Man vs. Food host Adam Richman has been one of my dream guests to have on the Guest DJ Project since I started it a couple years ago.
Why? Because he is so genuine about his love of food and his appreciation for the unique culture in each of the cities he visits. And, because of that, he seems to love life. And I figure anyone who loves life, loves music.
And I was right. As with many of the guests, he was tortured in selecting just 5 songs but his choices …

Chef and cookbook author Ani Phyo is an all around raw food maven.  She has been called the “goddess of raw foods” by Andrew Zimmern, the host of Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods” and just released a new cookbook but her recent visit to KCRW was ALL about music.
I love that we keep uncovering how much electronic music/ the rave scene has had a huge impact our guests. Dita Von Teese picked a dance track last week and Ani also talked about how working in an underground club in London changed …

Dita Von Teese is a burlesque star with a glamorous retro pin up look that is unmistakable. She’s absolutely gorgeous and she showed up to the Guest DJ Project taping in a lace dress, gloves – the whole bit. She had just come from Larry Flynt’s office!
Dita told us she’s a “girl’s girl,” which I got right away. And she’s not a huge fan of folks who strive for celebrity instead of achieving fame through hard work, which is pretty refreshing.
She has incredible stories – about her life in Paris, …

Most people who see Andy Sandberg’s name immediately think comedy. But he’s actually one of those rare talented folks who can take comedy and crossover successfully into music. (though Donald Glover claims Lil Wayne is hilarious and Mike Birbiglia says the same about Bob Dylan)
His musical skits are easily the highlight of Saturday Night Live and he now has a second album coming out under the name The Lonely Island, with friends and collaborators Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, called “Turtleneck & Chain”.
He visited KCRW not long ago to share …

Donald Glover is funny. Whether you love him as his rapper alter ego Childish Gambino, as the star of NBC’s Community or for his work as a writer on 30 Rock, he has a distinct – and hilarious – point of view in his work.
After his Guest DJ Project set, I have a much better idea where it came from and how much music has informed his style – Nedelle taught him that the key to great writing is in the details, Skee-Lo convinced him he could be himself (a …

Playwright Richard Montoya rose to fame as part of the acclaimed Chicano performance troupe Culture Clash. He’s outspoken and passionate about everything he does and music is no different.  He sat down with DJ Anthony Valadez to talk about his favorites on the Guest DJ Project.
“I’ve been in L.A. about 20 years and there’s just a constant soundtrack, always in my head. I live in the East Side, near Dodger Stadium, and I always travel to the West Side and the Valley or even the O.C. or out to the …

From KCRW Intern Monika Scott

Mark Ruffalo has always been someone I’ve heard being described as an “actor’s actor.”  For what it’s worth, I’m not an actor and yet have been a big fan of his for a long time.  The Brothers Bloom remains one of my all time favorites. So I tried to keep my cool when I discovered he was on this week’s Guest DJ Project.
When I first listened to his Guest DJ set, I could feel myself getting emotional at his take on the message of Elliott …

Actress Busy Philipps gets really personal in her Guest DJ Project set, taking us throughout her life with a handful of sentimental song picks – from high school, to landing her first big acting gig on “Freaks and Geeks”, to marriage and then motherhood.
Like Busy, Tori Amos was the artist that ushered me through the delicate emotions (aka moodswings) of my teenage years. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent locked in my bedroom listening to “China,” and it made me really happy to know I was not …

Mister Cartoon, 1963, International Ice Cream Truck, 2010, Urethane enamel candy painted freehand on truck by Mister Ctoons, photo by Estevan Oriol

Mister Cartoon’s exquisite, candy-colored ice cream truck will certainly be one of the highlights of MOCA’s landmark street art exhibit opening this weekend. The legendary street artist – and LA native — will have four pieces on display at the Geffen Contemporary for the exhibit, running April 17 to August 8.
To be honest, I knew him primarily as a tattoo artist to the stars (Eminem, Dr. Dre, Justin …

From KCRW volunteer Sierra Drucker —
Pro surfer Rob Machado is heading to the Troubadour this Thursday, April 14 for a rare performance and screening of his latest film, Melali -The Drifter Sessions.  On this short-run tour, Machado will be performing a live score to the film alongside his Melali Sessions Band.  The film is a throwback to the rootsy surf flicks of the 70s, using unreleased footage from his last film, The Drifter, to celebrate the art and beauty that is the wave-riding experience.
Now if I could only figure out …