• #118 - Ted Lange - Footnote Historian
    Sep 3 2025
    Actor, Playwright, and Director Ted Lange steps off The Love Boat to chat with Behind the Awards about his play Lady Patriot starring former castmates Fred Grandy & Jill Whelan. Also in this episode - Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Ann Hathaway’s Devil Wears Prada reunion at the 2024 SAG Awards. TED LANGE (Playwright / Director) personifies the Renaissance Man Theatre Award received from the NAACP. A graduate of London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Lange’s career has gained worldwide recognition as a gifted actor of stage and screen, revered director, and prolific writer. Lange has penned twenty-seven plays including, his historical trilogy, George Washington’s Boy, The Journals of Osborne P. Anderson, and Lady Patriot. Other plays include Four Queens - No Trump, a comedy which played to rave reviews and won NAACP Best Play 1997, The Cause My Soul won the NAACP Best Play 2017, Lemon Meringue Façade, produced off Broadway in New York, Behind the Mask, Lange’s one-man show on the life of Paul Laurence Dunbar, which toured nationwide, and Born a Unicorn, a musical about Ira Aldridge. Lange garnered worldwide fame for his portrayal of Isaac from the Love Boat. Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Eila and Bruce: Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@behind_the_awards⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Eila ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eilamell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bruce ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cominghomewithbruce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • #117 - Douglas Carter Beane - Adjectives, Revivals and Finding Dorothy Parker
    Aug 29 2025
    Award winner Douglas Carter Beane stops by Behind the Awards to chat about his new Play Finding Dorothy Parker at The Laurie Beechman Theatre Featuring: Julie Halson, Ann Harada, Jackie Hoffman, and Anika Larsen Douglas also talks about Too Wong Foo…, The Nance, and upcoming revivals of Xanadu and The Little Dog Laughed. Get tickets to Finding Dorothy Parker at https://www.thebeechman.com/ DOUGLAS CARTER BEANE’s (Compiled by / Director) credits include Lysistrata Jones, Sister Act, Xanadu (Tony Nom., Drama Desk Best Book, Outer Critics Circle Best Musical), and Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella. Plays: The Little Dog Laughed (Tony Nom., Olivier Nom. GLAAD Media Best Play), As Bees In Honey Drown (Outer Critics Circle), Mr. & Mrs. Fitch, Music From a Sparkling Planet, The Country Club, Advice From a Caterpillar, The Cartells, Fairycakes and The Nance. Revues: White Lies, Mondo Drama. Screenplays: To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar; Advice From a Caterpillar. He is married to Lewis Flinn and is the proud father of Cooper and Gaby. Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Eila and Bruce: Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@behind_the_awards⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Eila ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eilamell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bruce ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cominghomewithbruce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • #116 - Gerianne Perez - She’s Got You Covered!
    Aug 27 2025
    Gerianne Perez might have the hardest job on Broadway, understudying 3 out of the 5 roles in Operation Mincemeat on Broadway. Gerianne tells us about the endurance needed to take on this show, after the marathon of performing in Six the Musical. Also in this show Julianna Margulies 1995 Emmy win for ER. Gerianne Perez is a powerhouse performer known for her soaring vocals, emotional depth, and commanding stage presence. A proud New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent, she has built a dynamic career spanning Broadway and several national tours. She made her Broadway debut in the groundbreaking a cappella musical In Transit and went on to appear in Waitress, where her vocal strength and heartfelt performance left a lasting mark. Most recently, she is standing by for the tour de force role of Montagu in the U.S. premiere of the West End hit Operation Mincemeat, earning praise for her comedic brilliance and versatility in one of the most buzzed-about new musicals of the season. Her national tour credits include Vocalosity, Waitress, and the original U.S. Boleyn Tour company of SIX, where she originated the role of Catherine of Aragon. Gerianne has also worked extensively in regional theatre, bringing warmth, wit, and vocal fire to both classic and contemporary roles. An alumna of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Gerianne is also a passionate advocate for representation in the arts and a frequent collaborator on new works that spotlight bold, diverse voices. Whether leading a musical or championing new stories, she continues to be a vibrant force in american theatre. Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Eila and Bruce: Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@behind_the_awards⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Eila ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eilamell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bruce ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cominghomewithbruce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • #115 - Claybourne Elder & Celia Kennan-Bolger - The Gilded Age Season 3 Recap
    Aug 20 2025
    Gilded Age Stars Celia Keenan-Bolger (Mrs. Bruce) & Claybourne Elder (John Adams) stop by Behind the Awards to do a deep dive on Season 3. Behind The Scenes of John Adams death, Mrs. Bruce’s mystery husband, a mole in the Russell House, Oscar and John Adams Love story, unrequited love and so much more! Also in this episode - Claybourne Elder’s upcoming studio album and his non-profit City of Stranger. https://www.cityofstrangers.org/ Celia Keenan-Bolger and the American Theater Wing’s Gavin Creel Fellowship. - Text GAVIN to 44321 to support The Gavin Creel Fellowships and Learn More Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Eila and Bruce: Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@behind_the_awards⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Eila ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eilamell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bruce ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cominghomewithbruce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • #114 - PJ Adzima - Living his NYC Dream and will sleep later
    Aug 13 2025
    Book of Mormon star and Stage Time creator PJ Adzima joins Behind the Awards for a chat. Not only did PJ give us the low down on the Book of Mormon but he also discussed the evolution and current state of State Time. Stage Time is a hybrid of Vaudeville meet Johnny Carson meet Drag meets Magic and celebrates NYC nightlife as only the city that never sleeps can. Also in this episode - Sean Hayes & Kristin Chenoweth at the 2010 Tony Awards. Ariana DeBoise set to kick off the 2025/2026 Classic Stage Company Season with a production of The Baker’s Wife. PJ Adzima is a New York based actor and comedian currently playing Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon on Broadway. He is the creator and host of STAGE TIME with PJ Adzima, the hit downtown variety show that unites the best of New York City nightlife. Select credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon), Girls5Eva (Peacock), Madam Secretary (CBS), The Good Fight (Paramount+), FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), Girl Haunts Boy (Netflix), The Wake by John Patrick Shanley, The Tycoons! at RAVE Theater Festival (Winner: Outstanding Performance), Volleygirls and The Cobalteans at NYMF, The Bacchae at La Mama, and GUNS: A Cabaret under director Liz Swados. PJ is a Story Pirate and Co/Lab Supporting Artist and can be seen next in the upcoming theatrical release of The Kiss of the Spider Woman starring Jennifer Lopez. Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Eila and Bruce: Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@behind_the_awards⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Eila ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eilamell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bruce ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cominghomewithbruce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • #113 - Montego Glover - Montego’s Turn!
    Aug 6 2025
    Tony Nominee Montego Glover joins Behind the Awards to deep dive on her approach to Mama Rose in Gypsy. Montego also gives us the scoop on Memphis, Into the Woods and working with George C Wolfe and Audra McDonald. Catch Montego in Gypsy at The Majestic Theater. Also in this episode - Christine Ebersole, John Tartaglia and Rod present the 2006 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Montego Glover is an award-winning actress in theatre, film, and television. Born in Macon, Georgia and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Montego is a graduate of Florida State University with a BFA in Music Theatre. She made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway production of The Color Purple in the roles of Celie & Nettie. She created the role of Felicia Farrell in the Broadway hit musical Memphis and received a Tony Award Nomination for Lead Actress in a Musical as well as a Drama League Nomination and won both the Outer Critics’ Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award for her performance. Montego won a second Drama Desk Award (Outstanding Ensemble) for her critically acclaimed run as Nina in the New York debut of The Royale at Lincoln Center Theater. And a special Outer Critics’ Circle Honor for the role of Ovetta in All The Natalie Portmans, a new play produced by MCC Theater making its New York debut. She created the role of Annie Shepard in the new musical comedy It Shoulda Been You, starred in the most recent Broadway revival of Les Misérables as Fantine, and Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago Company of Hamilton. Montego enjoyed a thrilling run as The Witch in the smash hit revival of Into The Woods on Broadway as well as its Selected Engagements across the US. Followed by a Sold Out evening of Gershwin at Carnegie Hall with the illustrious New York Pops entitled “Jazz, Love & Gershwin: A Century of Rhapsody In Blue”. Currently, Montego is Alternating the role of Mama Rose with Audra McDonald in the award winning & critically acclaimed Broadway revival of Gypsy. Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Eila and Bruce: Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@behind_the_awards⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Eila ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eilamell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bruce ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cominghomewithbruce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 mins
  • #112 - Benjamin Pajak - Leading the Next Generation of Broadway
    Jul 30 2025
    Broadway and Film Star Benjamin Pajak joined Behind the Awards to chat about his experience starring in The Music Man alongside Hugh Jackman & Sutton Foster, playing Oliver at New York City Center. Next up for Benjamin are the films The Life of Chuck with Tom Hiddleston & Mark Hamill, Playdate starring Kevin James & Alan Ritchson, and Tiny Fugitives with Johnny Knoxville. Benjamin also shares what it’s like to do a workshop of a new musical (The Lost Boys). He also tells up about his first job in a Super Bowl Commercial which aired as his favorite team played. Also in this episode - Review of Ginger Twinsies now playing at The Orpheum. From an early age, Benjamin and his mom attended artistic productions throughout the tri-state area. Benjamin says that he loved the music, the costumes, the lights - all aspects of performing - from a very young age. He credits this early exposure to wanting to be a part of the arts, in whatever form possible. Benjamin made his Broadway debut in The Music Man on Broadway, with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, for which he received The Theater World Award (2022). He next played the iconic role of Oliver, in New York City Center’s Encores! production of Oliver!. Working with Broadway superstars such as Raúl Esparza and Lilli Cooper, Benjamin was able to take on his first lead in the Broadway community. Benjamin can be heard on the official recording of Figaro, A New Musical, by Ashley Jana and Will Nunziata, which is currently in development for a West End opening. Benjamin loves creating new characters through his voiceover and podcast work, featured on Apple TV+ and Netflix. He can also be heard on the Original Cast Recording for The Music Man. Benjamin is so grateful to have learned many valuable lessons from his inspirational and creative teachers, both in the classroom and in the professional world. They have helped foster a discipline and love for his craft that he hopes will direct him in whatever comes his way. Please enjoy learning more about Benjamin and following his journey through his site! Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Eila and Bruce: Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@behind_the_awards⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Eila ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eilamell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bruce ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cominghomewithbruce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • #111 - Immediate Family - Live with Phylicia Rashad, Paul Oakley Stovall and the cast of Immediate Family
    Jul 23 2025
    Tony Winner Phylicia Rashad Directs the Pre Broadway run of Paul Oakley Stovall’s Immediate Family. This run will take place at the Blumenthal Arts Center from July 29th through August. Immediate Features Christina Sajous, Elijah Jones, Freddie Fulton, Britney Coleman, Andy Mientus, Kai Almeda Heath with Costumes by Colleen Morris-Glennon. Get your tickets at - https://www.blumenthalarts.org/ Make sure to check out Eila's book, "The Tony Awards", and all her other amazing books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/43WMu5Y⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Eila and Bruce: Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@behind_the_awards⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Eila ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eilamell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bruce ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cominghomewithbruce Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins