In this episode, Donna and Dr Adam are joined by longtime radio DJ Leslie Stevens! Leslie has 45 years’ experience as a DJ, including hosting his own long-running syndicated show “Route 66 Oldies Show”, which brings back the sounds and memories of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

In their conversation, Leslie shares his journey from a small radio station in the LA mountains to hosting, producing, and reporting for radio and TV stations in California and Arizona. Remember KHJ Boss Radio in Los Angeles? Or perhaps you had your own favourite radio station in your city growing up. We’ll revisit those memories and more in the latest episode of Love’s A Secret Weapon Podcast!

In this special episode, Donna and Dr. Adam are joined by musician Maurice Gainen! Maurice, who is a woodwind musician, producer, composer, and engineer, first worked with Donna to rejuvenate her signature song “It Only Hurts When I Cry” in 2009. He then engineered Donna’s first album in decades, “Love It Away” in 2010, and he provides the distinctive saxophone sounds on her modern holiday classic, “Merry Christmas Baby”!

In conversation with Donna and Dr Adam, Maurice invites us into his Silverlake recording studio, and tells us about his long and diverse music career, which includes his own recordings, live performances, production work for major labels, and his mastering of 187 CDs for Starbucks. Maurice shares how he is committed to a global music movement and how he brings together collaborators from all over the world to create a unique global jazz sound.

You’ll also hear about how his career started on Bob Barker’s “Truth or Consequences”, how by chance he ended up with his unique silver saxophone, and what Joni Mitchell said about his mastering of her recordings!

Billboard Magazine said “Maurice is a man to hear”, and Donna and Dr Adam are delighted that you can hear him on Season Six of "Love’s A Secret Weapon Podcast".

This conversation is available as an audio episode and will also be available as a video with Donna, Dr. Adam, and Maurice!

Maurice's new album "Hope Thru Music" was released 2 April, 2024.

Welcome back to Season 6 of Love’s a Season Weapon Podcast!

In this episode, you’re invited to a dinner party! Join Donna, Dr Adam, and special guests Sheryl Farber and Steven Stanley, who recorded this episode while Donna, Sheryl, and Steve were out to dinner in Topanga, CA. Sheryl Farber and Steve Stanley are music producers, musicians, archivists, and historians, who have produced and worked on hundreds of music compilations and re-releases that showcase or rediscover fabulous artists, sounds and productions. Sheryl is a Grammy-nominated producer for the compilations “Wild Tales of the Ramones” and “One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost & Found” and Steve is the founder of Now Sounds Records & Radio, with over 50 releases focusing on the sounds of the ‘60s West Coast music scene including Donna's "These Are the Good Times: The Complete Capitol Recordings" (2014 Gold Bonus Disc Award Winner). In their conversation against the background of clinking glasses and happy diners, Sheryl and Steve take you behind the scenes of their work. They share how they produce music compilations and box sets that breathe new life into well-known songs, and shed light on forgotten, obscure, or never-heard-before music. So, join the dinner party! You’ll feel like you’re in the vault at Capitol!