It's a return trip down the Media Path for Vicki and John and this time Bob is along for fun, games and Cowsill family lore!

We welcome back Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill, who recently joined us to talk about their collaboration on a new album of songs written by John's late brothers, Billy and Barry Cowsill, 'Long After the Fire', plus fellow founding Cowsills member, Bob Cowsill joins the conversation.

We start at the dawn of Vicki’s Cowsills journey, as a fan who became a friend who became a spouse. A seven-year-old, Vicki’s big sister Debbi said, “You know, there’s a girl your age in this band.” Vicki was instantly sold and she spent her allowance savings on the We Can Fly album.

In 1977, when Vicki learned that a friend of a friend knew Bob’s Cowsill, Vicki gave him a call to talk vocal harmonies. Vicki and Debbi were still bubbling under as The Bangs and they went to see The Cowsills perform at a local club. Just a few years later, Bob found himself invited to The Bangles Platinum party and John recounts his meet-cute with Vicki, right before his marriage to someone else!

We test the Cowsill/Peterson crew on self-knowledge with a game we like to call 'Are You Better Informed Than Google?', Vicki and John share what took them two married decades to work together and Bob gives his perspective on John and Vicki's new album of Billy and Barry Cowsill covers.

Bob and John share how their generational split affected their musical influences and experiences within the band and we hear about the earliest days of the Cowsills, their father Bud's early clash with brother Richard, performing at Brown frat parties as young kids and their first demo song recordings. And the games continue as everyone takes on some Cowsills Trivia Roulette from Becky Presley's
Cowsills site!

In recommendations--

Fritz: Book, Miss May Does Not Exist by Carrie Courogen

Weezy: Hulu Series, Devil in the Family

Path Points of Interest:

The Cowsills

Becky Presley’s Cowsills Page

Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill

Vicki and John on Instagram

Vicki and John on Facebook

John Cowsill

John Cowsill on Facebook

John Cowsill on Instagram

John Cowsill on Wiki

Vicki Peterson on Wiki

The Bangles

Vicki Peterson on Facebook

Becky Presley Trivia

Miss May Does Not Exist: The Live And Work Of Elaine May, Hollywood's Hidden Genius by Carrie Courogen

Devil in the Family

The whole world knows Rick Springfield, the performer, songwriter, idol, rock star, actor, hitmaker....but the real Rick is an introspective deep thinker who has overcome wrenching personal and professional obstacles while remaining true to his purpose and authentic self. Rick joins us this week to talk about a remarkable career trajectory, a new album, a coffee table book and an upcoming national tour!

Rick realized at an early age that he was destined to make art, setting off on a unique journey which began in the suburbs of Sydney, then took him to England during the early days of the legendary British rock scene, back to Australia where he launched his music career and then deep into Vietnam to perform for the troops during the height of the Southeast Asia conflict in the late '60s.

Rick shares astonishing recollections of playing live in an active war zone, ducking for cover in the middle of a set, flying in an Apache helicopter and his nearly fatal encounter with a grenade.

Rick was able to secure a record deal that brought him to America, but while his first single, Speak To The Sky, landed with a flash, he quickly fell into a personal and career rut that lasted 8 years.

Rick spent the disco era sticking true to his hook heavy power pop sound and eventually came up swinging with the instant classic Jessie’s Girl, followed by 16 more top forty hits! Simultaneously, Rick’s side hustle landed him on the soap that was addicting millions, General Hospital. Rick played Noah Drake who he describes as a better kisser than doctor.

Rick’s autobiography, Late, Late at Night is raw and honest about his struggles with bouts of deep depression. Therapy and medication have helped him and he’s gratified that sharing his truth has been a beacon to others but he feels that music is the greatest comfort. That and possibly rum (use responsibly) Rick and Sammy Hagar have launched the Beach Bar Rum company.

All of the above, plus a round of IMDB Roulette which takes Rick from Wonder Woman to Meryl Streep. (Often mistaken for the same person.)

In recommendations--

Weezy: The Four Seasons, Netflix Series

Fritz: Documentary, Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History

Path Points of Interest:

Rick Springfield

Rick Springfield on Wiki

Rick Springfield on IMDB

Rick Springfield on Apple Music

Rick Springfield on YouTube Music

Rick Springfield Shop

2025 Tour Dates

Rick Springfield on Instagram

Rick Springfield on Facebook

Rick Springfield on X

Rick Springfield on TikTok

Lose Myself Video

The Four Seasons on Netflix

The Four Seasons film on Netflix

Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History

Media Path Website

Author, performer, podcaster, interviewer and host Nelson Aspen has covered a lot of ground in his highly prolific career, but he continues to return to one spot in particular, figuratively speaking: 41°43'32" N, 49°56'49" W...better known as the location of the most well known and intensely chronicled sea-faring vessel in history: White Star Line's RMS Titanic.

For Nelson, his interest in the famed ship seems fated - He's felt a lifelong affinity with Titanic passenger, Milton Long! And Nelson shares Milton’s story in a new historical fantasy/semi-autobiographical/reincarnation novel, Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale.

We know that Milton met fellow passenger, Jack Thayer aboard Titanic. They were together as the ship went down. One lived. One perished. Is it a gay Titanic love story?

Historical records point to the reality that a budding affection between the two men was developing at sea. As the ship met her fate, only women and children were permitted in lifeboats which were being sent into the water half full. Their only hope was to jump. Jack launched himself into the water and balanced on an overturned collapsable lifeboat for hours before his rescue. Milton slid down the now nearly vertical banister and was sucked beneath the ship where he died.

Titanic and Milton remained with Jack for long after the tragic events of April 14, 1912. Nelson's book builds on a metaphysical premise that allows readers to examine a unique juxtaposition between the constraints of Edwardian morals and the life-affirming spirit of the contemporary LGBTQ community.

We discuss the documentary 'Ship of Dreams: Titanic Movie Diaries' which Nelson worked on with Alexandra Boyd, his co-host on the Titanic Talk podcast, which captures the extent of the impact the 1997 movie made on all who were involved with the production.

Nelson shares his thoughts on why modern audiences continue to gravitate to the liner's ill-fated maiden voyage, his thoughts on collecting Titanic artifacts, why no single person or entity can shoulder the blame for the tragic event, plus where he's heading on his upcoming appearances and the latest installment in his semi-autobiographical series, Dancing Between The Raindrops!

In recommendations--

Fritz: Netflix Series, The Residence

Weezy: The Dark Money Game on HBO

Path Points of Interest:

Nelson Aspen

Kindred Spirits: A Titanic Tale

Nelson Aspen Amazon Page

Ship of Dreams

Titanic Talk Podcast

Nelson Aspen on YouTube

Nelson Aspen on Instagram

Nelson Aspen on X

Nelson Aspen on TikTok

The Residence-Netflix

The Dark Money Game

Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Meyer