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PODCAST

Lost in Jersey

Rachel Martens and Janette Afsharian

So close to NYC, New Jersey is a melting pot of creativity, ambition, and culture. Everyone has a Jersey story and on Lost in Jersey, we’re here to share them with you.

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

53:32

Shine Global, Young Filmmakers, And The Power Of...

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/11/04

At the Montclair Film Festival, Lost in Jersey sat down with Shine Global—the award-winning team behind War/Dance and Inocente—to explore how real stories drive change far beyond the screen. Co-founders Susan MacLaury and Albie Hecht trace their journey from a family trip to a war zone that inspired War/Dance to an Oscar win for Inocente and a mission to put children’s voices at the center of storytelling. We unpack two decades of hard-earned lessons: how The Wrong Light unraveled a “res...

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39:40

Life Is Jazz: In the Pocket with Christian McBride

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/10/28

Nine-time Grammy winner Christian McBride says life is jazz—part preparation, part improvisation, and pure rhythm. In this conversation, the bassist, composer, and longtime NJPAC Jazz Advisor shows how listening deeply, reacting honestly, and staying curious keep his music (and life) in time. We discuss the surprising bass that travels the world with him, the art of arranging compositions for singers, and the balance between leading big bands and blending in with small ensembles. McBride shar...

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39:43

Jim Axelrod: From the White House to War Zones—And...

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/10/14

What if the moment that nearly ended your life became the one that finally made sense of it? Veteran CBS reporter Jim Axelrod joins us for a raw, free-flowing conversation that moves from Iraq’s war zones to quiet moments with Bruce Springsteen. He reflects on how growing up in New Jersey—and summers working the Shore—taught him the art of connection. This one’s about resilience, reflection, and the question that keeps him grounded: Why are you doing what you’re doing? In the Long Run, A Fath...

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35:41

Crisis Mode: Karen Kessler on Saving Reputations

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/10/07

What happens when your reputation is on the line? Karen Kessler has been in the room for some of the toughest calls in crisis PR—guiding clients through scandals, lawsuits, and the headlines they never wanted. In this episode, she shares why she walked away from Roger Ailes, how her firm later supported the women who spoke out, and what drives her firm's every decision. We discuss the anatomy of a genuine apology, the distinction between accountability and performance, and how to prepare for ...

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40:09

Awards Buzz, Spike Lee & Springsteen: Montclair Film...

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/09/30

The Bellevue Theater is back and so is the Montclair Film Festival. We sit down with Montclair Film’s Artistic Director, Tom Hall, to break down the 14th edition: what’s bold, what’s risky, and what’s bound for awards season. Highlights include opening night's Jay Kelly, Noah Baumbach’s meta comedy starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler. Nicholas Britell who scored the film will be there for a Q&A. Get tickets for headline events with Spike Lee and Stephen Colbert, and Pam Abdy on Holly...

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36:03

Garden State Greatness: The New Jersey Hall of Fame

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/09/16

What does it really take to turn dreams into reality? In this inspiring episode of Lost in Jersey, we talk to Steve Edwards, President of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, to uncover the success secrets he’s gleaned from interviewing over 100 of the state’s most extraordinary achievers. Born and raised in Jersey (on the very same date as Bruce Springsteen and Jason Alexander!), Edwards has dedicated his life to celebrating the Garden State’s legacy of grit, creativity, and resilience. From the Hal...

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32:25

More Than Music: How NJPAC Is Changing Newark

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/09/09

What if the arts could transform not just audiences, but entire cities? In this episode of Lost in Jersey, we sit down with John Schreiber, President and CEO of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), to explore how a lifelong passion for music and culture became the engine behind Newark’s cultural and economic revival. From his early days as an 11-year-old Broadway superfan to producing jazz festivals with legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Sarah Vaughan, Schreiber has spent five decade...

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22:47

From Childhood Creations to Museum Masterpieces: Tom...

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/09/02

What does it take to dedicate sixty years to a life in art? Artist Tom Nussbaum has been answering that question since childhood—first by tinkering in his dad’s Minnesota workshop, later by filling New York lofts with his whimsical, deeply human creations, and now through monumental public works that thousands encounter every day. With his first major retrospective opening at the Montclair Art Museum this fall, Tom sits down with us to reflect on the arc of his career—from playful childhood i...

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40:10

From Civil War to Civil Discourse: Desh Amila’s...

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/08/26

What happens when you grow up in a war zone and decide the solution to division is… more conversation? For Desh Amila, witnessing the devastation of civil war in Sri Lanka shaped a lifelong mission: bringing people together to talk across differences with honesty, nuance, and humanity. From reinventing the way Australia engages with big ideas—marketing philosophers and scientists like rock stars—to launching Thinkable in Montclair, New Jersey, Desh has built a global platform for curiosity an...

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26:31

Headlines, Harmonies & Medieval Magic: The Many Lives...

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/08/19

This week, our guest Dana Hawkins-Simons takes us on a journey that’s anything but ordinary — from her roots in rural Kansas to adventures around the globe. A celebrated journalist, singer, and tireless advocate, Dana’s story is equal parts grit, globe-trotting, and groove. We talk about her career in international journalism (including the Barcelona Olympics!), her battle with Pernicious Anemia, and the Wall Street Journal article that turned her into a voice for patients everywhere. And of ...

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39:02

Evie Colbert - More Than Late Night

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/08/05

Who is Evie McGee Colbert? Most known as Stephen Colbert's wife, in this episode of Lost in Jersey, we get to know the many other facets of this remarkable woman. Evie joins us to talk about her journey from Charleston, SC, to Montclair, NJ—and how a lifelong love of the arts became a powerful tool for building community. As president and co-founder of Montclair Film, she has helped grow it into a nationally recognized cultural hub, with its annual October festival, robust year-round ed...

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28:40

Sax, Lies, and Audition Tapes: Adventures of a Jersey...

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/07/29

In this episode of Lost in Jersey, we sit down with renowned saxophonist Baron Raymonde—New York Blues Hall of Famer, longtime music educator, and go-to sideman for some of the biggest names in the business. Baron shares stories from a remarkable career that’s taken him from New York to Texas and back again, through jazz clubs, world tours, and iconic New Jersey venues. A classically trained musician, Baron carved out his path in jazz, blues, and R&B. From surprise auditions to last-minut...

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49:06

Protests Then and Now: Why They Still Matter

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/07/22

What does protest mean in 2025—and does it still work? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Julie Cohen—acclaimed filmmaker behind RBG and Julia—and her neighbor Liz Figenshu, a dedicated volunteer advocate. In the wake of growing political unrest, they found themselves walking the streets of Bloomfield, NJ, not just to clear their heads but to find a way forward. What emerged was organizing a weekly protest that has lasted over 21 consecutive Sundays. However, this conversation extends...

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45:58

New Jersey Legend Behind Batman - Michael Uslan

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/07/15

The Bat-Signal lit up the sky because one Jersey kid had a vision: bring a darker, more human Batman to the big screen. In this episode, Michael Uslan—the executive producer behind every Batman film since 1989—shares how his childhood love for comics sparked a cinematic revolution. Uslan takes us from Ocean Township to Hollywood, revealing how a decade of rejection, a strategic law degree, and lunch with Tim Burton helped erase the campy legacy of the 1960s Batman. Hear behind-the-scenes stor...

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37:24

The Power of One: How a Coffee Meetup Sparked a Movement

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/07/01

🎙️ Finding Strength, Community, and Purpose in Disability Parenting When Alma Schneider moved from a bustling apartment in New York City to suburban New Jersey, she didn’t expect to feel adrift. But after her son was diagnosed with disabilities, the shift in identity was both profound and isolating. In this heartfelt and powerful episode of Lost in Jersey, Alma shares how one conversation—a friend encouraging her to reconnect with her creativity—sparked a movement that has transformed lives.

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38:07

The Book Doctors: Publishing Secrets Revealed

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/06/24

Ready to go from hopeful scribbler to published author? The Book Doctors, Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, are here to spill the literary tea. With years of industry smarts, hard-earned wisdom, and plenty of laughs, they break down what it really takes to get your book into readers' hands. In this episode, you'll learn: 📚 The two A’s every author must master: Authority (why you) and Audience (who’s reading) 🔍 How to make your book “unique but familiar” — with just the right

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45:33

From Batali to Bourdain: Laurie Woolever on Fame,...

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/06/17

What’s it like to be the right hand to two of the most iconic and complicated chefs of our time? Laurie Woolever dishes on life behind the scenes with Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali, revealing the chaos, contradictions, and quiet moments that shaped her memoir, the New York Times Bestselling Care and Feeding. From a small town in upstate New York to the kitchens and offices of culinary giants, Woolever's journey is raw, riveting, and deeply personal. She opens up about toxic kitchens, batt...

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45:49

Hot Sauce & Higher Ed: Dr. Houshmand's Bold Recipe...

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/06/10

Our guest today takes us from Iran to innovation. Dr. Ali Houshmand’s journey to the top of Rowan University is anything but typical. Hear how he’s reinventing college with bold ideas, groundbreaking programs, and a hot sauce that funds scholarships. 🌍 From Tehran to Transformation: Born to illiterate parents in Iran, Dr. Houshmand worked his way through college in London, driven by grit and vision. 🏥 Revolutionizing Rowan: He turned Rowan into one of only two U.S. universities with

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44:57

Gov. Murphy Unfiltered: New Jersey, Trump, and the...

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/06/03

In this episode of "Lost in Jersey," we sit down with Governor Phil Murphy for a wide-ranging and candid conversation. Murphy opens up about his journey from Massachusetts to New Jersey, sharing how his early experiences shaped his path to public service. He reflects on seven years in office—covering major accomplishments, ongoing challenges, and his approach to leadership. With the June 10th primary election coming up, the Governor also weighs in on New Jersey’s political landscape and the b...

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3:06

Gov. Murphy to Gotham: A Peak at What's Coming Up

Lost in Jersey ·

2025/05/27

We're bringing you a star-studded lineup of influential New Jersey figures in our upcoming episodes. From the Governor of New Jersey to the Executive Producer of all the BATMAN movies Jersey-born Michael Uslan. Plus Rowan University's inspiring President Ali Houshmand, and New York Times best-selling author, Laurie Woolever, who was Anthony Bourdain's lieutenant chef. Mark your calendars - Tuesdays are new episodes! • Governor Phil Murphy joins us for a revealing interview dropping next...

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141 results

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