Episodes

Join Michael in his conversation with Dr. Catherine Musemeche as they discuss her new book, Lethal Tides: Mary Sears and the Marine Scientists Who Helped Win World War II, which explains how the science of oceanography helped US armed forced prepare for the battles in the Pacific. Mary and her team were the hidden figures behind some of the great successes of the Pacific campaign. GuestDr. Catherine MusemecheIt takes a decade of training to become a pediatric surgeon. Catherine Musemeche has be...

Join Michael in his discussion with Adam Hochschild about his new book, American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis. This most important book examines the period from 1917-1921, when the toxic undercurrents of racism, nativism, Red-baiting, and contempt for the rule of law flowed throughout American life. Never was the raw underside of our nation’s life more revealingly on display during this critical time in our nation’s history and is all but forgotten ev...

Join Michael in his discussion with Hugh Eakin about his new book Picasso’s War, How Modern Art Came to America which recounts the determined effort of a tiny group of people who, for nearly 30 years, fought to bring modern art to the United States impeded by war, economic crises, and a deeply skeptical public. Joining Michael as a special guest to help facilitate this conversation is Dr. Philip Eliasoph, Professor of Art History and Visual Culture at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecti...

Join Michael and former senior speechwriter for President Joe Biden as they discuss his fascinating new book, Undelivered: The Never-heard Speeches That Would Have Rewritten History. Undelivered presents some of the most notable, never delivered speeches from Richard Nixon’s refusal to resign to Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speech; from Dwight Eisenhower’s apology for the failure of the D-Day invasion to Japanese Emperor Hirohito’s apology for his role in World War II. Guest Jeff Nussbaum Jeff ...

Join Michael in his discussion with Cody Keenan as they discuss his book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. The book recounts the most remarkable eulogy delivered by President Obama in Charleston, South Carolina after the hate crime murders of Reverend Pickney and eight parishioners in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Guest Cody Keenan Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in Chicago and deputy pirate to become chief speechwriter at the White House ...

Join Michael in his discussion with A.J. Baime as they discuss his book, Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America’s Soul. The book recounts the most remarkable victory by an underdog presidential candidate in the history of the United States. Beyond this, listeners will find the parallels to the upcoming 2024 presidential election and the lessons to be learned of fundamental importance. Guest A.J. Baime A.J. Baime (born July 24, 1971) is an American author, journalist,...

Join Michael in his discussion with A.J. Baime about his new book, White Lies: The Double Life of Walter F. White and America’s Darkest Secret which recounts in fascinating detail the rise and fall of Walter F. White, among the most important civil rights leaders of the early 20th century. AJ is the author of 7 books including several bestselling books including the NY Times bestseller, The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World. Guest A.J. Baime A.J. ...