Season 11

Book Reviews

Her Secret War: In conversation with author Pam Lecky

Dec. 29, 2021

Her Secret War is Pam Lecky's fifth novel published in the United States. It's a great historical novel set in WWII. A twisty tale of intrigue and deception, Irish author Pam Lecky weaves many different genres into the story…

Independent Commentary

Single in America: Talking with Harry Bruinius, New York Bureau Chief, The Christian Science Monitor

Dec. 22, 2021

40 % of American adults between the ages of 25 and 54 are single according to the Pew Research Center. That represents a 30% increase since 1990. What implications does this new trend portend for American society ? --- Send …

Book Reviews

Safe Enough Spaces: A pragmatist's approach to Inclusion, Free Speech, and Political Correctness. In conversation with Michael S. Roth, President of Wesleyan University.

Dec. 21, 2021

Safe spaces, trigger warnings, political correctness - we hear these terms so often in the context of the College experience today. Often we wonder what has happened to the classic college experience. But President Roth give…

International

Chile on the Brink: the Presidential Runoff Election. Talking to John Bartlett, The Guardian foreign correspondent in Santiago, Chile.

Dec. 17, 2021

Chile faces a hotly contested and polarized runoff election Sunday, December 19, pitting the extreme right and left against each other. The country has not faced such a stark choice since the 1970 election of Marxist Salvado…

Politics

California's Plan to provide Healthcare for All: Talking with Carmen Comisti of the California Nurses' Association

Dec. 17, 2021

California Assembly Bill 1400 comes up for Committee consideration in January. The Legislation would provide universal health care insurance for 40 million Californians on a single payer basis. The single payer would be the …

Guest: Carmen Comsti
Film Reviews

Being the Ricardos: In conversation with Shaun Chang, Blogger at the TV and Movie Blog Hill Place

Dec. 16, 2021

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem star in this Aaron Sorkin written and directed film about the creative genius of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz who created the I love Lucy sitcom. Three crises dominate one week in 1952, Lucy's …

Guest: Shaun Chang
Independent Commentary

Radio Meets Podcasting: the Future. Talking with James Cridland, Editor of Podnews

Dec. 9, 2021

Radio and Podcasting seem to be natural allies. In this episode Radio Futurologist James Cridland discusses the future of these two audio mediums, the Power of Voice and the Power of Listening. --- Send in a voice message: h…

Covid Pandemic

Omicron Covid Variant comes to America

Dec. 7, 2021

First identified and isolated in South Africa on November 24, 2021, the Omicron Covid variant is highly transmissible and breakthrough infections are more common. The first case in America was identified in San Francisco, De…

Independent Commentary

The Curse of Student Loans

Dec. 2, 2021

America's student loan iceberg totals $1.7 Trillion, with one in six Americans -46million- carrying some student debt. The median loan amount is $17,000. But 6% have debt in excess of $100,000 as high cost graduate programs,…

Business

Solar Earth Technologies - Solar Power 2.0. Talking with CFO Anders Kruus.

Nov. 30, 2021

The next phase of solar power technology is fast approaching. Our focus in today's podcast will be what lies ahead specifically in the field of photovoltaics embedded in existing infrastructure: sidewalks, driveways, trails,…

Personalities

Ringside with A.J.Kirsch: Life as a combat sports announcer and broadcaster.

Nov. 24, 2021

A.J. began his career as a pro wrestler competing in the ring. His career has included such highs as working with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and getting back in the ring as an announcer for wrestling, boxing and MMA matches. …

Guest: A.J. Kirsch
Film Reviews

No Time to Die: The 25th James Bond Film. In conversation with Shaun Chang of the Movie and TV Blog Hill Place.

Nov. 24, 2021

In today's episode film critic Shaun Chang reviews the most recent Bond film and Daniel Craig's fifth and last one, No Way to Die. We also discuss the development of the franchise over the last 60 years. --- Send in a voice …

Guest: Shaun Chang
Book Reviews

Collateral Damage is Optioned as a Documentary: an update conversation with author Mark Shaw

Nov. 19, 2021

Mark Wahlberg's "Unreasonable Ideas" production company has optioned Collateral Damage for a Documentary. Mark Shaw's book connects the dots between the 1962 death of Marilyn Monroe, the 1963 assassination of JFK and the 196…

Guest: Mark Shaw
News Analysis

Storytelling to build a better San Francisco: In conversation with Carly Schwartz, Editor in Chief, The San Francisco Examiner

Nov. 18, 2021

The venerable SF Examiner is under new ownership and management. Editor in Chief Carly Schwartz, after stints at The Huffington Post and Google has a 5 prong strategy to reorganize the paper: Findings, Fixes, Faces, Forum an…

The Arts

I've been Walking: Los Angeles Photographs. In conversation with Janet Sternburg

Nov. 17, 2021

Janet Sternburg is a fine art photographer who walked the streets of Los Angeles during the Covid lockdowns capturing images and scenes of a semi deserted city. Her book features 73 images all of which were taken with her iP…

Personalities

Hollywood Confidential: In conversation with Tommy Lightfoot Garrett

Nov. 17, 2021

Tommy Lightfoot Garrett is a veteran Hollywood publicist who has worked with the great stars of screen and stage: Bette Davis, Doris Day, Charlton Heston, Glenn Ford, Joan Fontaine, Jane Wyman as well as Julia Roberts and Ju…

My Hometown

Dallas Texas: My Hometown. Talking with Tom Keener.

Nov. 12, 2021

Dallas native Tom Keener talks about Dallas as it is today and as he remembers it in 1963. And he shares his personal memoir of Friday, November 22, 1963 when he and his mother went to Love Field to await the arrival of Air …

Guest: Tom Keener
Film Reviews

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Film discussion with author Tom Lisanti and writer/blogger Shaun Chang.

Nov. 5, 2021

Quentin Tarantino's 9th film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie gives set in 1969 Hollywood, gives a Through the Looking Glass ending to the Sharon Tate/LaBianca murders by the Manson Family. --- Send i…

Independent Commentary

San Francisco's Major Image Problem. In conversation with Sam Singer, of Singer Associates, Public Relations. Specialist in Crisis Management.

Nov. 3, 2021

San Francisco's city government has been described as dysfunctional by the influential news magazine, The Economist. And other global newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Daily Telegraph and The Dail…

My Hometown

My Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska. Talking with Tim McGargill

Oct. 29, 2021

Anchorage is the largest city of the 49th state, with a population of 291,000. Close to 5 national parks, 60 glaciers and enjoying the Northern Lights, the great outdoors plays a major role in this diverse city. Tim McGargil…

Guest: Tom McGargill