What keeps a journalist asking tough questions after decades on television? KESQ anchor Karen Devine joins Patrick Evans and guest co-host Shaun LaBelle, music producer and host of the Shaun LaBelle Show on 100.9FM The Patriot, for a conversation about reporting, resilience, and building a life in the Coachella Valley. Recording at Skip Paige’s Little Bar, Karen reflects on her Palm Springs Walk of the Stars honor, mentoring reporters, and the investigations that helped families find answers. She shares her perspective on separating news from opinion, adapting to social media, and checking facts as artificial intelligence enters newsrooms. Beyond the anchor desk, discover her love of Padres baseball, blues music, Sunday Scrabble with her father, and a second chance at love. It’s a look at the person behind the headlines.

Takeaways:

• A Walk of the Stars honor inspires reflection.
• Investigative reporting helps families find answers.
• Separating news from opinion matters.
• Mentoring reporters keeps newsroom veterans learning.
• Social media adds demands to reporting.
• AI tools still require fact checking.
• Family helped shape a career rooted in the desert.
• Baseball, blues, and Scrabble bring joy beyond work.

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From ballet stages in Japan to cabaret spotlights in Palm Springs, drag entertainer Billy L’Amour has built a life around performing. Billy joins Patrick Evans and guest co-host Melanie Blue, at Skip Paige’s Little Bar to share the artistry behind the glamour. Hear how injuries prompted a career reinvention, why a Montreal commitment took priority over pursuing RuPaul’s Drag Race, and how love helped fuel a return to the stage. Billy also reveals the inspiration behind the name, the joy of reuniting with a live band, and the craft of turning laughter into emotional connection. With stories of international tours, creative burnout, and dreams of European cabaret festivals, this conversation celebrates persistence, musical curiosity, and the courage to keep creating a life truly worth taking center stage for.

Takeaways:

• Billy’s drag career began on the ballet stage.
• Injuries sparked a reinvention through singing and cabaret.
• A Montreal commitment took priority over Drag Race.
• Classic entertainers helped inspire Billy’s stage persona.
• Love and encouragement helped Billy return to performing.
• The Love Notes bring collaborative freedom to performances.
• Humor opens audiences to deeper emotional connections.
• European cabaret festivals remain a dream worth pursuing.

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From singing with her father's dance band at fourteen to spending 44 years with The Manhattan Transfer, Cheryl Bentyne has stories worth pulling up a stool for. She joins Patrick Evans and guest co-host Fred Bronson, music journalist for Billboard, on Big Conversations, Little Bar to revisit the audition that changed her life, the precision behind Birdland, and the thrill of performing with Ella Fitzgerald. Cheryl shares memories of Grammy wins, international success, and the musical trust that kept four voices together. She also explores her love of the Great American Songbook, the freedom of solo recordings, and her preference for live audiences. Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn: transforming vintage lamps into art. It's a look at a life still finding fresh ways to create, onstage and off.

Takeaways:

• Cheryl started performing with her father's band at fourteen.
• One audition launched 44 years with The Manhattan Transfer.
• “Birdland” remained challenging throughout decades of live performances.
• Singing with Ella Fitzgerald became a cherished career highlight.
• Four voices required precision, discipline, and mutual trust.
• Solo recordings offered freedom in song selection and interpretation.
• Live audiences provide the energy Cheryl loves most.
• Vintage lamps became canvases for her next creative chapter.

#BigConversationsLittleBarPodcast #PatrickEvans #FredBronson #MusicJounalist #BillboardMagazine #SkipsLittleBar #SkipPaige #CoachellaValley #CherylBentyne #TheManhattanTransfer #InterviewPodcast #MutualBroadcastingSystem #VocalJazz #Birdland #GreatAmericanSongbook #EllaFitzgerald #GrammyAwards #JazzVocals #PalmSprings #LampArt