Thank you for tuning into another episode of "Your Best You - Starlight Spotlight." This week's episode features Hudson Valley-based Broadcasting Veteran Rick Zolzer aka Zolz. Zolz is probably most known as the Voice of the Hudson Valley Renegades fro 28 years. We discuss his career in radio, in sports, and with the Hudson Valley Renegades. We dive into how baseball and the airwaves have evolved over the decades, and the legacy that Zolz is leaving behind with his craft.

Rick Zolzer via LinkedIn

"I have been lucky enough to get paid to things that used to get me tossed out of class in high school. All of the many jobs I do have to do with entertaining people...Large amounts at the same time and I wouldn't change it! I can not imagine going to work at a job I hate….Like many of my friends do..They may make more money but I am having waaaaaay more fun…”Because Fun is Good”!

Specialties: Being able to Promote and Brand like P.T. Barnum has kept me ahead of the curve in everything I have done in the last 25 years. I can make something small and insignificant seem like something you have to be a part of…..I just don’t think outside the box I hate the box and I wouldn’t be caught dead in it. Top it all of with a bizarre sense of humor."

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickzolzer/

https://www.facebook.com/Zolz31/

https://www.instagram.com/zolz31/

Hosted by Conor Walsh

Produced by CMJW Entertainment Inc

https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/

Brought to you by Mental Health America of Dutchess County

https://mhadutchess.org/

Brought to you in part by the Northern & Southern Dutchess Community Coalitions

https://capedc.org/coalitions/

• (00:00:06) - Steve and Rick Zolzer
• (00:00:55) - Andrew Jackson at his holiday party
• (00:02:32) - Bob Costas on His Broadcast Career
• (00:07:02) - PA Announcer on His Last Night
• (00:10:52) - PA Announcer Bob Costas on His Journey
• (00:14:58) - Bob Miller on Networking at 69
• (00:18:36) - Bob Costas on His
• (00:22:27) - The Renegades' Family Entertainment
• (00:24:04) - Jay Leno on Banana Ball
• (00:28:22) - Jimmy Fallon on Aaron Boone's Yankee Stadium Debut
• (00:33:27) - Tom Brady: Turn it Over to the Kids
• (00:33:45) - Jon Favreau on Teaching and Educating
• (00:37:32) - Ex-NBA Player Zolz on Career Advice
• (00:41:30) - A Jamaican Legend's Legacy

On this week’s episode, we speak with Hollywood Makeup FX Artist and Hudson Valley Native Mark Viniello. Mark and I talk about the craft and the mentality it takes to work on some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters!

For more of Mark's stories, please visit our Walsh Wednesday episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPXE0k8VL18

• (00:00:00) - Starlight Spotlight
• (00:01:05) - Reuniting With Former 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Cast
• (00:02:09) - Ronald Burkle Has Dozens of Credits
• (00:03:16) - Richard Taylor At The Visual Effects Society Awards
• (00:05:41) - The Physical Transformation of Actors
• (00:09:09) - Makeup Artist Rick Baker on Eddie Murphy's
• (00:12:09) - Austin Powers 2: My Favorite Out of The Triple
• (00:12:59) - Mike Myers on His Prosthetics
• (00:15:49) - Jim Carrey on Playing The Grinch
• (00:18:30) - The Making of Jurassic Park 3
• (00:23:42) - The Replacements
• (00:23:54) - What Keeps People Coming to Horror Films?
• (00:28:01) - Joey on Horror and Thrillers
• (00:31:53) - Mental Well-Being on the Set
• (00:35:04) - Mark Ruffalo on Mental Health
• (00:38:35) - The Secret to Depression in the Cellophane
• (00:41:24) - Makeup Artist on The Pirates of the Caribbean
• (00:44:39) - Punji on Working With Such Iconic Franchises
• (00:47:49) - Mark Had Enough For The Razzies
• (00:49:43) - Mark Flannery on Starlight Spotlights

On this week's episode, Andrew O'Grady announces information around two big initiatives here at MHA! The first is the #988Challenge. We are challenging people to "Scream It. Sing. Show It." Get creative and find new ways to spread the word that 988 is the 911 for mental health. Create a video and then tag 3 people so we can disseminate the news. Secondly, we talk about our upcoming Heartland of the Hudson Valley Benefit Concert happening on Tuesday, October 6th, 2026 at the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie. The concert will feature the likes of Jake Banfield, Ian Flannigan, Maggie Rose, and Craig Morgan. Ticket information will be out shortly. #988Challenge https://mhadutchess.org/988trend/ Heartland of the Hudson Valley Benefit Concert - More to Come

• (00:00:00) - MHA CEO Andrew O' Grady on The Mental Wellbeing
• (00:04:13) - 988 for Mental Health Challenge
• (00:08:59) - Dial 988
• (00:14:09) - Andy O'Grady on Singing for ALS
• (00:17:39) - Country Concert Charity Gal
• (00:22:01) - 988 THE MUSIC WALK Poughkeepsie
• (00:26:28) - 988 Challenge