The Talk About Las Vegas Podcast

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with jazz pianist, vocalist, and bandleader Danny Sinoff, performing at Vic’s May 1–2. With a style rooted in tradition and driven by storytelling, Danny is part of a new generation keeping the Great American Songbook alive—and swinging.

In this engaging conversation, Danny shares insights into his upcoming album "Make Someone Happy," including his collaboration with Benny Benack III and working with three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. He talks about his early shift from classical music to jazz, influenced by legends like Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin—and how that spark turned into a lifelong passion.
Danny also reveals how he carefully selected songs for the album, including a surprising classic made famous by Tony Bennett that he never expected to record. He discusses why the Great American Songbook continues to resonate across generations, emphasizing that “lyrics really make the melody come alive.”

Plus, Danny reflects on his commitment to presentation—always performing (and even recording) in a suit—his memorable introduction to Las Vegas, and the moment he was inspired watching Harry Connick Jr. on “Saturday Night Live.”

Above all, he shares his love for ballads and the powerful connection between performer and audience.
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ASHLEY LOREN: FROM SATINE TO SOLO - A POWERFUL NIGHT OF STORIES & SONG IN LAS VEGAS

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with actress and singer Ashley Loren, who brings her powerful voice and deeply personal story to Myron’s at The Smith Center April 25.

Best known to theater lovers for her acclaimed run as Satine in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” Ashley's journey is anything but typical. Growing up in New Jersey, she jokes she preferred animals to people (even spending time at farm camp) and discovering that art—especially music—would become both her passion and her refuge.

In this candid and inspiring conversation, Ashley shares how being diagnosed with Lyme disease shaped her life and career, turning creativity into a form of therapy. She talks about launching her music journey right after high school, landing her first role in “Jekyll & Hyde,” and eventually making her way to the bright lights of Las Vegas and Broadway.

Ashley also opens up about the realities behind the curtain—from starting as a standby for Satine to becoming the role’s longest-running star, to navigating health setbacks that forced her to step away and reset. Through it all, she’s remained committed to authenticity, balance, and using her platform to inspire others, especially those living with autoimmune conditions.

Now, she’s bringing it all to the stage in an intimate evening at Myron’s—just Ashley and a piano—blending stories, songs, and raw honesty. It’s a performance shaped by her journey, her time in Las Vegas, and her belief that “there’s always a cost to things,” but also a deeper reward in listening to your body, your spirit, and your truth.
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FROM SOCCER TO SOMMELIER TO RESTAURATEUR: JOE MIKULICH’S LAS VEGAS JOURNEY

This week, Ira welcomes Joe Mikulich, co-founder of EDO Hospitality, the restaurant group behind some of Las Vegas’ most talked-about dining destinations, including EDO Tapas, Anima by EDO, and Braseria by EDO.
In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Joe shares the story of how a Las Vegas native worked his way up from food runner to sommelier to restaurant entrepreneur, building a hospitality brand that celebrates bold flavors and adventurous dining.
Joe explains what “EDO” really stands for—and why the concept resonates so deeply with people in the hospitality industry. He also talks about growing up in Las Vegas, the realities of entering a tough and competitive business, and why putting your ego aside is essential for success in restaurants.
Joe reflects on opening his first restaurant, EDO Tapas, and how its tiny footprint created a surprising challenge—a cap on what was possible. That experience helped shape the vision behind Braseria by EDO, a restaurant intentionally designed to capture a specific market while pushing the menu in more adventurous directions.
Along the way, Joe shares insights on delegation, leadership, using technology to stay organized, and why Spanish cuisine offers a “silver lining” of creativity and versatility in the kitchen.
Plus, he reveals how soccer—his childhood passion—instilled the drive, discipline, and work ethic that still fuels his career today.
It’s a candid conversation about building restaurants, embracing creativity, and chasing big ideas in the ever-evolving Las Vegas dining scene.
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FROM PIANO LESSONS TO THE LAS VEGAS STAGE: JON MCLAUGHLIN’S MUSICAL JOURNEY

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with acclaimed singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin, who performs April 11 at Myron’s at The Smith Center.
In this engaging conversation, Jon reflects on a lifelong relationship with music that began at the piano as a child. Coming from a musical family—his father and grandfather were musicians—weekly lessons were simply part of growing up. Now a father himself, Jon shares why he won’t push music on his daughters, even though they already love the pi-ano.
Jon also talks about the professor (Jonathan Brooks) who profoundly influenced his musical thinking while he attended Anderson University, helping him realize that music could be both simple and deeply personal. That realization helped shape the songwriting style that has become his signature.
In the conversation, Jon discusses why lyrics matter so much to him, how he finds creative inspiration by forcing himself to listen to new music, and what he calls finding “the office”—that focused place where songwriting happens.
He also shares stories about the first time he knew his career path was the right one, the thrill of his first sold-out show in Denver, and the powerful moments when fans tell him how much his music means to them.
Plus, Jon talks about the song from his current album, "Scenarios" that resonates most with listeners—“Acting”—and what it’s like preparing for his first performance in Las Vegas.

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