The Brad Bogner Show: Recent Episodes
Brad Bogner
Brad Bogner hosts “The Brad Bogner Show, a variety, guest based program aimed at giving listeners access to a range of figures and points-of-view. The podcast introduces listeners to an array of topics where experts in their field stop by to talk history, entertainment, politics, and sports. Among other things…
Brad is also a recovering bag boy.
Gabriel Urza ("All That Followed") joins the show. We discuss Gabriel's powerful debut novel that explores how startling situations unfold from small decisions.
Chris Field and Katharine Mach from the Carnegie Institution for Science - Department of Global Ecology at Stanford join the show. We discuss how the recent Paris talks have shaped the climate change discussion and what needs to happen moving forward to ensure a sustainable planet.
Nick Berardini (Director of KILLING THEM SAFELY) joins the show. We discuss his new documentary that explores how a seemingly great All-American company crafted a much different version of their backstory than the truth.
Jonathan Kirshner (Cornell University, "Urban Flight") joins the show. We welcome Jonathan back to the program to discuss his novel about New York's past. 1975 was a year when the sprawling city felt completely helpless and residents felt trapped with no end in sight. People in authority felt the need to commit questionable acts in order to try and allow New York to survive.
Antony Loewenstein (Independent Journalist, "Disaster Capitalism: Making a Killing Out of Catastrophe") joins the show. We discuss how disaster capitalism has spread across the globe completely unchecked, and threatens every citizen on the planet.
Helen Phillips (Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Brooklyn College, "The Beautiful Bureaucrat") joins the show. We discuss her novel that is an honest look at the disappointing but ultimate pleasure that can be felt when dealing with monotonous forces.
Matt Lewis ("Last Man Off: A True Story of Disaster and Survival on the Antarctic Seas") joins the show. We discuss how Matt landed his dream job straight out of college, but ended up fighting for his life to survive the brutal and unforgiving Antarctic Seas.
James Shapiro ("The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606, Columbia University) joins the show. We discuss how William Shakespeare managed to write three iconic plays in a single year that were largely shaped by the current events of the day.
J.S. Law ("Tenacity") joins the show. We discuss his debut novel about a recently reassigned female investigator trying to solve a case despite so many forces working against her.
Judith Viorst ("Wait for Me: And Other Poems About the Irritations and Consolations of a Long Marriage") joins the show. We discuss how her long-standing marriage translates into poetry as well as our passion for books.
Michael Golding ("A Poet of the Invisible World") joins the show. We discuss his thirteenth-century story that is generating comparisons to "Siddhartha" and "The Arabian Nights."
Adam Lazarus ("Hail to the Redskins: Gibbs, the Diesel, the Hogs, and the Glory Days of D.C.'s Football Dynasty") returns to the show. The Redskins haven't had much success in recent years, however, we discuss a period when the club set the gold standard for NFL organizations.
Kieran Mulvaney (HBO Boxing) returns to the show. We discuss how Gennady Golovkin's meteoric rise continues this weekend as he faces off against David Lemieux on PPV. Additionally, we look at some upcoming matchups on HBO this fall.
Gwendolyn Womack ("The Memory Painter") joins the show. We discuss her fascinating novel that features a love story spanning thousands of years across the globe.
Joe Posnanski (NBC Sports, "The Secret of Golf: The Story of Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus") joins the show. Despite reminding people of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Watson was the rare golfer who never feared Jack Nicklaus. The two went on to have an intense rivalry that ultimately resulted in a close friendship.
Filip Bondy ("The Pine Tar Game: The Kansas City Royals, the New York Yankees, and Baseball's Most Absurd and Entertaining Controversy") joins the show. We discuss how the intense playoff rivals in New York and Kansas City managed to stage a bizarre event in an otherwise forgettable season for both clubs.
John Ferling ("Whirlwind: the American Revolution and the War that Won It") returns to the show. While many people still think the American Revolution is ongoing, we explore the early days of the movement and war that lead to the country becoming independent.
H.W. Brands (History Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, "Reagan: The Life") joins the show. We discuss how a middling actor in Hollywood catapulted himself into becoming one of America's most iconic political figures.
Monte Burke ("Saban: The Making of a Coach", Forbes) joins the show. We discuss how University of Alabama's Nick Saban has made himself indispensable to so many organizations in his forty-plus years of coaching.
Charles Leerhsen ("Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty") joins the show. First player inducted into the Hall of Fame. Craziest baserunner of all time. Racist. Murderer. We discuss the facts and myths about Ty Cobb that have grown since the superstar's passing.
Alex Kershaw ("Avenue of Spies: A True Story of Terror, Espionage, and One American Family's Heroic Resistance in Nazi-Occupied Paris") returns to the show. We discuss how some ordinary people did extraordinary things to defy Hitler and the Nazi occupation of France during World War II.
Jenn Louis (“Pasta by Hand: A Collection of Italy's Regional Hand-Shaped Pasta”, executive chef) joins the show. We discuss all the different kinds of hand shaped pastas one can prepare at home to resemble the diverse palate of Italians.
Bill Dettloff ("Ezzard Charles: A Boxing Life") joins the show. We discuss the remarkable career of boxer Ezzard Charles who despite being an all-time great in his era, largely has gone ignored.
Benjamin Johncock ("The Last Pilot") joins the show. We discuss the debut novel that tackles complicated domestic issues during the Space Race.
Maggie Mitchell ("Pretty Is") joins the show. We discuss her debut novel that takes readers on an extremely suspenseful ride and harrowing journey.
Molly Knight ("The Best Team Money Can Buy: The Los Angeles Dodgers' Wild Struggle to Build a Baseball Powerhouse") joins the show. We discuss how the Dodgers went from a laughingstock to the most envied team in baseball with enormous expectations to win immediately.
Kent Babb (Washington Post, “Not a Game: The Incredible Rise and Unthinkable Fall of Allen Iverson) joins the show. We discuss what made Allen Iverson such an incredible basketball player, was also responsible for his eventual demise.
Tyrell Cannon ("Speculative Relationships", Comics) joins the show. We discuss his upcoming releases, the proper way to find a book in public, and what movies are appropriate to take your girlfriend to see. Among other things...
Brin-Jonathan Butler ("The Domino Diaries: My Decade Boxing with Olympic Champions and Chasing Hemingway's Ghost in the Last Days of Castro's Cuba") joins the show. We discuss his time in Cuba and his exploration of what makes some prominent athletes spurn unforgettable opportunities to remain in their home country.
Dean Jobb (Journalism Professor, "Empire of Deception: The Incredible Story of a Master Swindler Who Seduced a City and Captivated the Nation") joins the show. We discuss how Leo Koretz pulled off one of the largest and most expensive scams that's still baffling today.
Hampton Sides ("In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette") joins the show. We discuss the world's fascination with the North Pole in the 19th century as well as the people obsessed with discovering the contents found in the Arctic.
Graham Houston (Boxing Monthly, fightwriter.com, IBHOF) returns to the show. We preview the Super Fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Also, we discuss the rest of the boxing action coming up in the month of May.
Jeffrey Rotter ("The Only Words That Are Worth Remembering") joins the show. We discuss his new novel that is wildly original and creates a very unique portrayal of a futuristic America.
Richard Fox ("Lincoln's Body: A Cultural History", Professor of History University of Southern California) joins the show. We discuss how a completely unassuming man not only embodied the American spirit, but is still remembered as one of the truly iconic politicians in history.
Christian Kiefer ("The Animals") joins the show. We discuss his new novel that touches on some familiar themes in completely new surroundings.
Bart Elmore ("Citizen Coke: The Making of Coca-Cola Capitalism", Environmental historian at University of Alabama) joins the show. We discuss the rich, fascinating, complex, and controversial history of Coca-Cola...which remains one of the most powerful brands in the world.
Nikki Moustaki ("The Bird Market of Paris: A Memoir") joins the show. We discuss Nikki's recently released memoir featuring her grandfather sharing his passion and lifelong love of birds.
Dave Revsine (Lead Studio Host for the Big Ten Network, "The Opening Kickoff: The Tumultuous Birth of a Football Nation") joins the show. We discuss how despite popular belief, the sport of football for better or worse has generally been the same since its inception.
Matt Sumell ("Making Nice") joins the show. We discuss his new novel featuring a protagonist as hilarious as he is heartbreaking.
Liv Corfixen (MY LIFE DIRECTED BY NICOLAS WINDING REFN) and Nicolas Winding Refn (ONLY GOD FORGIVES) join the show. We discuss Liv's fascinating and intimate new documentary that explores the making of her husband's most recent film.
William Trillo (Pound4Pound.com) returns to the show. We discuss Gennady Golovkin's return to the ring, as well as some upcoming televised boxing cards.
Sharma Shields ("The Sasquatch Hunter's Almanac") joins the show. We discuss her new novel that introduces readers to a fresh and unique world spanning many decades.
Mark McClusky (Wired editor, "Faster, Higher, Stronger: How Sports Science Is Creating a New Generation of Superathletes—and What We Can Learn from Them") joins the show. We discuss the fascinating and comprehensive breakthroughs that are changing our understanding of what athletes are capable of achieving.
Cal Peternell (Chef at Chez Panisse, "Twelve Recipes") joins the show. We discuss how the chef's new book brings cooking back to the basics, and provides an indispensable guide for everyone: from beginners to seasoned pros.
Neil Sagebiel ("Draw in the Dunes: The 1969 Ryder Cup and the Finish That Shocked the World") joins the show. Coming into the 1969 Ryder Cup, the British were losers of fourteen of the first seventeen outings. Some American golfers like Arnold Palmer didn't even take European golf all that seriously. We go back to the Ryder Cup that changed perceptions forever.
Laurence Gonzales ("Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival") joins the show. We examine the drama, tragedy, and ultimately the hope brought about by an airline crash.
Alexandra Popoff ("Tolstoy's False Disciple: The Untold Story of Leo Tolstoy and Vladimir Chertkov") joins the show. We discuss the fascinating and strange relationship of Leo Tolstoy and Vladimir Chertkov that has been clouded in mystery for over a century.
Kevin Kelly (co-founder of Wired, "Cool Tools: A Catalog of Possibilities") joins the show. We discuss what exactly a cool tool is and how it can be beneficial to everyday life. We also examine Kevin's background with technology and what the future may hold in store.
Martin Gayford ("Rendez-vous with Art") joins the show. We discuss Martin's travels exploring museums, galleries, and churches all over the world. Most importantly, examining why we enjoy and cherish art so much.
Margaret Goodman ("Death in Vegas", President/Chairperson VADA) joins the show. We discuss the neurologist's background as a ringside doctor and what can be done to protect fighters. We also cover her new book that's been described as part Million Dollar Baby, part Rocky, and a bit Erin Brockovich.
Tyrell Cannon ("Speculative Relationships", "Victus") joins the show. We discuss his recent sci-fi collaboration, the proper way to roast a bird, our favorite revenge films, and Run the Jewels 2. Among other things...
Bob Ryan ("Scribe: My Life in Sports", Boston Globe) joins the show. We discuss Bob's extensive background in sports and some of the memorable moments he's been able to cover over the years.
Mike Thomas ("You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman") joins the show. We discuss the remarkable career of comedian and actor Phil Hartman who had his life tragically cut short.
Sharyl Attkisson ("Stonewalled: My Fight for Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation, and Harassment in Obama's Washington") joins the show. We discuss her investigative journalist background and how her job has been difficult to do under the Obama presidency.
Meline Toumani ("There Was and There Was Not: A Journey through Hate and Possibility in Turkey, Armenia, and Beyond") joins the show. We discuss her time spent traveling throughout Turkey and Armenia in hopes of trying to find answers to universal questions.
Graham Houston (Boxing Monthly, fightwriter.com, IBHOF) joins the show. We preview this weekend's Light Heavyweight Unification bout between Sergey Kovalev and Bernard Hopkins as well as other boxing news to round out the year.
James McPherson (George Henry Davis '86 Professor Emeritus of United States History at Princeton University, "Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis as Commander in Chief") joins the show. Jefferson Davis has had many accusations thrown at him including losing the Civil War, inept leadership, and being a traitor. Today, we explore whether that is a fair assessment of the President of the Confederacy.
Rick Huhn ("The Chalmers Race: Ty Cobb, Napoleon Lajoie, and the Controversial 1910 Batting Title That Became a National Obsession") joins the show. We discuss the chase to win the 1910 Batting Title that is still controversial to this day.
Kieran Mulvaney (HBO Boxing Reporter, freelance writer, "The Great White Bear: A Natural and Unnatural History of the Polar Bear") joins the show. We discuss the upcoming slate of bouts happening on HBO and other boxing topics.
Kim Zupan ("The Ploughmen") joins the show. We discuss his debut novel that weaves together a great story of the American West.
Nomi Prins ("All the Presidents' Bankers: The Hidden Alliances that Drive American Power") joins the show. We discuss the intimate relationships that have developed over the years between bankers and politicians. For better or worse, Wall Street and the White House have collaborated for many decades to shape national policy.
Bill Kashatus ("Jackie & Campy: The Untold Story of Their Rocky Relationship and the Breaking of Baseball's Color Line") joins the show. We discuss the tension between Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella during their pursuit of breaking baseball's color barrier.
Lee Billings ("Five Billion Years of Solitude: The Search for Life Among the Stars") joins the show. We discuss the fascinating history of Earth as well as the ongoing search for other planets in the solar system.
Edan Lepucki ("California") joins the show. We discuss her critically acclaimed novel that tackles a post-apocalyptic world.
Ryan Swanson ("When Baseball Went White: Reconstruction, Reconciliation, and Dreams of a National Pastime", Assistant Professor and the director of the Lobo Scholars Program in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico) joins the show. We explore the history of baseball's rise during Reconstruction, and how the politics of reconciliation firmly kept the game segregated.
Euny Hong (“The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture) joins the show. We explore how South Korea remade itself using pop culture as an avenue to usher in the 21st century.
John Shiffman (Reuters, Pulitzer Prize Finalist, "Operation Shakespeare: The True Story of an Elite International Sting") joins the show. A big threat currently facing America is another country stealing its military technology. We discuss an elite group attempting to curb these activities via an elaborate sting operation.
Eric Raskin ("The Moneymaker Effect", All In Magazine, Grantland, HBO Boxing, Ring Theory) joins the show. We discuss how the year 2003 changed poker forever. We then wrap up with the highs and lows of the year in boxing.
Scott Weems (Cognitive Neuroscientist, “Ha! The Science of When We Laugh and Why) joins the show. We discuss Scott's research on humor and why it serves so many important functions in our day-to-day lives.
Rafe Bartholomew (Editor at Grantland, "Pacific Rims: Beermen Ballin' in Flip-Flops and the Philippines' Unlikely Love Affair with Basketball") joins the show. We preview the upcoming slate of boxing action, and discuss Rafe's past travels to the Philippines.
Joanna Rakoff ("My Salinger Year") joins the show. We discuss Joanna's experience working at a very respected, but albeit idiosyncratic, literary agency that housed one of the great twentieth century writers.
George Vecsey (New York Times, "Eight World Cups: My Journey through the Beauty and Dark Side of Soccer") joins the show. We discuss George's experiences at the past eight World Cup tournaments where he traveled the globe witnessing the rise of players like Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldo, and Baggio. A period which also coincided with the rise in popularity of the USA Men's and Women's teams.
Tim Wendel (“Down to the Last Pitch: How the 1991 Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves Gave Us the Best World Series of All Time) joins the show. The 1991 Major League Baseball season featured many unforgettable moments: Rickey Henderson's chase for the all-time stolen bases record, Pete Rose becoming ineligible for the Hall of Fame, labor unrest throughout the entire sport, and the construction of Camden Yards. But no event had a more lasting impact than the 1991 World Series.
Doug Most (Special Projects Editor at the Boston Globe, "The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry That Built America's First Subway") joins the show. We discuss the incredible story of how the rival cities of Boston and New York constructed their first subway systems.
Gerard Helferich ("Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin: Madness, Vengeance, and the Campaign of 1912") joins the show. We discuss some of the shocking events that transpired on the hugely influential 1912 Presidential Election.
Gregory Zuckerman (Wall Street Journal, “The Frackers: The Outrageous Inside Story of The New Billionaire Wildcatters) joins the show. We discuss a group of people who risked their careers to prove the world wrong.
William Trillo (Pound4Pound.com) joins the show. We discuss the aftermath of Froch - Groves II, look ahead to Cotto - Martinez, cover the return of boxing to The Forum, and examine what lies ahead for Andre Ward, Ruslan Provodnikov, and Robert Guerrero.
Tyrell Cannon ("Speculative Relationships: A Sci-fi Romance Comics Anthology") joins the show. We discuss the artist's upcoming science fiction romance anthology as well as some of his ongoing projects.
Joel McIver ("Know Your Enemy: The Story of Rage Against the Machine") joins the show. We discuss the formation of Rage Against the Machine and how they still remain relevant today, over twenty years after their start.
Gina Keating ("Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America's Eyeballs") joins the show. We discuss the extraordinary rise of Netflix. A company that started out as a simple idea, but now boasts over 30 million subscribers across the globe.
Greta Krippner (Associate Professor at the University of Michigan, "Capitalizing on Crisis: The Political Origins of the Rise of Finance") joins the show. We discuss how the recent financial problems in America can be traced back to missteps from the past.
Howard Blum ("Dark Invasion: 1915: Germany's Secret War and the Hunt for the First Terrorist Cell in America") joins the show. At the onset of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson announced America would remain neutral. We discuss the German spy operation that followed.
Ann Mah ("Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris") joins the show. We discuss Ann's time spent in Paris and learn about the diverse body of French cuisine.
We ring in the fifth year of The Brad Bogner Show by welcoming back the first two guests on the program. We discuss The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction, our least favorite superhero movie, eating McDonald's three times in a single day, and we witness Piasecki lose a wager. Among other things...
Steve Weisfeld (Rules Expert for HBO Boxing) joins the show. We discuss Steve's extensive background in the sport of boxing and preview some of the exciting upcoming action on HBO.
Jeff Pearlman (“Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s) joins the show. We discuss how one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled came together.
Andy Weir ("The Martian") joins the show. We discuss his critically acclaimed new novel that features an astronaut on Mars. Stranded and completely alone.
Brendan Koerner ("The Skies Belong To Us", Wired contributing editor) joins the show. America experienced a startling rise in airplane hijackings as people in the country tried to come to grips with the social and political tension of the time.
Edward Lucas (Senior Editor at The Economist, "Deception: The Untold Story of East-West Espionage Today") joins the show. We discuss the state of relations Russia has with The West, as well as Edward's latest e-book covering the Edward Snowden saga.
Nicholas Griffin (“Ping-Pong Diplomacy: The Secret History Behind the Game That Changed the World) joins the show. We discuss the background to the landmark event as well as how table tennis grew to become so popular.
Steve Farhood (On-air analyst for Showtime’s ShoBox series, Showtime Championship Boxing) joins the show. We discuss past and upcoming ShoBox telecasts, the Canelo vs. Angulo "Toe to Toe" PPV card, as well as other upcoming boxing events.
Catherine Neal (Professor, Attorney, "Taking Down the Lion: The Triumphant Rise and Tragic Fall of Tyco's Dennis Kozlowski") joins the show. We discuss the case against former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski. Did the Court reach the correct verdict?
Simon Singh ("The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets") joins the show. Everyone knows The Simpsons is one of the most successful shows of all time. Now learn about the impressive mathematical and scientific backgrounds of the earliest writers of the program, and how it helped shape the show's sense of humor.
Christopher Klein ("Strong Boy: The Life and Times of John L. Sullivan, America's First Sports Hero") joins the show. We discuss the remarkable boxing career of Sullivan, who helped usher in a new era for the modern sports star.
Randi Druzin ("Between The Pipes: A Revealing Look at Hockey's Legendary Goalies") joins the show. We discuss the exciting and sometimes controversial players that stand out as hockey's greatest goalies.
John Taliaferro (Former Senior Editor at Newsweek, “All the Great Prizes: The Life of John Hay, from Lincoln to Roosevelt) joins the show. We discuss the remarkable career of John Hay. The man who was directly involved with people like Lincoln, Roosevelt, McKinley, and Twain. Among others...
Michael Lenehan ("Ramblers: Loyola Chicago 1963 - The Team that Changed the Color of College Basketball") joins the show. We discuss the college basketball season that collided with the civil rights movement in America.
Marc Morris ("The Norman Conquest: The Battle of Hastings and the Fall of Anglo-Saxon England") joins the show. We discuss the most important event in English history.
Michael Gerhardt (Professor of Constitutional Law and Director of the UNC Center on Law and Government, "The Forgotten Presidents: Their Untold Constitutional Legacy") joins the show. We discuss America's forgotten presidents, who often ended up providing a blueprint for how future presidents could be remembered.
Dean King ("The Feud: The Hatfields & McCoys The True Story") joins the show. Despite the legendary feud's long-lasting impact in American culture, King's research has uncovered new information about the Hatfield and McCoys.
John Thorn ("Baseball in the Garden of Eden: The Secret History of the Early Game", Major League Baseball’s Official Historian) joins the show. We discuss the origins of baseball and the factors involved in shaping the game we know today.
Mark Cheathem (Associate Professor of History at Cumberland University, "Andrew Jackson, Southerner") joins the show. Andrew Jackson was an incredibly controversial and complex man. We discuss how Jackson's southern identity has largely been ignored up to the present and what that means.
Kieran Mulvaney (ESPN, HBO, "The Great White Bear") joins the show. We discuss Manny Pacquiao - Brandon Rios in Macau, recap the year in boxing, and what to expect headed into 2014.
Andrew O'Shaughnessy ("The Men Who Lost America: British Leadership, the American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire") joins the show. We discuss the Revolutionary War from the perspective of the men in charge for Great Britain.
John Ferling (Professor Emeritus of history at the University of West Georgia, “Jefferson and Hamilton: The Rivalry That Forged a Nation) joins the show. We discuss two of the most important Founding Fathers and their radically different opinions on government.
Edward Ball ("The Inventor and the Tycoon: The Inventor and the Tycoon: The Murderer Eadweard Muybridge, the Entrepreneur Leland Stanford, and the Birth of Moving Pictures") joins the show. We discuss the very unlikely friendship between the man who invented stop-motion photography and a robber baron.
Brett Martin ("Difficult Men: Behind the Scenes of a Creative Revolution, From The Sopranos and The Wire to Mad Men and Breaking Bad") joins the show. We discuss the recent crop of cable dramas that have dramatically changed the landscape of television.
Todd Denault ("A Season in Time: Super Mario, Killer, St. Patrick, the Great One, and the Unforgettable 1992-93 NHL Season") joins the show. We discuss an an all-time great hockey season, on the ice and off.
Adam Lazarus ("Best of Rivals: Joe Montana, Steve Young, and the Inside Story behind the NFL's Greatest Quarterback Controversy") joins the show. We discuss the incredible battle for the starting quarterback job during the San Francisco 49ers heyday.
Paul Collins (Duel with the Devil: The True Story of How Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr Teamed Up to Take on America's First Sensational Murder Mystery) joins the show. We discuss how two rival Founding Fathers joined forces to defend a man in a murder trial at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Monte Reel ("Between Man and Beast: An Unlikely Explorer, the Evolution Debates, and the African Adventure that Took the Victorian World by Storm") joins the show. We discuss the exciting story of an unsuspecting explorer stumbling into a fiery debate.
Paul Gallender ("Sonny Liston - The Real Story Behind the Ali-Liston Fights") joins the show. We discuss the often marginalized but exceptional boxing career of Sonny Liston.
Richard Miles ("Carthage Must Be Destroyed") joins the show. We discuss the rise and fall of an ancient civilization.
Kirsten Grind (Wall Street Journal, "The Lost Bank: The Story of Washington Mutual-The Biggest Bank Failure in American History") joins the show. We discuss how the 2008 financial crisis impacted the beloved company Washington Mutual.
Bruce Scivally ("Billion Dollar Batman") joins the show. We discuss the long history of the Caped Crusader from Bob Kane to Adam West to Christopher Nolan.
William Hogeland ("Founding Finance: How Debt, Speculation, Foreclosures, Protests, and Crackdowns Made Us a Nation") joins the show. We discuss the economic clashes that forged a country, and the impact it still carries today.
Medea Benjamin ("Drone Warfare: Killing By Remote Control", co-founder of Code Pink) joins the show. We discuss the history of drones and their present-day controversy of being used around the globe.
Richard Lloyd Parry ("People Who Eat Darkness", The Times) joins the show. We discuss the Lucie Blackman missing persons case in Tokyo that featured some surprising turns. Richard initially covered the story as it happened in 2000 and continued to unfold for years after.
Amy Greenberg (Professor of History and Women’s Studies at Penn State University and author of "A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln, and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico") joins the show. We discuss the surprise Election of 1844 which lead to the controversial Mexican-American War. A conflict that changed America forever.
Robin Waterfield ("Dividing the Spoils: The War for Alexander the Great's Empire") joins the show. Many people know how Alexander the Great conquered much of the known world. Few know the story of what happened to his empire after his untimely death. We discuss the forty year bloody battle that pitted The Successors against each other to achieve total conquest.
Jim Donovan ("The Blood of Heroes: The 13-Day Struggle for the Alamo--and the Sacrifice That Forged a Nation") joins the show. We discuss the early history of people moving to Texas, colonists fight for independence, the major players who shaped the movement, and The Alamo's impact on American history.
Bill Chastain (MLB.com, "Hack's 191: Hack Wilson and His Incredible 1930 Season") joins the show. We discuss Hack Wilson's incredible RBI record that has survived decades, including the Steroid Era. Despite his own vices, Wilson put up one of the best offensive seasons in baseball history.
Tyler Anbinder (Professor of History at George Washington, "Five Points: The 19th Century New York City Neighborhood that Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections, and Became the World's Most Notorious Slum") joins the show. We discuss the infamous Five Points, the intense political clashes, the Irish immigration explosion, and his work providing consultation on "Gangs of New York".
We reminisce about the first 99 episodes, Murphy beds, doable marathons, and finding the right word.
Michael Sellers (Filmmaker, Author of "John Carter and the Gods of Hollywood") joins the show. We discuss the film John Carter from inception to release, including controversial decisions made at the top, the power of social media, and whether or not we can expect any future sequels.
Glenn Frankel (Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, "The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend") joins the show. We discuss American myths, an early literary genre, and one of the truly great films of all time.
Sean McIndoe (Down Goes Brown, "The Best of Down Goes Brown) joins the show. We cover the NHL playoffs, announcers in awkward places, illegal curvatures on sticks, and potential upsets.
Andrew Chaikin (Science journalist, Space historian, "A Passion for Mars") joins the show. We discuss exploring Mars, the major players involved, government involvement, and why space exploration is important.
The author of "Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World" joins the show. We discuss history's greatest conqueror, his impressive achievements, unique tactics, and how his impact is still seen today.
The author of Hollywood's Last Golden Age: Politics, Society, and the Seventies Film in America joins the show. We discuss 70's films, musical influences, Richard Nixon's impact on the era, Polanski's Chinatown, and how Network might have been conservative with its outlook.
The author of "O. J. Is Innocent and I Can Prove It" joins the show. We discuss the infamous murder case, inconsistencies with the investigation, a major suspect missed, and shed some light on new discoveries.
The co-author of Belushi: A Biography joins the show. We discuss the early days of John Belushi, The Second City, Animal House, and revitalizing the blues.
The author of Ten-Gallon War: The NFL's Cowboys, the AFL's Texans, and the Feud for Dallas's Pro Football Future joins the show. We discuss professional football coming to Dallas, Lamar Hunt's contributions to the sport, wacky promotional giveaways, and the 2013 Ravens season.
The author of Summer of '68: The Season That Changed Baseball--and America--Forever joins the show. We discuss the 1968 baseball season, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, Denny McLain antics, and the World Baseball Classic.
The author of El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency joins the show. We discuss the Mexican Drug War, the stunning levels of violence from the cartels, and how some world leaders are reacting to the drug trade.
The author of The Liberator: One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau joins the show. We discuss the Felix Sparks regiment, different general strategies during the campaign, and the psychological impact of war.
The author of Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man joins the show. We discuss Lincoln's Secretary of State, the 1860 Republican National Convention, the Trent Affair, and an upcoming project.
The author of James Madison and the Making of America joins the show. We discuss the incredible breadth of Madison's career, including his involvement with the Constitution, Federalist Papers, and War of 1812.
The author of To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 joins the show. We discuss World War I, conscientious objectors, and the future of militarism.
The author of Mightier than the Sword: Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Battle for America joins the show. We discuss the novel, calculated storytelling, and the power of books today.
The author of "Get Capone: The Secret Plot That Captured America's Most Wanted Gangster" and Editor-in-Chief, Co-Founder of ChicagoSide Sports joins the show.
Kostya Kennedy, a Senior Editor at Sports Illustrated and the author of "56: Joe DiMaggio and the Last Magic Number in Sports", joins the show. We discuss Joe DiMaggio's iconic streak, when bunting isn't appropriate, and have some thoughts on the upcoming season.
The Director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law School and author of The Least Worst Place: Guantanamo’s First 100 Days joins the show.
We cover everything related to Reacher, how to do a Daniel Day-Lewis impersonation, Armond White, and science meets magic. Among other things...