The Staffa Corner Greg Staffa

Zoro, the renowned drummer born Daniel Donnelly, is the latest guest on The Staffa Corner Podcast.
Zoro’s impressive career includes performances alongside notable talents such as Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and New Edition. With such a diverse musical background, it’s no wonder Zoro has captivating stories to share. 
However, on today’s podcast episode, he takes a more personal route by discussing his new book, “Maria’s Scarf”.
“Maria’s Scarf” is a heartwarming memoir that delves into Zoro’s relationship with his mother. As a single parent, Maria raised seven children on her own, and her resilience and love left a lasting impact on Zoro. The book promises to be a touching exploration of family bonds, sacrifice, and the power of maternal love. 

If you’re interested in heartfelt stories, keep an eye out for its release on April 30th wherever books are sold.

One reason I created The Staffa Corner podcast is because we’ve witnessed a decline in our ability to engage in thoughtful debates and maintain civil discussions. When someone disagrees with us, our reflex is often defensiveness. 

As a TV/film critic, it is easy to write a negative review, post it, and swiftly move on to the next critique.

Recently, I had the opportunity to screen Switch Up, which premiered today at SXSW. Although there were several positive aspects, my thoughts on the film leaned toward the negative. Let’s face it—we tend to gravitate toward criticism. When I had the chance to have the film’s director, Tara Pirnia, on the podcast, I eagerly accepted.

We engaged civilly during our 45-minute conversation, and I enjoyed talking to her. Did Tara concede her mistakes and align with my perspective? No, but that wasn’t the goal. Sometimes, a civil disagreement doesn’t alter viewpoints. Instead, it fosters a deeper understanding of differing opinions. 

I sincerely appreciate Tara’s willingness to join the podcast, especially considering it was recorded just 24 hours before the release of her first feature film.

Switch Up premiered at SXSW March 10, 2024 and will likely be making the film festival rounds. You can read my review here.

What amazes me about doing a podcast is that most people agree to come on and do it in their free time. I sincerely respect that, even when nothing seems to go as planned. 
This episode is one of those as the entertaining comedian Victoria Jackson joins The Staffa Corner Podcast. Little did I know she was having her guest bathroom remodeled, forcing her to interview from inside her car. 
Usually, I’d edit out all the commotion, but she suggested we leave it in. 
I enjoyed talking to such a comedic talent, having appeared in 109 episodes of Saturday Night Live. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.

Learn more about Victoria by checking out her website at https://victoriajackson.com

October 23 marked the 14th anniversary of the USA Network series White Collar premiere. The crime drama starred Matt Bomer as talented con man Neal Caffrey. To avoid returning to prison, Caffrey strikes a deal with the FBI to work for them as a consultant. 
The series was created by Jeff Eastin, with the pilot directed by Bronwen Hughes. The series would go on to run for six seasons.


Those familiar with my own story know the part White Collar had on me during some difficult times. I am incredibly grateful to Bronwen for taking time out of her busy schedule to come on The Staffa Corner Podcast.

Growing up, one of my favorite movies was the 1988 film Young Guns, followed by the sequel Young Guns II in 1990. The film starred Emilio Estevez as Billy the Kid. 
What I loved about the film was it got me to want to learn more about the real-life characters and the history surrounding the Lincoln County War. Through the years, I've made four trips to visit various sites and final resting places of several key figures. 
When a series about Billy the Kid was announced starring Tom Blyth as Billy, I was immediately on board. Thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed as season one tells the story of young Henry McCarty, a.k.a. Billy the Kid. The second season, which is currently airing, centers around the Lincoln County War. 
I absolutely love the series' look, so who better to have on than the Set Designer for the show, Evan Spence? Having worked on projects like Fraggle Rock, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Fargo, and others, I was fascinated listening to him talk about what brought Billy the Kid to life.