Interview with the
Worlds Fastest Talking Female
Fran Capo
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By Beatrice Davis
Fran Capo is a stand up
comic, keynote motivational speaker, nine time author, adventurer and
three-time world record holder: one, as the Worlds Fastest Talking Female
(listed in both Guinness and Ripley’s books), two as the only author to do a
book signing at the top of Kilimanjaro and three as the only author to do a
book signing down by the wreck site of the Titanic. Fran has appeared on over 250 television
shows and 1000 radio shows, and is asked to speak at
corporations and schools all around the world. Never one to stop, she has just
been cast in a new reality show on John Basedow TV
where she plays Fast Talking Fran – adventure girl, which can be seen on www.myspace.com/johnbasedowtv
We managed to get this
Tsunami of talk to a slow spin to see what makes her tick.
NSA: How did you start out in
this business and when did you discover your talent for comedy and talking
fast?
Fran: It all started when I
was at
Then
shortly out of college I got a job at WBLS-FM radio in NY, writing comedy. I
mentioned I could do a cool Mae West impression, but called the character June
East, Mae's long lost sister. The DJ
throws the weather and traffic copy at me, I go on the air and do a sultry
weather report.
One
thing leads to another I get invited on the Larry
King Live show to break the record for fast talking. I break it that night
doing 585 wpm, then re-break it at the Guinness Museum in Vegas doing 603.32
wpm.(The whole story about this is in Chicken
Soup for the Women's Soul on page 82)... Actually if someone really wanted
to see how my brain does all this they can go to my website, www.francapo.com and click on the Links
button. There is a Discovery Channel episode that shows how my brain works.
I’ve managed to include my first love, comedy,
with my other three equal loves; motivation, adventure and writing. So I do an
adventure, write about it for my blogs or newspaper columns, then do a bit
about it on stage and then take it to the corporate and school worlds and
inspire people through what I’ve done.
I have to say I was
really lucky in that my mom taught me that Nothing is Impossible (Hence the
name of the school tours I do) and my dad taught me to always look for the
laughter in life. So I do something and it doesn’t work according to plan, I
make a joke out of it.
NSA: What are some other things you would like to accomplish?
Fran:
To be the top female motivational
speaker in the world!
I would love to voice
over a fast talking character like Hammy from “Over the Hedge” in a major
motion picture.
I am working on getting
major sponsorship for my “Nothing is Impossible School Tour” for kids. I would
want to expand the amount of talks I do to the schools.
I now do a one minute
“Fran’s Quick Motivational Mondays Minute” on a radio station out on
And of course I have
tons of other adventures I want to do; stunt school, diving with great whites,
eating fire…etc.
NSA: You hold two other world records: climbing to the top of
Fran: I found out that an 83
year old woman climbed Kilimanjaro…so I figured if she could do it so could I.
Then I decided if I was going to go all the way up the mountain I might as well
make it memorable…so I came up with doing a book signing up at the top.
When I got permission to
go down to the Titanic I wanted to do something that would stand out…so not
only did I do a book signing down there, I became an ordained minister, got a
US Navy Chaplain to give me a non-denominational prayer to say down there, and
I became the first person to pray down by the wreck site. The stories of these
records as well as my other week long adventures will be in my next book;
Adrenaline Adventures 2 – The Dreams continue.
NSA: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Fran: Actually I love what I
do, so my work and my hobbies are the same thing. At night I always pray and
show gratitude to God and Mother Mary for all the wonderful things I have in my
life.
NSA: What are some projects you’re currently working on?
Fran: I just finished
recording my first book on tape called, “The
Science of Getting Rich”. It will be available in February on my website in
the bookstore section.
My
novel, “Hopeville: The City of
Light” will is being turned into an e-book during the month of February
also, it will be available for download soon.
Working
on a new motivational book, some radio spots and getting the “Nothing
Impossible Tour” with sponsorship around the country.
I
also got cast in my first comedic/dramatic role. We will do a presentation of
this in front of an 815 seat theater in Philly during March.
Just finished a seminar: Finance, Fitness and Fun that was held in
And
of course there is my weekly blog, “Fran’s World and
Welcome to it” which can be read at www.mysweetconnections.com
Comes out every Friday.
NSA: What is one of the most memorable moments you have
experienced that really touched you deeply?
Fran: There are several. Each
person that I am close to has said something to me at one point that brought
happy tears to me.
NSA: You are an inspiration to so many single women with children,
what is the most precious advice you can give to a single mom who is out there
struggling and raising their children alone?
Fran: Raising a child alone
with integrity and morals is one of the hardest things you can do…so everything
else becomes easy. The bottom line is don’t ignore
yourself in all of this. The best gift you can give your child is for them to
also see you happy.
NSA: Is there anything we do not know about you that you don’t mind
sharing?
Fran: I hate to cook. I’m the only Italian I
know who doesn’t like garlic and onions. I also love Broadway plays, back rubs
and getting my hair brushed.
NSA: Any last parting words for the readers?
Fran: I'd like to end with two of my philosophies..."If
you want to do something you find a way, if you don't you find and excuse"
and "Live every day as if it's your last, and one day you'll be
right."