Life Changes Show, April 1, 2019
Life Changes Show with Filippo Voltaggio and cohost Mark Laisure, with Executive Producer Dorothy Lee Donahue
“La Vita è Bella, on the Bus of Life,” with Guest, Actor, Author of “Daddy’s Limo,” Glenn Clarke; and Musical Guest, Singer – Songwriter, Britt Kusserow, on The LIFE CHANGES Show
Guest: GLENN CLARKE and Musical Guest: BRITT KUSSEROW
Guest, Glenn Clarke
GLENN CLARKE (aka CLARKE, GLENN)
I was Born in Queens, New York to a heritage that is rich in culture. I am obviously African-American; however, I am also part Jamaican, part Panamanian, part Cherokee Indian… and there’s more. I have lived in three of the five New York Burroughs. I have been bi-coastal, meaning that from early childhood to my late 30’s I commuted from one coast to the other, either due to my parents needs, or as an adult for my own work needs.
I studied Laser Optics, Physics, Mathematics, Languages, and History & Economics; however, my gregarious nature drove me to more social endeavors. I worked for a major airline in reservations, public relations, and cargo shipments, culminating my career in management with the same company.
Next, I decided to put my education to use working for the U.S. Department of Defense on 21st century projects. I would tell you more about this; however, I am bound by the government not to go into detail. A new career path became necessary because of contractions in both governmental and private sectors after the first Gulf War.
The path that ensued was a career in the automotive industry for three major car companies; first Honda/Acura, then Nissan/Infiniti, and finally Mercedes Benz. I was in sales, trained staff in product and customer service, and also managed an Infiniti dealership where I improved customer service, thereby improving sales.
One of my dreams was to become an actor. So around 2002 I took a several acting classes and launched my professional acting career. My first acting gig was as a doctor on Star Trek, Enterprise (The TV series). I have done a number of local and regional commercial works and have had a role on Criminal Minds as a good guy — but I really wanted to play asociopath. My most rewarding and longest acting gig for seven seasons was as an anesthesiologist (background) on the TV serious HOUSE M.D.
Singing has now become my latest passion. It has gone from the shower, to karaoke, to having the honor of being asked to sing at the HOUSE M.D. Red Carpet Final Wrap Party by the star of our show, Hugh Laurie. I accepted and was applauded exuberantly by the audience. It was a fitting way for me to end my seven of the eight illustrious seasons on that show.
I love traveling and meeting new people. I have visited England, France, Austria, Germany, Brazil, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Jamaica. I expect to do much more traveling in the near future. One can have more than one passion in life; acting, singing, and traveling are three of mine.
Around the turn-of-the-century I went through a divorce. That divorce left me pretty much penniless and with a lot of self-doubt. And though I was in the acting profession, I wasn’t making the kind of money that was able to sustain me, or pay for children’s needs. My story was sort of like a country song record. I lost everything….my relationship with my kids, my wife, my home, my income, as well as my self esteem/confidence. It took me almost ten years to recover.
During that time I had to take mass transit all over Los Angeles, Orange counties, because along with everything else that I had lost, I lost my driver’s license and passport as well. I so disliked taking the bus, that I began writing down stories of the experiences I had encountered and the people whom I met as a way to cultivate a better attitude. At that time I had no idea that those anecdotal writings were going to lead to a book called, “Daddy’s Limo.”
In 2013 I interviewed for a job that would turn my life around. I met a young man who was an MIT graduate, who also was starting at the ground level working. He would become my friend, mentor, and boss. My position was as an appointment setter in the solar industry. That position led me to become one of the top retail managers for the company and now I am a trainer for that same company.
Guest, Britt Kusserow
BRITT KUSSEROW
Britt Kusserow is a dynamic singer-songwriter originally from Indiana who has lived and performed in New Zealand, Vermont, and now calls Los Angeles home. Writing style focuses on lyrics and storytelling, because what is life if not one big, messy story?
When not on stage Britt is studying to become a therapist, hiking, camping, watching Adventure Time, or eating Sri Lankan food with her girlfriend.
Life Changes Show
Come and join the conversation about what's going on and what we can do together about it, with it, and for it. We have the choice, we have the power. We can do magic if we just believe!
A show about the changes going on in us, to us, around us, and because of us. Therefore, it's technically a show about "Everything," only with a how to make it better, see it better, be better.
In the show, there is talk about, and with, people who have either been through major changes, are helping others with major changes, or people who are changing the world for the better in a major way.
The show is a one-hour talk show format with a monologue by the host, a 30 minute interview with a guest of note, capped by a "Producer's Wrap" segment, in which Filippo and Co-Host Mark Laisure, and sometimes surprise guests, bring it all home for the listeners in a sometimes humorous and sometimes touching, but always entertaining conversation.