Hey BigHead: The Vegas Local Podcast

George Pajon Jr. has spent nearly three decades playing guitar with the Black Eyed Peas, working with some of the biggest names in music, and watching the music industry completely change around him. In Part 1 of our conversation, George gets into what it was like joining the Black Eyed Peas in 1998, seeing Napster change the music business, and some absolutely insane stories from George’s years on the road and in Las Vegas.

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Donna Joy is back on BigHead, and this time we’re putting the self-proclaimed Cougar of Las Vegas to the test. After revealing why she doesn’t believe in dating apps, Donna is handed a lineup of real Vegas men from athletes and entertainers to friends of the show and familiar faces, and she has to decide who gets the "thumbs up" and who gets rejected.

Also, Donna catches us up on what she has been working on, including her upcoming microdrama series, The Hookup.

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- How performing stand-up in Vegas comp...

Gaetano’s has been a Henderson staple for nearly 25 years, but the story behind the restaurant goes back much further. Nick Palmeri joins BigHead to talk about growing up in the family restaurant business, learning from his Sicilian father, and eventually taking over the restaurant.

Nick also opens up about what it takes to run an independent restaurant in Las Vegas, why service and consistency matter just as much as the food, and how he’s built relationships with Italian producers and importers to bring more authenticity to the experience. Plus, we get into the Joe Rogan conn...

Jacob Crothers chats with BigHead about A Night of Poe, an immersive Edgar Allan Poe experience coming soon to Area15 in Las Vegas. The show combines four of Poe’s stories with live performances, themed cocktails, and music composed by the legendary Danny Elfman.

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Lisa Foiles joins the show for a hilarious conversation about growing up on Nickelodeon's All That, her unforgettable characters, and the “Horse’s Hoe” video that turned her into a viral Las Vegas sensation. 

We discuss Lisa's move from Hollywood to Vegas, finding her community in the local music scene, and starting Legal Limit, the punk rock house band at the Punk Rock Museum. We also get into video games, voice acting, her podcast Temperamental with Lisa Foiles, ft her TWO cats named Kevin. 

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Las Vegas food influencer LasVegasFill, Philip Tzeng, joins BigHead to explain how he went from writing blunt Yelp reviews to building a career creating content for restaurants across Las Vegas and beyond.

Phil also breaks down the viral restaurant effect, why some businesses aren’t prepared for a sudden surge of customers, and how social media helped transform the Golden Steer. He also shares his honest thoughts on restaurant closures, food awards, credibility, and the future of his own content.

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What does Congress actually do, and how does it affect everyday life in Las Vegas? 

Congresswoman Susie Lee joins BigHead to talk about representing Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, the realities of working in Washington, and the issues shaping Southern Nevada.

From the Colorado River drought and Las Vegas’ dependence on tourism to data centers, energy policy, economic diversification, and political polarization, Susie Lee breaks down the challenges and opportunities facing Nevada. She also shares her passion for education, public lands, outdoor recreation, and getting more people involved in their communities.

In this episo...

Neon City Festival is coming back to Fremont Street, and a mysterious announcement had everyone guessing who could be joining the lineup. By the time we posted this episode, the lineup for the headliners is out...but that's okay...I mean it literally came out right after we finished recording. Either way, get excited for Fremont Street's Neon City Fest! We talk about what Vegas needs from its music festival scene and which artists we would love to see come to town.

Plus, we preemptively recap Frenzy Fest, talk about local Vegas musicians, get into the Goob...

Cliff Atkinson, President and CEO of Fremont Street Experience, joins BigHead to talk about the future of downtown Las Vegas, the history that makes Fremont Street unique, and how the area continues to evolve without losing its old-school character.

Here's an inside look at the business of keeping Fremont Street exciting, accessible, and authentic from tons of free live music to public safety and managing a board of many casino owners.

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This week on BigHead, the team talks about the jurors of the Tupac Shakur murder trial, the chaos caused by a Treasure Island free-play promotion, and the ridiculousness of ghost hotels and kitchens in Las Vegas. 

Christy from Hearts Alive Village joins the show to discuss animal rescue, low-cost veterinary care, animal forensics, the heartwarming stories that keep the mission going, and more.

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If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying. Dustin Marks and The Kaiser, two former professional blackjack cheats who spent years carefully planning plays to take money from casinos without getting caught, join BigHead to tell all.

They share some of their wildest stories, including disguising themselves so casino bosses wouldn't recognize them, executing a computer coolers, and why they eventually walked away from the game. We also discuss their new podcast, Cheating at Blackjack, where they're finally exposing techniques from their past.

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What does it take to build a career in Las Vegas entertainment? Woody Jarrett, CEO of BEYER Entertainment, joins Hey BigHead to talk about the Vegas music scene, his path to CEO, and Vegas' newest music festival taking place on August 24th at Palms Casino Resort. 

We get into some of the wildest stories from his years working behind the scenes with artists like Snoop Dogg, Metallica, and Limp Bizkit, and why live entertainment could become more important as AI changes the way we experience music.

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Stand-up comedian Butch Bradley sits down with BigHead for one of our funniest but most insightful conversations yet. Butch shares stories with comedy legends like Jim Carrey, Ralphie May, Dane Cook, Bill Burr, and Patrice O'Neal, talks about entertaining troops on USO tours around the world, and reflects on the moments that shaped his career.

Butch dives into why so many viral comedians struggle once they hit the stage, performing across different cultures, and what goes on behind the scenes that the audience isn't privy to.

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Vegas band Man of the Oasis joins BigHead for an episode packed with live acoustic performances, hilarious backstories, and a behind-the-scenes look at how one of Las Vegas' upcoming bands came together. The band opens up about their creative process, recording their debut album "Season in the Sun", balancing four songwriters and vocalists, and what it's really like building a band in today's music industry.

Along the way, we dive into their influences, the Las Vegas music scene, and the stories behind songs like "Goo Lagoon," "Haboob Surfer," and "Wallflower." If you're into indie rock, surf rock...

Welcome to the 2026 BigHead Block Party, our biggest episode yet.

More than 20 past guests and friends of the show joined us for a special celebration recorded in front of a live studio audience. We revisit memorable moments, catch up with familiar faces, and bring together the people who helped make Hey BigHead what it is today.

All with a special exclusive acoustic performance by Mojo Juju to top off one of the most monumental moments in BigHead history.

Check out more episodes on HeyBigHead.com and follow us on all the...

Las Vegas Lights FC captain Christian Pinzón joins Hey BigHead to discuss leading the team, playing the best soccer of his professional career, and the continued growth of soccer in Las Vegas.

Christian shares what it means to be selected as captain by his teammates, how the Lights built chemistry after adding 13 new players, and why this season’s roster feels different. He also discusses his journey from Cal State Fullerton to being drafted by Chicago Fire, playing professionally in Mexico with Chivas and Tapatío, and eventually finding a home with Las Vegas Lights FC.

South African singer-songwriter Dara Jazzlyn joins Hey BigHead: The Vegas Local Podcast to talk about building a music career in Las Vegas after performing around the world. From cruise ships and traveling to becoming a regular on stages across Vegas, Dara shares how hard work and taking risks helped her break into one of the world's most competitive entertainment cities.

The conversation also explores Dara's songwriting process and the inspiration behind her original music. Plus, Dara delivers a live performance of her song "Meant to Fly," giving our audience a chance to experience what's making her one...

Chef Marc Marrone joins BigHead to talk about his incredible journey through the Las Vegas hospitality world, from becoming a chef at Tao New York in his early 20s, and eventually making the difficult decision to leave after nearly two decades.

Marc opens up about the sacrifices he's made, the lessons he learned from some of the biggest names in the industry, discovering healing through working with wild horses, and how that experience ultimately led him to create Diamond Spur Provisions & Meats. Diamond Spur is more than a butcher shop; it’s Marc’s vision for regenerative ranc...

On this episode, BigHead sits down with Kent Axell, the mastermind, magician, and storyteller behind Ghost Stories, an immersive experience hidden inside the 1923 Prohibition Bar at Mandalay Bay. Kent takes us behind the curtain to discuss what it really takes to craft an intimate, spooky vibe on the Vegas Strip.

From his early days learning sleight-of-hand as a kid to performing theater in New York, his insights offer a fascinating look into the mind of a modern entertainer. We also chat about the shifting landscape of live entertainment in Vegas, the growing demand for smaller, interactive venues...

BigHead welcomes one of our team's favorite social media creators, Monaco 11. Known for documenting his nights out around town and encouraging people to meet organically instead of through dating apps,  Monaco has become Vegas' expert on meeting people face-to-face.

After thousands of real-life approaches and enough nights out to earn a PhD in modern dating, he's learned what works, what doesn't, and why confidence is key. We talk about everything from singles events to wingmen, pickup strategies, social dynamics, and the app he built to help people all over keep track of their interactions, Cutie Counter. 

BigHead sits down with Cory Harwell, President of Eleven Hospitality Group, co-founder of Carson Kitchen, and owner of Butcher & Thief. From lying about his age to land a dishwashing job to helping build one of Las Vegas' most beloved restaurants, Cory shares the lessons that shaped his career and why hospitality is about far more than just great food.

We dive into what makes a restaurant stand out more than a decade after opening, how Cory hires and leads his team, why guest experience starts long before the food hits the table, and even how an agave...

Noah Ellis, CEO of Ofland Hotels, sits down with BigHead to talk about the unique experience behind Ofland Escalante, an outdoor boutique hotel in Southern Utah that blends adventure with the comforts of a traditional hotel.

Noah shares his journey from washing dishes at 13 to working alongside hospitality legends like Chef Michael Mina, opening restaurants and hotels across the country, and building a new kind of outdoor getaway for travelers who want nature without giving up the amenities.

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Lisa Vannerson, Creative & PR Director at Ethel M Chocolates, and Mark Mackey, Chief Chocolatier, sit down with BigHead to talk through how a Mars family legacy helped shape some of the most recognizable chocolate brands in the world and how that history eventually led to Ethel M becoming a staple in Las Vegas.

We also get into what it actually takes to create premium chocolate at scale, how the cactus garden experience became part of the brand identity, and how tradition and innovation continue to shape everything coming out of the Mars chocolate world.

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Dr. Boston Crockett, founder of BosBeauty, one of Vegas’ hottest med spas, joins BigHead for a deep dive into everything from Botox and fillers to how aesthetic medicine actually works behind the scenes. We also get a full breakdown of what it really means to age well in a city like Las Vegas.

We talk about beauty trends for men, common misconceptions around injectables, and even the more unexpected procedures people are getting asked about in the industry. 

Plus, Boston puts Andrew on the spot with a Botox consultation...

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Mojo Juju joins BigHead for an episode filled with music, stories, and plenty of laughs, including exclusive live acoustic performances recorded right here in the new studio.

Leah and Nas take us through how they met while performing in 27 - A Musical Adventure, the unexpected origin of Mojo Juju, their journey from cover band to writing original music, and why Las Vegas became home. We also dive into songwriting, touring overseas, building a band from scratch, and what’s next for one of Vegas' most exciting local acts.

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