Addi Somekh, International Balloon Hat Maker

Deborah Kobylt Live

Meet Addi Somekh, a self-taught balloon artist who has been twisting balloons around the globe for over 30 years, and I’m honored to welcome him to our show.

In addition to creating large-scale balloon sculptures, flowers, hats, and just about anything you can think of, Addi also wrote, “Inflatable Planet,” along with Charles Eckert, which is a stunning photographic portrait of his many travels around the globe where he’s delighted generations of people with his balloon art.

Addi is also is a university philosophy instructor and musician. He joins us to not just talk about his work, but also his beliefs in the universal power of joy and laughter, which his balloon art has brought to so many around the world.

Please join us for our full interview on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I’m happy you’ll be joining us today. Please invite your friends, too❤️

John Frank Levey, Casting Director and Author, “Right for the Role”

Deborah Kobylt Live

During this down time with the SAG/AFTRA & Writers Guild strike, many actors and writers are honing their skills so they can come back stronger than ever. Please welcome John Frank Levey to our show, four-time Emmy-winning casting director and author, “Right For The Role,“ who joins us to talk about tricks of the trade and how to stand out when auditioning for any role.

John has cast for some of TV’s most iconic shows, including ER, The West Wing, Shameless, China Beach, in addition to dozens of TV series and movies, video games, feature films, digital series, and more, so he knows what studios are looking for. And even though the business may be changing with AI and other technologies, good acting can never be replicated.

John’s book isn’t just for folks in the business. It’s for anyone looking to present his or her best when preparing for an interview or even walking into a room. And he’s got LOTS of stories from his many years in the business, so you won’t want to miss this.

Please join our full interview on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt. Thanks for joining us, and pick up Frank’s book, too📕

James E. Cottrell, Author, “Anesthesia Without Fear”

Deborah Kobylt Live

Ever wonder what happens when you go under anesthesia? Then you must listen to our interview with Dr. James Cottrell, author, “Anesthesia Without Fear,” because he’s got a lot to share with us.

There’s no fear here. It’s about knowing the different types of anesthesia depending on your surgery, because not all anesthesia is created equal. There’s also lots you can do to prepare for surgery, and Dr. Cottrell talks about that, too, in addition to what questions to ask your anesthesiologist before undergoing the knife. What about emergency surgery, and the differences between heart surgery and the type of
anesthesia needed for child birth, natural or C-section? And what about other plastic surgery?

There’s a LOT to cover, so tune in and join the conversation. You can find our full interview on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE.

I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, thanks for tuning in, and please invite your friends, too.

Robin LaMonte, Influencers of Midlife

Deborah Kobylt Live

Please join me in discussing a very exciting conference taking place Sept 28 – Oct 01 in Vegas – Influencers of Midlife Summit!

Ladies (and gentlemen), this is for those of us mid-life and beyond, talking about everything from money management to health, divorce, wills, new job opportunities, how to maximize social media and job trends, podcasting, AI, and more. I’ll be speaking with social media influencer and the creator of the Summit, Robin LaMonte, who will walk us through what’s going to be happening during this fun and
informative weekend. There’s already a panel of dynamic speakers in place, and I’ll be interviewing our Keynote Speaker – Cristina Ferrare, model, actress, author, and talk show host. And she’s got a LOT to share.

Please join our full interview on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends, too!

I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I look forward to sharing with you all about
our summit, and I hope you’ll join us in Vegas. Info at InfluencersOfMidlife.com

Shannon Cohn, Director, “Below The Belt” film

Deborah Kobylt Live

Please welcome to our show Shannon Cohn, director of the #PBS documentary, “Below The Belt: The Last Health Taboo.”

The film talks about #endometriosis, which is often misdiagnosed in patients. The disease affects one in nine women who are often in extreme pain, discounted, and ultimately left with no answers.

In fact, can take years to diagnoses endometriosis, and the emotional and physical toll on patients is life-altering. Many can’t work, and often, endometriosis can lead to infertility.

The film follows the stories of four patients, each seeking answers to a painful problem. We will talk about identifying the causes, symptoms, and possible cures for endometriosis.

Please find our full interview with Shannon on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite your friends to this join important conversation as well. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt. Thanks for tuning in.

Chris R. Vaccaro, Director IABF and Joe Quagliano, President

Deborah Kobylt Live, Little Italy of LA

🇮🇹 Italians LOVE their baseball. Growing up, my parents gushed about #JoeDiMaggio, and now it’s #MikePiazza with my kids. So today, we welcome Joe Quagliano, president, and Chris Vaccaro, director, of the Italian American Baseball Foundation, doing a lot to merge young Italian ball players with baseball the U.S.

#IABF provides opportunities for youth development in baseball and softball, providing education and exposure to young players through clinics, coaching, and more. The foundation builds a pipeline of players from Italy to the U.S. by providing scholarships and showcases, supporting the Italian National Teams as American partners, and promoting baseball and softball players from high school to the Major League level.

These two have been committed to this cause since it started, and it stems from their love of baseball and all things Italian. Chris has been a successful media consultant and journalist, and Joe runs Mint Pros, providing VIP events primarily around baseball. And their love of the game is creating something special for the next round of ball players.

Please join our show with Chris and Joe, and invite your friends, too. Our full interview is available on all video and audio platforms of #LittleItalyPodcast, #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast, and #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, a proud Italian-American who grew up a Yankees fan, married a Mets fan, and has a son who plays college baseball ⚾️

Neferteri Plessy & Cole Patterson, Co-founders, Single Moms Planet

Deborah Kobylt Live

Please welcome to #DeborahKobyltLIVE, two women who are literally transforming the lives of single moms, and making a HUGE difference by helping women get educated, trained, and marketable for work and career.

Neferteri Plessy and Cole Patterson co-founded Single Moms Planet, which promotes independence and financial success through education. Did you know, 4 out of 10 children are living in single parent households, and that has an effect on both kids and adults. But Single Moms Planet is making sure all of that changes, and they’re here to explain to us how we can be involved, too.

Please find our full interview about Single Moms Planet on all video and audio platforms, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, thanks for tuning in!

Lisa L. Lewis, Author, “The Sleep-Deprived Teen”

Deborah Kobylt Live

Teens are experiencing record amounts of stress, and sleep can have a LOT to do with it. Please welcome to our show, Lisa L. Lewis, author, “The Sleep Deprived Teen,” an inside look at why our teenagers are so tired, and how parents and schools can help teens thrive.

We’ll be discussing the science of why sleep matters; how sleep affects mental health, academics, and athletic performance; we’ll talk about gender and sleep; technology and sleep, and much more.

The question is, how do teens get more sleep? Particularly when their bodies want to get to sleep later, and schools start early. We talk about all of that and more. It’s an important discussion, not just for teens, but parents, educators, and anyone interested in learning about what happens when we sleep and how we sort through our thoughts.

Please join our full interview on all video and audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE, and invite all friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, someone who does NOT get enough sleep, often lost in my own thoughts! So please join us, there’s a lot to learn.

Terri Allen, Co-Founder, Angels of light Children’s foundation.

Deborah Kobylt Live

Please welcome to our show Terri Allen, co-founder of Angels of Light Children’s Foundation, a non-profit that provides children, teachers, parents, and professionals with effective “mindfulness” techniques for the whole child.

Currently, children worldwide are exposed to enormous stress that many adults find too challenging to process. The mission of the Foundation is to help children develop the skills to nurture wellness from within to make solid choices for themselves. She hopes to incorporate this into schools, too.

Terri has co-written two books she’ll be speaking about, “My Magical Garden” and “My Magical Tree.” These are fun, interactive books where children are encouraged to use their imagination and creativity to make choices that feel comfortable to them. Her mindfulness programs are designed to help young people regulate emotions, manage stress, and any other challenges they may be facing. She talks about this, and how our society needs to better support mental health issues to combat anxiety, depression, anger, and so much more facing young people today.

Please welcome Terri, invite your friends, and join our conversation on #DeborahKobyltLIVE, available on all video and audio platforms. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, thanks for joining us!

Nico Juber, Award-winning Composer

Deborah Kobylt Live

Please welcome to our show Nico Juber, award-winning composer and musical theater writer recently highlighted on the “2023 Women to Watch on Broadway” list, after making her Off-Broadway debut with “MILLENNIALS ARE KILLING MUSICALS,” which was an astounding success.

And Nico is on the move. Her musical WINNER, co-written with Joe Barros, is set to debut in the West End as part of The London Summer Music Theatre Academy later this summer. And she’s only just getting started.

Nico comes from a true legendary background. Her dad, Laurence Juber, is a musician whose work includes playing in the band, #Wings (yes, she’s met Paul McCartney, my personal idol), and her mom, Hope, an accomplished writer and actress whom I’ve had on my show. Nico’s grandfather, who is Hope’s dad, was Sherwood Schwartz, the creator of so many incredible shows from The Brady Bunch to Gillian’s Island. Let’s just say she’s learned from the best.

But it took some time for Nico to flourish, because cancer got in her way (she’s recovered), and she welcomed two children. But once got behind the piano again, she found her voice. She tells us about that, and also the nonprofit she created for cancer survivors called Thrive/Survive Los Angeles.

There’s a LOT to talk about, including the need for more women in leadership roles in theater, TV, and film. Please tune in to #DeborahKobyltLIVE on all video and audio podcast platforms, and invite your friends, too. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt. And a BIG shout out to my friends at the BRA Network, including Carry, Catherine, and Debra, who introduced me to Nico.