Show Details

Biography

The Pop Culture Road Trip with Chris Epting

Chris’s future career as a pop culture expert and writer may have been inevitable from the moment, at age 13, when he ran smack into Alfred Hitchcock’s stomach while on vacation in Los Angeles with his family. Chris’s succinct comment about this experience says it all: “Am reprimanded by the famed director.”

One year later he saw the Rolling Stones for the first time at Madison Square Garden, and two years after that, he began a friendship with renowned author (and then-neighbor) John Cheever.

He had not yet begun college.

Today, Chris is the author of 17 books including James Dean Died Here, Roadside Baseball, The Birthplace Book and Led Zeppelin Crashed Here. He has contributed articles for such publications as the “Los Angeles Times”, “Westways and “Travel + Lesiure” magazine. In his spare time, he writes and voices a weekly series of vignettes for Major League Baseball Radio and is a frequent talk show guest, appearing on shows including National Public Radio, the E! Channel and Access Hollywood.

Chris is also the national spokesman for Hampton Inn hotel’s “Hidden Landmarks” program, launched in 2000 as a community-outreach campaign dedicated to refurbishing historical, fun and cultural landmarks along our highways.

Originally from New York, Chris now lives in Huntington Beach, California with his wife and their two children.

Archived Shows

• The Pop Culture Road Trip – A trip to Antarctica thanks to Quark Expeditions and SeaWorld

  Prisca Campbell from Quark Expeditions joins Chris to talk about Polar travel, and the Antarctica trip Chris and his daughter recently returned from.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Hello, It's ... Paul Myers1

  Author/musician Paul Myers sits in for the full talking about his new book, “A Wizard a True Star – Todd Rundgren in the Studio”

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Baseball, movies stars and a word from God

  Chris chats with Marc Hartzman about God (you’ll just have to read Marc’s new book) and AOL Weird News, plus King Kong in 3-D, the All Star Game and more!

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – The Stuhr Musuem, Weird News and the Coolest T Shirts on Earth

  Chris is joined this week by Joe Black from the Stuhr Museum in Nebraska, David Moye from AOL Weird News and Steve Coe, from Worn Free T-Shirts

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Elvis's Clothiers and a visit to the Gulf

  Hal Lansky from the famed Lansky Bros in Memphis joins Chris to talk about making clothes for Elvis in a new book about the beloved establishment. Then its Al Rogers, a journalist reporting from the road, in Louisiana, talking about the BP oil spill.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Weird News and a Wizard

  Chris interviews writer/editor/UFO Researcher Lee Speigel about his current role at AOL Weird News. Then keyboard wizard Jordan Rudess of the band Dream Theater checks in from the road where the band is touring with Iron Maiden, to talk about his amazing new I-Pad app, “Morph Wiz.”

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Things That Aren't Here Anymore

  Chris talks with Saul Gonzalez and Isaac Mizrahi, the producers of the new KCET- Los Angeles documentary, “Things that Aren’t Here Anymore 3.”

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – The Nile and The Wolf!

  Chris talks with music legend Willie Nile about his career (and recounts a moment the two of them shared in 1980) and then chats with Buck Wolf, the “Weird News” legend about his career as a journalist and current position at AOL News.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Watercolor Day with Seth Swirsky

  Singer/songwriter Seth Swirsky is Chris’s guest for the full hour, talking about his new CD, Watercolor Day. Renowned film director, Cameron Crowe, is a huge fan of the record himself: “Watercolor Day is a gorgeous pop puzzle, and every piece is perfection. It’s a rainy day classic, and a sunny day masterpiece.”

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Saving Landmarks and a visit to the Ship Hotel

  Chris speaks with the director of the historic Wheeler Farm in Utah, introduces you to a unique historian who traces historic racetracks and interviews Brian Butko about his book, “The Ship Hotel - A Grand View Along the Lincoln Highway”

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – DC Celebs and a Blackheart

  Chris interviews Jason Killian Meath, author of “Hollywood on the Potomac. Then it’s a rock and roll chat with Ricky Byrd, original member of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – The Farmer's Market and Firefall!

  Chris interviews David Hamlin, co-author of a book on the world famous Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles. Then, it’s singer/guitarist Larry Burnett, formerly of the legendary band Firefall, talking about his new CD “Guitars and Vocals”.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Hotels and Rock and Roll

  Chris interviews author Sam Childers about his book Historic Dallas Hotels. Then it’s an exclusive chat with legendary drummer Mike Portnoy and after that, a discussion with Dean Torrence of Jane & Dean fame.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – The Chicago L, Brandy and Hecky!

  Chris chats with the author of a new book on the famed Chicago L, Elliot Lurie of “Brandy” fame and Judy Gail Krasnow, author of a book about her dad, famed children’s record producer, Hecky Krasnow.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – A truly "Pop" Culture Road Trip - historic soda stories!

  Chris takes a look at “Pop” on the Pop Culture Road Trip exploring the birthplaces of Coca Cola, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper along with a visit to the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas and an interview with Keith Wunderlich, author of a book all about Vernor’s Ginger Ale!

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Pittsburgh Radio History and Investigative Reporter and Author Diane Dimond

  Chris talks with author and radio industry veteran Bill Salamon about his book from Arcadia Publishing, “Pittsburgh’s Golden Age of Radio.” Then it’s an in-depth discussion with legendary investigative journalist, Diane Dimond.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Baseball in Birmingham and a visit to the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas

  This week Chris interviews Arcadia Publishing author Clarence Watkins about his new book on baseball in Birmingham, Alabama. Then it’s a trip to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas where Chris interviews museum curator Gary Mack about the JFK assassination and tours the museum.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Shea Stadium and Jordan Rudess from Dream Theater

  This week Chris interviews Arcadia Publishing author Jason Antos about his book on Shea Stadium as part of the Arcadia Publishing Spotlight. Then it’s an extended interview with legendary keyboard player Jordan Rudess from the band Dream Theater.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – Arcadia Publishing CEO Richard D. Joseph, Society for Commercial Archeology and a comment on Yankees ticket pricing

  This week Chris interviews Arcadia Publishing CEO Richard D. Joseph as part of the Arcadia Publishing Spotlight. Then it’s a rundown & discussion of the just-announced “Ten Most Endangered Roadside Places” by the Society for Commercial Archeology, and finally, a take on the New York Yankees ticket pricing. New feature: The Hertz Neverlost Landmark of the Week.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – The Beverly Hills Country Club and musician Adam Marsland

  This week Chris interviews author Allen Singer about his The Beverly Hills Country Club book as part of the Arcadia Publishing Spotlight. Then it’s an interview with musician Adam Marsland, recently described in SPIN magazine as “a high-energy cross between Brian Wilson, Paul Stanley, and Elton John.”

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – The World's Fair, Avenged Sevenfold, Hampton Landmarks and Pamelyn Ferdin

  This week Chris interviews author Bill Cotter about his series of World’s Fair books as part of the Arcadia Publishing Spotlight. Then it’s a spoken piece about Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, the recently deceased drummer from the band Avenged Sevenfold. After that a visit to some pop culture landmarks courtesy of the Hampton Hotel Save a Landmark program and lastly, a chat with famed former child star, Pamelyn Ferdin. BONUS: Arcadia Publishing has a special deal for Pop Culture Road Trip listeners – 15% savings on any purchase! Use the code “RADIO” when you check out at arcadiapublishing.com, where you’ll discover over 6000 local history titles.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – "Chicago Television" and an exclusive - Coffee with Eve Plumb!

  This week Chris interviews author Steve Jajkowski about his wonderful book, “Chicago Television” as part of the Arcadia Publishing Spotlight. Then it’s some quality time with Eve Plumb, who you may remember as Jan Brady on The Brady Bunch. She’s an artist now in Southern California, and over coffee, she tells Chris about the good old days as a Brady and the great new days as a still life painter. BONUS: Arcadia Publishing has a special deal for Pop Culture Road Trip listeners – 15% savings on any purchase! Use the code “RADIO” when you check out at arcadiapublishing.com, where you’ll discover over 6000 local history titles.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – The new Arcadia Publishing Spotlight featuring Route 66 in New Mexico, The Hampton Hotel Save-A-Landmark program and Miss O'Dell!

  A jam-packed show featuring the debut of the Arcadia Publishing Spotlight–each week Chris interviews the author of a new book from Arcadia Publishing and to kick it off, Joe Sonderman discusses his new book, “Route 66 in New Mexico.” Then, Judy Christa-Cathey, VP/Global Brand Marketing from Hampton Inn, talks about the success of the long running (10 years!) Save-A-Landmark program and what you can do to get involved. Finally, Chris O’Dell, author of the new book, “Miss O’Dell:
  My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and The Women They Loved” takes Chris backstage to talk about the details of her incredible life.

  BONUS: Arcadia, Arcadia Publishing has a special deal for Pop Culture Road Trip listeners – 15% savings on any purchase! Use the code “RADIO” when you check out at arcadiapublishing.com.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip – The Wizard of Ozzy - Ozzy Osbourne joins Chris Epting on The Pop Culture Road Trip

  Heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne joins Chris to talk about his new bestseller, “I Am Ozzy.” But before that, author Michael Selsman discusses his fascinating life as one of Hollywood’s busiest agents, PR men and all-round industry mover and shakers–he was even there the day Marilyn Monroe died, as her last press agent! His book, “All is Vanity” has just been released. Chris also heads to Boston for a behind the scenes tour of legendary ballpark Fenway Park.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip - Week 1005

  Chris talks with TV legend Dick Van Patten, who’s just written a new book, “Eighty is Enough – One Actor’s Journey Through American Entertainment.” Then Jeff Hanemaayer, Chairman of Roadtrek Motorhomes, discusses the many innovations and history of one the most popular RV brands in the world – Road Trek.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip - Week 1004

  Legendary manager, producer, and rock and roll impresario Marty Thau shares stories from his incredible life in the business featuring the New York Dolls, The Ramones and more – and his Red Star Records is still going strong today as Red Star Digital Music. Then, Billy James discusses his new book, “A Dream Goes on Forever – The Continuing Story of Todd Rundgren – The Utopia Years.” It’s the second book James has written on the Wizard and this is a must listen for any Todd fan.

  
• The Pop Culture Road Trip - Week 1003

  Legendary rock and roll photographer Mark Weiss started in the business as a teenager in NYC, hustling his way into Led Zeppelin concerts and other shows, and selling his shots on the street in front of Madison Square Garden. Soon, still as a teen, he was working for Circus magazine, working as Bon Jovi’s official photographer, living with Ozzy Osbourne and shooting the biggest rock stars on the planet; at home, on stage, on the road, for album covers–he joins Chris for the full hour today. Also, for a special Pop Culture Road Trip discount visit http://www.weissguygallery.com and enter the discount code “popculture.”