Monty Python's "Spamalot" Comes to Segerstrom Center for the Arts! Janeane speaks with Chris Collins-Pisano (Sir Lancelot, The French Taunter, Knight of Ni, Tim the Enchanter) at 9:30am 2/17 LIVE on KUCI 88.9fm

The Tony Award-Winning Best Musical Comedy is Back!

LISTEN 
to today's show featuring Chris Collins-Pisano

Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (a musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail) is coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts from February 17 to 22, 2026.


Following its critically acclaimed 2023 Broadway revival at the St. James Theatre, SPAMALOT now launches its North American tour. Under the direction and choreography of Josh Rhodes, the production was praised for its inventive staging, design, and exceptional performances, reaffirming the enduring appeal of Monty Python’s distinctly British wit and comedic brilliance.


SPAMALOT, which first galloped onto Broadway in 2005, features a book & lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle. The original Broadway production was nominated for fourteen Tony Awards and won three including Best Musical.


SPAMALOT has everything that makes a great knight at the theatre: from flying cows to killer rabbits, British royalty to French taunters, dancing girls, rubbery shrubbery, and of course, the Lady of the Lake.

Chris Collins-Pisano (Sir Lancelot, The French Taunter, Knight of Ni, Tim the Enchanter) is gobsmacked he’s being paid to engage in this codswallop! In NYC, he has worked extensively with Forbidden Broadway, having performed as a member of their touring company, as well as Off-Broadway in Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song (2025 Drama Desk, Best Revue) and ...The Next Generation, plus the cabaret Forbidden Sondheim (MAC Award, Best Revue). Nat'l tour: Elf (NETworks, 2018), Off-Broadway: Friends! The Musical Parody. Regional: Forestburgh Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, The Z, The Engeman, Gateway Playhouse, St. Michael’s Playhouse, Westchester Broadway Theatre, New London Barn Playhouse. CCM grad. So much thanks to the cast and crew, The Collins-Pisano Clan, Dish, Nora, and Mikiko.

The cast includes Major Attaway (Aladdin) as King Arthur, Sean Bell (Harmony) as Sir Robin, Chris Collins-Pisano (Forbidden Broadway) as Sir Lancelot, Ellis C. Dawson III (Hamilton) as Sir Bedevere, Leo Roberts (Les Misérables) as Sir Galahad, Amanda Robles as The Lady of the Lake, Blake Segal (Mary Poppins) as Patsy and Steven Telsey (The Book Of Mormon) as The Historian/Prince Herbert.

February 17 - 22, 2026

Segerstrom Hall

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Tickets at scfta.org



COSTA MESA, CA | Segerstrom Center for the Arts invites audiences to saddle up for outrageous fun as the Tony Award–winning musical comedy SPAMALOT rides into Segerstrom Hall from February 17–22, 2026. Brimming with laugh-out-loud comedy, unforgettable songs, and gloriously over-the-top spectacle, this beloved Monty Python adaptation promises an evening of pure theatrical joy. Tickets are on sale now at scfta.org.

SPAMALOT, which first galloped onto Broadway in 2005, features a book & lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle. The original Broadway production was nominated for fourteen Tony Awards and won three including Best Musical.

Following its critically acclaimed 2023 Broadway revival at the St. James Theatre, SPAMALOT now launches its North American tour. Under the direction and choreography of Josh Rhodes, the production was praised for its inventive staging, design, and exceptional performances, reaffirming the enduring appeal of Monty Python’s distinctly British wit and comedic brilliance. The Broadway revival now brings its celebrated production to audiences across the country. The tour will travel to more than 30 cities in its first year including Cleveland; Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Las Vegas; San Francisco; Seattle; Denver; Atlanta; Dallas; New Orleans; St. Louis; Houston; Ft. Worth; Charlotte; Schenectady; St. Paul,

Greenville; Rochester; Milwaukee; Hartford and Costa Mesa. For more information, please visit www.spamalotthemusical.com.



The cast includes Major Attaway (Aladdin) as King Arthur, Sean Bell (Harmony) as Sir Robin, Chris Collins-Pisano (Forbidden Broadway) as Sir Lancelot, Ellis C. Dawson III (Hamilton) as Sir Bedevere, Leo Roberts (Les Misérables) as Sir Galahad, Amanda Robles as The Lady of the Lake, Blake Segal (Mary Poppins) as Patsy and Steven Telsey (The Book Of Mormon) as The Historian/Prince Herbert.


The cast also includes Lindsay Lee Alhady, Delaney Benson, Jack Brewer, Connor Coughlin, L'ogan J'ones, Graham Keen, Claire Kennard, Ben Lanham, Nathaniel Mahone, Maddie Mossner, Emilie Renier, Mark Tran Russ and Meridien Terrell.

The creative team includes scenic and projection design by Paul Tate dePoo III, costume design by Jen Caprio, lighting design by Cory Pattak, sound design by Kai Harada & Haley Parcher, wig design by Tom Watson and music supervision by John Bell. Jonathan Gorst is the Musical Director/Conductor. The team also includes Melissa Chacón (Production Stage Manager), Anna K. Rains (Stage Manager) and Dani Berman (Asst. Stage Manager), James Neal (Company Manager) and Abi Steinberg (Asst. Company Manager). Derek Kolluri is the Associate Director, and Michael Fatica is the Associate Choreographer. Casting is by Geoff Josselson, CSA and RCI Theatricals serves as General Manager.

Lovingly ripped from the film classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, SPAMALOT has everything that makes a great knight at the theatre: from flying cows to killer rabbits, British royalty to French taunters, dancing girls, rubbery shrubbery, and of course, the Lady of the Lake. SPAMALOT features well-known songs including “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” “The Song That Goes Like This,” “Find Your Grail” and more that have become beloved classics in the musical theater canon.



# # # #

www.spamalotthemusical.com

Tickets for SPAMALOT, starting at $39, are available for purchase online at scfta.org, in person at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, and by phone at 714.556.2787. For inquiries about group ticket discounts of 10 or more, call the Group Services offices at 714.755.0236.

Joining Janeane 2/18 at 9:00am - Eric Dyson - award-winning filmmaker, writer, and director talks about his latest film Altadena: The Heart, the Art & the Soul. His documentary explores the rich origins of Altadena, tracing its roots as a community shaped by resilience and creativity.

LISTEN
to today's show with Eric Dyson

About Eric Dyson
Eric Dyson is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and director whose work delves into themes of addiction, trauma, and healing within the African American community. A longtime Pasadena resident, he draws deeply from personal experience to craft emotionally resonant, socially conscious stories. When evacuation orders were lifted after the Eaton Fire, Eric was compelled to document its aftermath—capturing the voices, memories, and resilience of friends and neighbors determined to rebuild

About the film
Altadena: The Heart, the Art & the Soul is a documentary that explores the rich origins of Altadena, tracing its roots as a community shaped by resilience and creativity. Through the lens of Black culture, music, and the arts, the film captures the vibrancy and legacy of a town that has long been a haven for expression and community pride. With the Eaton Fire as a turning point, the story moves from life before the disaster —where traditions, artistry, and heritage thrived—to the challenges and rebirth that will follow in its aftermath. A love letter and a testimony, this documentary weaves history, culture, and lived experience into a powerful narrative of loss, endurance, and renewal.

https://www.ericdyson.net/

Coming up 2/11 at 9:00am - Janeane will be in conversation with Gail Freedman, Director/producer/writer of the documentary, No One Cares - An intimate, immersive deep dive into the crisis and chaos of severe mental illness – and a burgeoning grassroots movement to do something about it.

LISTEN
to today's show featuring

Director/producer/writer Gail Freedman.

Director/producer/writer of the documentary, No One Cares, screening at Open Mind on March 1st.


No One Cares About Crazy People is a feature documentary film about the tragedy, crisis and chaos of severe mental illness in America – and a burgeoning national crusade to do something about it

Narrated by Bob Odenkirk
Original Music written & recorded by Jeff Tweedy

Watch the TRAILER


Inspired by Ron Powers’ acclaimed book of the same name, No One Cares About Crazy People is an intimate deep dive into the crisis and chaos of severe mental illness in America. A heartbreaking family memoir and searing social history, it is personal and immersive – but also tracks a burgeoning grassroots movement to reinvent our failed systems. Narrated by actor Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) with original music by Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy.

With narration by actor Bob Odenkirk and original music by Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, No One Cares About Crazy People goes deep inside the tragedy, chaos and crisis of severe mental illness in America. It was inspired by Ron Powers’ acclaimed book of the same name, a hybrid narrative of heartbreaking family memoir and searing social history. The film is intimate and immersive (filled with powerful verité scenes), but also tracks the emergence of a grassroots movement to reinvent our disastrous mental health “system.” It’s timely, poignant, powerful, intense – and also, ultimately, hopeful.

The documentary humanizes the face of mental illness with a small cast of memorable characters. Powers – a bestselling author & Pulitzer and Emmy award-winner – is father to two schizophrenic sons, the younger of whom, a musical prodigy, took his own life in the Vermont family basement a week before his 21st birthday. We also witness – in real time — the almost inconceivable story of Mark Rippee, floridly psychotic, blind and, for almost 16 years, unhoused on the streets of Vacaville, California, despite his sisters’ fierce advocacy. That advocacy is part of a burgeoning crusade, spearheaded by family members – people like Taun Hall, whose son Miles, a young black man, was shot and killed by police in 2019 outside his Walnut Creek, CA home, in the midst of a mental health emergency.

The roots of this national crisis trace back over half a century, and today we live with the legacy of all those failed policies. California has emerged as an epicenter of reform action. No One Cares follows that action for three+ years, as a series of bold but controversial initiatives make their way through the halls of power. Governor Gavin Newsom weighs in on why he’s embraced this political hot potato issue. COVID brought mental health challenges to public attention more than ever. But the sickest and neediest were just as desperate before, and their complex plight still receives scant notice. This film changes that.

About Gail Freedman, director/producer


Gail Freedman
Director & ProducerGail Freedman & Dina Potocki
at the NYC premiere of “HOT TO TROT”

A one-time aspiring concert pianist, Gail Freedman abandoned the stage for the screen many years ago, with brief stops in academia, government and health care along the way. It hasn’t exactly been a planned migration, but in 25 years as an award-winning filmmaker, she has produced, directed and written dozens of documentaries on a wide range of subjects, through her former company, Parrot Productions. She has also taught at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Among her films: Hot to Trot, an award-winning feature documentary inside the fascinating but little-known world of same-sex competitive ballroom dance – an idiosyncratic attack on bigotry, called “stirring and impressive, warm & involving, with unique heft & vitality” by the Los Angeles Times; and Making the 9/11 Memorial, a primetime special for The History Channel, which aired on the 10th anniversary of September 11th, when the Memorial opened.

Other notable films, among many, have included Breaking the Silence Barrier (cognitive disabilities); Where’s The Cure? (breast cancer activism);
Generation Rx (the opioid crisis); Lessons for the Future (public education);
Giving While Living (philanthropy); and A Forever Family (Annie E. Casey Foundation). Her creative output encompasses independent projects, as well as extensive work for PBS, network television, cable, syndication and the Internet, along with educational and non-profit films. She was also Executive Producer of the 13-part PBS series, World@Large with David Gergen, as well as producer of the indie feature (and world’s first hyper-linked movie), The Onyx Project, starring acclaimed actor David Strathairn. Early in her career, Gail worked at both CBS 60 Minutes and ABC 20/20.

https://noonecaresfilm.com

Joining Janeane at 9:30am 2/11 - Acclaimed, award winning science historian, Oren Harman, unlocks the mystery of METAMORPHOSIS A Natural and Human History

LISTEN
to today's show

featuring Oren Harman.

A new classic of natural history that, by unveiling the meaning of one of nature’s greatest riddles, causes us to relearn ourselves

METAMORPHOSIS

A Natural and Human History

By Oren Harman



A search for the meaning of one of nature's greatest riddles: why do so many creatures transform?

“Beautiful... Entertaining... Inspiring.”—Nature

“A meditation on transformation . . . Warm [and] empathetic . . . wonderful.”—Science

“Startling . . . astounding . . . Animated by wonder.”—MIT's Undark

“Steeped in wonderment. . . hauntingly timely.”—Washington Independent Review of Books


“How many creatures walking on this earth / Have their first being in another form?” the Roman poet Ovid asked two thousand years ago. He could not have known the full extent of the truth: today, biologists estimate a stunning three-quarters of all animal species on Earth undergo some form of metamorphosis.

But why do tadpoles transform into frogs, caterpillars into butterflies, elvers into eels, immortal jellyfish from sea sprigs to medusae and back again, growing younger and younger in frigid ocean depths? Why must creatures go through massive destruction and remodeling to become who they are? Tracing a path from Aristotle to Darwin to cutting-edge science today, Harman explores that central mystery.

Metamorphosis, however, isn’t just a biological puzzle: it takes us to the very heart of questions of being and identity, whatever kind of change we humans may undergo. Metamorphosis is a new classic of natural history: a book that, by unveiling a mystery of nature, causes us to relearn ourselves.


In METAMORPHOSIS (Basic Books, renowned science historian Oren Harman traces a path from Aristotle to Darwin to cutting-edge science today, to explore this central mystery.

In the first panoramic treatment of the subject ever written, Harman beautifully unfurls the untold story of metamorphosis across two millennia, asking why it has obsessed and inspired us so profoundly. Along the way we meet poets, artists, philosophers, and a cast of scientists as colorful as the animals themselves: whether Aristotle determining cucumbers had souls, Maria Sibylla Merian painting bird-eating tarantulas in Suriname jungles, Sigmund Freud searching in vain for eel testicles, or a Japanese geneticist singing karaoke to a baby jellyfish.

Moving seamlessly between history, science and art, Harman illuminates how metamorphosis is not only a biological puzzle but a metaphor for identity, reinvention, and survival. Written both with great scientific precision and poetic flair, METAMORPHOSIS invites us to think about the nature of change: the wonder and tragedy and triumph it involves, the way it marks beginnings, but also endings, and continuations.

With incisive authority, boldly and enchantingly, Harman suggests that a broad evolutionary perspective allows us to see an electrifying truth: we are more similar to a butterfly than we imagine.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Oren Harman is Senior Research Fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and teaches at the Graduate Program in Science Technology and Society at Bar-Ilan University. His books include Evolutions and The Price of Altruism, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. He lives in Berlin and Jerusalem.



Oren Harman shares:

What made him decide to write about Metamorphosis?
Why is metamorphosis such a great mystery?
You say that three-quarters of all animal species undergo some form of metamorphosis. Can you provide some examples, beyond the butterflies and frogs well all know?
If metamorphosis is so "expensive" to creatures who undergo it, why did it evolve?
What did the ancient Greeks think of metamorphosis? The early modern Christians? How have we progressed since then?
Who are some of the heroes of your book, and why are they special?
What's the deal with Sigmund Freud and eel testicles??
Do humans undergo metamorphosis?
Why do you think change is so difficult for so many people?
If we're changing all the time biologically, how do we retain a sense of self?



Advance Praise For…

METAMORPHOSIS



“An absorbing and beautifully written exploration of biological transformation and generation, winding through the startling history of this field, accompanied by an array of fascinating characters, and with a moving personal dimension.”—Peter Godfrey-Smith, author of Other Minds



“Oren Harman’s Metamorphosis is a soulful, genre-defying inquiry into the nature of transformation. Harman interweaves a history of scientific discovery with philosophy and memoir, introducing readers to astonishing characters and discoveries that bring us from the depths of the ocean to the furthest reaches of outer space. Metamorphosis asks difficult questions with great tenderness and deep humanity. It is a book full of wonder and revelation.”—Lauren Redniss, author of Radioactive



“A masterful tale of the long quest to understand one of the most wondrous and enigmatic phenomena in the animal world. Fueled by Oren Harman’s boundless curiosity and rich storytelling, Metamorphosis roams the globe to meet fascinating creatures and equally colorful naturalists determined to penetrate their secrets. A thoroughly enjoyable and illuminating journey.”—Sean B. Carroll, author of The Serengeti Rules



“Inspired by history, language, and biology, Oren Harmen explores a wonderland of animal lifecycles to tell a truly fascinating tale of transformations in body and identity. His story culminates in the growth of a human child and asks how is it possible to remain ourselves while changing all the time? A book to treasure.”—Janet Browne, Harvard University, author of Charles Darwin: A Biography



“Stranger than the strangest imaginings of ancient mythology or science fiction are the metamorphoses undergone by the most unprepossessing of organisms: the immortal medusa, the starfish that is simultaneously child and adult, the axolotl in which the parent is the child to its offspring. Oren Harman weaves together science, history, philosophy, and the musings of a parent‑to‑be in this beautiful book about the twists and turns in the plot of life.”—Lorraine Daston, author of Objectivity

Joining Janeane on 2/4 at 9:30am - Stacie Aamon Yeldell, MA, MT-BC, AVPT - board-certified music therapist and Mental Health Specialist for Project HOPE

About Stacie Aamon Yeldell

Stacie is a board-certified music therapist and Mental Health Specialist for Project HOPE, and has been instrumental in Project HOPE’s shift from immediate relief to addressing the long-term mental health and psychosocial needs of communities affected by last January's wildfires. 

Using music therapy, she has helped bring comfort and connection to children, caregivers, frontline workers, and historically underserved groups still navigating trauma a year later. Stacie is part of our team of creative therapists who work to create moments of calm, expression, and connection in non-clinical environments when words alone aren’t enough.

LISTEN  to today's show featuring Stacie


 Stacie talks about:

• Supporting LA wildfire survivors a year after the fires through music and art therapy
• The importance of non-clinical creative therapies for survivors of natural disasters/traumatic events
• An overview of Project HOPE and their mission
• Plans for 2026 to continue supporting LA wildfire-affected communities

ProjectHope.org

Family & Philanthropic Legacy: The Ziskends

On this week's show, Janeane shared her grandmother's stories of Project Hope and some special memorabilia her grandmother gave her.

Madeline Ziskend, Janeane's late grandmother:

• First New England Chairman of the Hope Cotillion and Ball, an annual fundraising event supporting Project HOPE.
• Traveled internationally—including Tunisia and other countries—visiting staff and patients as part of her involvement with the organization.
• Leadership role highlighted her commitment to global health, humanitarian outreach, and community service.
• Mr. and Mrs. William Ziskend were active participants in the Hope Cotillion and Ball and in supporting Project HOPE.
• Represented the family’s dedication to philanthropy and community engagement in New England and beyond.

The Ziskends’ involvement reflects a family tradition of leadership, service, and engagement with international humanitarian causes. Their participation in the Hope Cotillion and Ball contributed to fundraising and awareness for Project HOPE, a global health organization dedicated to improving health systems and saving lives worldwide.

 

Coming up 2/4 at 9:00am - Trauma therapist Maggie Nick, author of GOOD KIDS: Why You Suffered in Silence and How to Break the Cycle

LISTEN 
to today's conversation
with Maggie Nick

Trauma therapist and parenting expert Maggie Nick, author of GOOD KIDS: Why You Suffered in Silence and How to Break the Cycle (Sheldon Press/Hachette UK; on sale 1/27/26)

In GOOD KIDS, Nick reveals an inconvenient truth: children praised for being “easy,” mature, and well-behaved often grow into adults who struggle with perfectionism, people-pleasing, emotional suppression, and an intense fear of failure. These “good kids” don’t act out — they internalize.

Nick offers compassionate, research-backed insight into how well-meaning parents can unintentionally create long-term emotional harm and helps parents use supportive approaches that nurture confident, self-assured kids.

Discussion topics include:

• How “good parenting” can still result in traumatized “good kids.”
• Why a child’s good behavior isn’t a reliable measure of emotional health
• Signs discipline may be rooted in shame or control — and how to course-correct
• Why adult “good kids” struggle to ask for help or express needs
• How recovering “good kids” can reparent themselves with self-compassion

"An old soul" ... "a delight to have in class" ... "so mature for your age"

If you grew up as a Good Kid, you probably heard these words a lot. And you were good. Quiet. Easy. Responsible. So disciplined, you basically raised yourself. You’re the one everyone counts on — and you wear it like a good star.

But nobody ever checks on you. And you’re exhausted from proving your goodness by being an overachieving, people pleasing, perfectionist, pushover, and shape-shifting chameleon.

Good Kids is about the invisible trauma and cost of always being “good” — a lifetime of bottling your emotions, performing calm while constantly scanning everyone around you for the slightest sign of upset or disappointment and the crushing fear of being “a burden.” Oh, and always worrying that you’re in trouble.

Maggie Nick was a Good Kid too — the one who “never caused trouble” and always made sure everyone else was okay (even when she wasn’t). Now a trauma therapist, parenting expert, and cycle breaking mom, she’s here to help you heal from the fallout of being easy to raise and show you how to support the good kids in your life through those same messy, human moments you weren’t allowed to have.

This book answers the questions you’ve been asking yourself for years, like:
Why do I feel crushing guilt when I say no?
Why do I replay conversations for days, convinced I did something wrong?
Why do I feel like I’m “too much” and “not enough”?

With raw honesty, deep compassion and grounded research, Good Kids gives you the clarity and validation you’ve been searching for your whole life and the handbook for how to heal and break the good kid cycle for your children.

About GOOD KIDS:

Anyone who grew up as a “good kid” likely heard constant praise from the adults around them: “a delight to have in class,” “an old soul,” “so mature for their age.” Quiet, responsible, disciplined, and easygoing, these children are what many parents strive to raise—and when they succeed, both parent and child are rewarded with approval.

But because these “good kids” appear so self-sufficient, few people think to check in on them. While they may seem to raise themselves, many are quietly struggling with perfectionism, overachieving, people-pleasing, and hyper-vigilance.

In GOOD KIDS: Why You Suffered in Silence and How to Break the Cycle (Sheldon Press/Hachette UK; on sale 1/27/26), trauma therapist and parenting expert Maggie Nick explores how these children often grow into anxious, self-doubting adults. Through an accessible exploration of relational shame trauma, Nick reveals why “good kids” learn to bottle their emotions, seek constant approval, and fear being a burden—patterns that can persist well into adulthood.

A recovering “good kid” herself, Nick understands firsthand how this pressure builds over time—and how it can be unlearned. Drawing on research and years of clinical experience counseling countless recovering “good kids,” she offers practical tools for parents and adult “good kids” alike to identify harmful patterns, break generational cycles of toxic parenting, and cultivate self-compassion, emotional safety, and authentic connection.

About Maggie Nick:

Maggie Nick is a licensed clinical social worker, trauma therapist, and parenting expert. She founded Camp Lovable, a self-compassion–focused healing community and is widely known for her popular Instagram and TikTok accounts, @maggiewithperspectacles. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from Indiana University and lives near the beach in Florida with her husband, two children, and beloved dogs.

The Notebook will make its Costa Mesa premiere at Segerstrom Center for the Arts from January 27 – February 8, 2026. Connor Richardson, who plays Johnny, called into this week's show to chat with Janeane! If you missed the live show, listen to podcast link below.

Everyone knows The Notebook- whether a fan of the best-selling novel by Nicholas Sparks or iconic film, now it takes on a new life as a Broadway musical!

The Notebook will make its Costa Mesa premiere at Segerstrom Center for the Arts from January 27 – February 8, 2026.

On Wednesday, January 28th, Janeane spoke with Connor Richardson, who plays Johnny.

LISTEN
to today's show
featuring Connor Richardson

Read Janeane's show review on KUCI 88.9fm

“THE NOTEBOOK is ultimately a celebration of life, love, and the power of memory,” said producers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch. “Audiences first fell in love with this timeless story as a novel, then as an iconic film, and now they can experience it anew as a moving musical event. 

With multi-platinum artist Ingrid Michaelson’s unforgettable score and Tony Award nominated Bekah Brunstetter’s beautifully crafted book, THE NOTEBOOK comes to life on stage in a way that will resonate deeply with audiences across North America.”

Allie and Noah, two people from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. “Full of butterfly-inducing highs and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly), THE NOTEBOOK a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.

Allie and Noah are each played by three actors- Chloë Cheers as Younger Allie, Alysha Deslorieux as Middle Allie, Sharon Catherine Brown as Older Allie, Kyle Mangold as Younger Noah, Ken Wulf Clark as Middle Noah, and Beau Gravitte as Older Noah.

ABOUT

The Notebook is a new hit musical based on the best selling novel that inspired the iconic film. Allie and Noah, both from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart, in a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.

The Notebook is “full of butterfly-inducing highs, stunning performances, and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly). Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune says The Notebook is “absolutely gorgeous, not to be missed,” and The New York Daily News calls it “a love story for the ages.”

The Notebook is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (The Wiz, Aida) and features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, book by Bekah Brunstetter (NBC’s This Is Us), and choreography by Katie Spelman.

Livi, a UC Irvine student and Campus Ambassador for the Peace Corps, sat down to share details on this wonderful opportunity for all ages

From the Peace Corps website:

Peace Corps Volunteers put their purpose, passion, and skills to work in partnership with host communities in 60+ countries.

LISTEN to my conversation
with Livi on today's show!

Powering human connection

Peace Corps Volunteers and host community partners advance and embody our mission, values, and three goals in communities around the globe. We invite you to learn more about the Peace Corps and how we promote human connection across cultures and make a lasting impact.

The Goals of the Peace Corps:

1. To help the countries interested in meeting their need for trained people.

Volunteers exchange skills and knowledge with community members to help create sustainable change through work in six sectors—Agriculture, Community Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health, and Youth in Development.

2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.

Through their service, Volunteers share America and its values and also learn about local cultures, opportunities, resources, and people in their host countries.

3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Volunteers immerse themselves in local cultures and share their experiences when they return home with family, friends, and the public. This helps promote cultural understanding, volunteerism, and public service.

Learn more: www.peacecorps.org

Jessica Hauser, Alex Pretti's final nursing student, pens a heartbreaking tribute to her mentor, writing that "caring for people was at the core of who he was."

Hauser writes: "I was Alex Pretti’s final nursing student. He was my friend and my nursing mentor. For the past four months, I stood shoulder to shoulder with him during my capstone preceptorship at the Minneapolis VA Hospital. There he trained me to care for the sickest of the sick as an ICU nurse. He taught me how to care for arterial and central lines, the intricacies of managing multiple IVs filled with lifesaving solutions, and how to watch over every heartbeat, every breath, and every flicker of life, ready to act the moment they wavered. Techniques intended to heal.

Alex carried patience, compassion and calm as a steady light within him. Even at the very end, that light was there. I recognized his familiar stillness and signature calm composure shining through during those unbearable final moments captured on camera.

It does not surprise me that his final words were, “Are you okay?” Caring for people was at the core of who he was. He was incapable of causing harm. He lived a life of healing, and he lived it well.

Alex believed strongly in the Second Amendment and in the rights rooted in our Constitution and its amendments. He spoke out for justice and peace whenever he could, not only out of obligation, but out of a belief that we are more connected than divided, and that communication would bring us together.

I want his family to know his legacy lives on. I am a better nurse because of the wisdom and skills he instilled in me. I carry his light with me into every room, letting it guide and steady my hands as I heal and care for those in need.

Please honor my friend by standing up for peace, preferably with a cup of black coffee in hand and a couple of pieces of candy in your pocket, just as he would. He would remind you that caring for others is hard work, and we must do whatever it takes to get through the long shifts. Step outside with your dog, breathe in the world, hike or bike as he loved to do, and let yourself find peace in the quiet moments within nature. Stand up for justice and speak with those whose views differ from your own. Hold your beliefs with strength, but always extend love outward, even in the face of adversity.

Take one step, no matter how small, to help heal our world. Through these acts, carry his light forward in his name. Let his legacy continue to heal.

According to the American Psychological Association, swearing can make you stronger. Swearing boosts performance by helping people feel focused, disinhibited, study finds. &*^% Yes!

According to the American Psychological Association swearing can make you stronger.

Swearing might feel impulsive, but research suggests it can actually make you stronger.

A new APA study finds using swear words during physical challenges can boost endurance, increase focus, and help people push past mental limits.

Read more: https://at.apa.org/7e5dd2

Coming up 1/21 9:30am - Val Walker, author of '400 Friends and No One to Call', is releasing a new book 'Healing Through Wonder' on January 8th, sharing her journey of healing from trauma and loss

LISTEN
to today's 
show featuring Val Walker

Healing Through Wonder:

How Awe Restores Us After Trauma and Loss

Back in 2020, Val joined me on my show when I interviewed her about her book,
400 Friends and No One to Call. 

Now, she has a new book out with Bloomsbury Publishing January 8th called Healing Through Wonder: How Awe Restores Us After Trauma and Loss.


Dedicated to survivors of trauma and loss, Healing Through Wonder shows us how our sense of wonder can be a vital source of resilience, hope, and connection.


If I had the opportunity for an interview, I'd like to share inspirational moments of awe that changed the lives of people profiled in my book. I can also provide encouraging neuroscience research about how awe and wonder help us through trauma and grief. Finally, I offer my own story of a breathtaking moment with a blue heron when I was close to ending my life by suicide decades ago--and how my sense of wonder has given me the will to live ever since.


"Val Walker's profound journey through trauma and spiritual exploration is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. This book beautifully captures the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of connection and awe."--Shari Botwin, LCSW, Keynote speaker, Media Contributor and Author of Thriving After Trauma: Stories of Living and Healing, and Stolen Childhoods: Thriving After Abuse.

"Healing Through Wonder is a powerful work — urging readers to draw upon their own resilience, particularly a sense of wonder as they cope with loss. This book is a gift to anyone who is bereaved." — Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, Senior Vice-President for Grief Programs, The Hospice Foundation of America, Author, Disenfranchised Grief, Grief Is a Journey, When We Die



BOOK DESCRIPTION

Val's story of healing began in her darkest moment.

Homeless, running from a violent partner, and battling suicidal depression, she found herself sitting by a river holding a bottle of pills in one hand and a bottle of red wine to wash them down in the other. Out of the twilight sky a majestic blue heron circled and landed just a few feet away. Something in the heron's piercing eyes caused her to stop swallowing the pills. In that moment, she realized that there was just too much beauty and magic in the world to give up.

Thus began a decades-long quest to understand how wondrous encounters can spark healing from trauma and grief. This inspiring guide shares stories of profound, transformational experiences from four profiles alongside her own, and unpacks the neuroscience that explains how wonder helps our brains and bodies heal.


TALKING POINTS FOR HEALING THROUGH WONDER
Even brief moments of awe can reduce rumination and worry, calm and ground our bodies, and shift our focus to the present moment--and neuroscience shows us how this happens.Awe and wonder emotions have been mostly underappreciated and underexplored until very recently, so most of us underestimate the power of awe: 

A moment of being awestruck by something amazing and meaningful gives us resilience and hope for the future.

Shared experiences of awe have a remarkable way of breaking us out of isolation and loneliness. 

We feel less lonely when we share a story of an awe moment of something amazing that took our breath away (such as hearing a song that gave us chills, seeing a magnificent sunset or solar eclipse, spotting a cardinal landing near you, or waking up from a dream with a powerful message.

We can share our awe and wonder stories in person as well as through writing, videos, photos, and other media.Awe and wonder moments can be invited into our daily lives, not only in nature, but through music, groups of people at concerts, arts, and sports events, signs and synchronicities, epiphanies, immersive art, wondrous poetry, and much more.Keeping our minds open and curious is a gateway to awe and wonder experiences.

ABOUT 

Val Walker received her MS in rehabilitation counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a rehabilitation consultant, speaker and writer. She is a contributing blogger for Psychology Today and the Health Story Collaborative. Walker is the author of The Art of Comforting (Penguin/Random House, 2010) which won the Nautilus Book Award, and 400 Friends and No One to Call (Central Recovery Press, March 26, 2020.) She deeply believes we can break through the barriers that isolate us by building community, friendships, and a sense of belonging.

www.valwalkerauthor.com

Julia Bendis: Third-Generation Matchmaker, Author & Comedian joins Janeane LIVE on KUCI 88.9fm Wednesday 1/21/26

LISTEN
to today's show
featuring Julia Bendis

Did you catch Julia's recent SOLD OUT Comedy show?

Comedy Night 1/18 Featuring Local Comics
@VOCO Hotel Laguna Hills Tickets, Sun, Jan 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite

Julia Bendis: Third-Generation Matchmaker, Author & Comedian

Born in Ukraine and raised in Latvia before immigrating to America in 1989, Julia Bendis carries forward a legacy that spans three generations of matchmakers—but with a distinctly modern twist. What happens when you blend old-world matchmaking traditions with numerology charts, standup comedy, and unapologetic honesty? You get Julia.

As a relationship and dating educator turned comedian, Julia Bendis took an unconventional path to the stage. After publishing her hilarious collection of short stories ‘No Smiling Allowed: growing up in Soviet Russia and other funny stories from a Jewish immigrant’ - she found herself gravitating toward open mics and standup, discovering that making people laugh and helping them find love weren't so different after all. Both require brutal honesty, perfect timing, and an unflinching ability to see people for who they really are.

Julia's relationship philosophy is refreshingly simple yet profound: food, intimacy, and human connection are the cornerstones of a meaningful life. While she's no longer taking on matchmaking clients, Julia now focuses exclusively on coaching and guiding people through their relationship journeys—helping people understand themselves, their patterns, and how to have healthy relationships.

When prospective clients come to her seeking matchmaking services, she now refers them to trusted matchmaking colleagues, ensuring they're in excellent hands. Through her coaching, Julia goes beyond surface-level advice, diving deep into her clients' personalities through personalized numerology charts to uncover the traits and desires that will shape their future partnerships. It's part science, part intuition, and entirely Julia.

When she's not working—which, let's be honest, is almost never—Julia channels her boundless energy into meddling in her sons' love lives (naturally), creating comedy shows, and writing her second book about the matchmaking industry. Her advocacy work reflects her deepest values: supporting victims of human trafficking, survivors of domestic violence, and championing women's rights.

In 2020, Julia’s published No Smiling Allowed: Growing up in Soviet Russia and other funny stories from a Jewish immigrant continues to receive glowing reviews. It is a comedic memoir that captures her irreverent take on life in the former Soviet Union, immigrating to America and her family’s hilarious mishaps in a new country. Available in print edition HERE or on Amazon Audible HERE

The book showcases the same sharp wit and storytelling prowess that makes her matchmaking—and her comedy—impossible to resist.

Julia Bendis doesn't just help people find love. She reminds them why it matters in the first place. To get more information, visit matchbyjulia.com or to see Julia’s Comedy shows in person, make sure to follow her on Instagram, Facebook or on her Youtube channel @juliabendis

All direct links here: linktree.com/juliabendis

Or send an email to be placed on the newsletter so you never miss a show or new video, just send an email to: juliabendis@gmail.com

Get ready to ease on down the road this week as The Wiz! - the Tony Award®- winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is coming to the Segerstrom in Costa Mesa for the very first time! Alan Mingo, Jr, who reprises his role as The Wiz from the Broadway revival production joins Janeane (1/14 @9:30am) to talk about this award-winning show which opens Tuesday January 13th

Alan Mingo Jr as The Wiz
in the North American Tour of THE WIZ.

Photo by Jeremy Daniel

LISTEN
to today's show featuring
Alan Mingo Jr.

Read Janeane's review of The Wiz

Cal Mitchell as The Lion, Elijah Ahmad Lewis as The Scarecrow,
Dana Cimone as Dorothy, and Alan Mingo Jr as The Wiz
in the North American Tour of THE WIZ.
Photo by Jeremy Daniel

The Tony Award®- winning Best Musical that took the world by storm is coming to Costa Mesa for the very first time! It’s The Wiz!

THE WIZ returns “home” to stages across America in an all-new Broadway tour. Get ready for opening night January 13th at Segerstrom Center for the Arts - https://www.scfta.org/events/2026/the-wiz

This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world.

Featuring a book by William F. Brown and a Tony Award-winning score by Charlie Smalls (and others), director Schele Williams (The Notebook), award-winning choreographer JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” Black is King), additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show,” “Late Night With Seth Meyers”), Joseph Joubert (music supervision, orchestrations, & music arrangements), Allen René Louis (vocal arrangements, music arrangements), and Emmy Award®-winning music director and Grammy Award®-winning writer, Adam Blackstone and Terence Vaughn (Dance Music Arrangers) conjure up an Oz unlike anything ever seen before. A dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop bring a whole new groove to easing on down the road.


The principal cast includes Dana Cimone, making her national tour debut, as Dorothy, Alan Mingo Jr., returning to the role he originated on the pre-Broadway tour and played on Broadway as The Wiz, also making their national tour debuts Sheherazade as Glinda and Kyla Jade as Aunt Em/Evillene, D. Jerome (MJ the Musical, Hamilton) as the Tinman, Cal Mitchell (The White Rose, The Color Purple) as the Lion and Elijah Ahmad Lewis (Ain't Too Proud, Motown The Musical) as the Scarecrow.


THE WIZ premiered on Broadway in 1975 and became an instant sensation, going on to win seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Ted Ross), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Dee Dee Bridgewater), Best Choreography (George Faison), and in a Broadway first, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design (Geoffrey Holder). “Ease on Down the Road” became the show’s break-out single, and “Home” has since become a bona fide classic. 

That original production ran for four years (first at The Majestic Theatre and later at The Broadway Theatre) – and 1,672 performances – on Broadway. A 1978 film adaptation starred Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Richard Pryor and Lena Horne, and marked Quincy Jones’ first collaboration with Michael Jackson. The most recent Broadway revival played from March to August 2024 at the Marquis Theater in NYC.


ABOUT ALAN MINGO, JR. (The Wiz) 

Alan will be reprising his role as The Wiz from the Broadway revival production. Best known for his Award winning performance as “Lola”in the Canadian and Broadway productions of Kinky Boots (Dora Award Winner, Best Leading Actor). Audiences may know Alan as “Maura Lee Karupt” in DC’s Doom Patrol on (MAX). He is currently starring in a newly released film as Maxi in “I’m Not Gay A Musical” available on all major Streaming platforms. 

Mr. Mingo’s other Broadway credits include: “Sebastian” in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and “Tom Collins” in Rent. Alan’s Broadway National Tour credits include: “Donkey” in Shrek the Musical, “Seaweed” in Hairspray, and “Simba” in Disney’s The Lion King. His other TV credits are: ”Honey” in The Deuce (MAX), “The Queen” in Tales of the City (Netflix), “Benjamin Carter Judges” in Ray Donovan (Showtime), Marvel’s Jessica Jones (Netflix), Frasier (NBC) and Law & Order (NBC). Regional credits: Zaza/Albin in La Cage Aux Folles and The Wiz in The Wiz (Sacramento Music Circus), “Sergeant” in Pirates! or Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder’s (The MUNY), “Papa Ge” in Once On This Island (Paper Mill Playhouse), A Christmas Story: the Musical (Kansas City Repertory Theatre) and The Wiz (La Jolla Playhouse). Proud Alumni of University of Maryland, B.A. and UC, Irvine, M.F.A. IG: @AlanMingoj