Episode 130

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Published on:

10th Jun 2025

American Idol with Tonya Abari

It's a "Yes" from us, Dawg, as we talk classic TV singing competition "American Idol" with our guest, writer Tonya Abari. We start with exuberantly motivational auditioner William Hung and being yourself, even if people don't get it. This was a wonderful musical trip down Memory Lane to a time where we were seated and tuned in to see what Kelly, Justin, Fantasia and the gang were gonna sing every week. This was a fun one.

Tonya Abari is a multigenre storyteller. Her words have appeared in Essence, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Good Housekeeping, AARP, Parents, ZORA, PBS Kids, and many more! The University of Maryland at College Park grad now lives and writes from Nashville, TN. Tonya writes for both children and adults — and has books published and forthcoming with Mudpuppy, The Innovation Press, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Quarto, Wiley, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. When she isn't having her way with words, she can be found reading; visiting historic landmarks; dancing to her golden era of hip hop playlist; or frolicking in and around town with her spouse and children, all whose names also begin with "T."

You can find her at tonyaabari.com.

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About the Podcast

Fine Beats & Cheeses
with Leslie & Lynne
Fine Beats & Cheeses with Leslie & Lynne celebrates cheesy pop culture.

About your hosts

Leslie Gray Streeter

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Leslie Gray Streeter is an author, veteran journalist, and speaker whose memoir “Black Widow” was published in March 2020 by Little, Brown, and Company. She is the lifestyle columnist for the Baltimore Banner, formerly the longtime entertainment and lifestyle columnist and writer for the Palm Beach Post. A native of Baltimore, Md, and a University of Maryland graduate, she and her work have been featured in The Miami Herald, the Washington Post, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlantic, the Today show, SiriusXM, O, The Oprah Magazine, and more. She lives with her son Brooks in her hometown of Baltimore. She’s a slow runner, an amateur vegan cook, and a true crime and “Law and Order” enthusiast.

Lynne Streeter Childress

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Lynne Streeter Childress is an actor, director, teaching artist, and playwright. She is the founding artistic director of Building Better People Productions, a theater for young audiences company in Annapolis, MD. Her 28-year career in professional theater includes performing at the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, and Adventure Theatre and teaching for institutions like the Folger Shakespeare Library and Baltimore School For the Arts, where she is currently a member of the theater faculty.  Lynne has seen firsthand how theater can communicate the most important things in the clearest and most interesting of ways, especially to young people. She lives in Annapolis, MD, with her husband and son.