The Talk About Las Vegas Podcast | a podcast by Ira Sternberg

Photo by Scott Robert Ritchie

Photo by Janice Wilkins This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira welcomes powerhouse jazz vocalist Nancy Kelly, appearing live at Vic’s Las Vegas, September 19–20. Known for her crystal-clear, no-nonsense style, Nancy shares why music—not showmanship—has always been her true love. She dives into the intimate connection between performer and audi-ence, the humor (and humility) that jazz musicians carry, and why swing and bebop re-main at the heart of her artistry. Nancy also reflects on being groomed for the stage from an early age, the making of her latest album Be Cool, and her belief that jazz mu...

This week on "Talk About Las Vegas With Ira," Ira welcomes jazz artist Andy James, whose latest album, “Happy People” (Le Coq Records), blends the fire of flamenco with the soul of jazz. Andy began her artistic journey as a flamenco dancer, studying in Australia and Spain before performing worldwide. She talks about her family’s musical roots, the challenges of injuries, and meeting her husband—a classically trained pianist and former ballet dancer—during a rehearsal for "Carmen." Now based in Las Vegas, Andy shares how she draws inspiration from Chick Corea, crafts songs through collaboration, and recorded her new album...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Grammy and Emmy-nominated trumpeter and arranger Greg Adams joins the conversation ahead of his August 22nd performance with East Bay Soul in Myron’s Cabaret at The Smith Center. From picking up the trumpet at an early age to taking over his high school band, Greg shares how his self-taught arranging skills led him to become a founding member of Tower of Power. He takes us behind the scenes of iconic moments—joining Elton John for the legendary Caribou sessions, working in the storied Capitol Records building, arranging with Quincy Jones, collabor...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with rising country artist Dalton Hicks, performing at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country on August 15. Dalton opens up about the stories and grit behind his latest single, "Day By Day"—a song shaped by his rough life, self-reliance right after high school, and a “get up and keep moving” philosophy. He shares how picking up a guitar at 17 turned a dream of becoming a marine biologist into a career as a songwriter and performer—without any studio backing. Raised a self-described “redneck,” Dalton was first inspired by his grandmother’s church music, even t...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira welcomes award-winning magician and showbiz veteran Fielding West, fresh from being honored at the inaugural Global Magicians Hall of Fame ceremony in Las Vegas. In this revealing and entertaining conversation, Fielding shares how his magical journey began at the age of nine—sparked by a life-changing gift from his grandfather to help him overcome learning disabilities. That spark eventually led to a bold decision: dropping out of graduate school after a chance encounter with none other than Steve Martin. After driving the comedy icon to a gig and watching him perfor...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira is joined by Nashville-based singer-songwriter Rae Radick, performing “Iconic Women of Music” at Backstage Bar & Billiards on September 17. Rae’s journey is as bold as the voices she honors—from singing and dancing at age three to releasing her first album at fifteen. After a decade of performing in New York, she followed her heart to Nashville, just as the world started reopening post-COVID. Now, she’s living her dream—and inviting us all along for the ride. In this episode, Rae opens up about: *How performing keeps her fit (yes, it's her wo...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira dives into the colorful world of Clint Carvalho, a multifaceted entertainer whose life story is as vivid as the exotic parrots he performs with. Clint opens up about two deeply personal Facebook posts—one about staying true to yourself, the other about the shifting entertainment landscape in Las Vegas—and why he felt compelled to write them. A Las Vegas resident since 1986, Clint shares how the city is more than a place—it's a relationship. Known originally as a “specialty act,” he reflects on the evolution of audiences, who now chase discount...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira welcomes veteran journalist and founder of LasVegasSportsBiz.com, Alan Snel, who dives into the high-stakes world where sports, politics, and business collide. Alan unpacks the ongoing saga of the A’s stadium project—from the controversial decisions of team owner John Fisher, to the over-lap of roles held by Steve Hill, the LVCVA CEO, who also chairs the Stadium Authority. He also shares insights into the often opaque world of public financing, and why some government agencies are more cooperative than others when it comes to Freedom of Information requests. Alan als...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira welcomes the multi-talented Mark Giovi, performing live at Maxan Jazz on July 3. In a powerful and heartfelt conversation, Mark opens up about his remarkable journey—from fronting heavy metal bands to mastering opera, and from vocal coach to tour manager. He shares how growing up in the restaurant business sharpened his instincts for success, both onstage and behind the scenes. Mark also candidly discusses his courageous battle with spasmodic dysphonia, a condition that silenced his voice for a year, and the overwhelming support he received from the Las Vegas community during...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira chats with comedy-magician Adam London, star of the delightfully quirky “Laughter-noon” show at the Ahern Luxury Boutique Hotel, running Thursdays through Mondays from 4 to 5 p.m. Adam shares how his journey began on a farm, where helping his grandfather came with a magical reward—literally. His grandfather taught him magic tricks in exchange for chores, sparking a lifelong passion. Adam reveals the one trick that captivated him as a kid, the teachers who cheered him on, and how he went from a small farming town to the big stage in Las Vegas—...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Andrew Davies Gans, director of the new documentary, "Voices: The Danny Gans Story," premiering June 20 at the 28th Annual Dances With Films festival at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The film honors the remarkable yet often overlooked legacy of Danny Gans, a legendary Las Vegas entertainer whose name was once synonymous with the Strip. Though his star burned brightly during his lifetime, his passing on May 1, 2009, left only a fleeting memory in the city he helped define. Andrew shares why now—over a decade later—felt lik...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira chats with Pam Ashlund, affectionately known as the “Queen of Swizzle.” Pam will be featured at the Casino Collectibles Association’s 32nd Annual Show, June 12–14 at South Point. In this colorful episode, she stirs up stories about her lifelong fascination—and yes, slight obsession—with swizzle sticks. What began with her mother’s lone swizzle stick from a Chicago lounge has become a sentimental and historic quest to preserve a once-overlooked piece of cocktail culture. Pam dives into the unexpected depth of swizzle stick collecting: from rare airline and alcohol-branded sticks to mid-cent...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira catches up with Ryan Duff, the passionate artistic director of the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus. The group is gearing up for its Season 32 finale, “Broadway Our Way,” at UNLV’s Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on June 29. In this episode, Ryan shares how 100 powerful voices will come together to reimagine beloved Broadway classics—with a twist only the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus can deliver. It’s a heartfelt tribute to the legendary composers whose work has shaped the stage and stirred souls from Broadway to the world. Ryan opens up about his...

(Photo by Matthias Rauch) Fresh off their global tours and headed to the Strip, The Clairvoyants are set to join Shin Lim’s “Limitless” residency at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, May 21-June 29. In this episode, the duo reveals the story of their instant connection, how they built a mind-blowing act that actively involves the audience, and what it’s like performing around the world as a married couple—with their baby and their magically mischievous dog, Mr. Koni Hundini, in tow. Discover how they keep their performances fresh, why no two shows are ever the same, and the bizarre items some...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” it’s all about smack talk, storylines, and stand-up. Ira sits down with Mike Krasner (host) and Sean Reddy (co-producer) of Roastlemania 6, coming to Wiseguys Comedy at the Arts District on May 24. In this high-energy episode, Mike and Sean pull back the curtain on the wild world of Roastlemania—from its humble beginnings to the chaotic comedy spectacle it is today. They dive into how they fused their love of professional wrestling with stand-up comedy, crafting outrageous characters, off-the-cuff banter, and full-on roasts that mirror the drama of the ring. They talk abo...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Oliver Lovat for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving market of Las Vegas. Oliver breaks down why the city had to change—and how it's pivoted to meet the rising expectations of a younger, more demanding customer base. From navigating a crucial strategic inflection point to the seismic shift triggered by COVID, Lovat explains how Las Vegas went from catering to visitors looking for comps to focusing on full-paying customers who fuel profitability. He dives deep into why Gen Z and mil-lennials now dominate the scene, and what t...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” the spotlight shines on legendary guitarist, arranger, and composer Joe Lano—one of the true masters of the Las Vegas jazz sce-ne. Joe joins Ira ahead of his upcoming performances at the Jazz Society’s 50th Anniversary Jazz Celebration (April 26-27 at the Winchester-Dondero Cultural Center) and at Vic’s Las Vegas (May 2-3), to share the remarkable story of his life in music. From his early days growing up in Philadelphia—playing guitar in clubs by the age of 12—to the glittering stages of Las Vegas, Joe recounts a career filled with ic...

This week, Ira dives into glitz, grit, and glamour with Diane Christiansen—dancer, educator, and author of "The Last Real Showgirl: My Sequined '70s Onstage." (She will also appear on “Ira’s Everything Bagel” this Thursday-https://iraseverythingbagel.com/) At just 13, Diane set her sights on becoming a Rockette. By 17, she nailed the audition and never looked back—rarely needing to audition again, save for a memorable encounter with Jerry Jackson at the Tropicana. From the fine line between dancer and showgirl to becoming one at the age of 18 (no easy feat!), Diane shares how she found joy, strength, and sisterhood...

This week, Ira sits down with Patty Peters, co-owner of Vegas Valley Winery, who shares the origins of the winery, which began with a bold vision and a little place called Grape Expectations. She reveals how new legislation made their dream a reality, and how her husband Charlie, (alongside winemaker Mike Schoenbaechler), took it to the next level — turning passion into award-winning wines. From choosing their home in Henderson’s buzzing “Booze District” to the incredible support of the wine community after Charlie’s passing, Patty opens up about her wine journey with authenticity and humor. She explains the difference between Ve...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Steve Connolly, the powerhouse behind “Spirit of the King,” the ultimate Elvis tribute show at Notoriety Live every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday at 7 p.m. In this engaging conversation, Steve shares his eclectic journey—from playing bass guitar in high school and attending art school to restoring 700 statues and 123 churches. Initially set on becoming a curator, his path took an unexpected turn when a professor encouraged him to embrace both art and music. Steve talks about sneaking into bars with a fake I.D. at just 15 to play music...

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas with Ira,” Ira sits down with Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com for a hard-hitting conversation about the biggest sports stories shaping the city. Alan shares exclusive insights from his candid interview with Emily Prazer, the newly appointed president of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and unpacks the turbulent first year of the event—filled with controversy, logistical nightmares, and ongoing lawsuits. They dive into the potential legal settlements stemming from decisions made by Clark County and F1, the debate over economic impact reports versus actual costs, and the real toll on resort employees—especial...

This week on "Talk About Las Vegas With Ira," Ira welcomes Mark Wojtowicz Jr., author of "Vegas: From Fremont to The Strip - How Las Vegas Casinos Evolved." Mark dives into his earliest and most vivid memory of Las Vegas, sharing how his fascination with the entertainment capital led him to take on the ambitious task of writing the book. He reveals why, in an age dominated by digital content, a physical book still holds significant meaning — and why a linear storytelling approach was crucial to making the pieces fit. Mark also discusses which casino left the biggest impression on hi...

This week on "Talk About Las Vegas With Ira," Ira sits down with Matthew Robinson and Zahrah Hutton of The Mēla Guitar Quartet, who are set to close out the UNLV Performing Arts Center’s 48th Season with a spectacular concert on March 15 at the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall. In this episode, Matthew and Zahrah dive into the origins of the quartet, revealing how their unique collaboration took shape and why four musicians create the perfect balance of tex-ture and harmony. They discuss the art of dividing musical roles to sustain melody, the fluid and egalitarian nature of a q...

This week on Talk About Las Vegas with Ira, sports fans are in for a treat as Ira sits down with 8NewsNow sports anchor and reporter Ron Futrell. In this episode, Ron takes us on a journey back to April 1984, when he first arrived in Las Vegas and was thrown headfirst into a whirlwind sports scene from day one. From breaking down the Raiders’ current quarterback situation and the impact of salary caps in the NFL to discussing Tom Brady’s influence on the team and the game-changing arrival of Allegiant Stadium, Ron delivers insight like only a seasoned sports jour...

This week, Ira sits down with multi-award-winning, platinum-selling artist Matt Dusk, who’s bringing “Matt Dusk Sings Tony Bennett: The Best is Yet to Come” to Myron’s at The Smith Center on February 21-22. In this episode of Talk About Las Vegas With Ira, Matt shares his unforgettable encounters with Tony Bennett—what he learned from him as both an artist and a person. He reveals why Bennett’s technical brilliance made him a legend, how he “lived within the age of his voice,” and even what Tony’s favorite song was. Matt also opens up about how these timeless songs sha...

This week, Ira spoke with Micky Dolenz, performing a special Valentine’s Day performance at The Strat, February 14 at 8 p.m. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Micky talks about who influenced him in the world of music before The Monkees (including one surprising choice); moving to England to become a film and TV director; the 1986 reunion that made him aware of the cultural impact of the group; the first time singing live on stage at a press junket for “Circus Boy”); why he doesn’t have a favorite episode of The Monkees’ television show; performing in Broadway sh...

This week, Ira spoke with drummer, vocalist, songwriter, and educator Dave Tull, performing at Vic’s Las Vegas (along with John Belzaguy and Dave Loeb) February 7-8. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Dave talks about starting drum lessons at 10; growing up with music in the house in Berkeley; taking jazz band classes early on; worked with Maynard Ferguson right after college; the change in the recording scene with his generation; the genesis of “The Texting Song”; being known for having songs with humor in them; why he also loves to teach; why he began signing after 15 y...

This week, Ira spoke with Valerie Wright, who performs in the standby role of Kimberly in “Kimberly Akimbo” at The Smith Center, February 4-9. (Her featured performance is February 9 at 1 p.m.) In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Valerie talks about growing up in Las Vegas; why she decided to go to Broadway; teaching aerobics and wait-ing tables; staying in the game; waiting 40 years to perform in Las Vegas; raising kids while performing on Broadway; having a tight-knit family; “taking the jobs as they come”; how she sees her role in the musical; researching the role; combining yo...

This week, Ira spoke with KC Christon, award-winning writer and director of “Dog City.” In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” KC talks about writing books for children; how he segued to filmmaking; why he began acting; finding funding for his picture; how no independent production company is doing a film on gambling; growing up around that element; winning nine awards; how the film got its title; why his film may be the first Las Vegas film on gambling from a black perspective; why he thought there should be an indie crime drama series set in Las Vegas st...

This week, Ira spoke with John L. Smith, co-author of "My Life in Nevada Politics, The Memoirs of Senator Richard H. Bryan." this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” John talks about getting involved in this book project about a major Nevada figure;; what he learned from working with Senator Bryan (“a master class in retail politics”); why it was a real team effort between memory and research; Senator Bryan’s amazing memory for people and stories; hearing the senator’s voice in the book; how Las Vegas and Nevada changed over the decades; themes that run through the book; wh...

This week, Ira spoke with David G. Schwartz, author of "Something For Your Money, A History of Las Vegas Casinos." In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” David talks about how his background writing about Las Vegas, casinos, and gambling brought him to this current book; how the title ("Something For Your Money…") came to be; the most surprising thing he discovered; how one consistent theme was that marketing, promotion and PR grew the town; how innovation and not being sentimental about things also expanded Las Vegas; why gambling kickstarted the development of Las Ve-gas as a touris...

This week, Ira spoke with Murray The Magician, performing in his new show, “Hairlarious Deceptions,” at The Strat’s L.A. Comedy Club beginning January 4. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Murray talks about how he survives and prospers in the competitive Las Vegas entertainment market; why he became “that guy”; how he came to Vegas in 2002 to work at the Frontier Hotel; how being “real” and not being serious are the elements he uses to distinguish himself; his prank videos on YouTube; the importance of loyalty; and why his future plans include being consistently on TV. (Also Watch Fu

This week, Ira spoke with David Garfield, performing (with the David Garfield Quintet) at Maxan Jazz December 13-14. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” talks about starting early with music (with a Steinway grand piano in the house); how he got bitten by the rock and roll bug; why a trumpet solo in “Spinning Wheel” converted him to jazz; how jazz endures (improvisation makes it timeless); what keeps him laughing and smiling with his music; working with Smokey Robinson; how he looks at jazz today as opposed to 30 years ago; the difference in vibes between jazz and rock...

This week, Ira spoke with Andrew Kiraly, founder and publisher of TheList.Vegas. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Andrew talks about his long career in journalism in Las Vegas; the importance of arts and culture entertainment; providing events information in a timely matter; deciding to become an independent publisher; why it’s fun and scary at the same time; the blessings of online publishing (“you can always fix it”); how TheList.com started out as solely a website, then changed to an all newsletter format; how he sees the new format as being invited into his reader...

This week, Ira spoke with Alan Snel, whose popular website, LVSportsBiz.com, reports the business side of Las Vegas’ expanding sports industry. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Alan talks about the impact of the second F1 event in Las Vegas, the good parts and the bad parts; how a private promoter received access to 3.8 miles of a public road, otherwise known as the Las Vegas Strip; lawsuits by four businesses affected by the event; the role of Clark County in approving the request for the event; why location became an issue; trying to get an accura...

This week, Ira spoke with ArcoStrum (Strauss Shi - violin, erhu, dizi; TY Zhang - classical guitar, electric guitar) performing November 15 in the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall at the UNLV Performing Arts Center. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” TY and Strauss talk about how they met and became friends before becoming a mu-sical duo; how they came from soloist backgrounds; why they decided on no limits to their musical choices and elements; how it all starts with excitement; combining fun with perfor-mance; calling it a show but with a professional level; why everything artistic has...

This week, Ira spoke with comedian Vinnie Favorito, headlining at Notoriety Live, November 8-9 at 9 p.m. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Vinnie talks about his new show at Notoriety Live; his long career in Las Vegas; moving back to Boston; why he’s an “intimate-type crowd comic”; how he is politically incorrect, but with like-ability; his 24-hour energy; how his memory is an integral part of his act; why Jerry Lewis always made him laugh; and why people love to see people “ragged on.” (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Photo by Jerry Metellus This week, Ira spoke with singer, writer and producer Maren Wade, starring in “Confessions of a Showgirl” in Myron’s at The Smith Center November 6. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Maren talks about using the term “Showgirl” in the “modern” sense (for example, she doesn’t meet the height requirements!); how she started her “Confessions” column in the Las Vegas Weekly; why it took her longer than she thought to write the show; why she has had some fun experiences she wanted to share, as well as emotional ones; collaborating with Keith Thompson, award-wi...

This week, Ira spoke with Vegas-born guitarist Frank Sidoris, owner of Las Vegas’ iconic dive bar, Hard Hat Lounge, which hosts its free 3rd annual block party November 1. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Frank talks about the definition of a dive bar (“comes with a bit more grit”); growing up in Las Vegas in a show business family (his mom was part of “Crazy Girls”); changing out his skateboard for a guitar; how he ended up owning the bar; the Slash surprise performance there; maintaining the tradition of the Hard Hat Lounge; how “Elvis” played a part in his deci...