Randy Thomas, Announcer for The Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, & Professional VO Actor

Deborah Kobylt Live

The voice over business is NOT an easy one to break into, but don’t tell that to
award-winning VO artist Randy Thomas, who’s worked the Academy Awards seven
times throughout her career, and is the first person to announce the Oscars, Emmys,
and Tonys in the same year. Randy is also the first woman ever to announce the
Oscars.

Her resume is as long as the state of California, including when she made history as
the half-time announcer for Super Bowl 44, introducing The WHO. She’s been the
voice of ABC’s Nightline, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Kennedy Center Honors,
Democratic Nomination, and more. Please give a warm welcome to Randy Thomas,
who joins our show today to talk about her legendary career and sometimes
complicated life.

Randy grew up listening to NY radio as a kid, and that’s exactly where she started her
career, on the radio. Needless to say, she’s had one of the most successful
announcing careers in the business, but as one of the first women, she says it wasn’t
always easy. And neither was her personal life. Randy’s youngest brother was
murdered, which turned her family up side down. On top of that, she describes her
early years as deeply dysfunctional. She talks about it, and how her career kept her
grounded. Today, she continues to work, and is starting her own VO company, too.
Unfortunately, she lost her home this year in the Palisades fire, and we’ll talk about
how she’s coping with that, too.

Please join #DeborahKobyltLIVE on all video and audio podcast platforms, and invite
your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome
you here.

John Kobylt, KFI The John Kobylt Show Host

Deborah Kobylt Live

Please welcome our resident political analyst #JohnKobylt to our program today to discuss the recent events in news which have rocked the nation and polarized our country. The #JohnKobyltShow is LIVE weekdays on #kfiam640 from 1-4, and is one of the top podcasts on #iheartradio.

John knows local, state and national politics better than anyone I know, and I’ve invited him to talk about how we can possibly stop the negative rhetoric in our nation and start healing. Is it possible?

When I saw people glorifying the cold-blooded murder of #CharlieKirk, I was stunned at the utter stupidity of so many people. It’s like when Luigi Mangione shot the United Healthcare executive point blank on the street in NYC – the violence didn’t change anything, except perhaps put the killer in the spotlight for a moment in time.

I’m trying to not watch the news, even though it’s our business. But the complete polarization of this country is hard to ignore, and I think it’s important to have these discussions to see what can be done about it.

Please join me with John on all platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here. Please invite your friends to listen, too.

Ted Balaker & Courtney Balaker, Director/Producer, “The Coddling of the American Mind”

Deborah Kobylt Live

The political divide appears to be growing larger in this country, and the so-called
American Dream seems to be slipping away from so many, particularly among young
people. And while America has always had a conflicted history, the goal has been to
bridge cultures and forge a united front of prosperity. But is this the case? Particularly
among students in college and high school years, the lines are blurry and the conflict
is rising.

Please welcome to our show filmmakers Ted and Courtney Balaker, whose film, “The
Coddling of the American Mind,” is encouraging discussion from left to right and in
between. The film is base on the book with the same title, and talks about the
disillusionment many young people feel – particularly on college campuses – and how
the rhetoric and constant battles are creating a serious mental health crisis in our
society. The documentary-style film follows the stories of students from various
ethnicities and backgrounds who arrive with wide-eyed anticipation and eventually
become despondent and confused.

This brings upon the debate – how did we get here, and how do we recover from
what’s become a mess for a generation who did all the right things and are met with a
sense of helplessness. And how do we recover as a society to rebuild our strength
while maintaining inclusivity. We’ll talk about that, and recent political events that have
rocked our nation.

Please join our conversation with Ted and Courtney on all video and audio platforms
of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends to this important conversation. I’m
your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Kendall L. Williams, Author, Reclaiming Your Identity & Podcast Host, Mum’s True Tea

Deborah Kobylt Live

Parents and their adult children are a topic I’ve been reading a lot about lately. In particular, parents who aren’t letting go and continuing to make decisions for their adult kids that they should make for themselves. Then there’s a second dynamic, adult children who are not just separating in a healthy way, but are disconnecting, leaving some parents confused and looking for answers.

Please welcome to our show Kendall L. Williams, author of “Reclaiming Your Identity,” and host of the Mum’s True Tea Podcast. Her focus: helping moms reclaim who they were before kids, and finding the balance between being a guiding parent or an overbearing one. Some children have chosen to completely cut off communication, leaving with many parents in a panic, and she talks about how to handle this, too. In other words, parents need to let go.

Kendall said there’s a variety of reasons for this recent dynamic, including social media influence and a culture of disrespect that’s been tolerated. But was there trauma in the household that continued without resolve? Did parents get trapped into the “everybody gets a trophy” mindset? Either way, it seems to have become an issue with many millennial and Gen Z kids and their parents, and Kendall says there are ways to deal with it so both kids and parents can feel safe again to communicate with respect.

Please find my full interview with Kendall on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends to this important conversation. Whether you’re dealing with this or know someone who is, as a parent, we can all benefit from this discussion. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Davide Fiore, Director, A LITTLE FELLOW: The Legacy of A.P. Giannini

Deborah Kobylt Live, Little Italy of LA

Sometimes, there are films that stay with us, and A LITTLE FELLOW: The Legacy of A.P. Giannini, directed by Davide Fiore, is one of those films, and I’m pleased to present Davide today on our #LittleItalyPodcast.

Back in the day, banks were primarily for the wealthy, and the poor and working class immigrants often stashed their savings under a mattress. But at the turn of the 20th century, A.P. Giannini revolutionized the industry with his small bank in San Francisco. A first-generation Italian-American, his goal was to serve “the little fellow” and breed prosperity within his immigrant community. By building trust and giving loans on a simple handshake, he created one of the largest banks in the country – Bank of America.

A LITTLE FELLOW tells his story, and it’s remarkable. In addition, A.P. Giannini was also one of the first investors in Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Hewlett-Packard. His forward-thinking helped the country through two World Wars and the Great Depression.

Davide is a native of Torino, Italy, and has made a name for himself directing and editing in the Italian fashion and advertising industry. He eventually started filming music videos, working along side major Italian labels, singers, and DJ’s, when he embarked on his first documentary, titled JUST US, about two Italian DJ’s. That documentary gained worldwide distribution, and Davide went on to work in Germany, and London. His subsequent photo exhibition, I’VE ALREADY SEEN IT SOMEWHERE, showcased New York movie locations, and has been hosted in Torino, Rome, and Miami, and published by Vogue Italia.

His latest film, A LITTLE FELLOW, is blowing up for its incredible vision and artistic expression. I simply loved it, and had no idea about the story of A.P. Giannini. Please join me in welcoming Davide Fiore on all video and audio podcast platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, #LittleItalyPodcast, & #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Audrey Hope, Host of Hope For Relationships and Addiction Therapist

Deborah Kobylt Live

Since the beginning of time, life has presented us with challenges, and the big test in life is figuring out how to handle them. But it seems lately, particularly since the onslaught of social media and 24/7 info being blasted onto our phones, we can’t get away from the noise.

And that creates anxiety, and a slew of other challenges we’re faced with. Question is, how?

Please welcome to our show Dr. Audrey Hope, trauma therapist and counselor at Seasons Rehabilitation in LA, and Audrey’s gift is sifting through the noise, showing us how to find balance and ultimately healing.

How? We talk about that. Ultimately, there’s various ways to deal with past trauma, but she focuses on healing, not blaming. Shifting, evolving, and forgiving (particularly yourself), with a focus on a health and the future. What do YOU want for your life, where to do you see yourself, and finding skills to get there.

Not woo-woo, just hard work, faith, and technique. She calls it soul healing. We’ll get into it.

Please join my conversation with #AudreyHope on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Madison Jennings, Communications Director with the Assistance League of Los Angeles

Deborah Kobylt Live

The Assistance League Los Angeles has been dedicated to improving the lives of children and young adults in the community through philanthropy, service, and dedicated programs for more than 106 years. Please welcome to our show Madison Jennings, communications director, who joins us to tell us more about the mission of League, in addition to their upcoming fundraiser, Really Big Shoe, a night of comedy being held at The Preseve LA, which is sure to draw a fun crowd while doing good in the community.

The Assistance League has improved the lives of more than 22,000 homeless, foster, and impoverished children in Los Angeles, and the need keeps growing, particularly in the areas of education, arts programs, and critical need services.

The Assistance League has a variety if focused programs, including scholarships, the foster children’s resource center, preschool learning center, theater for children, and operation school bell. We’ll talk about each during our interview.

As always, the Assistance League is always looking for dedicated volunteers. They also want everyone to know they are transparent with all fundraising and have been since they were founded more than 100 years ago. And I’m proud to say, I’m a member.

Please join me on all video and audio podcast platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE on all video and audio platforms. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Elex Michaelson, Award-Winning Journalist & News Anchor based in LA

Deborah Kobylt Live

Award-winning journalist and news anchor Elex Michaelson dreamed of working in the news business since he was a kid. Well, that dream became a reality due to his
incredible work ethic, talent, determination, and undoubtedly good-natured personality. But don’t let that nice-guy persona fool you. Elex is tough. He can interview CA Governor Gavin Newsom in the morning and President Donald Trump in afternoon, and both will leave feeling like they got a fair interview, largely in part because they did.

Elex’s skill is that he knows how to ask a pointed question without picking a side,
giving his guest the room to answer. And I’m honored to welcome one of the best
newscasters in the business and my friend, Elex Michaelson, to our show today.
Elex has been the anchor of various nightly newscasts at @FoxLA and host of
#TheIssueIs, a smart political round up of the local, state, and national issues of the
week. The show’s success is largely due to Elex and his A-list Rolodex, including
former CA governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (Arnold actually took Elex to the gym to
give him work-out tips since), senators, legendary attorneys (Gloria Allred was on
Elex’s show with my husband, @JohnKobyltRadio, and he got the two to dance on
LIVE TV). Then there was the time he traveled with Newsom to China, interviewed
Kamala Harris, and so much more. Elex has a way of getting people on opposite sides
of the political spectrum to find common ground, and everyone leaves with a
handshake and feeling like they got their point across successfully. And ultimately, that
benefits the viewer.

Before #Fox11, Elex worked for @ABC7LA, and he told me about the time he covered
the Democratic National Convention and how he scored interviews with Bernie
Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump. And that’s all Elex’s hustle.

Then there’s his mother’s cookies. Crystal Michaelson brings them to every taping of
#TheIssueIs, something everyone looks forward to. The two are close, and there’s a
story behind that, too. So what does Elex do in his off time? We’ll ask. Where does he
get his cool socks? Well ask that, too. His favorite music? We’ve got a list.
Elex, thanks for having me on your show, too. Enjoyed every minute. It will be weird to
turn on the news every night and NOT see Elex, but he won’t be far. And his new
venture is sure to be exciting. Because he’ll make it that way.

Please join me in welcoming Elex Michaelson to my show, #DeborahKobyltLIVE on all
video and audio podcast platforms. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my
pleasure to welcome you here.

Mallary Tenore Tarpley, Author, #SLIP, Life in the Middle of Eating-Disorder Recovery

Deborah Kobylt Live

Please welcome to our show, #MallaryTenoreTarpley, mom, journalism professor at UT Austin, and author of SLIP, Life in the Middle of Eating-Disorder Recovery.

Mallary wrote this book to help others struggling with what she calls “the middle,” a gray space between sickness and recovery. Her story is a raw one. Having lost her mother at age eleven, she went deep with an eating disorder, being treated for anorexia and spending years in and out of treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital and other centers. She said in her book that she felt recovery was not within reach for her, but she works at it every day. There’s hope. There’s a way to heal, even if you relapse and find yourself in the middle. That’s okay.

Mallary says she discovered through therapy that she mentally wanted her body to stay at the age she was when she lost her mother. Her father tried everything, fearing he would lose his daughter and eventually had her treated in hospital. But it didn’t end there. She talks about the disorder, triggers, treatment, relapse, and brings it to present day, being married with two children.

Please join me in welcoming Mallary on all video and audio podcast platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends and family to this important conversation. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.

Dr. Lynn Ianni, PhD MFT, Family and Marriage Therapist

Deborah Kobylt Live

Have we raised resilient kids? Please welcome to our show Dr. Lynn Lanni, PhD, Family and Marriage Therapist, who joins us to talk about a growing trend in some households – adult children who are limiting communication with their parents, leaving them confused, not knowing how to handle the situation and asking themselves what went wrong. So I’ve invited Dr. Ianni to help sort things out so families can begin the healing process and start talking again.

Dr. Ianni said there’s a variety of reasons for this recent dynamic. Was there unresolved trauma? Is it social media influence? Did parents get trapped into the “everybody gets a trophy” mindset and not raise resilient kids? Was there an abusive parent? Could it be recent therapy trends? Whatever the underlying reason, it seems to be an issue particularly with millennial and Gen Z kids with their parents, and Dr. Ianni says there are ways to deal with it so adult children and parents feel safe again to communicate with love and mutual respect.

Please find my full interview with Dr. Ianni on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends to this important conversation. Whether you’re dealing with this or know someone who is, we can all benefit from this discussion. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s my pleasure to welcome you here.