Lisa is damn impressive. First things first, she has won three Emmy awards. That’s pretty cool, in and of itself.
In her pre-travel life, she worked for fifteen years as a television writer/producer/editor. Obviously, as an award winning one. She’s gave up that career over three years ago for a life of travel, writing, blogging, and now video consulting for people that need her very notable talents.
She’s a woman on the move. Literally and figuratively. Unlike most of the people I’d done the Lucky 13 with, I’v actually met Lisa in person, at the TBEX conference last summer. Unfortunately for her, I now count her as a friend and I am starting to do more video, which means plenty of emails and Skype conferences with me coming up. Bad news for her, I don’t pay. Good news, I do buy drinks.
So go check out her blog, LLWorld Tour, follow her on Twitter, and enjoy her very, very detailed and exhaustive answers to her Lucky 13 questions:
1. Most famous person you have met in person.
Hard to pick just one…since I produced an entertainment (travel, food, celebs, etc) television program, I tended to meet random famous people here and there so became a bit jaded to it. Here are a few that I remember:
sometimes I am just embarrassed
Julia Roberts, Pete Townshend, Danny Bonaduce (thrown in for good measure–what is good measure anyway? One Cup? A Liter?), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Michael Jordan, Matt Damon, Jamie Foxx.
2. Person whose tweets make you smile the most?
@StephenAtHome – Stephen Colbert
I prefer Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show”, to the Colbert Report, but I think Colbert’s tweets are funnier.
3. You, unfortunately, have been condemned to die, but fortunately, you get to have any meal in the world before you go. What is your menu?
I LOVE food and a big part of my job as a TV producer was to cover the restaurant scene in Chicago…which taught me so much about food and now I love just about everything (with the exception of grapefruit and a lot of fried stuff). If getting full wasn’t an issue I would have:
Starters:
- Tuna Tartare
- Ceviche with lime and cilantro
- Grilled Octopus
- Platter of Proscioutto, salamis and various other charcuterie and cheeses
Mains:
Spanakopita -- I had to look it up
- Spanakopita
- Ravioli with black truffles
- Various sushi– maki and sashimi
Some nostalgia:
- A bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon
- Grilled cheese and bacon sandwich
Sides:
- Garlic Bread
- Macaroni and Cheese
Dessert:
- Rich Chocolate Brownies
- Molten Chocolate Souffle
4. Your favorite movie of all time?
In my teens and 20s it was movies like Back to the Future
(still think it’s brilliantly done and entertaining) and the The Breakfast Club
.
Then it was The Shawshank Redemption
, When Harry Met Sally
, and Good Will Hunting
.
In the last decade, I’m into more small, slice of life flicks…some serious and and some more documentaries: Garden State
, Win Win, The Kite Runner
, Lost Boys of Sudan, Omnivores Dilemma, Waiting for ‘Superman’
.
(edit from Michael, anytime you click through to Amazon on any of my links and buy something, I get a small referral fee from them. Doesn’t cost you anything extra, but helps me out a little, just so you know. Thanks)
5. Tell us something interesting about someone in your family, in this case meaning grandparents or further back.
My grandmother was an actress, singer, and dancer in the Yiddish Theater starting in the 1920’s in New York City. She also performed at “Catskill” like clubs (think Dirty Dancing) and hung out with Milton Berle and others.
6. Your favorite travel resource on the web?
Wow. Have I mentioned that I hate lists like this that make me pick just “one favorite”. I don’t do favorites!
For booking airfares…I still love Kayak. A site that changed my entire RTW trip and allowed me to meet and become friends with so many interesting people all over the world: Couchsurfing.
7. Book I should buy tomorrow?
Some of my faves: Freakonomics
, One Year Off, Kitchen Confidential, The Omnivore’s Dilemma
, Shutterbabe
, A Trip to the Beach.
8. Where do you want to retire to?
I am already semi-retired in Chicago! Well, not really., but giving up my full time job 5 years ago, makes me feel semi-retired. For right now, I love this city and can get anywhere from it.
Snooki AND Danny Bonaduce in the same interview??! Gold, I tell ya. Gold.
9. Give us a couple sentences in defense of New Jersey.
Sigh. Poor, battered New Jersey. I defend it early and often. The New Jersey I know, has nothing in common with “Snooki” or dirty, urban areas at all. It is the butt of many jokes, but I can honestly tell you as someone who grew up there, it has large parts that are beautiful and resemble other northeastern or New England towns: green, rural, hilly, with curvy roads meandering through densely wooded areas leading to small colonial towns with main streets and old train stations. Because I have had this lifelong desire to somehow help change its status, I have even started a New Jersey blog that will be full of photos and stories on charming, little towns and other assorted NJ nuggets of goodness.
10. Worst artist on your iPod?
Ha. Of course ‘worse’ is a subjective term since I like them or they wouldn’t be on my iPod.
But I know some are often made fun of (kind of like that NJ thing again)…so where to begin? Let me go take a scroll…
For your amusement, here are just a few I allow you to laugh at:
- Air Supply (Making Love out of Nothing at All, dammit!)
- Neil Diamond (Who doesn’t rock out to Sweet Caroline??)
- Bon Jovi (NJ to the death!)
- Barry Manilow (sweet childhood nostalgia)
- Jennifer Love Hewitt (That’s right…she made an album and I’m the one who bought it)
- Night Ranger: Sister Christian
- The last laugh: Lipps, Inc: Funkytown (“won’t you take me to…”?)
11. What is the superpower you most want?
Being a traveler…to fly of course. But if that’s just not available (is it?), I’ll take the ability to eat anything I want and remain thin…oh, and to see the good in everyone.
12. You are an amazing videographer — give us the biggest mistake you see newbies make.
Why, thank you. Since producing television was my career before this blogging thing, I am a bit on the extreme when I see all these videos being ‘produced’ by anyone with a camera nowadays.
Ignoring your superlative, ‘biggest’ yet again, I’ll pick 3:
- Not using a clip-on microphone for interviews or stand-ups and therefore having crappy audio
- Not using a tripod or a VERY steady hand if necessary
- Making way too much camera movement in one shot – please stop panning, tilting and zooming!
13. Worst movie you have seen?
Oh wow. I’ve seen some stinkers. I often forget about them very quickly.
But then there was an Oscar-winning movie that I was so disappointed in, I will never forget it. Many will disagree with me, but I have found some that do agree. The Departed
.
I saw it in Buenos Aires. I loved it. The acting, the writing – wonderful…until the last 20 minutes or so. Then the movie just imploded to me. It should have ended 20 minutes before it did. Then, in my opinion, it was just all this random pile-on overkill (no pun intended). And I am not referring to the amount of violence. I’m simply referring to bad writing to tie it all up. It felt like the screenwriter just handed the script to his nephew to finish. Booo. I was so annoyed that I wrote my first (and last) ever film review on my blog.
Shutterbabe, AWESOME book.
Meanwhile, I’m totally stealing your skinny super power, but is that a super power? I guess yes, because you could eat your face off watching football/baseball games (hot wings, atomic, hot dogs) AND distract surrounding males from the action with
your hot bod while you’re doing it. A super power, indeed.
Meanwhile, I’d ask your interviewer to take his own Amazon plug out of YOUR interview. Hmmm…. 😉
Nice job, girl.
Thanks Marie Elena! I read Shutterbabe more than a decade ago…and dreamed of her life. TIme to read it again!
That food menu is seriously making me drool. Why did I have to read this when I still have 2 hours until dinner to goooo???
Tell me about it…and I could have added more food. Like choosing between your children. Well, I imagine if I had children. Okay, not really. 😉
Love Lisa!!
I can’t believe she met Julia Roberts and Matt Damon! Jealous!
but we may no longer be friends now that I know she is the one encouraging Jennifer Love Hewitt to sing…. 😉 hahaha
Thanks for the love! (but not for Jennifer ‘Love’!)
I must admit…I think she has a good voice!
No jealousy for Bonaduce!? 😉 He was very nice actually. I even read his autobiography (that’s what we interviewed him about) and enjoyed it.
Best thing about Lisa that she didn’t mention? She’s a South Carolina Gamecock grad like me! 🙂
Thanks Jeremy! So funny that we are both Gamecocks! Although, not sure it’s my ‘best’ thing. 🙂
Excellent interview. I have to say that is one kick ass last meal.
I have met Billy Corgan as well, albeit on way different circumstances. I met him in a Canadian Tire. He was in town for a show and for some reason wandered in. I confronted him and said hello, but he just grunted and walked out. Very odd.
Thanks Pete! The meal was one of the hardest questions – probably why I just went nuts and listed way too much food. I’d be full just from the appetizer portion!
Billy Corgan grunted at you! 😉 What a lucky man! I will say when we sat down for a long interview he did more than grunt and I was impressed by his intelligence. Oh, and in yesterday’s Chicago paper, I read that he has officially started his own pro-wrestling league! Seriously.
Love this, especially since I’ve essentially married into a Jersey family, I find myself defending it all the time as well. Thanks for another great insight into a fascinating travel pro!
Hey Matt! On the Garden State’s behalf, I thank you for your help!! People don’t realize there are so many pretty parts with mountains (yes, mountains!), lakes, forests, etc. Now, I have to ask, where is your wife from??
Woman….not that I want you to die, but I’d love to get in on that last meal action. Will you be sure to invite me? 🙂
Hi Nora! I am a woman of my word…so you are in on that meal. I love dining with others that share my love….no, my obsession with food! 🙂
Holy cow, I had no idea Lisa was such a BFD. Actually, she’s still a BFD. I admire your ability to separate from that sorta lifestyle…it seems to be what most people strive for.
Also, reading that menu has made me hungrier than I’ve ever been in my life.
Thanks Candice! I am such a big deal, that it took me a moment to know what BFD meant. Ha! Now, back to food… if I can only figure out how to eat whatever I want whenever I want…I’d be rich AND thin!
Umm, I second Nora – I wanna be at your last meal! Lol. That sounds delicious.
Also, I totally support your list of favorite movies – some really good ones on there! Reminds me that I really should watch “Garden State” again; it’s been a few years.
Thanks for the support Amanda! Garden State is great and NOT just because I am a Jersey Girl at heart.
Now, I am just waiting for someone to support some of my musical guilty pleasures. I think I may be waiting for awhile… 😉
Wait, what? Billy Corgan started his own wrestling league? That’s unreal!
I grew up near Pittsburgh but somehow missed out on visiting Chicago (except its airports) and New Jersey. We are back in Massachusetts for a few months, so I’m thinking a spring road trip to the latter is in order. Looking forward to checking out your sites for more information about both places. What is the name of your Jersey blog?
I simply the love most random questions that you for real!! Now I would like to get a real honest vote of the New Jersey issue because it seems like they are everyone’s bad size except for other people that live in New Jersey… lol. AND… I honestly love a woman that loves to eat so when you ask her what she wants for her last meal and she chooses 4 starters, 3 main dishes,
2 snacks, 2 sides, and 2 deserts.. well thats my kind of woman! lol
I’ll eat with you anytime Marcello! And I can always show off the real New Jersey too. I know I am biased, but when I would take friends home, they would comment on how rural and green it was compared to what they thought. I can prove it!
Hi Randy! Yep, wrestling. Bizarre, but he’s a good guy and part of it is to raise awareness for concussions. Here’s more info: https://www.nbcchicago.com/the-scene/events/134402478.html
PLEASE let me know if you come through Chicago (or NJ if I’m there)! I will be happy to show you around and even more happy to meet for a meal! Jersey blog is VERY new: http://www.iLoveNewJersey.co (same as Chicago blog: iLoveChicago.co) , but also you can go to my main blog and click on NJ and Chicago categories for all the juicy goodness.
Will do Lisa! Thanks so much for all the information, including the link to the Corgan story. 🙂
Bon Jovi? Yes, I’m with you 😉
Thank you Abi! Feel good, upbeat rock…who wouldn’t like it?? Fools, I say.
I love Air Supply…I actually went to see them in concert once! Great interview Lisa!
Thanks Sherry! How fun!
“Making Love Out of All” is one of the Top 100 pop songs of all time, hands down. I bought tickets to see them live in April in Naperville!
Yay Scott! Another endorsement for Air Supply. I have to admit, I’ve never seen them….just sort of nostalgic for their music. I used to hear it as a kid. And great meeting you in Chicago! Hope to see you again!
OMG I love Lisa! I’ve been keeping track of her bloggy goodness for quite some time now.
And Lisa, good lord, what are you trying to do to me – kill me? I’m in Ecuador and your last meal just made me die a little inside.
Hi Erica! How nice to hear! 🙂 So cool to see you guys spreading the ‘Austin Weirdness’ all over the world. As far as Ecuadorian cuisine…hmmm…not a big stand out for me, BUT how about the ceviche?! If i recall that is pretty plentiful there, no?