Mark interviews stage, screen & voice actor Laurie Burke, the "Original Voice of Google Voice". Laurie and Mark converse about meeting on set and San Francisco and her multi-faceted acting career. You've seen Laurie play Sheriff Laura Stevens in the Rosario Dawson based web series "The North Pole" as well as lawyer Alice Kaye opposite Hugh Laurie in "Chance". Laurie has been an On-Air TV and web Host for Common Sense Media for nearly a decade. Mark discusses the previous and upcoming hiatus. (Expect the next episode in September.) Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday in London, UK.

Mark Roman Empire (also a podcast)

#42 - Laurie Burke - 12AUG2020

Mark interviews Oscar Armando, who produces, directs and writes for television and film. Oscar grew up in Orange County, while his parents hail from El Salvador. Mark shares many of Oscar's early influences, such as Jim Carrey and Robin Williams. Also shared is involvement with the community organization MutualAidLA.org. Oscar is known for his behind the camera contributions to such productions as "Balloon." "Son of Phantom." "Midnight to One" and "Wrong for Right". Mark explains what happened last week. Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

#41 – Oscar Armando – 22JUL2020

Mark interviews singer-songwriter Cassandra Salas, a Herb Alpert Music Scholar who just graduated from LA City College School of Music. It's early days for Cassandra's music, and she's already known for "Singing the Blues" on SoundCloud and her very personal "Mannequin Head" on YouTube (performed at the Herb and Lani Concert Hall, LACC). A pianist and composer as well, her style includes pop, rock, R&B and alternative. A FOLF (Friend of Lt. Frank), Cassandra knows Mark from his early busking days in Hollywood. They discuss. Her new single debuts in weeks, and an EP is in the works. Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

#40 – Cassandra Salas – 08JUL2020

By the time many figured out what to do with their lives, Liz Miele could have penned her memoir. Writing at 14. Performing stand-up comedy at 16. In NYC. At 18, profiled in "The New Yorker". At 22, appearing on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham.” Originally from New Jersey, Liz Miele is an NYC-based comedian known for her joke “Feminist Sex Positions”, which went viral on YouTube and UpWorthy.com. Liz wrote and produced her animated web series “Damaged,” voiced by such as Maz Jobrani. She's toured with “Nobodies of Comedy” and Armed Forces Entertainment. Her latest special, Self Help Me is out now on YouTube. Hear Liz on her new weekly podcast “2 Non Doctors”. Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

#39 – Liz Miele – 01JUL2020

A stand-up comic based in San Francisco, Joe Klocek also works with the homeless and addicted in the Tenderloin. He once spent 3 months in Shanghai as an artist in residency at a comedy club. Joe's a guy in recovery, working on being a good guy and a tolerable Zoom comedian. SF Best Stand-up Comic winner in 2011, Joe you've seen/heard on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham", NBC's "Last Comic Standing", NPR's "Snap Judgement" and the PBS local documentary "The Bridge So Far". Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

#38 – Joe Klocek – 24JUN2020

Kevin Munroe is a Trinidad-born comedian and actor based in Los Angeles. A regular at major clubs and theaters nationwide, Kevin has worked with top talent including Tracy Morgan, Paul Mooney, Eddie Pepitone, Loni Love, and W.Kamau Bell. Kevin began performing standup comedy in San Francisco while working as a software engineer. After placing in local comedy competitions he walked away from Silicon Valley. Kevin is the other half of the Showtime & Kev podcast. (Hear Cory “Showtime” Robinson on MRE pod eps. 2 & 25.) Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

#37 – Kevin Munroe – 17JUN2020

Jen Friel launched her first business when she was 8 years old. A writer, she created the blog sensation "Talk Nerdy to Me Lover". Of course, Jen's delivered a TED Talk. Oh, and Jerry Bruckheimer bought her life rights. Twice. She's also another Verified who follows Mark on Twitter. And apparently Mark first asked to interview her on the pod ... ten years ago. (This pod launched in August of 2018.) Mark ponders the last two weeks and difficult conversations. Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

#36 – Jen Friel – 10JUN2020

Is the Pledge of Allegiance a vicious lie? Mark shares his thoughts and actions in response to the global movement protesting the murder of fellow American George Floyd by a white police officer. Join Mark in supporting Black Lives Matter. Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

#35 – Liberty & Justice for ...? – 03JUN2020

Mark first discovered comedian Daniel Eachus at the World Series of Comedy in Vegas. Now Daniel is on the pod! A finalist on "Comedy Central's Up Next" and winner of the Sacramento Comedy Festival 2015, Daniel also acts and writes. You've seen him on "Laughs" on Hulu/Fox, DryBar Comedy and Kevin Hart's LOL Network. Daniel’s stand-up album “Carry The Pillows” can be heard on Sirius XM, Spotify, itunes, and Pandora. Daniel looks forward to touring after the quarantine. Mark wonders why Mental Health Awareness Month must end. Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

MRE Pod #34 – Daniel Eachus – 27MAY2020

Shaan Sharma is an actor, educator, union leader, technologist, and musician. You've seen Shaan in "Grey's Anatomy", "Scandal", "NCIS" and "The Mindy Project". Shaan plays Shmuel in the new indie streaming series "The Chosen", first season out now. Mark was a student in one of Shaan's commercial acting classes at the actor's union HQ on Wilshire. A SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local Board Member, Shaan has been known to pen a manifesto. Or three. Mark has questions. Shaan has meticulously researched answers. If you're a screen actor, do not miss this conversation. Mark checks in with his son in another "Connor Caveat". Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

MRE Pod #33 – Shaan Sharma – 20MAY2020

What do you think of when you hear "street performer" or "costumed character"?  Do you think of a  master's degree in engineering management? A singer who performs shows in LA & Europe?  A professional Marilyn Monroe tribute artist?  Mark interviews fellow busker Szilvia Stanisic.  She performs as "Miss Monroe".  Mark checks in with his professional psychologist Aunt Ellen. Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

MRE Pod #32 – Miss Monroe – 13MAY2020

Mark conversates with New York City actor David Fierro. David discusses the pivotal Little League moment that led to his life of stage and screen acting. David is known for his Off-Broadway performance in "Ethel Sings", "Birdman" for film, and in television: "Gotham", "Hawaii Five-O" and "Maniac". His Inspector Jacob Speight is a joy to watch in the Cinemax series "The Knick". Mark reads his Cinco de Mayo Facebook post and discusses the reaction. Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

MRE Pod #31 – David Fierro – 06MAY2020

Mark chats with guitarist John Storie, from Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. John is a vocalist, bandleader, arranger, and composer as well. He recorded on Gwen Stefani’s "You Make it Feel Like Christmas" (a #1 Billboard chart holiday album). You can hear John's guitar tracks on "Home Before Dark" streaming on Apple Plus now. His album "Ponderosa" is available on Apple Music and Spotify. Mark checks in with scientist son Connor for another "Connor Caveat". Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

MRE Pod #30 – John Storie – 29APR2020

Bands are one of the "ABCs", right? Got you. Mark sits down with two rather groovy humans: Alicia Perrone and Victor James, the "modwave, modsquad genre-bending" power duo that is the band Fans of Jimmy Century (FOJC). Normally fans are in the audience. They are not the band. And who the hell is Jimmy Century? We get to the bottom of all of it, with the music group you've heard on "Get Hard", "Ray Donovan", "Gossip Girl", "Law and Order: SVU", "The L Word" and "Finding Nemo 3D", to name a few. Their recent song “Best of My Generation (All The Way)” distributed by United Masters is an official NBA Song for MVP 2019 winner Giannis “The Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo. Also, Mark checks in with his Aunt Susan in Vermont. Plus, new groovy in the MRE YouTube. Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

MRE Pod #29 – Fans of Jimmy Century – 22APR2020

Mark typically interviews people he knows well or with whom he's worked. But when a Verified follows you on Twitter ... right? Comedian Natasha Pearl Hansen does. From Wisconsin, "The Other NPH" is a Second City Chicago alumn, writer, Men's Health magazine author and producer. An actor, she's known for "Spare Change", "I Do Yoga" and "To Live and Get by in L.A." Her Future Role Model podcast drops every Tuesday. Mark discovers what project Natasha's been working on and for what iconic annual global event ... before the pandemic canceled it. Also, Mark checks in with his scientist son for another installment of the "Connor Caveat". Recorded at the Reasonable Desk at the Raymond Chandler Memorial Bachelor Pad, Hollywood, CA. Recorded by Mark Roman. Mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

MRE Pod #28 – Natasha Pearl Hansen – 15APR2020

Slightly like WTF with Marc Maron. But no cats. No garage. Just the ABCs: Actors, Buskers, Bands & Comics. Expelled student editors and subversives involved. Plus whatever else Mark finds groovy. Mark Roman. He puts the “I” in “improv”. He's a comic who's opened for Lisa Landry and written for Hank Azaria. He wears short shorts while working new material. On Hollywood Blvd and the Las Vegas Strip. Reno 911's Thomas Lennon calls him "bigger". His Verified Twitter followers might grab your attention. These are his stories.

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Mark Roman Empire (also a podcast)

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