Barry Krutchik is an legendary Hollywood and pop culture journalist who has conducted over 2000 celebrity interviews across music, film & television over the past 40 years, capturing raw, unscripted moments — from Bob Hope to The Beastie Boys, Santana to Stevie Wonder, Jerry Seinfeld to Jay Z, Mick Jagger, Keanu Reaves, Dave Chappelle, Celine Dion ... basically, the biggest stars EVER! Whether backstage or behind the camera, Barry’s authenticity & quick humor helped high-profile stars feel at home, resulting in raw, unscripted moments. Barry makes things fun!

After a decade, he stopped doing interviews in 2002. “By the third time you're interviewing Peter Frampton, it might be time to try something else” he jokes, a surreal realization, considering that twelve-year-old Barry would’ve never believed he’d even meet Frampton. So, he launched Krutchie Entertainment and, using his vast trove of celebrity contacts, began booking talent and producing high-impact media events for the Grammys, MTV, BET, FOX, Cirque du Soleil, and more. Over the decades, as technology, public relations and the world of entertainment changed radically, Barry's professional opportunities also changed. He was no longer a hungry young journalist but a seasoned gentleman in an industry looking for youth and diversity. Then, Covid destroyed his live events business overnight. Terrified, Barry had to reinvent himself.

This journeyman is now activating his extraordinary content. He has a new book coming out, Classic Conversations: ‘90s Hip Hop and R&B featuring his intimate, one-of-a-kind moments and quotes with hip hop and R&B royalty. Each interview includes entertaining commentary that only Barry has the ability to provide. In addition, Barry recently returned to interviewing with a one-on-one sit down with Lady Gaga. And, he has new projects in the pipeline harnessing his treasure trove of celebrity content 💎 Hear clips from one of your favorite artists in this episode or @classicconversationsbk as Barry digitizes his archive. Welcome to Swan Dive 🎤

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The devastating 2022 hurricane that destroyed their Florida home was the last straw in a chain of traumas for Jason and Kimberly Ocana. A paramedic/firefighter for nearly 15 years, Jason loved being of service, but the work's constant physical and emotional challenges and the added rigors of being a first responder during COVID were taking a serious toll on his body and soul. After 17 years in corporate leadership, Kimberly had “achieved personal success.” But, in reality, she felt totally burnt out physically and emotionally, suffering chronic sickness, anxiety, and depression. On top of all this, both their young children faced major health issues. In this shared state of crisis, two weeks after the loss of their home, Kimberly asked Jason a simple but profound question, “What can we do to make you happy?” In a moment of clarity and courage, he answered, “move to Costa Rica,” a place he loved and a return to tranquility and deep nature. She was more than ready to make the pivot together. Thus was born Ananda Lodge Costa Rica, a plant medicine retreat center birthed in their collective commitment to save their own lives and make a positive impact in the world. From this point forward they would focus on healing trauma and helping others find their way to wholeness and peace.

Ananda operates on the understanding that each individual, regardless of their background, has encountered various forms of trauma, whether big or small. This work is deeply personal. Kimberly survived sexual abuse while Jason carries the weight that only those on the front lines can know. Together, they made a choice to heal and transform themselves and others with the support of sacred plant medicine in a totally beautiful, safe, intimate and healing environment. Jason is particularly drawn to providing support for first-responders, veterans, healthcare workers and others who have dedicated their lives to serving others; Ananda is one of the few retreat centers with programs dedicates to these heroes. Kimberly knows the toll sexual abuse takes on the body and spirit and has created retreats for women that address these specific issues and more.

One of their 2025 retreat guests said it best, "If you’re feeling the call to do real inner work, to shed what’s not yours, and to reconnect with who you really are ... Ananda is where you want to be."

https://anandalodgecr.com/

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“Delicious, decadent, and utterly diabolical. No one serves up a scandal like Asha Elias,” writes author Kirsten Miller about this writer, mother, and reluctant socialite. Asha's acclaimed debut novel, Pink Glass Houses, is a seductive social satire about the wealthy PTA moms of an elite elementary school in Miami Beach. We read it and loved it. Her much-anticipated second novel, The Namaste Club is another delicious page-turner about rich people behaving badly, set among the wellness industrial complex, rich ladies doing yoga, and all things fabulous and Florida. It drops next month with a third in the pipeline as part of a multi-book deal with HarperCollins. Asha graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in print journalism then, fresh out of college, landed at Ocean Drive Magazine, where she spent a decade in ad sales and promotion, becoming intimately familiar with the crazy underbelly of the singular South Beach scene. During this time she became an accomplished yogi. When her first child arrived, Asha opted to be a stay-at-home mom for a few years. Until the lifelong itch to write her first novel became too strong to ignore. Asha has contributed to Cosmopolitan magazine and is currently the sex and dating columnist for Miami New Times. She lives with her family in Miami Beach, Florida.

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We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: Ron@artbikesjax.com or Stu: Stuart@stuartsheldon.com