On June 30, 2023, we launched our first full podcast episode “From Rio to Hope” on Apple Podcast featuring Felipe Souza-Lazaballet, an immigration advocate and local community leader. The episode told Felipe’s story from migrating to the US all the way to becoming Executive Director of the Hope Community Center of Apopka, FL. By this time, we had built our new set and were comfortable with video-editing and sound production, skills learned when producing the instagram reels. In the first season, we interviewed local artists, we covered news topics like the abduction of Carlee Russell and the Hollywood actors strike. We made a poignant episode remembering Laurie Carleton, an ally who stood up for the LGBTQ community—and we interviewed Zoa Glows, a local talent and member of the Trans community.
The first season concluded with three remarkable episodes: We had a two-part interview of a powerful local pastor [whom we met at a civil rights rally] who reminded us it’s okay to cross the line if it means advocating for minority groups and extending love toward others, regardless of their walk in life. The penultimate episode was a tour de force review of Foundation, Season 2, an extravaganza of special effects and music, courtesy of Lex, lovingly made for a show we both enjoyed thoroughly. The final episode was a riot with the fabulous Pao, a local artist who appears in theater productions all around Central Florida, including the Orlando Fringe, a beloved annual theater festival in Orlando. The Lex and Tony Show promoted the Fringe festival heavily with posts on Instagram and interviewing writers and actors such as Pao, Zero the Writer and Avery, a Fringe actor. With a total of 10 episodes, we are proud to have produced such a diverse show covering current events, news, TV shows and local events. The first season went beyond our expectations on quality and production value. We can’t wait to see what Season 2 brings!
Beyond Season 1
The first season of the Lex and Tony Show ended on October 19, 2023. At the time, Tony was having problems with his voice due to an inflammation of the vocal cords. Despite vocal therapy, the problem worsened between August and mid-October, when Tony finally lost his voice completely. He regained it in early December. He slowly recovered over the next few months and continues to improve everyday. On other news, we embarked on the journey to homeownership at the beginning of 2024. We found a new house with a whole new space for a studio. Sadly, this meant the end of the studio built in 2023. But have no fear, a new Lex and Tony studio is coming in 2024! Expect more developments in the coming months as we prepare to bring you a new season. Stay tuned!