Backstage With Gentry Thomas

In his new book "Disloyal" Michael Cohen describes the president as “a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man.” In our interview Cohen recalls the first time he met Donald Trump face to face calling it "a day he will never forget". On that same day he landed the role as Executive Vice President of The Trump Organization and special council. He admits to admiring Trump for 20 years prior to that meeting having read The Art of The Deal twice and feeling a true connection in their personalities. Cohen opens up to Gentry Thomas about the pivot moment when he realized he had made the biggest mistake of his life aligning with Donald Trump. From 2017 to 2018, Cohen was deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee. In April of 2018 the FBI showed up at Cohen's doorstep, but according to him they waited until his son left for school out of respect and acted very cordial with Cohen, who at the time was the lawyer for The President of the United States. The FBI investigators took a bunch of documents from his home, his law office and a hotel room he was staying at. Cohen would go on to plea guilty to five counts of willful tax evasion; one count of making false statements to a bank; one count of causing an unlawful campaign contribution; and one count of making an excessive campaign contribution. Looking back on these mistakes our host Gentry Thomas asked Cohen what did he learn from all this? "I want people to understand this, that when Donald Trump hired me he was a real estate guy and once he became President he then changed dramatically for the worse" explained Cohen.  Michael Cohen joined us from house arrest as he was among some of the inmates at Otisville Federal Prison in upstate NY, who were released into home confinement because of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. Mr. Cohen, 53, is serving a three-year sentence for federal crimes and has one more year left to serve.  Click the link to listen to Cohen's new podcast called "Mea Culpa" with Michael Cohen  Buy Michael's new book "Disloyal" For more Backstage Pass with Gentry Thomas be sure to subscribe @ The Podcast Playground  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rapper turned actor has stayed hustling since breaking on the scene in the early 80s. His real name is Tracy Marrow but his friends call him Ice! When we sat down with him on this week's episode of Backstage he told us that when he recorded Cop Killer he felt like "people just looked at me as a rapper out of LA with palm trees and Hollywood limelight and thought police brutality didn't exist". But now he says the biggest difference is "accountability" Ice credit the cell phones on the streets capturing the wrong doing of police officers.  In his new movie called "Equal Standard" Ice-T plays a gang member In his latest film highlighting tensions between police and the black community. Nearly three decades ago, Ice and his heavy metal band Body Count recorded a song called “Cop Killer,” about a man fed up with police brutality, that threw gasoline on the already raging rap culture wars. In 2017, Body Count released the song “No Lives Matter,” about racism and classism in America. In between messages, Ice has spent 21 years playing NYPD Detective Fin Tutuola on “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.” And last month, the Grammy winner executive-produced and acted in “Equal Standard,” a movie available to rent online about a black cop shooting a white cop and the ensuing community fallout. “It costs nine dollars, but you spend that on Starbucks so stop playing,” Ice said. Ice did the movie for free for the same reason he spends most of his social media energy lobbing f-bomb-laced truths at his over 2 million followers across platforms: “We’re at a very important part of history right now, world history.” We caught up with Ice to talk racism, hip-hop and how he does things differently at age 62. Check out this week's episode with Gentry Thomas and Ice T plus download even more content @ The Podcast Playground.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jessie James Decker Dishes on New Music and Her First Cookbook! Jessie James Decker has been busy balancing her thriving career and home life while under quarantine, and tells our Gentry Thomas that her Mother recently told her she should slow down. When we spoke this week with the 32-year-old, she talked all about how quarantine has been going for her family of five, as well as her new music and her highly anticipated first cookbook, Just Feed Me. Jessie shares down-home and simple-to-make recipes for drinks, appetizers, and full dinners--many Italian, Southern and Cajun dishes which were handed down to her from her mom.  Jessie and her husband, Eric Decker, share three young children together -- 6-year-old daughter Vivianne and their two sons, 5-year-old Eric II and 2-year-old Forrest. Jessie admits that she roots for the Jets on Sundays.  If you are looking to get this Southern Girl who likes City Lights on the dance floor she says that anytime she hears the song "I want you back" by The Jackson 5 she is dancing in her boots!          See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Jost Of 'SNL' Knows You're Laughing At His 'Very Punchable Face' Listen to this episode of Backstage Pass with Colin Jost the top writer for SNL and the lucky guy that has Scarlett Johansson's heart. Jost's new memoir, A Very Punchable Face, describes his experiences growing up in a middle-class household on Staten Island. He talks about living in NYC in the midst of the pandemic and talks his days attending Harvard with Mark Zukerberg. Jost recalls being one of the first users on Facebook and opens up about how in most cases an Ivy League education is over rated.  Saturday Night Live's Colin Jost knows there's something about his clean-cut image that rubs some people the wrong way. When he joined SNL as a writer in 2005, he worked off-camera — and didn't have to think about his looks. Colin admits that his favorite sketch on SNL so far has been Drunk Uncle that he wrote for Bobby Moynihan.  In his new book, which is a NY Times best seller, Jost has a chapter about Donald Trumps appearance on SNL prior to him being elected President in November of 2015. Listen to the Podcast to find out what Jost said about our commander and chief.  Colin Jost may be best known for his role as the lead anchor for Weekend Update. He let us know that the crew will be back live at Rockefeller Plaza LIVE for Saturday Night again in late September. The newly engaged Colin Jost talks wedding bells and first dance song selection for his upcoming wedding with Scarlett Johansson.  To listen to more interviews with Gentry Thomas click HERE: https://thepodcastplayground.com/podcast/backstage-with-gentry-thomas/          See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Schneider wants to remind people that he started his career as a stand up comedian. Long before he was on “Saturday Night Live” alongside Adam Sandler, David Spade and Chris Rock, Schneider was writing jokes and mailing them to the "SNL" offices in the hopes of being discovered. “I remember when I was 16, I used to write jokes and send them to the show,” Schneider says. “And then 7 years later I was on the show.”  When Rob sat down with Gentry Thomas he told us "there are a lot of brilliant comedians that I admire today; Dave Chapelle, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Amy Schumer, to name a few. But his best advice for stand-up comedy was from Jay Leno. Schneider recalls riding around in San Francisco early in his career with Leno when he told him "you better have 5 minutes that kills"! Also some sound advise came from Rob's friend Jerry Seinfeld, he told Rob once that if you are not funny within 2 minutes then you have no act"! For the past several years he’s been touring small comedy clubs around the US working on material for his first Netflix special, “Asian Momma, Mexican Kids.” As the title suggests, he talks a lot about his family during the show. “I’m at the point in my life where I don’t mind being honest. This is the least amount of lies I’ve ever told in any comedy routine.” In the interview Rob opens up about his relationship with longtime friend Adam Sandler whom he met in 1988. Sandler once told Gentry that Rob is obsessive compulsive with his vitamins. Schneider admits to taking 72 vitamin a day. Hear his list of must have supplements to add to your daily regime. His new Netflix special has been dedicated to Raymond Francis who has penned a handful of books that Schneider says will give you better quality of life. His favorite book from Francis is Never Be Sick Again. During these days of covid-19 we could all use some sound advise when it comes to our immune system. We personally feel that sometimes laughter can be the best medicine. So listen to our latest episode of Backstage with Gentry Thomas and share it with all your friends!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joey Fatone Talks 'Common Knowledge,' His Post-N SYNC Hosting Career. He also told Gentry Thomas on the Podcast his biggest moment personally with the band.  The former *NSYNC member joins Common Knowledge after starring in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, serving as an announcer on Family Feud from 2010 through 2015, and hosting The Singing Bee and Parents Just Don't Understand. Joey, now 43, told us that former band member Chris Kirkpatrick would win if N-Sync ended up in a fight to the death!  Listen to Backstage with Gentry Thomas and Joey Fatone in this episode of the podcast to find out which band mate is the most street smart and which one is the best with the books in the classroom.  In the summer of 1995, after befriending Chris Kirkpatrick, a fellow Universal Studios stage performer who was singing in a doo-wop group, he became the fourth member of NSYNC, along with Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez. Then Lance Bass was added to the group that would become NSYNC. In 2001, Fatone co-starred with *NSYNC bandmate Lance Bass in the Miramax film On the Line, he guest starred with NSYNC on a 2001 episode of The Simpsons episode New Kids on the Blecch, and also did voice work with Bass on the same episodes of Disney's Kim Possible and Adult Swim's Robot Chicken. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Steve-O has some strong feelings about the coronavirus pandemic. The Jackass star revealed to us that he had tested positive for COVID-19, despite following all the recommended safety protocols. He also revealed that he was completely asymptomatic, and only realized he’d contracted the virus as a precaution. During his current stand-up tour, he got tested and received negative results. However, after someone suggested he get tested for antibodies too, the results came back positive.   Recently Steve O had Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal on his Podcast. On our interview he tells Gentry that he learned a lot talking with the Big Fella.   For more of Gentry Thomas’s podcast subscribe below and to contact Gentry e-mail him @ info@gentrythomas.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yellowstone actor Kevin Costner is an Oscar winning Director and Film Maker. With more than three decades in Hollywood, the 65-year-old has starred in and directed some of the most-loved movies including Field of Dreams, Dances with Wolves, The Bodyguard, to name a few. But for Kevin, there’s one leading role that he really enjoys. MUSIC. Costner tells Gentry Thomas “I grew up in the church singing, making music and trained classically on piano.” For a long time now Kevin Costner has felt the need to connect with people in a more meaningful way more than just an autograph. Costner tell us that he found himself traveling around the world in different situations where the only exchange has been just that… a quick signature on the run usually followed by a “gee, he’s taller than I thought.” The Dances with Wolves actor always thought that music could build a stronger, more personal moment. It would create the opportunity for a genuine exchange much greater than the movie, TV interview or magazine. It would be real, full of mistakes and without apology. But most of all there would be the chance to have some fun. Kevin Costner tells Gentry Thomas on the Podcast the music he grew up on was set during the Vietnam War and he remembers listening to his tunes on 8-tracks cassettes. His playlist included artists like The Four Seasons, The Doors, CREAM, Simon & Garfunkel and Marvin Gaye. During our time with Costner he also talked about the current state of movie making and the now abnormal way of releasing a new film. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic movie goers can’t go see their favorite stars on the BIG screen. Kevin, says “it’s never good when people can’t go where they want to go.” He admits that this is a “legitimate problem. How can we get 1,000 people to go sit in the dark and dream the same dream.” The movies Costner makes he says “are made for the big screen.” Somehow he hopes that the flag can drop and we can feel secure about going to see a movie again. He feels like it will be a vaccine moment that hopefully will make people feel safe enough to get their popcorn and friends together to sit back, relax and enjoy the movies again.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kathy Ireland teams up with a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Rachel Van Dyken For First Novel, "Fashion Jungle" As if building up a multi-million-dollar fashion and home licensing enterprise and her philanthropy weren’t enough of a follow-up to a highly successful modelling career, Kathy Ireland can now add novelist to her list of credits, with her first title written with the number-one New York Times best selling author Rachel van Dyken, Fashion Jungle, out January 28, 2020The new book is being described as Valley of the Dolls meets Sex and the City, and will be an ‘honest and exciting foray into the world of fashion.’ Ireland draws on her own experiences, including her faith, as she and van Dyken tell the story of four women within the modelling industry, against the very relevant backdrop of the #MeToo movement and human trafficking. ‘Fashion Jungle is a novel based on twists and turns that are true. It’s the one story I never expected to tell. The fashion industry is a beautiful and simultaneously an ugly and dangerous place. I entered the jungle at the age of 16 and made wonderful friends and more than a few enemies. Fashion illusion can be responsible for great tragedy. Girls who starve themselves, recreational drug and alcohol use that becomes addictive, sex trafficking, statutory rape and most people are shocked to learn how many models lose their lives or simply disappear,’ says Ireland. Ireland herself had appeared on the covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan, among others, and graced three Sports Illustrated covers, one of which is its best selling issue of all time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Backstage With Gentry Thomas

Candace Cameron Bure joined us from quarantine where she said the one bright spot is that her children are back at home and she is having a lot of down time to spend with her family. Candace married former professional hockey player Valeri Bure.

Newt Gingrich joined us live from Italy, which has been one of the hot spots during the covid-19 outbreak. He and his wife Callista have been in quarantine for the last few weeks. The former Speaker Of The House discussed how he took in Palm Sunday mass on the small screen (his phone iphone). Gingrich also talked about the current state of the relationship with the United States and China in which he believes there is still more to come out of China and the World Health Organization. Gringrich feels strongly that there has been cover ups and misinformation on the covid-19 virus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Backstage With Gentry Thomas Vivica A. Fox got personal with us talking about her former marriage, having regrets about not having kids and let's us know that she has a new podcast called Hustlin' now available.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rick Springfield releases new single titled "Wall Will Fall" to benefit FeedingAmerica.org also he tells Gentry if he ever had sex with Jessie's Girl? WATCH: Rick Springfield has been trying to teach everyone how to play Jessie's Girl in less than 60 seconds on his Instagram A couple friends were looking to pass some quarantine time, the New Orleans native Vance DeGeneres, a guitarist for ‘80s New Wave band The Cold who moved on to a successful career as a comedy writer and producer in Los Angeles, and his buddy Rick Springfield decided to co-write a song. The initial idea was to goof on the process, as documented in an online series of short, humorous clips dubbed "The Ultimate Mini-series: The 60-Second Guide to Songwriting With a Partner.” But low and behold, the song they came up with, “The Wall Will Fall,” turned out to be better than they expected. They ended up working with a litany of famous friends, including Paul Stanley of Kiss, Sammy Hagar, Richard Marx, Fred Schneider of the B-52s, and DeGeneres’ sister, Ellen. Many more familiar faces make cameos in the song’s video.   “The Wall Will Fall” was released on May 8 via digital download on Apple iTunes and Amazon Music, and via free streaming on Spotify and Pandora. Proceeds benefit Feeding America, the hunger relief organization with a nationwide network of food banks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tommy Chong talks with Gentry Thomas while laying low in Southern California during the covid-19 outbreak. Tommy Chong the cannabis king took a moment to put down the bong and talk to us about how he was dealing with the recent pandemic that has made the whole world sit back and take a chill pill. In good spirits, the now 81 year old living legend, was candid with Gentry Thomas about why he believes that this is "mother nature's way of fighting back". In part he thinks that it's due to climate change and b;ames China on being over populated and wrapping all their goods in plastic. Chong says that nowadays no one cares about our planet and she is fighting back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spike Lee talks about the protesters, The Knicks, and his movie. Da 5 Bloods is a 2020 American war drama film directed and produced by Spike Lee. Four African American Vietnam veterans return to Vietnam in search of the remains of their fallen squad leader and the promise of buried treasure. These heroes battle forces of humanity and nature while confronted by the lasting ravages of the immorality of the Vietnam War. Spike also talks about his feelings when he sees The American Flag Lee admits that he “sees a broken promise” when looking at The United States Flag. Something he reminds us you will see in the film Da 5 Bloods. The star of the filmmaker's latest work is Chadwick Boseman whose character tells his fellow bloods how “black people have been fighting for the United States from the very beginning.”  Lee in the interview gives us an example by saying “The first person to die for this country at the Boston Massacre was Crispus Attucks in 1770.” He went on to say “the whole Kaepernick kneeling was all about what we are marching for today, the whole narrative got twisted. Colin wasn’t protesting the US Flag or the veterans that fought for this country, he was kneeling for social injustice.”    The iconic filmmaker wrote the script for “Do The Right Thing” back in 1988, some 31 years ago. He explains how that award-winning film is so relevant today.  What’s up with The Knick's biggest Fan? Is Spike back on the bandwagon? He updates us on his relationship with the New York Knicks. Lee said, “he will not return for any more games for the remainder of the season”. All Spike Lee wanted to do was use the employee entrance at Madison Square Garden. Really, it’s all he knows. A long-time New York Knicks superfan has been using it for 28 years.. But suddenly, they wouldn’t let him — security told him to use a different entrance. Lee was then in a full-on feud with the Knicks and team owner James Dolan over his treatment. Lee explained we will wait and see how the new GM Leon Rose does with hiring a new coach and filling out his roster.  Fans questioned how the franchise could treat its biggest fan with such disrespect. It turns out that they have been eliminated from this year's playoffs. The NBA Board of Governors met with Adam Silver to vote and approve a plan to return to play on July 31 with 22 teams at Disney World. To hear the FULL interview click the play button at the top of this article. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.