Welcome to The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
Join us for engaging conversations with influential guests from the worlds of sports, entertainment, business, poker, and more. Discover the stories, insights, and experiences behind their success.
Welcome to the Tenth episode of the VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
We welcome Tammi Mac, One of the Busiest Women in Hollywood, who holds it down on afternoon radio and was won a Gracie Award for Radio Broadcasting, a NAACP Award Winner and the Voice of the Game Pictionary.
6 Aug 2026
VIP Podcast - Episode 9 - Matt Salsburg
Episode 9 – VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
Welcome to Episode 9 of The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
This episode features Matt Salsburg— a television writing star who has been a creator, an executive producer and managed to make a living in poker. A Former WPT player of the year and Emmy nominated TV writer.
30 Jul 2026
VIP Podcast - Episode 8 - Charles Malik Whitfield
Episode 8 – VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
Welcome to Episode 8 of The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
This episode features Charles Malik Whitfield — A Actor, Writer, Producer, an Acting Coach and Thespian in every sense of the word, who has graced the screen for more than Three Decades. He is best known for playing Otis in the critically acclaimed tv series The Temptations, for being a series regular on One Life to Live and for most recently playing Julies in Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black and has appeared in such classic tv series as Chicago Med, NCIS: LA, Blue Bloods, American Horror Story and Empire.
23 Jul 2026
VIP Podcast - Episode 7 - Prakash Armitraj
Welcome to the seventh episode of the VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
We welcome Prakash Armitraj, a Former Tennis Pro, who lead the USC Trojans to a national championship and is a face of the Tennis Channel, the worlds largest tennis network.
17 Jul 2026
VIP Podcast - Episode 6 - Princess Love
Episode 6 – VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
Welcome to Episode 6 of The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
This episode features Princess Love— who is no stranger to the bright lights of Hollywood as an actress, entrepreneur, Reality Star and Influencer. Some know her R&B hits, her celebrity lifestyle but lesser known is that she is an avid poker player who participates in a number of tournaments and cash games. Derek dives deep into her poker life and her personal life on this compelling episode.
2 Jul 2026
VIP Podcast - Episode 5 - Michael Mizrachi
Episode 5 – VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
Welcome to Episode 5 of The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
This episode features Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi— who came out of the womb ready to bluff his opponents, he is a purist in all the poker disciplines. With more than $30 Million in poker winnings and as a record breaking four time champion of the poker players tournament Michael Mizrachi is the current World Series of Poker, Main Event Champion and one of the greatest living poker players who takes inside his craft on this revealing episode.
Timestamps:(1:00) – Introduction
(2:25) - Michael’s Triumphant Return to Poker Tournaments in 2025
(4:10) - How Michael Won the Shortest Main Event Final in History
(5:00) - How Michael’s Mother taught him to play cards and the influence it had on his life
(7:01) - Michael’s Jewish Upbringing
(13:50) - The Birth of Michael’s Competitive spirit on the Football field
(16:01) - Online poker and the rise of The Grinder
(20:02) - The First Millions in Winnings - 2004
(23:35) - How Michael got in the house game
(26:45) - Why Michael always plays BIG
(30:00) - How to balance the Party lifestyle
(35:09) - It’s Time to Ban Headphones and Bring socializing back
(37:07) - Michael’s love of Travel
(40:02) - What it Means to be the People’s Champ
(44:33) - How Phil Ivey became Michael’s first Backer
(47:54) - Michael’s advice to his younger self
(51:45) - The Grinder’s biggest win in a Cash Game
(54:26) - The Importance of keeping Emotions in Check
(57:37) - Hobbies outside of Poker - Slots
(58:38) - Growing up in a Gambling Family
(1:02:21) - When Derek and Michael Roomed Together
26 Jun 2026
VIP Podcast - Episode 4 Part 2 - Ryan Feldman
Episode 4 – VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
Welcome to Episode 4 Part 2 of The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
This episode features Ryan Feldman diving into Hustler Casino Live and the infamous Robbi Lew scandal. Don’t miss this one.
Timestamps:(1:00) – Introduction
25 Jun 2026
VIP Podcast - Episode 4 - Ryan Feldman
Episode 4 – VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
Welcome to Episode 4 of The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
This episode features Ryan Feldman — Ryan created and produced Hustler Casino Live, now widely regarded as the most exciting and successful poker show on the planet. Known for organizing electrifying games with regular $1,000,000+ buy-ins and a cast of world-famous players, Feldman has brought a new era of drama, spectacle, and global attention to live poker.
Ryan keeps it real from start to finish.
Timestamps:(1:00) – Introduction
20 Jun 2026
VIP Podcast - Episode 3 - Omar Gooding
Episode 3 – VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
Welcome to Episode 3 of The VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
This episode features Omar Gooding—actor, comedian, producer, and rapper—for a hilarious, honest, and wide-ranging conversation. Best known for his roles in Baby Boy and other classic films, Omar comes from one of entertainment’s most talented families and shares incredible stories from his life, career, and time at the poker table.
From growing up in a legendary show-business household to navigating Hollywood, fatherhood, music, and poker, Omar keeps it real from start to finish.
Timestamps:(1:00) – Introduction(3:00) – The Goodings’ unique home life(5:45) – How Omar learned poker(7:10) – Derek and Omar were both up for the same role(9:52) – How acting and poker relate(14:36) – How Omar started rapping(20:05) – The truth about Omar’s run-in with the LAPD(27:32) – How the passing of their father impacted Omar and the family(32:45) – Omar explains the beginning of his acting career(37:23) – The difference between TV and movies in the ’90s(39:05) – The film Freedom Song(42:19) – Lessons from Dad(45:32) – Fatherhood and the importance of showing up(51:32) – Becoming the man of the house(55:01) – Omar’s trip to the World Series of Poker(1:00:00) – The Nickelodeon scandal
11 Jun 2026
VIP Podcast - Episode 2 - Finesse Mitchell
Welcome to the second episode of the VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
We welcome Finesse Mitchell, a seasoned actor, comedian and host who was a Saturday Night Live cast member, and has worked in across TV, Film and four stand up specials. Many don’t know before show Buisness with was an NFL player.
(1:00) - Finesse Mitchell Introduction(5:07) - Finesse’s childhood and where he came from(8:49) - The differences from our Childhood and Now(11:45) - What it means to be a Kappa(16:29) - How ESPN got Finesse into Poker(21:46) - How Poker helps Finesse escape celebrity(26:50) - The Difference between a Comedian and a Stand-Up(29:12) - How to Build a Joke(38:09) - Finesse is a Jedi - How he Reads People(40:29) - When to Call(46:01) - Self Grooming vs the Barbershop(50:02) - The Future of the Comedy(53:07) - How to Know when you’ve killed on stage.
4 Jun 2026
VIP Podcast Episode 1 - Mitch Butler
Welcome to the first episode of the VIP Podcast with Derek James Gregory.
Beyond the Spotlight: How Sports, Entertainment, and Poker Influence Each Other
We welcome Mitch Butler NBA Veteran & NBA Agent who taught me about consistency. As a UCLA Basketball Player and 8 Year NBA Veteran turned Agent representing luminaries like Dwight Howard, Avery Bradley, & Earl Watson.
(1:00) - Introduction
(5:30) - Mitch Butler talks about his upbringing and coming from the bottom
(9:51) - Mitch Butler dives into his faith
(12:03) - Poker’s Influence on Mitch’s Mindset
(16:07) - Happy Harrison’s Basketball Camp & it’s Influence
(18:01) - Mitch’s childhood friendship with ER & The Pitt Actor, Noah Wylie
(29:40) - The Root of Mitch Butler’s Discipline
(37:32) - How the support of his neighborhood allowed Mitch to pursue his basketball dream
(42:29) - The cost and commutes involved with pursuing Basketball
(45:52) - How Los Angeles became the hub of Basketball and Magic Johnson’s Role
(51:03) - Poker as a form of Networking (56:01) - Parallels between Christian Laettner and Cooper Flagg(58:45) - Mitch’s life changing conversation with Coach K
(102:25) - When Mitch realized that Basketball could be a life path for him
(1:10:02) - When Mitch Butler Met Shaq
(1:16:05) - How to push the development of young basketball players(1:23:00) - Mitch on his relationship with Coaches as an Agent and Advocate(1:35:26) - The world of poker in the NBA (1:43:52) - How Poker teaches you to read people(1:52:00) - Mitch Butler’s impact on the game of basketball
3 Jun 2026
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