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About Us
The Wild Card Podcast began in 2017, with three dumb friends, Jared Eaton, Jeff Curtis, and Ron Blair. The idea came about during a production of “The Elephant Man" when Jared and Ron were carpooling to the theatre together. During one of these rides, Jared expressed his love for podcasts and the idea soon became a frequent topic of conversation. In 2016, Ron and Jeff had shared the stage in a production of 1984. Finding that they had a lot in common, the two friends began discussing possible projects that they might develop together. One night Ron pitched Jeff the idea of developing a podcast with him and Jared. Intrigued, the three met for dinner at "Cheddars" to discuss the possibility, and thus The Wild Card Podcast was born.
Ron Blair, the man of 1,000 nicknames, began performing on stage at the age of 15 in 1989. Since he first stepped on the stage, Ron has been involved in over 100 theatrical productions. Some of his favorite roles include Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof, Fagin in Oliver, Tito Morelli in Lend Me a Tenor, Macbeth in Macbeth, Edna in Hairspray, Daddy Warbucks in Annie, and Inspector Kemp in Young Frankenstein. Ron also has written and directed for the stage having taken the helm of Night of the Living Dead, a Christmas Story, and The Rocky Horror Show.
Ron has also been involved in filmmaking since 2002, having written and directed several short films and sketches, and having appeared in over 20 films since that time. Ron currently is an award winning writer/producer through his production company Good People Films, along with his long time partner Richard Marshall.
He currently resides in Rineyville, Ky with his wife Michelle, and two children (also performers), Kenzie, 21, and Caleb, 17. When he isn’t working on stage, camera, or in the studio, Ron enjoys travelling, studying the horror genre, and getting a bad ass tan.
Jeff Curtis has been writing music since he was seven years old and has a degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music. He has composed music for theater, television, radio jingles, film and educational videos.
Jeff has written three full length musicals, Christopher & Stephen, Tiananmen, and Heroicus and has composed songs and underscoring for many other productions including The Hobbit, and Waiting for Godot. He has also been the Music Director on a number of productions including Godspell, Once Upon a Mattress, and Annie, as well as the sound designer for productions of Night of the Living Dead, Christmas Story, Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet, and Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four.
But acting is where Jeff met Jared and Ron. He and Ron shared the stage In Company and 1984, and he and Jared have shared the stage in productions of The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, The Little Mermaid, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Peter and the Starcatcher. And then in 2019 the three dumb friends were all on stage together for the first time in Young Frankenstein.
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Directing has also brought Jeff together with his fellow Wild Cards. Ron directed both Jeff and Jared in his short film, Wooden Heart. And Jeff directed Jared in his musical, Heroicus, and Ron in Annie.
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Some of Jeff's other work includes composing original music for Court TV’s CRIME STORIES: BLOODLINES pilot, jingles for M.R.S. Chrysler-Plymouth and Ludlow Savings Bank, and the soundtrack to the Good People's Films short film, Shoes Like These.
Besides ripping apples in half with his bare hands and slapping werewolves to death, Jared Eaton is a high school biology teacher who loves playing board games, video games and escaping from rooms. Jared also has a passion for making lists and acting, which is how he met Ron and Jeff.
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Jared and Ron have shared the stage in numerous productions including The Elephant Man, 39 Steps, Spamalot, Hairspray, Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet, and Sherlock Holmes: The Sign of Four.
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The Wizard of Oz was the first show that he did with Jeff. They also did The Sound of Music, The Little Mermaid, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Peter and the Starcatcher together.
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But it was Young Frankenstein that brought the three dumb friends together on stage for the first time, with Jared as Dr. Frankenstein, Jeff as the Monster, and Ron as Inspector Kemp.
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And it was Jared's love of podcasts that began this journey to wherever. When he told Ron that he had always wanted to do a podcast, Ron encouraged him to follow through on his dream. Jeff was brought into the mix and the rest is history.
