“Over the years, the thing that I've come to love about Billy more than his creativity is just who he is as a person. And, you know, when I look back on when I met him, because I was such a blithering idiot, I never got the chance to say that he's inspired me, not just as a writer, but also as a person. I conduct my life, and certainly my business, the way he's conducted himself.”
~Marc Guggenheim
In this episode of the Superfan Podcast, your hosts Christian Gossett, Kris Simon, and David Hyde sit down with Emmy Award-winning writer Marc Guggenheim (Arrow, Eli Stone, Legends of Tomorrow) for a wide-ranging conversation about Billy Joel, musical memory, and the kind of fandom that sneaks up on you… and never lets go.
We kick things off with well wishes for Billy’s health and dive straight into Marc’s origin story as a fan — from growing up on Long Island, to shoplifting his first Joel record (accidentally), to sharing a transcendent backstage moment with the artist thanks to a touching letter from his grandfather.
Marc reveals how Billy Joel's lyrics and persona influenced his creative work — including a very personal Arrow episode that featured Joel’s actual concert footage — and reflects on the underrated genius of The Nylon Curtain, the power of the song Vienna, and what it’s like to hear your life in someone else’s melody.
We also talk publishing rights drama, Step Brothers’ Catalina Wine Mixer scenes, Beethoven interpolations, and the mysterious magic of being a "modern woman" in a "Ruthless People" world.
🔗 Reference Links
🖼️ Visuals to accompany the episode
🧵 8-track tape from Charlton Heston’s Omega Man.
🎬 Scene from Step Brothers’ Catalina Wine Mixer
📸 Marc with Billy Joel and his dad backstage (above, minus dad for privacy)
🍸 Featured Segment Extras
Cocktail: The Loneliness Cocktail: inspired by the Piano Man’s lyrics, “Yes, they're sharing a drink they call loneliness. But it's better than drinkin' alone.”
Ice Cubes
1 ½ oz Absolut Vodka
¾ oz Lemon Juice
¾ oz Vanilla Syrup
⅓ oz Egg White
Dash orange bitters
Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Shake and strain into a rocks glass.
Dessert: Vienna Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel): inspired by Billy Joel’s song titled “Vienna,” which is his favorite song he’s ever written, inspired by his father, and a salute to his half-brother Alexander Joel, who was a conductor at the Vienna Volksoper, an opera house in Vienna.
Prep Time: 10 minutes. Cook Time: 40 minutes
4 apples, cored, peeled and diced
10 - 12 dried apricots, chopped
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbs. cornstarch
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup finely ground plain breadcrumbs
1/4 cup raisins
3 tbs. unsalted butter, melted
Confectioner’s sugar
Phyllo dough sheets
Preheat Oven 350 degrees F.
Place the apples, dried apricots, raisins, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and water in a frying pan.
Cook until the mixture thickens; this will only take a minute or two.
Remove from the pan and place in a bowl; add the vanilla, stir and cool completely
Place the walnuts and breadcrumbs in a food processor and give a few good chops
To Assemble the Strudel:
Place a sheet of phyllo dough on a dry, clean towel; keep the remaining phyllo dough covered with a damp towel.
Reserve 1 tbs. of butter. Lightly brush with a little bit of the butter; top with another sheet of phyllo dough and again brush with a bit of butter and sprinkle with about 1 tbs. of the walnut/breadcrumb mixture. Repeat using all of the breadcrumb/walnut mixture and butter ending with the phyllo.
Spoon the apple mixture over the phyllo, leaving a 2 inch border.
Using the towel; lit the edges and starting at the wide end, roll the strudel “jelly-roll style”, trying to roll it tight, enclosing the filling.
Place the roll seam-side down, on a baking sheet; brush the top with the remaining butter.
Bake 40 – 45 minutes or until a beautiful golden color is achieved.
Let cool for a few minutes then remove from pan. Dust the top with Confectioner's sugar once cooled before serving.
Whether you're a lifelong fan or just figuring out who’s behind “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” this episode is your backstage pass to all the feelings. And now a question for you, Subscriber! If you could see Marc Guggenheim perform one Billy Joel song live, what would you pick?
Remember, Billy Joel put it best: “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity.”
Thanks for joining us for Episode 2 of the Superfan Podcast! Huge thanks to Marc Guggenheim for sharing his love of Billy Joel and proving once again that every fan’s story has a soundtrack. If you haven’t already, hit subscribe below so you’ll catch the rest of our season of creators geeking out about the things they love most. And if you’re interested in behind-the-scenes chats, bloopers, and special unaired content, make sure you become a paid subscriber to gain access!
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Special thanks to our Season One sponsor, the amazing Fanbase Press! Fanbase Press is a GLAAD Media Award-winning and Eisner and Harvey Awards-nominated comic book publisher that celebrates super fandoms and creates new ones! #StoriesMatter.
