Your Life Is Just Like Almost Famous": Why I Say I'm Almost Phamous—with a "Ph"

People often tell me, "Your life is just like the movie Almost Famous," especially fans of the 2000 rock-and-roll romcom. I usually respond with, "I'm almost phamous—with a 'Ph.'"

The irony is, people say I look like Kate Hudson, and when they hear about my career, they picture me as the heroine in the film. But the truth is, in this story, I’m the music journalist—not the groupie. While Almost Famous follows a young music journalist’s journey on the road with an up-and-coming rock ‘n’ roll band, my story is similar—except I was reporting on hundreds of bands.

In 1992, my news director assigned me to do a story on jaywalking on The Hill in Boulder, Colorado. A friend who had gone to school in Athens, Georgia, suggested I interview Widespread Panic with all my university gear. That interview marked the beginning of my career as a music journalist, producer, and director—right there, in my political science classroom next to a small, Red Rocks-inspired amphitheater called the Mary Rippon Theatre.

As the band sipped cocktails and scribbled inappropriate comments on the soundboard, I realized that this was going to be my life for years to come. During that first interview, I made my share of rookie mistakes. I asked Dave Schools, "Who are your influences?" He replied, "My bandmates. We influence each other in all kinds of ways." If I was expecting a more conventional answer, I quickly learned that wasn’t the vibe. That moment made me realize how thrilling this journey would be, and it confirmed what I wanted: to be around people who don’t take themselves too seriously and who can appreciate humor in life.

In Almost Famous, the young journalist fakes his way into a career by getting his mom’s permission to hit the road with a rock band. Luckily for me, I was already in college when this opportunity came along, and I was fully committed. I dedicated myself to filming every jam band and up-and-coming rock band I could, and I spent the next decade on the road doing just that.

I worked at MTV News, hosted my own show on ABC in Nashville, and eventually left corporate America to pursue a freelance career. Along the way, I’ve survived cancer, a sales career, single motherhood, and even literal fires—just to keep my footage safe for the fans. I survived OxyContin addiction, and perhaps most importantly, I survived life on tour.

Now, I’m excited to share my stories with you. Check out my podcast, Almost Phamous (with a "Ph"), and my upcoming series Night Moves. I have some unbelievable tales to tell, and I was just featured on the latest episode of True Conversations of Athens, Georgia. Don’t miss it!

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