Milling About

Rita Coolidge, one of the most celebrated and reknowned singer/songwriters from the 70s, has released a new CD, Safe In The Arms of Time. The music and the lyrics illustrate how Rita, who was born of Cherokee roots in Lafayette, Tennessee, has come full circle in her life with personal and professional fulfillment.  Rita candidly chats with host Robin Milling. Personally she openly talks about her past loves and the man in her life now who is her forever love. Some of her stories entail her legendary marriage to Kris Kristoferson and where they are today, and the real reason why David Crosby blamed her for the demise of CSN.   While others are about professional wrong-doings in a male-dominated music business. The inspiration behind such songs as The Things We Carry, You Can Fall in Love, and Naked All Night reflect all that is Rita Coolidge.

The smooth soulful stylings of Ruben Studdard are a natural fit for singing Luther Vandross. Ruben joins host Robin Milling to talk about his new CD, 'Ruben Sings Luther,' which is not only a tribute to the late singer but also a special gift to his mother who always played Luther around the house in Alabama when Ruben was just a kid. Ruben tells Robin about the recording of Luther's music which includes his 'Velvet Tedd Bear' stamp on classics like Here and Now, Always and Forever, and Never Too Much. Ruben could never get enough of music. He joined a fraternity Phi Mu Alpha from Alabama A&M University that nurtured his love of singing and made lifelong friends.  The second season American Idol winner shares his advice on staying focus well after you make it to Hollywood.  Sharing that feeling of success gave Ruben the desire children who have the same dreams and goals through his foundation for children in the arts: sending them to music camp and setting up invaluable scholarships. Far beyond the m

Christina Hendricks joins host Robin Milling to chat about her upcoming film, "The Strangers: Prey at Night." The thriller also stars Martin Henderson as her husband, Lewis Pullman as her son, and Bailee Madison as her daughter. The family literally have to fight off an intruder in their mobile home.  Christina tells Robin she didn't have to look any further than her own experience with a home break-in to conjure up that fear once again for the film. Also, starring in the television series, "Good Girls," she is playing a very different kind of empowered mother. Christina discusses her feelings about playing a mom and what it means to her own mother to watch her on screen. The film opens in theaters March 9 nationwide.

Host Robin Milling chats with The Lodge At Woodloch sommelier Leslie Britt who likes to think of herself as a 'wine slinger.' She jokes with the guests, giving them the proper phonetic pronunciation, as 'som-el-yay'! Leslie is actually a certified specialist in both wine and spirits. Leslie holds a diploma in wine and spirits from the Wine And Spirits Education Trust which is the pre-requisite for a Master of wine out of London. Leslie believes that wine is an essential part of any dining experience. She hosted a wonderful chocolate and wine pairing – two things that go so well together. Her mantra is wine, chocolate, wine. The presentation featured Eclat chocolate courtesy of Good & Evil featured a blonde chocolate infused with porcini mushroom and thyme which Leslie paired perfectly with Sherry, Muscat, a fruity Chardonnay or a Moscato d'Asti. The milk chocolate pairs beautifully with Merlot, Pinot Noir, Reisling and the dark at 72% cacao is a winner with Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Port. She

Join host Robin Milling for Let's Do Lunch! at The Tree Restaurant at The Lodge At Woodloch where spa cuisine is much more than a peanut on a rice cracker. Their portions are just right and all about healthy nourishment served with wine or homemade 'clean' cocktails; with herbal ingredients grown right on property in their Blackmoor garden. A hive of bees makes their home here providing honey for The Maple Honey cocktail with Bourbon F617; tried and tested by sommelier Leslie Britt. The lovely server Mallory discusses three courses spaced perfectly during the meal. The White Bean & Kale Soup is creamy with chickpea and roasted red pepper rouille. The Homemade Pumpkin Ricotta Crostini topped with a fig balsamic is yum. The second course is a salad of Willow Wisp Farm Bibb Lettuce sourced locally. The third course offers meat, seafood and vegetarian selections. Mallory recommends Dijon & Panko Crusted Jamison Lamb Rack. The Vegetable-based Roasted Mushroom Stroganoff is made with shitaki, maitaki and o

Milling About visits The Lodge At Woodloch, a destination spa in Hawley, Pennsylvania in the heart of the Poconos, which offers serenity and relaxation in a woodsy environment that not only makes you feel calm, but also invigorated. The focus is to bring nature into the treatment room. Host Robin Milling chats with Treatments Manager Amanda Clabaugh about their signature massages using herbs grown right on property that are infused into body treatments such as local rosemary in “Rosemary Awakening.” “Chakra Balancing" is a fusion of both energy work and Swedish massage that incorporates seven different oils, relating to each of the chakras. For those of you who like to stick to the classic Swedish; their most popular is the Lodge Massage offered with aromatherapy.   After your treatment experience the eucalyptus steamroom which sends your senses reeling. The hydrotherapy waterfall adds even more massage. There's nothing like the outdoor infinity hot tub on a cold crisp day. The Lodge at Woodloch is steeped

Director Rob Reiner has made films about presidents before as in the Michael Douglas led, The American President. This time he is exploring the real life making of an American president in LBJ starring Woody Harrelson as Lyndon B. Johnson. Reiner joins host Robin Milling to candidly discuss the making of LBJ from the make-up process Woody had to endure, to how Johnson's children felt about Harrelson's portrayal.  Reiner tells Robin behind-the-scenes stories of using actual locations to recreate the assasination of President John F. Kennedy, A self-described "news junkie," Reiner discusses what this movie might mean to a younger generation.  LBJ opens in theaters November 3.  

Back in 1967 Poco was founded by Rusty Young, Richie Furay, George Grantham and Jim Messina. Over the years the band recruited Paul Cotton, Randy Meisner, and Timothy B. Schmidt. Now 50 years later Rusty Young is still making music with his new CD, "Waitin' For The Sun," which includes the familiar and classic Poco sound with his own personal reflections of his life and bandmates who are all still his friends.  Rusty joins host Robin Milling to talk about the inspiration for the songs which were born in his log cabin in Pucky Huddle, Missouri - "population 50" - waiting for the sun to rise over the hill. Rusty tells Robin how the Poco members still have managed to remain like family - even though they've gone their separate ways into other popular bands like The Eagles and Loggins & Messina described in the song "My Friend." Rusty tells Robin stories behind such songs as "Honey Bee," which featues Messina and Grantham,  a tune that pays homage to his grandmother who played piano alongside silent films.

The collaboration between veteran producer Narada Michael Walden and artist Jennifer Saran turned out to be a magical one. It began in South Africa with the single "Wake Up" - a call to everyone to become aware of what was going on in the world through music. It was during the time of Desmond Tutu's 85th birthday and inspired by the turmoil going on at the time. Saran was then joined by local legends Ladysmith Black Mambazo on the song with all proceeds going to the "Desmond & Leah Tutu Peace Foundation." http:www.tutufoundationusa.org They enjoyed each other's company so much they later returned to the studio to record even more songs for her new CD, Wake Up. The result is the title track featuring guitarist Carlos Santana and Jennifer's versions of classics from Bill Withers, George Michael and Doris Day to name a few; along with two original songs that honor her family. Narada and Jennifer join host Robin Milling to talk about how music can affect change and giving back through foundations they've bo

Never before have Santana and The Isley Brothers, two accomplished musical legends in their own right, collaborated together in the studio until now.  Power of Peace celebrates the musical unity between Carlos Santana, Ron Isley and Ernie Isley. The album also marks a familial gathering as they are joined by their wives - Cindy Blackman Santana, Kandy Johnson Isley (Ron's wife) and Tracy Isley (Ernie's wife) singing background vocals with Cindy on drums.  Host Robin Milling spoke with Carlos and Cindy about their musical and romantic union which Carlos describes as spiritual. He added, "We are bananas for each other both on and off the stage." Their connection is palpable having been married almost seven years. Cindy also talks about contributing the song I Remember which came at a time in her life before Carlos so the song resonates a new meaning. Also joining Robin are Ron and Ernie Isley who discuss their brotherhood with Jimi Hendrix - whose spirit still looms throughout their lives. Ron who lends his s

Paris Can Wait star Diane Lane and writer/director Eleanor Coppola join host Robin Milling. The two ladies collaboration had been several years in the making -- Lane knows Coppola since she was 17 working with her husband Francis Ford on such films as The Outsiders and Rumble Fish. So when it came time to cast her leading lady in her debut film Lane said 'yes' to the story based on Coppola's food and wine road trip to Paris that she experienced many years ago. Diane tells Robin any thoughts of maintaining a healthy lifestyle went out the car window as she enjoyed the joie de vivre of eating, drinking and pure joy of making the film with Coppola. Eleanor tells Robin even the catering on the set was just as fine for the crew so they wouldn't feel envious of what the actors were eating and drinking.  Paris Can Wait also stars Alec Baldwin as Lane's husband and French actor Arnaud Viard who introduces Lane's character to a culinary experience she wlll never forget.        

If you grew up in the 70s then you would surely have heard the music of Bruce Sudano, Born in Brooklyn, New York Sudano co-founded the band Alive N Kickin’ which featured the Tommy James penned “Tighter, Tighter.” In 1977 he met Donna Summer, who would become his wife of 32 years and together they wrote such popular hits as “Heaven Knows,” and “Bad Girls” to name a few. Bruce always had a solo career of his own. In this candid interview with host Robin Milling, Sudano talks about his new album 21st Century World which speaks about his social and political concerns and who is accountable to what is going on in society. He tells Robin what inspired such songs as "Coney Island Days;" a nod to the little boy that still lives inside him and "When Cinderella Dies;" his journey of self-discovery entering back into the dating world and the harsh realization of how marriage is viewed today. Bruce also talks about his talented daughters two of which broke into showbusiness themselves -- Brooklyn stars in the NBC seri

Brooklyn-born Donny Most aka the lovable Ralph Malph from Happy Days is now crooning his way into our hearts with a new CD, D Most: Mostly Swinging. Donny joins host Robin Milling to talk about his showbusiness journey from performing in the Catskill hotels as a teenager, to his memories of the Happy Days gang, and his undeniable love for jazz standards and the American songbook which led to his foray into musical recording and performing. Songs on the CD include such standards as Lover Come Back, Blue Skies, Let's Fall in Love, The Tender Trap, Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered, One for My Baby, and I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good. Donny tells Robin about being a number one fan to Bobby Darin and what it meant to him when Kevin Spacey took on the iconic singer in the film Beyond the Sea.  Donny jokes to Robin about how he has the first chapter for his memoirs -- if only he could find them! He also talks about meeting his wife on the set of Happy Days and the wonderful television family that he still keeps

Singer/songwriter Judith Owen joins host Robin Milling the day following her album showcase, “Somebody's Child” at the Iridium in New York. This Welsh-born entertainer is a beautiful songstress who weaves personal life lessons and stories throughout each song with a dab of her cheeky sense of humor thrown in for good measure which propel you not only to fall in love with her music, but with her as well. “I told you I was a bottomless pit of need,” she jokes speaking about wanting the feedback from the audience. Born into a musical family – her father was an opera singer at Covent Garden – where hanging out with Pavarotti backstage seemed common place. She became “obsessed with the piano and singing from an early age;” wanting to experience the same joy her father did when he sang. Unfortunately she inherited melancholy from her mother who suffered from depression. Judith reveals, “Dad's the reason why I can sing and my mother's the reason why I sing and that's absolutely the truth.” After 10 albums Owen tel

Writer/director Bart Freundlich joins host Robin Milling to talk about his new film Wolves. The film stars newcomer Taylor John Smith as a rising highschool basketball player who must overcome the challenges of his gambling father (Michael Shannon) and overcompensating mother (Carla Gugino) to excel.  Basketball is in the family as Bart tells Robin he still plays, his son plays for Davidson College, and his daughter for her Junior Varsity team. In fact most of the film's basketball scenes were shot at a local New York school where the classrooms often doubled for dressing rooms. Bart tells Robin he actually began writing Wolves almost 30 years ago in his own 10th grade highschool English class so on many levels this film is a win-win for him.          

Stephen Dorff stars as Wheeler Bryson, a country singer songwriter in the film Wheeler who captures Nashville by storm with his unique talents. Stephen tells host Robin Milling what it was like to be completely unrecognizable underneath the weathered Wheeler prosthetics and how he managed to fool the people who knew him such as the session musicians he grew up knowing through his famous songwriting father, Steve Dorff. The Hollywood actor, also an accomplished musician in his own right did all the performing live throughout the making of the film in the infamous Bluebird Cafe; home to patrons who come to hear the newest voice on the Nashville circuit. The recording of the film's music along with Nashville songwriter Bobby Tomberlin is currently available as a soundtrack featuring the single "Pour Me Out Of This Town."  

Georgina Pazcoguin, now playing Victoriathe Cat in Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical CATS joins host Robin Milling. For the sake of familiarity, Gina met Robin for an informal chat in Central Park with her adorable black Labs in tow, Jett and Marco, to talk about her turn as the white cat. Gina tells Robin walking in the park is essential for her to wind down on her days off from her hectic Broadway schedule; doing eight shows a week. A day in the life of CATS for Gina begins with ballet class where she puts on her pointe shoes so she can keep herself in shape for the vigorous Andy Blankenbuehler dance work-out followed by acupuncture and physical therapy. On hiatus as a soloist for The New York City Ballet, she had to learn how to apply her own Victoria make-up which proved to be a learning curve for the self-described “rogue ballerina.” While still working with NYC Ballet, she practiced in her dressing room psyching herself up with songs like Cat Scratch Fever and What's New cat. Cat themes are all the

Do you remember how you felt when you first heard Walking In Memphis, the seminal debut from Marc Cohn, which would ultimately become his signature song. Marc joins host Robin Milling to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that song, and talks about his memories and inspirations from his songwriting vault in Careful What You Dream: Lost Songs And Rarities. A consummate storyteller, Marc tells Robin wonderful stories behind such songs as Ghost Train and Silver Thunderbird, along with oldies but goodies he has released on this newest collection; among them Nowhere Fast, From The Faraway Nearby, and Maestro. Oddly enough Marc has never been able to read a note of music but the talent for weaving words and music has shaped him into the prolific songwriter he is today. Stay tuned for much more from Marc Cohn, including writing his memoirs some day, a possible Broadway show, and of course, the music. For more information visit http://marccohn.net/          

Gbenga Akinnagbe (pronounced phonetically as Benga Akinabee) joins host Robin Milling to talk about his turn as Agent Matthew Travis to President Whitmore (Bill Pullman) in Independence Day: Resurgence. His background is perfectly suited for the role as he tells Robin there was a time when he actually was interested in becoming President of the United States. He weighs in on Trump, "If I told you 10 years ago if Donald Trump was gonna be one of two people who were definitely gonna be president you would've laughed in my face and called the police to take me away!" Deciding not to pursue politics, Gbenga became an actor instead, but he still remains passionate about government and citizens' rights. He discusses his theories about gun control, and how seriously he looks at handling weapons in a film. Ad avid adventurer, he also contributes essays about travel, science and sports for The New York Times. Next he will be starring in the television series, The Deuce, as a pimp amongst the backdrop of the beginnin

Milling About Dance visits the production of Monte/Molissa/Margo/Muller – LIVE! At New York Live Arts through June 18. Host Robin Milling chats with choreographer Margo Sappington about her piece Entwined featuring dancers Lillian DiPiazza, Marjorie Feiring, Chyrstyn Mariah Fentroy, Silken Kelly and Marlon Taylor-Wiles, who expertly and sensuously weave in and out of each other's bodies to the serene music of Erik Satie's solo piano compositions, the Gnossiennes. Margo tells Robin about her ballet beginnings at 17 with the Joffrey Ballet; how Robert Joffrey noticed her when she was just 14 and waited until she finished high school in Houston, thus starting her professional dancing career. She recalls, 'I levitated and floated out of his office!' She danced there for two years before a fated audition for Bob Fosse landed her Broadway debut in Sweet Charity. Choreography is an aptitude that Margo had back in high school; her first piece was to poetry. Over the years she's created ballets with some very intere