The Talk About Las Vegas Podcast

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with internationally ac-claimed comedian Tom Rhodes, now performing at the Comedy Cellar at the Rio through February 8 (and The Laugh Factory at the Horseshoe, March 2-8)

Tom traces his comedy origin story back to age 11, when his father took him to see his uncle perform stand-up—an experience that lit a spark that never went out. From that moment on, Tom knew he wanted to do comedy because, as he puts it, “you are talking to the world.”

In this wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation, Tom shares the pivotal advice he received from Jay Leno at age 17, why he took his comedy overseas in the late ’90s—starting in London—long before most American comics were thinking globally, and how performing around the world shaped both his voice and his worldview.

Tom also offers candid advice for younger comedians (“tell them the joke, show them the joke”), explains why he steers away from overt politics in his act, and why his ultimate goal onstage is simple: to make people happy. He talks about his podcast, “Smart Camp,” the joy of staying creatively curious, and why he’s never confined himself to just one comedy style.

It’s a smart, funny, and inspiring conversation with a comic who’s still chasing the joy of creation—and sharing it with the world.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Talking With Alan Snel – January 26, 2026

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Alan Snel, founder and writer of LVSportsBiz.com, the insider source tracking how sports, business, and politics collide in Southern Nevada.
Alan takes us inside the controversial world of public-private partnerships, where taxpayer funding helps build private sports palaces — and sparks big questions about priorities. Should public money go to stadiums when schools, roads, and transportation need funding too?
From the moment Las Vegas turned into a major-league sports capital, Alan has been riding the wave — and reporting every twist. He breaks down the arrival of Major League Baseball and the A’s stadium, the explosive growth of sports tourism, and the historic first boxing match at Allegiant Stadium, where 70,000 fans packed the house and 96% were visitors, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
The conversation also dives into how Formula 1 put Las Vegas on the world stage, and why the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is hiring new sports tourism exec-utives.
If you want to understand how Las Vegas became the global crossroads of sports, enter-tainment, and business — and what it’s costing us — this episode is a must-listen.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Talking With Mark Malkoff – January 19, 2026

Las Vegas wasn’t just a stop on Johnny Carson’s itinerary — it was his second home.

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Mark Malkoff, co-author (with David Ritz) of "Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend," for a fascinating deep dive into Carson’s unique and lasting bond with Las Vegas.

Drawing from hundreds of interviews and years of research, Mark reveals previously un-known stories about Carson’s life and career, including who persuaded Johnny to first perform in Las Vegas and why his debut at the Sahara was an instant sensation. Mark also explores how Carson’s relaxed, playful stage persona in Las Vegas differed from the carefully calibrated host audiences saw nightly on The Tonight Show.

The conversation uncovers Carson’s legendary friendship with Don Rickles, his love of discovering and championing new talent on Vegas stages, and the curiosity that fueled his creative life.

Mark also shares how he teamed up with famed biographer David Ritz to bring this definitive portrait of Carson to life — and offers new details about Johnny’s earliest shows originating from New York.

For fans of classic Vegas, television history, and the entertainers who helped shape the city’s golden era, this episode offers a rare and intimate look at Johnny Carson away from the desk — and under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Talking With Alex Cuba – January 12, 2026

Photo by Uriel Moreno

Grammy, Latin Grammy, and Juno Award–winning Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Cuba brings his signature blend of Latin soul, pop, jazz, and heartfelt storytelling to Myron’s at The Smith Center on January 16 at 7 p.m., and he joins Ira for a revealing conversation on this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira.”

Born in Cuba and shaped in Canada, Alex opens up about what it means to carry Latin culture inside you, even when you live far from a traditional Latin music hub. He shares how moving to Canada gave him the creative freedom to become the artist he is today — and why he chose the challenging but rewarding path of remaining fiercely independent.

n this wide-ranging conversation, Alex reflects on everything from wanting to be a doctor as a child, to the life-changing moment at 14 when he saw someone play electric bass and realized music was his destiny. He talks about building his own studio, becoming his own producer, creating music for Latin ears around the world, and developing his own record label to support both his own work and other artists.

Alex also reveals how melodies come to him — not through force, but through openness — describing himself as a “vessel” for music, guided by instinct, emotion, and story. Singing in both Spanish and English, Alex brings his full musical identity to the stage, and his Myron’s performance (he’ll be speaking English), making this a perfect introduc-tion for new fans.
It’s an intimate, inspiring look at an artist who followed his own path — and found a global audience along the way.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)