse support, and mental health therapy. Homeboy Industries products include items sold in grocery stores like Gelson's and Ralphs and street wear and bakery items sold online and at Homebody Industries in downtown LA. During this podcast, Father Greg discusses what he's learned about why people join gangs and commit violence, he reveals how he and others help former gang members to heal, grow and transform into productive and healthy individuals, and he talks about a new documentary "Healing Trauma: Beyond Gangs and Prison" from Brave New Films and director Robert Greenwald.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.