Ira’s Everything Bagel | US Arts and Culture Podcasts

What happens when a viral casino jackpot becomes the foundation for an entirely new career?
This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira welcomes Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff, better known as The Goddess of Slots, as well as an actress, entrepreneur, influencer and one of the gaming industry’s most recognizable personalities.
Lorraine shares the story behind her viral jackpot win at the Hard Rock in Florida and how a friend helped her recognize an unexpected opportunity within the world of slot players. What began as a moment of luck soon evolved into a powerful personal brand, leading to casino appearances, meet-and-greets, slot machine launches, high-limit room events and even a Goddess of Slots cruise.
She discusses how her background as an actress helps her connect with people and improvise on the casino floor, how she maintains her seemingly endless energy, and why surrounding herself with smart business people has been an important part of her success. Lorraine also talks about expanding the Goddess of Slots brand, the business advice she received from Gene Simmons of KISS, and the confidence that helped her turn an idea into a thriving business and media career.
The conversation also explores Lorraine's surprising journey from growing up in extreme poverty and developing what she calls a “survivor mode,” to attending law school, build-ing her business instincts and training in martial arts for the past 26 years—all while proudly remaining, as she says, a “girlie girl.”
Plus, Lorraine talks about her acting career and her work on the second season of Unsuited, a funny television series.
It’s a fascinating conversation about luck, reinvention, confidence, entrepreneurship, entertainment and the ability to recognize opportunity when it appears.
Lorraine Bencivengo-Ziff didn’t just hit a jackpot—she turned one unforgettable moment into a brand, a business and a career.
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BEYOND THE FOUNDING FATHERS: SHARON VIRTS BRINGS FORGOTTEN HISTORY TO LIFE

This week on “Ira's Everything Bagel,” Ira talks with Sharon Virts, author of "Bargains of Fate," part of her acclaimed “Fields of Honor series.” Sharon shares her unexpected journey from entrepreneur to historical novelist, revealing how selling her business and moving into a historic, reportedly haunted home inspired her passion for writing.
She discusses the extensive research behind her novels, how she blends historical fact with compelling fiction, and why "Bargains of Fate" explores the lasting consequences of our choices. Sharon also offers a fascinating look at her unique writing process—from writing the final chapter first to creating richly developed, character-driven stories that bring America's overlooked post-Founding era vividly to life.
Beyond the familiar stories of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, Sharon's “Fields of Honor” series shines a light on the generations who inherited the enormous responsibility of shaping a young nation. Through richly layered historical fiction, immersive storytelling, and painstaking research, she brings this overlooked chapter of American history vividly to life.
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JACK COLE: HOLLYWOOD'S FORGOTTEN CHOREOGRAPHY GENIUS

(Photo by Dana Ross)
This week on “Ira's Everything Bagel,” I sit down with dance critic and author Debra Levine to explore the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Jack Cole, the groundbreak-ing choreographer widely regarded as the father of theatrical jazz dance. Her acclaimed book, "Jazzed: Jack Cole and Twentieth-Century American Dance," uncovers the fascinating story of the visionary whose influence transformed Broadway, Hollywood, and generations of performers.
Debra shares her own unexpected journey from modern dancer to business executive, and ultimately to becoming one of America's leading dance writers. She reveals how filmmaker Kenneth Anger inspired her to tell Cole's story, why “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” re-mains his masterpiece, and how Cole's brilliance often went unrecognized despite shaping some of Hollywood's most memorable dance sequences.
We also discuss Cole's larger-than-life personality, his relationships with studio moguls and stars like Rita Hayworth, his surprising connections to organized crime, why choreographers rarely receive the recognition they deserve, and the unexpected place where Debra uncovered much of her research. It's a captivating look at an artistic pioneer whose impact on American entertainment continues to resonate today.
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WHEN MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS MEET THE BLACK MARKET: ANDERSON BOYD ON THE LEASE OF NATURE AND THE FUTURE OF ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with award-winning writer, direc-tor, producer, and editor Anderson "Drew" Boyd, author of the riveting new techno-thriller "The Lease of Nature."
What happens when one of medicine's greatest breakthroughs becomes the world's most dangerous commodity? Anderson's gripping novel imagines a near future in which 3-D printed human hearts revolutionize transplant medicine—only to collide with the brutal realities of the international black-market organ trade. The result is a suspenseful story that feels less like science fiction and more like tomorrow's headlines.
In this fascinating conversation, Anderson reveals why he chose the book's memorable epitaph, the inspiration behind writing The Lease of Nature, and how his lifelong passion for storytelling led him into the creative arts. He discusses his early experiences in filmmaking, why he enjoys working in both fiction and nonfiction, and the unique satisfaction he finds in the editing process.
Anderson also shares how the story began as a screenplay before evolving into a richly layered novel, allowing him to expand the characters, world-building, and moral complex-ity. He explains the real-world research behind the "red market" for human organs, why advances in biotechnology make his story increasingly plausible, and how today's medical innovations could shape tomorrow's ethical dilemmas.
The conversation also explores his writing process—from outlining and drafting to the lessons he learned after prematurely sharing what he jokingly calls his "vomit draft." Anderson explains why he often writes longhand as well as using a computer, how he de-veloped the novel's intriguing title, and why editing remains one of his favorite creative pursuits.
If you're fascinated by medical innovation, ethical dilemmas, crime thrillers, filmmaking, or the creative process behind writing compelling fiction, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
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