#RedCarpetRegulars #SpectacularSportspeople #AwesomeAuthors @NHL @sportsology Exclusive Interview with Mover and Shaker Russ Cohen on the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Mover and Shaker Russ Cohen is a writer and author who specializes in hockey and baseball content. He is an author of 11 books and currently runs www.sportsology.com as well as www.nhldraftbuzz.com/. Besides his writing, his podcasts and are a part of his weekly schedule.   We know Russ because we originally reviewed his book on the New York Rangers.  His last Whom You Know interview was in 2013, also in Red Carpet Regulars.

Russ is currently highly occupied during the hockey playoffs: either by attending games or commenting on them on his or on other radio shows. He's had a regular on NHL Network Radio since its inception on Sirius.

When NHL fans want to find out information about the NHL Draft, they call on Russ to keep them informed and to find out about what he thinks about those players. The month of June is very busy for him because the Stanley Cup, something he's covered since 2003 and the NHL Draft happens within weeks and that makes for a tight schedule.

There is never an offseason since he writes about collectibles for Go GTS and that entails writing about Baseball, Football and Hockey prospects and the trading cards that are out regarding each player. Hobby enthusiasts know and trust his opinion and have for many years. Whom You Know is thrilled to present Russ Cohen in his newest interview. Russ was interviewed by Peachy Deegan.

Peachy Deegan: What does hockey mean to you?

Russ Cohen: Hockey is Life. I have been covering it religiously since 2001 and was a fan long before that. I’ve tried to experience everything the sport has to offer and I love covering it.

Tell us about the best NHL playoffs you have covered and what you like about them.

2003 Stanley Cup was my first. The Devils won in a Game 7 and that was exciting and something I never thought I would be able to do. I worked hard to get to that point.

What teams look the most promising for a Stanley Cup this year?

I’ll say the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets but it’s a tough year to predict. The games have been great.

What do you think of the Rangers new coaching staff and what are your predictions for their success?

Mike Sullivan was once their assistant and a very good head coach. He’s been very successful. Some say not lately and that happens but he has his work cut out for him and next year could be a transitional season. They had some big issues this season.

What other records do you see Alex Ovechkin breaking?

Probably something more obscure. He is the all-time leader in more than a few categories.

What do you think of the MLB season so far?

The torpedo bats have made a splash with a lot of early home runs especially for the New York Yankees. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the team to beat but the New York Mets will be dangerous as well. The Yankees and Red Sox are battling; that hasn’t happened for a while and that’s good for the sport.

What or who has had the most influence on your pursuit of excellence?

I have a drive to be better for sure. My parents instilled a good work ethic. I enjoy what I do and try and be better everyday. I don’t want to sit on my laurels.

What are you proudest of and why?

I have books in the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame. It was a real honor to have them accept them. They are there for reference and that makes me proud.

What would you like to do professionally that you have not yet had the opportunity to do?

I would like to publish a book about the New York Jets. I got close once. Maybe that’s in my future.

What honors and awards have you received in your profession?

My podcast, Off The Post, was in a ranked hot list. I don’t have any hardware currently.

What one word best describes you and why?

A grinder. I keep grinding much like hockey players do.

What do you take your sense of identity from?

Being grounded and true to myself. What you see is what you get.

What is your favorite place to be in Manhattan?

Central Park. It’s awesome and it is free!

What is your favorite shop in Manhattan?

Macy’s. It’s a classic.

If you could hire anybody whom would it be and why?

I would hire Green Day to play a private concert for a birthday celebration.

What is the best advice you’ve received in your career and what mentors have influenced you the most?

I was once asked, why do you want to cover hockey prospects? Nobody cares. That made me want to do it even more. To prove that writer wrong and to make people care more about them and I think I have accomplished that. Bruce Bennett, although a photographer, has been super supportive. There are too many to list but most of the people are in the hockey world.

What is your favorite drink?

Unsweetened Iced Tea.

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at a cocktail party?

At a closed event for the NHL, before the All-Star game, I scalped tickets on the street to get in. I figured I could eat a lot of shrimp and make a few connections and it worked.

What is your favorite restaurant in Manhattan?

Carmine’s. The food is fantastic!

What is your favorite Manhattan book or favorite character in Manhattan literature?

Vito Corleone from the “Godfather”.

What is your favorite tv show and why?

I curently love Will Trent. Great cast and Betty the dog is the cutest thing on television.

What is your favorite movie and why?

Blazing Saddles. It’s a timeless classic.

What do you know now that you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?

That you have to be a brand more than a personality. I figured that out midway into it.

What’s one thing you wish the world better understood about you and why?

That I’m honest. I’m not going to say what I think you want to hear or read.

Who would you like to be for a day and why?

The commissioner of baseball. I love the sport and think I can do a better job than the current commissioner.

Who is your favorite actor?

Tom Hardy, he can play any part and is always fantastic.

If you could have anything in Manhattan named after you what would it be and why?

The Russ Cohen dog park. You can’t have enough dog parks.

What has been your best Manhattan athletic experience?

I played in the Hotel League, fast pitch softball championship in Central Park. We made it to the championship game but we lost.

What is your favorite thing to do in Manhattan that you can do nowhere else?

Get a slice. The best pizza on earth.

If you could have dinner with any person living or passed, who would it be and why?

Mel Brooks. He’s so smart and full of stories. I could sit and listen to him all day.

What has been your best Manhattan art or music experience?

It would be music. I once saw the Walden Woods benefit concert at MSG. It featured, Billy Joel, Sting and Don Henley. That was a great night.

What do you personally do or what have you done to give back to the world?

I try and mentor people in my industry so they can succeed. I give my time to multiple charities and donate to as many as I can afford each year.

What do you think is most underrated and overrated in Manhattan?

Underrated - McSorley’s Old Ale House is one of the great local breweries.

Overrated - New York street Pretzels, They are heated on coals. They’re mediocre.

Other than Movers and Shakers of course, and obviously NHL Peachy and MLB Peachy, what is your favorite WhomYouKnow.com​ column and what do you like about it?

Gotham Gadgets. I love reading about technology.

What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?

That I’m hard working and love what I do. It takes a while to be able to position yourself that way in life but we can all do that.

How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?

rcohen@sportsology.net

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#AwesomeAuthors #MoverandShaker #MichaelGross #Exclusive #Interview with #PeachyDeegan @ManhattanPeachy #WhomYouKnow On #FlightoftheWasp

Mover and Shaker and Awesome Author Michael Gross

Headshot: Thorsten Roth, www.studios594.com

Michael Gross’ Rogues’ Gallery was a highly controversial book, exposing the machinations of the wealthy supporters of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in an unprecedented manner. Preferring anonymity and thinking it might be best if he got out of town for a while, Gross next turned his attention to the residential choices of the wealthy of Los Angeles, and in 2011, published Unreal Estate: Money, Ambition and the Lust for Land in Los Angeles, Highly Recommended by Whom You Know, focusing on a handful of great estates in the three wealthiest neighborhood of West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Holmby Hills.

In the years that followed, Mover and Shaker Michael Gross moved from Travel & Leisure magazine to Departures, where he continued to write cover stories on travel and the culture of the world’s wealthy. He also became a columnist for Crain’s New York Business and launched another column on historic luxury real estate for Avenue magazine, a society journal. He also wrote House of Outrageous Fortune, which earned Whom You Know’s Highest Recommendation, his third book on luxury real estate, this time telling the story of the most successful condominium in New York history, Fifteen Central Park West, and chronicling an epic shift in the demographics of wealth in the city, the emergence of an entirely new class consisting of hedge fund runner, international oligarchs, tech tycoons and mega-celebrities, who set records with their home-buying. It was released in 2014 and became his third New York Times bestseller.

Gross’ penultimate book, Focus: The Secret, Sexy, Sometimes Sordid World of Fashion photographers, a sequel to Model, Highly Recommended by Whom You Know, in which he turned his camera around to look at the people behind the camera, telling the stories of such eminent photographers as Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Bruce Weber, Helmut Newton, Gilles Bensimon and Terry Richardson, which prefigured the #metoo movement in fashion.

Following the release of Focus, Gross was asked to edit Avenue, and spent two years helming the magazine. After arranging its sale to a new owner in 2019, Gross resigned to undertake his latest book, Flight of the WASP: The Rise, Fall and Future of America’s Original Ruling Class, for Atlantic Monthly Press, which has been Highly Recommended by Whom You Know. Four years of reporting and writing later, it was serialized in Town & Country and released in November 2023.

Michael Gross continues to write about travel and the upper class for magazines; he was named Editor-at-Large of Palmer: The Palm Beach Reader, in 2022. His work is also published online, most recently in Air Mail. He lives on the East River in a mid-Century modern cooperative building in Kips Bay with his wife Barbara Hodes, owner of New York City Private Shopping Tour, and their West Highland Terrier Agrippina, aka Aggie.  Peachy Deegan interviewed Michael Gross for Whom You Know and we are thrilled to present him to you as our latest Awesome Author!

Peachy Deegan: What does it take to write a Bestseller?

Michael Gross: As Red Smith, the sportswriter once said, it’s easy. “You just sit at the keyboard and stare at a blank screen until little tiny beads of blood pop out of your forehead. But seriously: Lightning has to strike. A perfect storm of public atmosphere and reader interest. Or you can already be a celebrity—and your fans will buy your book regardless of what’s inside the cover..

We understand you started FLIGHT OF THE WASP prior to covid. How did the worldwide disaster affect your book and what did you do to rise to the challenge?

Mid-way through my research, the world shut down, which meant that the archives and libraries I needed to write a book covering 400 years were unavailable. Fortunately, the New York Public Library expanded at-home access to its online databases, and allowed books to be borrowed and returned by the mail, so I was able to access some primary materials and secondary sources that were based on the archival material that was suddenly out of reach. More important, perhaps, but also perhaps related, the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement greatly affected the tone of the book. It became all the more important that it be a warts-and-all portrayal of America’s founding families, highlighting both their best ideals and their worst practices.

How did you decide which people to profile in FLIGHT OF THE WASP?

I simultaneously research individuals and families. An individual in each family is highlighted as an avatar of an era in American history, but in almost every case, they have living relatives today. In one case, I knew I wanted to write about both a living person and his historic ancestor: William Bradford of the Mayflower and his descendant Whitney Tower Jr., of Nouvelle and Warhol Society. In another, I knew I wanted to write about Michael Butler, but first had to ensure that he had interesting ancestors. Because WASP society was a small world, some characters emerged out of research into others. For instance, Lewis Cass Ledyard, J. Pierpont Morgan’s lawyer, led me to Lewis Cass, the politician who laid the philosophical foundation of Andrew Jackson’s policy of Indian Removal.

Why didn’t you choose to profile more females in Flight of the Wasp?

Unfortunately, America was a patriarchal society for much of its history, so the lead characters are indeed all men, but most of the families I write about also contain strong female characters, and in every case, I sought them out and also feature them. The Peabody sisters are an early example, but there are also prominent Randolph, Whitney, Rutherfurd, Morris and Butler women covered, to name but a few.

In researching Flight of the Wasp, what did you uncover that surprised you the most?

I was shocked and amused by how many of the Colonial families intermarried and carried on affairs with each other. I recall interviewing Whitney Tower Jr., telling him some of the other characters, and my jaw dropping when laughed and said, “My father slept with her!”

We believe you are a pioneer in the WASP subject matter as a scholarly function; do you believe you have any competition in this area and if so, please elaborate.

There were lots of books on the subject of WASP America in the past. The most notable were Cleveland Amory’s Who Killed Society and E. Digby Baltzell’s The Protestant Establishment, but I have two big shelves of WASP books in my office, and many more volumes in storage. More recently, one standout title is WASPs by Michael Knox Beran, but it’s a very different sort of book in my opinion, more elegy than narrative history.

What do you like best about writing a book and what do you like best about writing magazine pieces?

They are different disciplines. Magazine articles are miracles of compression. Books give you more room to breathe, to digress, to elaborate. Magazines and newspapers aren’t designed to last. Books are. Also, as the world of print journalism has contracted, the world of books has held on, though tenuously. So my message to all is: Buy Books!

What do you find most challenging about writing a book and what do you find most challenging about writing magazine pieces?

A book needs a subject worthy of lengthy consideration. A magazine piece can be more of a trifle. That said, I once joked that a gossip item in April can become a cover story in August when the news is slow. And a subject fit only for the gutter press can dominate bestseller lists if enough people fall for monstrous bullshit and elect such a person to public office,

What do you know now about writing a book that you wish you knew before you ever wrote one?

How to step back and think hard, and then step back and think again, before putting words on the page.

If you could own any three residences in Manhattan, what would be the addresses and why?

When I was a kid, fresh in the city, I wanted to own either 30 West 10th Street or 40 West 10th Street, two very different but very beautiful townhouses. Now I’m quite happy where I am, but if I had enough money for, say, a duplex at 740 Park Avenue, I’d stay where I am in New York, and buy a small house on St. Barths and another in Topanga Canyon, and perhaps an apartment in Rome or Paris and use the change to fly between them.

What should everyone know about real estate that they don’t?

A 7% mortgage is a bargain. My first mortgage was above 12% and I have never once regretted it.

What are Aggie’s opinions on your books?

If she could eat them, she might like them, but she can’t.

What should we all know about Barbara’s private shopping tour?

My wife works with American and international clients, designing bespoke fashion shopping expeditions all over New York based on their individual taste and desires. You can learn more at https://nycprivateshoppingtour.com/.

In your last interview you praised F. Scott Fitzgerald, who is our favorite author. What do you like best about Fitzgerald?

He inspired my pal Jay McInernery, who is one of my favorite contemporary writers.

If you were throwing a cocktail party in Manhattan for F. Scott Fitzgerald today because he came back to life, how would you give it and how would it go?

It would have to be at The Waverly Inn, which means my editor at Air Mail Graydon Carter would have to co-host, and as he’s the world’s greatest living party-giver, I’d have to defer to him on the details.

You said Karl Lagerfeld was always good for a provocative quote. Which ones that he gave you are your favorite and why?

There was a season in the ‘90s when fashion had no narrative, no through line, no consistency at all. I went to him hoping he’d help me find a story. He said “It’s the fashion of no fashion.” Ta-da!

What should everyone know about your father?

Milton Gross was a child of the Great Depression, raised in Ocean Hill-Brownsville, Brooklyn, who became one of New York’s most prominent sports columnists, working for the New York Post, and also wrote a number of books, and co-wrote the autobiography of world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson.

Which is the best book you wrote that should be turned into a movie?

Model is my most optioned book and is now in development for a limited series on FX, but the last section of Rogues’ Gallery about Jane Engelhardt and her daughter, known today as Annette de la Renta, is the movie I’ve most wanted to wanted to see made from my work. It’s Casablanca as told by Edith Wharton.

What one word best describes you and why?

Tenacious. As Tom Petty sang, I won’t back down.

What do you take your sense of identity from?

My work, my wife and Aggie, my dog.

What is your favorite place to be in Manhattan?

The Congestion Pricing Zone (i.e. anywhere below 60th Street) once we stop the deluded, discriminatory effort to tax people who choose to live here for the right to come and go freely.

What is your favorite shop in Manhattan?

Any bookstore. There are so few left, we have to treasure them all from Barnes & Noble to McNally Jackson and Shakespeare to tiny neighborhood shops like The Corner Bookstore and Three Lives.

If you could hire anybody who would it be and why?

I’d hire myself so I would no longer have to wonder where my next paycheck was coming from.

What is the best advice you’ve received in your career and what mentors have influenced you the most?

Joyce Carol Oates, whose writing course I once took, said “There is no such thing as writer’s block. The awful feelings writers bring to the typewriter simply mean they’re no read to write.” My sister, the late Jane Gross, once said of writing, “When in doubt, lay brick.” My mentors have all been editors who gave me a chance: Noe Goldwasser and Greg Mitchell at Crawdaddy, Jon Larsen at New Times, Jane Amsterdam at Manhattan Inc., Abe Rosenthal, Nancy Newhouse and Harold Gal at the New York Times, and Ed Kosner at New York magazine stand out.

What is your favorite drink?

Le Pétale de Rose from Chateau Barbeyrolles

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at a cocktail party?

After Gerald Marie, the head of Elite Models in Paris and then Linda Evangelista’s husband, threatened my life at a Vogue party on the Faubourg St. Honoré in Paris, Anna Wintour said to me, “I hear you had a moment.”

What is your favorite restaurant in Manhattan?

Il Posto Accanto

What is your favorite Manhattan book or favorite character in Manhattan literature?

Holly Golightly

What is your favorite tv show and why?

The night in 1965 when the Rolling Stones played The Clay Cole Show. They changed the world.

What is your favorite movie and why?

I don’t have a favorite movie but the ones I keep coming back to are the Sean Connery Bond films and the one I’ve seen the most is The Graduate. I was an usher when it played at the Fantasy Theater in Rockville Centre.

What’s one thing you wish the world better understood about you and why?

That there’s a value in mixing high and low, tabloid and broadsheet, trash and high culture. The twain should meet.

Who would you like to be for a day and why?

A kid in the crowd ay a Bob Dylan concert in 1965. I didn’t get to see live him until the Concert for Bangla Desh in 1971.

What would you like to be asked in an interview that you never have been asked, and how would you answer it?

What would you like to be asked in an interview that you have never been asked?

If you could have dinner with any person living or passed, who would it be and why?

John Fitzgerald and Jaqueline Kennedy to see if they were as charismatic in person as they seemed to a ten year old. I later met Jackie, and she was, but I’d still like to have that dinner.

What do you personally do or what have you done to give back to the world?

I write books that I hope illuminate a few small corners of the world.

What do you think is most underrated and overrated in Manhattan?

Underrated: Midtown East. Overrated: Times Square

Other than Movers and Shakers of course, what is your favorite WhomYouKnow.com​ column and what do you like about it?

Awesome Authors is my favorite for obvious reasons!

What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?

They can find out more about me than they’ll ever want to know at www.mgross.com, which has just had its first re-design in about a decade.

How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?

It’s easy to reach me via the web site.

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#PatrioticPeachy #AwesomeAuthors #RedCarpetRegulars #MoverandShaker #EmmyWinner #GracieWinner #NewYorkTimesBestsellingAuthor #RitaCosby @RitaCosby #Exclusive #Interview with #PeachyDeegan @ManhattanPeachy #WhomYouKnow On Her Accomplishments of the Past Decade!

Mover and Shaker Rita Cosby 

follow her on Twitter here

Rita Cosby was first featured as a Mover and Shaker in 2011:

https://www.whomyouknow.com/2011/05/quiet-hero-by-rita-cosby-now-available.html#.YFuvQq9Kg2w

Since May of 2011, Rita Cosby‘s book about her father, QUIET HERO, became a New York Times Best Seller which is no surprise to us as we loved it so much we reviewed it twice. It remains the only book we have ever reviewed more than once in our dozen-year history.

https://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/05/read-this-quiet-hero-secrets-from-my.html#.YPnbH-hKg2w

https://www.whomyouknow.com/2011/05/read-this-quiet-hero-secrets-from-my.html#.YPnbN-hKg2w

She was deeply grateful to be able to share this news with her father Richard Cosby who sadly passed away soon after in 2012, and was posthumously awarded with one of Poland’s highest honors, the Polonia Restituta, for his courage in World War II.

Rita Cosby continues to highlight her father’s legacy, as well as spotlight the unwavering heroism of Polish and American troops, through countless broadcast interviews, speaking at major events all over the world, and in 2019, Rita was heralded at The White House, and also honored at The Royal Palace in Warsaw, Poland, decorated with one of the country’s highest civilian honors for her work recognizing Poland and its veterans.

In 2014, she joined WABC Radio. She has received six prestigious Gracie awards for her work in radio, including for Outstanding Host and Outstanding Talk Show.

In June 2014, she was the first American journalist to interview Pope Francis when she talked to him at the Vatican about his historic Mideast Peace Summit. She was able to conduct the interview entirely in Spanish, as she lived in Seville, Spain during her college studies abroad. In 2018, she was selected as female Legend of the Year by Radio Ink Magazine, chosen among all women on and off air in the radio industry. She currently hosts “The Rita Cosby Show” in primetime, 10pm to Midnight EST, where she interviews major newsmakers from all over the world.

Since 2011, Rita served as a frequent guest host on HLN/CNN and continues to do TV Specials for the network to this day. She is also frequently interviewed on numerous networks for her exclusive interviews and other current events. As an Emmy-winning TV host who has interviewed more than 20 world leaders, including seven US Presidents, she is constantly asked to give her valuable insight and perspective on major news events covered on TV, radio and elsewhere.

Since 2019, Rita has also been Chair of The Global Service Institute at Long Island University. This groundbreaking initiative teaches young and old how to get involved in various levels of volunteerism. Additionally, under here guidance the Institute created the innovative and much-needed Global Service App. This global app is believed to be the first of its kind tied to an educational institution.

Rita has also been co-hosting Troopathon for about ten years. To date, they have raised well over $8 million to send care packages to our nation’s active duty troops in harm’s way based all around the globe.

She also played a pivotal role in recognizing the unsung heroes of WWII, The Merchant Marines, who will now soon be accorded Congressional Gold Medals for their critical efforts in the war’s success.

Since Rita's Mover and Shaker Interview with Whom You Know in May 2011, she was given a special honor a few months later. Wherein because of her “extraordinary journalism and exemplary service on behalf of her community,” October 11, 2010, was officially named Rita Cosby Day in The State of New York.  We are absolutely thrilled to present our newest interview with Rita Cosby!  Peachy Deegan interviewed Rita for Whom You Know.

Peachy Deegan: You are one of our most if not the most favorite patriot of Peachy’s favorite patriots.

What does the USA mean to you and why?

Rita Cosby: It represents freedom, hope and opportunity. America literally saved my father in World War II and has often saved the world in pivotal moments throughout history.

What should everyone know about your dad, Richard Cosby?

He was a deeply proud Polish freedom fighter who loved America and his homeland beyond words.

What is going to The White House like?

It’s always exciting, majestic and an honor.

What was it like to meet and interview Pope Francis?

Unforgettable, as I could clearly see his heart and spirit resonate his love of God and man profoundly.

What should everyone know about Pope Francis that they might not know?

He is not as well-versed in English as some other Popes, so when I spoke to him in Spanish, his native tongue, he deeply appreciated that and had a big smile on his face.

How does your Catholicism influence your life and career?

My faith always guides my life’s mission and how I treat others.

America has changed quite a bit since we met you over a decade ago.  How would you characterize this change and how do you work to make America better?

Sadly, America has become more divisive and tumultuous. Through my broadcast work, I try to cover many sides of the story, as well as spotlight heroes who make this country great.

Why do people criticize those that are proud of being American and how can the USA as a country work to become more unified?

I think we should always be proud of this great country and try to work together where we can find common ground for the good of the nation and the world.

Have you interviewed President Biden and if so what was that like?

Yes, the last time was several years ago and he was friendly and spirited.

Please comment on all of the Presidents of the USA you have interviewed.

All of them are so different, but it is always a privilege to speak to the leader of the free world.

What world leaders outside the USA impress you most today and why?

President Duda of Poland as he is doing a great job of highlighting Poland’s courageous past and positioning it well for the future. Also King Abdullah of Jordan, who has truly been a peacemaker in a very difficult neighborhood.

How would you characterize the fairness of the media today and how can an educated citizen acquire real news as opposed to news that is completely biased?

Today, everyone should make sure to look at several news sources to gain a variety of perspectives. As many in the media have become incredibly biased, and often not as balanced as they truly should be.

Peachy herself has lost about 25k followers on Twitter due to censorship and sometimes is edited and silenced by social media platforms: this is a widespread problem. What do you think the USA as a country should do to address this?

I’m a big supporter of The First Amendment, and I believe both Republicans and Democrats should stand together and speak out against this.

What do you feel President Trump’s greatest successes were and his greatest challenges?

Expediting the vaccines and creating a strong economy were among his greatest successes. Among his challenges, large divisions within his own political party and within the country.

Will you ever run for office?

No. But I might run away from it! I prefer to cover politicians from the outside.

What kind of ticket do you think we’ll see in both 2022 and 2024?

We’ll see many heated political races for Congress in 2022. The results of 2022 will certainly play a big role in shaping the Presidential Race in 2024. It’s too early to make predictions on either.

You are equally proud of your Polish heritage. What should everyone know about Poland and how do you connect with your culture there?

Poles share a great love of America and the values of freedom. Each and every time I visit Poland, I see a country that is blossoming with arts and culture and tremendous Polish pride. Needless to say, I think of my beloved late father as I walk the streets there where he and his comrades tirelessly fought.

What do you love about WABC Radio?

WABC’s iconic, storied history and its tremendous impact on our great listening audience all across the nation.

We have enjoyed John Cats’s company with you; what should everyone know about him that they might not know?

John is incredibly devoted to New York, our country and his beautiful family. He is a tremendous role model and human being.

How can we restore safety to New York City?

By getting out to vote and making sure criminals are being held responsible for crimes they have committed. Stop the revolving door of justice.

What do you like best about Manhattan and what would you like to see change?

Manhattan is the greatest city in the world. Everything is here for you to experience and attain your dreams.

Sadly, the quality of life throughout the city has diminished in recent years with rising crime and the economy with the pandemic. It’s time the city that never sleeps, wakes up and becomes the top destination for residents and tourists again.

What do you love about being on the radio?

My relationship with my loyal listeners, as I frequently take their calls during my action-packed show. I love listening and learning from them on the biggest stories of the day.

How do you so successfully connect with your radio listeners?

By talking about topics they passionately care about and sharing my own views in an honest, common sense way. I’m described as feisty and fair… I love that.

In our last interview you said you aspire to interview Queen Elizabeth. If you had the opportunity to interview her, where would you want to do it, what would you wear and what would you ask her?

After doing a curtsy at Kensington Palace, and greeting her in my elegant dress, I’d ask her the inside scoop on all the world leaders she has met. Queen Elizabeth’s remarkable life is a walking testament to history.

Will you write more books and if so what will they be about?

I probably will as I love writing and sharing the journey with others. As to what journey I’ll write about next, I’m not sure as I always have a lot to say and share.

Have you met any penguins since our last interview? You had said you’d like to do a live show from the South Pole.

Sadly, I have not, especially since there hasn’t been a lot of travel recently due to the pandemic. But I hope to see my adorable penguins soon!

What honors and awards have you received in your profession and do you have a trophy case?

I have several Emmys and Gracies among other awards. No trophy case yet, but very proud of all of them.

What one word best describes you and why?

Fearless. As I am afraid not to try, rather than try and even possibly fail. Most importantly, no regrets.

What do you take your sense of identity from?

A mission of life and purpose, and my gutsy family heritage.

What is your favorite place to be in Manhattan?

I have so many that I love, including the energy of Times Square, the tranquility of Central Park and the extraordinary views of the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park.

What is your favorite shop in Manhattan?

The one with the best sale… as I love a good bargain.

If you could hire anybody who would it be and why?

Since I know my own strengths and weaknesses, I would hire myself... But I can’t afford me.

What is the best advice you’ve received in your career and what mentors have influenced you the most?

I received tremendous advice from legendary journalist Diane Sawyer early on in my career, including her telling me to catch sleep whenever you can, because sleep is tough to find when you’re covering breaking news around the globe. Unfortunately, I’m still working on following that advice much better.

What is your favorite drink to drink five in a row as you had said the 5th is your favorite? Thank you for imbibing with Peachy during the last decade in person.

These days I’ve been so busy, all five drinks are usually water... and I’m really missing my favorite pink champagne.

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at a cocktail party?

Being the only one who could speak English, so I had to communicate with creative hand signals. It still turned out to be a pretty good party!

What is your favorite restaurant in Manhattan?

These days, because of the lingering pandemic, the ones that are open and serving.

What is your favorite Manhattan book or favorite character in Manhattan literature?

Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

What is your favorite TV show and why?

The one I’m on that day.

What is your favorite movie and why?

I love action movies, like “Taken” with Liam Neeson or “Olympus Has Fallen” with Gerard Butler.

What do you know now that you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?

To enjoy the ride and treasure the moments.

Who would you like to be for a day and why?

A person without a schedule... Since that’s never happened.

What would you like to be asked in an interview that you never have been asked, and how would you answer it?

How was your journey to outer space? I would love to be able to answer that... So that’s on my bucket list.

If you could have anything in Manhattan named after you what would it be and why?

I’ve had a “Rita Reuben” sandwich and a “Rita Cosby Day” named after me... But I’ve never had a “Rita Road”… Hopefully with a high speed lane.

What has been your best Manhattan athletic experience?

Grabbing a cab at rush hour!

What is your favorite thing to do in Manhattan that you can do nowhere else?

Watch a great show, enjoy a world class dinner and go for a special dessert... all after midnight.

If you could have dinner with any person living or passed, who would it be and why?

I have to pick at least two, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, as I never had the honor to meet either of these giants who epitomize courage and were steadfast in their beliefs and actions.

What has been your best Manhattan art or music experience?

I was blessed to be asked to host the largest Polish music concert in Central Park. To view from the stage that beautiful sea of Polish and American flags was truly a sight to behold and brought tears to my eyes.

What do you personally do or what have you done to give back to the world?

I try to help as many good charitable causes as possible, and I am deeply proud to now also be the Chair of the Global Service Institute at LIU, which is a game-changing initiative, creating a modern day Peace Corps. Being able to inspire future generations towards service is extremely gratifying.

What do you think is most underrated and overrated in Manhattan?

The most underrated is a free parking space... and the most overated and overpriced is parking in Midtown on a weekday.

Other than Movers and Shakers of course, what is your favorite WhomYouKnow.com column and what do you like about it?

I love the Made in America and Patriotic Peachy segments. I also enjoy the movie and restaurant reviews which tell me what to explore and what to avoid.

What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?

There's always more to come... Stay Tuned.

How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?

Contact@ritacosby.com and be sure to follow me on Twitter @Ritacosby

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Awesome Authors: Exclusive Interview with Mover and Shaker Paul Binder, Founder of The Big Apple Circus Our Coverage Sponsored by Stribling and Associates

Paul and Peachy at last year's New York Landmarks Conservancy Gala

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https://twitter.com/StriblingNYC

 Check out their listings: 

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2013/10/remarkable-real-estate-listings.html

& their most recent State of the Market: 

http://assets.stribling.com/documents/market_report/pdf/1/33667_State_of_Market_June13.pdf

https://twitter.com/StriblingNYC

Whom You Know Congratulates their new President, Elizabeth Ann Stribling-Kivlan: 

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2012/12/breaking-manhattan-real-estate-news.html

***

Mover and Shaker Paul Binder has finished his book of stories, Never Quote the Weather to a Sea Lion and other uncommon tales from the founder of the Big Apple Circus. It earned Whom You Know's Highest Recommendation. He's delighted that Glenn Close has written the Foreword. This book has received excellent reviews from the trade publications, Blue Ink and Clarion as well. It's available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com (be sure to select the button that says "Hardcover" if that's what you want) and also on his website paulbindercircus.com.

He has appeared before a SRO crowd at "Meet the Author" at the Lotos Club, to which he was inducted as an honorary member in 2002. He's an active member of the club's Theater Round Table which is led by Gail Van Voorhis. He is acting as Executive Producer for a one-man show, Wingman, featuring clown Mark Gindick. It is currently in rehearsal. He's in discussion with several producers to finish and present a two-person comedy show that's he's created.

On June 8th, he was the Emcee of his 50th Dartmouth class reunion gala dinner, in Hanover NH.

We're delighted to present Mover and Shaker Paul Binder as our latest Awesome Author.  Peachy Deegan interviewed Paul Binder for Whom You Know.

Peachy Deegan: 

We absolutely loved your book. What was the most challenging aspect of writing it?

Paul Binder: 

Finding the time to do it. I’m a slow writer. I wonder if it took longer than for Gutenberg to invent the printing press….

What did you enjoy most about writing your book?

Recalling all the stories. They include meeting lots of celebrated people, Glenn Close, Paul Newman, Woody Allen, Robin Williams….

Do you anticipate writing a sequel?

Not a sequel, so much as another take on the theme, like “lessons learned.”

How are you involved in the Big Apple Circus today and if you have retired, when did you stop working with your creation?

I’m on the Board of Directors on the Renaissance Committee and am a senior advisor…so I’m still working on it. Of course it gets a laugh when I say, I advise, nobody pays attention and I get paid for it.

Are you active in any circus performing today?

I Ringmaster at Circus Sarasota in the Winter. Nice location that time of year, Florida.

When will Wingman debut and what should everyone know about it?

No date is set yet we are still in early rehearsals and fundraising. Mark Gindick is a very funny guy.

Have you hired Yo Yo Ma for Wingman?

He’s a great lover of the Big Apple Circus, as are a lot of musicians and dancers. Haven’t hired him yet, but would love it if he made a guest appearance.

What is your cartwheeling daughter up to today and does she perform?

She is a manager, not performing. She’s got two adorable kids. Can still cartwheel.

We enjoyed Glenn Close's introduction to your book. What is the most interesting least known fact about Glenn and what do you love about her?

Glenn is a great and heartful lady. A wonderful actor. I think that few people know that she grew up as a missionary’s daughter in Africa

Are you going to the NY Landmarks Gala this November and what do you love about this organization?

I’ll be there. It’s the best party of the year (except for New Year’s Eve at the Big Apple Circus). The organization’s mission is to preserve and enhance the history of our great city. And the people who come are great lovers of New York like myself.

What did you enjoy most about your 50th Dartmouth reunion and what should everyone know about Dartmouth?

Dartmouth College is a very special school, beautiful, what a college should look and feel like. Seeing my classmates after 50 years, many of whom I kept up with was a big kick. We all have a passion for the place.

Does Dartmouth have as good of a hockey team as Yale?

Only occasionally

What are the best things Julia Child made that you ate?

Her Bouche de Noel tops the list. Everything else is in second place…silver medal ain’t bad.

Please tell us about your Sesame Street experience. Do you know our beloved Cookie Monster?

Never met Cookie Monster but I did work with Oscar the Grouch. It was an early lesson in not for profit. We’d appear as much as 12-15 times a year and get one royalty payment. But, absolutely worth it!

What happened to Leonard the chicken and what is he up to these days?

Leonard the rubber Chicken is retired and living in the lap of luxury in Michael Christensen’s attic in Pennsylvania.

What are you proudest of and why?

I can’t say what I’m proudest of, It’d be like saying who is my favorite grandchild.

What would you like to do professionally that you have not yet had the opportunity to do?

Write a second book! 

What honors and awards have you received in your profession?

I have four honorary doctorates, one each from LIU, Pratt, Rhode Island College and my alma mater, Dartmouth. I’m an honorary member of the Lotos Club and a Living Landmark.

Also ABC World News awarded me the honor of Person of the Week. 

What one word best describes you and why?

Are you sure it has to be one word? Okay, verbose.

Other than Movers and Shakers of course, what is your favorite Whom You Know column and what do you like about it?

Tough choice. I have to go with the Arts, Broadway Alert. It’s clear that Peachy loves Broadway with the same enthusiasm that I do.

Have you tried The Peachy Deegan yet and if not, why not? 

Haven’t tried it. Don’t frequent its favorite watering holes.

What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?

I had a grandfather who walked from a village near Minsk to Rotterdam, in order to emigrate to America. He was and is an inspiration.

How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers?

Paul@paulbindercircus.com

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Awesome Authors: Exclusive Interview with Mover and Shaker Cathy Kelly from Ireland She Chats with Peachy Deegan about The Honey Queen, Unicef, Her Gift of the Gab and The Gathering Our Coverage Sponsored by ECO SWIM BY AQUA GREEN

Awesome Author Mover and Shaker Cathy Kelly

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***

Since her initial interview at in the summer of 2012, Mover and Shaker Cathy Kelly has been writing more novels and short stories, along with trying to keep sane, stop the house from being over-run with books and bringing up her two sons. That includes helping them with their math homework, which is hard as they have to know their times tables (10 X 6) and math is not Cathy's forte. It’s hard to test them in the car going to school when you don’t know the tables yourself.

Her latest novel, The Honey Queen was published in Ireland, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa in Spring 2013 and was highly recommended by Whom You Know. Cathy is now working on her new novel which we await eagerly. She is currently changing the title, the characters and the plot so she can't even tell you what it's about yet. She constantly edits herself for the first part of the new novel until she gets past the point of no return (about half way) where she has to promise herself to commit to the plans that are unfolding for the characters or the book will not be finished!!! There’s definitely some law of diminishing returns about writing which means that the nearer your deadline, the more you think you should be writing a different novel.

Cathy Kelly really enjoyed writing the short stories for Christmas Magic; some were older ones that had appeared in magazines and others were new ones especially for the anthology. In fact, she enjoyed it so much that she thinks she might have to do another collection in the future. Cathy continues her work with UNICEF and as she mentioned in her last interview she visited Mozambique in 2012 which was emotional but ultimately rewarding. Cathy met some incredible women and was reminded that we women are the same all over the world – we’re all just trying to keep our loved ones safe and happy.

The Irish tourism board has organized an initiative for 2013 called The Gathering. The concept is to celebrate Ireland: the villages and towns and cities with those that are based there and those who are overseas with the aim of gathering people connected to Ireland in Ireland. Cathy Kelly is involved in the Enniskerry Gathering which is her local village. A couple of authors from the area are working together for the weekend where they will gather on a stage and probably talk madly about anything people want to hear. They are praying for sun! Cathy has hair that frizzes in the rain and she hasn’t had her roots done… the upkeep of the modern woman!

Cathy continues to receive wonderful heartfelt correspondence from her readers, and she is honored to hear that her books help them in their lives when a storyline touches a nerve with them or that they simply enjoy escaping into other people's lives for the duration of the story.

She has been involved with several readers' events with libraries. Cathy thinks the local library is such a wonderful resource and it's great that libraries are enjoying more appreciation during the recession, and she hopes this will last. We hope Cathy enjoyed our Peachy Landmarks feature today on New York's Historical Libraries.  Cathy's sons absolutely love going to the local library AND bookshop of course!

In the quest for the perfect writing and living environment Cathy is on a major decluttering buzz. She is determined to only have the right stuff and less of it! She is sentimental and historically has wanted to hold onto old clothes, cards and such. She must become more ruthless!!! She and her husband have different notions about what is important to have in the house. Himself: very little. Cathy: many things. The more girlfriends Cathy talks to the more she thinks there's the same discussion in every house. It's like the heating. Men want it off. Women want it on...

Cathy is toying with that two-day a week fasting diet because since she has hit 46, she has to try harder to stay in shape. VERY annoying. But she walks her lovely dogs, does Pilates on the reformer, does yoga and convinces herself that if you eat standing up, it doesn’t count. But then, Cathy wonders why we women create these impossible regimes for ourselves in order to turn ourselves into shapes we can never naturally attain. Intellectually, we know this and yet somehow, when we put on something I wore five years ago and it makes me look hideous, we are sad. Why?  Peachy Deegan explores quite a lot with Cathy in this follow up Awesome Authors interview.  Cathy exceeds Awesome.

Peachy Deegan: What is the difference between a good storyteller and an excellent storyteller? 

Cathy Kelly: 

Ooh, Peachy, you know how to ask them! I think if you’re a storyteller at all (and I pray on bended knee that I am), then that’s a little miracle. Storytelling makes you care about characters and want to turn the page.

Have you kissed the Blarney stone and if so how many times? 

Now if we were talking face to face, you would know that I have never needed to get within a fifty-mile radius of the Blarney Stone. I can talk, baby. It’s an Irish thing. I mean, not all Irish talk but really, most of us never shut up. We are just looking for an audience. Here, in Ireland, if you go down the road to get the papers, a trip that should take ten minutes, you can end up spending half an hour with a variety of different people talking about anything. I think we had it engrained in us during those years when seanachais (the Irish for storyteller) were how the tales of the people were handed down. The oral tradition of telling stories is alive and well in Ireland. 

Do you still write in spiral notebooks as you did as a child? 

No, my handwriting is so bad, I could have been a doctor. When I write a list to go to the supermarket, it’s like deciphering ancient Greek scrolls, so I write notes in yellow legal pads but type my books or sometimes speak into a Dictaphone if the RSI in my wrist is bad.

We think it is very classy of you not to base your characters on exact people, however, how do you develop such well-colored characters out of thin air?

Thank you mightily for saying there are well-colored characters in my work. The secret is like how do you make a statue of an elephant (well actually, Peachy would probably just ask Rosamond) – you get a block of wood and you chip away everything that doesn’t look like an elephant. It’s the same with characters: you have to spend hours and hours chipping away everything and adding bits (this doesn’t work with elephant sculptures, apparently) until you get it right. To be honest, setting up the characters at the start takes up at least half of my writing time.

What specifically do you admire about each: Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes and MJ Farrell (Molly Keane)?

Maeve Binchy's sense of community and the way she put glorious universal truths effortlessly into her work; Marian's ability to make me laugh and cry in equal measures or tackle such tricky subjects but still keep great humour in her books. She is a true genius and a great friend to me. MJ Farrell for her ability to write gloriously and wittily about another world, books that stand the test of time. 

You really tap into the female psyche well. How are you able to do this?

I tend to really think about challenges we face and try and come up with ways to deal with them. During the thinking time maybe I succeed in tapping into things. Also I read, listen and talk a lot. I'm just fascinated by people and our differences and similarities. And I love women. I think we are amazing, and yet so hard on ourselves – always on that diet, worrying about the kids/work/partners/no partners/ parents/the dog... and the endless guilt. If us women could turn some of this energy we use being tough on ourselves outwards, why, we’d all be president.

Do you consider yourself a "girly" girl and is this easy to live out in real life when you live with your husband and two sons? 

I was never girly. When I was about ten, I fought this guy who wanted to fight my big brother. And then I wondered why none of the local guys wanted to date me later…?

So no, I am not girlie. I lived on my own for years and like to think I can fix things around the house – my husband disagrees! But when it comes to friends, they are all women. Women rock. Plus, my dogs are all girls.

What do you want everyone to know about The Gathering?

The Gathering is partly a response to the recession and to remind people that Ireland’s a great tourist destination – for example, I live within half a mile of Powerscourt Gardens, one of the most beautiful Italianate gardens in the world which is beside a fabulous 18th century house, on the site of a medieval castle from the 13th century. I walk my dogs in a part of it every day. We want people who’ve been considering coming to Ireland to stop with all that considering and just come. Because we really do welcome you – when they say it’s the land of a thousand welcomes, they aren’t kidding. And if you have ancestors here, come and seek them out. The sense of the power of the past is strong here. It’s a great place to reflect on where you come from and how that’s made you who you are.

What makes The Gathering different from every other outreach that Tourism Ireland has done?

I think it's really capturing the people's imaginations to reach out to other people as opposed to potentially unknown tourists. Ireland at the end of the day is a word of mouth country so we are working our word of mouth approach overseas. You ring your cousins in Philadelphia and say ‘you better come on over, you’ve been promising for years.’

What are your favorite parts of Wicklow, where you're from, and why?

I love county Wicklow. It's known as the garden of Ireland and has rivers, mountains, great meadows with the odd horse grazing and looking sleepily up at you, and the mountains circling it. I paint and when I walk the dogs, I have to stop and stare at the sun shining through the trees to work out what paints I’d have to mix to get the literally hundreds of shades of green – way more than forty. I love that there’s a sense of community here – the whole county has been pulling together to get a hospice built. Wicklow resident Daniel Day Lewis insisted that the premiere for Lincoln was held in Dublin with all proceeds going to the hospice. I’ve done hospice events and events for our local cancer help service. I love that I can go into Kennedy’s in Enniskerry, tell all my worries to lovely Santina who runs it and come out full of cake, coffee and happiness.

Have you been to McGettigan's in Wicklow town. If so what do you like to buy there? 

Do you know, even though their name is legendary, I haven’t been there. I will have to go. Goodie! Another mission for me! Plus shopping. What more could a girl want?

Outside of Wicklow what are your favorite parts of Ireland and why?

I love the west of Ireland, where my mother’s from. There’s a glorious rocky beach with shale outcroppings hanging out over the sea and I learned to swim there – avoiding the darn crabs and screaming when seaweed grabbed me. The Atlantic Ocean sometimes caresses and sometimes lashes the shore and it’s glorious. Next stop is the fabulous USA. 

What would you like everyone to know about Unicef?

The accident of birth is everything. In our lovely Western world, we have water, health care, a doctor when we need one and generally, protection from harm. So many children have NONE of those things. They risk death from chest infections, the measles, diarrhoea from undrinkable water – 70 per cent of the world doesn’t have drinkable water – death from malaria because they don’t have $6 to buy a mosquito net, death from tetanus shortly after birth (uneducated local midwives cut the umbilical cord with dirty knives and the baby gets tetanus and dies, horribly, ten days later). It costs 11 cents to vaccinate against this. They’re at risk of not getting education, malnutrition and of being used as child sex workers. I’ve been to Mozambique twice where a child dies every fifteen minutes from malaria, and to Rwanda, where education is the cornerstone of building up this great little country which saw over one million people wiped out in a genocide in 1994.

Little children die of HIV/AIDs every moment of every day. Kids in Syria in refugee camps are now at risk of dying from cholera and malnutrition. WE can stop this. UNICEF is a huge organization which can help at governmental level. It takes money to do it. Even commit to $10 a month. Log on to your local UNICEF website to help. I have been privileged enough to see what UNICEF does up close and personal but my mission is to tell other people what I’ve seen.

Do you have any upcoming Unicef travel plans?

I hope to go to Syria in the future with UNICEF Ireland.

Will the Honey Queen be released in North America and if so when?

I think it will be released in 2014 – sorry!

What is your timeline like for your next book?

My first draft is due at the end of the summer. I also have to amuse two ten-year-olds, walk the Puplets of Loveliness and try not to let the house fall apart with having so many books/magazines in it.

What one word best describes you and why?

Peachy! This is impossible. Today it’s frantic with business – I was out last night at a lovely work event, couldn’t sleep when I came home and am now walking like a zombie. The writer Darren Shan has a zombie with my name in a book – I have yet to find out if it’s me or not or if I’m a cute zombie or a really ugly one… Tomorrow, I hope the word will be relaxed. In general, I hope I’m kind and enthusiastic and past nine at night, grumpy!

What do you like to shop for in Bloomingdale's?

Oooh, with a clean credit card... a nice Kate Spade bag maybe

If you could hire anybody who would it be and why?

One of those people who come in and dejunk your house, make you throw out those clothes with the tags still hanging on that no longer fit you but you hold onto, and who would dump all the hair product/odd make-up I’ve bought over the years. If the place was perfect, maybe I could keep it that way…

What is your favorite kind of coffee?

I love Rombouts filter coffee or a skinny cappuccino with lactose-free milk.

Do you have any diet tips for us?

No. Have you any for me?

What are your best decluttering strategies as this is a common problem...

Read the above. I am half-way through a declutter. This is fatal as the house looks worse than before and I have now stopped to write a book.

Other than Movers and Shakers and the literary columns of course, what is your favorite Whom You Know column and what do you like about it?

The Arts column because I love the arts in every form. 

Are your dogs as cute and talented as Murphy Boyle and if so do they want to be profiled?

Naturally, I think my puppies are the cutest dogs alive. Licky Heart is white with a proper caramel heart on one side. Scamp Blossom is caramel with amber eyes and looks as though she knows the secrets of the universe. Dinky Star is very nervous but is so brave when she is protecting us and even though she is scared, she is the first to run barking into the garden to ward off invaders like fat pigeons or marauding squirrels.

What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?

I was wearing a lot of makeup which was professionally applied for all my publicity photos. I do not really look like this. And I was wearing Spanx.

http://www.cathykelly.com/

https://twitter.com/cathykellybooks

https://www.facebook.com/cathykellybooks

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