The News Bender

KLAC AM 570 LA Sports Dodgers reporter David Vassegh has traveled with the team for nearly 10 years. He's one of those rare "born in LA, never left LA" reporters. David started as an intern at a radio station above the Hot Dog on a Stick in the Fallbrook Mall in West Hills, California. His first job in the 90's was producing the McDonnell-Douglas Radio Show on KXTA and ESPN Radio, before joining KLAC and iHeartMedia to report full-time covering LA-area sports teams. David eventually became the producer for the wildly popular Petros and Money Show. Once KLAC got the Dodgers he was the clear choice to travel with the team -- which got especially interesting once he and his wife started having kids. We talk about it all in this fun episode!https://twitter.com/thereal_dvhttps://www.instagram.com/officiallyvassegh/Dodger Talkhttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/519-dodger-talk-28250979/Book An Experience With David Vasseghhttp://www.letsengage.com/talent/david-vassegh•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Support The News Bender Podcast by supporting our sponsors:Realtor Missak Tokhmanian323-627-8302missak@huntingtongroup.comCA DRE #02037370Alert DropsFast Acting Wake-Up Aidhttps://www.alertdrops.com/use promo code RADIO for 10% off!•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

JoJo On The Radio has done nights at KIIS FM in Los Angeles for many years. He's an institution! But the first time he was on 102.7 wasn't the first time he was on the air in Southern California. He was on KEZY in Anaheim! Before returning to LA he hosted in Charlotte, Dallas and San Francisco. We talk about hanging out with The Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and his surreal experience hosting Michael Jackson's birthday party at Neverland Ranch! I also chatted with JoJo about life as dads on the radio, overcoming or managing shyness, his TV aspirations, and why he's so into ghosts, UFOs and a whole bunch of other paranormal stuff.https://www.instagram.com/jojowright/https://twitter.com/JoJoWrightThe iHeartRadio Countdowniheartradiocountdown.com/listenParanormalish Podcasthttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/605-paranormalish-29813229/•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Support The News Bender Podcast by supporting our sponsors:Realtor Missak Tokhmanian323-627-8302missak@huntingtongroup.comCA DRE #02037370Alert DropsFast Acting Wake-Up Aidhttps://www.alertdrops.com/use promo code RADIO for 10% off!•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

Kat Timpf is more than just a Fox News contributor. She's also a stand-up comedian, host of the new show "Sincerely, Kat" on Fox Nation, co-host of The Tyrus and Timpf Podcast, and reporter for National Review. The Detroit native went to Hillsdale College, then interned at KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles, Fox News Channel and other media outlets. We talk about her experience with rats, working at Boston Market, how she deals with haters, and why she spent part of her 30th birthday in a coffin!https://www.instagram.com/kattimpf/https://twitter.com/kattimpf/"Sincerely, Kat" on Fox Nationhttps://try.nation.foxnews.com/sincerely-kat/The Tyrus and Timpf Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tyrus-and-timpf-podcast/id1444681091Katherine Timpf for National Reviewhttps://www.nationalreview.com/author/katherine-timpf/https://www.katherinetimpf.com/•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Support The News Bender Podcast by supporting our sponsors:Realtor Missak Tokhmanian323-627-8302missak@huntingtongroup.comCA DRE #02037370Alert DropsFast Acting Wake-Up Aidhttps://www.alertdrops.com/use promo code RADIO for 10% off!•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

George Pennacchio's been ABC7's Entertainment Reporter since 1996. He was born in Chicago, family lived in SoCal for a while, then he spent his high school years back in Illinois. George had an opportunity to go to USC but turned it down to go to tiny Albion College in Michigan. He interned at a TV station in Chicago, then produced news in Monterey and San Diego, California. It was during his stint in San Diego he became the station's first entertainment reporter as the shop tried out this new "morning show" experiment. Next thing George knows, ABC7 in Los Angeles called, looking for an entertainment reporter of their own! We talk about family life, red carpet vs. junket interviews, how the business has changed in the last 30 years, why he's not to be trusted to hang a picture in his own house, and ... the story behind all those vests he wears! (Hint: his wife is an amazing fashion designer.)https://www.facebook.com/ABC7George/https://twitter.com/abc7georgehttps://www.instagram.com/abc7george/https://abc7.com/about/newsteam/george-pennacchio/•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Help support The News Bender Podcast by supporting our sponsors:Realtor Missak Tokhmanian323-627-8302missak@huntingtongroup.comCA DRE #02037370Alert DropsFast Acting Wake-Up Aidhttps://www.alertdrops.com/use promo code RADIO for 10% off!•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

CNN national correspondent Nick Valencia is from Eagle Rock, went to USC, and this is where I usually list all the markets my guest has worked in prior to reaching his or her current position. NOPE! Nick didn't go that route. He started at CNN in Atlanta as a teleprompter operator, and worked his way up. Nick and I talk about how he handled his father's death two weeks before high school graduation, why he was scared of his mom growing up, discrimination he's faced, challenges he's overcome, and life as a new dad who travels 150 days a year.https://www.instagram.com/cnnvalenciahttps://twitter.com/CNNValenciawww.cnn.com/profiles/nick-valencia-profileNick Valencia lands first interview with Stormy Danielshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ROl2qDBDxg•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••SPONSORS:Realtor Missak Tokhmanian323-627-8302missak@huntingtongroup.comCA DRE #02037370•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

DJ Hed is on Real 923 in Los Angeles Monday thru Saturday 7-midnight, and co-hosts the Homegrown Radio podcast with Chuck Dizzle. Hed is known for his brutal honesty, serving up raw thoughts in a steaming broth of confidence, humility and gratitude. We talk about how his childhood was full of moves around The Eastside because of financial issues — or his mom sensed he was hanging with the wrong crowd. Hed fell in love with radio at Cerritos College, finding his niche playing and promoting music made in Los Angeles. That grew into his role on Homegrown Radio, and his joining Real 923 in 2015. Hed also discusses his unique relationship with the late Nipsey Hussle, and why if he lost everything right now he would feel like he won.https://instagram.com/djhedhttps://twitter.com/DJHedhttps://real923la.iheart.com/featured/bootleg-kev-and-dj-hed/DJ Hed with Erni, his "White Mom"https://www.instagram.com/p/BxQnlsagRlCDJ Hed & Bootleg Kev | Haiti Babii Freestylehttps://youtu.be/tmjOCkifY9EHomegrown Radiohttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/home-grown-radio/id1203381945•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••SPONSORS:Realtor Missak Tokhmanian323-627-8302missak@huntingtongroup.comCA DRE #02037370•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

Frank Buckley co-anchors the KTLA Morning News and hosts the wildly successful Frank Buckley Interviews podcast and TV show. He moved around a lot as a kid but went to high school in 29 Palms, and that's where he got his start doing radio. He attended Cal Poly Pomona and USC. While in college Frank interned for the LA Times and Detroit News, and was a weekend writer at KNX radio in Los Angeles. Out of college he worked in TV news in Palm Springs, then North Carolina, KCAL 9 in Los Angeles, was a correspondent at CNN, then joined KTLA's morning crew. A few years ago he was one of the first (if not THE first) news personalities to start a podcast.Frank Buckley Interviewshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frank-buckley-interviews/id1145043886https://twitter.com/FrankBuckleyTVhttps://www.instagram.com/frankbuckleytv•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••SPONSORS:Realtor Missak Tokhmanian323-627-8302missak@huntingtongroup.com•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

Jane Wells is a Southern California native who went to USC, and while in college was a news writer at KTLA and filled-in doing news with Rick Dees on KIIS FM. Yes, doing news for Rick Dees was her first on-air experience!! Now she's a CNBC special correspondent, successful podcaster, and talk show host at KFI in Los Angeles. During her TV news climb she worked at KOB in Albuquerque, WTVJ in Miami (some GREAT stories from the go-go Miami Vice days in the 80's!), WNBC in New York City, and while with KTTV Fox 11 in L.A. she covered the Rodney King beating trial in Simi Valley and OJ's double murder trial, and joined CNBC as a correspondent with Geraldo Rivera covering the OJ wrongful death civil trial. All of these gigs led to her eventual starring role in the "Seinfeld" series finale!https://twitter.com/janewells/https://www.instagram.com/janewells/Jane's career in 2 minutes.https://youtu.be/FHsFTjyw9tsCEOs You Should Knowhttps://kfiam640.iheart.com/featured/ceos-you-should-know-la/Strange Successhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strange-success-with-jane-wells/id1329775106Top Story Tonight!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-story-tonight/id1442129493•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••SPONSORS:Realtor Missak Tokhmanian323-627-8302missak@huntingtongroup.com•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

David Begnaud is a CBS News correspondent who grew up in Louisiana. These days, he's based out of New York City. But he's also worked out of Miami and Dallas. Prior to joining CBS News he worked for Larry King's Ora TV, KTLA in Los Angeles, as well as in Sacramento and his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. He was thrust into the LA news spotlight with his live coverage of the Occupy LA raid outside City Hall. A few years later he was thrust into the international news spotlight with his weeks-long coverage of Hurricane Maria and its aftermath in Puerto Rico in 2017. David became so important in the Puerto Rican community in the U.S. he was in the 2018 National Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC. Also in 2018, David went public with his a) years-long relationship with his partner, Jeremy b) nearly lifelong battle managing and overcoming Tourette Syndrome. Enjoy our convo!https://twitter.com/davidbegnaudhttps://www.instagram.com/davidbegnaud/https://tourette.org/•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

Jonas Knox hosts weekends on Fox Sports Radio. He grew up in Thousand Oaks, and fell in love with sports talk radio listening to the likes of Jim Rome, Steve Hartman, Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton, and Mason and Ireland on Xtra Sports 690 and 1150. While working in real estate Jonas interned with Jeff Biggs at KLAA. He got his first job by flying out to Charleston, South Carolina, to hand-deliver his resume -- but the station folded less than a year later. Jonas returned to Thousand Oaks, worked odd jobs, then magically connected with Fox Sports Radio Senior VP Don Martin. I'm excited for you to hear how Jonas worked his ass off to get his own show, and what he did when he got the call. I told Jonas this was one of my favorites conversations. Enjoy!https://twitter.com/thejonasknox•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

Kelli Tennant is a former All-American volleyball player turned TV sports reporter with ESPN, Fox Sports, Spectrum SportsNet LA and others. While at USC she stopped playing volleyball after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Kelli says she was on various mediciations for more than a decade before she learned she'd been misdiagnosed. She didn't have fibromyalgia. Kelli actually had Epstein Barr, leaky gut and SIBO. In 2012, while Kelli's juggling her medical condition and jobs, her boyfriend-turned-fiancé lost his leg in a motorcycle accident. She would end up taking care of him until he could walk again -- but the relationship didn't survive. A few years later, Kelli left her TV sports reporting gig, and shut down all social media and public appearances for months. She reemerged as host of the Ceremony Wellness podcast, focusing on modern healing, wellness and spiritual development.EPISODE NOTE: I recorded this podcast with Kelli Tennant before TMZ reported she's suing former Lakers coach Luke Walton for sexual assault. I've emailed Kelli asking if she wants to comment on the report or the lawsuit -- and I've not heard back. If and when I hear back, I'll either update the podcast, or post it on my Twitter or Instagram: @aronbender.Kelli's Ceremony Wellness Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ceremony-wellness/id1410824985https://www.instagram.com/kellimtennant/https://twitter.com/kellitennant•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

Letty Peniche hosts Dash Radio's "The City" hip-hop channel 2-5pm. She has previously worked at Real 923 and Power 106 in Los Angeles, and was a host at Genius.com. She explains why she spent only a week working at Forever 21, how she didn't let having a baby as a teenager stop her from chasing her radio dream, owning her name and story, and growing out of the stereotype of what a woman should be or do in the hip-hop community and radio.Note: We talk about how Letty met and married Nipsey Hussle's tour manager, Jorge Peniche. We recorded this episode before Nipsey was murdered March 31.#TheMarathonContinueshttps://www.instagram.com/letty.set.go/https://twitter.com/lettyLetty with Nipsey Hussle on Letty Set Go Radiohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50i_dqQfqTYLetty on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/user/RikkiMaa/videos•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

Alex Gervasi is a DJ on 102.7 KIIS FM in Los Angeles. She was born in New Jersey, went to school at Asbury College in Kentucky, worked in Lexington, Virginia Beach and Austin before making the big jump to LA. We talk about dating life in Southern California, creepy direct messages, and how she handles anxiety around body image. Alex is also a big advocate for self care and women empowerment, and recently started her own podcast "Alex Tries Her Best." Oh, and she basically made me talk about the Philadelphia Eagles or else I couldn't have posted this episode.https://www.instagram.com/alexonthemic/https://twitter.com/alexonthemicPodcast: Alex Tries Her Besthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alex-tries-her-best/id1455540038?mt=2•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

KTLA reporter Wendy Burch worked in several cities prior to Los Angeles -- including Eureka, Reno, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver and New York City. Before joining KTLA, Wendy worked for KCAL 9, E! Entertainment and KABC Channel 7. She's reported on her struggles to get pregnant after 40, has gone viral a few times (got thrown up on once, chased after a shirtless beach runner), and in this episode talks about how she's going to meet her biological mother for the first time.https://www.instagram.com/wendyburch/https://twitter.com/goodnewswendyWendy chasing shirtless hunk at the beachhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZSfWZQ9vCsWendy getting thrown up onhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coc8PdhDX9Y•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com

For this episode I rode in KTLA's Sky 5 helicopter with badass pilot and reporter Tim Lynn. The Coast Guard veteran from the South Bay spent more than 30 years in law enforcement. A few years after joining Huntington Beach PD's Air Unit, he traded the badge for breaking news. He worked for KCBS and KCAL, then joined KTLA as one of only two pilot-reporters in Los Angeles. We talk about his emergency landing in Hollywood, his favorite police chases, and I find out how a guy from Torrance ends up loving the Anaheim Ducks! Thank you Tim and camera operator Colton von Pertz for an amazing experience flying high above the LA Marathon in Sky 5! And a huge shoutout to Angel City Air for making it happen!https://www.instagram.com/sky5tim/https://twitter.com/sky5tim/http://angelcityair.com/•••You can hear The News Bender Podcast host Aron Bender on The Tim Conway Jr Show weeknights 6-10 on KFI AM 640.https://twitter.com/aronbenderhttps://www.instagram.com/aronbender•••Jingle courtesy of Bradley & Jammie Hamptonacappellaizer@gmail.com