Matt Von Roderick — Award-winning Jazz Trumpeter & Singer

by Maria Felicia Kelley  | Music

Matt Von Roderick, aka “Von Rockstar,” is the award-winning, Los Angeles-based jazz trumpeter and singer aptly likened to a jazz great  in both style and substance. In fact, the New York Times has called Von Roderick, “a post-millennial Chet Baker.” Jazz Times Magazine characterizes Von Roderick as “a top-drawer trumpeter who also sings like an angel obscured by a storm cloud.”

With performances at some of the country’s most lauded venues, Von Rockstar has graced the stages of Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

Matt sits down for a wide-ranging interview with host and producer Maria Felicia Kelley in the fifth episode of SoCal Spotlight..

Bestselling Author Renée Carlino — Adapts Book to Movie with Julia Stiles

by Maria Felicia Kelley  | Books + Film

Renée Carlino is a Southern California gem who calls San Diego home. Renée sat down with us to discuss the screenplay, Wish You Were Here. She co-wrote the script with actor turned director Julia Stiles. The film is based on one of Renée’s bestselling novels. Renée shares much about her writing process and the joy of sharing screenwriting credits in our SoCal Spotlight in-studio interview.

Check out our online interview with Renée, too. Discover how she brings the best female-driven stories to life between front and back covers. And with the global release of one of her bestselling titles, she’s amplifying the appeal of those crowd-pleasing narratives on film.

Mackenzie Rubish — Winner of Roku’s The Great American Baking Show

by Maria Felicia Kelley  | Food, Television + Digital Series

Mackenzie Rubish is The Great American Baking Show’s winner! She’s also a San Diego native. Recently she shared details of her victory as our
SoCal Spotlight podcast guest.

Be sure to view our online interview with Mackenzie, too. You’ll learn more about this vivacious talent with a knack for creating the most attractive, well-crafted tasty desserts!

Adriane McLean — Actress in HORIZON: An American Saga

Adriane McLean lands a coveted role in Kevin Costner’s long-awaited multi-chapter epic, HORIZON: An American Saga. Adriane shares plenty about the creative path that delivered her the dream role when she spent some time with us as our SoCal Spotlight podcast guest.

Watch our interview with Adriane and find out more about this multi-dimensional talent who caught Kevin Costner’s eye!

Michele Kanan — Reality Mimics a Playful Melodrama — Studio City

Emmy®-Award winner Michele Kanan “ditched the diaper bag” and is making a name for herself in Hollywood, with kids in tow. In lockstep with her husband, Sean Kanan, the pair have brought Sean’s long-planned-for dream production to life in their multi-Emmy®-Award winning digital drama, Studio City.

Michele sat down with us during Women’s History Month. She tells us about giving her all to both motherhood and professional pursuits as one of our first SoCal Spotlight podcast guests.

Learn more about Michele’s creative rise in LA entertainment in our online feature about Studio City.

Sean Kanan Is One of Our 2025 SoCal Motivational Minds Worth Knowing

You may know him from the Karate Kid franchise, Cobra Kai, The Bold and The Beautiful and so many others. If you’ve seen his work as an actor, you know watching Emmy® award-winner Sean Kanan is time well spent. He engages as a performer and makes viewers care about his character’s plight.

Sean commits to his craft. So we’re even more thrilled to share that with Sean we launched our first SoCal Spotlight podcast episode.
We hope you’ll take a peek. We’re forever grateful to Sean for setting our good times in motion!

Take a look at our feature about Studio City. Then be sure to read our article on Sean and Michele’s highly acclaimed book, Way of the Cobra Couples.