The Dork Forest: Supplemental Olympic Reading

I'm back in LA and I am full of jet lag.  I am writing this at 3AM since I just can't sleep.  It's Noon to my body, so I actually want lunch.  Unfortunately, I have been gone for three weeks (New Jersey, then Europe), so the cupboard is bare.  I am really tempted to watch my DVR filled with the Real Housewives series, but I know it's going to involve a lot of screaming and yelling over wine.  Instead, I am writing this post in the peace and quiet of middle of the night.

While I was away, the amazing Jackie Kashian posted our interview for her awesome show, The Dork Forest, where we talked about my love for the Olympics.  I listened to the podcast on the train ride from Munich to Prague just days after I had visited the Munich Olympics site and the Dachau Memorial site. So, here is some supplemental reading/viewing if you listened to my interview.

While I was overseas, someone tweeted me the link for an incredible Oscar-winning documentary about the Munich Massacre called, One Day In September.  It's hard to watch, but it is a moving account of how and why this event happened.  The documentary is about 90 minutes long, but it is so compelling.  If you don't think that politics has a place at the Olympics, think again.  It will always play a part in the Games.  In fact, politics played a huge hand in this year's Opening Ceremony when the IOC refused to have a moment of silence for the 11 Israeli athletes to honor the 40th Anniversary because they felt it favored the Israeli nation over the Palestinian nation that also lost citizens that day.  Um, they lost terrorists.  Israel lost athletes and coaches.  It's sick, but it's true and I spoke with a man from Palestine while I was at the ESC Congress, and let me tell you, they don't like the US for siding with Israel.  He made it very clear to me in a conversation that was unprompted by me.  He knew I was American and started laying into Obama within minutes of meeting each other. Say what you want about Democrats versus Republicans, but this was a conversation about how a country views Americans.  Scary.



Also, I picked up a book on the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics while I was in Germany which explains Hitler's role in the Games.  It's a fascinating look at how global politics played into the rise of Nazi Germany in what became a "coming out party" for Hilter at those Summer Games.  If you read the book first, you will see how the 1936 Games were a big factor in the decisions made in the 1972 Munich Games.  It's hard to imagine how one would affect the other, but if you are an Olympics history  buff, read/watch in this order.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the documentary, the book, and my interview!

Interview: The Dork Forest
Book:  Berlin Games:  How the Nazis Stole the Olympic Dream by Guy Walters
Documentary:  See Above YouTube link.

September 5, 2012 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Munich Massacre.  The athletes and coaches from Israel represented the best in their sport in their country.  Their lives should not be forgotten.

An Olympic-Sized Munich Photo

As you can see it was kind of a stormy day in Munich. I loved every minute of the 65 degree weather since it has been so hot in Los Angeles the past few weeks.  It was welcome relief to just enjoy "fall" weather.  If you know me well, then you know my first stop would be Olympic Park, site of the 1972 Games.  I was so excited to be here and sit in the Olympic Stadium which is now used for soccer....er, football, you get the idea.  The grounds are beautiful and lush and I even managed to see the site where Mark Spitz set the record on 7 races coming home with gold in each event.  That is kind of awesome.  I also went through the maze of Olympic Village and Building 31 where the Israeli athletes were kidnapped.  Not so awesome.  I was kind of disappointed that the memorial to the fallen athletes was small.  I guess I expected something beautiful and majestic in their honor.  It was more of an afterthought on the grounds. (But given the recent controversy surrounding the IOC's reluctance to honor the 40th anniversary at this year's London Games, it really should be no surprise to me.)

The stadium is still bedecked in 1970's avocado green and the rake is so steep and without rails, it would never be up to code today, at least in the US.  I had sweaty palms as I walked through the upper deck praying I wouldn't trip and tumble down the steps.  If you notice on the roofline, you can see people up top.  They offer climbing tours and zip lining through the stadium.  How very touristy, but it was fun to watch them swinging over the workers prepping the soccer/football field below.  The other odd thing is that the Olympic rings are not really on display.  I thought it would be decorated in rings, but I couldn't grab a photo anywhere.  I took tons of photos, but I figure the stadium was enough to focus on for my photos today.  Tomorrow, I shop and I work.  Auf Wiedenshen

Behind The Red Carpet Live With Kelly Lynch of Socialite Life

Hello from somewhere in Central Jersey! If you weren't able to catch yesterday's edition of Behind The Red Carpet Live on Spreecast, I had guest Kelly Lynch from Socialite Life on yesterday.  Kelly and I bonded over classic 90210 episodes on Twitter, but I love this little bit of Boston trivia:  her dad is a well-known TV personality in Boston, Mike Lynch.  He has worked for ABC for years as a sportscaster, so he is a familiar face to those of you in Massachusetts.  Kelly has become quite the royal expert, so she gave us the inside scoop on Kate and Will and the London Games while we also chatted about the Aniston engagement, Beyonce's family photos, and whether Taylor Swift is a Kennedy stalker.  If you missed the show, watch it here:

EFFEN Vodka Art Of Design Event

Last week, I was invited to sample the latest drinks from EFFEN Vodka created by local mixologists.  Honestly, this was the perfect end to a hot summer day in Los Angeles.  We have been dealing with a heatwave throughout the Southland, so a crisp summer drink at the downtown Marvimon in their outdoor garden lounge was just what the doctor ordered.  My favorite cocktail had a delicious mix of Cucumber EFFEN Vodka with an infused mix of honeydew melon, dill, and red and green bell peppers.  It may sound wacky, but it was delicious and refreshing. My +1 for the night was my friend, Julie, who ran with me from table to table as we tried spicy and sweet concoctions with EFFEN vodka and voted with marbles on our favorite drinks. One recommendation for next year's event?  Food.  You had skinny LA girls gulping down EFFEN Vodka all night and then hopping in their cars to drive around LA.  This Gluten Free gal was begging for a cracker or bread to sop up a little alcohol, that's how badly I wanted a morsel of food.

If you are looking for a way to spice up your summer cocktail recipes, check out EFFEN Vodka. (Only if you are over 21, kids!)

Enjoy the photos from the evening........

 The delicious ingredients infused into the cocktails.

 Julie posing in the outdoor lounge at Marvimon.

 I loved the lighting arrangement at Marvimon.

 Mixologists creating summer cocktails.

 I love this Aqua dress, but it is time to give it a rest.  I wore it here and here.  Clutch by ASOS.

Disclaimer:  I was invited to the event by EFFEN Vodka and Brand Influencers.  All opinions are my own.

Monday Media:

6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET:  Behind The Red Carpet Live with guest, Kelly Lynch, from Socialite Life talking the latest in entertainment news....Aniston engaged! Live on Spreecast.

7:00PM PT/10:00PM ET:  Olympics Wrap-Up with Stuart Brazell. Live on Spreecast.

7:35PM PT/10:35PM ET:  Driving With Gass talking entertainment news with Kevin Gassman and Cindy Love.  Listen in at KWSS.org. #RadioBurtt on Twitter.

Top 3 London Games Moments

Happy Weekend, everyone!  I will go back to my regularly scheduled blogging and entertainment news on Monday.  It's been a crazy two weeks of the London Games and it has been a blast covering them for you.  Today, we talked about our favorite moments of the Olympics.  My top moment involved gymnastics, but it wasn't Gabby Douglas or the Team Gold. You will have to check out our broadcast to see what it was:

Guest:  XiXi Yang of PopStop TV



I am off to have a relaxing weekend before a very big week.  Here's where you can find me on Monday, August 13th:

6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET Behind the Red Carpet Live on Spreecast
7PM PT/10 PM ET London Games Wrap-Up with Stuart Brazell on Spreecast
7:35PM PT/10:35PM ET Entertainment News on Driving With Gass on KWSS.org

An Inside Look At The London Games

Ashley Esqueda

If you missed our earlier Spreecast today, check out our insider look at the London Olympics with special guest, Ashley Esqueda.  She just returned from the Games last night as a part of the Samsung Global Blogger coverage.  If you want a look at what it is like to be at the Games, this is the show to check out.  We learned how much people were scalping Michael Phelps race tickets for, it's quite astounding.

The Friday Five: Best Olympic Moments Of The Week

1.  Gabby Douglas:  My girl won.  The best thing about this Women's Gymnastics All-Around competition is that it was fiercely fought and won.  The top 2 ladies didn't have a single fall all night. In this day of incredibly difficult gymnastics, that is almost unheard of.  Also, Gabby is the first black gymnast to win the Olympic All-Around Gold Medal, this is historic.  If you want to understand how significant this is, watch former Olympian, Dominique Dawes, well up with tears when talking about Gabby's win.

2.  Michael Phelps:  After a rough start, he finally became the most decorated Olympian ever.  While I don't find him compelling as a personality, I sure can appreciate his unbelievable athleticism and competitive fire.  At this point, he has 20 medals and he still has two races to go.  Impressive, but it sure is going to be weird to experience the 2016 Rio Games without him.

3. Kayla Harrison:  While Judo may not be the sexiest sport of the Olympics like Women's Beach Volleyball or Water Polo, this athlete has brought a lot of great attention to her sport.  She has had a long road as a survivor of sexual abuse from a former coach yet, she can walk away from these Olympics with a gold medal.  I think we can all feel her emotion when she hit that the medal podium on Thursday.



4.  McKayla Maroney:  This girl has so much fire, she's tiny, and she's fab.  She's also the best vaulter in the world.  If you missed her vault in Women's Gymnastics Team Finals, then you better watch the video.  She's also a total ham and her sassy Instagram photos are the subject of this awesome tribute from Buzzfeed.

5.  Missy Franklin:  Besides being a gifted swimmer, this girl looks like she is having the time of her life at the Olympics.  Too often, we see stressed out athletes because this is the biggest meet or match or game of their life.  Missy is soaking in every moment while still performing like an elite athlete.  It's kind of awesome to see someone smile before a race.  Oh, and she's only 17-years old, she has two gold medals, and she received a tweet from the Biebs.  That's a good day at the office.

What has been your favorite moment from the first week at the Olympics?  Share it with me on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below.

If you want to join me this weekend, I will be talking all about the Olympics and entertainment news. Here's where you can join me:


Saturday:  Cocktails and Conversation talking entertainment news with my favorite ladies. 5AM PT/8AM ET.  Listen here.
                 Then, at Noon PT/3PM ET on Spreecast,  Stuart Brazell and I will be joined by tech blogger, Ashley Esqueda, who just returned from the London Games.


Monday:  Behind The Red Carpet Live with guest, Hank Chen.  He's been ruffling a few feathers on the internet this week, so we will be sure to hit all of the hot topics in entertainment news.  Join me on Spreecast at 6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET.  Watch here.

My Life In Instagram

It's Thursday, so I thought I would update you on what's been going on in my little world.  I swear, I've done more than just covering entertainment news and the Olympics this week. Here is my week in photos all courtesy of Instagram:  @KristynBurtt

At my annual musical theatre geeks outing to the Hollywood Bowl with Annie and Pip.

 My favorite shoes from my trip to Paris last year. 

  Me, Pip, and my favorite Crabby!  (You remember him from my trip to Paris, right?)

Obsessed with my ShoeDazzle shoes.  My friend, Amber, had a hot pair from ShoeDazzle too!

My pal, Tabitha Blue, is running a fun Instagram #PROJECTlipstick challenge.  Dig out those old tubes and show off some sexy lips.  This was my Wednesday color:  e.l.f. Rosy Tan.  Visit Tabitha's site for more info and some fun giveaways!

 I have the best friends in the world.  My friend, Cindy, wanted to make sure I was eating well while I am running all over town. She made a "Host-On-The-Go" pack for me.  All gluten-free items too!  Thanks, Cindy, I'm so lucky to have friends like you. 

Disclosure:  Shoes c/o ShoeDazzle.  Lipstick c/o e.l.f.  All opinions are my own.

London Games: Swimming Showdown-Going For Gold

Today was Day 3 of our London Games chat on Spreecast.  We had Josh Sussman (Glee) and Tess Hunt joining us to discuss all things aquatic and it got a bit nutty......even the screen was a little Brady Bunch-esque.  So, have fun watching the show and don't miss out on our discussion of cycler's thighs. Wow. And oh yeah, Ryan Seacrest.  Remind me again why he's covering the Olympics?  In the meantime, we are taking tomorrow off, but we will be back later in the week with more Olympics chatter.

London Games: Gymnastics Drama

I don't think it gets any better than talking gymnastics with Michael Buckley of What the Buck?! fame. If you thought I was the biggest gymnastics geek, he certainly has me beat.  He gave us some great insight on what happened in today's Women's Gymnastics Team Finals.  Check out me and Stuart Brazell as we talk all things Olympics on Spreecast......

Join us tomorrow as we talk more London Games excitement with Josh Sussman (Glee) and Tess Hunt at 5PM PT/8PM ET.

Behind The Red Carpet Live: Episode 2

It happened. I made an official call on the Jennifer Aniston Baby Bump Watch.  Plus, I had a great guest, James A. Molnar, editor of The Gold Knight Blog and Film Editor of the Toledo Free Press.  We talked box office, the Olympics, and the crazy off-screen Twilight drama.

See the archive below and join me next week LIVE on Monday, August 6th at 6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET on Spreecast right here.

London Games Showdown: Episode 1

Well, we made it through our first show!  We discussed all of the drama surrounding the first three days with swimming and gymnastics.  It's tough being an Olympian!  Asha K. joined us to give her opinions on what has happened at the London Games.  Let us know who is your favorite Olympian of these Summer Games.  Tweet your answer or leave a comment below!

We will be back tomorrow at 5PM PT/8PM ET on Spreecast dishing all of the deets on the Women's Gymnastics Finals with two amazing guests:  Michael Buckley from YouTube's What the Buck?! show and WOOD-TV8's Jordan Carson.  It's going to be a great showdown.  Go, USA!

London Games Broadcast

Okay, this might be a bit of KB media overload the next two weeks, but we are going to have a lot of fun.   I will be co-hosting a Spreecast show Monday through the run of the London Games with Stuart Brazell.  We are going to bring in some special guests and discuss what we are all thinking about the Olympics from the showdowns in swimming and gymnastics to watching the Games on tape delay.  You can even interact with us from the comments section or we might even bring you on camera with us.  I will update the schedule here, but this is what is happening on Monday, July 29th:

5PM PT/8PM ET:  London Games Showdown with me and Stuart Brazell.
                               Special Guest:  Asha K.
                               Watch on Spreecast here.

6:30PM PT/9:30PM ET:  Behind the Red Carpet Live (entertainment news)
                                         Special Guest:  James Molnar of Gold Knight Blog.
                                         Watch on Spreecast here.

7:35PM PT/10:35PM ET:  Driving With Gass (Entertainment News)
                                           Listen Live on KWSS.
                                           I will answer questions on Twitter after the show.

The Friday Five: The 2012 London Olympics Edition

I cannot wait for the Opening Ceremony tonight.  I love everything about the Olympics from my favorite event to the heated rivalries to those fabulous "fluff" pieces that NBC produces about each athlete.  My Twitter feed will probably be flooded with references of Gabby and Ryan over the next two weeks, so I am dedicating this edition of The Friday Five to the things I'm looking forward to the most this week:

1.  Women's Gymnastics:  I've been obsessed with this sport since Mary Lou Retton vaulted to a perfect 10 and the Women's All-Around Gold Medal.  This year, I am rooting for Gabby Douglas to take the title.  She's lived away from her family over the last 18 months to achieve her dream, her dad has been overseas fighting for our country, and that girl is full of sass and strut with a smile during her floor exercise routine.  In the immortal words of Bela Karolyi, "You can do it!" (Try not to weep while watching the above video.)

2.  Lochte versus Phelps:  Michael Phelps is going to try to become the most decorated Olympian ever, but I am rooting for Ryan Lochte to be the hot one of the Games.  Oh wait, he's already hot....completely drool-worthy. (Rumor is that he is already hooking up with Australian swimmer, Blair  Evans.  Yep, I provide Olympic gossip too!) Regardless, this matchup is going to be one for the history books.  Go, USA Swimming!

3.  Opening Ceremony: In my dreams, I am an Olympian and I walk into that stadium carrying the American flag.  Can you imagine the pride and overwhelming feelings you would have realizing you are an Olympian?  Enough said.

4. Lolo Jones:  I love the athlete who is back to erase the bad memories of the prior Olympics:  enter Lolo Jones.  She's trying to win the gold after narrowly missing it in the 100-meter hurdles in Beijing after she stumbled on the 9th of 10 hurdles.  She's favored to win and she's on a mission. Watch her race in Beijing and hear how she's ready for redemption.

5.  Olympic Village:  I always want to know the inside scoop on what happens in the athlete's village.  When I met Olympic Swimmer, Aaron Peirsol, in Las Vegas a month after the 2008 Summer Olympics, I cornered him for about two hours while I peppered him with questions about what really went on after everyone's events were over.  It's exactly what you think.....drinking, hot bodies, and a lot of sex.  In fact, ESPN wrote a fascinating article about this exact topic.  You don't want to miss it.

 Have a great Olympic weekend!  I will be donning my red, white, and blue tonight so join me on Instagram for a photo or two: @KristynBurtt.  

My Behind The Red Carpet Live will again happen on Monday, July 30th at 6:30PM PT/9:30 PM ET here.  I would love for you to join me because we had so much fun last week!  I have already started gathering scoop, so feel free to contact me here with your burning entertainment news questions!

My Favorite Celebrity Interviews

Lately, I have been getting asked this same question over and over.  I think it is a natural question given the nature of my job.  Can you guess what it is?  The question is "Of all of the celebrities you have interviewed, who is your favorite?"  I always feel like I disappoint people because the answer isn't the person they expect.  I think they want me to say Ryan Reynolds or Gwyneth Paltrow or Jeremy Piven.  While they have all been exciting people to interview, it is the people who have touched my life in some way that usually stand out in my mind.  People like Michelle Kwan, the two-time Olympic medalist who had me obsessed with the sport of figure skating for a decade and who, at the time, was flirting with a final comeback.  Or Dick Van Dyke of Mary Poppins who obliged me with a little soft shoe dance step on the red carpet. I mean, he's the guy who sang "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". Or even, Keith Dorrington, the Academy Award nominated writer of The Fighter. We are both from neighboring small towns in Massachusetts and we were standing together on the red carpet at the Oscars in February.  It was hard not to get choked up as he talked about the overwhelming night and how his dreams were coming true.  This doesn't happen to you in small town Massachusetts, so I was with him every moment of that big night.

Yet, those incredible interviews don't hold a candle to the exchange I had with Joel Grey, the legendary Broadway performer, whom I had the opportunity to speak with on the red carpet at the Tony Awards.  I was sixteen years old all over again and I did my best not to cry my fake eyelashes off. When I have a discouraging day, I remember this exchange because it reminds me of where I came from and how far I have come.  I've shared this video before, but since it answers the top question I get here at Red Carpet Closet, I am sharing it again.  This is the raw footage from my interview with Joel Grey:



Who are some of your inspirations in your life? Let me know in the comments below.

Dee Foster Theriault: Dear Dee Dee

For the average gymnastics fan, the sport comes around every four years with the Olympics. For the rabid gymnastics fan, the sport is alive with excitement from recreational gymnastics to elite gymnastics to the burgeoning NCAA women's gymnastics teams each and every year. Unlike football or baseball, there really isn't a gymnastics season, so there is very little downtime. For an athlete that reaches the Level 10, Elite, and NCAA level, the talent pool dwindles down to a few gymnasts, not only at their club, but also across the country. That can lead to some isolation in the gym with the added pressure of trying to make the Olympic or World teams, or even obtaining a coveted NCAA scholarship. The athlete may start to compartmentalize all of their goals and take the stress of the sport into all aspects of their young lives, so that is where Dee Foster Theriault steps in.
As a former National and NCAA Champion, Dee understands the pressures of rising gymnasts whether their goals are in recreational or elite level gymnastics. She knows what it takes to make it to the top and she knows how to handle those obstacles that turn up along the way.

Dear Dee Dee is the first-ever mentoring program for gymnasts of all levels by establishing a relationship with the athlete and offering advice, not as a coach, but as a mentor. This is an important part of her philosophy to being "committed to the athlete and not the outcome." She states that she is "an outsider with a lot of insider information" and after over a decade away from the sport, she is ready to give back to a sport that gave her so much for 17 years.

The crucial part to her mentoring program is establishing parental involvement so that they can see the importance of their child's physical health, mental health, and see all perspectives of the athlete's life. Her parents were heavily involved in her development not only as a person, but also as a gymnast. As a result, she has a positive view on the sport and the famous coaches she trained under including Bela Karolyi, Don Peters, and University of Alabama coaches, David and Sarah Patterson. Dee knows that the Elite gymnast is going to have different needs than the NCAA gymnast who knows their body better, understands their physical limitations, and feels more confident voicing their opinion because they are older and competing every weekend. For the NCAA athlete, it is a job where you have to balance schoolwork, your behavior, your activities, and the sport that gave you a scholarship, gymnastics. So while the elite gymnast may need more mental health management, the NCAA gymnast may need more work on time management. The bottom line for Dear Dee Dee is delivering "healthy, fruitful gymnasts".

Her philosophy was hard at work this summer at the recent 2009 CoverGirl Classic where she mentored a young gymnast to great success. The mother of the elite athlete even sang Dee's praises in a testimonial saying, "When she started working with Dee the change was almost immediate. My daughter respected Dee right away, knowing that Dee had been there before and could totally relate to everything she was going through." Even more vital to the mentor program is the fact that the gymnast's parent felt she "no longer need concern myself with day-to-day gymnastics issues; I can just be a mom." This is all just the beginning for Theriault as she sees her program expanding to partnerships with NCAA and USA Gymnastics and even utilizing her website's forum to "evolve into gymnasts helping each other." Her hopes also include guest mentoring with former Olympians and NCAA champions.

While Dee does have big goals for her program, there is one athlete she has set her sights on. When asked who it was, Theriault replied without hesitation, "Alicia Sacramone." Sacramone was the incredible team captain of the 2008 Women's Olympic Gymnastics team for the US in Beijing who, unfortunately, did not have the meet of her life there. It is Dee who believes that Alicia has "yet to tap her potential and with her natural instincts as a team leader, she needs to learn to lead for herself." With Sacramone's recently announced comeback, it seems that Theriault is ready to scoop up one of USA Gymnastics most talented athletes for some Dear Dee Dee love and inspiration.

For more information on Dee Foster Theriault, Dear Dee Dee, and her book series, click here: Dear Dee Dee.

**For full disclosure, my testimonial is also up on Dee Foster Theriault's website. She is a true role model as well as a friend.**