An Inspired Chat with Adam Rothenberg of Manhattan

Adam Rothenberg shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Adam , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I have had a few moments throughout my career that made me feel proud. Of recent, I found out that several of my interviews have had a profound effect on the artist I spotlighted. Two performers told me that because of the interviews they did with me, they were able to get citizenship in the country they desired because the interview made them look like a star. One celebrity loved our conversation so much that she offered to take me to lunch as a way to thank me for the great interview. Another artist revealed that because of our interview, they got the green light to move forward with a new project. Lastly, another performer loved our interview so much, that they wanted to show me their appreciation and asked if they could send me something as a thank you.

These moments have reminded me that you never know how your work can make an impact in someone’s life. That is truly the greatest gift I can ever ask for.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the Founder, Creator & Host of the Entertainment Platform, Call Me Adam & podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam.

For the past 16 years, I have been going behind the scenes with artists & celebrities from the world of Film, Television, Theatre & Music. With more than 2,200 interviews under my belt, these features have helped over 3 million visitors, in the last 2 1/2 years alone, make Call Me Adam an entertainment destination for audiences to find out what is coming up next!

What makes me unique is that I conduct a different kind of interview. I do my homework, thoroughly researching each guest. The information I find allows me to come up with thoughtful & insightful questions that are unlike the ones many of these celebrities have been asked previously. It’s this kind of outside the box thinking that have made my guests want a 2nd, 3rd or 4th interview with me. Additionally, I make my guests feel comfortable & at ease allowing us to have an authentic and engaging conversation.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I think a moment that really shaped how I see the world is just being alive. In 1975, I was born premature, 3 months early. When my mom was brought into the hospital, she told the attending nurse that they didn’t have name picked out for me yet, and the nurse said to my mom, “It’s okay. He’s not going to make it anyway.”

My first few years of life were very challenging. Technology & Medicine were not what they are today. I was constantly in & out of the hospital. It was touch & go for a while as to wether or not I was actually going to live or die. But, 50 years later, I am still here & survived all the hardships.

I think being born premature and literally fighting for my life showed me from the start just how strong of a person I am, especially when my back is to the wall. I have always carried that perseverance & determination of getting what I want with me, even if the road has taken me on a detour. It’s not always forming your own path, but I am here to show myself & others that it can be done.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be “You will live out your childhood dream of working in the Entertainment Industry, but it will be in a completely different way than you ever imagined. It’s going to take time, effort, patience, perseverance & determination, but you will get there, despite all the detours you will have to take. Keep going! In the words of your Entertainment Idol, the late, great, legendary Olivia Newton-John, ‘Don’t Stop Believin'”

I would also add, “You may not know this now, but you will get to interview the iconic Grease star a total of 3 times, spend your 40th birthday with her & even introduce her to your parents.”

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closet friends would say what really matters to me most are my family, boyfriend, friends, working in the world of Entertainment, and one day living out my dream of getting to interview My Entertainment Idol Dolly Parton.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that when I’m gone, people will say how nice, caring, loving, compassionate & funny I was. I hope they will say, “Adam entertained me with his humor & interviews.” I hope if they ever feel like giving up, they will remember my drive & determination to always go after my dreams, no matter how old I was.

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