Hosted by Robert Neal Marshall Some journeys begin under bright lights. Some begin behind a camera. And some begin with one brave decision that changes everything.

This is one of those stories. In this two-part conversation, I speak with someone whose journey shaped mine more than any other: my mother, Bette Marshall — former actress, Miss Chicago finalist, single mother surviving New York City in the 1960s, and ultimately the acclaimed photographer whose early portraits of Whitney Houston became historic.

But the path from stage to camera wasn’t a straight one.

PART 1 — The Early Years: Actress, Dreamer, Survivor

In this first episode, we go back to where her story really begins.

Bette started as a young actress and beauty pageant finalist — crowned Miss Chicago and then competing in the Miss America Pageant. It was glamorous on the outside, but inside she was searching for something deeper, something that felt true.

A short-lived first marriage followed — one that, as she says, “should have been a brief romance.” But in the late 1950s, good girls married before sex, which is ultimately how I came into the world.

It took extraordinary courage for her, barely in her early twenties, to leave that marriage and strike out alone — especially with a child. Yet, one pivotal conversation changed everything, redirecting the entire course of her life, and mine.

In New York City she rebuilt herself from scratch:

• landing TV commercials
• modeling
• surviving the chaos and beauty of the 1960s
• and eventually stepping onto Broadway

This is the story of transformation — of a woman discovering her voice long before she ever picked up a camera.

PART 2 will share — A New Life, A New Lens Part Two will continue her journey as she marries renowned music attorney Paul G. Marshall, enters an entirely different world, and ultimately reinvents herself once again — this time as a photographer.

She captured some of the most extraordinary artists of a generation, including a young, unknown Whitney Houston. I was there with her — a child and then a photo assistant — when she photographed Whitney in her family home, years before the record deal, the fame, and the tragedy.

Those images would become the foundation for her book Young Whitney and the powerful documentary Whitney Houston: In Focus, now streaming on STARZ.

🎬 Watch the documentary here: https://www.starz.com/us/en/movies/whitney-houston-in-focus-73050 Her story is one of reinvention, resilience, artistry, and legacy — and I’m honored to share it with you.

🎧 FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE for more unscripted journeys ➡️ https://gate24show.com/

☕ Support the Show If this episode inspires you, please consider supporting Gate 24: 👉 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Gate24Show

Your support helps create more stories like this one — and helps honor voices that might otherwise be forgotten.

🔔 Stay Connected Please like, share, and subscribe. Your engagement helps this series reach people who need these stories the most.

Follow the show: 📘 Facebook: Gate 24 Podcast Page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?viewer_id=61565899333370&id=61565899047384&mibextid=LQQJ4d

📸 Credits Photos by Robert Neal Marshall and Bette Marshall. Music & licensed stock from Adobe Stock / Envato Elements.

✨ Also by Robert Neal Marshall

✈️ Connie’s Tale – A True Story Inspired Picture Book for Young Readers ➡️ https://www.conniestale.com

🎥 Columbia Film Festival — September 8–14, 2026 🎟️ https://columbiamarylandfilmfestival.org

#BetteMarshall #Gate24Podcast #LifeNowBoarding #WomenInPhotography #StageToShutter #ActressToPhotographer #MissChicago #MissAmericaPageant #WhitneyHoustonInFocus #YoungWhitney #BehindTheLens #ArtisticReinvention #CreativeJourneys #SingleMotherStories #1960sNYC #LegacyStories #PhotographyHistory #WomenInTheArts #UnscriptedJourneys #PortraitPhotography

✈️ Gate 24: LIFE Now Boarding – Unscripted Journeys – Episode 4: Heather Tesch

Welcome aboard! In this episode, host and near-death survivor Robert Neal Marshall sits down with the extraordinary Heather Tesch—a familiar face to millions as a former Weather Channel meteorologist who has now charted a whole new course as the creator and host of BEYOND with Heather Tesch.

Heather’s journey has taken her from forecasting hurricanes and blizzards on live television to diving deep into the mysteries of near-death experiences (NDEs), spirituality, kindness, and the resilience of the human spirit. With humor, compassion, and an insatiable curiosity, she now brings voices of near-death survivors to light, exploring the lessons they carry back with them.

Robert, who was honored to be an early guest on BEYOND, now welcomes Heather into the Gate 24 cockpit to share her inspiring transformation—from science and meteorology to the profound and often life-changing stories that live at the edge of life itself.

🌟 Whether you’ve ever wondered what lies beyond or you’re simply looking for a dose of laughter, warmth, and hope, Heather’s story is a reminder that sometimes our biggest storms lead us to the brightest horizons.

🎧 Listen & Explore More ➡️ Watch and subscribe to BEYOND with Heather Tesch: YouTube – BEYOND with Heather Tesch ➡️ Check out Heather’s book Hair Doodle by Heather Tesch: Amazon Link

☕ Support Gate 24 Help keep these unscripted journeys flying! Support the show here: 👉 BuyMeACoffee.com/Gate24Show Every coffee helps fuel future episodes—and you can even become an early Pioneer Producer.

📸 Credits Photos: Robert Neal Marshall & Heather Tesch Music/stock video licensed via Adobe Stock & Envato Elements "Upbeat Happy Ukulele And Claps" by Jeff Hanley

🔔 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe so we can reach more people who need these stories of resilience, discovery, and inspiration.

#Gate24Show #LifeNowBoarding #HeatherTesch #BEYONDwithHeatherTesch #Podcast #UnscriptedJourneys #inspiration #resilience #LifeLessons #NearDeathExperience #NDE #Spirituality #Kindness #Animals #TheWeatherChannel #SurvivalStories #Film #Theatre #Entertainment

Actress, singer, writer, and activist Rain Pryor (Head of the Class, Rude Awakening, Fried Chicken & Latkes), daughter of comedy legend Richard Pryor. This is a powerful and personal conversation about survival, purpose, and the gift of sharing our stories so others know they’re not alone. Please Support the Show Buy Me A Coffee