Shows
My Fantasy FuneralMary ManciniMary Mancini, Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party and long-time activist, details her fantasy funeral featuring an appearance by Beyoncé and the man who gave us Common Sense.
2019-10-2800 minMy Fantasy FuneralCaitlin RoseSongwriter and vocalist Caitlin Rose takes us through an elegant evening of laughter, tears, martinis, and dancing for her fantasy funeral.
2019-10-1400 minMy Fantasy FuneralJasmin KasetJasmin Kaset, songwriter and vocalist shares her fantasy funeral full of humor, John Hartford, and future hauntings.
2019-09-3000 minMy Fantasy FuneralNathanael MehrensNathanael Mehrens, creator of Matchless coffee soda and co-founder of the Stay Golden cafes, shares his nature-themed fantasy funeral.
2019-09-1600 minMy Fantasy FuneralKyshona ArmstrongKyshona Armstrong, songwriter and vocalist, reveals the plan for her fantasy funeral -- complete with an appearance by Oprah Winfrey.
2019-09-0200 minMy Fantasy FuneralSarah SoutherSarah Souther, creator of Nashville's Bang Candy Company, describes the vision of her fantasy funeral as a jolly event full of laughter and beauty.
2019-08-1900 minMy Fantasy FuneralElizabeth WilliamsElizabeth Williams, designer and one half of art studio New Hat, details the vision for her fiery fantasy funeral, including the mushroom suit in which she would like to be buried.
2019-08-0500 minMy Fantasy FuneralSpencer Cullum, Jr.Spencer Cullum Jr., pedal steel guitar player and one half of Steelism, gives Ryan a lesson in Cockney rhyming slang, lays out his vision for a game show-styled eulogy, and reveals the song that he can never seem to escape.
2019-07-2200 minMy Fantasy FuneralLarissa MaestroLarissa Maestro, a Nashville cellist and vocalist, discusses the importance of performing classical works that are rarely heard, the Philippine tradition of Spirit Food which she got from her mother, and the science fiction character who she would choose to deliver her fantasy eulogy.
2019-07-0800 minMy Fantasy FuneralTrevor MikulaTrevor Mikula, a self-taught Nashville painter, discusses growing up gay in a severely strict Christian home, the musical that opened his eyes to issues of the world when he was 18, and how he hopes to be remembered for decorating the lives of his friends.
2019-06-2400 minMy Fantasy FuneralTiffany MintonTiffany Minton, drummer and co-founder of the She's A Rebel girl group tribute show, discusses her early activism efforts, shares a song from a friend who has passed, and lets us in on the funeral surprise she has planned to unite her conservative family with her radical friends.
2019-06-1000 minMy Fantasy FuneralJeff ZentnerJeff Zentner, award-winning YA author, details the five songs that he would choose for his fantasy funeral -- songs that have shaped both his childhood and his writing.
2019-05-2700 minMy Fantasy FuneralJulia MartinJulia Martin, Nashville visual artist and art gallery owner, describes her fantasy funeral as a nighttime celebration going until the sun comes up and how she would like to be remembered by both her friends and her foes.
2019-05-1300 minMy Fantasy FuneralJonathan MarxJonathan Marx, noted instrumentalist, talks on the idea of impermanence and how the journey of grief might be better understood after listening to 32 minutes of transcendental jazz.
2019-04-2900 minMy Fantasy FuneralSarah BandySarah Bandy, Executive Director at YEAH!, chooses her desire to keep the art of the bedtime story alive through the Nashville airwaves, and the motley crew of pallbearers she has tasked to carry her highly original casket to its final aquatic destination.
2019-04-1500 minMy Fantasy FuneralMatthew PustiMusician Matthew Pusti, aka Makeup & Vanity Set, chats about his early exposure to Vivaldi informing his music career, drawing from near death experiences as inspiration, and the Russian filmmaker who would deliver his eulogy. And, of course, his choice of five funeral songs.
2019-04-0100 minMy Fantasy FuneralMy Fantasy Funeral with Becky DeliusOn the inaugural episode of My Fantasy Funeral, host Ryan Breegle sits down with Becky Delius, champion of both humanitarian causes and over-the-top, ornate, fashion. They discuss the five songs that would be played at her funeral, the Southern orator who would speak to the bereaved and what Victorian tradition she would revive for her eternal preservation.
2019-03-1800 minMy Fantasy FuneralComing Soon: My Fantasy FuneralImagine you are dead but you get to design your own funeral. What songs will be played? Who will deliver your eulogy? And where will your remains rest, forever more? This is the scenario presented to our guests on My Fantasy Funeral.
2019-03-1200 min
Vidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast10: The Wartime President
In the tenth and final episode, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s ridicule of George W. Bush and the title ‘Wartime President’ which Bush bestowed upon himself. Host Ryan Breegle looks at the accusations of voting fraud in 2000 and 2004, Gore’s fears during the Bush Presidency, and his thoughts on the politicians that followed, namely Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain.
SOURCES:
Open House with Gloria Hunniford, Thames Television, 2000
Ali G, HBO, 2004
State of Things, 2005
Ring of Fire with Robert F. Kennedy Jr, 2006
The Henry Rollins Show, IFC, 2007
HardTalk...
2018-06-2631 minVidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast9: Ronnie and Nancy
In Episode Nine, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s humorous criticism of the Reagan administration. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s initial dismissal of Ronald as a convincing politician, his good-natured jabs at Nancy, and his overall concern that the United States was governed for eight years by a talented cue card reader.
SOURCES:
Books:
Ronnie and Nancy: A Life In Pictures, Gore Vidal, The New York Review of Books, September 29, 1983
Audio:
Afternoon Plus, Thames Television, 1981
Merv Griffin Show, Jan 26, 1981
The Tonight Show, Dec 15, 1981
Saturday Matters with Sue...
2018-06-1219 minVidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast8: Gore’s Watergate Fix
In Episode Eight, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s fascination with the downfall of Richard Nixon. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s early wariness of Nixon, the play he wrote using words directly from the President’s mouth, and Gore’s suspicions that were finally proven correct.
SOURCES:
Books:
An Evening With Richard Nixon, Gore Vidal, 1971
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015
Audio:
Vidal / Buckley debates, ABC, 1968
Laugh-In/em>, Jan 12 1970
The Merv Griffin Show/em>, May 14 1970
Laugh-In...
2018-05-2927 minVidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast7: The Three Kennedys
In Episode Seven, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s entrance into the Kennedy inner circle. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s family ties to Jackie, the bad blood between Gore and Bobby, and his thoughts on what really led to the assassination of John F Kennedy.
SOURCES:
Books:
The Best Man 1968, Esquire, March 1963
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015
Audio:
60 Minutes, CBS, 1975
Profile of a Writer, 1978
Afternoon Plus, 1981
JFK, A Personal Tribute, 1993
The Clive Anderson Show...
2018-05-1531 minVidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast6: Tennessee and Truman
In Episode Six, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s relationship with two gay authors; one friendly, the other contentious. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s adventures with Tennessee Williams and their involvement in a film featuring lobotomies and cannibalism. And he examines Gore’s detest for Truman Capote, culminating in lies and lawsuits.
SOURCES:
Books:
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015
Audio:
60 Minutes, CBS, 1975
The Dick Cavett Show, 1978
Profile of a Writer, 1978
Omnibus, BBC, 1995
The Celluloid Closet...
2018-05-0122 minVidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast5: Mean Mad Mailer
In Episode Five, Vidalotry explores the tumultuous friendship of Gore Vidal and author Norman Mailer. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Mailer’s history of violence toward women and how it took Gore, a legendary female journalist, and a late night TV show to finally put him in his place.
SOURCES:
Books:
Of a Small and Modest Malignancy, Wicked and Bristling with Dots, Norman Mailer, Esquire, 1977
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Snapshots In History’s Glare, Gore Vidal, 2009
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015
Audio:
2018-04-1721 minVidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast4: The Buckley Debates
In Episode Four, Vidalotry explores the 1968 televised debates between Gore Vidal and William F Buckley, Jr. Host Ryan Breegle looks at how Gore prepared his witty remarks in advance, the speed at which the debate became nothing more than a war of words, and how both men were greatly affected by the aftermath.
SOURCES:
Books:
On Experiencing Gore Vidal, William F Buckley Jr, Esquire, August 1969
A Distasteful Encounter with William F Buckley Jr, Gore Vidal, Esquire, September 1969
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Snapshots In History’s Glare, Gore Vidal, 2009
Em...
2018-04-0340 minVidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast3: Hollywood and Howard
In Episode Three, Vidalotry explores what happens when Gore Vidal is invited to work in Hollywood. Host Ryan Breegle looks at homosexuality’s network television debut, and we meet the man Gore chose to live with for more than half of his life.
SOURCES:
Books:
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Snapshots In History’s Glare, Gore Vidal, 2009
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015
Audio:
The Homosexuals, CBS News, 1967
The Celluloid Closet, 1995
60 Minutes, CBS, 1975
2018-03-2015 minVidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast2: Candidate Vidal
In Episode Two, Vidalotry explores Gore Vidal’s love/hate relationship with America. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s two political campaigns, his controversial views on party politics, and the play he wrote about the scandalous secrets candidates dig up to use against each other.
SOURCES:
Books:
The Best Man: A Play About Politics, Gore Vidal, 1960
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Snapshots In History’s Glare, Gore Vidal, 2009
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015
Audio:
French interview, 1964
Profile of a Writer, 1978
Afternoon Plus...
2018-03-0630 minVidalotry: A Gore Vidal Podcast1: Gore and The Gay Novel
In this debut episode, Vidalotry explores the complex relationship between Gore Vidal and his stance on homosexuality. Host Ryan Breegle looks at Gore’s passion for promiscuity, his first love that would forever haunt him, and how writing a novel about gay sex would affect his career in the years to come.
SOURCES:
Books:
The City And The Pillar, Gore Vidal, 1948
Palimpsest: A Memoir, Gore Vidal, 1995
Empire Of Self: A Life of Gore Vidal, Jay Parini, 2015
Audio:
Omnibus, BBC, 1995
Gore Vidal, An Appreciation, PBS, 1995
The South Bank Show, IT...
2018-02-1914 minVidalotry: A Gore Vidal PodcastVidalotry: Coming Soon
Introducing Vidalotry, a new ten-part series podcast from Ryan Breegle that examines the wit and wisdom of famed intellectual and public persona Gore Vidal. Using a multitude of recordings, interviews and talk show appearances, Breegle examines Gore’s insights on homosexuality, politics, clashing opinions between creatives and much much more. This preview of the show gives you a taste of what to expect with forthcoming episodes.
Coming February 2018.
2018-02-1203 min