Recorded at the famed corner booth of Skip Paige’s Little Bar in Palm Desert, this episode of Big Conversations, Little Bar hosted by Patrick Evans and Randy Florence, follows a remarkable journey from church greeter to reality-TV standout. Guest Gary Levingston shares how a chance encounter at Southwest Church led to casting for the senior-edition dating franchise, the sequestered Malibu mansion experience, and the unexpected brotherhood that formed among contestants on The Golden Bachelor, and subsequently on Bachelor In Paradise. Levingston opens up about the stress of rose ceremonies (and expert-level packing), navigating sudden notoriety—including fan encounters at his doorstep—and keeping perspective thanks to lessons from his godmother, Tina Turner. Beyond TV, he’s channeling his platform into purpose: mental-health advocacy as a senior advisor with Talkspace, a lighthearted fashion partnership with Tommy Bahama, and service to kids in the Coachella Valley. He also spotlights his documentary on his uncle, 1950s singer-songwriter Jesse Belvin, and dreams of a feature film—maybe with Bruno Mars in the lead. Heart, humor, faith, and community all show up big in this conversation.

Takeaways:

• A casting director discovered him while he was greeting at church.
• Contestants were sequestered near the Malibu mansion—no phones, lots of bonding.
• The “golden” cast rooted for one another over rivalry.
• Rose ceremonies were nerve-racking—bags packed every time, just in case.
• Sudden fame felt surreal (press pings, fan rose at his door).
• Godmother Tina Turner taught privacy, poise, and inner strength.
• Now a Talkspace senior advisor, advocating mental health for older adults.
• Produces a Jesse Belvin documentary; hopes for a Bruno Mars-led feature.

#BigConversationsLittleBarPodcast #PatrickEvans #RandyFlorence #SkipsLittleBar #MutualBroadcastingSystem #CoachellaValleyResidents #SkipPaige #GaryLevingston #GoldenBachelorette #BachelorInParadise #TinaTurner #MentalHealth #Talkspace #TommyBahama #JesseBelvin #BrunoMars #MalibuMansion #ChurchToCasting #PalmDesert #CommunityImpact

This episode of Big Conversations, Little Bar with Patrick Evans and Randy Florence spotlights a dynamic leader shaping the desert’s classical scene. As artistic director for Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic, our guest Lee Mills explains how a tiny team brings the world’s great orchestras to the McCallum Theatre within a narrow January to April window—often booking seasons as far out as 2028. Expect a blockbuster lineup: Chicago Symphony; a Los Angeles Philharmonic visit during a milestone leadership transition; Academy of St Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell; a top Mexico City orchestra with Carlos Miguel Prieto and Pacho Flores fresh off a 2023 Latin Grammy; plus San Diego and Dallas Symphonies. We trace Mills’ path from Belgrade, Montana to podiums in Brazil, Seattle, and the Carolinas, and how an MBA sharpened his audience-first programming. He rejects old-school “dictator” conducting in favor of joyful collaboration—and shares a thrilling vision to fuse symphonic power with club production. Pro tip: the season’s nearly sold out—join the waitlist.

Takeaways:

• Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic presents world-class orchestras at McCallum Theatre.
• Touring windows are tight (Jan–Apr), and dates are juggled years in advance.
• Upcoming highlights include Chicago Symphony, LA Phil, Academy of St Martin with Joshua Bell, San Diego & Dallas Symphonies, and a Mexico City orchestra with Carlos Miguel Prieto and Pacho Flores.
• The organization is lean (two going on three staff) and partners closely with McCallum’s crew.
• Career arc: Montana roots → college conducting epiphany → Brazil, Seattle → Greenville music directorship.
• Leadership style favors collaboration, fun, and audience engagement—no “tyrant conductor” vibes.
• Bold vision: bring orchestras into club environments with lights, acrobatics, and symphonic hits.
• Season is almost sold out; waitlists routinely move 50–100 returned tickets per concert.

#BigConversationsLittleBarPodcast #PatrickEvans #RandyFlorence #SkipsLittleBar #MutualBroadcastingSystem #CoachellaValleyResidents #SkipPaige #LeeMills #PSPhil #PalmSpringsFriendsOfPhilharmonic #McCallumTheatre #ChicagoSymphony #LAPhil #GustavoDudamel #JoshuaBell #PachoFlores #CarlosMiguelPrieto #GreenvilleSymphony #ClassicalMusic #CoachellaValley

From New York steakhouse soirées to Coachella Valley showstoppers, event planner Lola Kent brings a decade-plus of creative fire to the corner booth on this week’s episode of Big Conversations, Little Bar with Patrick Evans and Randy Florence. She shares how a chance ceremony paired her with officiant Randy, sparking 60+ weddings built on listening, storytelling, and short-but-soulful vows. Lola recalls transforming airplane hangars at the Palm Springs Air Museum into “Norm’s Beach,” complete with surprise aircraft arrivals and star musicians, and a tear-jerking Bighorn ceremony where love triumphed over stage-four cancer. We get real about budgets vs. vision, indoor-outdoor contingency planning, micro-weddings born from the pandemic, and why great planners protect couples from venue rules, vendor chaos, and desert winds. Plus: the NYPD vs. FDNY cookoff, a Wicked-themed pop-up speakeasy, and the secret to guest-first hospitality (sometimes it’s Gentleman Jack). If you love weddings, parties, or just world-class logistics that feel like magic, this podcast is your blueprint.

We regret that due to technical issues in the recording of this episode that there is not a video podcast available.

Takeaways:

• The best ceremonies start with deep listening and private interviews.
• Short, meaningful vows keep guests engaged and couples centered.
• Great planners match clients to venues that fit rules and vibe.
• Always build indoor-outdoor weather backups in the desert.
• Clear vendor coordination is mission-critical to event flow.
• Budgets must guide creative choices—vision scales with resources.
• Micro-weddings proved intimacy can be as powerful as spectacle.
• Story-driven details turn spaces (even hangars) into immersive worlds.

#BigConversationsLittleBarPodcast #PatrickEvans #RandyFlorence #SkipsLittleBar #MutualBroadcastingSystem #CoachellaValleyResidents #SkipPaige #LolaKent #EventPlanning #WeddingPlanner #DesertWeddings #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley #AirMuseum #VowRenewal #MicroWeddings #LuxuryEvents #WeddingOfficiant #Bighorn #PopUpSpeakeasy