Rocker, composer, and activist Serj Tankian has always blurred the lines between the personal and political in his art, and for this episode we discuss his lifelong journey of activism, political awareness, and pushing for Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide. (Photo: George Tonikian.) This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

Pop singer-songwriter Chloe Lowery has built up a diverse portfolio over her career, working with the likes of Yanni, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Rocktopia, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Beyond music, she adores ballroom dancing, her dogs, and Broadway shows. (Photo: Shervin Lainez.) This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

Guitar wizard Joe Satriani has forged a lifelong career of six-string adventures spanning 18 studio albums, 10 million album sales, and 15 Grammy Award nominations. Outside of his musical focus, Satriani loves science fiction and has been delving into painting, which he does alone and in collaboration with the L.A.-based visual art team SceneFour. (Photo: Joseph Cultice.) This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

As the celebrated lead singer for Nightwish, Floor Jansen has toured the world and also conquered her homeland with her ace performances on the Dutch show "Beste Zangers". When she is not recording or touring, she loves to spend time with her horses and explore nature. (Photo: Tina K.) This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

Judas Priest's Richie Faulkner has helped the legendary band move forward and create more music. Beyond his passion for Priest lies his love of Star Wars, and in this episode of Side Jams we discuss the epic sci-fi saga, spin-offs, and tie-ins in all of their glories and shortcomings. We basically geek out over many Star Wars related topics. (Photo: Oliver Halfin.) This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

Militia is fascinated with all things dark and spooky. For this latest episode of Side Jams, we covered her creepy childhood, her fascination with sinister and eerie things, her supernatural experiences, and her love for seeking out allegedly haunted places. She met Ed and Lorraine Warren and had her photo taken with that creepy doll Annabelle.  This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts

Tony Harnell is known for his soulful singing, personal lyrics, and soaring high notes. He has endeared himself to devout fans while enduring the changing trends of the music business for over 35 years in groups including TNT, Westworld, Starbreaker, and Lovekillers. Tony spoke with me via Skype from his new home base in Nashville to discuss his lifelong love of surfing and skateboarding. He also talked about his recent certification as a health coach. All in all, it was a fun chat about wild waves, wipeouts, and the art of riding water and concrete. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts

The singer and lyricist for Moonspell discusses his love for writing, reading, and editing poetry and books. He runs his own media company, Alma Mater Books & Records, and he has translated works by H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, and Richard Matheson into Portuguese. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts

Throughout her nearly 25-year recording career, siren singer Azam Ali has crossed the boundaries between the old and the new, blending Persian melodies and folk sounds with other international influences, medieval music, and even modern electronic instrumentation. She spoke with me via Skype from her home in Los Angeles to discuss her fine art composites with photography, admiration for writers, and fascination with the world of dreams. Azam also opened up about her life's odyssey, which began in Iran, continued through India, and then ultimately led to the United States.

For over 30 years, Hansi Kürsch has fronted German power metal band Blind Guardian, who have enthralled audiences with their epic sound, fantasy-inspired lyrics, and his majestic vocals. For episode 10 of Side Jams, we chatted via Skype to discuss his obsession with collecting 7” vinyl singles to play on his jukebox, along with his love for movies and books. It was relaxed yet lively chat about artforms that we both appreciate.

As the frontman for Dream Theater, James LaBrie is the distinct voice for one of the most influential bands in progressive rock and metal history. Beyond his globe-trotting day job, LaBrie loves to go camping and boating. I called James via Skype during Dream Theater's recent tour stop in San Antonio to talk about his love for the great outdoors. Our chat also moved into other territory, including skiing, his love for reading, and on a larger scale, the state of our planet. (Photo credit: Mark Maryanovich.)

A singer who paved the way for the Atlanta hardcore scene when he was a teen, William DuVall ascended to becoming the frontman for Seattle hard rock icons Alice In Chains and the side project Giraffe Tongue Orchestra. Beyond music, he enjoys reading biographies and books about history, a subject for which he has a great interest. I spoke with William in a conference room at the offices of Cheddar TV in New York City. He also revealed the story of how he escaped the failing public school system in Atlanta to attend a private institution that took him on free of charge because of his strong desire to go there. (Photo credit: Johnny Buzzerio.)

Guitar maestro Chris Caffery is known for playing with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage, Spirits Of Fire, and on his solo albums. He is also involved with three outside enterprises. For nearly a decade, he has been a partner in the hot sauce company High River Sauces. He also sells art and jewelry that he makes from sea glass. And his stuffed animal mascot Wilbur The Metalphant is a social media celebrity that has spawned a line of 300 different items -- clothing, clocks, glasses, school supplies, and more. Many of the proceeds from these latter two endeavors go to children's cancer and elephant sanctuary charities. I called Chris at his home in Orange County, New York via Skype for our podcast.

As lead guitarist and co-founding member of Uriah Heep, the ever-jovial Mick Box has been a driving force behind the British rock icons for 50 years. Their latest album Living The Dream is a strong studio release with memorable tunes and insightful lyrics. Outside of music, Mick is a big fan of British football – or, as we call it in America, soccer – and since childhood, he has rooted for the team Tottenham Hotspur. We met prior to the band's show at The Paramount in Huntington, New York to talk about his love for the sport. We also discussed American football and places Mick has lived outside of England. (Photo credit: Richard Stow.)

Metal shrieker Dani Filth has traveled the globe for a quarter-century spreading the gothic black metal gospel of his band Cradle of Filth. The British group's latest album, Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness Of Decay, is their best in a decade. On top of the unusual gifts bequeathed to him by devout fans, everything from homemade dolls to large animal skulls, Dani loves to collect toys, paintings, and antiques. Backstage at The Paramount in Huntington, New York, we discuss our mutual love of collecting and the fascinating finds he has amassed throughout his life. He also reveals how he was quietly outbid by a major Britpop figure for a "hideous" piece of pop art he discovered at random in a British antiques store. (Photo credit: Artūrs Bērziņš.)

Ash Costello and her New Years Day bandmates Austin Ingerman, Nikki Misery, and Frankie Sil mine a dark, heavy sound that has embraced a pop-metal approach on their solid new album Unbreakable. For this episode, we speak about their mutual love for horror movies as well as her advocacy for animal rescue. Conducted at the offices of RED Music in NYC, our conversation stretches from the singer's intense childhood ("I was too dark, too young") to her leg tattoos, their spooky band adventures, her stance against animal breeding, and how she adopted her pets. (Photo credit: Hristo Shindov.)

Guitarist Alex Skolnick is known for his musical prowess in both heavy metal (Testament, Metal Allegiance) and jazz (The Alex Skolnick Trio). He also loves books, so I thought it would be fitting to meet him at the Strand Book Store in NYC to discuss all things literary. We wander the stacks, from fiction to pulp fiction to rare books, to discuss his favorite authors, titles, how he reads and even where. Our chat spans the gamut from the obscure to the popular, and we discover some great finds in the process. (Photo credit: Evelyn Steiweg.) Part of Pantheon Podcasts.

French electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre has toured the globe, sold an estimated 80 million albums, and holds the Guinness Book record for largest outdoor concert attendance (3.5 million people). He's also a down-to-earth person who loves painting, sci-fi, and movies. In this episode, we discuss those Side Jams and how they relate to his career. He and I also explore how artists engage the world, from our ever escalating aspirations to keeping up with the constant barrage of new releases. This interview was conducted in the rooftop bar of the Knickerbocker Hotel in NYC. (Photo credit: Peter Lindbergh.) This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

Welcome to the debut of "Side Jams"! Joining me for this inaugural episode is Roger Craig Smith. You've heard this talented voice actor play many signature roles in animated shows, films, and video games over the years -- Batman, Captain America, Sonic the Hedgehog, Kylo Ren, and many, many more. When he's not cavorting with the voices inside his head, the L.A.-based actor loves to gaze at the stars, particularly from a place he has in the Tehachapi Mountains of Southern California. Here, he discusses his passion for astronomy, rocketry, and space travel, delving into the high-tech innovations that have enhanced his stargazing experience, along with sharing his views on NASA, Elon Musk, and more.