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Spock, I’m still not sure tion, one I could answer for become a radio host and
which one, and the actor days. If I were to give you just what’s the “secret” to IRISH
eventually became my first one observation, I’d say, attaining your global popu-
celebrity interview. without exception, that they larity?
Shortly after the interview, were all extremely nice to It’s a fun story. Early in my EXAMINER
I was commissioned by me. career I was a very successful
Paramount to write The Star I’ve met most of the clothing designer in Fort
Trek Medical Reference celebrities I’ve interviewed in Lauderdale, Florida. I was fea- |
Manual which quickly person and am friends with tured in DNR, the men’s ver-
became a best seller. many of them, great friends sion of Women’s Wear Daily.
I continued to write for a with some. The producers at Y-100 November
Star Trek magazine, followed Most of my interviews radio station contacted me to
by a Star Wars magazine. were given repeat perform- be the fashion guru on the
Then I took a 25-year hiatus ances per their request. radio version of Queer Eye 27th,
from writing to raise a family. In some cases, I’ve had for the Straight Guy.
I cringe when I recall my multiple heart-to-heart chats. I was on the air every 2019
first celebrity conversation For example, 12 times with morning fielding questions
after resuming my writing – Cyndi Lauper, nine with for about three months and
this time in print for a gay, Sandra Bernhard, seven with caught the bug. My secret to
New York City weekly enter- Bianca Del Rio, four with becoming popular is to be
tainment magazine. Dionne Warwick and three nice to people. I interact daily
I was asked to have a con- with Fran Drescher. But with fans in social media and
versation with the iconic who’s counting! (LOL) Each on our webshow, The Jimmy
comedian, Sandra Bernhard. I is a “star” but when you get Star Show with Ron Russell.
was nervous to begin with the chance to know them, We interact with fans and
but then, unbeknownst to you discover that they’re just supporters live on air, includ- Pink and Jimmy Star
me, my recording device was “regular” people. ing them in everything going include Superman’s Dean tions that seem to touch
jammed until the interview Now about Rosie in partic- on during the show. Cain, horror/comedy icon every aspect of life.
was over. Panic-stricken, I sat ular: I know she had a feud Everyone wants to be a Leslie Easterbrook (the Policy In volume 16, I con-
there, contemplating suicide. with Donald Trump when part of something, and as long Academy film series), Chris tributed a chapter – “Secrets
(OK, I’m being a bit dramat- she hosted The View. She has as you are sincere, being nice Trousdale from the boyband, of Social Media Success” –
ic.) a reputation for being a very really pays off. Dream Street and Chris with my tips on how make a
Thanks to the fact that I’d direct “straight shooter”. Kirkpatrick from NSYNC – significant impact in social
listened well and remem- Tell me about some of one of the most successful media.
bered even better, I managed Is that how you found her your interactions with Irish boybands of all time. My own active use of
to turn a near disaster into a as a personality? and Irish American celebri- social media has certainly
triumph. I wrote the article I met Rosie on the Red ties. I know you’re a published helped me, personally, to gain
using the power of memory! Carpet of the GLADD I’ve been very fortunate author, too. How did that global popularity as a televi-
After Sandra's interview I Awards. The press line was and have had the pleasure of come about? sion/radio talk show host.
began receiving more and enormous and the celebrities interviewing several really big I became an author as a
more celebrity interview in many cases were rushing celebrities of Irish descent. fluke. I’m an avid reader and My thanks to Eileen and
requests. It seemed every star by. Brendan Keely came on our had several friends who were Jimmy! And now a few clos-
desired the gay community Rosie also rushed by, but I show to promote his second always saying they were writ- ing thoughts to the reader.
fan base. was determined to say hello album and was an amazing ing a book. I’d see them once I’ve seen the statistics: over
After speaking with artists and perhaps get a picture with interview. He’s a phenomenal or twice a year and they were 33 million Americans have
including Annie Lennox, her. I called out to her and she success in Ireland. always still writing the same identified themselves as being
LeAnn Rimes, Brook Shields, immediately stopped what Pink was one of my first book. I thought to myself, it of Irish ancestry. That’s more
Jennifer Hudson, Cyndi she was doing and came right really huge interviews. We can’t be that hard to write a than five times the population
Lauper and a host of others I over, commenting on my talked immediately after her book, so I sat down and wrote of the island of Ireland, itself.
began writing for additional then rainbow-colored hair. first album release and she a short story. I tend to avoid stereotypes,
magazines including Huff We spoke for about 12 or was a superstar right from the It took about two days to but I have to confess in all
Post, Louder Than War (a UK 13 minutes about her chil- start. complete it. Then I wrote a candor that I’ve generally
publication) and then a dren, her upcoming events Truthfully, everyone’s novella. It took two weeks to found shared traits among all
Dublin magazine entitled and projects and her family been gracious. Bianca Ryan complete and, these days, I’m the Irish and Irish Americans
PureM. life. has been on our show three exploring turning into a TV I’ve worked with.
My celebrity interviews I found her to have a times. show. From the high-level corpo-
continued with Diana Ross, vibrant yet gentle spirit. She She was the singer-song- After discovering that I rate leaders I’ve worked with,
Dionne Warwick, Emma seemed to enjoy our inter- writer winner of America’s could author material with- to casual interactions with
Stone, Boy George, Maroon view. We laughed and talked Got Talent, Season 1. We out taking years to do it, I tourists on sidewalks of NYC
5, Nile Rodgers, Adam Ant as if we were friends and had love and support everything wrote a biography of Charlie as I enjoy hearing their
and others. met up in the supermarket. she does. Bianca’s grown up Chaplin that became a docu- brogue – I continually find
By then I’d become pretty I would have to say that in the public eye and is now mentary. these people to be charming,
well known and was invited Rosie was by far the kindest an amazing woman. Recently I wrote the fore- affable and fun.
by other publications to write person walking the carpet I was a huge Pussycat word to incredible book – My Dad would enjoy
for them. Soon I was writing that night, and the most “reg- Doll’s fan, too, and interview- Success Factor X by Sean knowing that his name
for over 40 publications, a ular.” ing Jessica Sutta was a dream Kanan and Jill Liberman. It change from “Greenberg” to
number that seems to grow The Irish have a reputation come true. She is so gorgeous went to #1 on Amazon. “Greenly” had supported the
bigger weekly. for being friendly and social, and talented, it’s almost unbe- I also participate in an interesting relationships I
and that’s exactly how she lievable. amazing book series titled now enjoy with the Irish
Any overall observations was. And yes, we took a pic- All of the interviews I’ve The Change: Insights into Self American community.
about your interactions ture together! done have been wonderful Empowerment. Co-authors I’ll celebrate by closing
with famous people? experiences. Marker notable who are part of the project with the Irish toast: “Sláinte”
That’s a very large ques- And Jimmy? How did you celebrities of Irish descent share life-enhancing realiza- – to your health!C