Best Curiousjungerrestrepowarinformation Podcasts (2025)

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Sterlin Mosley Interview Episode 581 1:10:37

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5h ago1:10:37

1:10:37

Are we really the center of the universe—or just acting like it? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sterlin Mosley, author of Center of the Universe, to explore how self-perception, ego, and culture shape the way we see ourselves and our place in the world. From philosophy and psychology to modern culture and relationships, Dr. Mosley unpacks how…

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Dr. Philip Polakoff Interview Episode 580 39:20

9h ago39:20

39:20

In this thought-provoking episode, physician and public health leader Dr. Philip Polakoff, founder of A Healthier We, explains how democracy and public health are deeply intertwined. From the erosion of trust in institutions to the impacts of polarization, misinformation, and inequality, he lays out why weakening democratic systems can lead to wors…

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Ally Walker Interview Episode 579 46:52

2d ago46:52

46:52

Actress, screenwriter, director, and now novelist Ally Walker joins the podcast to talk about her stunning debut novel, The Light Runner. Known for her roles in Profiler, Sons of Anarchy, and Longmire, Ally brings her gift for storytelling to fiction, crafting a powerful story about resilience, transformation, and the search for meaning. In this co…

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Cevin Soling Interview Episode 578 1:04:05

4d ago1:04:05

1:04:05

By Matt Crawford

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Sam Kelly Interview Episode 577 50:56

5d ago50:56

50:56

What if the story of human history is really the story of drugs? In this episode, Matt sits down with author Sam Kelly to explore his bold and witty new book, Human History On Drugs: An Utterly Scandalous but Entirely Truthful Look at History Under the Influence. From alcohol and coffee to opium and cannabis, Sam takes us on a fascinating (and ofte…

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Isabelle Daikeler Interview Episode 576 56:50

6d ago56:50

56:50

In this inspiring episode, Matt sits down with fitness, nutrition and wellness expert Isabelle Daikeler to talk about building a healthy life from the inside out. From debunking common health myths to helping people discover their “why,” Isabelle shares her holistic approach to lasting change. You’ll hear her thoughts on where we all need to start …

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Gustav Peebles and benjamin Luzatto Interview Episode 575 54:21

7d ago54:21

54:21

In this episode, we speak with, Gustav Peebles (economic anthropologist) and Benjamin Luzatto (artist and public thinker), co-authors of The First and Last Bank: Climate Change, Currency and a New Carbon Commons. Together, they propose a bold new vision of money as a tool for ecological repair—one that treats carbon not as a commodity to be traded,…

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Samuel Jay Keyser Interview Episode 574 1:02:43

12d ago1:02:43

1:02:43

What is it about repetition that makes us feel, remember, and connect? In this episode, linguist, jazz musician, and author Samuel Jay Keyser joins us to discuss his fascinating book, Play It Again, Sam: Repetition in the Arts. Keyser explores how repetition operates across music, literature, visual art, and language—not just as a stylistic tool, b…

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Taylor Scott Interview Episode 573 55:25

13d ago55:25

55:25

What if leadership wasn’t about authority, but about how well you serve others? What if the secret to motivating teams and building cultures was hospitality? In this episode, we sit down with inspirational speaker, coach, and author Taylor Scott to explore the game-changing ideas in his book, Lead with Hospitality: Be Human. Emotionally Connect. Se…

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Jeff Burningham Interview Episode 572 1:03:15

14d ago1:03:15

1:03:15

In this thought-provoking episode, entrepreneur and author Jeff Burningham joins us to discuss his new book, The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI. In a time when algorithms generate content, answer questions, and shape decisions, Jeff asks a bold and urgent question: What does it mean to be truly human—and truly wise? We…

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Carla Malden Interview Episode 571 1:01:26

21d ago1:01:26

1:01:26

In this episode, we’re joined by Carla Malden—accomplished screenwriter, memoirist, and novelist—to discuss her latest work, Playback, a gripping psychological noir set against the shadows of modern-day Los Angeles. Carla, daughter of the legendary Oscar-winning actor Carl Malden, brings a cinematic edge and emotional depth to her storytelling. In …

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Hampton Sides Interview Episode 570 1:07:41

25d ago1:07:41

1:07:41

Captain James Cook—celebrated explorer, national hero, and tragic figure—set out on his third and final voyage with a mission that would change the world. But what did his journey cost, and who paid the price? In this episode, acclaimed historian and bestselling author Hampton Sides joins us to discuss The Wide Wide Sea, his sweeping new chronicle …

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Jerry Drake Interview Episode 569 1:06:51

27d ago1:06:51

1:06:51

Who was Hazel? Why was her brutal murder buried in history — and how did it inspire one of the most iconic TV shows of all time? In this episode, author Jerry Drake joins us to discuss his riveting new book Hazel Was a Good Girl, which reopens a nearly century-old cold case that eerily parallels the plot of Twin Peaks. Part investigation, part hist…

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Kate DiCamillo Interview Episode 568 45:41

29d ago45:41

45:41

Beloved children’s author Kate DiCamillo joins us to discuss her enchanting new novel Ferris, a heartfelt story about family, courage, and the power of imagination. In this conversation, Kate reflects on the creation of Ferris Wilkey—a curious, kind-hearted girl navigating mystery, love, and change in her offbeat household. We explore how Kate find…

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Samantha York Interview Episode 567 47:05

1M ago47:05

47:05

On today’s episode, we’re joined by author Samantha York to talk about her haunting and lyrical debut novel, The Foreshore. Set against a shifting coastal landscape, the novel traces the emotional tides of memory, loss, and resilience through characters who are just as vulnerable and unpredictable as the sea itself. We discuss the symbolism behind …

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Andy Crocker Interview Episode 566 1:04:13

1M ago1:04:13

1:04:13

This episode features an energizing conversation with author and leadership coach Andy Crocker about his new book The Unconditionals: Five Timeless Values to Live Without Limits and Ignite Your Superpower. Andy shares the core values that can help anyone break through fear, overcome limitations, and unlock their inner potential. Whether you’re navi…

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Haley Cohen Gilliland Interview Episode 565 1:00:25

1M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

What happens when a group of grieving grandmothers takes on a brutal dictatorship in the name of truth and justice? In today’s episode, we speak with award-winning journalist and author Haley Cohen Gilliland about her extraordinary new book, A Flower Traveled In My Blood. Through deep research and personal storytelling, the book chronicles the deca…

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Forest Issac Jones Interview Episode 564 1:04:13

1M ago1:04:13

1:04:13

In this episode, we sit down with author and historian Forest Issac Jones to discuss his new book Good Trouble: The Selma, Alabama and Derry, Northern Ireland Connection 1963–1972. This powerful work uncovers the striking parallels between two seemingly distant civil rights struggles—across the American South and the streets of Northern Ireland. Fo…

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Tom Cooper Interview Episode 563 1:07:01

1M ago1:07:01

1:07:01

In this episode, we dive deep into the intellectual lives of two of Canada’s most influential media theorists: Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan. Author and professor Tom Cooper joins us to explore his new book, The Lives and Thought of Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan, offering unique insights into their work, relationship, and relevance in our h…

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James S. Fishkin Interview Episode 562 1:03:41

2M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

Today’s guest is Professor James Fishkin, a pioneering scholar in the field of deliberative democracy and the author of the timely and thought-provoking book, Can Deliberation Cure the Ills of Democracy? In a time of extreme polarization, political disillusionment, and rising authoritarianism, Professor Fishkin offers a compelling case for how stru…

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James Romm Interview Episode 561 1:03:09

2M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

What happens when a philosopher tries to change the world—not through words, but by shaping a king? In this episode, we sit down with James Romm, classical historian and author of Plato and the Tyrant, a gripping narrative about Plato’s dramatic real-world attempt to bring his philosophical ideals to life in the court of the tyrant Dionysius of Syr…

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Corinna Barrett Lain Interview Episode 560 1:07:13

2M ago1:07:13

1:07:13

n today’s episode, we’re joined by Corinna Barrett Lain, a law professor and the author of Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection. With meticulous research and unflinching clarity, she exposes the hidden history of how lethal injection became the preferred method of execution in the U.S.—and how it’s far more troubling, …

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Dr. Theresa Callaghan Interview Episode 559 1:06:24

2M ago1:06:24

1:06:24

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Theresa Callaghan, skincare scientist of 35 years and author of Help! I’m Covered in Adjectives: Cosmetic Claims & The Consumer. With wit, science, and decades of industry experience, Dr. Callaghan helps us unpack the seductive language of the beauty industry—revealing how terms like “clinically proven” and “ant…

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Claudia Rowe Interview Episode 558 1:06:46

2M ago1:06:46

1:06:46

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Claudia Rowe, award-winning journalist and author of Wards of the State, a searing, meticulously researched account of the U.S. foster care system. Over the course of a century, America’s foster care system has promised protection but often delivered pain. Through deeply human storytelling and journalistic rigor,…

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Steve Eichenblatt Interview Episode 557 1:06:18

2M ago1:06:18

1:06:18

In today's episode we speak with author Steve Eichenblatt about his memoir, Pretend They Are Dead. When Steven's dad, Allen, disappeared, he left behind more than his children-he left a legacy of loss and family secrets. Though working just miles away, Allen gave up his kids for adoption. He was soon replaced by another man, one with his own four c…

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Jane Fischer Interview Episode 556 1:03:15

3M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

Jane Fischer joins us for a heartfelt and revealing conversation about her memoir If You Knew Suzy: Pushing Past the Boundaries of Never. Born with Rare Brain Disorder, Suzy Fischer Was Told She’d Never Walk, Talk, or Thrive—But She Did All That and More Doctors gave Suzy Fischer a grim prognosis at birth: she would never walk, talk, live independe…

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A.O Wagner Interview Episode 555 1:02:14

3M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by A.O. Wagner, author of the intriguing philosophical novel The Karma Sequence. In this conversation, Wagner opens up about the origins of the book, its exploration of karma, consequence, and human connection, and how fiction can serve as a powerful lens for spiritual and moral reflection. Whether you're drawn to…

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Simon Tolkien Interview Episode 554 59:25

3M ago59:25

59:25

Matt Crawford speaks with author Simon Tolkien about his book, The Palace At The End Of The Sea. Today, we're honored to welcome novelist and historian Simon Tolkien. Known for his gripping historical fiction and literary craftsmanship, Simon's latest novel, Palace at the End of the Sea, is a sweeping, emotionally layered story with the backdrop of…

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George Zavershinskiy Interview Episode 553 1:00:10

3M ago1:00:10

1:00:10

Matt Crawford speaks with author George Zavershinskiy about his book, The Atomic Shepard. Amid Cold War tensions, a gifted nuclear physicist – poised to become the future father of new weapons – shockingly gains religious faith. Seeking to confess this revelation, he enters the priesthood, finding purpose but facing myriad trials. His startling 197…

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Christina Li Interview Episode 552 48:02

3M ago48:02

48:02

Matt Crawford speaks with author Christina Li about her debut adult novel, The Manor of Dreams. Vivian Yin is dead. The first Chinese actress to win an Oscar, the trailblazing ingénue rose to fame in the eighties, only to disappear from the spotlight at the height of her career to live out the rest of her life as a recluse. Now her remaining family…

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Judy Karofsky Interview Episode 551 1:07:57

3M ago1:07:57

1:07:57

Matt Crawford speaks with author Judy Karofsky about her book, DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice. The book is a personal account of unmet needs in assisted living and hospice aiming to spark discussions about new approaches for America’s aging population and family decision makers. There are 30 thousand assisted…

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Janelle Kellman Interview Episode 550 45:52

3M ago45:52

45:52

Matt Crawford speaks with candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California Janelle Kellman about her career and political aspirations. As the Mayor of Sausalito, member of the Town Council, and across ten years serving on the Sausalito Planning Commission, Janelle solved many of the same challenges facing California today. Janelle looks to take acti…

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Lynne Olson Interview Episode 549 1:04:03

3M ago1:04:03

1:04:03

Matt Crawford speaks with NYT Best-selling author Lynne Olson about her book, The Sisterhood of Ravensbrück: How an Intrepid Band of Frenchwomen Resisted the Nazis in Hitler's All-Female Concentration Camp . The extraordinary true story of a small group of Frenchwomen, all Resistance members, who banded together in a notorious concentration camp to…

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Justin Evans Interview Episode 548 1:04:25

3M ago1:04:25

1:04:25

Matt Crawford speaks with Data Scientist and author Justin Evans about his book, The Little Book of Data: Understanding the Powerful Analytics that Fuel AI, Make or Break Careers, and Could Just End Up Saving the World. Data is not about number crunching. It’s about ideas. And when used properly (read: ethically), it is the problem solver of our ti…

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Lisa Pratta Interview Episode 547 1:03:57

3M ago1:03:57

1:03:57

Matt Crawford speaks with Big Pharma Whistleblower Lisa Pratta about her book, False Claims: One Insider's Impossible Battle Against Big Pharma Corruption. In Big Pharma, lives are secondary to profit margins. But Lisa Pratta stood her ground—risking everything to expose the lies of a billion-dollar pharmaceutical business mired in deception, greed…

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Alia Dastagir Interview Episode 546 1:05:15

3M ago1:05:15

1:05:15

Matt Crawford speaks with Alia Dastagir, an award-winning journalist and author of For Those Who Have Confused You to be a Person. Part memoir, part cultural commentary, her book is a searing meditation on identity, invisibility, and the hunger for dignity in a fractured world. Alia shares how years of reporting on trauma, injustice, and inequity s…

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Sylvia Lerch Interview Episode 545 56:16

3M ago56:16

56:16

Matt Crawford speaks with author Sylvia Lerch about her book, Grasp the Nettle. Set in a remote district of Western Australia in the 1920s, an era which outlawed suicide, an unidentified body has been found and police are treating the death as suspicious. The story presents a chance for strangers (the reader) to peruse the very private diaries of t…

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David Singer Interview Episode 544 1:04:48

3M ago1:04:48

1:04:48

Matt Crawford speaks with author David Singer about his book, From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall. David and I talk about his eclectic careers and how he managed to end up playing Clarinet for two U.S Presidents; one the same day as he was driving a cab. Resilience and gratitude is the overarching message of this book and everyone can take something f…

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Stephen Willeford Interview Episode 543 55:37

3M ago55:37

55:37

In this gripping episode, we sit down with Stephen Willeford, the man who courageously intervened during the 2017 Sutherland Springs church shooting, one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history. Willeford, a former NRA instructor and lifelong resident of Sutherland Springs, recounts the harrowing events of that day—how he heard gunfire …

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Stephen R. Platt Interview Episode 542 1:02:23

4M ago1:02:23

1:02:23

Matt Crawford speaks with author Stephen R. Platt about his book, The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S Special Forces in World War II. In this compelling episode, historian Stephen R. Platt joins us to discuss his latest book, The Raider, a powerful chronicle of Evans Carlson—the controversial, visionary Marine off…

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Susan Sturm Interview Episode 541 1:06:29

4M ago1:06:29

1:06:29

Matt Crawford speaks with Columbia Law Professor Susan Sturm about her book, What Might Be: Confronting Racism to Transform Our Institutions. Even as anti-racism practices seemed to be gaining momentum, the nation shows signs of falling back into long-standing patterns of racial injustice and inequality. Leaders who introduce anti-racist approaches…

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Craig Foster Interview Episode 540 55:09

4M ago55:09

55:09

Matt Crawford speaks with Academy award winning documentary filmmaker of My Octopus Teacher and author Craig Foster about his book, My Amphibious Soul: Finding the Wild in a Tame World. Craig and I discuss his worldwide phenomenon documentary My Octopus Teacher and how that led to his follow up book My Amphibious Soul. How do we connect with nature…

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Dean Van Nguyen Interview Episode 539 1:02:04

4M ago1:02:04

1:02:04

Matt Crawford speaks with author Dean Van Nguyen about his book, Words for My Comrades: A Political History of Tupac Shakur. Before his murder at age twenty-five, Tupac Shakur rose to staggering artistic heights as the preeminent storyteller of the 1990s, building, in the process, one of the most iconic public personas of the last half century. He …

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Andrew Holter Interview Episode 538 54:08

4M ago54:08

54:08

Matt Crawford speaks with Andrew Holter about his book, Going Around: Selected Journalism Murray Kempton. A courtly man of Southern roots, Murray Kempton worked as a labor reporter for the New York Post, won a Pulitzer Prize while at Newsday, and was arrested at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago along the way. He wore three piece suits …

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Professor Bill Yousman Interview Episode 537 1:10:54

4M ago1:10:54

1:10:54

Matt Crawford speaks with Professor Bill Yousman the director of the Media Literacy and Digital Culture graduate program at Sacred Heart University. We discuss misinformation, disinformation and the important distinction between them as well as how we can become more literate in our media consumption. If we start there, that will enable us to have …

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Dr. Charles LeBaron Interview Episode 536 1:05:16

4M ago1:05:16

1:05:16

Matt Crawford speaks with former CDC Epidemiologist Dr. Charles LeBaron about his book, Greed to Do Good: The Untold Story of CDC's Disastrous War on Opioids: A CDC Physician's Personal Account. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that overdose deaths had quadrupled in ten years, hitting a record high of 90,000 in 20…

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Robert Walker Interview Episode 535 58:01

4M ago58:01

58:01

Matt Crawford speaks with author Robert Walker about his book, Six Moons, Seven Gods: An Arthurian Fantasy Medieval Adventure (The Legends of Baelon Book 1.) The skilled thieves of the Takers Guild plot to overthrow the kingdoms of Baelon, but when their plans are thwarted by a prescient woman and her brooding daughter, they must turn to the League…

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Will Bardenwerper Interview Episode 534 1:07:57

4M ago1:07:57

1:07:57

Matt Crawford speaks with author Will Bardenwerper about his book, Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America. What happens when a minor league team—the heart and soul of a Rust Belt town in western New York—is shut down by the billionaires who run Major League Baseball? Batavia, New York—between Rochester and Buffalo—host…

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Susan Polgar Interview Episode 533 45:14

4M ago45:14

45:14

Matt Crawford speaks with Susan Polgar about her book, Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Grandmaster. A real life Queen’s Gambit, this captivating memoir tells the story of one of the most renowned women in chess history, Susan Polgar, taking on a sexist establishment and rewriting the rules of what women could achieve agains…

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Helen Sheehy Interview Episode 532 1:02:23

4M ago1:02:23

1:02:23

Matt Crawford speaks with author Helen Sheehy about her novel, Just Willa. Just Willa is a family chronicle of rare beauty-more than reminiscent of Willa Cather in capturing the regional flavors of America-stretching over a span of decades through an intimate focus on the life of one woman. In it, Helen Sheehy gives us a character of indomitable sp…