In somewhat of an unconventional "studio" setting - namely a gutted former restaurant under renovation and equipped with only a table, a few folding chairs, a cooler of beer and an extension cord - 6 fellow music lovers travelled from across the Eastern Seaboard to Downtown Huntington to discuss and debate a subject that has been the hot topic among the group for over 6 years. "What are the Top-5 greatest American rock-&-roll bands of all time." Key word - American. No Stones...

This one was a big deal for me. My guest, Dennis McNally, isn’t just a reknowned author, music historian, and publicist, he’s someone I’ve long considered somewhat of a “celebrity” in my world. From 1984 to 1995, Dennis was the Grateful Dead’s publicist and part of the band’s inner circle. He’s written five books, including the classic Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead, and his latest, The Last Great Dream - How Bohemians Became Hippies and Created the Sixties.&...

My friendship with John “Dino” DeNatale began in kindergarten over 50 years ago in the early 1970’s in Huntington’s own Flower Hill School. In this episode, John and I look back on our five decades of connection, the memories that shaped us along the way, and the big-picture lessons that we’ve learned and carried forward to this day. At the heart of our conversation is a simple truth: LOVE is all that matters. But before we dive into the big picture, Dino covers a few of his wilder days...

It’s a tall order to try to capture the true color and the complete character of my cousin, Jonny Staib, in one conversation. Which is why I chose to invite four guests on this episode of Exploring the Energy to help me paint the full picture of this amazing human being. I’m proud to introduce a select few of his closest friends and family - including brothers Timmy and Tommy Sheerin, my cousin Diana San Venero, and last but certainly not least, Steve “Sonny” Peer. Together ...

What a treat hosting one of the best and most beautiful couples I know, Kim & Gregg Carlin. Kim, being a southern girl and all, kicks off our conversation by sharing her love of country music and explains why she gravitates to the likes of Chris Stapleton, Toby Keith, George Strait, and Willie Nelson. She comes clean explaining that she’ll be at Madison Square Garden the night after our interview with “another man” seeing the Chris Stapleton concert. No worries of a Co...

My relatively new friendship with Robyn Pray is undoubtedly a result of the universe connecting the two of us. Here’s how that happened and why this episode means so much to me. In the summer of 2023, I received a very kind and somewhat mysterious note from a name that I didn’t recognize, though I did recognize the sender’s address - Keeseville Free Library in Keeseville, New York. Admittedly not being an avid reader or library-goer, I thought to myself “who and why is anyone from...

I was honored and proud to host yet another member of the Villanova Wildcat Crew, my friend Peter Russell. To say that Peter and I have a few things in common would be an understatement and it wouldn’t do our friendship justice. First and foremost, we both appreciate energy, and we embrace the people that exude positive energy, starting with two of the most beautiful souls in the universe, Rainer “TITAN” Jenss and Tom Staib. God rest both of their souls. Peter shares how he ...

Now in their 20’s and all having left the nest, it’s not often I get to spend extended one-on-one time with my daughters. This is why this episode is so special to me. A few weeks ago my youngest daughter, Lilly, and I embarked on a 12+ hour roadtrip from our home town of Greenlawn, Long Island to Charleston, South Carolina where Lilly will join her sister, Hannah, and call it home for a while. Along the way, Lilly shares what she’s been up to since graduating from University of Delawa...

The title may be a bit of a giveaway, but unlike all previous episode show notes where I share a preview of the content, in this very special episode, I invite listeners to learn about my guest, Dan Pashman, by tuning in and finding out Dan’s amazing story for themselves. In other words, I’ll keep you in suspense! Join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! Anything’s Pastable https://www.sporkful.com/anythings-pastable/ The Sporkful https://www.sporkful.com/ Mission Impast...

It was intentional and by design that the official rebrand of the podcast from Grateful Dad & Friends to Exploring the Energy w/ Anzo & Friends kicked off at a local, music-centric brewery, aptly named, U.S. Brews. What better place to explore the energy?! In the inaugural episode, I’m joined by U.S. Brews owner & founder, Brian “Gunny” McGunnigle and Paul “Nud” Schmitz, with special cameo appearances by Kevin “Camper” Campion, Billy “Vic Thrill” Campion, and Billy “Mad Lar...

I've known Jason Darby for over 45 years, and while we've long shared a deep bond through our love of family, golf & tennis, and music, I was still surprised by the depth of his knowledge when it comes to the guitar—and especially his passion for legendary players like Eddie Van Halen, Nuno Bettencourt, and Keith Richards, to name a few. Our conversation kicks off with a trip down memory lane, back to the late ’70s on the Bay Hills Beach tennis courts, where a young Jason was my tennis “p...

Circa Fall 1982, I first met Mike Rice in Huntington High School’s 9th-grade math class, where we became fast friends and “partners in crime.” In fact, it turns out it wasn’t until we sat down on this Thursday afternoon in February ‘25, some 43years later, that we discovered our connection goes back as far as 1974, when we shared the same kindergarten class in Flower Hill Elementary School.Fast forward to 2025, Mike (aka “Sketch”) brings us back to his early days growing up “south of 2...

My friend of 50+ years, Justin Rubin, joins me and shares his recent experience facing the L.A. Wildfires and how the fires have affected his closest friends in the surrounding areas, and how L.A. is rising to the occasion as they enter the rebuilding process. He relives his journey of his early days at Canterbury School when his world was rocked by the loss of his brother, Greg, from a brain tumor in 1984, followed by the loss of his sister, Carolyn, in 2004 from the same type of brai...

Grateful Dad & Friends would not exist if it weren’t for my guest, Will Retherford, who founded and owns the Tulsa-based production company, Citizens of Sound. I have my friend Lawrence Zarian - who some of you may know from his regular appearances on The Kelly Clarkson Show or from his podcast, You Are Beautiful With Lawrence Zarian - to thank for connecting us. Although it’s my GUESTS who are the focus and who provide the content, Will does the behind-the-scenes heavy liftin...

Love really IS in the air as we approach Valentine’s Day. On today’s episode, I’m joined by the love of my life, my bride Ms Margs, and our friends, Lindsey Janes and Will Derasmoto, to celebrate their love and to toast to their recent engagement! The conversation includes the story of how, despite the age gap and despite being in different phases of life during the early days of their relationship, they became the couple that they are today. Similar to Margs and my story, ...

The Energy Train keeps rolling with an unforgettable guest: Dave “Fetts” Fetterolf. A dynamic personality with boundless energy, Fetts is a man of many talents—insane athletic ability, a battery that never quits, a wildly successful career, and his most important role of all - husband and proud father of three. In this episode Fetts opens up about his journey, sharing how he overcame dyslexia to earn a spot at Cornell University, where he played Division 1 tennis and met his wife, Erica, on t...

Kicking off Season 4 and ringing in 2025 with a cool cat that has widened my musical lens TENFOLD, Mr. John “Johnny Gowanus” Hennegan. Although I’ve known John since the early 80’s and we’ve run with the same group of guys over the years, I had zero clue just how broad his taste in music is, so a big shoutout to Erik “Swede” Larson for suggesting I invite John to be a guest on GD&F in the first place! You were 100% right, Swede! John reminded me just how much Run DMC a...

Similar to Season 2, Episode 1 when I sat down with Doug “Pops” Smith, who I like to refer to as a “Wise Old Owl”, in this episode I have the pleasure of connecting with a friend that I consider in the same first-class league, Mr. Tom White. Tom and I met when I first called on the five-generation Italian food products company, Pastene & Co, soliciting their label business back in the early 2000’s, and although he was a client for the next 15+ years, first and foremost Tom remains ...

I don’t always subscribe to the notion that “everything happens for a reason,” but as the universe would have it, the recent loss of a mutual friend, Rainer “TITAN” Jenss, has reconnected me with a gentleman that I am now proud to call one of my closest friends and confidants, Tim “Tmac” McGuire. Among many of his distinguished designations, Tmac is the youngest of 8 children, a Villanova Wildcat alum, husband, and father of three, president of the National Merit Scholar Association,...

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, show the ones you love just how much they mean to you, and share your appreciation and gratitude for the gift of life, the gift of love, and the gift of energy that we all share. Thank you ALL for the gift of YOUR love and our collective friendship. Nobody embodies the mindset of gratitude more so than my friend, John Macario. Though John and I have yet to meet in person, we recently connected via a communal, music-centric group that we both belong to on social...