Voiceover
Trigger warning for mention of suicide.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Stick around to meet Brian McFayden and learn how a small town boy became an MTV VJ and a well-known television and radio personality.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Hi, I’m Dennis VanDerGinst join me in a series of entertaining and interesting conversations with entertaining and interesting people, we’ll explore various aspects of the human experience and what makes life more fun. This is Uncommon Convos.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Hi there. Welcome to Uncommon Convos. I’m your host, Dennis VanDerGinst. And before introducing today’s guests, I’d like to remind you all, please take a moment to subscribe to, rate, and review, Uncommon Convos on your favorite podcast platform.

Dennis VanDerGinst
It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s free. And we’d be so grateful if you would do that. By doing so. You’ll always know when our next episode drops. Also, you can check out UncommonConvos.Com and suggest other guests and watch this video or the video version of this and every other episode we have. But today, my guest is my friend Brian McFayden. Brian is the epitome of small town boy hits the big time. He has those Midwestern roots hailing from Omaha, Nebraska.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And then he spun his good looks, talent and charm into a crazy, exciting career. He started off as a popular DJ in Minneapolis, in New York, and then landed a gig with MTV, first as a news correspondent and then transitioning into a VJ and occasional host for TRL and other MTV shows. In 2003, he went on to host Cupid on CBS and he was the host of the first season of CW’s Beauty and the Geek when it was on the WB network.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I guess the following year he hosted WB’s superstar USA and then Beauty and the Geek. He hosted and produced for Al Gore’s Current TV. In May 2011, he began hosting Seven Wonders of the Wall on MSN, and in 2012 he hosted Campus Insiders, which is the college football and basketball show. He added the Morning Express Bleacher Report in 2014. He joined KGW in Portland in 2015. A couple of shows–I know, and then went back to his radio roots in December of 2020 back in Denver.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And he left there a few months ago. And now we’re going to find out what he’s up to this point.

Brian McFayden
Good lord, Dennis.

Dennis VanDerGinst
In addition, in addition, I want to mention this before I forget, he is the proud dad of Dane, who’s the spitting image of this guy. Man, it is great. You know, it’s funny as I’m going through all this…

Brian McFayden
It sounds like an obituary. Like you’re reading my–

Eulogy–

Brian McFayden
Eulogy! Or something. Like he did all these things. And you know what? We miss him.

Dennis VanDerGinst
We do, you know, and the funny thing is, is I’m going through all this. And before preparing to talk today, I was thinking the last time we had any real conversation prior to, you know, getting scheduled for the interview today was when our mutual friend Chelsea Smith passed away, a former Miss Universe. And at that time, I think you were still with KGW in Portland, but were planning to move on. So we started started going through this litany of things.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And I’m and I’m just realizing, man, if I were, you know, interviewing someone for a new job and I went through all this, I’m like, this guy cannot hold a job. What’s going on here?

Brian McFayden
You sound like my grandmother. She’s like and I’m like, you’re in the entertainment business. It’s so funny. It’s like when you’re out of a job, you’re always out of a job, you know.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Right.

Brian McFayden
And it lasts for a minute.

Brian McFayden
And it just depends on if it works for you and if it doesn’t, then you kind of move on. But I’ve always been kind of like a utility guy because I’ve sort of on radio and then working on a TV like MTV and then from there just hosting a bunch of reality TV shows. And then it’s like, OK, well, all of a sudden the phone’s not ringing anymore. What do you do in the situation? Well you got to keep reinventing yourself.

Brian McFayden
And and I’ve never been a quitter. I mean, you know, coming from the streets of..well I wouldn’t say the streets–the streets of Omaha.

Dennis VanDerGinst
The streets of Omaha.

Brian McFayden
I wasn’t on the streets. Yeah, I was. You know, I was I was it was just I was in a gang at seven.

Dennis VanDerGinst
We used to hurl corn at each other.

Brian McFayden
And we were we were a bunch of detasseling corn kids, you know, but it’s you know, we just we didn’t have any money growing up. So it’s always had a good fight in me. And so it’s reinventing like, you know, getting into sports. I always thought about, like, do what you love and if you’re passionate about something, why not go for it? And that’s how I got into CNN and and HLN and doing sports there. And then just kind of just whatever sticks, sticks.

Brian McFayden
But you got to make sure at the end of the day, you do what you love. And and, you know, I got my start in radio and and I’m still in it. So it’s it’s kind of nice to still be in that game, you know, that’s how we met, too. So it’s.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah. And and I’m going to kind of I’m going to kind of circle back to how we met and all that. But what is it that you’re doing right now? Are you in between? Are you.

Brian McFayden
No, I’m actually I’m so funny. You said that I’ve been working nonstop. I’m actually I can’t say too much, but I’m going to Nashville. I’ll be leaving here at the end of the week and then I’ll be gone for a couple of weeks. I’ll be back in Denver, which is a great city. It’s an awesome state too. But I’ll be I’ll be in Nashville and you’ll get to see what I’ll be doing. And I’m sure you got it and you’ll be texting about it.

Dennis VanDerGinst
But yeah. Yeah, well, I’m looking forward to it. I know. Like I said, when we talk–

Brian McFayden
Oh! And I’m doing a movie too. We were doing a movie pre-uh, pre-covid and it got shut down. That’s how I got back into radio, is because covid I, you know.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Crazy.

Brian McFayden
We were filming a movie in Ramsey, New Jersey. It got shut down. I went back to Nebraska to stay, stay with my girlfriend and we kind of covid [inaudible]. It didn’t last.

Brian McFayden
But then I was just like, OK, what do you do in a situation? You go back to what you know, what you love. Radio was it. And that’s how I got to Denver.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And it’s funny how covid has had that impact on a lot of.

Brian McFayden
Yeah.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Budding relationships and long last or had been long lasting relationships.

Brian McFayden
It’s a silver lining, man. You know, I thank God every day, you know, as long as you got your family nearby, I got my son with me. So it’s it’s all good.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah, for sure. You know, speaking of Chelsea, Britney, just for the folks listening in, Brian and I met yeah, we met like 10, 12 years ago when Brian was hosting a charity fundraiser I was sponsoring. And we met Chelsea at the same time, as well as a number of other great people that I know we’re both still in touch with. And part a part of the fundraiser at that time was a beauty pageant component. And Chelsea had been Miss Universe before.

Dennis VanDerGinst
So, you know, she was a good fit. And Brian had actually hosted the Miss Teen USA pageant. And both of those pageants, the Miss Universe and the Teen USA were at the time owned by former President Donald Trump.

Brian McFayden
Donald Trump, yeah.

Dennis VanDerGinst
For like 20 years. And ironically and I referenced this during the intro, you also had indirectly worked for Al Gore with Current TV.

Brian McFayden
Yeah, I worked for the president and vice president.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah! Right.

Brian McFayden
So, yes. And if you talk to Al Gore, he would say that he was president for a day. So it’s interesting to have those conversations with them. It’s like I remember sitting in traffic in Los Angeles and and I was sitting in traffic and if I were the president, I wouldn’t be sitting in traffic. And he said it was just right after he lost the election and in and he asked the driver, what’s taking so long?

Brian McFayden
And the driver turns around, says, the president’s in town. And I was just like, wow. So I it’s kind of like that moment for him. He’s a great guy. Fun to work with.

Dennis VanDerGinst
So you you obviously then did have conversations with him while you were working for current TV. Did you ever have any conversations with Donald Trump?

Brian McFayden
Yeah, I mean, Donald Trump on numerous occasions because I dated Nicky Hilton back in the early 2000s. I remember the first time I ever met Donald Trump. Was uh, and the Hiltons were, they were friends with um with the Trump’s. And and it was kind of like that. And I believe Paris and Nicky were repped by Donald Trump’s agency T Models or Trump Models or whatever. And and I just remember he sent up–because Nick and I lived together at one point–and he sent over a framed FHM and signed autographed FHM magazine by Donald Trump.

Brian McFayden
But it was it was the–This is how narcissistic he is. He signed he autographed a picture of the Hilton sisters and sent it send it to our place and it’s framed. I thought it was pretty cool. I wanted to hang it up. And Nikki, because I don’t want that up on the wall, but not because she’s like Donald Trump is because they were scantily clad and she dealt with that.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah. Well, you know, if if you don’t have it on your wall, you can send it to me, that would be fine.

Brian McFayden
At MTV–

Dennis VanDerGinst
I collect.

Brian McFayden
I’m sure you do. At MTV, I had met him a bunch of times. I hosted some events at the Waldorf Astoria and that was. Could you hang on one second?

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah.

Brian McFayden
Connor Christian–I got a really good friend of mine, Connor Christian. He is. He’s in town. He was on The Voice. Did you guys watch The Voice or whatever? Yeah. Yeah, I’m working with him right now.

Brian McFayden
He’s a really good kid. That’s up and coming. Remember the name. Hey, man, can you. I’m on the, I’m on the, I’m on the TV right now. I’m doing I’m doing my buddy Dennis’s show. Can you turn your phone off? Yeah, thanks buddy.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Thanks, Connor.

Brian McFayden
I gotta be nice to him. He’s a big guy. He would totally kick my ass.

Dennis VanDerGinst
So so revisiting, you know what you’re saying about the two of them with Al Gore. And and and I’m not I don’t want to put you on the spot here, but between Gore and Trump, do you feel that you’re more politically aligned with one or the other?

Brian McFayden
My mom always said love all God’s children. No matter which party they lie. You’ll never know. You’ll never know which side I swing. But I am from Nebraska, so you can probably go. Yeah, from there. But–

Dennis VanDerGinst
I hear you.

Brian McFayden
You know, whatever. I mean, I made a lot of money when I was when when Clinton was in office. So, you know, he was a liberal. Yeah. You know, it really depends on like if my son is fed, I’m good.

Brian McFayden
And that’s how–

Dennis VanDerGinst
That’s true.

Brian McFayden
What about you?

Dennis VanDerGinst
Well, you know, I’m a a personal injury trial attorney, so people can probably presume they know which way I’m going to, you know, lean. As far as that goes, I do tell people that I’m more conservative, fiscally and socially more liberal. So and that’s that’s pretty true.

Brian McFayden
That’s probably that’s where I lean to.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah. And you can be on the other side of that center division in and say that.

Brian McFayden
I just hop in the conversation, I’ve never been one to be like, oh, my God, OK, you swing to the left, I’m not talking to you, you swing to the right, I’m not talking to you.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Right.

Brian McFayden
You have a conversation. I think that’s what people are forgetting right now, is that we’re–you’re allowed to have conversation.

Dennis VanDerGinst
You’re right. And it’s funny because you and I have some mutual friends, Jason and Jason London, Beau Davidson, who are on opposite ends of that spectrum. And I don’t think we’d ever get the two of them to agree to anything or let alone maybe even stand in the same room for very long.

Brian McFayden
But I love Jason. God, how is he doing? I haven’t talked to him in a couple of years, and he’s such a great guy.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah, he’s he’s he’s doing he’s doing real well. You’re going to have to reach out and talk to him. I’m sure. I’d love to hear from you. By the way, you know, I mentioned Current TV, but I’m not quite sure what that was. What what–I know it was Al Gore’s baby in some respects.

Brian McFayden
I’m not quite sure what it was either, but it was, I was doing Beauty and the Geek. I was hosting that the show’s doing pretty successful, but it was reality TV. And I really wasn’t the biggest fan of reality television, mainly because you couldn’t really be yourself. You know, you’re just going on. You’re just the guy that’s reading. And and that’s that’s pretty much it. And when I saw myself more as an entertainer, I saw myself more as a talking head than anything.

Brian McFayden
And just like, God, when can I finally be Me. Cause–that’s when I got my start in radio, that’s literally how I sold myself to MTV was just being myself. And when I was approached by David Newman, who was the president of current television, they they deserve this baby with Joe Hyatt and Al Gore. And it was they launched it in San Francisco. I think that’s where you’re hired. And of course, offices were. And it was just it was supposed to be this new.

Brian McFayden
This this it was this was this idea where where the younger generation at that time was millennials, they would have a place for themselves to go and get their source, their news source. What do I want to say…Like the millennial, the news for millennials. But it was much more than that. It was just the content was incredible. It’s similar to what Vice is right now. It was very intelligent. I thought it was a fantastic idea, but they didn’t quite know how to sell it because in the world that we’re living in, it’s almost like ADHD where, you know, you’re watching you’re watching like YouTube videos that are like, you know, 90 seconds long, sometimes short, even Tik-Tok videos.

Brian McFayden
What is that like 15 seconds or something like that?

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah.

Brian McFayden
You know, you’re just getting it in just like the small doses, well, they took that idea and they would do these things called pods where they would they would air clips like seven minute clip–that was the show. That that was it. And we were putting that on on television. Well, you know, how television works is it’s ad based like how can you sell that to, you know, sponsors when it’s like you don’t even know what it’s going to be on?

Brian McFayden
It’s like, oh, this clip just aired was like three minutes, so they couldn’t quite figure out the programing thing. But I think towards the end they did. But they missed their boat. It was it was fantastic. I worked with the most talented producers, the most talented talents. David Newman, he’s a rock star. I mean, that guy like sort of Channel One News, and he’s responsible for like Serena Altschul, Anderson Cooper and all these like how big, cumbersome and the people that I was really blessed to even say that I shared the dais with a lot of these guys and women.

Brian McFayden
Well, it was just really cool.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And it sounds like in some ways that was a precursor to things like, you know, that we see now, whether it’s it’s YouTube or whatever. And it’s funny because it wasn’t Al Gore who claimed to have invented the Internet to begin with?

Brian McFayden
What do you mean claims?

Brian McFayden
What do you mean, Dennis? Well, you can’t see, but I’ve got I got I got a mural of Al Gore on my wall and it says, “inventor of the Internet.”

Dennis VanDerGinst
Exactly.

Brian McFayden
What kind of–if he were looking like a teenage kid, like, you know, just like get like he was a freshman in college or something, like look at his resume. Can you imagine that he’s sitting down? Wouldn’t you want that guy to date your daughter? Academy Awards winner…

Brian McFayden
I think the only thing he doesn’t have is a Tony. It’s it’s like, oh, sure, please come on in.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And and a presidency. But, you know, again, maybe maybe for a day. But yeah. Hey, you know, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, though, I think it’d be good for some some of the folks who are listening to get a better sense of who you are and where you came from. I mean, we talked about you coming from Omaha. And of course, you and I have those Midwestern roots in common.

Dennis VanDerGinst
We’ve talked sports. We talked about a lot of that over the years. But tell us what it was like growing up in Omaha and how was it that, you know, you developed this dream to work in the entertainment industry? I mean, that’s not exactly something. It’s not exactly a foregone conclusion. You’re going into entertainment from Nebraska.

Brian McFayden
Well, Dennis, when I was a little kid, I used to think I was going to I was going to Harvard. I was going to be an attorney. I was going to be that guy. You probably know…Dennis VanDerGinst. Every billboard in the Quad Cities! You’re like, oh, him. I remember sitting next to–I remember flying from I think it was in L.A. and I was flying to Iowa to hang out with you for a weekend.

Brian McFayden
And I was telling this guy, like, where I was going, it was like you’re having some big event because you always do. And a guy is just like, “Oh, him.” And I was just like, “oh.”

Dennis VanDerGinst
Oh?

Brian McFayden
It was–but it was more of like he was jealous of the fact that you had you had a name and notoriety in town. I mean, you’re an attorney. What do you–They call me ambulance chasers?

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yes, exactly. Yeah. Thank you for bringing that up.

Brian McFayden
But it’s much if anyone gets a chance to hang out with dinner–Dennis VanDerGinst–you got to. I mean, you’re probably one of the best people I know. Nicest guy ever.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I appreciate that.

Brian McFayden
That’s that’s definitely the Midwest in you. And that’s why we vibe so well. You’re a good time and a straight shooter and I appreciate that.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Likewise. I feel the same way.

Brian McFayden
But in Nebraska, I thought I was going to be an attorney. I really thought was going to be an attorney. I had no idea. But I always loved to entertain. And it was the sixth grade. It was sixth grade talent show. And they were looking for a host. And I was a transfer student because we grew up poor. We moved around a lot. And they didn’t have–I couldn’t, you know, showcase any talent. I mean, if I had a talent, I can’t sing.

Brian McFayden
But they they said we need an emcee. And I was like, what is an emcee? They said, the master of ceremonies where you are hosting. I was like, that’s me! Because when I was a little boy. I used to listen to Johnny Carson or watch Johnny Carson, and I remember like staying with my grandparents and my grandfather used to let me stay up extra an extra hour so I could watch the Carson show with him. And and it was it was good stuff.

Brian McFayden
And he was from Nebraska. So I would sit there. Good. And watch it. Yeah, I would watch Johnny Carson and and I and I remember thinking, OK, what would Johnny Carson do? And I, I end up seeing the show and I remember and this is when I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The piano locked on this poor girl as she was coming out. It didn’t lock, it was already locked.

Brian McFayden
The custodian didn’t unlock the unlock. The pianos were on stage. All the parents in the audience, I can’t see anything. There’s only a spotlight on us. Like someone go out there and talk to the audience. And I’m like, I’ve got this. And I go out there and I just look, look out and I can’t see it’s black. So I’m assuming since I can’t see them, they can’t see me. And I was just like, so how’s everyone doing?

Brian McFayden
And everyone’s like, great, you know, cheers. And I was like, yeah, me too. Like kind of looking around and I got and I got laughter out of it. I was like, oh my God, I think I’m funny. So that’s that literally that really touched me. So they finally got that piano unlocked and I was like, oh, so after that while playing football and whatever, I got into theater and started acting.

Brian McFayden
And that’s literally how I how I got into it. And growing up in Nebraska, it’s there’s two things. One, love your mama and and your family and to make sure you love the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Absolutely right.

Brian McFayden
It’s it’s in every gas station.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah, right. And I’m not a Husker fan, but I’m a Big Ten fan. So, you know, as long as they’re not playing Iowa or Illinois, I’m a Husker fan, you know, but–

Brian McFayden
I’m a Husker fan, not a big tent fan, mainly because we lose like every year here.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I hear ya, you know, OK, so you you get the bug obviously pretty early and explain how that comes about. You end up with these these DJ gigs and then obviously a young, successful guy with some degree of fame. At that age you’re going to attract some female attention, which I know you have. We’ve already talked about Nicki and I know you know Mandy Moore and some other folks that people are familiar with. But at some point you get the nickname Altar Boy.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Now, I would not necessarily associate Brian McFayden with–so yeah, explain that to us.

Brian McFayden
Well, what do you mean?

Dennis VanDerGinst
I mean–

Brian McFayden
Christian Connor from The Voices over here? We’re not just singing. We’ve got Bible study. No joke. It’s–OK. So when I was a little kid, I grew up Catholic and I come from a big Catholic family. And I always wanted to be an altar boy because there was a girl at St. Peter and Paul in South Omaha I had a crush on. She had braces. I was like nine, maybe eight, and she was twelve.

Brian McFayden
You know, she was an older woman and I had a crush on her. And and I felt like the only way I can get her attention is if I were the star of church and I felt like altar boys were that, you know, you had the priest and then you had these altar boys that were like, you know, just coming in there, like, you know–

Dennis VanDerGinst
The priest role, after all, was already taken. Right?

Brian McFayden
Well, I mean, obviously, I paid attention to the church. So I figured if I if I were like, you know, hanging out with the priest who happened to be pretty chill at that time and I would get her attention. And so I asked my mom if I could be an altar boy, and she said, no. She’s like, I’m not getting up that early to take you to church. We go to church at night, not five.

Brian McFayden
So that was it. And I told that story prior to my first day on the air in Minneapolis because there was a guy named Brian already on the air. I couldn’t go by Brian McFayden or even Brian. So especially back in those days. You had to have a name. So I told a story in front of a bunch of people at a bar in downtown Minneapolis. The guy goes, “Altar boy, that’s a great name for radio.” I was like, no, no, no, no.

Brian McFayden
So the very next day I went on the air and said that the guy was on the radio with his name’s Kane, who’s probably the most talented DJ in the country, still doing morning radio, New York. He he said, how the hell are you? My name is Kane. And that guy right there’s the Altar Boy. That’s how it all started. And our show did really well in Minneapolis. And then we took it to New York.

Dennis VanDerGinst
It is it is great nickname, too. It really. It really is.

Brian McFayden
And that name saved me, Dennis, that name saved me. So we get to New York and I’m there in New York, a contract with Howard Stern, can’t believe I’m with the big boys, you know, Howard Stern, you know I’m on with Kane. You know, my hair was really long down on my shoulders. And then of one day, I was just like, I’m in New York now. And I wanted, like, this haircut, kind of like Billy Idol.

Brian McFayden
And I didn’t. But then it caught frosted tips back then. So it was it was like so in 1997, I had really long hair and and I went in, I went into this place called Mudhoney, which was in Soho, and I got this haircut. This is like angry gay guy and his name’s Michael, awesome guy. But he was just like angry and he was kind of scared because he was a rock and roll guy.

Brian McFayden
Right. And he’s just like he just. He is. He is. Why are you sad? Because I was cutting my hair off and it was like a big deal. You know, I had long hair and and I go I go. I’m just he just he goes, I’m going to cut it in. Don’t like don’t tell me what you want. Like, he was like just like a soup Nazi. He was the guy. That’s right.

Brian McFayden
So, you know, like it or not, you’re sitting in my chair and paying over a couple hundred bucks for a haircut. So he cuts my hair and it was all spiky and it was all frosted. And I was like, oh, my God, that’s a good look. And I kept that going into MTV. But my what I once I got to MTV, it was I thought it was a joke. I was asked to audition for a show called Web Right. Which was the very first interactive game show in 1998. And I went in to audition and the guy that I talked to, his name is Rod Aissa. He’s the guy that brought in the Osborn’s. He was a director of talent at MTV at that time and he was doing the auditions well. He knew me as Altar Boy so I was going into MTV as Brian McFayden and they almost didn’t call for me because Brian McFayden wasn’t on the list.

Brian McFayden
I go–so as I’m leaving and they were they were closing up shop–I go, can you check to see if “Altar Boy” is on that list? And sure enough, “Altar Boy” is on that list.

Dennis VanDerGinst
That’s funny.

Brian McFayden
And that was the last time I was “Altar Boy.” It was like literally like, got the gig that day.

Dennis VanDerGinst
So how was it, by the way, that you got that MTV came a calling? And how did that all evolve with with MTV?

Brian McFayden
It was um. So I had been on K-Rock for a couple of years and I didn’t know where I was going, but MTV was kind of accidental. But I always had this feeling that I was going to that that was a place for me. I grew up idolizing MTV. I thought it was the cool thing to be able to watch music. I’ve always been the biggest fan of music, especially rock. And at that time it was like it was a weird transition for for rock music.

Brian McFayden
You know, we went from grunge era to they were trying to figure out it’s going to be glam rock or whatever. You know, rock always kind of goes in these weird ways. And it was right when it was like right when the Spice Girls and Hansen and and this bubblegum pop, I called it the bubblegum pop era or they were they were in and it was like this rap rock with like the Limp Bizkit, the korns and and like whatever.

Brian McFayden
And that’s what I was used to selling at that K-Rock. And when they had me come in, it was the beginning of the boy band era and it was like NYSNC, and Backstreet Boys and 98 degrees and B.B. Mac and and all these like O-town and and Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and Mandy Moore and Willa Ford and like this all these it was it was an awesome time for music. And if you say you don’t like the music, there’s something wrong with you because it’s so damn fun.

Brian McFayden
I listen to it now. We’re talking twenty plus years later and my son will be like, dude, what are you listening?

Dennis VanDerGinst
What’s going on? Yeah, I hear ya.

Brian McFayden
And I’m like, it’s um, you don’t like that? And he’s like, no, turn it up.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Nice, nice.

Brian McFayden
But it’s but it was, it was, it was kind of a weird transition. And when I got there I felt like all my dreams come true. I remember when I was told that I got the gig, I remember just crying the happiest years of my life.

Brian McFayden
I remember calling my mom just because the way I grew up in and she kind of knew that’s where I wanted to be. And just my whole life started to change. And and then from my first year on MTV, which was December 15th, 1999 was the very first time I started doing MTV News, which was ten of the hour every hour. Hi, I’m Brian McFayden with MTV News. That’s the news for now. Stay tuned for more news at 10:00 of the hour every hour right here on MTV.

Brian McFayden
I thought that was a cool thing. Yet Kurt Loder, [inaudible], John Norris and. Chris Connolly, and it was like that, you know, I I think it was like Tabitha Soren and… I was like MTV News was so it was such a big part of our lives, like growing up that I was like, I can’t believe I’m in the elevator right now with Kurt Loder. And we’re about to go to the same meeting.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Right.

Brian McFayden
It was it was so surreal.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And you did a lot of different a lot of different gigs while you were there, too, right?

Brian McFayden
Yes.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Hosting TRL for a bit.

Brian McFayden
I did MTV News for a year, and then I got pulled from that to host TRL and and just do all the spring break. So it was kind of like going from MTV News to MTV production, which was like all the fun shows. And it was at that time, I mean, honestly, by focusing on MTV News, maybe I’d still be there. But it was it was such a great time for not only music, but for television.

Brian McFayden
You know, it was like one of those things where for me it was the American Bandstand of that generation, of that era. And I still get stops. And it’s weird, too, now, because like these women, women and men will come up to me. And in these weird we should places like the grocery store and say that I got my son with me and they’ll say something like, Oh, you’re the guy from MTV, right?

Brian McFayden
I was like, yeah. And and then they’ll look at their kids and their kids are like my son’s age, like I grew up watching him and I’m like my the old and they are only the same age. You actually look older than me. But I never say that. Dane always thought that was kind of weird.

Dennis VanDerGinst
But it was–it’s fun. I mean that’s got to be a great gig. Like, you know, the spring break shows. That’s crazy.

Brian McFayden
You’re getting paid to still be a kid. And everyone and everyone at MTV was your age. It was like the producers were your age. It was like it was like going to it’s like you finished college and then you go to grad school. And if you’re done with grad school, it’s like, oh, here, here you go. Go to MTV and you’re like, oh, I’m going to do school.

Brian McFayden
Because you learn not only if you did it right, you paid attention, especially to the older fellows that were there, like Kurt Loders and the Chris Connelly’s, who I think Chris Connelly is a genius. He he was. Oh, my God, that man could paint a picture like no other, and he’s now doing like ABC News and ESPN and he always has those stories, Got he’s [inaudible]. I looked up to him. I really did. And I paid attention to them because what I learned is that if television was going to be something I was going to do, I had to figure out how to be myself on camera because I learned how to do that on the radio, but I didn’t know how to do that on camera.

Brian McFayden
So MTV was like college. It was like, you know, be yourself one oh one. And if you can get through the four years, the world is your oyster and you can do whatever you want. But it was pretty cool. I still to this day am blessed for sure.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And well, speaking of being blessed, we’ve already alluded to the fact that you you dated Nicky Hilton, Mandy Moore, and so many others. I mean, you know–

Brian McFayden
Not me. I didn’t date Mandy. We are we are good friends.

Dennis VanDerGinst
OK, and not to kiss and tell, but, you know, as far as you’re coming up in popularity and having access to celebrities and just being well known, especially during those MTV years, who are some of your favorite leading ladies, so to speak?

Brian McFayden
I mean, leading ladies that I dated or–

Dennis VanDerGinst
People you hung out with, whether you dated or you just were fortunate enough to hang out with that? You know, people might know of.

Brian McFayden
You know, Britney Spears has been in the news quite a bit because of right now with you being an attorney, you probably are abreast of the whole situation. In regards to the conservatorship. And I just feel like that poor girl meant…You know, I did something with ABC News last year and they didn’t air it.

Brian McFayden
I was kind of shocked by that. I didn’t know why. And maybe it’s because they just wanted to, you know, keep up on the Britney train. But I was like, just leave the girl alone. You know, it’s it’s you know, I knew back then that she was she was a fantastic girl, she is, too, by the way, you know, small town, a Louisiana girl who was thrown into the spotlight at a very young age.

Brian McFayden
And I always felt like, gosh, you know, just let her be a kid. She’s 18 years old. And we hung out. It was great without the cameras and not have like, you know, we could actually go out and have fun and be with friends and not have the worries of someone coming and going. This is not your–you’re not supposed to be doing this. You’re supposed to be this good girl. Well, she’s 18.

Brian McFayden
Let her do what she wants. And I felt like that kind of got carried over to the latter years of her life. And and when you’re constantly under the microscope like she was and just. Yeah, yeah. I just broke my heart. She was one of my favorite people. I mean, I feel like I’ve met so many people, but my absolute favorite moment was when I met Robin Williams and…

Dennis VanDerGinst
Oh yeah.

Brian McFayden
I hosted the Tribeca Film Festival like years ago in Tribeca.

Brian McFayden
And it was like it was great because like the Counting Crows performed and you had Robin Williams. It was the “who’s who” was there. I mean, it was it was one of the coolest things ever. And and I got to be the host. There’s thousands and tens of thousands of people in there and in a crowd, it was being filmed. And and I had no idea that Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, and Whoopi Goldberg were going to be there and they were going to do a set and they went on.

Brian McFayden
They did. They’re like, remember, they used to do the comic relief right for homeless people. And and and I was just like and I was with my girlfriend at the time and we were backstage and and I told her, it’s like if you see Robin Williams alone, I got like, I hate to be a fangirl, but I’m going to end up… Back in those days. You had the digital cameras, but they were like big bricks.

Brian McFayden
So I had–so I was carrying around their disposable cameras, you know, talking about.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Brian McFayden
So, yellow or orange little disposables. Yeah. Maybe you cut someone’s head off, maybe you don’t like you hope your selfie turned out, you know.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Right.

Brian McFayden
So I told Nicky I was like I handed the camera. I was like, if you, if you get us–start taking pictures. I don’t care how many are there.

Brian McFayden
We had like three or four of them and and he gets off stage, I introduce them, gets off stage and–man it’s gonna make me cry. And he beelines towards the to the porta potty. I mean, first of all, if you’ve ever met Robin Williams, he was a, you know, god, I miss him so much. He was a guy who was hairy as can be. He was he was just just he was like a Sasquatch. He had hair everywhere and he sweated like no other.

Brian McFayden
And plus, this is a summertime, the south side. And he’s backstage and he’s going to the porta potty. And and I’m like, Nicky, this is my moment. He goes to the bathroom and he comes out and I’m just standing there with my frosted tips and and my girlfriend’s like standing standing behind me. And and I go to look at Mr. Williams. My name’s Brian McFayden. And I’m the biggest fan of yours, and I’ve always wanted to meet you.

Brian McFayden
Can I shake your hand? And he goes, “Sure. I just had my hand on my dick.” And he puts his–so–

Dennis VanDerGinst
I love that.

Brian McFayden
And I remember, like, it didn’t even faze me. I was like, yes, no, I don’t even do that. I was just like, oh, never washing this. And again. And I remember like after like Nikki’s like, “wash that hand.” I’m like, so, “This is Robin William’s–he had his hand on his dick hand.” Kinda like, um.

Brian McFayden
But it’s I just I got to miss him. I loved him. He was so he was so nice and gentle and everybody that he ever met, he was just so. Yeah. We can say that’s if there’s a moment in my entire career, you know, outside of being getting a phone call from when you got on MTV, I think that was my big starstruck moment, was that.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I actually believe it or not, I actually met Robin Williams in an airport.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I mean, it was something like Burlington, Vermont, the most bizarre place.

Brian McFayden
Wow.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I yeah, I know. And I there weren’t that many people, you know, at the gate where I was that I noticed this guy and I kept looking at him and he saw me looking at him like, “yes, it’s me,” you know, type of that. He was very cool. But, you know, the fact that you bring him up and by the way, you did a very nice Robin Williams and you did a very nice Johnny Carson earlier.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And I you know, I have to mention now, before I forget he, that Brian does some some great impersonations. I know Casey Kasem is a good one. We’re going to have to have you do as well in a moment. But before I lose track here, I wanted to mention that, you know, I referenced Chelsea, our friend, Chelsea Smith, who passed away. One of our other mutual friends from when we first met was Gia Alleman from The Bachelor franchise.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And unfortunately, Gia took her life a few years ago and, you know, mentioning Robin Williams. You know, of course, knowing how tragically he left left us, that raises an interesting question that I had this discussion with other people. You know, the fact that you’re in the entertainment industry as well as Robin and Gia and you hear so many times the people in that industry who suffer from depression, who either think about suicide or commit suicide.

Dennis VanDerGinst
What do you feel that is that there’s a fear concern specifically about the entertainment industry when it comes to those things? And and if so, why is that? Is it because you’re you get rejected so quickly?

Brian McFayden
That’s a great question. And I didn’t know and I didn’t really understand depression until I became depressed was right. When I moved to Portland, Oregon, I was going through a really bad breakup and moving to a new city. And I never felt anxiety before. I was always able to handle it. And then I finally understood what that was about because I struggled for it, like through it for about a year. I mean, I was so it was it was at that point where I needed help and I didn’t know what to do.

Brian McFayden
I was like, OK, one, don’t drink to, you know, seek some sort of counseling, get get some help. Yeah. And I think a lot of it has to do it’s just like this smoke and mirrors, especially in the entertainment business. You don’t want people to think that you’re you’re down. I mean, one of the first questions you ask me is like, “what are you doing now?” You know, it’s interesting because I you know, I’ve been in this industry for a long time.

Brian McFayden
It’s like you’re always doing something. If you’re in the industry, you’re always doing something. It’s just, you know, people don’t know about it. But at the same time, like you, you’re you’re constantly having to prove that you are. You’re worth it. Yeah, worthy and and I think you know those expectations, if you. If you start letting yourself down, then you start becoming depressed. I don’t know, I just know that it’s so rampant in the entertainment business especially.

Brian McFayden
Yeah, it’s tough, it’s when when Gia died that that really hurt me because I had met her, I only knew her briefly and she was a sweet girl. And I remember I remember I said something about her that was taken out of text. And it really bothered me, too, because I was just like, you know, when I met her, I felt like she was that girl that was wanting the attention, wanting to get love.

Brian McFayden
And there was something behind that. And I wanted to get to know her a little bit more. And I didn’t. I didn’t, because obviously we were doing an event there and that was kind of it. And plus, we you know, we don’t have to go into the story. But we when we went, we got we had another run in with somebody else and and other issues put that guy on blast. But he’s a jerk off.

Dennis VanDerGinst
You did at the time, though, so.

Brian McFayden
Yeah. Yeah.

Dennis VanDerGinst
He knows what we’re talking about.

Brian McFayden
Yeah, yeah, yeah. He totally does. What a tool. But, you know, she seemed like she was a sweet girl when I heard about it. It broke my heart because so when you hear about stuff like that, you start thinking, OK, what can I do? I want to go back and talk to that person. Can I get them help? And I always think it’s so important you shouldn’t be embarrassed about getting therapy.

Brian McFayden
That’s why I wanted to mention this is like, you know, I tell my son, there’s something bothering you. Come talk to me. Let’s let’s kind of figure this out together. You know, back in the day, it’s like therapy. What’s wrong with you? Or you’re getting help for depression. And we’re all going through something, especially after covid…Jesus. You know, and it’s it’s nice to know that there’s somebody there to talk to you.

Brian McFayden
And you always think about that. You think about those people that that we’re looking for help and didn’t get it. And it just breaks my heart for sure.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I mean, we had Jessie Sulidis, you know, The Bachelor. Yeah, she was she was on the podcast several weeks back. And we had, you know, a little bit of discussion along those lines as well. And, you know, what we had, I think agreed was if if anything good comes of something so tragic like Robin Williams passing, it’s the fact that it does shine the light on the problem. And and now people are speaking more openly about the fact that it exists.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And and like you pointed out, I mean, with covid and everything people have been through over the over the last year and a half, two years, you know, it’s become more and more prevalent and it has to be addressed. So I’m glad that, you know, people are talking about it and are realizing that they have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. It’s, you know, the more the merrier. As they say, a lot of people are going through the same type of issues.

Brian McFayden
So, yeah, I, I just think it’s you know, if you if you keep talking about it, it helps and wholeheartedly and you get through it. And I think if I didn’t go through what I went through in Portland, covid would have been a whole hell of an experience. I mean.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah, right. Yeah.

Brian McFayden
Well here.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah I know. I’m like, OK, let’s move on to something a little cheerier. You know, we had mentioned obviously you you have this, this love of music and that was great. You know, a great fit with you, with MTV. But you’ve also done, you know, the reality gigs like you mentioned and some sports related gigs, too. So first of all, I guess, do you have a favorite genre within the industry?

Dennis VanDerGinst
And then I want to talk about some of these experiences. You’ve had some different shows and whatnot–

Brian McFayden
In the music industry or favorite thing that I’ve done?

Dennis VanDerGinst
And the entertainment industry. For instance, you know, you’ve done Cupid and Beauty and the Geek and you’ve done the sports shows. So where, you know, if you could write your own ticket going forward, where where do you want to be? Do you want to do all of the above?

Dennis VanDerGinst
You really love the sports stuff?

Brian McFayden
I’ve always–I’ve always wanted to be Johnny Carson.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Of course you do.

Brian McFayden
I mean I mean, I used to like I emulated him. So it was like, you know, to do late night shows is something that I’ve always wanted to do because I’m always what I loved about I got what I loved about Johnny Carson is that no matter who his guest was, he he could have like the the funniest man in the world to me is Richard Pryor.

Brian McFayden
He’s my all time favorite comedian. I think the guy’s a genius, not only just as a medium, as an actor, human being, fantastic person. When he would go on Carson show, no one said, hey, did you watch Pryor last night? No. They said, did you watch Carson last night? He had Pryor. God, it was hilarious. You know, it just made you don’t I mean, it was it just that’s I’ve always admired that.

Brian McFayden
I feel like a lot of the hosts kind of forget that today. It’s

Dennis VanDerGinst
OK. I’ll make it if you’ve got–I think you’ve got to do some Johnny Carson interviewing Casey Kasem and Matthew McConaughey.

Brian McFayden
Well, oh, man, you got to hang on a second. I tell you what Casey Kasem was. God, you know, it’s interesting because I met his daughter, Carrie. She’s she’s another. Great talent, Casey Kasem was somebody that I remember working in high school at the Gap and and on Sundays was Denim Day because it was a big sales day for everyone.

Brian McFayden
And you had to go in early to fold the denim and get everything already. And as I was driving to work every Sunday, I would listen to Casey Kasem and I was like, God, it’s such a crazy voice. Whenever you listen to it. And you hear this, he’s like [Casey Kasem voice] “This next song and dedication goes out to and he writes, ‘Dear Casey, I’m seven years old and I lost my dog. Can you play a song that would mean so much?'”

Brian McFayden
You know, you hear this and all of a sudden you get chills, you like, and then someone dies and you’re like, oh, my God, Casey, bring it back. Well, here’s a song and dedicate–you know, you hear all this and then like the Matthew McConaughey thing was just I think we both have the same kind of voice and it was just easier to do his voice a little bit, you know, just kind of had that little bit of laziness to your your vocals.

Brian McFayden
And it was it was a lot of fun to do voices when, you know, coming up in the industry because you get a little bit of attention while doing it. But also those two are my easiest ones to do. And then then you have to like it’s kind of like SNL. You you go and you start watching, you start watching the facials and you start watching their mannerisms and their tics and their cadence. And you just kind of like get you get them.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Well, you know, given that you can do that, you have such a natural ability with with impressions, for instance, and you’re a funny guy in general, have you ever given any thought to doing stand up or have even done stand?

Brian McFayden
One of my best friends, Brian Krauss, he’s got a podcast and he just started he’s an attorney as well. We’ve been friends for the longest time. He’s like a is like a big brother. He’s just a fantastic dude. He always thought that’s what I should get myself into. I have to I mean, you know, especially my age. Twenty five. It’s it sounds like a great time. I’m scared to death. You get on stage and to do stand up to delay everyone like because when you say you’re a comedian, your standup, you’re getting on stage saying, hey, I’m funny.

Brian McFayden
Look at me and listen to what I have say. That’s scary. You know, and these guys like the Joe Rogan’s and the Dave Chappelle’s and those guys–tip my hat off to those guys. Maybe maybe one day I’ll try it. I don’t know. It’s just scary. And I remember I was I was producing a show with a buddy of mine in Vegas, and it was a comedy show at the Hard Rock. And and it was fun to produce because you could see, like, what’s what’s going on with the comedians.

Brian McFayden
But, you know, to get on stage to introduce him, I was going maybe a pop off a joke or two. Then you get out there and you’re like, nah, I’m just going to set up I’m going to be very generic introduction straight. And you know, and I know I think I got it, but I just you got to have balls and you got to get out there and you got to fail. And and for me, that that’s like that’s scary.

Brian McFayden
The scariest thing in the world. And and I failed. I failed at everything in life. And I was just maybe that’s just one thing I don’t want to fail, you know.

Dennis VanDerGinst
But that’s like intentionally failing, you know. You know what’s going to happen no matter how good you are or you think you are, you know, you’re going to fall flat on your face. You’re going to find an audience that thinks you suck, you know, but at least you come armed with the impressions.

Dennis VanDerGinst
So even if somebody feels like, you know, he’s not that funny, at least on this set, this is not that funny. At least you can come up with the impressions and go and people going, well, he can do that anyway.

Brian McFayden
I remember. Was it the show Family Ties? Was the kid Skippy, remember, Skippy from family said, oh, yeah, yeah. We’re we’re going way back here. I remember he became a standup comedian after Family Ties, and I was just like, what Skippy doing on stage, you know, that kind of–but yeah. Yeah. I mean, I had anybody that tried to stand up comedy. Good Lord. That’s that’s one of the toughest thing you could ever do in our industry.

Brian McFayden
And it’s so hard. I’ve got so many comedian friends and they’re like, you should try it. I go, uh uh. For things I’m scared of standup comedy, trying standup comedy, and snakes. I’m good.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Same thing. Yeah, right, exactly. Well, let’s talk about some of the things you have done and been so successful. I mean, we talked about MTV, but there were some other gigs there that I thought were were kind of fun. Some I’m more familiar with than others.

Dennis VanDerGinst
But I’d like the audience to be become acquainted. For instance, Cupid, what was Cupid?

Brian McFayden
Cupid. That was a great time. So Cupid was the very first show I did after MTV. So when my contract was up with MTV, 2003, I think, and I moved to L.A. Loved L.A., you don’t go and like settle down unless like you–to me, when you move to L.A., it’s like being on vacation permanently because the sun is always out, there’s always a party and if you’ve got the money you can do basically anything that you want and it’s pretty damn awesome.

Brian McFayden
And you’ve got the beach right there. So when I found out, I got a phone call from my agent over at William Morris and I’m in New York and I’m trying to figure out what I was going to be doing next. And we had some options if I was going to do to get into acting or if I was going to go somewhere else. I, I got the call from my agent saying Simon Cowell is doing a new show in Los Angeles.

Brian McFayden
It’s a reality show. It’s kind of like a bachelor meets American Idol. They want to fly you out to L.A. And I said, my being offered the job? He goes, no, they want to meet with you first. So get out there. And it was Simon Cowell. They were at the CBS studios, and I’m sequestered in some hotel room in like Santa Monica, which is weird because it’s sort of the opposite ends of the city. And I get to CBS studios and I go to this huge conference room.

Brian McFayden
It’s like a scene out of the movies where you you’re kind of like who’s on the other end of that? And you look down, there’s this huge conference table and there’s Simon Cowell and all these suits like these exact said. And Simon was so charming. And I’m scared of them because everyone knew who Simon Cowell was at that time. I’m sure he was the mean judge from American Idol. And I walked in in the first thing Simon says, he’s like, well, at least he’s better looking than than Ryan [Seacrest].

Brian McFayden
And I was like, and then and then I look over and there’s another producer named Craig Polygyny who is like he produces everything. I mean, this guy got his he’s one hell of a producer. He was going to be the EP of the show. And he goes, yeah, he’s a pretty good looking kid. And I looked at both of them I go, are you guys hitting on me? And then it was just like then we all started laughing.

Brian McFayden
And then Simon goes, That’s why we have you. This is why we’re we’re hiring you for the show. And it was a show it was literally a reality based dating show that was live on CBS for two nights a week. And we were scouring the country for one man to be a potential husband for a one, Miss Lisa Shannon, who is now the one of the executive producers on what is it, The Real Housewives of all the Real Housewives on Bravo, The Girls.

Brian McFayden
She’s fantastic. But she was the she was the girl looking for love. And we went we literally went from coast to coast looking for this one person. And if we got the nod, he came back to Hollywood, lived in a house. You’re sequestered just like American Idol. And she brought in two of her girlfriends and they were sitting on this dais. And each week we would get rid of one person. It was America at home. And it was it was the judges deciding that person’s fate.

Brian McFayden
And I knew if she got married to this guy that she picked his name is Hank. And I was I’ve been living a different house right now is it was a fantastic show. The ratings did really well. But at that time it was, you know, Survivor and and Big Brother and had all these other shows. And our show was kind of middle of the road and it was the summer show. So they didn’t bring it back. And it was the first time I didn’t have a show brought back.

Brian McFayden
And I was going, oh, my God, what do I do next?

Dennis VanDerGinst
What happened? Yeah, right.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I mean, did you go from that to Beauty and the Geek?

Brian McFayden
In no–wait did I? No. I went to after that show. I did stuff with TV Guide and E! Within a year, and then I did the show called Superstar USA, which was good.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I just want you to talk about that. That one was bizarre.

Brian McFayden
Which is crazy because superstar USA was the antithesis of American Idol. And it was kind of fun because I just did a show with Simon Cowell and we were doing a show that was making fun of Simon Cowell’s American Idol. And it was We’re looking for America’s worst singer. And there was a great idea because it was from the producers of The Bachelor. Mike Fleiss came up with this concept.

Brian McFayden
I’m throwing him under the bus. And it was it was me, vitamin C who did The Graduate Song and Tone LOC. And this guy named Chris Briggs, who a fantastic producer who was like literally the star of the show because of his one liners, was fantastic. And I played like the Ryan Seacrest guy. And yeah, that was it was it was a very unethical show. We didn’t know it going in. We just thought, OK, we’re going to have some fun.

Brian McFayden
But you got to know these contestants because we literally scoured the country looking for America’s worst singer. They didn’t know it. It was a joke.

Dennis VanDerGinst
They thought they were good singers?

Brian McFayden
They thought–they thought they could sell out Madison Square Garden. And so when you were doing the show, I remember I’ll never forget this. We’re in Chicago. And it was like it was me vitamin C, briggs, and [inaudible]. And look, we’re all sitting there and I remember tones like, aw man, what are we getting ourselves into? And then vitamin C is–He’s like crying at the bar. And I’m like, I don’t know. And they were all talking about quitting because we were telling people that were amazing singers that they were terrible and and they weren’t going to find out that they were actually good for another four weeks.

Brian McFayden
So we were sitting there going, we’re burnt, we’re burnt out. And this is a terrible show. We’re probably shouldn’t be doing it. And if there’s any regrets that I have from it and never have any regrets doing shows or anything like that, but that show, I kind of wish it was better explained because I felt like that was a tough one and I was really tough on it. I mean, I was proud of the work that I did, but at the same time, like, these people literally thought they were great.

Brian McFayden
And I remember the girl that won. I think her name is Jamie and she lives in Minnesota. And she was a sweetheart of a girl and she won. And I remember when I revealed the winner and said that she won and I revealed the truth, that she was a bad singer. And I said to her, we lied to you and said you’re a good singer. And I remember like we had we had psychologists in the back, like doctors, like just making sure these, you know, it was it was pretty scary.

Brian McFayden
And I didn’t really understand, you know, the ramifications of this. But now now it’s like, you know, these are human beings. And then I looked at her and she looked at me. We went to commercial break and we’ll be right back with more. You know, Jamie, the winner of Superstar USA, and I remember looking at her and I literally my heart was just like she goes, am I a joke? And I just like I started getting choked up and getting teary eyed.

Brian McFayden
I’m like, no, you’re not, sweetie…At all. And and I think we end up giving her more money because we just it’s and then we we’re now friends on Facebook and friends for years on Facebook and and we reach out to each other every once in a while. What a sweetheart of a girl comes to class.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And I guess that circles back to the issue of depression in the entertainment. Oh yeah. That could certainly have something to do with that.

Brian McFayden
But I mean, all honesty, those there are some it’s basically like putting in the the American Idol contestants the auditioning process, one, the the really bad singers. You know, those are always the fun auditions to watch the bad ones. Right. It’s like it’s like putting them on stage and going, OK, this is the best of the worst, you know…

Dennis VanDerGinst
Have at it. Yeah, exactly.

Brian McFayden
Yeah, but yeah, that those that show and then the beauty and beauty and the geek.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah. Which you did for one season. It lasted a couple of seasons.

Brian McFayden
Well yeah. I got fired from that show. Oh.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Why was that?

Brian McFayden
Well they said there was no reason for it. I ended up dating one of the girls on the show and, and it was well after the show. But–the truth be told the the, what I found out later from Mike [inaudible], what I found out later from one of the producers and one of the television execs who actually was one of the big man on campus, he told me that the EP wanted to host the show and they were trying to find ways to get rid of it and didn’t want me there to begin with.

Brian McFayden
But the network did. And so I was kind of already on thin ice. So I was dating a girl from Missouri and we she was on the show. And her name is Mindy. She’s a fantastic girl, lovely family. We dated like I think it was like six or seven months after the show aired and then we had the reunion. So I was like, OK, I think it’s plenty of time to ask her out. I had the biggest crush on her, so I asked her out.

Brian McFayden
We started dating and we were seen in St. Louis and we were out at dinner and there was like an item in the press that we were seen together. And then I remember getting a phone call from my manager going. They’re they’re not going to renew your contract. And I was just like, that’s bullshit. So I kind of knew why, but we you know, we were just like a normal couple. And there was like I mean, she didn’t win the show or anything like that, but it was.

Brian McFayden
Yeah, but it was that that was a fun show. It was kind of interesting too, because I remember like Ashton Kutcher was one of the producers and he was married to Demi Moore at the time. And she’s always come on set and she’s like, bring him lunch. That’s like so weird to me. Demi Moore–My crush on my childhood is here. But the cool thing is, my son, he got to, like, hang out on set, you know, and and the person that wanted to host the show he played with his son on set.

Brian McFayden
And I was just like, OK.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Since we’re talking about–

Brian McFayden
Well, Dennis, it it is what it is.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah, no, not at all. No, but tell us what it’s like to be a dad. Like I said, Dane, first of all, it looks like your spitting image. And from what I can tell, like when we’ve talked and when I see some of the posts I see on Facebook and whatnot, he seems to have very similar tastes and personality and could be definitely in for trouble. At least he’s–

Brian McFayden
OK. So my son is 19 now. He’ll be 20 next month.

Dennis VanDerGinst
That’s crazy.

Brian McFayden
He goes to school at Miami, Ohio, just a great student. And so he has to have a couple months ago, he goes, dad, he goes, he goes. It was actually right after Easter because, you know, my next visit, y’know I started to see this girl and he goes, you think I can bring my girlfriend out. And I was like. Sure. And, you know, I thought, they’re kids, they’re not going to still be dating.

Brian McFayden
So last month he called me up and he goes he goes, yeah. He goes, she’s going to come. I’m like, OK, I’ll get your tickets. And they just left. So it was it was interesting, too, because it was the first time that. You had like it was my son under the same roof with another girl and I was like, oh my God, he’s an adult now and this is just going to be my future.

Dennis VanDerGinst
It’s real.

Brian McFayden
She’s a she’s a lovely girl. They were great. And I was very blessed because, you know, [inaudible] here and I had had my son and we all had like a huge Father’s Day weekend. Went to–he wanted to go to Golden, Colorado so he could see the Coors plant. This is when you know your kid is getting too old. But he’s he’s such a gentleman. And but, yeah, just like you said, he’s got that he’s got that look in his eye.

Brian McFayden
Dennis save me. Let me send him out to clerk for you for like–

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah, right? Yeah. Well, hey, what goes around comes around. So, you know, you gave it. Now you got to take it right, brother?

Brian McFayden
I’m thinking next year for his junior year, I’m just going to send him to Iowa to hang out with Uncle Dennis.

Dennis VanDerGinst
C’mon, bring him over.

Brian McFayden
I hung out with you. That’s probably not a good idea.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Hey, he’s welcome any time, as are you, and you know that.

Brian McFayden
I love you, brother.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Hey, one of the things I you know, I like to explore with someone who’s had some degree of success, especially in this industry, is what it is that you you know, what kind of advice would you give to someone else who’s looking to achieve some degree of success? Or have you had certain mentors or influences that you think they should emulate?

Dennis VanDerGinst
Are there are there books? Are you know, networking seems to be a common theme with some of the–

Brian McFayden
Networking is huge. I think the kid I mentioned to you twice to the plugging in, because I think he’s going to be a huge star–Connor Christian. You know, I think mentoring is huge and not being afraid to, like, put your hand out there to to help somebody. And I think as long as they realize that that you’re not helping them, they’re helping themselves.

Brian McFayden
It’s all up to you. Taking advantage of that, especially in this industry that you have right here, building those contacts and developing the thickest spine that you can develop. This–you know–

Dennis VanDerGinst
Sure.

Brian McFayden
You get shot down, you know, that’s cool. Get get back up tomorrow morning and go back out there again and and hit it because, I mean, if you, I mean, failure… That…You’re going to fail, a thousand million hundred wasn’t really good at math.

Brian McFayden
A lot of times. A lot of times. But yeah. I mean, just get back up there and just like taking advantage of those of those contacts that you have in developing those relationships, because those people will always be part of your life. I never–you know, no matter where I’m at with those people from my past, I always am very grateful, very, very grateful. Those relationships like, the Kane Peterson–to to me to this day, I think is one of the greatest DJs of all time, not just as present time, but of all time.

Brian McFayden
He gave me my start, John Lassman, who was a program director at KEGE in Minneapolis. I mean, if it wasn’t for him to say, “all right, kid, you’re up,” you know, I would never have been I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you today. You know, the Steve Kingston’s who gave me my first shot in New York, you know, like these–there are certain people that that literally come into your life that it is long as you remember that as long as you take that with you, you can give that to somebody else.

Brian McFayden
And if and if you take advantage of that and and and you’ll you’ll be fine. And if honestly, if you have no talent in the world that we live in today, especially with the YouTube’s and the Tik Toks and whatever the hell…The reality television, you got a shot. You got a shot.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I was just going to say, what’s more important–so assuming you have some level of talent, is is it the talent level or is that your ability to network and who you know? I think you’ve answered it.

Brian McFayden
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I didn’t grow up with social media, so it’s weird for me when I was growing up.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Right.

Brian McFayden
You know, especially when I first got into the industry, they wanted you to be anonymous. They they didn’t want you to throw yourself out there. I remember one time watching an interview. I mean, I’m a huge fan of the classics. I love watching old interviews, especially like, you know, even the Dick Cavett and Johnny Carson has to have an idea of how their interview style and the way they do things.

Brian McFayden
And I remember Eddie Murphy, you never saw him outside of his films. And he said he was like, man. I never do like commercial, you know, unless, you know, it’s because people are paying to go see his movies. And if you watch him every day and a Coca-Cola commercial, you’re never you’re never going to see him. But it’s a different world now. I mean.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Oh, for sure. For sure. Yeah. It’s all about the exposure now, no matter where you get that, if as long as you get it. Yeah, yeah. I think that’s crazy. But, you know, I wanted to ask you as far as your own personal experiences inside or outside the industry, what would you say is the best and the worst experiences you’ve had, inside or outside?

Brian McFayden
Oh, man, I think like when your–people just assume you’re Hollywood, when you go back to your roots, especially in this industry that I’m in right now, they just kind of assume that, you know, you behave a certain way or you’re a certain type of person because of who you dated or your past or whatever. I mean, I always look at this like, you know, kind of take me for who I am now. I’ve got some I had some situations where I’ve been in rooms with people and they’re just like, well, he dated so and so.

Brian McFayden
I’m like, well, that was 20 some years ago and who cares? It’s made me who I am today. You know, it’s like I don’t be so judgey. You know, some of this, those bad experiences, I don’t, I will never say they’re really bad. You know why? Because it’s made me who I am today. I just don’t.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Absolutely.

Brian McFayden
I don’t have anything bad to say about anyone. I mean, it’s it’s kind of like I always look at it this way, especially if you’re one of these people that are coming up into this industry or coming into this industry or thinking about getting into this industry, look forward, never look back and don’t badmouth anyone because it’ll come back to haunt you.

Brian McFayden
It really will.

Dennis VanDerGinst
You can’t you can’t burn those bridges, that’s for sure.

Brian McFayden
Just to just just be you, you know.

Dennis VanDerGinst
You know, it’s so funny. I mean, we’ve here we’ve we’ve we’ve talked for an hour or so and it feels like we just began.

Brian McFayden
Oh, wow.

Dennis VanDerGinst
And I know and I don’t want to take too much of your time, but I’m going to want to have you come back so we can talk about some more and we drill down to some of these things.

Brian McFayden
And we haven’t seen each other for a minute. We talk and text, but we haven’t seen each other in a minute. I got to tell you, brother, you’re really good at what you do. This might be a calling.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Oh!

Brian McFayden
This is good!

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah, I think my my second career.

Brian McFayden
I think he almost had me try a couple of times, but hold on.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Hey, well, maybe, maybe next time I can actually bring the tears. But but before I let you go, we have to play a little game here, OK. We’re going to have to play a little bit.

Brian McFayden
Oh yeah. Is there like money on the money involved?

Dennis VanDerGinst
Of course. You know, always. We’re going to play some would you rather. So as a former D.J./VJ, would you rather listen to music from the 70s or music from today?

Brian McFayden
70s.

Dennis VanDerGinst
OK, cool. And what would by the way, what would your favorite decade of music be?

Brian McFayden
Oh God. You know, what’s interesting is I’m glad you asked. Your favorite decade of music would be probably the 90s just because that’s my that’s my generation.

Dennis VanDerGinst
For sure.

Brian McFayden
High school, college, got my start in radio then, got my start with MTV then. I just like the rock music from back then. I could listen to that all day long. All day long.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah.

Brian McFayden
Yeah. 90s rock is pretty cool.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I like it too.

Brian McFayden
Might sound a little freaky, but…90s boy band…Shit. I’ll never admit that in person or in public. It’s just fun to listen to.

Dennis VanDerGinst
But nobody’s listening right now so it’s okay.

Brian McFayden
I DJ’d frat parties, you know as a kid. And I gotta tell you when, when I was DJing, that shit would like pop. Like you could play that now, like at a dinner party. Trust me, you want to good playlist, hit me up D, and I’ll help you out. Because no matter what generation, what genre, who was in the room from little kids to like seventy five year old men, they’re like, oh I like this, who is that?

Dennis VanDerGinst
Get ’em movin. That’s right, absolutely. All right. This is kind of also I guess, pertinent to to what you’ve done as a career. Would you rather always say everything on your mind, no matter how dumb or mean, or never speak again?

Brian McFayden
Oh, let it out. Let it out and cancel me. Because I can’t I can never I mean, is my–might as well just like. Yeah, I think you should speak your mind. You should always–you know we talked about the beginning of the podcast is that you like let it out. You know, you shouldn’t be scolded for how you feel inside unless you’re a complete asshole or a racist or whatever. But like if you have a difference of opinion, whether it be, you know, politics or whatever it is you’re into, like, sure, talk it out.

Brian McFayden
that’s the best part of having a conversation. Being open to the conversation is great. The cancel culture is ridiculous.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I agree. All right, so would you rather be the smartest person in the room or the most popular?

Brian McFayden
Smartest or most popular? What what how old am I at this time?

Dennis VanDerGinst
You’re your age right now. So, you know, 20.

Brian McFayden
Oh, Smart, 20! Smartest person in the room. Because if I’m the smartest person in the room then I’ll finally weed out and I’ll be able to get what I want.

Dennis VanDerGinst
You get what you want, whether you’re popular or not. I like that. Would you rather be on a survival reality show or a dating game show?

Brian McFayden
Oh, dating game show. I’m single. I’ve not dated in one year.

Brian McFayden
The covid thing–

Dennis VanDerGinst
I was gonna ask you about that. Yeah, and I know. Like I said, got me too, brother. So I share your pain.

Brian McFayden
I just spend all my time with my kid. You know, my son. I always say kid. He’s a man now. But like I, you know, I, I just I’ve been so busy with work and, you know, sounds so cliche. It’s stupid. But I mean, if–plus my son says start dating girls closer to your age than mine. And so I’m taking that to heart, Dane, if you’re watching–

Brian McFayden
That’s fine, I’m going to I’m trying to get out of my 20s and into my 30s, 40s.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Tell tell Dane, this is what I like to say, you’re only as old as the woman you feel, so, you know,

Brian McFayden
Nice come back, I love it.

Dennis VanDerGinst
OK, just a couple more of these, would you rather. So would you rather spend the day with your favorite athlete or your favorite movie star?

Brian McFayden
OK, so I [inaudible] a movie star because they’re so they’re so messed up. But I’ve spent–

Dennis VanDerGinst
Who would it be?

Brian McFayden
A movie star? Oh, Jack Nicholson.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Who? Oh, there you go. All right.

Brian McFayden
You’d be like, all right. You know, just just sit here and chilling, watch a game and you know, where–no matter where you’re at day or night, he’s got his glasses on. Yeah. Jack Nicholson. God, he’s so awesome. And he’s the epitome of cool even at his age now.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Absolutely. I agree with you. I think that’d be a thrill.

Brian McFayden
Being a huge sports fan like, I have no desire to. I’ve met so many athletes over the years and dated a girl whose families in the industry, as I was like. It ruins it and ruins it. Yeah, yeah, I don’t want to.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah, so OK, last would you rather, would you rather be a character in an action packed thriller or in a romantic comedy?

Brian McFayden
Oh, no, because the character in the romantic comedy doesn’t get, doesn’t get the action. Not that I’m looking to get laid on camera. Um, oh. And action! Are you kidding me? I’m a huge fan of like action movies and or movies.

Dennis VanDerGinst
All right.

Brian McFayden
That would be awesome. Like, I’d like it.

Dennis VanDerGinst
That’s very cool.

Brian McFayden
Like a Don Rickles and Kelly Ciro’s, you know, I’m cool with that.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Nice, oh, yeah, I love that. I love that movie. All right. So to wrap things up here, what’s next? Now, I know you’ve got the secret stuff you’ve got to talk about.

Brian McFayden
Well, it’s not a secret. I’m still doing stuff. I’m still doing stuff with radio. I’m going I’m doing I’m actually going to be doing a new show and we’re filming and recording in Nashville. But I can’t say–I just I don’t understand those rules.

Dennis VanDerGinst
I hear you. Yeah.

Brian McFayden
And it’s something that I created, something that I created, which I’m really proud of and looking forward to that like getting up. And yeah, I love the South more than anyone. I mean, it’s going to be nice just to go there and be there for for a minute. But I’ll be back in Denver shortly after, which is pretty cool.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Well, that’s great.

Brian McFayden
I gotta go to New York, too. So that’ll be the second time during covid, post-covid, that I’ve been back to New York, so it would be nice to see old friends.

Brian McFayden
But I got to see you too at some point.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Yeah, I was going to say, yeah. I mean, it’s great seeing you like this and catching up, but we got to get together soon. And, you know, I want to thank you so much, man, for for being here with us. And you were definitely–

Brian McFayden
Definitely, you’re good.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Absolutely. This is the last–

Brian McFayden
Well, you look like–you look like you should be doing this all the time.

Dennis VanDerGinst
No, I look like I should be doing radio. Right? Got a face for radio?

Brian McFayden
No, you’re like one of the most handsome guys I know.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Ahh, you’re too much. Well, anyway, thanks again so much. And we’re going to we’re going to definitely have you back soon. And in the meantime, I want to thank the rest of you for joining us today. Don’t forget, please get on and subscribe to Uncommon Convos. It’s free and it’s easy. So check us out. Make sure if you want to see the video version of this episode, go to UncommonConvos.com.

Dennis VanDerGinst
Also, check out our other podcast, Legal Squeaks, to learn about legal and consumer issues which might impact your daily life. You can also reach out, let us know anybody else you’d like to have us talk to or on Legal Squeaks any topics you’d like us to discuss as far as legal issues. Join us next week. And in the meantime, have a great day. Stay safe. And I love you all.