Thecuriousmanspodcast
436 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratingsThe curious man Matt Crawford interviews authors and interesting people about topics ranging from history to politics to everyday stimulating topics. If you like to learn and are as curious as I am please join in!
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Episodes
End of Year Show 2021 Episode 92
December 31, 2021 19:04 - 3 minutes - 2.28 MBIn this brief episode Matt Crawford has some final words for his listeners and supporters. Thank you all and stay safe. Here is to a better year for all of us!
Jordan Salama Interview Episode 91
December 23, 2021 12:07 - 56 minutes - 30 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Jordan Salama about his book, Every Day the River Changes. This book is about a journey on many levels and Salama takes us along for that ride in the most intimate of ways. Some Travel-Logs detail the culture and people of the locales they visit in a superficial and condescending way. Salama however immerses himself in the culture and history of the Magdalena and its people, and reports what he finds in an unflinching, respectful and honest ac...
Brian Castner Interview Episode 90
December 21, 2021 11:45 - 1 hour - 29.6 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Brian Castner about his book Stampede. This is one of those stories we all know something about, the question is, how much do we actually know and is that accurate. The Alaskan Gold Rush is the stuff of legend and stories abound regarding this moment in history. Castner takes us on a journey back in time and introduces us to the people who made this journey and risked their lives to strike it rich. You better bundle up, because you will feel t...
Ben Guest Interview Episode 89
December 17, 2021 12:39 - 1 hour - 39.2 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Ben Guest about his book, Zen and the Art of Coaching Basketball. A beautiful memoir about living in the moment, surrendering and letting the world take you where it will. A book set on a basketball court in Namibia and the lessons both the coach (Ben) and his players learned while playing that game. However, this book transcends the sport and includes insights and tools we can all use, no matter our situation or walk of life. Read this book f...
Edward Carey Interview Episode 88
December 16, 2021 12:51 - 57 minutes - 29.4 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author and illustrator Edward Carey about his book B: A Year in Plagues and Pencils. This is such a unique work of sketches and words that capture Edward's, and also a lot of our collective experience through the pandemic. A drawing a day while Covid raged ends up chronicling the world around us. These sketches will take you back to pivotal moments and memories that will connect you to the book in a most personal way. Great coffee table or anywhere r...
Julian Sancton Interview Episode 87
December 08, 2021 12:56 - 1 hour - 37.7 MBMatt Crawford speaks with author Julian Sancton about his book Madhouse at the End of the Earth. For those who think history is boring, they need nothing more than to read this book. Sancton takes us back in time to 1897 aboard the Belgica for a three-year expedition to Antarctica. A crew comprised of a young commandant and future famous polar explorers they would all get to know each other very well as they get trapped in ice for months of polar night. Plagued by cabin fever, lack of nutrit...
Dr. Kara Cooney Interview Episode 86
December 02, 2021 11:49 - 1 hour - 34.1 MBIn this episode I speak with author Dr. Kara Cooney about her book, The Good Kings. A self-proclaimed recovering Egyptologist, Cooney and I discuss her book as well as a whole host of current events through the long lens of ancient history. I never expected to read about ancient Egypt and to see such stark parallels to what we are living through now. I know all will enjoy this book and the insight Dr. Cooney brings to all conversations. Give a listen, I'm sure you'll agree.
Matthew Hoh Interview Episode 85
November 30, 2021 11:55 - 1 hour - 39.1 MBI get to speak with one of my heroes in this episode. Matthew Hoh is a Senior Fellow with the Center for international Policy since 2010. In 2009 Matt famously resigned in protest from his post in Afghanistan with the State Department over the American Escalation of the war. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss U.S Military Policy, veteran's issues, the veteran suicide epidemic and how they are linked. We also speak about Matt's life, his service and his own struggles with PTSD, Depres...
Meriel Schindler Interview Episode 84
November 29, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 36.4 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Meriel Schindler about her book The Lost Cafe Schindler. A family memoir that reads like a detective novel, Schindler takes us along for the ride as she tries to uncover the truth of her family's past. A history that traces back before WWI, set in Innsbruck with the Austrian Alps as a backdrop and featuring the eponymous Cafe Schindler, this is a story that will engulf you. Tracing her family's history and building up toward what they would en...
Cheryl Diamond Interview Episode 83
November 22, 2021 11:55 - 1 hour - 33 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Cheryl Diamond about her book Nowhere Girl. Born on the run and being chased by the authorities, Diamond will have lived in more than a dozen countries, on five continents and under six assumed identities by the age of nine. This is a book that will leave you breathless and flipping pages. Through all this intrigue and adventure though, is a heartbreaking story of loss but also of hope. And while we all may not have lived as exciting and traum...
Judith Pearson Interview Episode 82
November 16, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 32.5 MBMatt Crawford speaks with author Judith Pearson about her rereleased book Belly of the Beast. Pearson recounts the harrowing tale of Naval Corpsman Estel Myers as a POW aboard the Japanese prison ship Oryoku Maru. Held for nearly three years in horrid conditions that included, suffocation, malnutrition, torture, disease and mental hardships that took the life or more than three quarters of his fellow prisoners, this is an example of true courage and compassion. This is a book that transcends...
William Hazelgrove Interview Episode 81
November 12, 2021 11:32 - 1 hour - 36.1 MBAuthor William Hazelgrove about his book Morristown: The Darkest Winter of the Revolutionary War and the Plot to Kidnap George Washington. Valley Forge is often looked at as the worst winter of the Revolutionary War and while many did die, it was not because of the weather. Morristown details the harshest winter on record and the conditions our troops had to withstand. All while Britain plotted to kidnap Washington and end the war. A great winter read that is sure to warm you up.
Henry Gee Interview Episode 80
November 09, 2021 11:31 - 1 hour - 31.5 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Henry Gee about his book, A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth. As a paleontologist, evolutionary biologist and editor at Nature Henry Gee is in the unique position to describe those moments throughout this planets history that were most pivotal. Gee explains how we went from single celled organisms to what we are today in a lighthearted and hysterical fashion that will actually make you learn, while laughing out loud. This is the perfect...
Julie Lindahl Interview Episode 79
November 03, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 39 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford talks with Speaker, Activist and author Julie Lindahl about her activism work and her most recent book The Pendulum. In her book The Pendulum Julie tracks down her family's secret past through multiple countries and across many years of research. What follows is a painfully honest writing of what she uncovered and how she has coped with it. A beautiful and touching read about healing and forgiveness that I think we all need to read right now.
Jeffrey Lewis Interview Episode 78
November 02, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 40 MBIn this episode I speak with author Jeffrey Lewis about his book Land of Cockaigne. A novel that reimagines paradise on earth as a village in Maine for at risk youth, Lewis wraps socioeconomic and racial issues in a blanket of grief in an honest depiction of our current racial climate. A beautifully raw view of our contemporary society it is also an open ended question that lets us reach our own assumptions and conclusions. A truly thought provoking and rapturous read.
Dr. Kathryn Schmitz Interview Episode 77
October 19, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 32.5 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Dr. Kathryn Schmitz about her book, Moving Through Cancer. Most people given a cancer diagnosis are told to get plenty of rest. This is probably just about the worst advice to follow, according to the Director of the Oncology, Nutrition and Exercise group at the Penn State Cancer Institute Dr. Kathyrn Schmitz. Not only does exercise help to distribute your treatment throughout your body, it also puts you in a better state of mind. With easy ...
Mansoor Adayfi Interview Episode 76
October 18, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Mansoor Adayfi about his book, Don't Forget Us Here. Captured at age 18 by warlords in Afghanistan and sold to the U.S government for a bounty as someone else, Mansoor was held in Guantanamo Bay Cuba as detainee #441 for over 14 years and known as the worst of the worst by the U.S government. Mansoor details the treatment he and other innocent detainees received while imprisoned, held without trial and how they managed to find hope in a hopele...
Glenda D. Shaw Interview Episode 75
October 07, 2021 10:49 - 1 hour - 36.2 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Glenda Shaw about her book Better You, Better Friends. It has been proven that friendships benefit our physical and mental health, along with our happiness and even how long we live. Having friends is integral to our survival, yet fewer people have as many close friends as people did decades ago, why? Shaw provides a guide for building these relationships and shows us how to to be open and honest with ourselves in those relationships. With a...
Paul Sexton Interview Episode 74
September 28, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 39.6 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Paul Sexton about his book, Prince. Prince Rogers Nelson was such a prolific and enigmatic artist that it is a difficult task to fully understand the breadth and depth of his contribution to the music community. Sexton earned the trust of some of those closest to Prince through his years of journalism work in the music industry and we are welcomed into that world with intimate views of The Artist. A great read and one that will make you want t...
Charles Dellheim Interview Episode 73
September 21, 2021 11:01 - 1 hour - 41.7 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Chares Dellheim about his book Belonging and Betrayal. During WWII we all know that the Nazis attempted to exterminate Jewish people and that they pillaged Jewish property along with uncounted art masterpieces. How exactly did those masterpieces find their way into Jewish possession? Dellheim digs deep and uncovers the decades of effort it took these Jewish art collectors and curators to cull these pieces into collections that would shape th...
Howard Burton Interview Episode 72
September 20, 2021 10:27 - 1 hour - 34 MBIn this interview I speak with author and Ideas Roadshow creator and host Howard Burton. Howard and I discuss the current information climate and how it is distorted, skewed and deliberately tailored to illicit the desired response by those providing it. Howard has created the Ideas Roadshow to combat that very issue and to bring the experts to all of us. Please give a listen and check out the Ideas Roadshows videos or now, the newly launched podcast.
Andres Resendez Interview Episode 71
September 17, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 34.9 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Andres Resendez about his book Conquering the Pacific. Covering 30% of the Earth's surface and about 50% larger than the Atlantic the Pacific Ocean was the brass ring of exploration. It also was the stage for Spain to break Portugal's monopoly on trade with the Orient. Departing from a hidden Mexican port was just the beginning, the never before accomplished return would determine success and fortune. A secret mission, covert orders, a mula...
Marc J. Straus Interview Episode 70
September 16, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 37 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Marc J. Straus about his book, One Legged Mongoose. Straus takes us back to 1953 and recounts his experiences in a two year period using his amazing ability of recollection. We explore what life was like for a young Jewish boy and the discrimination, abuse, illness and injuries Marc suffered through. We are also introduced to his beautiful family and how they impacted his life during these pivotal years. A rich and deeply engrossing memoir, I ...
Nathaniel Philbrick Interview Episode 69
September 14, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 33.3 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with award winning author Nathaniel Philbrick about his book, Travels with George. When Washington became president, the United States was a fractured and divided country. Washington decided to tour the ex-colonies and speak directly to the people to unite them. Philbrick retraces those steps with his wife Melissa and their dog Dora and introduces us to a Washington, who few of us have ever met.
September 11th 20 year Anniversary Special
September 11, 2021 14:29 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBIn this interview I switch seats with my friend Mario Mergola and the questions are asked of me. My father Robert J. Crawford was a NYC Firefighter who was murdered on Sept 11th. His death and that day has impacted me and so many others in a way that is hard to capture or explain. We talk about my experience that fateful day, how the loss of my father has affected me and what message I hope my listeners and beyond will take from that day. Please give a listen and share.
William Hazelgrove Interview Episode 67
September 08, 2021 10:39 - 1 hour - 41.2 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author William Hazelgrove about his book, One Hundred and Sixty Minutes. Hazelgrove does it again, he tackles a subject that is well known and turns the mythology on its head. We all think we know the story of the RMS Titanic, the hubris, the iceberg and the lack of lifeboats. However, Hazelgrove finds the real story and that is the simple fact that almost everyone on board could have been saved. Two ships within ten miles and ample time to mount a...
Christine Conklin Interview Episode 66
September 03, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 33.5 MBMatt Crawford speaks with co-author and artist Christina Conklin about her book The Atlas of Disappearing Places. Our world is in danger from multiple fronts, seas are rising, ice is melting, coasts are eroding and species are dying. Yet, most of us don't draw a correlation between these issues and how they affect us and are going to impact our future and our health. Conklin and Psaros have combined science and art to help clarify that which endangers us all. A great read that full of inform...
William Sargent Interview Episode 65
September 01, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 29.8 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author William Sargent about his book Crab Wars. Who knew Horseshoe Crabs were so integral to the healthcare industry? 450 million years old these creatures have blood that is the building block for the most reliable test for deadly bacteria. Every drug certified by the FDA must be tested by using this horseshoe crab derivative. Sargent shares his life long fascination with these beautiful animals and chronicles their plight. The COVID-19 pandemic ...
Jessica Dulong Interview Episode 64
August 30, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 37 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Jessica Dulong about her book Saved at the Seawall. A seaborn evacuation which rivaled that of Dunkirk and yet too few know this story. Dulong curates the stories of that day, from the mariners turned rescuers to the people trying to escape the devastation of downtown. These are the stories that show how we came together that day and this book is a perfect reminder of who we really are when it counts. An emotional, detailed and beautiful boo...
Jay Anderson Interview Episode 63
August 25, 2021 07:00 - 57 minutes - 25.5 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with Meteorologist and Co-Author Jay Anderson about his book the Peterson Field Guide to Weather. We all pay attention to the weather when we plan our day, weekends or vacations but many of us stop there. Anderson sparks that weather curiosity in this beautifully illustrated and down to earth book. Broken down into an easily digestible format and with plenty of "For instances" this is a great read that will continue to teach long after its initial readi...
Casey McFarland Interview Episode 62
August 24, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with Co-Author Casey McFarland about his book The Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird nests. McFarland and I speak about what a field guide actually is, what type of field work is involved in the writing of it and how the images are captured. This guide will open up a world of wonders and I hope you will all dive in and enjoy it as much as I did.
Michelle Elman Interview Episode 61
August 17, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 31.6 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Michelle Elman about her book The Joy of Being Selfish. What does it mean to be selfish and what is the difference between that and practicing self-love? Michelle and I dive into those questions and explore her book and the boundaries she outlines. A great read that helps us navigate how to be a better friend to ourselves and others.
Arthur Herman Interview Episode 60
August 05, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 37.9 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Arthur Herman about his book The Viking Heart. We all think we know Vikings, but what do we actually know about them? For most I believe it is a caricatured version of an amazing people. Herman disabuses us of that view and details these impactful people and their beautiful culture. Scandinavians have shaped both our ancient and current world in ways still felt today. This is a detailed and exhaustive work that is easy to get lost in.
Daniel Sherrell Interview Episode 59
August 04, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 34.2 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Daniel Sherrell about his book Warmth. A very interesting take on climate change, Sherrell is brutally honest about the affect his work in this field has had on him. Imagining future generations and what we will leave them in such an intimate way is what makes this such a powerful read. We also have a great chat about the climate fight and where Sherrell stands on some of the issues. A great conversation that I think all would love to hop in o...
Eric Garcia Interview Episode 58
August 03, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 30.4 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Eric Garcia about his book We’re Not Broken. Autism is such a complex disorder with many gradations and too many of us know little about it and how it affects the people who live with it. Garcia brings his own personal experience, living and working with Autism as a journalist to help us better understand it. We discuss the myths behind Autism, the social and policy gaps that leave those in need of treatment wanting and how we can all better...
Derek Miller Interview Episode 57
July 29, 2021 11:24 - 54 minutes - 28.2 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Derek Miller about his book How to Find Your Way In The Dark. I really loved this one folks. A deep and rich story about loss, revenge, love and hope, all set with the backdrop of WWII, a hurricane, and the rise of Jewish comedy in the Catskills. Sheldon Horowitz is a character you are going to love and Miller will transport you back in time with him as he subtly includes moments in history that will envelop you. Enjoyable and also thought pro...
Scott Peters and Daniel O'Connell Interview Episode 56
July 26, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 34.4 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with authors Scott Peters and Daniel O'Connell about their book In The Struggle. Peters and O'Connell highlight the stories of eight scholars that put their hands in the dirt and got politically engaged in the fight against industrial scale agribusiness in California. While the subject matter is farming the struggle contained within this book is the basic tenet of democracy, fair and agrarian treatment for all. Water rights, labor organizing, land grabs...
Judy Scott Interview Episode 55
July 08, 2021 09:43 - 51 minutes - 25.7 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Judy Scott about her book Leonard, Marianne and Me. Judy takes us back in time and describes her time on the Greek island of Hydra over the past forty years. An artist community, there is no shortage of interesting people and experiences to pull you in, including Judy's relationship with singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. An open and honest read with excerpts from her own diary over the years, Judy pulls us in and introduces us to her world. Str...
Dr. Gale Sinatra and Dr. Barbara Hofer Interview Episode 54
July 07, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 30.4 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with Dr. Gale Sinatra and Dr. Barbara Hofer about their book Science Denial. Why do some people believe the science behind, vaccines, climate change or the efficacy of mask wearing? Both Sinatra and Hofer dive in to the psychology behind science denial and offer us the tools to combat it. The first step is realizing your own bias and this book helps us to identify them as well as others. This is required reading and a societal salve we all need.
Jeremy Lent Interview Episode 53
July 02, 2021 13:15 - 1 hour - 38.6 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Jeremy Lent about his book The Web of Meaning. How do we truly connect with one and other? We have many social media apps and technology to assist but is that actually nurturing a deep and meaningful connectivity? Lent points out that we must first find out who we are and what we want before we can truly build bonds with others. Who am I? Why am I? How should I live? These are just a couple of the questions you will explore while reading. This...
Jack Gorman and Sara Gorman Interview Episode 52
June 30, 2021 10:17 - 1 hour - 37 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with Sara Gorman PhD and Jack Gorman MD about their book Denying to the Grave. Why do some parents refuse to vaccinate their children? Why do some feel that the COVID-19 is not a serious threat despite the death toll? Gorman and Gorman go into the psychology of heath science denial and break down why so many of us don't trust the science. Gently, both authors show us how to combat our own confirmation bias and how we can make each other better informed....
Alan Lucas Interview Episode 51
June 28, 2021 07:00 - 47 minutes - 28.7 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with Entrepreneur, Coach, Motivational speaker and Author Alan Lucas about his book You Don't Need Therapy: 7 Steps To Sort Your Sh*t Out. This is a great book for those looking for some guidance in this crazy world we find ourselves in. Lucas taps into his many resources to give us 7 steps and over 70 easy to follow exercises to help us hone in on what we need to work on and how to keep track of our improvement. The tools contained within are simple and ...
Alexandra Shelley Interview Episode 50
June 25, 2021 10:58 - 1 hour - 38.7 MBMatt Crawford speaks with Independent Book Editor Alexandra Shelley about her work over the past 35 years working with authors to bring the best story possible to their readers. Some of those she has worked with include: Kathryn Stockett on The Help, Eric Lindner on The Tiger in the Sea, Heather Haldeman on Kids and Cocktails Don't Mix, just to name a few. Alexandra gives us the inside details on how books are crafted collaboratively to pull the reader in and keep the story flowing. A great...
Heather Haldeman Interview Episode 49
June 22, 2021 10:56 - 56 minutes - 28.2 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Heather Haldeman about her book Kids and Cocktails Don't Mix: A Memoir. I loved this book and it stirred so many emotions in me. Growing up in an exclusive gated community in L.A the granddaughter of The Governor of California had all the trappings one might expect, but what was Heather's life like behind the scenes? An open and honest memoir about divorce, bended families, forgiveness and self worth, this book has something for everyone. Yo...
Charles Farrell Interview Episode 48
June 18, 2021 10:58 - 1 hour - 31.7 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Charles Farrell about his book (Low)Life. This is a book that will knock your head back. Farrell is brutally honest with us and with himself in this retrospective of his eclectic and unbelievable life. A world-class jazz pianist Farrell starts to work in mob clubs at a young age and slowly gets pulled into the world of boxing. Managing champions, fixing fights and sometimes running for his life are just some of the stories within.
James Romm Interview Episode 47
June 17, 2021 11:45 - 57 minutes - 29.1 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author James Romm about his book The Sacred Band. This is the almost untold story, of an elite fighting force comprised of 150 pairs of male lovers that defended Theban freedom from the Spartan machine in 379BC. While Spartan warriors often get idolized as the epitome of warriors, Romm tells us the story of the true Ancient Greek superpower, one that could only be overcome by Alexander the Great himself. Phenomenal read!
Lauren Cochrane Interview Episode 46
June 16, 2021 11:30 - 58 minutes - 27.3 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with journalist and author Lauren Cochrane about her book The Ten. What is in, what is out? Why are certain items of clothing a fashion staple? Cochrane delves into these questions and more in this utterly enjoyable read. If you think you are not interested in fashion you will be proved wrong by this book. Fashion is embroidered throughout our history and Cochrane delves into that and so much more in this breezy read.
John Sedgwick Interview Episode 45
June 15, 2021 11:59 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author John Sedgwick about his book From The River To The Sea. John takes us back in time and shares a story of two men whose destinies seemed to be cosmically entwined. General William J, Palmer and William Barstow Strong would fight for over a decade in their race to build their railroads and make it to the Pacific. Intrigue abounds, spies are used, coded messages and high dollar lawyers to find whatever loopholes could give one an edge over the ot...
Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy Interview Episode 44
June 14, 2021 11:05 - 1 hour - 34.3 MBIn this episode Matt Crawford speaks with authors, educators and story tellers, Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy about their book How To Tell Stories To Children. Sharing a story with one and other is as old as we are and in so doing we share a piece of ourselves. West and Sarosy explore how we can do that with our children and in the process nurture a stronger and more durable connection with our children. In an era of devices and media this book distills down the simple yet complex art of...
Alexander Lobrano Interview Episode 43
June 10, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 39.2 MBIn this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Alec Lobrano about his book My Place At The Table. This book is a delectable treat. Lobrano is open and honest in this book about his life, his love of travel and food and his career. "Jumping out a window" and taking a job in Paris as a fashion writer, despite the fact that he was not fluent and knew nothing about fashion. A story of following your dreams and being true to thine self. This book is a shower for the brain.