The Pod of DC

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band isthe oldest professional musical organization in the United States, performing at the pleasure of the President since 1801. Performing at over 500 events annually, the Marine Bandbrings its renowned musical excellence to presidential inaugurations, state funerals, state arrival ceremonies, Friday Evening Parades, and throughout communities across the country during its Fall concert tour each October.On this episode of the pod, Rick visits with Master Gunnery Sergeant Steven Timme to learn about his journey in the band which began in the early 2000s. Steven shares the band’s rich history, its role in state events, the band's auditioning process, the flexibility and variety of performances, and the deep connection music fosters within the community. To learn more about the United States Marine Band, visit https://www.marineband.marines.mil.

Inspired by the 40th anniversary of We Are The World—America’s greatest musical one-night stand—The Pod of DC hit the road in March this year for a live show packed with games, prizes, and live podcast conversations. One featured raffle prize was a behind-the-scenes tour of The Pod of DC studio with a featured conversation on the pod. The lucky winners that night were Larry and Jennifer Taxon.From their chance encounter at Dewey Beach more than 20 years ago, the Taxsons share their love story woven through marriage, parenthood, countless concerts, and life’s wild detours. Expect Dewey Beach nostalgia, real talk on relationships, the uniqueness of DC, retirement daydreams, the evolution from mixtapes to emojis, and a full serving of family vibes—Taxon style.

Adrian Conforti is a songwriter and former touring musician who founded the band Soulys in the early 2000s. On this episode of the pod, Adrian visits the studio with guitar in hand to perform his original track, “You’re Into Me” and reflect on the wild ride that music—and life—has taken him on.We talk musical influences, the heartbreak that sparked a creative wave, developing a following on the road, and the time he auditioned to become the lead singer of INXS. Looking back, it’s clear how Adrian’s songs evolved—from expressions of deep angst to reflections filled with gratitude and growth, transforming pain into something positive and meaningful.

Rick recaps what's been happening this Summer with a quick nostalgic look back at middle school and details on a side quest to Jim Thorpe, PA.

As conversations around AI continue to shape our present and future, I sat down with Aaron Berkey—co-founder and managing partner of Okeanos, a venture capital firm with a community-first approach to investing, to explore the intersection of family, business, and purpose in a rapidly evolving world.On this episode of the pod, Aaron shares the power of positive reinforcement in parenting, the need to support female-founded businesses, and how AI and automation are reshaping healthcare and the labor market. We dive into how consistent discipline and strong community ties play a critical role in building a meaningful life and career. We reflect on the rising value of authentic human connection and creativity in an increasingly tech-driven age—and why staying grounded in relationships may be our most valuable asset.Aaron is also the co-host of The Entrepreneur's Dream: The Pursuit of Happiness, a new podcast exploring the emotional and professional journeys of entrepreneurs at every stage of business. Learn more about Aaron at okeanos.vc and check out The Entrepreneur's Dream: The Pursuit of Happiness on Spotify.

Kev Legend is a dynamic entrepreneur and global growth coach. With expertise in corporate leadership, financial planning, and world travel, Kev empowers others to unlock their potential and embrace a life without limits.On this episode of the pod, Kev drops the studio to share his journey from the Naval Academy through to the transformative experiences that led him to live and coach abroad from Bali to Thailand. Kev shares his struggle with emotional expression, particularly during his time in the military under the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, and further challenging events that led him to embrace his feelings and authenticity. Kev speaks about his global travels and the creation of his 'Expat Launchpad,' a comprehensive program designed to help individuals transition to living abroad.Exploring themes of personal growth, resilience, and the power of self-truth, our conversation leads to a compelling question: is there any relationship more important than the one you have with yourself?Follow Kev and explore his journey and coaching programs at kevlegend.com

Marta Bota is a creator of looks, confidence, and moments. She has spent nearly four decades as a professional makeup artist helping people show up as their best selves—on stage, on camera, and in life. She has also spent decades as a community advocate and philanthropist. Marta has rocked the crowns of both Virginia and D.C., stepping into her first pageant at 51. That’s when our paths first crossed.On this pod episode, Marta drops by the studio to share her story, from being pursued as a teenager for modeling opportunities to her fascination with behind-the-scenes work, ultimately serving as a makeup artist with CNN for 19 years. From world leaders to iconic entertainers, Marta has had some of the world's most prominent personalities in her chair. Marta shares her evolution into the world of makeup artistry, how she approaches her business, and the care she takes towards each client to ensure their look matches the moment.Marta Bota doesn’t just enhance faces—she amplifies people. Her blend of artistry, heart, and business reminds us what beauty really is: showing up real, bold, and unapologetically you. To book or chat with Marta, visit martabota.com

The all-female, 200% rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut that is MAAM is back on The Pod of DC since being spotlighted as the very first interview guest back in 2020.To get things rolling, founding members St. P & YY turn the studio into an intimate, tiny desk-style concert with a soulful cover of Alabama Shakes’ This Feeling—featuring an unexpected (and possibly hazardous) bongo cameo from Rick, who valiantly attempts not to ruin the rhythmic magic .From there, MAAM dives into some no-nonsense Q&A, covering everything from the power of self-awareness to knowing who’s really in your corner—and, most importantly, the unapologetic force of bringing your art to the world. Somewhere in between, St. P also drops a casual plug for an HHS-approved health drink that has allegedly supercharged her creativity and performance skills (FDA confirmation pending).At the end of the day, MAAM is here to do two things: blow your mind sonically and call out every ounce of BS this world keeps hurling at women. And on this episode they do both effortlessly.For upcoming shows and more, head over to MAAM.rocks.

There comes a time when the call must be heeded to revisit one of the most significant moments in Gen X pop culture history: the star-studded 'check your ego at the door' collective recording known as "We Are The World," which took place following the American Music Awards on the evening of January 28, 1985. (A quick tip of the cap to the captivating Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Pop, which reignited a desire to revisit this historical event). On this episode of the pod, guest contributor and fellow Gen Xer Phil Singh joins Rick to watch and comment in real-time on the 7-minute video for "We Are The World," rehashing tidbits learned about the night from the Netflix doc as well as from dozens of other interviews and videos about the inspiration behind, gathering and recording of, and video for the song that followed on the heels of the U.K.'s own star-studded "Do They Know It's Christmas" charity single. Part fashion police, part amateur music critics, Rick and Phil inject perspective, thoughts, and humor into what they see unfold in the "We Are The World" video, from the outfits to the vocal pairings to who brought their A-game and cared about the effort to who came off as less than stellar. They also discuss how the song has aged and how it stands up today. The magnitude of "We Are The World" for us Gen X'ers cannot be overstated. The star power of the artists in the room, many of whom were still climbing to the peak of their icon status, and the realization that putting together something like this for one night only and making the impact it made could never quite be duplicated made this retrospective a must to revisit through a new lens 40 years later.

You know it when you hear it. Timeless, feel-good rock, deep soul grooves, and dancefloor anthems set to a windy, oceanic backdrop. You know it when you see it. Feathered hair tucked under a captain's hat, aviators, tropical shirt, scarves, ascots, maybe a tropical drink melting in your hand. All the sights and sounds of this millennium's favorite retrospective, fictional genre known and loved as "Yacht Rock". We kick off this episode of the pod spinning some of these beloved tracks with the frontman of fun, Captain Seawalker, in his Captain's Lounge to test the waters as to whether these audio gems qualify as "yacht or nyacht". We sail back in time to the early influences of his mom's record collection and finding his DJ sensibility as an in-demand performer playing clubs and festivals under the humorously memorable moniker "DJ2Nutz." We also dive into the technical aspects of DJing, from beat matching to mixing songs seamlessly in key. The Captain was born, just like this pod, in 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic, and we hear about his move from the night clubs to the marina, the spectacle of his yacht-infused live shows and virtual live streams, and what makes yacht rock such an irresistible (and comical) genre that “you have to have no soul” not to love. Learn more about the Captain and Yacht Rock Party Events at yachtrockparty.net.

Next up on the pod, Dr. Gil Segev, a cosmetic surgeon in the Washington, DC, metro area who's as skilled with a laser as he is with a punchline. On this episode, Gil drops by the studio to chat about navigating DC's infamous speeding cameras to his recent adventure south of the border (spoiler: he came back with a small pharmacy as a souvenir). We dive into Gil's journey in medical aesthetics, what keeps him passionate about the field, and the connections between beauty and medicine. Then we hit some heavy-hitting topics with a lighter touch like the clinical effects of Viagra and the meteoric rise of Ozempic in the weight-loss world. Gil has performed stand-up comedy for years and brings the laughs and a candid perspective you won't hear from your average medical professional.

Russ Johnson is an MC and beatmaker in the DMV. On this special Halloween edition of the pod, Russ stops by the studio to share some original spooky jams to commemorate the holiday and talk all things beats, rhymes, and Halloween. We kick off the show with an exclusive - an original theme for the pod Russ put together from a scratch track I sent him earlier in the year. Coming up as a battle MC from New York, Russ shares his journey and education in beat-making and how it accelerated during the pandemic. Russ's beat style draws on the muddy, stompy, and gritty, while his original rhymes pull from clever wordplay that draws out obscure and comedic pop culture and movie references. Russ and I reminisce on the holiday, what we appreciate about Halloween, and break down those classic 80's horror movies from our childhood. Check out Russ on the mic on Halloween night at Crescendo Studios in Falls Church, VA.

On this episode of the pod, Fantasy Football Champion and Bottom Dweller Rick Bernstein takes you into one of his 3 fantasy football drafts and shares his pick process and final picks at each position starting from the first round (edited down a bit, of course). Killing time between picks, Rick reminisces about the highs and lows of his longest-running league which celebrated its 25th season this year, the glory days of the football team from D.C. in the 80's, and of course his love of podcasting and appreciation of all of you for listening and supporting The Pod.Cheers to the ups and downs and time wasted playing fantasy football and good luck to all who are not in any of Rick's leagues.

Jummie Moses is the creator, host, and spirit behind the podcast "Shifting Dimensions," where themes of spirituality, religion, consciousness, the paranormal, and technology are explored in fascinating conversations. From an early age, Jummie pondered life's biggest questions about purpose, life, and death, and in 2020, it was time for her to take her passion towards the spiritual and metaphysical and share it with the world. On this episode of the pod, Jummie shares how podcasting became a form of therapy that helped in her journey towards self-realization and channeling deeper meanings behind the forces at work in her life, the nature of empathy and manifestation, and how many of us remain stuck in our programmed realities. Jummie challenges her listeners to consider seeing the world through a new paradigm and lean into their intuition, keeping an open mind and embracing the vibrations the universe sends. Following these signs can help us evolve to becoming more loving, accepting, and fulfilled. Check out "Shifting Dimensions" wherever you get your podcasts.

Diego Mariscal is the Founder and CEO of 2Gether International, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization that is the leading startup accelerator for disabled founders worldwide. On this episode of the pod, Diego shares his journey, from forging partnerships with influential figures like Judy Heumann, to tackling workplace stigma head-on. Diego details how his vision and determination led to groundbreaking initiatives, from offering the first and only online accelerator program for founders with disabilities to monthly cohorts and startup meetups, as well as a strategic alliance with Google. Diego and the 2Gether International team are working tirelessly to support and harness disabled individuals pursuing entrepreneurship and helping them succeed in achieving their goals. To learn more, visit https://www.2gether-international.org.

Sara Quinteros and Juli Shesser are registered dietitians and nutrition experts in Washington, DC. With March being National Nutrition Month, Sara and Juli stopped by the studio to share their expertise in managing food and nutrition choices for individuals and families. On this episode of the pod, Sara and Juli break down how to navigate nutrition in a fast-paced world, the ever-changing landscape of diet trends, creative solutions to engage children to take part in their own food choices and nutrition, understanding micro and macronutrients, the cost and accessibility of healthy foods, the Beyond the Plate theme for National Nutrition Month, and their plans to launch a podcast that will engage with experts to help demystify nutrition for individuals and families.

On this spontaneously recorded and minimally edited and mixed podcast, Rick shares some thoughts about the start to 2024, the therapeutic nature of podcasting, how The Pod of DC was conceived, and how podcasting can help unleash your true voice.

On this final pod of 2023, Rick reflects on his firsts this year, waxes nostalgic on how technology has evolved in helping us capture those moments throughout the year, and shares quick clip recaps from inspiring individuals featured on the pod in 2023. On behalf of The Pod of DC, we wish you all a happy and healthy New Year, and we'll talk soon in 2024!

Dave Moya is the owner of The Moya Group, the parent company of Three Stones Residential, one of the top real estate teams at Keller Williams Metro Center in Arlington, Virginia. We recorded this episode in Dave's newly set up podcast studio and discuss his candid takes on the current state of real estate, how adaptability and curiosity has helped propel his career, his approach to educating his clients, the challenges of real estate in a higher interest rate market, how AI can help move his business forward, and tips for realtors to continue evolving their business in today's difficult market. To learn more about The Moya Group, visit moyagroup.com.

Tony Barone is a Protective Paramedic Practitioner and CEO of Emergility, a security, protection, and emergency medical services company based in Alexandria, Virginia. Over 60 years ago in Alexandria, four physicians established 24/7 year-round emergency care, which today has become accessed and over-accessed from the most minor ailments to the most life-threatening ones. On this episode of the pod, Tony discusses the traumatic events in his childhood that shaped his interest in medicine and helping others, the impact business has made on the delivery of care, the true meaning of what protective treatment is, and how Emergility is filling the gaps in bringing clients and patients emergency, protective care where they need it, when they need it. To learn more, visit emergility.com