Billy Mays III sets the record straight about the catchphrase “but wait there’s more” and his father, the legendary pitchman “Hi, Billy Mays here”. Heck I even used “but wait there’s more” my cold open… Find out what his famous catchphrase really was and why he used it on this episode of Relatively Famous.

Pitchman Billy Mays died way too young and at the height of his career. Billy Mays was king of sales when tv infomercials were how new products broke into the mainstream public. Pitchmen were influencers before it was a thing and Billy Mays was the mid 1990s to 2009 top salesman. He even starred in the Discovery Channel show, Pitchmen.

Billy III grew up mostly with his mom as his parents divorced when he was young. At the time his father was traveling full time doing trade shows on the road trying to build his brand and hone his salesmanship. When Billy Mays landed the gig at Home Shopping Network and started doing tv infomercials it allowed more time to get to know his son.

Billy III shares those times together, and how he began to learn so much from his dad. We talk about when he realized his dad was a pop culture icon, about how his dad was instrumental in helping him pursue music. I ask if perhaps there is a career in the footsteps of his father?

We talk about how music helped him grieve and be at peace with his father’s death and the invasive publicity surrounding his father’s death.

I discovered that it’s one thing to be the brother of an American Pop Icon, but to be the son of a Pop Culture Pitchman is another thing. So, to quote the OG infomercial pitchman and mentor of Billy’s, Ronco legend Ron Popeil, “Wait there’s more”… Oh, and check out the photo on the website of the cool Billy Mays and Infinite Third stickers Billy III sent me.

I promise you’ll be intrigued by my conversation with Billy Mays III son of Billy Mays!

https://campsite.bio/billymays

https://infinitethird.com

Growing up in South Carolina in the 60s & 70s ice hockey was not something on my radar. I can’t even remember if we had an ice rink anywhere along The Grand Strand. I did however, play roller hockey at the Crescent Beach Skating Rink almost every Sunday from 11 to 13 yrs old.

So when Philip said Bryan Bicknell’s wife Amanda wants to do the podcast I had to do some research. Chicago Blackhawk, Carolina Hurricanes & Charlotte Checkers fans forgive me, I mean after all, he is a 2 time Stanley Cup winner.

Now, his wife Amanda is a firecracker and an awesome person to have a conversation with. She has so many stories, from being raised by a single mom and girls bullying her in school, to dating Bryan in school and breaking up because of family drama. I may have to do a part 2 to cover the stories we didn’t talk about.

When she and Bryan split up, she ran off to British Columbia to pursue a wild child life, modeled in NYC at 18 and was accepted into the Stella Adlers acting school. However she had to come back to Canada to get her paperwork in order and never returned to to pursue her dreams.

Upon returning home she soon became Bryan’s wife and started living the life of a professional hockey player’s wife. They were young, he was a pro hockey player, parties were wild and crazy, life was fun. That’s when people they thought were friends took them for a lot of Bryan’s hard earned income.

Those are some of the circumstances the led to Amanda’s depression and feeling her life had no purpose. She couldn’t work in the US, the girls were young and she needed something in her life. So they started their foundation, The Bryan & Amanda Bicknell Foundation which helps rescue abused Pit Bulls. Link is below.

After the 2015 Stanley Cup win, Bryan started to not feel well and was diagnosed with MS. She said after he retired there was some dark times with Bryan’s depression and life with beginning stages of MS. She said life was tough for them during those times, so Amanda started acting again and soon wanted to venture into producing. This is when she started feeling life was good and there is a purpose. That helped lift her out of the darkness and she was able to help Bryan see some light in his life.

They bought some property and are building cottages where they will start hosting retreats for people with MS. This is a big dream and huge undertaking and that is why they are always looking for donors and underwriters.

Oh yeah, she and Bryan are also very active and proud parents of 2 beautiful daughters. And if all that is not enough to keep them busy, Amanda convinced Bryan to become part owners of the Durham Hawks Hockey Team in the NPHL league.

You’ll love Amanda Bicknell, wife of Bryan Bicknell. She is honest, raw, full of life, energy and loves her pit bull rescues.

https://www.instagram.com/abickell/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/bickellfoundation/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/bickellspoint/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/durhamhawks_nphl/?hl=en

#nhl #durhamhawks #blackhawks # icehockey #Stanleycup #pitbulls #MS

I was set to meet Robert for the time after a Stryper show in Charlotte, NC on May 11th, 2022 but Covid was still poking around so Meet & Greets were not happening. Well, come August 2023 I now live in San Antonio and Stryper is playing an outdoor show with Vixen as the opening act. A few texts to Michael and Perry and I’ve scored tickets and passes to hang with the band.

The night before the show I went to the hotel to pick up Perry for a night of cigars and catching up on life and Myrtle Beach memories. Before we left to go indulge, the band was in the lobby heading to dinner and stroll down the River Walk. While Perry confirmed Micheal wasn’t coming I chatted with Robert and Oz real quick. Even had a few moments again the next night at the pre-show Meet and Greet. Hard to have a full interview or really get to know someone at a band M & G.

I tell this tale because when Robert I linked up for the podcast interview it was the most he and I had ever talked. To be upfront I did interview Micheal for his episode before I chatted with Robert thus I refer back to Micheal’s episode for certain questions.

Music has always been a big part of my life and as a teen reading the LP liner notes with band bios, lyrics and song info was a must. That is how we learned about the musicians in our favorite bands. Drummers and bass players were members I liked to learn about, even though I can’t play either instrument.

Robert is an amazing drummer. I would say in the Rock & Roll world Robert is way overlooked for his talent and contributions to Rock & Roll. Perhaps because of the fact Stryper is a Christian rock band mainstream music media outlets shy away. Drumming live on stage during a Stryper concert, Robert has so much energy and style it’s difficult to stop watching to see what the rest of the band is doing. I love that he sets his kit up sideways so the audience can see him playing.

As a person who struggles with faith and religion, my conversations with Robert and Micheal were very open and thought provoking. Like Stryper polarizes rock fans I’m sure Micheal and Robert will turn away some of our listeners. Which would be sad. Both Robert and Micheal are awesome guys and have had a wild life as Rock Stars.

From the beginning, to the new Stryper Christmas album, we talk about the bands longevity, their faith, having their equipment stolen, getting to play with KISS and Metallica. Wishing they had played with Van Halen and cars, muscle cars and dream cars.

I hope you enjoy our time with Robert. For me, it was sweet (pun intended).

https://stryper.com
https://www.youtube.com/@StryperChannel
https://www.facebook.com/Stryper/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/161966015164533/
https://www.facebook.com/TheRobertSweet
https://www.patreon.com/Stryper

#robertsweet #stryper #christianmusic #christianrock #electricjesus #heavenandhelltour #jesus #christianmetal #hairband #80srock #glamrock #drummer #rockdrummer #musclecars #michaelsweet

There are times I struggle to get guests forgetting I actually know people and just need to look through my fogged memory. It was one of those moments when it hit me, “Dude, you know Michael and Robert Sweet, duh!”. It was around the Christmas Holiday, Stryper just released their first Christmas Album “The Greatest Gift of All” when I reached out.

Michael was game and connected me with his daughter to arrange the ZOOM and to get his brother Robert on board. I confirmed with Ellena that Michael was cool with being billed as Robert Sweet’s brother and vice versa that Robert was cool with being billed as Michael’s brother. All was cool and the schedule locked.

I first met Michael on September 15th, 2020 when myself and the other Electric Jesus producers flew up to Plymouth, MA to personally screen the film for Michael and Lisa, while the rest of Stryper simultaneously streaming it in NV & SC. We were seeking the Stryper stamp of approval on the film. We got it…

Afterwards over dinner, at his and Lisa’s favorite Italian restaurant we had a fantastic time talking with him about the film, the band and life.

Michael and I kept in touch, chatting about a Stryper documentary film they were working to get into production and shows in my local areas. I guess I should have asked about the documentary in the interview.

Eve and I have some friends in Charlotte who are Stryper fans and that is when I saw my first Stryper show. It was at Amos’ Southend in Charlotte and man I was amazed at the power of Michael’s voice, how tight the band was and Robert’s energetic drumming style. They ROCKED and still do.

Then a couple of years later we moved to San Antonio and we got to see them play again. Nothing like an outdoor rock show in San Antonio in August. Yes, I’m being sarcastic. That may the closest to Hell’s heat the band ever played. Yes, I’m being funny.

The night before the show in San Antonio, Perry Richardson and I went out and enjoyed cigars and catching up until about 1am. Michael passed to save his voice. I have also been friends with Perry’s sister Sheri back in Myrtle Beach since the late 70s. I’m working on having Sheri as a guest.

Well, I can say I had a great time talking with Michael about, music, the myth of the Heaven & Hell tour, being a Christian and how people want to bring you down rather than be lifted up. We laughed about literally arguing with people about shows that didn’t happen and that my sister doesn’t own a house on the Blvd.

We talk about the moment when he felt as a musician that the band had MADE IT… How they are still touring, recording and have out survived many Rock & Roll peers.

You know what, To Hell With The Devil, let’s get this episode started. Enjoy your time with Michael Sweet, lead singer for Stryper and brother of Robert Sweet the world famous drummer for Stryper.

https://stryper.com
https://www.youtube.com/@StryperChannel
https://www.facebook.com/Stryper/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/161966015164533/
https://www.facebook.com/TheMichaelSweet

Our guest is Nicole Mattox, a super star Vertical Drama actress on a fast rise to fame. She is also the daughter of a famous newscaster. We featured Nicole’s mom, Leslie Mouton, a few episodes back. Leslie was a San Antonio KSAT news anchor who became known worldwide for documenting her battle with cancer. One night during the height of her treatment she did the evening newscast sans her wig. She wanted to let people in treatment, and in life, know that your hair did not define you or your cancer. Next thing she knew she was on Oprah, Good Morning America, featured in magazines and was being celebrated around the world.

Her daughter Nicole is just as stunning as her mom, just as full of energy and life as Leslie and so just as fun to talk with. So talk we did… We talk with Nicole about what it was like growing up as the daughter of a local San Antonio news anchor. About being the daughter of a former Air Force fighter pilot who happened to have been stationed in Myrtle Beach in the 80s. One was almost impossible to escape and the other made days on the lake more exciting. We talk about moving to LA, about what path lead to acting and who some of her dream co-stars are.

As a former film, tv producer and part time actor, I really loved learning about the Vertical Film / Drama world. Nicole is the winner of the 2025 “Vertical Queen Award”, aka best actress award. I have a great teacher to walk me through this hot media trend. Some of these verticals have over 3 million views and huge international audiences. I have to admit I get drawn in as I’m scrolling. I have even watched some of Nicole’s before I knew who she was.

The more I started following Nicole’s social media accounts the more fascinated I became. She has an amazing loyal and fast growing fan base. Let’s hope they all share Nicole’s episode and subscribe to Relatively Famous!

Not only has Nicole won the Vertical Queen Award, she and co-star Seth Edeen were nominated for the “Best Chemistry” award also.

As a super cool bonus Seth Edeen was in the studio during our recording and I asked him to sit down and join Nicole during the last 5 mins of the show. I can see why they were nominated for best chemistry!

https://www.instagram.com/nicolemattox
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11476913/
https://www.tiktok.com/@nicole_mattox
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578345971247
https://www.facebook.com/seo.shine.2024

My friend Christy Crandall, a producer in the Santa Rosa film community suggested I look into the actor Cayman Cardiff. She informed me that Cayman is a popular actor in the fast growing Vertical Video / Film trend and that his mom, September Cardiff, is awesome and would be a great guest.

Cayman is on the rise and cusp of Hollywood / Film fame, and having September on is kind of like Episode #15 with John Iseman – Madison Iseman’s dad. Both episodes are fun perspectives of life when their child is becoming a movie star.

With Cayman’s career, there is a rapidly growing trend and huge audience in the Vertical Video / Film market. To fans of these internet sensations, Cayman Cardiff is a big star. Vertical Video / Film fans love him in “Under the Hood” and “A Vampire in the Alpha’s Den” among others. As an actor Vertical Video / Film is a shooting star to the top of the fame game these days.

So I texted September, we chatted and she was on board.

Once I learned what September does for her career I knew she would be fun and full of energy. September has this amazing live production that she takes to libraries and schools all over Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia and places in-between to promote reading.

Her productions includes puppets, magic, songs and interactive fun to encourage and engage young people in the joys of reading. She also is an author of children’s books, see the link below to learn more.

I don’t know why, but I was surprised when she told me was a scholarship awarded basketball player in college. So I asked her, how tall are you?

September is also a BOYMOM of four, so she had a lot to chat about. Cayman and his brothers were recruited at an early age to help mom in her productions and commercials. She believes that is where the acting bug started, even though Cayman was on the path to being an Orthopedic Surgeon before modeling and acting became his profession.

After the basketball comment, I had to ask about the boys heights… 6’2” to 6’6”, with Cayman being 6’4”.

To mom’s surprise baby brother Tazman, has moved to LA and is following Cayman’s footsteps to also pursue an acting career. I’m sure we’ll see them acting together in brother / buddy movie in the near future. Are you listening Hollywood writers?

September was even forgiving of me when I flubbed a credit of Cayman’s right at the beginning of the interview. I actually looked Cayman’s credits up, but at the same time researched another actor’s IMDb. Well, I flipped them in my interview.

No edits, foot in mouth, AGAIN… I own my mistakes and another vertical video series got a shout out.

Learn more about September’s reading programs and books by clicking her links below.

www.temberstales.com
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13604121/
https://www.instagram.com/caymancardiff/
https://www.facebook.com/caymancardifftalent/

temberstales@gmail.com

#verticalfilms #reading #childrensbooks #collegebasketball #actor #verticalvideo #caymancardiff #september #kentucky #library #southcarolina #georgia

Karen Knotts father was the top notch, first rate, five time Emmy winner, comedic actor known around the world as Deputy Barney Fife, Leader of the Apple Dumpling Gang, The Incredible Mr. Limpet and Three’s Company Mr. Furley, yep Karen’s father is actor Don Knotts.

My friend and writer / director of the documentary “The Mayberry Effect” connected me with Karen and Dixie Griffith (Episode #51) telling me what a wonderful person Karen truly is and how I should make sure to get her on the show.

After a few hiccups we were finally able to connect and make it happen.

Karen was a Librarian for most of her career, I know it sounds like a setup for an “Andy Griffith Show” set-up. She now is a standup comic, actress and loves sharing stories about her father and her career path. We did chat a lot about her family life growing up, and what her one woman show is about. We also reflected on Don and his career in film and tv, what a great father he was and just how good of an actor he really was.

Karen loves being a part of the Mayberry Family, meeting fans of the Andy Griffith Show and hearing how her father and the show touched their lives. It has had a lasting impact on my life. She is also thrilled when his Three’s Company fan base shares stories and their love for her dad with her.

I have watched clips of Karen’s comedy and show and I have to say if she is playing in a town near you, get tickets and check out her show.

So I’m going to “Nip it in bud” and end these show notes here so you can jump right into Karen’s episode.

This episode is a first for Relatively Famous. I’m calling it a double-dipping episode. Jack & Davis Reid are Harold & Don Reid of the legendary country group The Statler Brothers, grandsons. The double dip is they are also the sons of the duo Wilson Fairchild’s Wil and Langdon Reid, the sons of Harold & Don Reid from Episode #40.

Like their fathers, I found Jack & Davis to be funny, talented and fun to interview. But unlike their dads they perform under a clear cut identity, JACK & DAVIS. Just kidding Wil & Langdon, Wilson Fairchild is a cool name for a band.

Jack & Davis are young and have a great outlook on life, music, their career and social media trolls. They could care less what trolls have to say and sometimes for fun they taunt them back. They do like when folks are kind and positive and will often personally respond to those social media questions and comments.

They are cousins, best friends and business partners, yet they still seem to enjoy singing, hanging out, traveling, finishing each other’s thoughts and writing songs together.

I wondered about how I might relate to these young men before we started recording, after all they’re closer to my son’s age and I can be a little bit of a “get off my lawn you dang kids” grumpy old man. However I truly enjoyed talking with them, learning about how they became a duo, it wasn’t a natural progression. Being in their 20s, I had to ask why they sometimes wear those matching outfit like old classic country bands and singers?

These two young men just love what they do and really don’t care if people don’t like their music or tell them to get over their grandfather’s Statler Brothers connection. Jack & Davis aren’t doing it so much for fans but for their enjoyment. They truly love singing songs of their granddads and feel sometimes the world could use some of those songs.

Jack & Davis are earning their way in the world of country music and not coasting on their grandfathers or fathers coattails! Ok, they do sometimes share a tour bus with their dad’s. But who wouldn’t want to ride in a bus over a van, right? They are working hard and playing shows that build a career and strong fan base, not quick internet one hit wonders.

What a blast and energetic interview Jack & Davis proved to be. These two clearly love each other, love what they do and love to share it with fans, both new and old. I hope you enjoy their conversation as much as I did.

https://www.relativelyfamous.net/episode-40-wil-langdon-reid-harold-don-reid-sons/
https://jackanddavisreid.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jackanddavisreidmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/jackanddavisreidmusic/?hl=en
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTUsCoWaUrQ4m03akKm-bNA