God & Other Delicacies

A "goodbye for now"; and excerpts from two of Nick's favorite books.   Nicholas D'Agosto is a professional television, film and stage actor, and the creator and host of this podcast - God & Other Delicacies.   Here's a link to Gore Vidal's review of Italo Calvino's "Invisible Cities" in The New York Review of Books - Fabulous Calvino by Gore Vidal Here is an article in The New Yorker compiling some of Italo Calvino's letters, one of which was a letter of appreciation to Gore Vidal regarding the aforementioned review Vidal wrote of "Invisible Cities - The Letters of Italo Calvino And, if you desire, here is a link to choose where you'd like to purchase... Brian Browne Walker's translation of the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu.   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

A Christ follower that's wary of the word "Christian"; her mothers' final, transcendent moments; Top Story Tonight: Jesus! and how her research has redefined her faith; and the contentment that comes with knowing and choosing what is right for oneself.   Jane Wells is an award-winning broadcast journalist with over 30 years experience in the news media.  She has worked all over the country, moving up from local news stations to national ones, but it is at CNBC, her current employer, where she has spent the bulk of her career, developing features, special reports and contributing to breaking news coverage.  Jane received a Peabody in 1992 for her role in the live coverage of the Rodney King trial.  She is also a podcaster, having developed the Strange Success franchise for CNBC, and now self-producing her new podcast, the Top Story Tonight! franchise - the latest iteration of which focuses on Jesus, with Jane's modern media twist.    Get started with the first episode of Top Story Tonight: Jesus! here, at this iTunes link -- Top Story Tonight: Jesus! Christmas Part 1   Jane's Twitter: @janewells Jane's Instagram: @janewells Jane's Facebook: Jane Wells Jane's Linkedin: Jane Wells   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Being religious but not spiritual; the search for serenity; learning about his OCD; reflections on the temptations and dangers of "status"; choosing the internal good; the admiration of material indifference and non-attachment; and the dilemma of loving the individual despite possessing opposing ideologies.   Jeffrey Guhin is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at UCLA, with research interests in education, culture and religion.  His first book -- Agents Of God: Boundaries and Authority in Muslim and Christian Schools -- has just been released through Oxford University Press.  Jeff received his doctorate and masters degrees from Yale University, his bachelors from Loyola University in New Orleans, and he has studied in Damascus, Syria, and Mexico City, Mexico.    Here's a link to Jeff's new book... Agents Of God: Boundaries and Authority in Muslim and Christian Schools And here's a link to Jeff's writings for SLATE, including the one he mentioned about Neil deGrasse Tyson: Jeffrey Guhin at SLATE   Jeff's Official Website: jeffguhin.com Jeff's Twitter: @jeffguhin   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Owner of award-winning Hotville Chicken in South LA; daughter of an Evangelist preacher; God in every facet of her life; prayer; and hilarious stories about the Prince Family men and other philanderers who got punished by the scalding heat of the Hot Chicken tradition in Nashville.      Kim Prince is the owner and creator of Hotville Chicken, a Los Angeles restaurant serving Nashville Hot Chicken in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw neighborhood of South LA.  Recently voted one of LA's Best Restaurants of 2020 by Los Angeles Magazine, Hotville is also partnered with Greg Dulan of Dulan's Soul Food Restaurants (who was a previous guest on this podcast).  Kim's great-great Uncle, Thornton Prince, is credited with having invented the Hot Chicken recipe and tradition in Nashville, and the Prince Family has been serving Nashville Hot Chicken for nearly 100 years.  Kim is a graduate of Fresno State University, and she previously worked for over 20 years in television production.     Looking for a deep history on the Prince Family and the origins of Nashville Hot Chicken?  Check out this excellent article in The New Yorker: The Prince Family Business Prince's Hot Chicken - the original Nashville restaurant that Kim grew up working at - was named: One of America's 38 Essential Restaurants by Eater   Hotville Instagram: @hotvillechicken Hotville Twitter: @hotvillechicken Official Website: Hotville Chicken   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Faith in combat; reflections on his service during the Iraq War; the self-discoveries from time spent "in extremis"; the unintended consequences of war; and how he carries his service as a civilian.   Ben O'Rourke is a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel, a combat veteran, and a graduate of the US Army War College.  He graduated from Notre Dame, and currently serves as an executive for an enterprise tech company in Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife and children.   Here is a brief overview regarding the Iraq War, which Ben describes throughout this episode from his unique vantage point: The Iraq War (or Second Persian Gulf War) An article discussing Viktor Frankl's book, which Ben found at a deeply poignant moment in his journey: Man's Search For Meaning    Ben's Facebook: Ben O'Rourke Ben's LinkedIn: Ben O'Rourke   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

On being a South LA community touchstone; the life and death of his renowned father; overcoming anti-Black business practices; the challenges of being a business owner in South LA; the spiritual calling that is his work; and selling Nashville fried chicken in Ghana!   Greg Dulan is the owner of Dulan's Soul Food Restaurants in South Los Angeles, well-regarded as a Los Angeles soul food institution.  He is also co-owner of Hotville Chicken, which serves Nashville Hot Fried Chicken in South LA, and was rated one of the Best Restaurants of 2020 by Los Angeles Magazine.  Greg has a business degree from Howard University, has studied at UCLA, and is a beloved community member and leader.   At one point, Greg describes how his Grandfather was a Baptist Minister, and a master "Whooper".  He made me promise that I would look up some whooping online, and I gave him my word that I'd leave a link here for everyone to get an idea about what it is: The Art of Whooping And here's an article from the LA Sentinel, honoring the life of Greg's father, Adolf Dulan, LA's "King of Soul Food": Los Angeles Mourns the Loss of Adolf Dulan And another, reporting on how Dulan's was recognized as as a Best Small Business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce   Dulan's Soul Food Instagram: @dulanssoulfoodkitchen Dulan's Restaurant on Crenshaw Instagram: @dulansoncrenshaw Hotville Chicken's Instagram: @hotvillechicken   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

The dangers of "coming out" as a celebrity in the '90's; how cancer taught him to be joyful; how the USO changed his mind on the military; and the discovery of his current sense of purpose.   Bill Brochtrup is a professional television, film and stage actor, best known for his role as "John Irvin" in ABC's critically-acclaimed hit series, NYPD BLUE.  He has also had long-running roles on hit shows like Showtime's "Shameless", and TNT's "Major Crimes", among dozens of other credits in television and film.  A prolific stage actor, Bill is also Co-Artistic Director of The Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale, CA.  He works with numerous charities and philanthropic organizations, including AIDS Walks, and the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment.   On the 5th Anniversary of his being free from cancer, Bill participated in an ancient spiritual pilgrimage in Northern Spain that is still alive today: Camino De Santiago  To learn more about the United Service Organizations: USO To learn more about Armed Forces Entertainment: AFE   Bill's Instagram: @billbrochtrup Bill's Twitter: @billbrochtrup Bill's Facebook: Bill Brochtrup   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Stories from Vietnam; racism and desegregation in the '60's; the early deaths of his sister and father; the dawn of his agnosticism; and the value in pursuing what is "dangerous and alive".   Ned Schmidtke is a professional television, film and stage actor with a resumé spanning decades.  He has had long-running roles on shows like Medium, Days of Our Lives, Point Pleasant, and JAG.  His film roles include Wedding Crashers, The Change Up and Accepted.  He's appeared on Broadway, in Chicago at the Goodman and Steppenwolf, and in theaters all across the country.   Ned tells a story of getting to see Ike and Tina Turner performing live at the Paradise Club in Missouri when he was a young man.  Here's a picture from one of those legendary performances (note the low ceiling!): Ike and Tina Turner at Club Paradise   Ned's Facebook: Ned Schmidtke   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Losing a sister at birth; merging Catholic and Mormon faiths; sons with epilepsy and Coats' disease; her charity Know the Glow; and the relationship to faith that she hopes her children will carry with them.   Megan Webber is the Co-Founder of the non-profit charity Know the Glow, which aims to eliminate early childhood blindness.  Megan launched Know the Glow after her son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with Coats' Disease in 2009.  Megan also sits on the Advisory Board of The Vision Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and works to support the doctors and patients there through the volunteer organization, Bright Eyes.    Here is a link to learn more about...: Coats Disease And, Megan is a big fan of the...: Peloton Bike   Megan Webber's LinkedIn: Megan Lynch Webber Know the Glow's Instagram: @know_the_glow Know the Glow's Twitter: @know_the_glow   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

The fear of God; dark years of addictions; shame; being saved by his Grandmothers' spirit; sobriety; and a lesson about God from his young son.   Paco Lozano is a professional television and stage actor.  Recent credits include Jessica Jones, Law & Order: SVU, and God Friended Me.  He was born in Puerto Rico to Cuban and Mexican parents, and he lives in New York City with his wife and young son.    Here's a link to the mission of the Mobile Unit at The Public Theatre, which Paco will be a part of when live theatre can return in New York: The Mobile Unit at The Public And Paco loves to cook.  Here's one of his favorite chefs to watch for inspiration: Sam the Cooking Guy   Paco's Instagram: @puertopaco Paco's Twitter: @puertopaco   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano