Spark: The InnovateLI Podcast InnovateLI

Long Island is blessed with many great attorneys, but not all are as studious, flamboyant or successful as John Ray of Miller Place – part Perry Mason, part Marlon Brando, always impressive.



With a ripped-from-the-headlines caseload and a long list of high-profile acting gigs, John has made a name for himself in and out of the courtroom over the last four-decades plus – and on the lacrosse field, too, where he continues to compete against players a quarter his age.



In today’s episode, the colorful counselor joins Spark Host Gregory Zeller to discuss the Gilgo Beach killer, topless middle-school teachers, precedent-setting surrogate-baby and rape-trauma cases, living abroad and an acting résumé that would impress any thespian – plus the evolution of his unmatched wardrobe, from the top down.

Laura Curran has seen the world – but chose Nassau County as her home.

Born in Canada and raised everywhere, the once-and-future journalist was the first woman to serve as Nassau County executive, after early jobs reporting for New York City’s biggest tabloids and before her later career in podcasting and talk radio. As county exec, the Democrat – not always an ally of Albany’s liberal majority – took innovative approaches to Nassau’s raging property taxes, rising drug problems and rampant cronyism, before old political machinations took her down.

In today’s episode, Laura joins Spark host Gregory Zeller to review her writings, grill local government and recall how a novice school board member became the most powerful person in Nassau – and why, two years out of office, she’s thrilled to leave county politics behind.

Black business is big business – and if you’re not “buying Black,” as the saying goes, you’re shortchanging your local community and the larger economy.

That’s the message of the BlaQue Resource Network and its founder, entrepreneur extraordinaire Aleeia Abraham, who’s on a mission to elevate and support her fellow Black business owners. Through popular events, shared promotions and other progressive positivity, the Queens College graduate has already rallied 25,000 networkers to this noble socioeconomic cause – and has big ideas about expanding her Queens-based efforts into Nassau and Suffolk.

In today’s episode, Aleeia joins Spark host Gregory Zeller to discuss her ambitious goals, her innovative methods, the $141 billion reality of Black-owned U.S. businesses – and how her stint as a circus ringmaster helped her find her voice.

David Battinelli is a hyper-productive engine of medical modernization, with a 28-page résumé – degrees, jobs, honorifics and more – to prove it.

As Northwell Health physician-in-chief and dean of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, David plays leading roles in the shaping of Long Island’s biotech-centric identity – and the realization of the region’s best socioeconomic hopes.

In today’s episode, the diverse doctor joins Spark host Gregory Zeller to share his multiple front-row perspectives on the Long Island innovation economy – and his firm belief in the importance of preparing healthcare specialists to succeed both now and in the future.

Laura Harding had some mighty big shoes to fill, succeeding Elaine Gross as president of Syosset-based equal-rights watchdog ERASE Racism.

But over her first 10 months on the job, fill them she has, running headlong into this new opportunity and leading the 22-year-old anti-discrimination organization through fresh inclusive-housing and education-funding initiatives.

In today’s episode, the attorney, social worker, seasoned social-justice advocate and "adopted Long Islander" joins Spark host Gregory Zeller to discuss her high-profile career, her faith in today’s youth and the importance of positivity – plus, the subtle power of injecting humor into difficult situations.

Lauren Sheprow is a gifted communicator – so gifted, in fact, that she’s reanimated a long-dead lesson of American political science, brutally murdered by hate, ignorance and b******t: Communication is always key.

After decades of highest-level strategic communications (professional tennis tournaments, major regional hospitals, a SUNY flagship university and more), Lauren is the new mayor of the Village of Port Jefferson – an upset victory the political neophyte (and former professional racquetball player) credits to excellent connections and an innate understanding of effective messaging.

In today’s episode, Lauren joins Spark host Gregory Zeller to discuss her well-constructed career, the tough act she’s following at Village Hall and the critical need for clear communications – with constituents, other lawmakers and everyone else – at every level of government.