"Larry King: Beyond the Mic" Herb Cohen and Larry King's Lifelong Friendship & Timeless Wisdom on Aging, Life and Love with Herb Cohen, Master Negotiator, Author & Lisa Melmed, Director / Producer of Larry King: Beyond the Mic
What does it mean to have a lifelong friend? Imagine knowing someone for over 75 years—growing up together, sharing triumphs and heartaches, and watching each other’s lives unfold in ways you could never have predicted. Today, we explore the enduring friendship of two remarkable individuals who did just that.
I'm honored to introduce Herb Cohen, a true master of negotiation, whose sharp wit and profound wisdom have made him a legend in his field. As a lawyer, best-selling author of YOU CAN NEGOTIATE ANYTHING and NEGOTIATE THIS!, and dubbed 'the world’s best negotiator' by Playboy magazine, Herb has shown us all that with the right mindset, any challenge can be turned into a win. Joining Herb is Lisa Melmed, the creative force behind Larry King: Beyond the Mic, a documentary that beautifully captures Herb and Larry’s friendship and the touching reunion between Larry and his long-lost son. Lisa’s passion for storytelling shines through in her award-winning work.
Herb and Larry King, yes, the Larry King, shared a bond that spanned decades—from their childhood days in Brooklyn to the heights of their respective careers. We hear how their friendship is not just a story of loyalty and connection but also the lessons of life’s unexpected turns. Herb and Lisa also share with us the behind-the-scenes of filming, their stories, their lives, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Herb's timeless wisdom on aging, life, and love has touched me deeply, and it's something I'll carry with me for years to come. You won't want to miss this inspiring conversation.
Larry King: Beyond the Mic will be airing on PBS stations around across the country beginning September 8th of 2024.
Learn more at https://www.larryandme.com/
Listen to our episode HERE.
About the Film
Larry King was known around the world as the preeminent interviewer. From heads of state to the most prominent celebrities and politicians, his curiosity and non-confrontational style elicited surprising revelations – but what went on beyond the microphone in King’s own personal life?
This half hour documentary recounts two of King’s most remarkable relationships – one with his life-long friend, the best-selling author on negotiations, Herb Cohen; the other with his son, Larry King Jr., whom King first met when his son was in his 30s.
The documentary explores the importance of male friendships and challenges our understanding of father-son relationships, while examining what made Larry unique — his desire for success, his curiosity and his sense of humor. The movie offers a new perspective on an American icon and is brimming with personal photos and video footage from family archives.
About Herb Cohen & Lisa Cohen
HERB COHEN
Herb met Larry in the 1940s when they were young boys living in the Bensonhurst secton of Brooklyn. Both children of immigrants, they formed a friendship and a bond that lasted for their entire lives -- over 75 years -- until Larry’s death in 2021. While Larry went on to become a renowned broadcaster, Herb became a lawyer, negotiator and best-selling author of YOU CAN NEGOTIATE THIS and NEGOTIATE THIS!
A master negotiator, Herb knows that your world is a giant negotiating table. He has successfully negotiated it all: from hostage releases to business transactions to art acquisitions to getting his son to clean-up his room.
Herb, 91, is currently living back in Brooklyn, after residing with his family in Washington, DC, Glencoe, Illinois and Florida. He is the father of three and has 11 grandchildren.
LISA MELMED
Lisa is a Brooklyn-based director, producer, and writer of documentary films.
Lisa is the director /producer of Larry King: Beyond the Mic, a documentary about King’s life-long friendship with Herb Cohen, and how King united with his long time estranged son, which will be airing on PBS stations around the country beginning in September of 2024.
Her first short-subject documentary, Little Rink, presented the quirky -- but charming -- world of competitive table hockey. The documentary was an audience award winner at the Austin Film Festival and was licensed by the Madison Square Garden Network.
Lisa was a writer and producer of B’ars to Bears: Hershey’s Hockey Dynasty, a feature-length documentary about the Hershey Bears, a storied American Hockey League franchise. She was also the executive producer of the feature-length documentary, Only the Dead Know the Brooklyn Americans, which premiered at the Brooklyn Historical Society.
A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Lisa also holds an MBA in Finance from NYU’s Stern School of Business.
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