The ALL NEW Big Wakeup Call with Ryan Gatenby

Singer-songwriter and "The Voice" alum (Team Blake) Gina Zo called in to talk about her time on the show, what she experienced in the music industry following her appearance, and a story of self-empowerment that led to her embracing her personal truth. Gina's band Velvet Rouge has a new single coming out soon - check them out on Bandcamp and Spotify!

From May 17, 2018: Kate Walsh called in to chat about season 2 of her critically-acclaimed series "13 Reasons Why," which returns to Netflix on Friday. Kate revealed all spoilers for the newseason (which unfortunately could not be included on the podcast version for legal reasons -- sorry!), gave us an update on her health (following surgery to remove a thankfully benign brain tumor) and talked about the joys and challenges of turning 50.

From October 30, 2019: It was a fun visit with returning guest Felicia Day as she called in to promote her newbook "Embrace Your Weird." We talked about our experiences as weird kids and how we were able to harness our mutual weirdness and turn it into a career. With help from her book, you can do it, too!

From October 9, 2020: Amy Bruni is an expert in the world of paranormal investigating. You’ve seen her on the popular tv shows “Ghost Hunters” and “Kindred Spirits.” She’s the author of a newbook, “Life With the Afterlife: 13 Truths I Learned About Ghosts,” which is available now where you buy your books.

Award-winning ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts called in to talk about her book Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life. Deborah Roberts is an award-winning ABC News Correspondent and co-anchor of the prestigious news magazine, "20/20". A media veteran, Roberts has traveled the world for her reporting. She also served as a substitute anchor for "Good Morning America" as well as a guest co-host on "The View." Her in-depth coverage of current events has earned her a Peabody Award for the "20/20" special, "Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor." She has been awarded multiple Emmy Awards for her international and national coverage of world events, including the AIDS crisis in Africa and maternal mortality in Bangladesh.

Chef Michael Symon guested on the show for the first time in a decade to talk about his career, how to make sure a restaurant is keeping food and the dining room clean and safe, and shared a recipe as grilling season finally arrives in the Midwest. Chef Michael Symon is a celebrity chef, restaurant owner and the author of six award-winning cookbooks, including four on the New York Times best-selling list. Symon can be seen serving up recipes and dishes on ‘Symon’s Dinners – Cooking Out’ and the Food Network’s ‘Burgers, Brew & ‘Que’. Plus, be sure to catch his newest show --- ’24 in 24”: Last Chef Standing’ later this Spring. The James Beard Award winner owns several successful restaurants and has received multiple honors during his decades long career.

Michelle Strong, Verizon Business Director Small & Mid-Size Business, joined the show to discuss Verizon's "Small Business Days." Michelle Strong is the Director for Small and Midsize Businesses at Verizon Business. In this role, Michelle is responsible for leading a team of over 115 sales professionals in the Mountain West Territory of the US to care for America’s smallest businesses (1-9 employees) across 11 states. Based out of Denver, CO, Michelle leads on developing strategies that support long term revenue growth for the small businesses that are the lifeblood of the American economy. In her role, she focuses on creating a culture of performance excellence combined with the highest integrity, and developing a team of continuous learners focused on caring for all customers. Michelle is a results driven leader known for driving employee engagement and leadership development across her teams, and she has held a variety of leadership positions across Verizon Business. In her last role as Director of Strategic Sales, Michelle led the largest agent partnerships across the country, including Victra, TCC, and Wireless Zone. Before that, Michelle served as the Director of Retail Sales for the Mountain Territory, serving more than 1.3 million customers and managing over 900 employees across 50 corporate retail stores. Michelle holds an MBA from Bellevue University and a B.S in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska. Michelle sits on the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization called More Than a Phone, which provides phones and data plans to victims of domestic violence. Michelle lives in Denver, CO with her two sons. She is an outdoor enthusiast who loves to camp, rock climb, and cheer her boys on during their endless sports.

From October 5, 2018: Paget Brewster joined the show to talk about her new movie The Witch Files. We also discussed Criminal Minds and working with Paul F. Tompkins on The Thrilling Adventure Hour. Plus: an inside scoop on the making of a Drunk History segment.

From September 26, 2016: Comedy legend and Chicago's own Tom Dreesen discusses his comedy career and his appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (more than 60!), along with a DVD set: THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON: THE VAULT SERIES. ABOUT TOM DREESEN (2016 BIO): Tom Dreesen’s life is equal parts comedy and philanthropy. He excels at both, and has created an extraordinary legacy in both arenas. Dreesen has made over 500 appearances on national television as a stand-up comedian, including more than 60 appearances on The Tonight Show. He was a favorite guest of David Letterman, and frequently hosted the show in Letterman’s absence. He was also a favorite guest of Johnny Carson. For 13 years he toured cross country and opened for Frank Sinatra, and has appeared countless times in Las Vegas, Tahoe, Reno and Atlantic City with artists like Smokey Robinson, Liza Minnelli, Natalie Cole and Sammy Davis, Jr. Tom has acted in numerous television shows – fromColumbo to Murder She Wrote – and appeared in motion pictures including Man on the Moon and Spaceballs. He has recorded comedy albums, starred in his own TV comedy special, Dreesen Street, and hosted a late night talk show in Chicago, Night Time Starring Tom Dreesen. He is currently appearing to rave reviews around the country in his one-man show “An Evening Of Laughter and Memories of Sinatra.” Dreesen’s comic style is down-to-earth, warm and unpretentious. Daily Variety called him “a thorough pro… one of the most respected family comedians of our time.” Larry Wilde ,author of The Great Comedians said about Tom’s performances. “Excellent Material, Impeccable Timing, Tom Dreesen is the Quintessential Comedian.” Frank Sinatra, who called himself a “saloon singer,” characterized Dreesen as a “saloon comedian.” “We’re a couple of neighborhood kind of guys,” said Sinatra. Dreesen has also made an indelible mark with his philanthropic activities. For 30 years he has lent his talent to over 100 charities, and founded a “Day for Darlene” to benefit Multiple Sclerosis Research. He ran 26 miles on three occasions for the event, which is named for his late sister who was afflicted with MS. And he’s still going strong. A proud veteran of the United States Navy, he continues to perform for US troops all over the world, and recently appeared at numerous bases in Iraq. Tom Dreesen’s hometown of Harvey, Illinois named a street after him. He was a 2005 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Heidi Brasher is the Senior Director of Movement Engagement, Strategy, and Innovation at YMCA of the USA. In this role, she helps leverage innovation and strategy at the national level in support of the diverse needs of the 2,600+ local YMCAs and their communities across the country. Heidi’s work within the Y Movement spans over 20 years, with local program development experience in the areas of early care, afterschool, day camp and teen programming. Heidi Brasher joined the show to talk about this year's Healthy Kids Day, taking place at your local YMCA. For more info, visit: YMCA.ORG/HKD.

Singers, Songwriters, Partners, and YouTube stars Sam Tsui and Casey Breves joined the show for a fun chat about their new book Why Do We Sing? Sam & Casey also sang a song inspired by the book! Sam Tsui and Casey Breves are married singers, composers, and content creators who live in Los Angeles with their daughter, Elaia, and cat, Alfie. They are graduates of Yale University, where they met singing in an a cappella group together. With original songs and covers that have been viewed and streamed over a billion times, they’ve connected with fans around the world both online and on tour—and they are now thrilled to be sharing their love of music with fans. TikTok: @TheSamTsui • YouTube: TheSamTsui • Instagram: TheSamTsui • SamTsui.com

Andrew Nelson discusses his new book from National Geographic, Here Not There. An award-winning writer and editor for National Geographic Traveler, Andrew Nelson has roamed all 50 states as well as numerous countries for the magazine and website. He served as director of editorial projects for National Geographic Travel in Washington, D.C., and has taught in institutions such as Loyola University New Orleans and the College of Charleston. He lives in Washington, D.C. Follow Andrew on Instagram @andrewtyrrellnelson

Aida Salazar chats with Ryan about her new book Ultraviolet. Aida Salazar is an award-winning author and arts activist whose writings for adults and children explore issues of identity and social justice. She is the author of the middle-grade verse novels The Moon Within (International Latino Book Award Winner), Land of the Cranes (Américas Award Winner), the picture book anthology, In the Spirit of a Dream, and the picture book biography Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter (International Latino Book Award Winner). She is a founding member of Las Musas, a Latinx kidlit debut author collective. Her short story "By the Light of the Moon" was adapted into a ballet production by the Sonoma Conservatory of Dance and is the first Xicana-themed ballet in history. She lives with her family of artists in Oakland, California.

Chantal Nchako visited the show for a fun and lively chat about her childhood growing up in Cameroon, her early career, current project Diarra From Detroit, now airing on BET+, and working with the incredible Eddie Murphy in her upcoming role in the much-anticipated Beverly Hills Cop: Alex F, premiering on Netflix July 3rd. Chantal Nchako is a French West African actress. Her multicultural and global experiences are instrumental in her work as an actor and humanitarian. Raised in Douala, Cameroon, her adaptability and captivating stage and screen presence are a fusion of her international heritage. She developed a strong sense of poise and confidence from her cultures, spiritual background, travels, and strong family ties around the world. She is an ardent athlete and loves to ride horses to Liberate her positive flow of energy. Chantal’s diverse training, experience and professionalism as an actor gained her standout roles in Off-Broadway plays, TV and films. Her work has garnered her rave reviews and interviews in leading newspapers and industry journals, including the Huffington Post, Broadway World, Backstage and New York Theatre. Chantal is fluent in French, Italian and the Bamileke dialect from her native home in Bangoulap. She studied Shakespeare at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University with the Great John Barton, earned her BFA at Howard University and her MFA at the University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts (U.S.C). While at U.S.C she was the first recipient of the Robert Plumleigh Scholarship and also the recipient of the Ava Greenwald Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding MFA Actor. At U.S.C. Chantal was amongst the first MFA students to be accepted and cast in the professional training program at the prestigious Williamstown Theater Festival, the Tony Award Winning resident summer theatre. She played the lead role, Ella, in Sam Shepard’s play. Curse of the Starving Class, directed by Jason Mc Dowell-Green. At U.S.C, Chantal spearheaded the initiative to diversify the MFA repertory, resulting in the production of the first black play, Twilight Los Angeles 1992. written by Anna Devere Smith. After this successful initiative, Chantal set into motion the plan to teach August Wilson classes in the U.S.C. MFA program: introducing Ruben Santiago Hudson and Michele Shay to help sustain the diversity initiative. During 2020, to support U.S.C’s advocacy of Black Lives Matter, Chantal opened up the dialogue for a town hall discussion. The dialogue defined the inclusion process as an ongoing university priority, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, including MFA alumni, current students, faculty and university leadership to add balance to the process. Chantal is a resident faculty member at Silva Arte e Danza musical theatre academy in Siracusa, Sicily and the founder and designer of Choobiz, a luxury shoe line made in Italy.

It was fun re-living childhood memories of action figures and local UHF TV programming with Brad Balukjian as we chatted about his new book THE SIX PACK: On the Road in Search of WrestleMania. Brad Balukjian has chosen two careers – journalist and scientist – which converge on pursuit of the truth. He has been published in Rolling Stone, Smithsonian, National Geographic, and many others. His first book, The Wax Pack: On the Open Road in Search of Baseball’s Afterlife, hit #7 on the LA Times bestseller list and was named one of NPR’s Best Books of 2020. He is a Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences, and he discovered 17 species of insects (green flash bugs) in Tahiti, one of which he named after Harrison Ford. He lives on the road, where he’s in an open relationship with his VCR.

It's always fun when we have a returning guest, and after talking about weirdness in the Middle Ages last time, we discussed weirdness in the U.S. Government with his book WEIRD BUT TRUE! KNOW IT ALL: US GOVERNMENT. Michael Burgan is a historian specializing in writing biographies and current events for younger audiences. His published works include Who Was Henry Ford?, Who Was Theodore Roosevelt?, Breaker Boys: How a Photograph Helped End Child Labor, The Creation of the U.S. Constitution, and Weird But True Know-It-All: Middle Ages. Additionally, Burgan is also a playwright and studied at the University of Connecticut.

Joey Angelo, a liquor industry entrepreneur, launched products such as VIVA XXXII Tequila; MARGS – the canned margarita beverage; and Su Casa Mezcal – which, in less than a year after its launch, is now one of the top-selling brands in the mezcal category. Outside of the liquor industry, Joey Angelo was a seed investor in the celebrity fitness concept Rumble Boxing and played a key role in its launch prior to its sale to Xponential in a deal valued at more than $300 million.

Joe Yogerst returned to the show for a fun chat about his new book 50 States, 1000 Eats: Where to Go, When to Go, What to Eat, What to Drink . During more than three decades as an editor, writer, photographer, and speaker, Joe Yogerst has lived and worked in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. His writing has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, CNN Travel, Islands magazine, the International New York Times (Paris), Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Forbes Travel and National Geographic Digital. He has also worked on more than 40 National Geographic books, including the bestselling 50 States, 5,000 Ideas. Joe is a California native and now lives in San Diego.

Affectionally dubbed the “octopus whisperer”, acclaimed author SY MONTGOMERY, returns to the species she knows and loves, offering current and compassionate stories about the scientists on the front lines of octopus research and conservation. In SECRETS OF THE OCTOPUS, Montgomery, dives deep into the extraordinary life of one of nature's most intelligent and complex animals. Enhanced with breathtaking National Geographic photography, the book offers a captivating journey into the underwater world of the octopus. Often likened to alien lifeforms, these creatures exhibit remarkable intelligence and adaptability. Montgomery's narrative takes us closer than ever to understanding the octopus, revealing groundbreaking insights into how their large brains are distributed throughout their bodies, as well as their unique ability to alter their genetic makeup in response to environmental challenges. Known for their unparalleled camouflage skills you will see breathtaking photography showing them changing shape and color. It also delves into the touching dedication of octopus mothers to their offspring.

While Eric Cogorno is best known for the golf lessons he gives to more than 400,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel and Instagram, he’s actually spent nearly 20 years building a reputation as a highly respected Performance Golf Coach. He intuitively combines the art and science of golf to teach to each individual student (seemingly) simple strategies that lead to cutting handicaps in half and significantly improving performance for golfers of all levels. Since 2018, Eric Cogorno has taken his business from $80K a year teaching one-on-one lessons by the hour in Bethlehem, PA, to a multimillion dollar, global golf instruction brand using these same skills and strategies. In the process, he was able to also transform his entire professional and personal lifestyle as well as the golf of hundreds of thousands of people. As a successful entrepreneur and personal development enthusiast, Eric is on a mission to help people understand the profound value of goal setting, help them get clear about their goals and provide tactical strategies for them to achieve those goals.