Send us a text Andrew Weiss, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, reveals how Vladimir Putin rose from mediocre KGB officer to Russian leader through a series of accidents and opportunities rather than strategic brilliance or espionage expertise. • Putin was a mid-level KGB officer who never achieved high rank before being chosen as Yeltsin's successor precisely because he seemed controllable • The image of Putin as a master spy was deliberately created a...
Jun 25, 2025•46 min•Season 3Ep. 138
Send us a text "World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age." University of Chicago Press To find our more about Michele McAloon: Your host. https://www.bookclues.com What happens to zoo animals when war breaks out? It's a question few of us consider, yet the answer reveals profound truths about humanity's moral compass. Professor John M. Kinder takes us on a haunting journey through World War II's forgotten captives in "World War Zoos: Humans and Other A...
Jun 11, 2025•42 min•Season 3Ep. 137
Send us a text Michele McAloon speaks with Olena Tregub, a Ukrainian civil society leader and anti-corruption advocate, about the realities of war in Ukraine and why American support remains crucial despite political uncertainty. • Olena describes the terrifying routine of air raid alerts and Russia's intensified attacks on Ukrainian civilians • Ukrainian defense relies heavily on US-supplied Patriot systems which cannot be replaced by European support • Most corruption stories about Ukraine are...
Jun 02, 2025•37 min
Send us a text This Memorial Day episode revisits a conversation with Alison Maker about her book "Making the Best Years of Our Lives," exploring the classic 1946 film that portrayed veterans returning home from World War II. • William Wyler, the film's director, was a Jewish immigrant who served as a major in the Army Signal Corps during WWII • Wyler flew actual combat missions while filming documentaries and lost his hearing in one ear during service • Harold Russell, who played Homer Parrish,...
May 25, 2025•38 min
Send us a text What if apocalypse doesn't mean the end of everything, but rather a revelation of new possibilities? Archaeologist Lizzie Wade turns our understanding of catastrophe upside down in this eye-opening conversation about how ancient societies transformed through crisis. Speaking from Mexico City, Wade takes us on a global journey through civilizations that faced devastating challenges yet emerged transformed. She dismantles our preconceptions about Neanderthals, revealing not brutish ...
May 20, 2025•40 min
Send us a text Dorian Linskey explores humanity's persistent fascination with apocalyptic scenarios through his book "Everything Must Go: The Stories We Tell About the End of the World." This deep dive into our cultural obsession with the end times reveals how these narratives reflect our psychology, politics, and understanding of human nature. • Mary Shelley created the first secular apocalyptic novel with "The Last Man," establishing a genre that continues to influence modern fiction • Our ima...
May 12, 2025•48 min•Season 3Ep. 136
Send us a text The extraordinary journey of Volodymyr Zelensky—from Ukraine's most beloved comedian to its wartime president—represents one of history's most dramatic political transformations. Simon Shuster, who has reported from Ukraine and Russia for over 15 years, joins us to discuss his revealing biography "The Showman: Inside the Invasion that Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky." Having first met Zelensky during his improbable presidential campaign in 2019, Shuster wit...
Apr 29, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 135
Send us a text Delve into the captivating world of the Jesuits with Dr. Marcus Friedrich, whose monumental work "The Jesuits: A History" illuminates five centuries of one of history's most influential and controversial religious orders. From their unexpected origins in the conversion of a Spanish nobleman to their current global presence under the first Jesuit pope, this conversation unveils the remarkable adaptability that has defined the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits' story begins with Ignatiu...
Apr 25, 2025•48 min•Season 3Ep. 134
Send us a text The passing of Pope Francis marks a pivotal moment in Catholic history, triggering ancient protocols that few outside the Vatican understand. As a canon lawyer within the Roman Catholic Church's legal system, I'm uniquely positioned to guide you through the fascinating reality behind papal succession. Forget Hollywood's conspiracy theories and dramatic interpretations. The truth about what happens when a pope dies is simultaneously more mundane and more fascinating. From the Camer...
Apr 21, 2025•14 min•Season 3Ep. 133
Send us a text Steve Delity brings history alive as he prepares to portray Daniel Harrington in the 250th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Lexington. Through meticulous research and authentic reproduction, he honors the legacy of the ordinary citizens who took extraordinary action on April 19, 1775. • Daniel Harrington was the 36-year-old clerk of Captain John Parker's Lexington Militia who lived with his wife and seven children in a house facing the Lexington Green • The night before th...
Apr 18, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 132
Send us a text The Battle of Lexington marked the beginning of the American Revolution, with ordinary farmers standing against British troops in an extraordinary act of courage and defiance despite overwhelming odds. • Solomon Brown, an 18-year-old dairy farmer, first spotted British officers with concealed weapons on April 18, 1775 • Lexington was a struggling dairy community of 700 people in economic depression, yet deeply committed to revolutionary ideals • Reverend Jonas Clark had been prepa...
Apr 18, 2025•48 min•Season 3Ep. 131
Send us a text James Arbib and I explore how humanity stands at the threshold of a fundamental paradigm shift from an extractive to a stellar world, and how technological change could transform our civilization for the better. • Our current societal structures (governments, markets, property ownership) have persisted for 5,000 years because they confer advantages in an extractive production paradigm • The extractive paradigm, requiring inputs from people and planet, inherently creates environmen...
Apr 15, 2025•48 min•Season 3Ep. 131
Send us a text What happens when American military expertise meets Ukrainian battlefield determination? The answer lies in one of the most extraordinary untold stories of the Russia-Ukraine war. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, few expected Ukraine to survive. Behind the scenes, American military leaders faced an unprecedented challenge: how to support Ukraine without triggering World War III. Their solution was revolutionary – a secret command center in Wiesbaden, ...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 130
Send us a text Professor Margaret MacMillan illuminates how decisions made at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 continue to shape today's geopolitical landscape, particularly in understanding current European conflicts including Russia's invasion of Ukraine. • The Treaty of Versailles and related settlements redefined Europe through borders that still cause tensions today • World War I was the war that made World War II possible, with unfinished business from 1919 leading to future conflicts • ...
Mar 22, 2025•46 min
Send us a text Like and subscribe to Crossword on YouTube at Crossword Author Interviews. You can also find us at bookclues.com and follow Michele McAloon on X, BlueSky and TrueSocial, all @MicheleMcAloon1. Professor Margaret MacMillan joins us to explore how the 1919 Paris Peace Conference shaped our modern world and why understanding this pivotal moment is essential for making sense of today's European conflicts. • World War I as the war that made World War II possible and ended the relatively...
Mar 20, 2025•46 min
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Mar 14, 2025•40 min
Send us a text Step into a world where ancient customs still whisper the stories of generations in 'Custodians of Wonder.' In this episode, we chat with Eliot Stein, a passionate author and BBC journalist, who unveils the remarkable narratives of the last custodians of cultural practices across the globe. Eliot shares how a serendipitous encounter with an elderly lace-maker ignited his quest to document these fading traditions, revealing intricate tales from the balafon player in Mali to the thr...
Mar 06, 2025•37 min
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Feb 18, 2025•40 min
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Feb 06, 2025•37 min•Season 3Ep. 112
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Jan 24, 2025•43 min•Season 3Ep. 111
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Jan 13, 2025•43 min•Season 3Ep. 110
Send us a text How has the Bible managed to influence cultures across the globe for over two millennia? Join me, Michelle McAloon, as I sit down with Professor Bruce Gordon, the distinguished Titus Street professor of ecclesiastical history at Yale Divinity School, to uncover the Bible's remarkable journey. Together, we promise to unearth how this sacred text has continued to evolve, both through its divine inspiration and as a cultural artifact. Professor Gordon offers a wealth of knowledge fro...
Dec 11, 2024•49 min•Season 3Ep. 90
Send us a text What if the mysteries of consciousness and the universe are more connected than we ever imagined? Esteemed physicist and author George Musser joins me, Michelle McElhoun, on Crossword for an enlightening conversation that explores the fascinating intersection of physics, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence. Musser shares his insights into why physicists are increasingly drawn to these fields, suggesting they may hold the key to a unified understanding of our universe. Drawin...
Dec 04, 2024•50 min
Send us a text Thanksgiving holds a special place in the heart of America, and Melanie Kirkpatrick, author of "Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience," joins us to uncover the layers of history and meaning behind this cherished holiday. What if Thanksgiving is more than just a day for turkey and football? We promise you'll gain a deeper understanding of its origins, stretching back to 1621, and how it has come to symbolize unity and gratitude across the nation. From pr...
Nov 26, 2024•35 min
Send us a text Can a civil rights icon lose its way? That's the provocative question we tackle as we dive deep into the Southern Poverty Law Center's journey from revered champion of justice to a polarizing force in activism. We're joined by Tyler O'Neill, managing editor of the Daily Signal and insightful author of "Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center." Tyler unveils the SPLC's transformation under Morris Dees, from its initial noble victories against the Ku Klux ...
Nov 18, 2024•56 min
Send us a text Join me as I engage with the esteemed Professor John M. Ellis, author of "A Short History of Relations Between Peoples: How the World Began to Move Beyond Tribalism," to uncover profound insights into the evolution of human relations. The conversation kicks off with a journey back to the pivotal transformations around 1500, spurred by the Age of Discovery and Gutenberg's printing press. Discover how these monumental shifts in communication and exploration began to erode the barrie...
Nov 12, 2024•38 min
Send us a text Is the rise of new media reshaping the future of politics?" Join me, Michelle McElhune, as I sit down with Bradley Devlin, politics editor of the Daily Signal and the voice behind the new podcast, Signal Sit Down. Together, we dissect the evolving landscape of media bias, drawing parallels between the decentralized power structures in Congress and the historical breakdown of the Holy Roman Empire. With Trump's recent election victory, we discuss how genuine, unfiltered conversatio...
Nov 07, 2024•30 min
Send us a text Join us for a lively and insightful episode as we explore the theatrical nature of the current election season. With our special guest, Tony Kennett from the Daily Signal, we dissect how figures like Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are transforming the political landscape with their unconventional approaches. Witness how Trump's social media dynamism has turned political engagement into a spectacle, reminiscent of a national comedy. We reflect on how Obama's initial social media st...
Nov 01, 2024•39 min
Send us a text Discover how the digital revolution is reshaping education with insights from Dr. Mark Bauerlein, a senior editor at First Things and English professor at Emory University. Our conversation navigates the challenges posed by social media and smartphones, which are distracting students from engaging with traditional literature. We tackle the shift in educational priorities, moving from a deep dive into Western civilization to focusing merely on critical skills through brief text ana...
Oct 22, 2024•32 min
Send us a text Discover the extraordinary journey of Ambassador John J. Sullivan, who navigated his path from South Boston's streets to the high-stakes world of international diplomacy as the U.S. ambassador to Russia. With a rich family legacy steeped in military service, Sullivan's early passion for foreign policy and national security carved his path through pivotal roles, including serving at the Justice Department during Operation Desert Storm. His career trajectory, marked by pivotal decis...
Oct 15, 2024•54 min
