The Talk About Las Vegas Podcast | a podcast by Ira Sternberg

What happens when three guys who grew up together in Las Vegas decide they’re ready to get rich — and their plans go spectacularly wrong? That’s the world created by Torthell Robinson, a Las Vegas-area screenwriter, U.S. Air Force veteran and author of "Men Will Be Boys," a fast, funny and dangerous crime-comedy series set against the backdrop of Las Vegas. Torthell’s journey to becoming a writer is anything but conventional. After serving in the Air Force, he took a regular job before deciding he wanted to do something completely different. He enrolled in a Los Angeles film school, where a professor read his pilot script and recommended him for literary representation. After entering screenplay competitions, Torthell began thinking beyond the pilot and decided to build out the world and its charac-ters. Then he moved to Las Vegas — and discovered that the city itself seemed to fit perfectly with the stories he wanted to tell. Torthell explains why he chose to turn his original pilot concept into a three-book series, rather than adapt the books from novels into screenplays. We meet his three central char-acters: an Ivy League-educated man, a blue-collar local and a degenerate — three very dif-ferent personalities connected by a shared history and a common ambition to make it big. We also talk about Torthell’s childhood and the lessons he learned about respect and accountability, his writing process, why the first draft is so important, and the challenge of creating believable characters who can carry an entire series. And then there’s Las Vegas itself. For Torthell, Vegas isn't simply where the story takes place. The city becomes a character in its own right. Could "Men Will Be Boys" eventually make the jump from books to television? Torthell would certainly like to see it happen. It’s a conversation about writing, reinvention, friendship, ambition, trouble — and why Las Vegas can be the perfect setting when you want a story where almost anything can happen. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” I’m talking with MacKenzie “Pineapple” Rollison, Director of Local Activations and Partnerships for Las Vegas at the Museum of Ice Cream, located at AREA15.

Las Vegas has undergone one of the most remarkable transformations in the world of sports—and few people have had a better view of that evolution than longtime sports anchor and reporter Ron Futrell of 8NewsNow. This week on "Talk About Las Vegas With Ira," Ron returns to the podcast for a fascinating conversation about the people, events and decisions that helped transform Southern Nevada into one of the world’s premier sports destinations. Ron discusses the remarkable success of Paseo Verde Little League of Henderson, Nevada, including its extraordinary run of four appearances in the Little League World Series during five years. He also talks about Carsynn Meyer, who made history as the first girl to play in the Little League World Series—and whose gloves were requested by the Baseball Hall of Fame. The conversation also explores the explosive growth of professional sports in Las Vegas. Ron explains why the city’s emergence as a major sports market “didn’t happen by accident,” the impact of the landmark 2018 U.S. Supreme Court sports betting decision, and how that ruling helped open the floodgates for major league sports and sports-related investment in Las Vegas. Ira and Ron also discuss the role of private-public partnerships, the debate over when public funding may be necessary for major sports projects, and the remarkable coalescing of arenas and stadiums on or near the Las Vegas Strip. Having covered Las Vegas sports since arriving in the city in 1984, Ron shares his choic-es for the three biggest sporting events he has witnessed—including the unforgettable moment when the Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup. And what happened to boxing? Ron reflects on the glory days of boxing in Las Vegas, why the sport no longer holds the same position it once did in the city, and how MMA has emerged as a major force in the modern Las Vegas sports landscape. From Little League dreams to championship celebrations, from sports betting to billion-dollar stadium projects, this episode is a compelling look at how Las Vegas became a global sports powerhouse. Listen to “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira” and discover why the biggest game in Las Vegas may be the city’s continuing rise as one of the world’s great sports capitals. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira talks with magician and mentalist Kent Axell, who is bringing magic, theater, storytelling—and a touch of the supernatural—to Las Vegas with his immersive theatrical experience, “Ghost Stories.” Performing inside the intimate and mysterious 1923 Prohibition Bar at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, Kent takes audiences on a journey that goes far beyond a traditional magic show. Kent tells how he became fascinated with magic at the age of nine after his uncle showed him an unforgettable trick involving a coin and a matchbox. He discusses how learning magic can help develop social skills, why magic magnifies your existing personality rather than creating a new one, and why he considers it a tremendous return on investment. We also talk about his journey into the fascinating world of mentalism—and why Kent believes audiences aren't simply buying the contents of a show; they're buying a vibe and an experience. In “Ghost Stories,” the first half of the evening combines magic and mentalism before au-diences enter a very different world in the second half: an immersive séance experience. Kent explains why guests are warned that the experience can sometimes be emotional, why the séance can be a tricky road to travel, and how some audience members have told him the experience actually shifted their belief systems. Most importantly, Kent explains why “Ghost Stories” is unlike anything else on the Las Vegas Strip. If you're fascinated by magic, mentalism, storytelling, theater, séances, or the unexplained, this is one conversation—and one Las Vegas experience—you won't want to miss. Listen as Kent Axell takes us behind the curtain of “Ghost Stories,” where magic, mystery and the supernatural come together in an unforgettable immersive theatrical experience. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

What happens when a $50 bet changes the course of your life? For comedian Shang Forbes, it happened when a friend challenged him to perform at an open-mic comedy night. Forbes took the bet, took the stage, won the $50—and discovered a career he never saw coming. This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira talks with Shang Forbes, who brings his distinctive, avant-garde and socio-political brand of comedy to the Laugh Factory at Horseshoe Las Vegas, August 24–30. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Shang graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with his sights originally set on becoming an illustrator. But that fateful open mic sent him in an entirely different direction. Rather than simply trying to be “funny,” Shang set out to develop his own voice, embracing comedy that pushes boundaries while resisting being pigeonholed into one particular style. Shang talks about why he wasn't nervous during his very first stand-up performance, how he learned the craft, and why he performs under the single name “Shang.” He also shares how working as a comedy-club barker gave him an unexpected advantage: more opportunities to get onstage and hone his material. His approach is anything but conventional. Shang describes his natural stand-up style as “pushing the envelope,” while also maintaining a family-friendly set. He explains why he doesn't want to be narrowly defined as simply a “funny” comedian, but instead wants to be “broad funny.” We also discuss his move from New York to Los Angeles, his use of television acting appearances to introduce audiences to his personality and drive them toward his live comedy, meeting legendary comedian George Carlin, and the thought process behind creating his material. And when it comes to politics, Shang doesn't pick a side—he takes aim at both. His comedy gives Democrats and Republicans equal time, while he explains why a simple smile can help make edgy material more accessible. We also get into one of the great challenges of stand-up comedy: hecklers. Why does Shang rarely get heckled? It's a fascinating conversation about comedy, creativity, performance, risk-taking and finding your own voice. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)