Kickass News

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried passed away this week. Despite his brash on-stage persona, Gilbert was a kind soul and a real mench. We are remembering him by sharing a 2017 interview with this fearless and ground-breaking comic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2022

Today I am sharing a preview of one of my favorite podcasts and a brand new addition to the Airwave Media podcast network. Everything Everywhere is a daily podcast that literally covers everything everywhere from the Eiffel Tower and Air Force One to tsunamis, Dracula, and daylight savings time. Hosted by globe-trotting travel writer Gary Arndt, Everything Everywhere is the perfect way to learn something new every single day. I hope you enjoy this preview of one of my favorite episodes about the history of the Worlds Fairs. Please subscribe to Everything Everywhere on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and learn more at www.everything-everywhere.com. . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2022

Basketball great Dwayne Wade discusses the game that put him on the map when Marquette University beat top-seed Kentucky, what it was like to represent his country on the redeem team during 2008 summer olympics, and how he, Lebron James and Chris Bosh became the big three for the Miami Heat. He talks about returning to his home town of Chicago to play for Bulls, his brief stint playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, why he wanted to finish his career playing for the team that made him. Plus Dwayne talks Pregame rituals, the secret to a good head-fake, and black fatherhood. Order Dwayne Wade's new book DWAYNE on Amazon or wherever books are sold, and follow him on Twitter at @DwayneWade. Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and keep with us at www.kickassnews.com or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit Airwave at www.airwavemedia.com or on Apple Podcasts to discover our other excellent podcasts like Good Job Brain, Big Picture Science, Legends of the Old West, Investing for Beginners, Into the Impossible, and other great podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2021

Master illusionist David Copperfield recalls his beginnings as a childhood magician, his very first magic act, and why his early heroes were filmmakers and dancers instead of magicians. He reveals how he comes up with new ways to astound audiences and the remarkable 100 year evolution of his most famous illusion. He talks about how he quietly began amassing the world's largest magic collection, some of his favorite pieces from the collection, and how these one-of-a-kind items tell the entire history of magic. Plus we discuss some of Houdini's most famous escapes, the under-told story of women in magic, and the weird and wonderful stories behind some of the most colorful conjurors! Order David's new book David Copperfield's History of Magic on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. It's full of beautiful photos from his private collection and makes a great holiday gift. Visit www.davidcopperfield.com to learn more and order tickets to Copperfield's show An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Follow him on Twitter at @D_Copperfield. Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and keep with us at www.kickassnews.com or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit Airwave at www.airwavemedia.com or on Apple Podcasts to discover our other excellent podcasts like Good Job Brain, Big Picture Science, Legends of the Old West, Investing for Beginners, Into the Impossible, and other great podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 November 2021

Bestselling author Brad Meltzer returns to talk about his Ordinary People Change the World series of children's books and the importance of giving kids real heroes. He discusses his latest children's book I Am Oprah Winfrey, why he thinks kids will find Oprah's story inspirational, and why he didn't want to gloss over the darker parts of her story. Plus Brad talks about his successful battle with a school district that tried to ban his children's books about Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Order Brad's book I Am Oprah Winfrey on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold and check out all of his books for kids at www.ordinarypeoplechangetheworld.com. Follow him on Twitter at @bradmeltzer. Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and keep with us at www.kickassnews.com or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit Airwave at www.airwavemedia.com or on Apple Podcasts to discover our other excellent podcasts like Good Job Brain, Big Picture Science, Legends of the Old West, Investing for Beginners, Into the Impossible, and other great podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2021

Acclaimed journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa talk about the candid moment when President Donald Trump privately admitted that he had lost the 2020 election, how Rudy Giuliani convinced him to contest the results, and why Senate leaders in Trump’s own party decided that Trump’s case had zero merit. They reveal the other former Vice-President who convinced Mike Pence to certify the 2020 election for Biden, and the brief moment when Pence actually considered invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. They discuss the two times when General Mark Milley had to call his Chinese counterpart to assure him that Trump wasn't about to launch an imminent attack on China. Plus they weigh on whether Trump will run in 2024, finding the “operational commander” behind the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and a crash-course in the Bob Woodward school of journalism. Order Bob Woodward and Robert Costa's new book Peril on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. Follow them on Twitter at @realBobWoodward and @costareports. Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and keep with us at www.kickassnews.com or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit Airwave at www.airwavemedia.com or on Apple Podcasts to discover our other excellent podcasts like Good Job Brain, Big Picture Science, Legends of the Old West, Investing for Beginners, Into the Impossible, and other great podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 November 2021

Science writer Mary Roach returns discusses the various animals that have stood trial in actual courts throughout history, and how that inspired her latest book Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law. She talks about traveling the globe from Reno to the Himalayas to attend an animal forensics conference, track man-eating leopards, and blow up trees (yes Mary blew up a tree!). Plus , drunk elephants, monkey muggers, and much more. Order Mary's new book Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. Follow Mary on Twitter at @mary_roach or at www.maryroach.net. Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and keep with us at www.kickassnews.com or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit Airwave at www.airwavemedia.com or on Apple Podcasts to discover our other excellent podcasts like Good Job Brain, Big Picture Science, Legends of the Old West, Investing for Beginners, Into the Impossible, and other great podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 October 2021

Ron and Clint Howard talk about what it was like to balance school and their hit tv series The Andy Griffith Show and Gentle Ben. They fondly recall how their midwestern parents helped them pursue their dreams in showbusiness while always keeping them grounded. Ron shares some crucial advice that his dad gave Andy Griffith about the relationship between Andy and Opie, and how Ron later channelled his father’s strong will when he had stand up for himself during his time on Happy Days. Clint discusses his following in father’s footsteps as a working character actor, and why his dad was the best acting coach that he and Ron could have asked for. Plus they have some sage advice for pushy stage parents and showbiz kids. Order Ron and Clint's new book The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and keep with us at www.kickassnews.com or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit Airwave at www.airwavemedia.com or on Apple Podcasts to discover our other excellent podcasts like Good Job Brain, Big Picture Science, Legends of the Old West, Investing for Beginners, Into the Impossible, and other great podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 October 2021

Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder of LinkedIn, Partner at Greylock, and Host of Masters of Scale Podcast and June Cohen, his producer and Co-Founder and CEO of WaitWhat, discuss their new book Masters of Scale: Surprising Truths from the World's Most Successful Entrepreneurs. They talk about the entrepreneurial mindset, the keys to blitzscaling your way to success, and the underrated importance of a company's culture. Plus they explain the value of embracing resistance, the various kinds of “no”s that one hears gets VC meetings, and the time Reid said "no" to a startup when he should have said “yes.” Order Reid and June's book Masters of Scale: Surprising Truths from the World's Most Successful Entrepreneurs at https://book.mastersofscale.com. Subscribe to Masters of Scale podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen. Follow them on Twitter at, @mastersofscale , @reid hoffman, and @junecohen. Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and keel with us at www.kickassnews.com or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit Airwave at www.airwavemedia.com or on Apple Podcasts to discover our other excellent podcasts like Infamous America, Investing for Beginners, The Accidental Creative, and Into the Impossible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 October 2021

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman (Ret.) is the whistleblower who exposed former President Donald Trump's notorious phone call Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zellensky that led to the second impeachment of Trump. Vindman reveals the weird activity that tipped him off that this was going to be an unusual phone call, the moment when he realized Trump may have violated the law, and what happened when he reported the matter to his own brother. He describes the almost immediate pressure campaign to silence him, how his military training came in handy when he testified in the Congressional Impeachment Hearing, and why he feels that the Impeachment committee and the press focused too much on the prospect of a "quid pro quo." Plus he talks about the effort to rob him of his expected military promotion and how he's now reaching out to help other victim's of bullying. Order Alexander Vindman's new memoir HERE, RIGHT MATTERS: An American Story on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and keel with us at www.kickassnews.com or on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit Airwave at www.airwavemedia.com or on Apple Podcasts to discover our other excellent podcasts like Infamous America, Investing for Beginners, The Accidental Creative, and Into the Impossible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 August 2021

This is a preview episode of the new podcast When Things Go Wrong, hosted by Frank Supovitz. Frank served a combined 23 years as Senior Vice President, Events for the National Football League and the Group Vice President of Events & Entertainment for the National Hockey League. He's seen it all, and knows how to handle a crisis such as the time the lights went out in the middle of the Super Bowl! Frank interviews leaders in sports, news, music, movies, tech, politics and more about the anatomy of real crises, large and small, how they might have been prevented, and how they were resolved...or managed when they couldn’t be. In this episode, Frank talks with Jeff Miller, former Chief Security Executive of the NFL, about Super Bowl security, and then Jeff discusses the most difficult experience of his professional life: managing the unfolding tragedy of a school shooting in front of media from around the world. If you enjoy this episode, please listen and subscribe to When Things Go Wrong on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 August 2021

This is a preview of episode 1 of the latest season of Legends of the Old West about the infamous land dispute known as a the Pleasant Valley War. What began as a feud between two families turned into a decade-long war that engulfed much of the Arizona territory and became the most deadly range conflict in US history. In each season of Legends of the Old West, host Chris Wimmer tells the tales of lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok and the Texas Rangers; outlaws like Jesse James and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; Native American leaders like Red Cloud, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse; and rowdy towns like Deadwood, Tombstone and Dodge City. Subscribe to Legends of the Old West on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. etc. Also check out Chris Wimmer's historical true crime podcast Infamous America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc. Infamous America and Legends of the Old West are produced by Black Barrel Media and are part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 August 2021

Season 15 of the true crime history podcast Infamous America is all about the notorious 1978 Lufthansa Heist. It involved one of New York’s biggest crime families and nearly $6 million in cash and jewelry - the largest cash robbery ever on American soil at the time. The money and jewels are still missing to this day and the mystery remains largely unsolved! Enjoy this preview of Episode 1: The Robert's Lounge Gang. Hosted by Chris Wimmer, Infamous America takes you on a journey through the wildest, and sometimes darkest, chapters of American history. From the Salem Witch Trials to the gangsters of the 1930s to assassins, traitors, outlaws, scandals and events that still defy explanation, you’ll hear them all on Infamous America. Subscribe to Infamous America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out Chris Wimmer's western history show Legends of the Old West on Apple, Spotify, etc. Infamous America and Legends of the Old West are produced by Black Barrel Media and are part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 August 2021

Ben Rhodes, A former White House aide and close confidant to President Barack Obama, discusses what it was like to go from being the ultimate White House insider to reporting on world events from the outside. He talks about his conversation with the now imprisoned Russian activist Alexei Navalny, what he learned from the Hong Kong protesters, and how Hungarian strongman Victor Orban quickly consolidated power and rolled back post-Soviet freedoms. Plus he reveals why he believes that America is partly to blame for figures like Orban, Putin, and Xi, and he even weighs in on the government’s joint intelligence report about Unidentified Arial Phenomena. Order Ben's new book After the Fall: Being American in the World We've Made on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. Subscribe to Ben’s podcast Pod Save the World wherever you like to listen, and follow him on twitter at @brhodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 July 2021

Bloomberg journalist Brad Stone discusses his book Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire. He talks about how Amazon has exploded during the pandemic, how the company’s purchase of Whole Foods proved all the critics wrong, and why the online retail giant is now making a big bet on brick and mortar stores. We get into the fraught process of selecting a location for Amazon HQ2 and how Bezos managed to triumph over a different public relations nightmare surrounding his extra-marital affair. Plus we discuss Bezos’s relationship with frienemy Elon Musk, why he’s choosing to retire from Amazon, and what’s next for the company known as the “Everything Store.” Order Brad Stone's new book Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. Follow Brad on twitter at @Brad Stone Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Check out some of Airwave's other great shows like Movie Therapy, When Things Go Wrong, Legends of the Old West, and My History Can Beat Up Your Politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 June 2021

Malcolm Gladwell discusses the stranger fiction of the story of a Dutch genius and his homemade computer, a band of brothers in central Alabama, a British psychopath, and pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard to examine one of the greatest moral challenges in modern American history. Plus Malcolm talks about his heart-wrenching visit to museum dedicated to victims of the Tokyo firebombings, his revealing dinner with the top brass of the US Airforce, and why he’s making a big bet on audiobooks with his latest offering. Order Malcolm's new book The Bomber Mafia on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Check out some of Airwave's other great shows like Infamous America, Investing for Beginners, and My History Can Beat Up Your Politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 June 2021

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Jon Meacham returns to discuss the early rumblings within the Conservative movement that led to the Capitol riots of January 6, 2021 and why Democrats and Republicans can no longer agree on something as objective as facts. He reveals that the roots of January 6 go as far back as Barry Goldwater, how the GOP succeeded in squelching the John Birchers in the 60’s, but how they failed to control the radical elements in the party today. Plus Q-Anon, the future of the Republican Party, and Jon shares what his late friend George H.W. Bush thought about the rise of the alt-right. Subscribe to Jon Meacham's podcast FATE OF FACT on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you like to listen. Follow Jon on twitter at @jonmeacham and at www.jonmeacham.com. Today's episode was brought to you by Gastropod podcast. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Check out some of Airwave's other great shows like Infamous America, Investing for Beginners, and My History Can Beat Up Your Politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2021

Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney discusses his new documentary The Crime of the Century about how big pharma knowingly got America hooked on opioids. Watch Alex's two-part documentary The Crime of the Century on HBO Max and follow Alex on Twitter at @alexgibneyfilm. Kickass News is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Check out some of our other great shows like Food with Mark Bittman, Movie Therapy, and When Things Go Wrong on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 May 2021

We're launching our new podcast network Airwave on Monday, May 24, starting with our first original podcast FOOD WITH MARK BITTMAN. Former New York Times food journalist and #1 bestselling author Mark Bittman (How to Cook Everything, Eat Vegan Before 6:00) is obsessed with everything about food. Each week on FOOD, Mark sits down with a different guest, ranging from Chef Tom Colicchio to Jane Goodall to Carla Hall, and to important people in the food world you may not know about. They talk about cooking, eating, and how food affects us all – our lives, our health, our planet. They talk recipes, ingredients, how to shop, what to cook tonight, and what you can do to help build a better food system. Mark even takes your questions, and gives advice – cooking and otherwise! Whatever you want is fair game, from how to boil an egg to how to feed your picky toddler to how to increase people’s control over the role food plays in our lives. Click here to subscribe now to FOOD WITH MARK BITTMAN on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t miss the first episode May 24 with Mark's special guest - the fabulous Nigella Lawson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2021

Ken Burns and Lynn Novick come back to the podcast to discuss their new 3-part documentary on Ernest Hemingway. They share their own memories of the first Hemingway books they ever read, the challenges of getting to the real person behind the legend, and what it was like to re-examining some of the trouble aspects of the writer’s personality from his views on women and race to his struggles with mental health. They reveal what they learned from the many contemporary authors with whom they spoke as Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 April 2021

Comedian Jo Koy talks about growing up as a biracial military brat, his mom’s immigrant hustle, and his first taste of the spotlight as a childhood Michael Jackson impersonator. He recalls selling tickets door to door for his first comedy show, encountering racism in Hollywood, and how he's now paying it forward to other Philippino artists and comedians. Plus Jo talks about embracing our stereotypes, Philippino crucifixion rituals, and why there really are so many Phillipino nurses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2021

Melissa Bernstein co-founded the wildly successful toy company Melissa & Doug. You might think that this happily-married mother of 6, who has created over 5,000 toys which have sold over a billion dollars, is always chipper and full of positivity, but Melissa reveals that many days she wonders if she'll make it tomorrow. She opens up about how her lifelong battle with existential anxiety and depression almost drove her to suicide, why she finally learned to manage it at age 50, and how she’s now on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 March 2021

Former commander of NATO Admiral James Stavridis and decorated Marine and novelist Elliott Ackerman envision how a naval clash between the US and China in the South China Sea could lead to World War III in their disturbingly plausible work of speculative fiction titled 2034: A Novel of the Next World War. They discuss how they came together on this project and the power of fiction to draw attention to real world issues and potential areas of crisis. Admiral Stavridis talks about the China’s increas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2021

It's official! We're launching a brand new podcast network called Airwave this May! In addition to Kickass News, Airwave will be the new home for many of your other favorite podcasts. Airwave will also debut over a dozen original shows hosted by some of the leading thought leaders and storytellers in audio entertainment, including many of my most popular past guests. We can't do it without you though! We need your financial support to fund our full production slate. Please become a part of Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2021

Bestselling author Walter Isaacson (Jobs, Leonardo DaVinci) shares how Nobel Prize-winning scientist Jennifer Doudna and her collaborators blazed a trail in a field dominated by men and turned a curiosity of nature into an something that will transform the human race: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA. He reveals how the technology known as CRISPR has launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies. Walter talks the controversy over so-called Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2021

Howie Mandel talks about making his first comedy special in 20 years, his childhood growing up in Toronto, and how the show Candid Camera inspired him to pull an elaborate prank that got him expelled form high school. He shares how "winging it" the first time he want on stage turned into his signature improvisational style, and how he still finds much of his comedic inspiration from interacting with his audience. He recalls opening for Diana Ross in Vegas, his very first TONIGHT SHOW appearance, how the H Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 March 2021

Dr. Zahi Hawass is the former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities and Director of Excavations at Giza, Saqqara, the Bahariya Oasis, and the Valley of the Kings. He is often referred to as “the real Indiana Jones, and some of his major finds include the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders at Giza, the Valley of the Golden Mummies, and multiple undiscovered pyramids. Now he’s leading the biggest archeological excavation ever attempted in Egypt, and he is documenting the adventure in a new 2-hour special for dis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2021

James Beard Award-winning food writer and #1 bestselling author Mark Bittman offers a panoramic view of how the frenzy for food has driven human history to some of its most catastrophic moments, from slavery and genocide to our current moment, wherein Big Food exacerbates climate change, plunders our planet, and sickens its people. Mark reveals how he first got the world to take food issues seriously, how we can rethink our food distribution systems, and take a different approach to feeding the wo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 March 2021

Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels (Precious, The Butler) talks about his latest film The United States vs. Billie Holiday and how the 1971 movie Lady Sings the Blues inspired him to go into entertainment. He reveals that he always has a personal connection to each of his films, that The United States vs Billie Holiday was the first movie that he has ever directed sober. and how his own struggle with drugs and alcohol gave him insight into Holiday’s lifelong addiction. We discuss how the iconic s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2021

Journalist and author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon talks about the women who fought ISIS in Syria. She discusses how the female fighters of Kobani helped to deliver the first blow to the previously unstoppable forces of the Islamic State and how that victory convinced the US that it had a reliable partner against ISIS. She shares the individual stories of some of the brave women she encountered, including some who rose to command both women and men in combat, and some who were forced to marry ISIS fighters, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 February 2021

Pulitzer Prize-winning author, scientist, and renowned polymath Jared Diamond reveals that many of the factors in how individuals cope with personal crises can also predict how countries survive national crises. He profiles six nations in transition in his book Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis, and shares his personal experiences and observations about those countries including why one should never utter the word "Finlandization" in Finland, how Chileans in the 1960’s never thought that Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2021

In this age of insurmountable consumption of media where bad news travels fast from all directions, comedian Tom Papa wants to remind us to take care of ourselves, embrace who you’ve become, and absorb the beauty of life in his new Netflix special Tom Papa: You're Doing Great! In this February 2020 interview, Tom reveals where his trademark optimism comes from, why he rejects the cynicism often associated with standup comedy, and what he learned about being true to your comedic voice while tourin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 February 2021

True crime documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, Paradise Lost) discusses his new Netflix docu-series Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel that deconstructs the mythology and mystery surrounding infamous locations in contemporary crime. He explains the dark history of the Cecil Hotel and why the socio-economics of downtown Los Angeles have made it a haven for the downtrodden, desperate, and despicable, including Richard Ramirez aka the Nightstal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2021

In this 2018 interview with David Mamet, the Pulitzer-winning writer/director discusses how the old gangster stories he heard as a child inspired him to write CHICAGO: A NOVEL. He talks about his love of classic noir and hot jazz, and dislike of social media, computers, and flowery prose. He shares why famous figures are better felt than heard in historical fiction, why he says Hollywood is dead, and why he never reads his own reviews. He teases his latest play about Harvey Weinstein, and reveals hi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2021

Jay Duplass and Zackary Drucker discuss their new docu-series The Lady and the Dale about the rise and eventual fall of automaker and trans trailblazer Elizabeth Carmichael. We talk about Carmichael's three-wheeled car that claimed to get 70 per gallon and how the 70s gas crisis fueled incredible interest in "the Dale." We Carmichael's shady past, and life on the run from the law, and how it inevitably caught up to her. We also cover some of the prejudices she faced and what her trial meant for the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 February 2021

Five-time Tony Award-winning director George C. Wolfe talks about his acclaimed new motion picture Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, the legacy of the original the original Mother of the Blues, and what went into transforming Oscar-winner Viola Davis into this larger than life icon. He discusses what the Chicago jazz scene meant to black musicians who migrated from the Jim Crow South in the 1920s and some of the creative ways that he found to visually depict the foreignness of the urban north for those who made tha Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2021

In this 2017 interview, basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talks about his 50 year friendship with the "Wizard of Westwood" UCLA Coach John Wooden. He says Coach Wooden was more concerned with his players’ grades than with winning basketball games, he shares some of the wisdom that Coach Wooden imparted, and talks about the time Coach helped Abdul-Jabbar forgive another one of his early mentors who used a racial slur. He talks about how he felt when the NCAA banned dunking and how Coach Wooden hel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 January 2021

Dr. Robert Ballard is the famed ocean explorer responsible for some of the greatest undersea discoveries including the RMS Titanic, the German battleship Bismarck, and John F. Kennedy's WW II boat PT-109. Today Dr. Ballard reveals that he was actually on a top secret government mission when he found the Titanic, what it was like the first time he physically went down to visit Titanic, and his outrage at those who are looting this sacred burial ground for profit. We also discuss what really sank the L Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2021

Bulletproof founder Dave Asprey talks about his latest book Fast This Way: (How to Lose Weight, Get Smarter, and Live Your Longest, Healthiest Life with the Bulletproof Guide to Fasting). He discuss why diets and New Year's resolutions never work, the difference between fasting and dieting, and why science is just starting to take intermittent fasting seriously. He shares how fasting can reduce inflammation, increase your sharpness and productivity, boost your immune system, and even add years t Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 January 2021

Mike Rowe has handled some of the toughest and most disgusting jobs during his nine seasons as host of Discovery's Dirty Jobs. Now he's putting that same work ethic to work to prove once and for all that everything in the world is connected for his discovery+ series Six Degrees with Mike Rowe. Mike reveals how he faked his way into his first job as an opera singer, some of the strangest products he used to pitch as a late-night host on QVC, and the hardest thing he ever had to do as host of Dirty Job Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2021

Documentary filmmaker Ryan White (The Case Against 8, The Keepers) talks about his new film Assassins about the murder of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un's half brother Kim Jong-Nam. He recounts how Kim Jong-Nam was killed in broad daylight with the deadly VX nerve agent, questions the press’s sensational portrayal of two young Southeast Asian women as diabolical black widow assassins, and reveals that the truth of what happened is even more bizarre than anything that the media could make up. Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 January 2021

Academy Award-winning director Bryan Fogel (Icarus) discusses his gripping new documentary thriller The Dissident about the 2018 execution of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul. He discuss how Jamal Khashoggi went from being an insider in the Saudi royal family to a harsh critic of the House of Saud, how a sophisticated cyber hack and the ultimate Twitter war put Khashoggi squarely in the cross hairs of Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (aka MBS), an Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2021

Madeleine Albright fled fascists during her childhood and faced them down as Secretary of State, and today she comes on the podcast to warn that fascism is once again on the rise. She shares how her own refugee experience during World War II and the Cold War shaped her worldview and recalls her meetings with with authoritarian strongmen like Kim Jong-il, Slobodan Milošević, and Vladimir Putin. She reveals that most fascists come into office through democratic elections or a constitutional transfer of Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2021

After eight years as a comedy writer on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Bess Kalb recently wrote and produced a new comedy special that "eulogizes" the year 2020. Yearly Departed is available on Amazon Prime Video beginning 12/30. Bess comes on the podcast to talk about her own trials and tribulations over the past year, including a recent Covid-scare at the pediatrician, how she finds catharsis through laughter, and how that inspired her to bid adieu to 2020 with a rollicking roast-style memorial service. She rev Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 31 December 2020

Joel McHale (Community, The Soup) shares his excitement for his first time co-hosting a New Years Eve special and how he’s looking forward to relentlessly roasting his pal Ken Jeong for a full three and half hours on Fox’s New Year’s Roast & Toast 2021. Joel reveals why he and Ken just can’t quit each other and the origins of their recent pandemic themed podcast The Darkest Timeline. We also discuss how Netflix has breathed new life into Joel and Ken’s series Community, what it was like to Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 December 2020

Loudon Wainwright III is best known as a folk singer and songwriter, but now he is lending his unique interpretation to the music of the great American songbook on a new album that he recorded with big band bandleader Vince Giordano and his Nighthawk Orchestra. They talk about their deep affection for the music of composers like Irving Berlin and Rodgers & Hart and some of their favorite tracks from their album I’d Rather Lead a Band. Loudon recalls fond memories of his father playing these songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2020

Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank and filmmaker Deon Taylor talk about their new film Fatale and their love of classic film noir directors from Alfred Hitchcock to Brian Depalma. Hilary explains what drew her to finally play an antagonist on screen and how she found a way into that character that strikes right at the heart of worst fears and most basic instincts. Plus we talk about expanding the range of female villains beyond shallow "psycho woman" roles and the social responsibility of depicting p Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 December 2020

Bestselling author, professor, and leading public intellectual Dr. Michael Eric Dyson talks about his decision to address race in America through a series of letters to black martyrs, why we all know the name George Flloyd, but we might not know the name Elijah McClain, and how he’s seeking to educate white people about the centuries violence against blacks that have led up to this moment in his new book Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America. He explains the origins of what he calls the black Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2020

Jon Hamm talks about making his first trip to Ireland for his new movie Wild Mountain Thyme, filming in the ancestral hometown of President-elect Joe Biden, and why he was blissfully relieved that he didn’t have to attempt an Irish accent. Jon recalls his childhood growing up in St. Louis, the unusual side job he had when he was starting out as a struggling actor, and the deadline he gave himself to make it in Hollywood. Jon discusses the lengthy audition process for the role that made him famous o Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 December 2020

In his more than 50 years in music, drummer John Densmore has played with and gotten to know some of the greatest musicians of our time, from Janis Joplin and Paul Simon to Ravi Shankar and Willie Nelson, as well as some inspiring non-musicians from the Dalai Lama to screenwriter Joseph Campbell. He has managed to learn something from many of those interactions - lessons he writes about in his new book THE SEEKERS: MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE MUSICIANS (AND OTHER ARTISTS). John Densmore discusses the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2020