Excelsior Journeys

The Excelsior Journeys podcast continues its month-long salute to writers with a conversation with author T.J. McGowan. Just like with other firsts in our lives, we writers never forget the first book we've launched, and McGowan has finally experienced his with the launch of "Timeless Gardens and Other Beautiful Miseries." He and host / producer George Sirois discuss how T.J. became inspired to write in the first place, how he became a top personality on the spoken word stage, and much more....

In 2020, author EC Stilson was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma and was only given two more years. Instead of allowing that to defeat her, she has not only fought the cancer with everything she has, but she has also done everything possible to keep her positive outlook and spread it to others. This drive has manifested itself into her new memoir, titled Two More Years, which can be purchased on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Two-More-Years-EC-Stilson-ebook/dp/B09Z2ZG269 (HERE), and Excelsior...

In November 2018, host and producer George Sirois had the pleasure of - after knowing her for over five years - speaking with author and publisher EC Stilson and offering a platform for her to share her fascinating story. After dealing with so much in her life, including a period of homelessness, she is always willing to share her positive outlook and is always willing to help other writers with whatever they may need. PRODUCER'S NOTE: This was one of several episodes in which crackling...

New York Times Bestselling Author David Morrell has been on "a long road" since 1972, when his debut novel First Blood introduced the world to John Rambo. On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys, host and producer George Sirois sits down with David to discuss the impact this iconic character has made over the past fifty years in print and forty years on the big screen. (They even give a mention to the Saturday morning cartoon.) By the end of the hour together, David still had a lot to...

Back in December 2021, podcaster Ryan Pak of Soundtrack Your LIfe welcomed Excelsior Journeys host and producer George Sirois to come on his show and talk about a specific soundtrack album that inspired me in some way. To close out this month's look at different podcasts, Ryan was gracious enough to allow the audio to be repurposed for Excelsior Journeys. Enjoy! Want to be an in-demand podcast guest? Join the Endless Stages Challenge and you'll become one in less than 100 days. I'm so proud...

For Episode 4 of Excelsior Journeys: The First Steps, host George Sirois looks back at his conversation with actress / writer / director / producer / yoga instructor Kristina Erikson. They talked about their time together at Marymount Manhattan College, Kristina continuing on her journey as an actress after graduation, how yoga played a major role in regaining the confidence in herself, how the highs and lows in her life prompted her to create her short film Evolved, and more. To learn more...

In 2021, radio personality and podcaster Mike Seibert welcomed George Sirois into a Transformers group on Facebook filled with thousands of fans and a collection of voice actors, writers, showrunners, and more! It set the stage for the TransFormers: The Movie 35th Anniversary Retrospective month on Excelsior Journeys in August 2021. This week, George was finally able to welcome Mike to the podcast so he could share his epic journey through radio broadcasting and podcasting. Sit back and get...

For Episode 3 of Excelsior Journeys: The First Steps, host and producer George Sirois looks back at his weekend at the 2018 authors & readers convention Penned Con (https://l.facebook.com/l.php?h=AT2jwk-VXHwyqm-aJbcUt41oBeXEp1dkP16Q403QLU5wP1nHMINUkJoL7RzrwvHgVvOL4HgXSvoylcGEs0fGV4dzzdZ9OWfuD_PcnjGwe7rDZeU9rsnYACNZAT7A4crobQ&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pennedcon.com%2F (www.pennedcon.com)), when he spoke with USA Today Bestselling Authors Michelle Lynn & Michelle Bryan. They talked about how the two...

In 2018, author and podcaster Jason Meuschke became the first host to invite Excelsior Journeys host and producer George Sirois on to talk about his show. Now, George and Jason finally reunite on Excelsior Journeys so Jason could share his journey and his show - The Sample Chapter Podcast - with listeners. They discuss the current books Jason is writing himself, how he started his podcast, some of his favorite guest interactions, and much more! Want to be an in-demand podcast guest? Join the...

For Episode 2 of Excelsior Journeys: The First Steps, host and producer George Sirois looks back on his discussion with voiceover actor, sports announcer, and founder of Linacre Media, Mark Fratto. They talked about how Mark began his path way back in St. Mary's Catholic School, acting as a media director in college, and working all the way up to standing in the middle of a boxing ring for HBO Sports in the World's Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. Want to be an in-demand podcast...

Part one of the April 2022 miniseries celebrating other podcasts features Dave and Reese Charest, the husband-and-wife team behind the show Manic Joy! Host and producer George Sirois sits down with them both to discuss how they each started in theatre, how they met and became a couple, the inspiration for starting their podcast, and more! Subscribe to Manic Joy: A Podcast About Life, Love, and Uncertainty by clicking https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/manic-joy/id1495732443 (HERE). Want...

For the inaugural episode of Excelsior Journeys: The First Steps, host & producer George Sirois looks back to his lengthy discussion with Douglas Rousar, a multi-award-winning West Coast Swing dancer, instructor, event director, and founder of the Global Online Open. They talked about how each of them found and fell in love with the dance, how Doug rose from the novice ranks to becoming an instructor for many others, his experiences with directing various events, the journey that led him to...

This week on Excelsior Journeys, host and producer George Sirois sits down with Tyler Foley, a man who has been on more than one journey for years now. From acting to stunt performing to engineering to public speaking to writing a bestselling book, Tyler's achievements would rival that of several people, and yet he's still not satisfied because now he wants to help you reach the same levels of success. Teaming up with Podmatch, Tyler has created Endless Stages, a podcast mastery challenge...

On February 19, 2022, horror host Ivonna Cadaver and Excelsior Journeys host and producer George Sirois presented a very special YouTube live Q&A with Todd Tucker, founder of makeup effects house Illusion Industries. The main topic was Illusion Industries' latest project: the makeup effects for Leatherface in the 2022 Netflix film Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Todd had lots of stories to tell and Ivonna did a fabulous job as the host. In this second of two parts, the "after-party" started, led by...

On February 19, 2022, horror host Ivonna Cadaver and I presented a very special YouTube live Q&A with Todd Tucker, founder of makeup effects house Illusion Industries. The main topic was Illusion Industries' latest project: the makeup effects for Leatherface in the 2022 Netflix film Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Todd had lots of stories to tell and Ivonna did a fabulous job as the host of this first of two parts. To show your support for Excelsior Journeys, An Evening with Ivonna Cadaver, and...

This week on Excelsior Journeys, host and producer George Sirois had the opportunity to speak with a man who truly captures what an Excelsior Journey is all about: artist / actor / writer Duncan Regehr. Having first fallen in love with art during his childhood, Duncan went into broadcasting and theatre in Canada before making the move to Hollywood in 1980 to pursue opportunities in movies and television. But while making his mark on the big and small screens in Wizards & Warriors, The Last...

This week on Excelsior Journeys, host & producer George Sirois sits down with a fellow graduate of Mills E. Godwin High School, award-winning screenwriter & director Charlotte Wincott. After being heavily involved in theatre and music, Charlotte started a new journey into neuroscience for many years, and then returned to the arts by helming various short films and, most recently, her first feature film The Issue with Elvis. Starring her husband Jeff and son Wolfgang, Charlotte has turned a...

With over twenty years in the exotic dancing business, Corey Laine Hilton has seen and done quite a bit, but once he stepped off one stage and on another, he really learned how to really strip away the negativity inside him, leading to a truly fulfilled life. With his new book "Take It Off: Revelations of a Male Exotic Dancer" and his various speaking engagements, Corey is ready to help you face whatever is holding you back from living your best life so you can get on your own personal stage...

This week on Excelsior Journeys, host and producer George Sirois sits down with Rich Lewis, a speaker and author who has discovered how valuable silence can truly be. In this day and age where more people are talking at each other instead of to each other, silence is a commodity that too few people use to their benefit. With his book "Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer," Rich shares his experience with centering prayer that goes back to 2014, how this form...

This week on Excelsior Journeys, host and producer George Sirois welcomes back author and poet Dara Kalima. Dara has recently reached a milestone achievement, something that so many creatives long for: the chance to perform on an Off-Broadway stage! And better yet, she got to perform her own work. Hear for yourself how she made it there! Find out more about Dara by going to https://darakalima.com/ (darakalima.com). To show your support for Excelsior Journeys, An Evening with Ivonna Cadaver,...