Relatively Famous with Chip White

Nelco Media

Welcome to “Relatively Famous with Chip White,” the podcast that offers an insider’s perspective on life alongside fame. Join host Chip White as he sits down with individuals who share their unique experiences of growing up in the orbit of celebrity.

  1. 2d ago

    Francis Gary Powers' Son Gary Powers Jr

    https://youtu.be/D7SChTsEwjA Francis Gary Powers was the U-2 spy plane pilot shot down over Russia on May 1, 1960. His son, Gary Powers Jr. opens up about his father, the CIA and a Steven Spielberg film “Bridge of Spies” surrounding one of the most talked-about incidents of the Cold War. On this episode of Relatively Famous I talk with Gary Powers Jr., as he separates the facts from fiction. What excites me about this episode is the history. I remember being taught about the Cold War while we were actually living it out in real time. The Berlin Wall was a daily story on the nightly news. We learned about the U-2 incident and how Gary Powers was eventually exchanged for a Soviet prisoner. In school, we even took a sanctioned field trip to the Ocean Drive Theater to see Dr. Zhivago so we could better understand the Cold War and the threat of communism. I honestly believe Dr. Zhivago and A Gentleman in Moscow should be required reading and viewing in all U.S. schools. We jump right into the facts and myths with a question from Warren Croom, a loyal listener and Relatively Famous subscriber: “Why did it take 30+ years for your dad to get the recognition he deserved?” In his answer Gary Jr. talks about the court of public opinion, fueled by conspiracy theories, fake news used to deflect from a military operation, and armchair generals, all played a major role in shaping the narrative around his father. Before our conversation, I Googled Francis Gary Powers because I wanted to understand what happened and what choices his father had if he were captured. Thankfully, Gary answered the one question I didn’t want to ask but really did want to know the answer to: “Why didn’t your dad use the suicide pin if captured?” Injecting the poison was an option not a command, with a much deeper answer. It’s fascinating to learn about the books Gary and his father wrote about the experience, the lectures, the museum, and Gary’s commitment to keeping this important piece of history alive for the American people. Gary told me he started giving lectures at high schools because students thought the U-2 incident had something to do with the rock band U2, rather than an event that brought us dangerously close to what could have become World War III. That really says it all about why preserving history matters. I was also impressed by Gary’s take on the Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks film Bridge of Spies, based on the May 10, 1962, prisoner exchange involving his father. It seems the writers and producers were open to Gary Jr.’s thoughts and concerns. He described it as a wonderful experience and shared that he was hired as a consultant during the film’s production. There is so much more we discuss in this conversation that I haven’t even touched on in these show notes. If you’re a history buff or military historian, this episode is for you. And if you’re not, I promise you’ll still be fascinated by Francis Gary Powers’ story and the amazing work his son, Gary Powers Jr., is doing to make sure we never forget it. #GaryPowers #U2SpyPlane #ColdWar #BridgeofSpies #HistoryPodcast RESOURCES + LINKS: Gary Powers Website Spy Tours with Gary Cold War Museum Website YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify

  2. Oct 23

    Buddy Ebsen’s Daughter Kiki Ebsen

    https://youtu.be/dgZxMTh_1dE Kiki Ebsen, daughter of Buddy Ebsen, tells the truth about her dad’s toxic Tin Man scare, life with Jed Clampett, her musical career and touring with Chicago, Belinda Carlisle and Al Jarreau plus, her love of horses. We talk about songwriting, favorite songs, fame and the challenge of finding your own identity in a famous family. Buddy Ebsen’s daughter, Kiersten “Kiki” Ebsen, explains that while her dad may have played the hillbilly Jed Clampett on TV, in real life he was much more sophisticated than the character he portrayed. Kiki remembers the family gathering for a big celebration when The Beverly Hillbillies debuted. At the time, she didn’t really understand what a big deal it was. She just assumed all dads were on TV! After all, her father had been in the business since the late ’20s, ’30s, and ’40s. What did confuse her was why he would come home from work wearing that full fake moustache he sported as Jed Clampett. Although her father didn’t talk about it with the family for many, many years, Kiki shares the truth about Buddy Ebsen being cast as the Tin Man in the original The Wizard of Oz. We talk about the makeup that nearly killed him and the effect that experience had on his career. I asked Kiki why she chose music over acting. For her, music was comforting, and it led to an amazing musical career. From touring with Chicago, Al Jarreau, Tracy Chapman, Michael McDonald, and Christopher Cross to what she says was her most fun tour of all, Belinda Carlisle, she has some great stories to tell. We have a great conversation about music, songs to travel by, and those songs that bring back memories the moment you hear them. We talk about music from Lionel Richie, Rickie Lee Jones, Pete Townshend and others. Kiki is also a prolific songwriter, so of course we had a great conversation about her music, her songs, and Lookout Mountain Band, the group she performs with now. The band features two members with famous relatives, Kipp Lennon, brother of The Lennon Sisters and James Raymond, son of David Crosby. As a teen, Kiki spent a lot of time splitting her life between Balboa Island and the family ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains. Life at the ranch fueled her love for horses, and as a young girl, that passion led to several successful years as a champion equestrian. Later in life, that same love of horses led her to rescuing horses and starting The Healing Equine Ranch. The ranch focuses on equine-assisted learning, creating a healing partnership between horses and people. You can learn more about it in the link below. I ask Kiki about some of her songs, the inspiration behind them, and which ones she would love to see reach #1 on the charts. Her enthusiasm for hiking and finding mountains to climb inspired the song “Take My Time.” Her picks for the top spot include “Candles,” “Better Friends,” “Keep You On My Mind,” and a rocking country song called “Loud Mouth Girl.” We wrap up with an honest conversation about fame and identity. Having a famous parent or relative can come with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to figuring out who you are outside of their shadow. It’s something that not only our famous relatives have had to navigate, but something my guests and I are also learning to handle in our own lives. It’s a conversation about family, music, horses, fame and finding your own identity. And, as always, there are plenty of great stories along the way. RESOURCES + LINKS: Kiki Ebsen website: https://kikiebsen.com/ The Healing Equine Ranch: https://www.thehealingequineranch.com Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RelativelyFamousPodcast\ Website: https://www.relativelyfamous.net/ #wizardofoz #beverlyhillbillies #abarnabyjones #BuddyEbsen #KikiEbsen

  3. Oct 16

    Bing Crosby’s Grandson Phil Crosby Jr.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwUV8iWm3Lc&feature=youtu.be Phil Crosby, jazz singer and grandson of Bing Crosby, talks about his legendary grandfather, the Bing Crosby and Bob Hope “Road” movies, growing up around Dean Martin and the influence of his stepdad, Jack Klugman. From his start in the LA music scene to life as a jazz singer, Phil has a rich story to tell. On this episode of Relatively Famous, I get the chance to have a great conversation with Bing Crosby’s grandson, Phil Crosby Jr. Phil’s father was one of the four boys from Bing Crosby and Dixie Lee’s marriage. And as Phil puts it, “I’m sort of from the black sheep side of the family.” His grandfather, of course, was the legendary Bing Crosby, a singer and actor who won the Oscar for Best Actor Oscar in Going My Way (1944). Bing had an incredible musical career with 396 chart singles and 41 number one hits. But for a lot of us, he’ll always be associated with White Christmas, both the song and the movie (1942). It’s a family tradition in our house to watch it every year around the Christmas holidays. I suggest everyone take a few minutes to Google Bing Crosby. He really did leave a huge mark on entertainment history. Phil and I talk a little about his grandfather and how those famous Bing Crosby and Bob Hope “Road” movies came about after an on-stage improv session at a charity event. Phil describes the Bob & Bing as “frenemies,” which I thought was a great way to put it. We also get into Phil’s own journey through music. He talks about trying to break into the LA rock scene, eventually leaving that Hollywood music lifestyle behind, and traveling around the country trying to figure out who he was and what he really wanted to do. That journey ultimately led him to jazz, where he found his path. You might think being Bing Crosby’s grandson would give you a pretty easy ride in the entertainment business. And while a famous last name can certainly open a few doors, it also comes with a lot of expectations and comparisons. Sometimes you have to work even harder to prove yourself as your own person and not just somebody’s grandson. Phil put in the time, did the work, and developed his own style. Today, he’s a respected and successful world-class jazz singer, making his own mark in the music world. Phil once performed with my friend Ricci Martin, Dean Martin’s son, and Louis Prima’s son Louis Prima Jr. with hopes of expanding the show. If you follow this podcast, you know I love these family connections, we had Louis Prima’s daughter, Lena Prima on in Season 2 Episode 47. Now, White Christmas is certainly a classic, but the Bing Crosby and David Bowie duet of “Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy” has always fascinated me. I think it’s beautiful. So naturally, I had to ask Phil who he would love to do a duet with. Corey Feldman was not the answer I was expecting. And neither was the reason why! You’ll have to listen to that part of the conversation for yourself. With White Christmas being such a big part of the Crosby legacy, we discussed his Christmas at home and what the holidays were like with the Crosbys. Let’s just say that Godzilla and Star Wars hold some pretty deep memories for Phil! Phil gives us the lowdown on what it’s really like being a professional jazz singer, performing in jazz clubs and venues around the world, and how life on the road as a jazz musician compares to life as a rock star. We also talk about his life as a dad, his mom dating Dean Martin, who always called him “The Kid,” and the influence his stepfather, Jack Klugman, had on his life. We ended with a really touching conversation about Jack, the love he showed Phil’s mom, and the impact he had on both of them. There are so many interesting stories in this conversation, from growing up connected to Hollywood royalty to finding your own identity and building a career on your own terms. I hope you enjoy spending some time with Phil as much as I did. And if he’s performing in your area, go get yourself some tickets! Tell him you heard his episode here on Relatively Famous. Phil Crosby Jr.  https://philcrosbyjr.com/  https://www.instagram.com/crosbycrooner/  https://www.facebook.com/PhilCrosbyJr  https://www.tiktok.com/@philcrosbyjr Crosby/Hope “Road” movies: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls063633377/ Website: https://www.relativelyfamous.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RelativelyFamousPodcast

  4. Oct 9

    Jeff Bridges’ daughter, Isabelle Bridges | He’s not “The Dude” to them! | Relatively Famous

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGdMrKwG7f0 Isabelle Bridges, daughter of Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges (“The Dude”), granddaughter of Lloyd Bridges, and niece of Beau Bridges, joins Relatively Famous to talk about life in a Hollywood family, her children’s book Daddy Daughter Day, her podcast, and the family’s new art gallery and cultural center, “b r i d g e s,” opening December 2026 in Santa Barbara, California. I love that I never know who is going to say yes to being a guest and what I learn from chatting with them. That’s why I really was happy to chat with “The Dude” Jeff Bridges’ daughter, Isabelle Bridges, on this episode. What a sweet young lady she is. Talk about a big shadow to be under: grandfather Lloyd Bridges, uncle Beau Bridges, and dad Jeff. Stepping out of the shadow and into the light, Isabelle is shining bright and forging a great path for herself. The first question actually came from our engineers at Nelco Media. They wanted to know if Isabelle’s friends called her dad “The Dude.” She laughed and said no, but her children have a special name for their granddad. You’ll have to listen or watch to find out the answer. She also has a great answer to my fun, yet serious, question: “What did your childhood smell like?” Her answer was not what I was expecting. We also chat about Christmas and how she prefers to escape the commercialization of the holiday by focusing on the winter solstice as a time for reflection, with the family on a winter night walk in the snow on the ranch in Montana, using lanterns for light as they embrace the majestic beauty of nature and the heart of winter. Before talking with Isabelle, I did not know she wrote a children’s book titled Daddy Daughter Day (by Isabelle Bridges Boesch), that her father illustrated it, and why that project means so much to her personally. We chat about her father wanting to be a musician, not an actor, why she did not pursue acting, and where the acting/music gene does run in the Bridges family. Isabelle tells me why she, too, got into podcasting. We talk about how we both like podcasting and whether we prefer the guest or the host seat. I discover what her podcast, The Isabelle Bridges Show, is about and the one guest story that really hit home for her. We wrap up the conversation with news about the Bridges family opening a multigenerational family art gallery, cultural center, and creative club called “Bridges,” stylized as “b r i d g e s,” in Santa Barbara, California. “b r i d g e s” opens in December 2026. I hope you’ll enjoy your time with Isabelle as much as I enjoyed having a great conversation with her. Thank you, Isabelle. Episode Links & Resources Book: Daddy Daughter Day by Isabelle Bridges Boesch, illustrated by Jeff Bridges (Penguin Random House) Podcast: The Isabelle Bridges Show https://isabellebridges.com/the-isabelle-bridges-show/ Gallery: “b r i d g e s,” Santa Barbara, California (opens December 2026.) Website: JeffBridges.com

  5. Oct 1

    Chip White, Brother of Vanna White

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgAxJ1_YmV8 Vanna White, the co-host of Wheel of Fortune, interviews me, her brother Chip as we start Season 4 with this special episode. We are flipping the script, or should I say the host and guest seats. I’m jumping in the hot seat. We began with life as kids in North Myrtle Beach during the 1960s and 70s when The Beach was truly a 3-month summer vacation spot and locals struggled to survive the winter months when the tourists were all back home. Stories of how we learned to ride bicycles and laughed about my Jr high school breakfast of choice, “A large bottle of Coca-Cola and big ole’ Honey Bun”, which had me jacked up on sugar and not very focused in class. She asks me about some of my jobs starting with my high school gig as a Clothing Consultant at a men’s clothing store, to being a nightclub DJ at Another World where Vanna was once a cocktail waitress. My first move to LA in late 1981 or early ’82 and me deciding if I’m going to starve in LA, I might as well starve back home, where I returned to being a DJ in various Grand Strand nightclubs. I open up about a time in my life where drugs were dragging me down a dark and unsuccessful path and how getting sober has changed and improved my life. It’s an honest conversation about my journey, family and addiction. She wanted to know how I handled moving from a small town in South Carolina to the big city of Los Angeles in my early 20s and trying to find my way in the so-called fast lane. We joke that our mom used to tell us “nothing good ever happens after midnight” and why I had to disagree with that statement. We talked about ice cream and our favorite shop in NMB, Painter’s Original and what flavors we like best. Getting to play golf with her in a PGA tournament and other highlights and perks of being her brother. We reflected on Krispy Kreme donuts and the “HOT’ sign along with childhood Christmas tales and some special Santa gifts. And of course the big question, “what is it like being Vanna White’s brother? Special thank you to https://www.oceandriveresort.com/ and https://chuckssteakhousemb.com/

  6. Sep 8

    Freida Parton, Sister of Dolly Parton (Part 2)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_vXk2OCWQw Dolly Parton, passed away on August 25th, 2026and the world began mourning the loss of a music, film, tv and humanitarian icon. For her fans there is real grief, sadness and a desire to live more Dolly like. She taught us all grace, forgiveness and unconditional love. For many it feels like the passing of a family member. I know for me it has been an emotional roller coaster and I had the opportunity to meet her. Freida Parton, Dolly’s younger sister has opening expressed her grief and shared with the world her love for Dolly. In 2025 I interviewed Freida for this podcast (S02 Ep52). Several months afterwards Freida invited me to Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort for a record launch, fan meet & greet, along with a chance for a follow-up sit down interview with her. She told me I want to interview you too, so we did some question swapping and learned a little more about each other. I hesitated in posting this this episode at this time, however I have noticed and realize that when an icon passes fans want to know more about their lives, that we hunger to feel a part of the process, to grieve with the family, to heal with their loved ones and to absorb as many stories as we can about their life. We hope for new information, a tid-bit of humor or even what family relationships were like. We want to find comfort and peace along with their family. Though this interview was serval months before Dolly’s passing I believe Freida’s stories of her life and Dolly’s love are important for folks to hear and bring peace as we all celebrate the life and love of Dolly Parton. Thank you Freida for your stories and for sharing your time and life with us. Instagram Fan Page Discography Facebook Pirates Voyage #dollyparton #9to5 #Freidapartonb #dollywood #twofaced #contrymusic #rockandroll #hairbands #myrtlebeach #piratesvoyage #orientaldoll #mtv #vannawhite #hawaii #grandpiano #floydparton #twins #twin

  7. Jul 20

    Stuart Butler - Visit Myrtle Beach

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e1A_5qHIOo&feature=youtu.be

  8. Jul 10

    Kelly Richards, Father of Cam Richards

    https://youtu.be/D1EP0YEleBw Cam Richards was a teenager from Garden City, SC when he stepped onto the world surfing stage. On Dec 6, 2018 at the age of 19 he had what many call the perfect ride at Hawaii’s famous Pipeline on a board designed, shaped and made by his father Kelly Richards. Kelly Richards is a no nonsense, straight up waterman. He tells you like it is and says he is who is and if that bothers you, well, he doesn’t care. The first time I reached out he said yes but warned me that he stuttered. Kelly wasn’t sure our listeners would tolerate his speech impediment. I assured him that was not a problem. When I started surfing at 11 yrs old in NMB, SC there were maybe 3 true surf shops along The Grand Strand. Established in 1969, The Village Surf Shop in Garden City being one, along with a surf & bike shop in Myrtle. At that time Eric Eason and his wife owned it. Anytime we surfed the south shores of the beach we had to make a stop there for wax or a new leash. I was to young and broke for a new board. LOL When Eric was ready to retire, Kelly, his family and business partner Brian Campbell bought the shop and dove head first into being not only a first class shop but also being very active in the community and its growth. Kelly has always supported and encouraged both his sons, Cole and Cam, to chase their surf dreams. Cam chose to dive deep into the professional surfing world. Cole is a key figure at the shop and in the water teaching new generations how to surf. Many kids along The Grand Strand owe their passion for surfing and the surfing lifestyle to Kelly and The Village Surf Shop. Though Cam may be the face of professional surfing for the Myrtle Beach area, his dad is the man who keeps the boards in the water and local Pipeline dreams alive. Brought to you by https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/ Special thank you to https://www.oceandriveresort.com/ and https://chuckssteakhousemb.com/ https://villagesurfshoppe.com/ https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2221440471426081 https://www.instagram.com/camrichards/ https://www.youtube.com/@cam-richards

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Welcome to “Relatively Famous with Chip White,” the podcast that offers an insider’s perspective on life alongside fame. Join host Chip White as he sits down with individuals who share their unique experiences of growing up in the orbit of celebrity.

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