Justin Merkin was born in Palo Alto and raised in Los Angeles. He began his professional life as a Journalist writing for such diverse publications as Progressive Architecture, Reuters, and Entertainment Weekly. He is a Writer/ Producer of several TV and Movie Projects, the latest of which, Devolution, is being brought to market September 2021. He works in Communications for Conscious Vitality, a media startup. He currently lives in California.

A former engineer, Debra Fine is the author of bestselling books, the Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep it Going, Build Networking Skills -- and Leave a Positive Impression (Hachette) and the Fine Art of the Big Talk (Hachette) along with her recently released third in the Fine Art series: Beyond Texting: The Fine Art of Face to Face Communication for Teenagers (Canon) all translated and published in two dozen countries across the globe.  A 25 + year member of the National Speakers Association, Fine presents on stage and virtually as a keynote speaker and trainer to hundreds of audiences around the world that include National Electrical Contractors Association, Google, Iowa Bankers Association, American Bar Association, Hyatt Hotels and the International Spa Association.  A regular Huffington Post blogger, Fine's recent media appearances include The Today Show, NPR Morning Edition, Fox Business News, New York Times and CNN.  View additional information about Debra at https://www.debrafine.com/  

E M I L I O  C A S T I L L O

FOUNDER

of

Legendary soul/funk/R&B/jazz/group 

T O W E R  O F  P O W E R

EXCLUSIVE ZOOM INTERVIEW

with RAY SHASHO

on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

When sax player Emilio Castillo put together the band that would evolve into Tower of Power in 1968, he had no grand expectations. “We were hoping to get good enough to play the Fillmore,” Castillo said. “I started the band in Fremont, at John F. Kennedy High, with my brother Jack, who was the original drummer. The band moved up to Oakland and took off, packing clubs with their horn-driven sound. “Oakland is our sound,” Castillo said. “I always say, ‘You can take the boy out of Oakland, but you can’t take Oakland out of the boy.’ Looking back on the band’s history, Castillo said he’s satisfied with what they’ve accomplished. “We’re not a band that reinvents itself every time we go into the studio. We sound like Tower of Power and there’s nothing we can do about it. At first, I thought it was a curse but, as we kept evolving, I realized it was a blessing. We kept chipping away at the sculpture we were creating. The aim is to arrive at a masterpiece. You have to tell us if we’ve succeeded.” 

The groups latest release is TOWER OF POWER 50TH ANNIVERSARY 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater captures Tower of Power’s storied career with no-holds-barred victory lap concerts in Oakland, CA on June 1 & 2, 2018, performing their full spectrum of life-affirming funk and soul hits.

Available as a 3-LP set, 2-CD/1-DVD package, standalone DVD and digital audio configuration, these historic performances include special guests Lenny Pickett (musical director of the Saturday Night Live band); keyboardist Chester Thompson (Santana); guitarist Bruce Conte and former vocalist Ray Greene, who shows off his trombone prowess. TOWER OF POWER 50TH ANNIVERSARY is available now at amazon.com.

Purchase

TOWER OF POWER 50TH ANNIVERSARY

OUT NOW!

50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater captures Tower of Power’s storied career with no-holds-barred victory lap concerts in Oakland, CA on June 1 & 2, 2018, performing their full spectrum of life-affirming funk and soul hits.

Available as a 3-LP set, 2-CD/1-DVD package, standalone DVD and digital audio configuration, these historic performances include special guests Chester Thompson, Lenny Pickett, Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia, Bruce Conte and Ray Greene.

Available at amazon.com

Here’s the full track listing for the live album:

1. Stroke ‘75

2. Ain’t Nothing Stopping Us Now

3. You Ought to be Having Fun

4. Soul with a Capital “S”

5. Stop

6. You’re So Wonderful, So Marvelous

7. On the Serious Side

8. Just When We Start Makin’ It

9. Soul Vaccination

10. What is Hip? / Soul Power

11. Do You Like That?

12. Drop It in the Slot

1. Can’t You See (You Doin Me Wrong)?

2. Maybe It’ll Rub Off

3. Don’t Change Horses

4. Squib Cakes

5. On the Soul Side of Town

6. Diggin’ on James Brown (Medley)

7. So Very Hard to Go

8. Knock Yourself Out

9. You’re Still a Young Man

10. Souled Out

For more information

about

Emilio Castillo

and

TOWER OF POWER

Visit

www.towerofpower.com

official website

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTowerOfPowerBand/

facebook

https://twitter.com/OfficialTOPBand

twitter

https://www.instagram.com/towerofpower/

Instagram

Dustin oversees operations for all Paradigm Treatment locations, including day-to-day programming, treatment content and quality, growth management and strategy, and team support to all therapeutic and operational staff. Having previously worked at Paradigm in the roles of Therapist and Program Director, Dustin is also a skilled clinician with an emphasis on family systems who continues to provide direct support both to Paradigm families and youth. Prior to joining the Paradigm team, Dustin served as Program Manager at Arizona Child and Family Support Services in Flagstaff, an agency providing community-based wraparound services for youth and family treatment. At CFSS, Dustin also built, facilitated and oversaw an Intensive Outpatient Program. He also served as an individual and group therapist for Northern Arizona Substance Abuse Services working with the Drug Court; as a therapist for youth in juvenile detention; and as a wilderness therapist for a program that worked throughout Northern Arizona.

Dustin holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Psychology from Northern Arizona University and has over 15 years of experience working with adolescents in a variety of settings. He is also trained in EMDR and Parent Effectiveness. Dustin’s motivation as both a therapist and a manager exemplify his deep desire to provide the insightful support and guidance that youth need to make the changes that will profoundly improve their well-being, relationships, and their futures.

Athalia was born and raised in Chicago, IL, and is a mom of two young adults. Last year, during the Pandemic, she self-published her first book “Why the Secrets”, a story about a family secret that caused a lot of hurt, confusion, frustration, and division. There are multiple messages here, which include the importance of open, honest communication, and how having it in this situation, could have alleviated all of this. The book can be purchased online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Google Books.

She also launched her online business, "Pouches By ALAHTA", during the Pandemic, using a stylish hairbrush pouch she uniquely designed for traveling needs, which accommodates different sizes and shapes of hairbrushes and combs. Pouches are available at https://pouchesbyalahta.com/.

"I’m a firm believer of working hard at your passion, living out your dreams, and just never giving up. Being able to help people in whatever way I can has always been a part of my life. With this Podcast, I’m hoping to do just that, help as many people as possible with the conversations and information shared. Hopefully, someone will experience personal or professional growth, maybe both".

Dr. Libby Rutledge, certified International Hado Instructor. Libby has PhD in Molecular Cellular Biology and she uses Hado (vibration) devices to help people with Energy balancing.  She makes a remedy called Magic Potion, and she uses Hado water with magic potion. Dr. Rutledge has published research in peer reviewed journals, and holds a patent as a result of her research.  She is also a radionics practitioner, a certified Theta Healing Practitioner, and a Certified Hado Instructor.  She started her own molecular biology laboratory in a motorhome and she carries out her own research.  She can be reached at Mobile DNA Elements at www.mobileDNAelements.com and mobileDNAelements@gmail.com, 406-871-5736.

Libby Rutledge started Mobile DNA Elements because she always wanted to have her own lab.

She also has a passion about plants and the effects GM plants have on health and the environment.

Libby has expertise in genetically engineering plasmids for use in basic research in mammalian tissue culture cells, and engineering viruses for gene therapy.

She earned a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology at The University of Texas at Dallas, completed postdoctoral positions at Oregon Health Sciences University and University of Washington, and managed a core facility at University of Washington Diabetes Center.  She taught at Salish Kootenai College and Flathead Valley Community College in western Montana.