Épisodes

  • Episode #241: Kristi Callan (K Callan)
    Jun 24 2025

    Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to musician Kristi Callan, daughter of acting lifer, K Callan. Active since 1956, K has had many lives – in the theater, on television, in commercials and movies. In 2019, she co-starred in the hit film, Knives Out, in the 70s she was Cousin Liz in a famous episode of All in the Family, in the 90s she was Martha Kent on the beloved series, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, she’s pitched Sanka and Anacin and is also the author of several books on acting and the life of an actor that might be her most well-known endeavor. And she’s still going strong in 2025.

    Kristi talks to us about growing up with a very understanding mom who was nurtured her and her sister’s interest in music while growing up in Los Angeles in the 1970s. In fact, music fans will know Kristi’s various music projects from hither and yon in bands like Wednesday Week, The Roswells Sisters, a Cheap Trick cover band, Cheap Chick and a newer project The Dime Box Band. In fact, her musical world and her mother’s acting career once intersected perfectly on a transatlantic flight involving The Ramones, who were fans of her mother’s. We also hear about long lost LA venues like The Starwood and the Music Machine as well as perhaps one band you have never heard of, Goat Deity with future member of Paisley Underground darlings, The Dream Syndicate. We go the extra mile for your muso’s on this episode.

    So if movies like Joe or The Onion Field or American Gigolo are your thing, or possibly TV shows like James at 16, St. Elsewhere or It’s a Living float your boat, get ready for a walk down memory lane on this episode. The Rarified Heir Podcast, everyone has a story. Kristi has several of her own and more of her mother as well.

    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    1 h et 36 min
  • Episode #240: Kiki Ebsen (Buddy Ebsen)
    Jun 17 2025

    Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Kiki Ebsen, daughter of actor, dancer and singer Buddy Ebsen. Talking with Kiki was a real joy. One of the true joys of doing this podcast is to not only learn about the most known parts of being a child of a celebrity but the more, unlikely one’s as well. What do we mean? Well, of course we hear about The Beverly Hillbillies, The Wizard of Oz and Barnaby Jones. But how many other podcasts ask the tough questions, like, “What kind of car did Buddy drive?” Not many but we hear about it on this episode.

    We also learn about Kiki’s musical career as a road dog for the likes of Tracy Chapman, Chicago and Al Jarreau as well as her latest endeavor, her tribute to her father, My Buddy, The Other Side of Oz, which we saw and loved after recording this podcast. Along the way we discuss Walt Disney, the Tin Man, Davy Crockett, Matt Houston and what a fantastic person, actor Lee Meriwether was.

    That being said, was I the only one who didn’t realize that Buddy Ebsen was a dancer and a good one? Or that he and his sister/dance partner were discovered by newsman Walter Winchell during the Roosevelt administration? Whoa. So sit back, take a listen to Kiki Ebsen on this episode and learn more about Buddy Ebsen than you thought possible. Everyone has a story.

    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    1 h et 34 min
  • Episode #239: Victoria Price (Vincent Price)
    Jun 10 2025

    Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to Victoria Price, daughter of actor and horror movie icon Vincent Price. To say that this episode was a popular one would be an understatement. It’s our most listened to episode. I think it’s safe to say the cult of Vincent was strong with this one.

    Victoria was a gracious and open guest who talked to us about growing up in Los Angeles with her famous father and mother, costume designer Mary Grant Price. We discussed the issues of not being able to ride your bike in the hills, the lesson she the realities of being a celebrity child when her artwork was selected as a standout, only to be told that likely, it was her famous father’s name and art collection that got her noticed and our favorite part of our conversation involving a car wash & Mexican food you likely won’t hear anywhere else.

    Along the way we hear what it was like going to the World Series with her dad, her father’s passion for gourmet food, growing up with best friends who were the daughter of Nat King Cole and more. If Broadway, The Witchfinder General or Crème Brule are your thing, this is also your episode. Take a listen to the latest episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story. Even a family brand ambassador.

    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    1 h et 38 min
  • Episode #238: Bobby Brooks (Jackie Wilson)
    Jun 3 2025

    Today on another encore edition of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to entertainer Bobby Brooks, whose story about his celebrity parent is like none other. Of all the episodes we have done over the past four years, Bobby’s is totally unique and left us incredulous. You see, Bobby had no idea his father was the late, great singer Jackie Wilson until he was well on his way to his own recording career. And it was because of his voice, his on stage moves and his mannerisms that friends of his father’s made the connection because Bobby, essentially, WAS Jackie on stage but had no clue himself.

    Bobby tells us about his roots in South Carolina, the physical and financial difficulties he experienced as a child as well as his love of music from a very young age. We discuss his time in the Navy which led him to Hawaii where he performed with a very young, pre celebrity Bruno Mars in the family band, later being discovered by Paul Revere (of Paul Revere & the Raiders fame) and his connections to The Four Tops, The Temptations, Billy Davis and other music greats. So who and how and where did Bobby find out he was the son of Mr. Soul, Mr. Excitement Jackie Wilson? Welp, it’s too good to share here. So take a listen to this upcoming episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast where all will be revealed. You won’t believe it. Everyone has a story. Bobby’s is remarkable.

    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    1 h et 33 min
  • Episode #237: Matthew Specktor (Fred Specktor)
    May 27 2025

    Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to novelist Matthew Specktor, whose new book, The Golden Hour: A Story of Family and Power in Hollywood, is out now and getting rave reviews. Matthew spoke to us about growing up behind the scenes in Hollywood as the son of an icon of the film industry, Fred Specktor, a super-agent of A-list Hollywood talent who is still going strong at 92 years old. With a roster of clients that included everyone from Robert DeNiro, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Danny Devito and many, many more, Matthew was brought up in and around the film business and had a firsthand look.

    Part memoir, part biography, part cultural history & part fiction, The Golden Hour has been priases in outlets such as NPR, the New York Times, the Kirkus Review, the LA Times and many more for it’s unique look into Hollywood and the battle between art vs. commerce and much more. As this is his third book based on his take on Hollywood, Matthew is getting name-checked alongside iconic LA based, Hollywood centric authors such as Joan Didion and William Goldman and getting praise from authors like Jonathan Lethem and Griffin Dunne. High praise indeed. We get into that as well as how Matthew formed the book and the basis of his exploration into his family and the city formed him, shortly.

    Matthew’s behind-the-scenes stories of how Hollywood was created in the second half of the twentieth century at Tinseltown institutions like MCA, William Morris and CAA beginning in the 1950s and where we are today, 70 years later a a large part of this episode. But we also hear personal stories about pranks the pre-rat pack played on him and his best friend Renee Estevez (daughter of Martin Sheen) in high school, what LA restaurants his family ate on special occasions, the cars and vanity plates of super agents in the City of Angelss and the movie theaters and books that shaped his youth on the Westside of Los Angeles.

    This is the Rarified Heir Podcast and if you’ve never had David Lynch tell you, you were more an artist than a deal maker at 13, take a listen because Matthew Specktor has. Everyone has a story.

    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    1 h et 43 min
  • Episode #236: Rodd Bland (Bobby "Blue" Bland) (Part Two)
    May 20 2025

    Today on another brand new episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking with Rodd Bland, son of blues legend Bobby “Blue” Bland. As this is part two of our interview, we delve deeper with Rodd, who spoke to us on this episode of some of the more silly and fun things about his dad you may not know about the man. Such as? Well, what kind of car did Bobby “Blue” Bland drive? And what color was it? What burger joint was his dad’s favorite spot in Los Angeles? We hear that too. And not only do we find out what place that was but we hear of a totally bizarre and wonderful coincidence on their very last visit together, on tour. But sorry – you will have to sign up to hear our Patreon episode to find out what soap opera was Bobby’s favorite.

    We also hear about Rodd’s time behind the drum kit as a band leader and also as a guest with some amazing musicians on a recent gig at the Antone’s 50th Anniversary at Austin at Austin City Limits. We hear how Rodd started playing the drums and how it used to piss off his dad so much, he had to buy him his first drum kit. We also hear about Rodd’s & his dad’s relationship with B.B. King – on the road, at home and just hanging out. In fact, Rodd does one really terrific spot-on impression of the man known as Blues Boy that you have to hear to believe.

    Moreover, we discuss racism in the south, how Rodd is working on selling official Blue merch on the internet and his father’s advice to him in life and on stage that seemed to be Blue’s mantra for living a good life. It’s all here and it’s next up on the latest episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.

    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    58 min
  • Episode #235: Rodd Bland (Bobby "Blue" Bland) (Part One)
    May 13 2025

    Today on another brand new episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we bring you part one of two episodes with Rodd Bland, son of the genius blues, soul, gospel & rhythm & blues singer Bobby “Blue” Bland. Best friends with B.B. King, & called the Frank Sinatra of the Blues – Bobby has more inductions into more museums and Hall of Fame’s than an Amana Radar Range. Known for his soulful voice and his signature phrasing, Bobby was truly one of the greats. He also was also known for a guttural sound he made while singing that we get into on this episode. What started as a cue from a preacher became a sound that the ladies loved. No one did it like Bobby.

    Our conversation with Rodd dovetailed into many topics, including musicians such as ZZ Top to Pearl Jam, Taylor Hawkins to Jay-Z who were all influenced by “Blue.” We also talk about his father’s late career resurgence thanks to films and television. From Spiderman the Animated Movie, to The Lincoln Lawyer and American Gangster, all roads seemed to lead back to “Blue”’s tunes in trailers, opening scenes in films and the like. Rodd tells us a rather touching story about when his father first heard one of his songs in a film that left us misty eyed.

    Along the way, we discuss what it was like touring in the Chitlin’ Circuit, we touch on – albeit briefly – Don Robey and the Duke / Peacock years at the beginning of his career and a little known fact about Bobby that perhaps makes this episode an unleavened experience with a singer nicknamed as Sonny Boy that even Rodd didn’t know. We had to call his mom to confirm it and she pretty much did.

    So sit back, take a listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast with Rodd Bland discussing everything from “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City,” and “Further Up The Road” “Cry, Cry, Cry” & “I Pity The Fool.” But not, “Member’s Only.” That one we saved for our Patreon page where we hear an exclusive, bonus episode, you won’t hear anywhere else. Another child of a celebrity, interviewed by a child of a celebrity. Everyone has a story.

    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    1 h et 10 min
  • Episode #234: Howard Murray (Jan Murray) (Part Two)
    May 6 2025

    Today on Part two of our conversation with Howard Murray, son of comedian Jan Murray, we find that like the Passover holiday that just ended a few weeks back, this one is full of both Maror and Charoset. Meaning, this episode is full of both the bitter and the sweet. Jan was kind enough to tell us some very funny details about his family’s annual Sedar dinners as well as a truly horrific story that has to be heard to be believed.

    In between all that, we discuss some his father’s film role like History of the World Part One, Who Killed Teddy Bear, Which Way to the Front, Tarzan and the Great River and more. We also discuss what made his dad laugh, what restaurants he frequented and many more of the comedians that Howard essentially grew up with in the Murray household.

    Howard talked to us for close to two hours for parts one and two of the podcast and was funny, gracious, reflective, honest and patient with all our questions. All in all, we’d say it was a wonderful two episodes and you can make up your mind for yourself, as part two is coming up right now. The Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story.

    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    1 h et 16 min