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The Ben Maynard Program

Ben

"Tell Your Story". Everyone has a story. Not just the famous. This is a guest driven program but when we are "guest free", It's just YOU and ME! I love music and we will talk a lot about it. Enjoy the ride!
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Yesterday · 43 min
EP. 147 VAN HALEN....THE SAMMY YEARS!
Send us Fan Mail Van Halen loses David Lee Roth, and the world starts writing the obituary. Then Sammy Hagar walks in—and everything changes. We go record by record through the Sammy years: 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance—four albums, four #1s, and millions of records sold. But behind the hits were tensions, relentless touring, personal strain, lyric disputes, the death of manager Ed Leffler, and the events that ultimately led to Sammy’s 1996 departure. How does a band at the top of the world come apart? Was Sammy pushed out—or did he walk? That’s the story on this episode of The Ben Maynard Program. #TheBenMaynardProgram #VanHalen #SammyHagar #DavidLeeRoth #EddieVanHalen #AlexVanHalen #MichaelAnthony #5150 #OU812 #ForUnlawfulCarnalKnowledge #Balance #VanHalenFans #VanHalenNation #ClassicRock #ClassicRockMusic #80sRock #90sRock #RockAndRoll #RockMusic #HardRock #HeavyRock #GuitarRock #RockHistory #MusicHistory #RockLegends #EddieVanHalen #SammyHagarFans #80sMusic #90sMusic #AlbumHistory #RockPodcast #MusicPodcast #Podcast #TheRedRocker Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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September 13 · 41 min
EP. 146 9/11 Never Forget
Send us Fan Mail You can watch 9/11 footage any day you want, but it still doesn’t recreate what it felt like when the second plane hit and an entire country realized the truth at the same time. We go back to Tuesday morning, September 11th, 2001, tracing the timeline from the first impact at the World Trade Center to the Pentagon attack and the moment the United States grounded civilian aircraft and the skies went eerily quiet. Along the way, we focus on the human stories that turn history into something real: firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and dispatchers moving toward danger; civilians helping strangers through smoke and stairwells; and the rare perspective of filmmaker Jules Naudet capturing the chaos as it unfolds. We also spend time with Flight 93, where passengers, after learning what was happening through phone calls, chose to fight back and changed the outcome at the cost of their lives. Then we talk about what happened after the towers fell: the nearly 3,000 victims whose names cannot be reduced to a number, the volunteers and blood drives, the flags on houses and cars, and the brief season when Americans put differences aside to help Americans. That’s where the conversation turns to patriotism, not as perfection or politics, but as care, sacrifice, and responsibility to each other. If “never forget” still means something, it has to mean remembering people and passing the story on to the generations who weren’t old enough, or weren’t born yet. Subscribe to the show, share this episode with someone younger, and if it moved you, leave a review and tell us what you remember most.#thebenmaynardprogram #tellyourstory #neverforget #nypd #nyfd Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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September 13 · 2 hr 2 min
EP. 145 We Revisit 1986 By Counting Down Albums That Still Hit Hard
Send us Fan Mail 1986 isn’t just a year in music history, it’s a whole ecosystem: MTV turning videos into rocket fuel, labels chasing crossover singles, and artists trying to evolve without losing the thing that made them great. I’m back with part two of my albums turning 40 countdown, and while I planned on a full 20, you’re getting 17 records today with plenty of stories, chart facts, and personal reactions along the way. We jump across genres and moods on purpose, because that’s how 1986 actually felt. I talk through Queen’s A Kind Of Magic and why it played differently in the US than the UK, the Georgia Satellites’ lightning-in-a-bottle debut, and the Bangles breaking huge with Different Light. From Lionel Richie’s polished pop dominance to the Fabulous Thunderbirds bringing Texas blues into the mainstream, you can hear how “radio-friendly” didn’t have to mean “soulless.” Then things get even more fun: Tina Turner’s second-wave peak, Stryper’s unlikely glam-metal crossover, ELO and Iron Maiden leaning into synth-era textures, and the Beastie Boys kicking the door open with Licensed To Ill. I also spend real time on Journey’s Raised On Radio, my favorite of the bunch, because the success, the lineup turmoil, and the glossy sound all collide in a way that still hits hard 40 years later. If you love classic rock, 1980s pop, hair metal, early hip-hop, and music anniversary deep dives, hit play, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s the one 1986 album you still play front to back? #thebenmaynardprogram #classicrock #classicalbums #raisedonradio Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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September 5 · 1 hr 16 min
EP. 144 A Rock Radio Memoir That Ends At The Dakota And John Lennon's Last Interview
Send us Fan Mail One ordinary walk out of the Dakota turned into a memory Laurie Kaye has carried for decades. Laurie is the author of Confessions Of A Rock And Roll Name Dropper, and she joins me to trace the wild, funny, heartbreaking path that led to December 8, 1980, when she co-conducted what tragically became John Lennon’s last interview. We get into the radio origin story first, because that’s the spine of everything: transistor radios as survival, AM and FM legends, KMET contests, and the thrill of winning your way into the front row. Laurie shares how those moments pushed her from superfan to working journalist, including her breakout at KFRC in San Francisco and the relentless schedule behind producing ambitious audio. If you care about broadcasting history, 1970s rock radio, and music journalism, the details are gold, especially her work writing and co-producing the 17-hour Beatles radio special The Beatles From Liverpool To Legend. Then we go where the memoir leads: meeting John Lennon and Yoko Ono, the rules she was given going in, what Lennon was like in the room, and the devastating hours that followed. We avoid giving extra attention to the killer, and instead focus on the human cost, the grief, and the long shadow of guilt that can follow a witness. Listen, then subscribe, share this with a music lover, and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. #thebenmaynardprogram #tellyourstory #lauriekaye #confessionsofarocknrollnamedropper #thebeatles #johnlennon #paulmccartney #georgeharrison #elvispresley Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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August 29 · 1 hr 37 min
EP. 143 Charlie Calv Explains How A Modern Indie Label Survives On Quality And Trust
Send us Fan Mail Vinyl is back, CDs are creeping up again, and streaming still pays less than most fans realize. So what does it actually take to run a successful independent record label right now without turning into a faceless upload machine? We sit down with Charlie Calv, president of Deko Entertainment and keyboardist for Angel, to get the real-world playbook behind modern label growth, premium reissues, and artist-first service. Charlie walks us through how Deko relaunched, why distribution partnerships matter, and how the label balances licensing deals, direct distribution, and hands-on label services for newer acts. We dig into the collector side too: why 180-gram vinyl, strong jackets, great liner notes, and artist involvement are not “extras,” they are the product. He also shares a surprisingly common reality that reframes the vinyl resurgence: a huge chunk of vinyl buyers do not even own a turntable, they are buying the experience, the art, and the connection to the music. Then we shift to life on stage with Angel, including how Charlie joined the band, what touring is really like at this level, and why the current lineup refuses to phone it in. We talk setlists, new music, diehard fans who travel across the world for a single show, and what the so-called farewell touring cycle could mean going forward. If you care about vinyl reissues, indie label strategy, music distribution, and the future of legacy rock done right, this one is for you. Subscribe to the Ben Maynard Program, share this with a music friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. #thebenmaynardprogram #tellyourstory #musiccommentary #classicrock #dekoentertainment #charliecalv #angelbandofficial Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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August 22 · 1 hr 26 min
EP. 142 ANSON CORSAIR - What If One Song Could Save Someone
Send us Fan Mail He walked away from a dead-end lab job, flew to India for 40 days of yoga teacher training, and came home with a new relationship to music, purpose, and faith. Musician Anson Corsair joins us for a long-form conversation that starts with albums you can actually hold in your hands and quickly turns into the deeper story behind the songs. We unpack “Just One,” a 13-track project shaped by the last 10 years of life, including grief, responsibility, and the pressure to keep going when nothing feels simple. Anson opens up about losing his mom, stepping into full-time caregiving for his blind and disabled brother Michael, and why certain songs are dedicated to specific people. We also dig into the creative side: the “self-consciousness is the enemy of creativity” mindset, how one small moment can change someone’s heart, and what it takes to build a sound that feels clean, open, and honest. Then we get into the next chapter: “Return To Roots,” the darker themes that come from real experience, the hard lessons of DIY music production, and how sobriety and a 12-step program helped him find a new level of freedom. If you care about singer-songwriter craft, indie rock storytelling, spiritual growth, and live music in Southern California, you’ll get a lot out of this one. Subscribe to the show, share it with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. #thebenmaynardprogram #ansoncorsair #justone #startthechange #returntoroots #indierock #tellyourstory Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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August 8 · 2 hr
EP. 141 "FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE"! Raul Explains Why Trades Work Still Wins
Send us Fan Mail One wrong answer and you’re chewing a jelly bean that tastes like wet dog. That’s the deal we make on a live Friday night, and it somehow becomes the perfect way to talk about what really matters: consistency, craft, and showing up when it would be easier to tap out. We start with a real look at podcast longevity and why most shows fade after 10 to 12 episodes. Raul talks about how guesting on podcasts flips a switch for him and leads to his own upcoming show, Hard Hats And Humor, built around job site stories, leadership lessons, and the kind of safety truths you only learn in the trades. We also get practical about the behind-the-scenes grind: microphones, editing software, and why I’d rather publish fast with an honest, unedited feel than spend hours polishing away the human parts. Then we go full 80s nerd: International Beer Day, Purple Heart Day, Live Aid, USA for Africa, Billboard chart math from sales to streaming, and the early days of MTV with its first batch of music videos. Along the way, we chase the fun question of who was “cooler” in high school, why some celebrities can cross from acting to music, and what the trades still offer that AI can’t replace: skilled hands building real things. If you like podcasts about the creative process, construction culture, leadership, and music nostalgia, this one hits all of it. Subscribe to The Ben Maynard Program, share it with a friend, and leave a review with your most infamous Bean Boozled flavor. #thebenmaynardprogram #tellyourstory #fridaynightlive #hardhatsandhumor #raulortega #classicrock #80smusic Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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August 1 · 1 hr 8 min
EP. 140 How Hugo Valenti And Adam Holland Keep Journey Alive On Stage
Send us Fan Mail You can fake a lot online, but you can’t fake a band that actually sounds right in the room. We sit down with vocalist Hugo Valenti and guitarist Adam Holland to talk about the real journey behind a Journey tribute band that’s built on musicianship, not costumes and tricks. From a couple of Long Island kids chasing club gigs to navigating record label chaos, they lay out what it takes to keep your identity intact when the music industry keeps moving the goalposts. We get into the Valentine years, why the “hair metal” label still misses the point, and how the 90s shift and executive turnover can derail even strong records. Hugo also shares the behind-the-scenes story of his solo work and the Hugo Ramos collaboration, plus the practical reality of singing in the stratosphere and staying healthy enough to do it night after night. Then we go deep on what “live” means in 2026: in-ear monitors, silent stages, why front-row phone videos can sound weird, and why Hugo posts raw vocals with zero polishing. We also talk setlists, deep cuts versus the big hits, what makes a crowd great, and why nostalgia works best when it’s played honestly. Subscribe to The Ben Maynard Program, share this with a fellow music nerd, and leave a review if you want more conversations like this. #thebenmaynardprogram #70smusic #80smusic #classicrock #journeymusic #classichits #deepcuts #hugotheultimatejourneytribute Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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July 26 · 2 hr 19 min
EP. 139 Ben Franklin As A Rock Star & The Day MTV Begged Reporters To Watch TV
Send us Fan Mail A bronze statue on a bench sounds simple until you hear what it takes to make it real and why it changes the feel of a town. I’m joined by Pam Lewis, founder of PLA Media and a true music and media insider, to talk about how she gifted “Ben on the Bench,” a Benjamin Franklin statue in Franklin, Tennessee, and how that single act ties into legacy, civic pride, and the kind of giving back that actually lasts. Along the way we get honest about time, goals, discipline, and the fight to stay grounded in a world built to distract you. Pam also brings Franklin to life in a way that feels surprisingly current. We dig into why she calls him “America’s first rock star,” from self-education and invention to influence, humor, and contradictions. We talk about her two books, including a kid-friendly story and an adult read that uses quotes, culture, and even colonial recipes to make American history approachable. If you’re searching for Benjamin Franklin fun facts, Franklin Tennessee history, or ideas for meaningful community projects, this conversation gives you plenty to take home. Then we turn the volume up. Pam shares behind-the-scenes stories from the earliest days of MTV, when the channel didn’t even have major-city carriage and had to hustle journalists just to watch “air checks.” We also get into David Bowie, the pressure to play Black artists, the Michael Jackson turning point, and the chaotic magic of that era with voices like JJ Jackson shaping what the world heard next. If you enjoyed this one, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, share it with a friend who loves history or music, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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July 18 · 1 hr 56 min
EP. 138 BEATLE MANIA ORIGINS: A Lifelong Fan Explains How The Beatles Became The Beatles
Send us Fan Mail You can hear the moment a fan becomes a historian, and that’s exactly what happens when my longtime friend Mario Rodriguez sits down across the table with a lifetime of Beatles knowledge. Mario takes us back to 1968 when he’s three years old, his dad drops the needle on Meet The Beatles, and one song “This Boy” flips a switch that never turns off. From harmonies to groove, we dig into what made the Beatles feel different right away, and why Ringo Starr’s so-called “simple” drumming is actually elite musicianship built around serving the song. Then we zoom out to the part of Beatles history most people only half-know: the Liverpool roots, the brutal Hamburg club schedule, and how that grind forged their repertoire, stage presence, and confidence long before the Ed Sullivan explosion. We untangle the US versus UK album confusion, the role of Capitol Records and Vee-Jay, and how American fans were often hearing a reshuffled version of the Beatles’ real catalog. If you’re a vinyl person, you’ll love the collector talk, from album jackets to pressing details to the hidden “Phil + Ronnie” clue tied to Let It Be and Phil Spector’s production. One of the most unique pieces of this conversation is Mario’s eight-year Beatles tribute collage, built from thousands of images and designed to include the forgotten corners of the story: Pete Best, Stu Sutcliffe, the parents, the influences, and the moments that shaped everything. We also get into the private Beatles meeting with Elvis Presley, why it’s still mostly a black box, and the late-era questions that always spark debate like Abbey Road versus Let It Be and what really changed when touring stopped and the studio took over. If you love Beatles history, classic rock storytelling, vinyl collecting, or just hearing two music nerds chase the truth behind the legend, hit play, subscribe wherever you get podcasts, and share this with a friend who still argues Beatles versus Stones. After you listen, leave a review and tell us: what’s the one Beatles song you never skip? Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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July 18 · 1 hr 37 min
EP. 137 Two 1981 Rock Masterpieces And The Memories They Trigger
Send us Fan Mail Two records dropped in the summer of 1981 and somehow never stopped living in our heads. We’re celebrating the 45th anniversary of Foreigner 4 and Journey Escape, and we’re doing it the only way that feels honest: track by track, memory by memory, with the little details that turn “classic rock” from a genre into a time machine. We start with Foreigner 4, a monster album co-produced by Mutt Lange and Mick Jones, and talk about why the sequencing hits so hard, from “Night Life” and “Jukebox Hero” to the emotional gut-punch of “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” We also dig into the underrated side two, the sax spotlight on “Urgent,” and the way deep cuts like “Woman In Black” and “Don’t Let Go” prove this record is more than its radio staples. If you’re into vinyl, we even get into sleeves, labels, and what makes finding a clean copy such a thrill. Then we pivot to Journey Escape, the diamond-certified breakthrough that brought Jonathan Cain into the band and pushed the songwriting into the stratosphere. We relive seeing the Escape tour at the Rose Bowl, break down why “Don’t Stop Believin’” can be both immortal and overplayed, and give love to favorites like “Who’s Crying Now,” “Stone In Love,” “Lay It Down,” and “Open Arms.” If you’ve ever attached your life to an album, you’ll recognize the feeling. Subscribe to the Ben Maynard program, share this with a friend who still argues about track lists, and leave a review or comment with the one song that instantly takes you back. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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July 11 · 1 hr
EP. 136 Celebrating 40 albums from 1986 PT. 1
Send us Fan Mail Some years don’t just age well, they keep proving their point. 1986 is one of those years, and I’m celebrating the 40-year anniversary by ripping through 20 albums that still deserve a spot in your rotation. Think of this as a fast, listener-friendly guide to building a killer 1986 playlist, with just enough chart history, release-date context, and personal takes to make each record feel like a real moment again. The run starts with rock staples and comebacks like Billy Idol’s Whiplash Smile and Boston’s Third Stage, then pivots into era-defining pop power with Janet Jackson’s Control. From there, I hit the polished hard rock side with Ozzy Osbourne’s The Ultimate Sin, plus the messy but fascinating chapter of the Rolling Stones’ Dirty Work. If you love the way 80s production, radio, and image shaped what we heard, you’re going to have a lot to react to here. Then we widen the lens: Bruce Hornsby’s piano-driven The Way It Is, Peter Gabriel’s mega-classic So and its MTV video legacy, Europe’s stadium-sized The Final Countdown, Paul Simon’s global masterpiece Graceland, and Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors. I also dig into how singles stayed “alive” back then, why some bands got tagged unfairly, and how momentum could make or break a career. I close out part one with more essential 1986 albums including Ratt, Huey Lewis and the News, Bob Seger, Billy Ocean with a surprising Mutt Lange tie-in, David Lee Roth’s post Van Halen statement, Quiet Riot’s turning point, Steve Winwood, Toto, and a deeper spotlight on Cinderella’s Night Songs. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review, then tell me which 1986 album you want me to cover next. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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June 20 · 59 min
EP. 135 BREAKFAST WITH BEN - No Ties For Dad And No Mercy For Bad Wi-Fi
Send us Fan Mail Saturday morning starts simple: I’m adjusting the mic, talking breakfast, and chasing the kind of easy conversation that feels like radio you can actually live inside. Then the calendar gives us two perfect springboards for stories: World Martini Day and American Eagle Day. One leads to a memory of a great martini party, the other to Alaska, zip lines, and the moment you realize those “little golf balls” in the trees are bald eagles. From there we roll into music history and pop culture, the stuff classic rock fans can’t resist. I dig into June 20 milestones like Stars on 45, the jaw-dropping reality of 147-date tours, the Ronettes getting royalties back from Phil Spector, and the Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” riff controversy. If you love music trivia, band lore, and the business side of rock, there’s plenty to chew on. Things get more personal when I talk podcast process: a fun recap of my buddy Raul taking over a music-centric conversation, plus a behind-the-scenes look at a guest recording that kept failing with Michael T. Ross from Aldo Nova’s band. And the heart of the show is my push to interview Angel Rico, a 100-year-old veteran, because World War II stories are disappearing fast and they deserve to be heard the right way. We close with a quick vinyl record haul, a few deep-cut recommendations, and a Father’s Day run-down of songs about dads plus my best advice: skip the tie and just show up. If you enjoyed the mix of storytelling, classic rock, vinyl collecting, and real-life podcasting, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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June 13 · 2 hr 5 min
EP. 134 Donald Mustang Meets Steve Perry
Send us Fan Mail Raul Ortega hijacks the Ben Maynard Program and turns the tables on me with one goal: trace the exact moments that built my music brain. It starts with a scene that’s almost too perfect to be real, my mom dropping a Beatles 45 on the family stereo and typing out the lyrics to “Let It Be” while I sit there absorbing every word. That’s the point where music stops being background noise and becomes memory, comfort, and obsession. From there we jump through the decades like a radio dial: early 80s Top 40, the rush of MTV, disco’s underrated groove, new wave’s takeover, and why that 60s through 80s window still feels like the sweet spot for classic rock and pop. We also get honest about the modern music business, why touring pays the bills now, and why some legacy acts still deliver while others maybe should hang it up. Then we hit the stories and the lists: the “Rebel Yell” moment that turns me into a different person, my top 10 songs challenge, and the run-in with Steve Perry that lasts about a minute but sticks for life. We keep coming back to the real takeaway: hearing a song isn’t the same as listening, and once you start listening for the bass line, the vocal inflection, and the tiny choices in production, you never go back. If you love music nostalgia, rock history, and deep listening, hit subscribe, share this with a friend who argues about playlists, and leave a review so more music nerds can find us. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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June 6 · 1 hr
EP. 133 "FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE!" We Put “No Hangover” Vodka And Aged Tequila To The Test
Send us Fan Mail We tried to go live, realized we weren’t actually live, and somehow that set the perfect tone for a Friday night that spirals from goofy to surprisingly useful. After we kick around the day’s “national holidays” and swap a hot air balloon horror story that makes skydiving sound reasonable, we set the ground rules: no Malort tonight. Trivia decides who eats the BeanBoozled jelly beans, and yes, the flavors are as brutal as you remember. Then we get into the real reason the table is crowded: a Savage Rabbit spirits tasting. We talk through what makes their vodka stand out, why people claim it drinks “clean,” and how filtration and ingredients show up in the glass. Catherine mixes a blueberry lemon drop martini twist with fresh squeezed lemon juice, lemoncello, and blueberry syrup, and we get specific about the one upgrade that instantly improves home cocktails: stop using bottled citrus when you can use fresh. From there we move into tequila, tasting Savage Rabbit Blanco tequila neat and breaking down what “blanco” means, what agave-forward flavor should feel like, and how to judge heat versus warmth. We follow it with an extra añejo tequila aged three years, digging into oak, smoke, spice, finish, and why tequila tasting parties can be about conversation and palate training, not getting wasted. We wrap with hot yoga habits, a prank Ben fully believed, and the everyday couple stuff that keeps it real. If you like live podcast energy, cocktail recipes, tequila tasting notes, and relationship banter, hit subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave us a review. What bottle should we taste next? Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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May 29 · 51 min
EP. 132 My Record Store Day Haul....So Good!
Send us Fan Mail They can take your seat, shrink your legroom, and apparently now charge you for a carry-on, but they can’t take the joy of a great live show and a fresh stack of vinyl. I’m back from a quick Vegas hit with Kathryn, and I’ve got thoughts, starting with why Frontier’s bag policy feels like a straight-up hustle. From there, we head to downtown Las Vegas for Aldo Nova at the Golden Nugget on Fremont Street. I break down what worked, what didn’t, and why sound mixing can make or break a concert, especially when the vocals get buried. The night ends on a high note with a post-show conversation and an exchanged number with Aldo’s keyboard player, Michael T. Ross, which could turn into a future guest spot with real touring-musician stories. Then it’s my personal Record Store Day: I walk through the haul, talk packaging and liner notes, and dig into classic rock essentials like Boston Third Stage, Styx Paradise Theatre and Equinox, Angel On Earth As It Is In Heaven, Journey’s pre-Steve Perry era on Look Into the Future, and KISS Asylum from the 80s non-makeup years. If you love vinyl collecting, record stores, classic rock deep cuts, and the simple security of owning physical media in an age of shifting streaming rights, this one’s for you. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more music fans can find us. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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May 8 · 1 hr 20 min
EP. 131 THE BEST OF THE BILLBOARD HOT 100 MAY 7, 1983!
Send us Fan Mail One week. Forty songs. A whole time machine. We’re building a Billboard Top 40 playlist from May 7, 1983, and the deeper we go, the more you can hear the early 80s music world colliding: rock guitars next to synth hooks, country crossover next to new wave, and the MTV era starting to decide what “big” really means. We start with a quick life update on why I’ve been out of the studio and how much work goes into researching and writing a chart-heavy show. Then I tell the story of catching Olivia Harms live, from the simple trick of sitting near the sound booth to the small, personal moments that remind you why live music still matters. It’s a great reset before we dive into the numbers. From there, it’s a guided countdown packed with context and nostalgia: Journey showing up twice, Culture Club gaining momentum, Duran Duran breaking through, and classic pop craftsmanship from Lionel Richie, Toto, Kenny Loggins, and more. We also talk about “staying power” and why songs used to live on the charts long enough to become part of your life, not just a quick spike. And when we hit the top, the Michael Jackson run is unreal: Billie Jean on the chart, Beat It at No. 1, plus the wild behind-the-scenes connections like Eddie Van Halen’s solo and Toto’s fingerprints all over the Thriller era. If you love Billboard chart history, 1980s pop and rock, and making playlists that actually feel like a story, hit play. Subscribe, share with a friend who lived it (or needs to hear it), and leave a review with the one song that took you back the fastest. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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April 18 · 1 hr 1 min
EP. 130 "FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE!" The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Keeps Getting It Wrong
Send us Fan Mail The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame just dropped its latest class and I’m equal parts pumped and irritated. Some picks feel overdue and undeniable, and others make me wonder what the Hall thinks “rock and roll” even is anymore. So I grabbed my notes, went live on the patio, and did what I always do on Friday Night Live: talk music, tell stories, and say the quiet part out loud. We run through the Rock Hall inductees and I explain why names like Phil Collins, Billy Idol, and Iron Maiden belong in the conversation, plus the strange behind-the-scenes detail most people miss: the Hall doesn’t just honor bands, it decides which members “count.” That leads into Iron Maiden’s lineup history, Blaze Bayley getting added, and why the ceremony can feel disconnected from the artists themselves. Then we hit the other side of the list: who didn’t get in, why the fan vote is way less powerful than people assume, and the snubs that still feel criminal, including INXS. Along the way, I share a recent concert recap with Steve Augeri’s band and a rare soundcheck experience, plus a little nostalgia detour through National Ford Mustang Day and my first car story. If you care about classic rock, music history, rock hall voting, and the artists that shaped everything we listen to now, this one’s for you. Subscribe on YouTube or wherever you get podcasts, share the episode with a music fan, and leave a review with your pick for the biggest Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame snub. Who should get in next? Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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April 11 · 54 min
EP. 129 We Build The Ultimate April 1976 Playlist
Send us Fan Mail April 1976 is one of those weeks where the radio dial feels like an entire universe. We pull up the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 from the first week of April 1976 and react in real time, from songs we wore out as kids to deep cuts we barely recognize until the title jogs the memory. Along the way we talk about what Top 40 radio edits left out, why certain hooks became permanent, and how a track can rise, fall, or hang on for dear life depending on what the culture wanted that week. The chart run turns into a time capsule: disco energy rubbing shoulders with classic rock, soft rock, country crossover, and the kind of pop that only the 1970s could make feel normal on the same list. We hit big landmarks like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Dream On,” and “Dreamweaver,” plus the #1 that still gets everyone singing. If you love building playlists, you’ll have plenty of prompts to make your own “April 1976” set and test which songs still sound alive today. Then we zoom out from singles to albums and dig into a handful of 1976 releases that shaped careers and changed trajectories: Rush taking a massive risk with “2112,” Kansas landing their defining moment with “Leftoverture,” Paul McCartney and Wings firing back with “Silly Love Songs,” Bob Seger breaking through with “Night Moves,” and Journey in the fascinating pre-Steve Perry years on “Look Into The Future.” We close with some current show plans that tie the old music to the live stage right now. If this kind of music history and real-listener commentary is your thing, subscribe on your podcast app, watch on YouTube, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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March 29 · 1 hr 16 min
EP. 128 Growing Up Under Iran’s Regime And Finding Freedom In America
Send us Fan Mail Most Americans only meet Iran through a headline, a chant, or a talking head. Then Sormeh walks into our studio and calmly says what almost never makes the news: the Iranian people are not the Iranian regime, and many Iranians don’t hate Americans at all. She grew up in Tehran, lived the fear and the censorship, and still has family there, so this isn’t theory or politics for sport. It’s personal. We talk about what it feels like to be a kid forced to chant “Death to America,” what you can’t say at school, and why families learn to split life into “inside the house” and “outside the house.” Sormeh explains the pressure of internet shutdowns in Iran, why VPNs become normal, and how even a simple phone call to check on relatives can be risky when you assume someone is listening. We also get into the parts that are hard for Americans to picture: bans around music and dancing, fear of hospitals after protests, and the way the IRGC’s control shows up in everyday choices. From there, we zoom out to the bigger questions: why the world ignores certain human rights abuses, what hope looks like for people living under the Islamic Republic, and why many Iranians fear a “ceasefire” if it leaves the same regime in place. We also discuss the Iranian diaspora’s rallies, why you often see American flags there, and what kind of leadership and free elections people are calling for, including mention of Reza Pahlavi. If you care about media literacy, human rights, Iranian protests, or the real story behind US-Iran tension, this conversation adds the missing human element. Subscribe to the Ben Maynard Program, share this with someone who only knows Iran from TV, and leave a review or a comment with what challenged you most.#tellyourstory #familymatters #realstories #humanrights #iran #womenofiran #standwithiran #freeiran #middleeast Support the show Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
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