Beyond the Mic with Sean Dillon
I believe every person has value. Behind every headline, hustle, hard-earned moment, and family tales there’s a story worth sharing. That’s why I built Beyond the Mic. I talk with artists, athletes, authors, icons and people you need to know. I don’t do puff pieces. I ask questions that get to the real stuff: the doubts, wins, detours, and moments that shaped them. The stories that you normally don't get to hear. Some stories make you laugh. Some hit you in the gut. All of them remind you: people matter, you matter. I’m not here to be famou...
William Shatner’s Memoir Is Wisdom & Worries, and We Got to Both
“When you get older, you begin to have a better view, a longer lens.”, William Shatner
The author of WISDOM & WORRIES on a vine in a dead stump, five albums of lyrics and the time he has left.
Khan and Denny Crane. Three words that put a smile on my face. William Shatner is 95 and his memoir is “Wisdom & Worries: Reflections on Life, Death, and Everything in Between.”
I asked what worry keeps him up at night now that did not bother him 10 or even 20 years ago. Then I asked why poetry tells his stor...
John Bregar of Neagley: Actor, Photographer, Punchline Hunter
The Prime Video actor on playing Mason, lighting a face and why he's always looking for the punchline.
John Bregar plays Mason in Neagley, the Reacher spinoff on Prime Video. His first thought for the role was to join a cult. Mason starts out helpful and ends up enforcing the rules on the ranch.
Off camera, John is a studio photographer and a cinematographer. His first real acting paycheck went to a camera and lenses. Nobody taught him to light a face. He learned in a club upstairs at the Hard Rock Cafe that became...
Author Michael Dobbs: A Computer Said Attack. One Man Said False Alarm.
The author of THE SIX MINUTE WAR on a radar blip, a night in the Soviet Union and what a machine cannot do.
Michael Dobbs is the author of THE SIX MINUTE WAR. He joins Sean Dillon on Beyond the Mic to talk about a line from Reagan’s memoirs, the decisions presidents make under stress, and the question of what a computer cannot do.
Dobbs explains where the title comes from. In the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy and Khrushchev had thirteen days. Shorter early warning times and better computers shrank that window to a fe...
Jet Jurgensmeyer: Dials, Not Switches
Jet Jurgensmeyer, hearing his own song on the radio in a city far from home:
“It’s not just them not liking my song or my voice. It’s not liking me as a person because I wrote the song. I sang the song. I produced the song. I can relate to the song.”
Four people in the room. Two of them were his parents.
That was an early Jet Jurgensmeyer show. He sat on the Screen Actors Guild board in Nashville at 18, the youngest board member in the country. Then came the bar room...
Bert Kreischer on the new hour he wrote after the girls left for college
Bert Kreischer joins Sean Dillon on this Beyond the Mic Short Cut. The comedian on the Permission to Party Tour at Buddy Holly Hall explains how he wrote a new hour after the girls left for college. He puts Free Bert at about 50-50 real and made up. In the Fast Four he picks Fargo for his favorite bus breakdown and names the one person he wishes he could call. He also shares his mom's elephant advice, a vodka lesson from his company with Tom Segura and a two word punchline. Tickets for his tour are at BertBertBert.com.<...
James McAvoy Says He Is Harder on Himself as a Director Than as an Actor
James McAvoy was 45 and a rookie.
"I'm a rookie director. It's like being 22 as an actor." He directed his first film, "CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN'". What did it feel like to him? Anxiety. Pressure. And the energy that came with both. It could have crippled him. It didn't.
Who is harder on you, the actor or the director? The director. He is sweating blood for it.
As an actor, "I've made my peace with the fact that people won't like everything I do." He still does good work. In...
Jimmy Brown of UB40 on the Balti Triangle, the Best Food in Birmingham
"We've been together since we were kids. So we like each other's company." Jimmy Brown
Growing up every teacher tried to make Jimmy Brown stop tapping. Even his mom tried. All of them failed. He is still doing it. I asked who tried hardest to get him to stop: "All of them."
Jimmy is a founding member of UB40, the band that took its name off an unemployment form. Why they take a bus on tour instead of flying? Simple, he hates airports. America was designed for being on the road, with truck stops and...
Michael Epstein - Truths of "Fault Line: Haditha"
Twenty years ago, Michael Epstein made a film about a Marine Reserve unit out of Columbus, Ohio. That film put him inside the Haditha case, and he never left it. The staff sergeant charged with 18 counts of murder, told his lawyers for years he couldn't remember what happened, which is a bad defense friends. Epstein took him back into House 2, the room where the government said he killed a family. The camera was rolling, to see if his memory would come back. He was behind the camera and asking the questions with no lawyers in the room.
...
Jack Stewart Still Doesn't Feel Like He Belongs in the Ryanverse
Scariest environment you haven't written about yet... "The halls of Congress." - Jack Stewart
Jack Stewart spent 23 years landing fighter jets on aircraft carriers at night. He says landing on a carrier never really gets easy, and it never gets enjoyable either. That's the same discipline he brought into taking over Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan Jr. series. Instead of writing another cockpit story, Stewart sent his first outing 600 feet underwater instead.
The choice traces back to years after he left active duty, when he managed a dive operation for an undersea construction company. He watched...
Ali Siddiq on the Stranger Who Told Him His Words Saved Her Daughter
"I have no need for a bell-bottom, double-breasted yellow suit at this point." - Ali Siddiq
Welcome Ali Siddiq
We’re joined on the Starline by a comedian who turned down Netflix, bet on himself, and just won the first NAACP Image Award ever given to an independently released special. His special My Father is streaming now. We welcome Ali Siddiq.
Ali, let’s go Beyond the Mic You've put out more than fifteen specials, and My Father only came out this year. Why did that one take this long to be ready to m...
Actor James Paxton on "Last Train to Fortune"
"The cool thing about this story is they both teach each other something throughout the film... That's one of my favorite elements of the film, book smart versus street smart." - James Paxton
Welcome James Paxton:
We're joined on the Starline by an actor and musician who's built his own lane in Hollywood. He's trading gunslinger banter with Malcolm McDowell in “Last Train to Fortune”. We welcome James Paxton.
It’s been a big week for you...
James, let's go Beyond the Mic. More than 10 years ago, you posted a photo of you...
Actor Eriq La Salle's Most Personal Story Yet
"Solomon, I always envisioned him as the African version of Luca Brasi from The Godfather.", Eriq La Salle
Welcome Eriq La Salle:
We're joined on the Starline by the actor and director who spent nine seasons on ER, directing your favorite shows and just published his most personal thriller yet, “Laws of Solomon”. We welcome Eriq La Salle.
Eriq, let's go Beyond the Mic. As an author, it's your job to get the reader invested in the main character's journey. Why is Solomon's road to peace necessary?
"Solomon kept his eyes clos...
Why a Retired Marine Colonel Kept Peter Ortiz's Photo on His CIA Desk
"...(Ortiz) never went back to Centron", Katie Sanders
Welcome Nick Reynolds and Katie Sanders
We’re joined on the Starline by a journalist, who chased a 1949 recording to the Marine who saved her grandfather in Nazi-occupied France, and a historian, who kept that Marine's photo on his CIA desk for years. o-authors of “Ortiz's War: The Allies' Secret Weapon Against the Nazis in France”. We welcome Katie Sanders and Nick Reynolds.
Friends, let’s go Beyond the Mic. Katie, you found a scratchy old recording of your own grandfather's voice completely by accident. What did...
The Two Calls That Defined Joe Amodei's Flyers Documentary
"I made a decision very early on to just let the Flyers tell the story."
Welcome Joe Amodei
We're joined on the Starline by a guy who's spent forty years deciding which movies get made and how they get sold and never once his own. That changes now. "Cold War in Philly: Flyers vs. Russia 1976" is his first film in the director's chair, and it's out now. We welcome Joe Amodei.
Joe, let’s go Beyond the Mic. Every one of these players is going to be gone within a generation or two, an...
"It's Not Video, It's Audio": How a 30 for 30 Director Found the Dick Allen Film Nobody Would Make
"What's ironic, Sean, is it's not video, it's audio."
Welcome Andy Billman
We're joined on the Starline by the director who spent four years turning one baseball injustice into a five-part series, “My Father, Dick Allen”. Two Emmys, a Peabody, and a lifelong Cleveland kid at heart. We welcome Andy Billman.
Andy, let's go Beyond the Mic. This started as a one-hour film and became a five-part series over four years. What was the moment you realized one hour wasn't going to hold this story?
What was the exact piece of foot...
A Texas Native’s Journey: Tom Provost Brings America’s Founding Story to Life
"You're going to die and nobody's going to remember you 50 years after that." — Tom Provost
Welcome Tom Provost:
We’re joined on the Starline by a true Hollywood polymath. Writer, director, actor, teacher, and part time charity CEO. Hollywood’s go to script is in the spotlight now with his film “Young Washington”. We welcome Tom Provost.
Tom, let’s go Beyond the Mic. Every version of Washington we've had is the marble statue. What made you want to write him at his most unfinished? He was young, unsure, capable of a mistake that could'v...
Josh Turner Almost Said No to "Your Man"
"...how different my career would have been had Alan Jackson cut Long Black Train."
Welcome Josh Turner:
We’re joined on the Starline by a man who stood in a Nashville pressing plant and watched the first copy of his own twenty-year-old record come off the line. "Your Man" turns twenty. We welcome Josh Turner.
Josh, let's go Beyond the Mic. You were standing right there at United Record Pressing when the first test press came off the line. What did you do with it?
Chris Stapleton sent you the demo. Yo...
The Filmmaker Who Put a Bull Shark in Landlocked Illinois
"Nobody cares about your story, whether you're a writer of books or screenwriting.", Robin Christian
Welcome Robin Christian:
We're joined on the Starline by a filmmaker who refuses to pick a lane: horror, holiday, musical, true story. The horror-thriller "Below," brings bull sharks to landlocked Illinois. We welcome Robin Christian.
Robin, let’s go Beyond the Mic. You've made a bull-shark thriller, a Christmas drama, and a musical, horror. How does your movie making range fit, or does it not fit anywhere on purpose?
"Below" was shot nowhere near an ocean. Wh...
Ransom: Daniel Silva on Drones, Restoration, and 25 Years with Gabriel Allon
"If you're a skilled writer, then you can become a 19th century Texan." Daniel Silva
Welcome Daniel Silva:
We're joined on the Starline by a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose spy hero just went up against Russian drones in “Ransom” We welcome Daniel Silva.
Daniel, let’s go Beyond the Mic. Ransom is part kidnap drama, part global thriller, and you've said it's built around one of the most important security issues facing the West right now. What made that the story?
After 26 books with the same guy, is there someth...
The Fender Strat, the Northern Pike, and the Foreword Scott Spiezio Still Can't Finish
"Find your identity in something that lasts."
Welcome Scott Spiezio:
We're joined on the Starline by a two time World Series champion who spent his road trips teaching himself guitar in hotel rooms. His memoir “The Hardest Comeback” is out now. We welcome Scott Spiezio.
Scott, Let’s go Beyond the Mic. You tell your story from a stage any chance you get. For free, to whoever shows up. What's in the book that most people don't get?
Your dad wrote the foreword. He had to sit down and write the openin...
Ryan Weiss host of "Waking Up with Ryan"
"I want my daughter to have that kind of compassion when someone's being mean or rude."
Welcome Ryan Weiss:
We're joined on the Starline by a father, partner, teacher, podcaster and former Broadway star. His latest project is a daily podcast, “Waking Up with Ryan”. We welcome Ryan Weiss.
Ryan, let's go Beyond the Mic. You've said, "It was never about becoming someone new. It was about letting go of who I thought I was." That's a pretty different pitch than most of the wellness world makes right now. Why'd this show need to e...
Who's That Girl: Thea Glassman on the Real Story Behind New Girl
"I will be so happy to rewatch, watch this every day to talk to every single director, every single writer, every single cast member."
Welcome Thea Glassman:
We’re joined on the Starline by an entertainment journalist and author who traced classic TV culture in “Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek”. Now, she's turning her lens to Loft 4D with her new book, “Who's That Girl: The Definitive History of New Girl”. We welcome Thea Glassman.
Thea, let's go Beyond the Mic. You wrote a Vanity Fair piece in 2018 was about New Girl trying to make th...
James Landry Hébert on Authenticity
"The lines don't matter. The life does." — James Landry Hébert (On the difference between working with Sam Levinson and Taylor Sheridan.)
Welcome James Landry Hébert:
We’re joined on the Starline by a character actor born in Lafayette went from Brad Pitt's stand-in, to have Sam Levinson write a role specifically for him. Season 3 of “Euphoria” is streaming now on HBO Max. We welcome James Landry Hébert.
James, let’s go Beyond the Mic. You said “Harley didn’t show up fully formed, we found him piece by piece.” When you read your first...
Billy West Read His Own Audiobook in the One Voice He Never Uses Professionally.
"I'm not worthless, like my father said I was." - Billy West
Welcome Billy West:
We’re joined on the Starline by a voice-over actor who did his best stuff in the 31st Century. His latest project is his book “Voice-A-Versa: Finding My Voice(s) Behind the Mic”. We welcome Billy West.
Billy, let’s go Beyond the Mic. You wrote this book about your own life, and then you had to read it out loud for the audiobook in your real voice, no character, nothing. Forty-five years of voices at your disposal, and you...
Leanne Morgan: 27 Years Before Anyone Bought a Ticket
"I'm getting death threat and you're getting marriage proposals." — Leanne Morgan
Welcome Leanne Morgan
We're joined on the Starline by a comedian who spent twenty years working Tennessee living rooms before Hollywood caught on. Now her sitcom is headed into season two and her tour keeps adding shows. “The Time of Our Lives Tour” is on the road now. We welcome Leanne Morgan.
Leanne, let’s go Beyond the Mic. Before we talk tour, your daddy cut meat for a living. What do you still do at the grocery store meat case that normal p...
The Telemarketer Who Became a Social Psychologist Has a Simple Rule for Your Calendar
What do the writers' room of Succession, ABBA's recording studio, and Michelin-starred kitchens have in common?
According to social psychologist Ron Friedman, they all run on the same playbook—and it’s completely counterintuitive. Friedman analyzed over 100,000 data points for his new book, Superteams, and discovered that elite teams aren’t the ones that collaborate the most or put in the longest hours.
In this episode of Beyond the Mic, Ron goes past the data to share the messy reality of high performance. He opens up about why academia pushed him out the door, what a form...
John PayCheck: "Those Weren't My Accomplishments."
"Things don't come easy. It doesn't matter, you know, that who I'm related to, you know, I'm out here in a van driving around."
Welcome John PayCheck:
We're joined on the Starline by a man who grew up riding buses with one of country music's biggest outlaws. He walked away from music for two decades, fighting fires, flying for the Army, raising a family, and building a completely different life. Now he's back with The Cavalry, a single called "Sons of the Spark" alongside Struggle Jennings. We welcome John PayCheck.
John, let's go...
The Album That Started It All, Rebuilt: Kenny Wayne Shepherd on Ledbetter Heights at Thirty
"Nobody pushed me to become the musician I am. I did it because I loved it." — Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd recorded his debut album at seventeen, drove to Memphis on weekends to track it, and went platinum before he could legally drink. Thirty years later, he went back in with the same guitars, the same amps, and a band that's spent three decades living inside these songs.
Ledbetter Heights: The 30th Anniversary Sessions is the result — not a reissue, not a recreation, but a natural evolution of the record that launched one of blue...
Zoie Tannous: The Girl Who Journaled Through the Hard Years Is Taking a Curtain Call Every Night
"It's funny, I'm not saying I did it, but to me, it's we did it like all versions of myself, you know, the girl who thought it'd be easy, the girl who thought she should give up, the girl who, wasn't sure if this was going to pan out...Like all the versions of myself. We did it." — Zoie Tannous
Welcome Zoie Tannous:
We’re joined on the Starline by an actress who grew up in the valley and went from running operations in health care to chasing a stage light across the country on the...
Kenny Albert on “A Mic for All Seasons”
“You probably always want to have the perfect night. You never do.”
Welcome Kenny Albert
We’re joined on the Starline by a Sports Emmy Award winning talent. You've heard him, his voice calling every major sport, including hockey at the Olympics for decades. He joined his hall of fame filled family as a broadcaster. He adds author to his resume with a mic for all seasons. We welcome the talented Kenny Albert.
Absolutely great. Kenny, let’s go Beyond the Mic. You've been called the most versatile, well-prepared professional communicator of sports. How does...
Kaitlyn O'Leary: From San Diego Triple Threat to the National Tour with Hadestown
"I think that's kind of the, comes with the territory of being an actor, is that you kind of move to New York hoping that you'll move away, or book Broadway, one of the two."
Welcome Kaitlyn O’Leary:
We’re joined on the Starline by an actor, singer and dancer. She does a killer Kourtney Kardashian impression but doesn’t have to depend on it for her latest Broadway project. It’s playing Worker on the national tour of Hadestown. We welcome Kaitlyn O’Leary.
Kaitlyn, let’s go Beyond the Mic. The Tony Awa...
Comedian Brad Williams Talks Fatherhood, Touring, and Finding Joy in Comedy
"Life is hard enough as it is. I'm just trying to be a great father and give her, you know, give her a fighting chance."
Welcome Brad Williams:
We’re joined on the Starline by an actor, standup comedian, entrepreneur, podcaster and most importantly dad. He’s out on his “Tall Tales Tour”. We welcome the very funny Brad Williams.
Brad, let’s go Beyond the Mic. You’ve done it all, acting, creating hot sauce, podcasting. How has laughing and comedy helped you?
You’ve been acting, did a little wrestling on t...
Comedian Henry Cho on The Empty Nest Tour
"I love the whole process of writing, fleshing it out, getting on stage, working it out."
Welcome Henry Cho
We’re joined on the Starline by a comedian seen on “The Tonight Show”, “The Late, Late, Show” and co-creator of “The Henry Cho Show” on Great American Country. He traveling now on The Empty Nest tour. We welcome Henry Cho.
Henry, let’s go Beyond the Mic. Clean comedy is currently all the rage. Why did you think that being able to share stories cleanly is so important now?
How did your time in Ten...
Brian Kalinowski on Touring with "Mrs. Doubtfire" and Battling Self Doubt
Welcome Brian Kalinowski:
We’re joined on the Starline by an actor, singer and Broadway star. You’ve seen him in “Chicago”, “Hairspray” and now in the 2nd National tour of the Broadway version of “Mrs Doubtfire” playing Frank Hillard. We welcome Brian Kalinowski.
Brian, let’s go Beyond the Mic. You’ve said that singing and dancing is one thing but comedy hits different. What makes the comedy in this show punch?
You were on cruise ships for four years performing Hairspray. How did that time prepare you for the hustle and bustle of a national...
Pete Ganbarg on the Stories Behind Music's Biggest Stars
"AI, when used correctly, will just be another tool in the toolbox of creativity."
Welcome Pete Ganbarg:
We’re joined on the Starline by a truly talented man. He’s done A&R, educator, music publishing, podcaster and serves as a board member for the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Season 5 of his podcast “Rock & Roll High School” is now out. We welcome Grammy award winner Pete Ganbarg.
Pete, let’s go Beyond the Mic. For season 5 of “Rock & Roll High School” you have gotten a who’s who of talent with Alice Cooper, Kevin Cronin, Da...
Talking Growth and Reality with Evan Nikolas Fields from “The Wayfinders”
"You definitely have to build loyalty, and even if that person isn't as loyal to you at first, that doesn't mean they will always be unloyal to you."
Welcome Evan Nikolas Fields:
We’re joined on the Starline by an up and coming actor. You’ve seen him in “He’s All that”, “Hacks”, “George & Mandy’s First Marriage” and “Game Shakers”. His latest project is the sci-fi adventure “The Wayfinders” on Angel Studios. We welcome Evan Nikolas Fields.
Evan, let’s go Beyond the Mic. Like your character Flynn Griffin, you’ve been hiding in plain sight. How...
Dax Devlon-Ross: When Fighting for Justice Still Isn’t Enough
"I couldn’t not tell this story and be part of it because it seemed like it was that kind of Shawshank redemption story."
Welcome Dax Devlon-Ross:
We’re joined on the Starline by a friend we’ve had Beyond the Mic before for his project “The Burden”. He’s a storyteller, strategist, speaker, social entrepreneur and most important, husband and dad. His latest project is the podcast “Crying Wolf”. We welcome back Dax Devlon-Ross.
Dax, let’s return Beyond the Mic. What made Lee Harris’ story so powerful?
Was Robert’s effort to free his f...
Janet McTeer on "The Artist"
"One of the reasons that this is so fascinating and was so fascinating to me is because it starts out as one thing and sort of ends up as something else in a way."
Welcome Janet McTeer:
We’re joined on the Starline by a Tony, Golden Globe and Drama Desk Award winner. You’ve seen her in Mobland, Ozark and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Now starring in “The Artist” on The Network. We welcome Janet McTeer.
Good Morning Janet, let’s go Beyond the Mic. “This is not a tale of murder. This i...
Dancing King : Michael John Wagner from "Mania"
"They cracked the code. They know how it works and in terms of writing songs, they have a formula ...and all of their records and great music just lasts. And you know, those records are timeless. They live forever and people love them. So, you know, they cross generations and not going anywhere anytime soon."
Welcome Michael John Wagner:
We’re joined on the Starline by a singer-songwriter and actor. You’ve heard his work on “America’s Next Top Model” , “Friends with Benefits” and seen in “The Fourth Alice” He went from his extensive European and Summe...
Vondie Curtis-Hall on "Sheepdog"
"I felt I wanted to, to pay homage to those guys. I mean, I have one friend who's battling cancer now, from Agent Orange so I felt, you know, these guys didn't have a voice when they came back...so I, I really wanted to pay tribute to, to the Vietnam events."
Welcome Vondie Curtis Hall:
We’re joined on the Starline by an actor and director. You’ve seen him in “Chicago Hope”, “Daredevil” and my personal favorite “The Recruit”. His latest movie is “Sheepdog”. We welcome Vondie Curtis Hall.
Vondie, let’s go Beyond the Mic. You’ve performed on Broadway, acted in soaps and directed TV and movies. Why was this role so interesting...
