Award winning songwriter, author, educator and food activist Alice Randall and I discuss "Coming Through Slaughter" by Michael Ondaatje as well as her book, "My Black Country". We geek out over banjos and the Wootens as well as discussing the differences between jazz and country and what makes country music so great. Coming Through Slaughter https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Through-Slaughter-Vintage-International-ebook/dp/B004QX06TW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2FZNF0YHG8UTF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iu062M7CL5-6spV...
Nov 22, 2024•40 min•Ep. 119
Dr. James R. Gregory is the founder of NYLAQ Advisors. He is also chairman emeritus of Tenet Partners, a global brand innovation and marketing firm based in New York, NY. One of the key secrets to his success was his passion for writing. Over the next four decades, he wrote a series of business books that helped build not only our business brand but also my personal reputation. Some of the titles he crafted include “Marketing Corporate Image,” “Leveraging the Corporate Brand,” “Branding Across B...
Sep 20, 2024•42 min•Ep. 118
Author and podcast host, Jacob Goldstein and I talk about "The White Album" by Joan Didion. As a San Diego born, New York City journalist, Jacob and I compare and contract Los Angeles and New York as described by Didion and ourselves. We talk about our nostalgia for the past and the uncertainty of the future as we stray on and off topic of this thrilling collection of essays by Didion. Jacob's podcast, "What's your problem? Live from Chicago" Featuring me: https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/whats-y...
Jul 12, 2024•49 min•Ep. 117
Chicago based poet, Campbell McGrath talks to me about the difference in reading verses watching a movie, gives writing advice, and reads some of his own poetry in this riveting episode. Nouns and Verbs: https://www.amazon.com/Nouns-Verbs-Campbell-McGrath-ebook/dp/B07BK5LS9Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3PW8A8HUNH709&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1qfSeNSYOZIt05ulFxXyn8_QiiRzB0IM1EMEF4ozu53fbgNLbjTWy4_BIKSp62x2Ra10CGwyq-zxeuIZrFSbikDsos1HvSLU-V5dDhtUwJQ.tDt4u1FECtwGzgoBPhyKtjQVULMS3tZYIylp1UJGooQ&dib_tag=se&ke...
Jun 14, 2024•54 min•Ep. 116
Director of the Office of Paranormal Investigations and President of the Forever Family Foundation, has been in the field for over 40 years focusing on education and field investigation. He is the author or co-author of 10 nonfiction books and one novel, and teaches online Parapsychology courses through the Rhine Education Center. He is on the Board of the Rhine Research Center and the advisory boards of the Windbridge Reseearch Center and the Forever Family Foundation. We talk about The Medium ...
Jun 07, 2024•54 min•Ep. 115
Adam Dorr is the Director of Research at the independent think tank RethinkX. He is an environmental social scientist and technology theorist whose recent RethinkX publications have focused on the disruption of the global energy sector by new energy generation and storage technologies, as well as the implications of the energy, transportation, and food disruptions for climate change. Adam regularly presents on stage, radio, podcasts, and television. He completed his MS at the University of Michi...
May 31, 2024•51 min•Ep. 114
Adam Dorr is the Director of Research at the independent think tank RethinkX. He is an environmental social scientist and technology theorist whose recent RethinkX publications have focused on the disruption of the global energy sector by new energy generation and storage technologies, as well as the implications of the energy, transportation, and food disruptions for climate change. Adam regularly presents on stage, radio, podcasts, and television. He completed his MS at the University of Michi...
May 24, 2024•30 min•Ep. 113
Siix time Emmy award winning, Bob Kealing, talks with me about "Good Day Sunshine State" and the Beatles history in Florida. Why does this state hold a special place in the hearts of those four lads from LIverpool? Hear us discuss this and "Once Upon A Time in Florida" by Jacki Levine. Good Day Sunshine State https://www.amazon.com/Good-Day-Sunshine-State-Beatles/dp/0813068932 Once Upon A Time In Florida: https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Florida-Promises/dp/B0BVYZPTRL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=M9ELUO...
May 17, 2024•51 min•Ep. 112
Moral and Political philosopher, Elizabeth Cripps talks to us about individual and parental duties toward climate change. We touch on her book, "Parenting on Earth" as well as "The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did)" by Philippa Perry in an insightful conversation about parenting and climate change. Parenting on Earth: https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Earth-Philosophers-Guide-Everyone/dp/0262047586/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35827PTYJYF5O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9....
May 10, 2024•53 min•Ep. 111
Rocket Scientist Erika Nesvold and I talk about Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow all while she answers some of my dumb space questions. We touch on mining astroids, prison and capitalism in space, and whether we should even settle space? The Sparrow: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+sparrow+book&crid=27WWOJ6JYAAQH&sprefix=the+sparrow+book%2Caps%2C163&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
May 03, 2024•49 min•Ep. 110
University of Arizona Astronomy professor Chris Impey and I talk about "Wonderful Life" by Stephen Jay Gould. This is book was way over my head but i still learned a lot. Hear Professor Impey dumb things down for me and share things like how fossilization is rare and evolution is a lottery. Wonderful Life: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wonderful+life+stephen+jay+gould&crid=1J804L1473ANY&sprefix=wonderful+life+ste%2Caps%2C447&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_18 World's Without End: https://www.am...
Apr 26, 2024•26 min•Ep. 109
University of Arizona Astronomy professor Chris Impey and I talk about his book, "Worlds Without End: Exoplanets, Habitability, and the Future of Humanity". This is a fun episode because I get to geek out and ask all of the questions I've had about space and life on other planets that I want. Come back next week to hear us talk about "Wonderful Life" by Stephen Jay Gould. World's Without End: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=chris+impey+worlds+without+end&crid=2U2GU1N0R1302&sprefix=chris+impey...
Apr 19, 2024•24 min•Ep. 108
Winner of the 2022 National Jewish Book Award, author Stephen Mills and I discuss his book, "The Chosen - A Memoir of Stolen Boyhood" after touching on Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita". We talk about how Nabokov's writing should be read by all adults and transition to sharing personal testimonies of sexual abuse in this highly emotional episode. The Chosen: https://www.amazon.com/Chosen-Memoir-Boyhood-Stephen-Mills/dp/1250871158/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Lolita: https://www...
Apr 12, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 107
Laura Warrell is back to praise Julia Otsuka's "The Swimmers". We specifically talk about how difficult is to write in third person plural but we both couldn't put the book down. The Swimmers: https://www.amazon.com/Swimmers-novel-Julie-Otsuka/dp/0593466624/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HTD04TIH3JME&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4NaEfZ2_fThQKp51HQYfO3tojtO-OKvYCsK1Cu5scz02W-g9vy9Ikgj5ZD2cawb1oSUKPy23mGNPLiw2Ppd2o2bdGNECXGyLIWIbIuBYVBnUV7tsSSMMtPavy_IzOtag.ta8FMgR9TXsaaWJw4lEar52JTZ4XxgzbKt9CHQvezlg&dib_tag=se&...
Apr 05, 2024•25 min•Ep. 106
Laura Warell is an award winning author and professor of creative writing and literature at various institutions including Berklee College of Music. Being a musician myself, we talk about how accurate her book, "Sweet Soft Plenty Rhythm" is to the modern musician's journey. Come back next week to hear us discuss, "The Swimmers" by Julia Otsuka Sweet Soft Playable Rhythm: https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Soft-Plenty-Rhythm-Novel/dp/0593466535/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22XGIM561EEER&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Mm97SQJ...
Mar 29, 2024•45 min•Ep. 105
Katie Davis and I talk about Jake Ward's "The Loop" and the future of our human agency. Hear what Katie Davis thinks about one of my favorite books. Check out my episode with Jake if you liked this as well! Episode with Jake: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WMvQKT3Tz4H3V4amt9Lql?si=7b9f64f3da954fc2 The Loop: https://www.amazon.com/Loop-Technology-Creating-Without-Choices-ebook/dp/B093ZQ5ZWX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22BC3HZM8I74U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9p2Rf6xdj0TuC4efOWWkAsIySHWa_d7-4yfln0k0b1OiYgafl67Sy...
Mar 22, 2024•31 min•Ep. 104
Associate Professor at the University of Washington, Katie Davis walks us through the struggles of raising children in a day and age where technology is at the forefront. She gives tips and tricks she touched on in her book, "Technology's Child". Come back next week to hear us discuss Jacob Ward's "The Loop". Technology's Child: https://www.amazon.com/Technologys-Child-Digital-Medias-Growing/dp/0262046962 The Loop https://www.amazon.com/Loop-Technology-Creating-Without-Choices-ebook/dp/B093ZQ5ZW...
Mar 15, 2024•38 min•Ep. 103
Piggybacking off of our conversation last week about racism and whiteness in Professor Mirzoeff's "White Sight", this week we talk about Dan Hick's "The Brutish Museums". The Brutish Museums: https://www.amazon.com/Brutish-Museums-Colonial-Violence-Restitution/dp/0745346227/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MIJDIGF910WV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AYtAKi1AxTXrO-8f3cVYj7TSXliWEIABt0nraOsPbW0.mF7aFja6smpOL1JsM8OEBihOHJJFdQa51ql8npghFTs&dib_tag=se&keywords=burdish+museums+dan+hicks&qid=1709067392&sprefix=b...
Mar 08, 2024•42 min•Ep. 102
With a background in Art history, Nick Mirzoeff is an NYU professor and author who had a fascinating chat with me about his book, "White Sight". Check it out here and come back next week for our chat on Dan Hick's "Brutish Museums". White Sight: https://www.amazon.com/White-Sight-Politics-Practices-Whiteness-ebook/dp/B0B2MJKCQV Brutish Museums: https://www.amazon.com/Brutish-Museums-Colonial-Violence-Restitution/dp/0745346227/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MIJDIGF910WV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AYtAKi1AxTXrO-8f3cV...
Mar 01, 2024•48 min•Ep. 101
Author and New Yorker writer, Tony Hiss and I discuss what the Half-Earth project is, why it matters, and many more issues he writes about in his book, "Rescuing The Planet: Protecting Half The Land to Heal The Earth". We then shift into discussing "Life On The Mississippi" by Mark Twain and how we all need to rewire our brains like a Mississippi pilot does. Rescuing The Planet: https://www.amazon.com/Rescuing-Planet-Protecting-Half-Earth/dp/B08CYBYBH5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EBEEIQ6ONRU2&keywords=...
Feb 23, 2024•53 min•Ep. 100
Wilke's University professor and author Laurie Loewentein and I discuss discuss "Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson and how it compares to her book, "Funeral Train". Funeral Train: https://www.amazon.com/Funeral-Train-Dust-Bowl-Mysteries/dp/B0B2S6C29H/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LT9JVO9W7FWK&keywords=funeral+train+laurie+loewenstein&qid=1707164667&sprefix=funeral+train+l%2Caps%2C292&sr=8-1 Houskeeping: https://www.amazon.com/Housekeeping-40th-Anniversary-Picador-Classics/dp/B083QNWFHS/ref=...
Feb 16, 2024•22 min•Ep. 99
Wilke's University professor and author Laurie Loewentein and I discuss the dust bowl, and her book, "The Funeral Train". Come back next week to hear us discuss "Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson. Funeral Train: https://www.amazon.com/Funeral-Train-Dust-Bowl-Mysteries/dp/B0B2S6C29H/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LT9JVO9W7FWK&keywords=funeral+train+laurie+loewenstein&qid=1707164667&sprefix=funeral+train+l%2Caps%2C292&sr=8-1 Houskeeping: https://www.amazon.com/Housekeeping-40th-Anniversary-Pic...
Feb 09, 2024•20 min•Ep. 98
Professor Andrew Mangham and I discuss Charles Dickens' Great Expectations after discussing Mangham's We're All Monsters last week. Hear us talk about the good and bad of life's daily struggles through this classic coming of age novel. We Are All Monsters: https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-All-Monsters-Organisms/dp/0262047527/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KG0NQYCV0TX9&keywords=we+are+all+monsters+andrew+mangham&qid=1706735582&sprefix=we+aall+monsters+andrew+mangham%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-1 Great Expect...
Feb 02, 2024•26 min•Ep. 97
Literary critic and professor, Andrew Mangham and I discuss his book, "We Are All Monsters" which goes into why there is no template human and how we all have peculiarities. Come back next week to hear us discuss Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations". Get his book here: https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-All-Monsters-Organisms/dp/0262047527 Great Expectations: https://www.amazon.com/Expectations-Wordsworth-Classics-Charles-Dickens/dp/1853260045/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1C53XA62IPIM3&keywords=great+expecta...
Jan 28, 2024•30 min•Ep. 96
The award winning writer and psychotherapist, David Santos Donaldson and I discuss "Greenland" a story that is magical realism but totally contemporary. We compare it to "Seasons of Migration To The North" by Tayeb Salih in this episode and you can find both books below: Greenland: https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Greenland-A-Novel/dp/B09JY2HKZR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3W0I5FQJF3QBW&keywords=greenland+david+santos+donaldson&qid=1705618272&sprefix=Greenland+david+santos+%2Caps%2C346&sr=8-1 ...
Jan 19, 2024•47 min•Ep. 95
Not only does she write for amazing television shows like, "Glow", "The Carrie Diaries", "The Bold Type", and "Huge In France" but two time Emmy winning Sascha Rothchild has also written an amazing novel, "Blood Sugar". Check out her and I discussing Madeline Miller's, "Circe". after talking bout "Blood Sugar". Circe: https://www.amazon.com/Circe-Madeline-Miller/dp/0316556327/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PE5DVV6XOZQ3&keywords=madeline+miller+searcy&qid=1704435798&sprefix=madeline+miller+searcy%2...
Jan 12, 2024•25 min•Ep. 94
Not only does she write for amazing television shows like, "Glow", "The Carrie Diaries", "The Bold Type", and "Huge In France" but two time Emmy winning Sascha Rothchild has also written an amazing novel, "Blood Sugar". Check out her and I talking about the novel and come back next week to hear us discuss Madeline Miller's, "Circe". Blood Sugar: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Sugar-Sascha-Rothchild/dp/0593331567/ref=sr_1_1?crid=V6CZBGD6B6E3&keywords=sascha+rothchild&qid=1704435386&spre...
Jan 05, 2024•24 min•Ep. 93
Speaker and author, Etgar Keret and I talk about his memoir, The Seven Good Years, and his other work whether written or spoken. The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God & Other Stories: https://www.amazon.com/Bus-Driver-Wanted-Other-Stories/dp/159463324X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3R6QA6F44P308&keywords=bus+driver+that+wanted+to+be+god&qid=1703810317&sprefix=busdriver+that+wanted+to+be+god+%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-1 The Seven Good Years: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Good-Years-Memoir/dp/0399576002/...
Dec 29, 2023•58 min•Ep. 90
Award winning Chicagoan writer, Joe Meno and I talk about Italo Calvino's novel, "The Baron In The Trees" and how it relates to each other lives and work. The Baron In The Trees https://www.amazon.com/Baron-Trees-Italo-Calvino/dp/0544959116/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JYFX8M7ZDTY3&keywords=baron+in+the+trees+by+italo+calvino&qid=1702623639&sprefix=baron+in+the+tre%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1 Book Of Extraordinary Tragedies https://www.amazon.com/Book-Extraordinary-Tragedies-Joe-Meno/dp/1636140610/ref=...
Dec 22, 2023•35 min•Ep. 92
Award winning Chicagoan writer, Joe Meno and I talk about his novel, "Book Of Extra Ordinary Tragedies", staying positive in the midst of tragedy, and our shared hearing loss as we get older. Book Of Extraordinary Tragedies https://www.amazon.com/Book-Extraordinary-Tragedies-Joe-Meno/dp/1636140610/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GZO42FXNGIAQ&keywords=joe+meno+book+of+extraordinary&qid=1702623603&sprefix=joe+meno+book+of+extraordinary%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-1 The Baron In The Trees https://www.amazon....
Dec 15, 2023•32 min•Ep. 91
