Kickass News

Kickass News

Hosted by Hollywood producer and political media strategist Ben Mathis, KickAss News is a twice weekly podcast that features the most interesting personalities and thought leaders in politics, entertainment, tech, business, science, and more. Enjoy the podcast? Then please support the show and help keep us on the air by making a donation to our GoFundMe campaign at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Another way you can support the show is to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review on iTunes to help keep us ranking strong on the top podcasts charts. For more information visit www.kickassnews.com. Thanks for listening!

Kickass News News 492 rész Ben Mathis brings you news, entertainment and politics
Malcolm Gladwell Explores the Overlooked and Misunderstood
42 perc 492. rész

Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers, Talking to Strangers, Revisionist History podcast) talks about growing up in a Mennonite community in Ontario, Canada, his brief flirtation with conservatism in his youth, and how his father’s boundless curiosity inspired him to always ask questions.  We delve into the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the tragic George Floyd murder and some surprising parallels between African-Americans' relationship with the police and Britain’s heavy-handed approach to Irish Catholics during the 3-decade conflict known as "the Troubles."  Then Malcolm discusses podcasts as the antidote to our modern quick-hit news culture, he reveals that even HE is often surprised by what he discovers while making a podcast or writing a book, and he shares some of his favorite episodes of his podcast Revisionist History including the time he confronted the Law School Admission Council about the effectiveness of the LSAT and why he is now accusing art museums of being hoarders.  Plus Malcolm Gladwell on his obsession with a certain 19th-Century Russian poet and how quarantine has put a monkey wrench in his writing routine. 

Season 5 of Malcolm Gladwell's brilliant podcast Revisionist History debuts on Thursday, June 18.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and visit www.revisionisthistory.com for more information.  You can also keep up with Malcolm at www.gladwellbooks.com and on Twitter at @Gladwell.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Capella University's flexible online doctoral degree program.  Start exploring available programs and scholarship opportunities at capella.edu/doctorate.

Fox News Sunday Host Chris Wallace
35 perc 491. rész

Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace talks his five decades in broadcast journalism, following in the very big footsteps of his father Mike Wallace, what he’s learned from interviewing 7 different U.S. Presidents, and what it was like to date Walter Cronkite's daughter when he was a 16-year-old intern at CBS News.  Then he discusses his new book Countdown 1945: The Extraordinary Story of the Atomic Bomb and the 116 Days That Changed the World.  He reveals how Harry Truman agonized over the decision to use the atomic bomb, the surprising dissenter among his military generals who warned against it, and how Truman broke the news of the bomb to Joseph Stalin.  He shares how the U.S. government managed to keep the enormous Manhattan Project under wraps, the many unknown variables that weighed on everyone involved in the mission, and his own touching experience of visiting the Enola Gay with an 80 year old Japanese woman who survived the Hiroshima blast.

Order Countdown 1945: The Extraordinary Story of the Atomic Bomb and the 116 Days That Changed the World on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  See Chris Wallace every weekend on Fox News Sunday and follow him on Twitter at @FoxNewsSunday.  Today's episode was sponsored by Capella University and Kronos HR solutions.

Michael Stuhlbarg Enters the Unsettling World of Shirley Jackson
36 perc 490. rész

Actor Michael Stuhlbarg (Boardwalk Empire, The Shape of Water) discusses his new film about the complicated marriage of horror writer Shirley Jackson and literary critic Stanley Hyman, how Hyman influenced Shirley Jackson’s work, and how the filmmakers of Shirley imbued the movie with a distinctively Jackson-esque style.  Michael also talks about his prolific career on stage and screen from training in mime with Marcel Marceau to working with directors like Guillermo del Toro and the Coen Brothers.

See Michael in Shirley available on Hulu, Video-on-Demand, and participating Drive-Ins starting June 5.  Today's episode is sponsored by Black Rifle Coffee Company and Capella University.  Visit www.blackriflecoffee.com/kick and use promo code KICK for 20% off your purchase of Black Rifle's premium, roast to order coffees.  Explore Capella University's flexible doctoral degree programs at www.capella.edu/doctoral.

Lisa Napoli Celebrates 40 Years of CNN
50 perc 489. rész

On the 40th Anniversary of CNN, journalist Lisa Napoli discusses the founding and "wild west" early years of the upstart network that set out to change how the news gets delivered and consumed.  Lisa reveals that few people to took Ted Turner seriously when he entered broadcasting and how Turner went from hating the news to founding the first all-news network in the basement of run-down former country club in Atlanta.  She talks about the skeptics who questioned whether there was a enough news to fill a whole day and how being on the air 24-hours gave CNN a decided advantage over the big three networks.  We also discuss Ted Turner’s political evolution, his flirtation with running for President, and his unlikely friendship with Fidel Castro.  Then we look back on the lasting legacy of Ted Turner on the network and the impact of CNN on the world of broadcast journalism.

Order Lisa Napoli's book Up All Night: Ted Turner, CNN, and the Birth of 24-Hour News on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Follow Lisa at www.lisanapoli.com or on Twitter at @LisaNapoli.  Today's episode was sponsored by Capella University.  Capella has created flexible doctoral programs that work with your schedule and can help you gain the skills you need to get where you want in your career.  Visit www.capella.edu/doctorate to learn more.

Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
40 perc 488. rész

Former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy says America is facing a loneliness crisis.  He discusses the many physical and mental impacts of feeling lonely and reveals that chronic loneliness is just as bad for you as smoking and obesity.  He opens up about his bouts of loneliness during his life, how he came to realize that it’s much larger problem than he ever realized, and the U.S. Congressman who confided in him about his own struggle with loneliness.  Vivek explains the difference between someone who is genuinely lonely vs. someone who enjoys being alone, how loneliness can often disguise itself as other health problems, and how loneliness once served an evolutionary function but might be hurting us in modern society.  Then Vivek weighs in on the President’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic, shares his insights from when he dealt with the Ebola and Zika outbreaks as Surgeon General, and offers advice for how to improve the quality of our online and socially distanced interactions during the quarantine.

Order Vivek Murthy's book Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Follow him at www.vivekmurthy.com or on twitter at @Vivek_Murthy.  Today's episode was sponsored by Capella University.  Capella has created flexible doctoral programs that work with your schedule and can help you gain the skills you need to get where you want in your career.  Visit www.capella.edu/doctoraljourney to learn more.

Sian Clifford on the Million Dollar Quiz Show Heist
30 perc 487. rész

Actress Sian Clifford (Fleabag, Vanity Fair) talks about starring as Diana Ingram, the British woman accused of helping cheat Who Wants to Be a Millionaire out of a million bucks, in AMC's 3-part limited series Quiz.  She recalls her memories of growing up watching Who Wants to Be A Millionaire with her own family and how the game show became a national obsession across the UK (and then all across the world).  She talks about working with Michael Sheen and Matthew McFadden on Quiz, what it felt like to sit in the real Who Wants to Be a Millionaire hot seat, and what she hopes will happen when the Charles and Diana Ingram’s conviction is up for appeal this year.  Plus Sian talks about her Emmy nominated role as Claire in the hit television series Fleabag and her longtime friendship with the shows creator and star Phoebe Waller Bridge.

See Sian Clifford in the three-part miniseries Quiz, premiering Sunday, May 31 at 10/9c on AMC.  Visit www.amc.com for more information.

David Frum on Surviving the "Trumpocalypse"
53 perc 486. rész

David Frum, former speechwriter and special assistant to President George W Bush, talks about his new book Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy.  He discusses Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, how Trump is encouraging disinformation and dangerous conspiracy theories about this deadly virus, and whether Republicans may finally get on board with voting rights reforms now that it’s a literal matter of life and death.  He illuminates how President Trump’s dangerous pattern of decision making continually makes matters worse for him and the nation and says that Donald Trump is his own "deep state" constantly self-sabotaging his own agenda while well meaning advisors and civil servants desperately try to save Donald Trump from Donald Trump.  David describes Trumpism as a type of affinity fraud, asks what will happen when well-meaning Trump supporters realize that they’ve been duped, lays out Trump’s dark game plan for the 2020 election, and ponders what will become of the Republican party and our democratic institutions when Trump and Trumpism are relegated to the ash heap of history.

 

Order David Frum's book Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Follow David at www.davidfrum.com or on Twitter at @DavidFrum, and read more of David’s writing in the Atlantic Magazine.  Today's episode was sponsored by the podcast Afternoon CyberTea with Anne Johnson and Black Rifle Coffee Company.  BRCC makes premium, roast-to-order coffee, donated over 30,000lbs of coffee to troops overseas in 2019, and currently employ over 200 veterans. Visit www.blackriflecoffee.com/kick, and use promo code KICK for 20% off your purchase.

The Who's Roger Daltrey
43 perc 485. rész

This is a rebroadcast of a November 5, 2018 interview with Roger Daltrey, founder/lead singer of The Who.  Roger discusses how the hardships experienced by Brits in WWII paved the way for the musical revolution of the 1960s, he recalls what it was like to be the poster-boys for the British “mod” movement (and why he never fully embraced the fad), and he remembers the “utter chaos” of performing at Woodstock. He talks about how he and Peter Townsend pushed each other’s creative boundaries during the making of the first rock opera Tommy, how he managed to resist the drug fueled excess the 60s, and how it led to quite a bit of tension with his bandmates - especially The Who’s famously reckless drummer Keith Moon. Roger also reveals how he processed Moon’s tragic death in 1978, how it led to the band’s breakup in the early 80s, and a how it took a Silicon Valley con man to finally reunite the band.  

Order Roger Daltrey's new book Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow The Who on twitter at @TheWho.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Patton Oswalt on Comedy, Classic Films, and Turning 50
33 perc 484. rész

Patton Oswalt recalls coming up as a comedian at the dawn of the alt comedy scene, his first gig in Hollywood as a writer for Mad TV, and his prolific side gig as a script doctor on some of the biggest box-office hits of the past two decades.  He reminisces about his friendship with the owner of LA’s most famous revival cinema and his love of the films of Billy Wilder and Sidney Lumet.  Then Patton discusses his new Netflix special Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything, finding love again after the death of his first wife, and turning 50.  Plus he talks about going to college in that wild party town of colonial Williamsburg, the time he donated to the crowdfunding page of one of his Twitter trolls, and how he got Netflix to build him a house for his new comedy special!

Watch Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything streaming on Netflix beginning May 19.  Follow Patton at www.pattonoswalt.com or on Twitter at @PattonOswalt.

Dr. Richard Haass Explains the World
48 perc 483. rész

Dr. Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, returns to discuss his new book The World: A Brief Introduction. He explains the foreign relations implications of the current pandemic, his concerns that the crisis may lead to more nationalism and isolationism instead of greater cooperation, and what the pandemic might mean for US-China relations. He addresses why terms like "world order" and "globalism" are such hot buttons for many Americans and why the negatives of globalism and trade often overshadow the many benefits. Dr. Haass talks about why we are still struggling to define the current post-Cold War period, and he proposes that the world may need to rethink its ideas about national sovereignty to address problems that know no borders such as COVID-19 and climate change. Then he outlines the most urgent global issues of the 21st Century, the regions of the world that worry him the most, and why he believes that the US might not want to get out of the nation-building business just yet.

Order Dr. Richard Haass's book The World: A Brief Introduction on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold. Learn more about the Council on Foreign Relations at www.cfr.org and follow Richard on Twitter at @RichardHaass. Today's episode was sponsored by Black Rifle Coffee Company.  BRCC makes premium, roast-to-order coffee, donated over 30,000lbs of coffee to troops overseas in 2019, and currently employ over 200 veterans. Visit www.blackriflecoffee.com/kick, and use promo code KICK for 20% off your purchase.

General Stanley McChrystal on Leadership
48 perc 482. rész

General Stanley McChrystal talks about the myths and reality of leadership.  He shares how he came to reassess the legacy of his military hero General Robert E. Lee in the aftermath of Charlottseville, how he personally learned that the man at the top often gets credit he doesn’t deserve, and why leaders aren’t always judged by their results.  He discusses a 15th century Chinese admiral who has become the symbol for that country’s global ambitions, why he didn’t realize that Coco Chanel was a real person, and one leadership flaw that he shares with Walt Disney.  He reveals why he decided to include his former enemy in combat Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the book, and what it was like to get into the dark mind of the Al Qaeda in Iraq leader.  This episode is a rebroadcast of an interview that originally aired on November 19, 2018.

Order General McChrystal's book Leaders: Myth and Reality on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Peter Bogdanovich and TCM's Ben Mankiewicz
51 perc 481. rész

Filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich and Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz talk about TCM's new podcast The Plot Thickens: I'm Still Peter Bogdanovich.  Ben reveals that he was initially nervous to meet Peter because of a longstanding controversy involving Ben’s grandfather, Orson Welles, and Citizen Kane.  Peter shares stories about his friendships with Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, John Ford, and many others, and how their advice kept him from making some rookie mistakes when he eventually got to sit in the director's chair himself.  He remembers making his first movie for Roger Corman with horror icon Boris Karloff, how he tricked the government of Singapore into letting him film the movie Saint Jack, and the scene that earned a 9-year-old Tatum O’Neal an Oscar for Paper Moon...but only after 2 days of shooting and 25 grueling takes!  Peter discusses envy and success in Hollywood, his relationships with Cybill Shepherd and Dorothy Stratten, and how he managed to finish his favorite film They All Laughed in the wake of Stratten’s tragic murder. Then Ben Mankiewicz talks about the films of Edward G. Robinson, the passion that his fans have for Turner Classic Movies and the films of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and why he hopes (and indeed predicts) that moviegoers will eventually return to theaters when the Coronavirus finally subsides.  Plus Peter does impressions of everyone from Cary Grant to Jimmy Stewart, recalls some of the famous movies that he turned down, and the time he got his ass kicked by the real Hell’s Angels on set!

Subscribe to The Plot Thickens: I’m Still Peter Bogdanovich on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Learn more at www.theplotthickens.tcm.com.  Follow Ben Mankiewicz on twitter at @BenMank77 and see him host some of the greatest films of all time every week on Turner Classic Movies.  While you're at it, go back and watch some of Peter Bogdanovich's terrific films starting with my personal favorites The Last Picture Show, Paper Moon, What’s Up Doc, They All Laughed, and Saint Jack.

Today's episode was sponsored by Black Rifle Coffee Company and Demand Justice.  Black Rifle Coffee Company sells delicious premium roast-to-order coffee, employs 200 Veterans, and donates tens of thousands of bags of coffee to troops overseas and medical workers on the front lines of the pandemic.  Go to www.blackriflecoffee.com/kick to order and use promo code KICK for 20% off.  Demand Justice is fighting the politicization of the Supreme Court and protect every American's right to vote in the 2020 Election.  Visit www.demandjustice.org/kick to learn more and support voting rights.

Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz
43 perc 480. rész

Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley) and Ben Schwartz (Parks and Rec) talk about their improv training at Second City and Upright Citizens Brigade, the fateful day they joined forces to become the improv team of Middleditch & Schwartz, and how they still get a kick out of trying to make each other crack up on stage.  They reveal what it’s like to make-up a 45 minute play as they go along, how they keep as many as 20 characters straight (and even switch characters during a performance), and what happens when one of them ends the sketch, but the other one keeps on going.  Then they discuss the transition from doing a performance that exists entirely in the moment to recording them for all eternity for their new Netflix specials.  Plus Middleditch and Schwartz talk about their obsession with Daniel Day Lewis, the night they played Carnegie Hall, and more.

Their three completely improvised comedy specials Middleditch & Schwartz are now streaming on Netflix.  Follow Thomas on Instagram at @Tombini, follow Ben on Twitter at @RejectedJokes, and visit their website www.middleditchandschwartz.com.  Today's episode was sponsored by Demand Justice.  Visit www.demandjustice.org/kick to learn more and support voting rights in 2020.

 

Comedy Writer Alan Zweibel
58 perc 479. rész

Comedy writer Alan Zweibel starting his career selling jokes for seven dollars apiece to the last of the Borscht Belt standups, some of the old comedians who are still using the same material that he wrote for them 40 years ago, and his very first manager, who served as the inspiration for Woody Allen’s Broadway Danny Rose.  He recalls his early attempt at performing, carpooling to clubs with a young Billy Crystal, and the night he bombed on stage but caught the attention of Lorne Michaels.  He his shares his memories of being one of the first writers at Saturday Night Live, his special relationship with the late Gilda Radner, and some of his creative battles with the network censors at NBC.  Alan also discusses the genius of Garry Shandling, the delights and difficulties of working with him on the groundbreaking It’s Garry Shandling's Show, and what it’s like to be in Larry David’s world on Curb Your Enthusiasm.  Plus the comedian who paid him by the pound, the infamous night when Milton Berle hosted Saturday Night Live, and the charity auction that went horribly wrong (and then inspired Alan’s next movie).

Order Alan Zweibel's terrific memoir Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow Alan on Twitter at @AlanZweibel or at www.alanzweibel.com, and look for his new movie Here Today starring Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish coming out this Fall.  Today's episode was sponsored by Demand Justice.  Visit www.demandjustice.org/kick to learn more and support voting rights in 2020.  

Wagner Moura on Diplomats and Drug Lords
36 perc 478. rész

Wagner Moura discusses how his first career as a journalist informs his acting, what it was like to play ruthless drug lord Pablo Escobar on Netflix’s Narcos, and how he gained (and then lost) all of that weight for the role.  He talks about his fascination with the late UN diplomat Sergio de Mello, playing him in the new film Sergio, and how Iraq might have turned out very differently if de Mello had lived to complete his mission there.  He says working with war correspondent and documentary filmmaker Greg Barker added extra authenticity to Sergio, he reveals that they even used real-life refugees as extras on the film, and he suggests that the political leaders who are now dealing with the Coronavirus could learn from Sergio de Mello's example.  

See Wagner Moura in Sergio, no streaming on Netflix.  Today's episode was sponsored by Demand Justice.  Visit www.demandjustice.org/kick to learn more and support voting rights in 2020.  

Nathan Lane Finally Gets a Stunt Double!
45 perc 477. rész

Nathan Lane talks about why his fans always think he’s Jewish, how his older brother inspired him to get into acting, and some of roles he’s played on Broadway in shows like from Guys and Dolls to The Producers.  He laments the that the Coronavirus could have a lasting impact on the theatre, but says that he is hoping to soon realize his lifelong dream of starring in Death of a Salesman on Broadway.  He discusses starring in the return of Showtime’s Penny Dreadful, how the new season transports the show from Victorian London to California on the cusp of World War II, and what it was like to finally star in something where he gets an actual stunt double.  He reveals his love for the noir detective fiction of Raymond Chandler, how Penny Dreadful exposes the social tensions simmering under the surface of  1930s LA, and how his character was partly inspired by a real attorney turned Nazi hunter.  Plus Nathan remembers the late playwright Terrence McNally, George C. Scott as Noel Coward, and the grueling experience of starring with 80s TV magician Doug Henning in the notorious Broadway musical flop Merlin.

See Nathan Lane in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels premiering this Sunday, April 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.  Visit www.showtime.com for more information.  Today's episode is sponsored by Demand Justice.  Visit www.demandjustice.org/kick to join the fight to protect voting rights. 

Alicia Silverstone and Rob Corddry
38 perc 476. rész

Alicia Silverstone and Rob Corddry talk about their new film Bad Therapy, and how the filmmaker's own nightmare experience with a couples counselor inspired the movie.  Alicia shares memories from Clueless, and stories from working with playwright David Mamet and the late Peter O’Toole.  Rob talks about his original audition for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, some of the low-budget, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants field pieces that he did in the early days of the show, and why he always gets cast as creepy assholes and pedophiles!

See Rob and Alicia's new film Bad Therapy on Video on Demand, and follow them on Twitter at @AliciaSilv and @robcorddry.

Larry the Cable Guy
47 perc 475. rész

Comedian Dan Whitney talks about the origins of his popular character "Larry the Cable Guy," his education in southern redneck culture while going to college in Florida, and how Larry went from being a bit he did on talk radio shows to a wildly popular stage act.  He shares some of his comedic inspirations, how he tests out new jokes on Twitter, and what he does when people on social media don’t like his politics.  He also discusses what touring with his pal Jeff Foxworthy and his unlikely friendship with comedian Lewis Black.  Plus "Larry the Cable Guy" weighs in on the sketchy crowd at Walmart after midnight, his love/hate relationship with the county fair, and how he is surviving the Coronavirus quarantine.

His new comedy special LARRY THE CABLE GUY: REMAIN SEATED is now available through Comedy Dynamics Network on Comcast, Amazon Prime Video, Spectrum, Apple TV, Dish, Google Play, DirecTV, Vimeo, YouTube, and other streaming platforms.  You can also listen to the album on SirusXM, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, Sound Cloud, and more. Visit www.larrythecableguy.com and follow him on twitter at @GitRDoneLarry.

 

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee on the Promise/Peril of Genetic Research
35 perc 474. rész

Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee is a Pulitzer Prize-winning best-selling author and a doctor at the forefront of cancer and genetic research.  He talks about a new two-part documentary that he and Ken Burns produced for PBS titled The Gene: An Intimate History.  He discusses the fascinating history of the genetic research and those scientists who have worked to understand heredity.  He shares how the eugenics movement set legitimate genetic research back in the early 20th Century and why, even today, the specter of eugenics still looms large as scientists ponder the possibility of gene editing and designer babies.  Dr. Murkergee talks about how an unlikely public/private partnership accomplished the monumental task of sequencing the entire human genome and how modern day gene hunters are using that information to potentially treat some of the world’s rarest and most debilitating diseases.  He also revels how that same research could be applied to treating and even curing major diseases like cancer and how genetic science is currently playing a vital role in the fight against the Coronavirus.

Part 2 of The Gene: An Intimate History airs Tuesday 4/14 on PBS.  You can also stream Part 1 and 2 on www.PBS.org and other PBS streaming platforms.  Visit Siddhartha Mukherjee at www.siddharthamukherjee.com and follow him on Twitter at @DrSidMukherjee.

Dr. David Kessler Talks Processed Foods and Pandemics
43 perc 473. rész

Former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler discusses how his own battle to control his weight helped inspire him to write a book about the health dangers of processed foods.  He explains the difference between how our bodies digest fast carbs and slow carbs and why fad diets that cut out carbs all together might not be such a good idea.  David outlines the long list of diseases that can be traced to heavy consumption of processed foods, some of the tricks that the food industry employs to mislead consumers about what is in many processed foods, and he suggests some changes that he would like to make to the nutritional labels that he helped create when he was head of the FDA under Presidents Bush and Clinton.  He also expresses his concern over America's heavy reliance on processed junk foods at a time when fresh meats and produce are in short supply, he shares what he is saying to former Vice-President Joe Biden as a member of the Biden campaign's Coronavirus advisory committee, and he gives his own practical health recommendations for keeping your family safe from COVID-19.

Order Dr. David Kessler's book Fast Carbs, Slow Carbs: The Simple Truth About Food, Weight, and Disease on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow Dr. Kessler on Twitter at @DavidKesslerMD.

Vincent Cassel on Westworld S3's Dystopian Future
29 perc 472. rész

Actor Vincent Cassel (Ocean's 12, Black Swan, Jason Bourne) talks about joining the cast of one of his favorite TV series Westworld, playing a reclusive billionaire with a dark view of humanity, and how his character attempts to make order out of chaos.  Vincent discusses how Westworld Season 3 deals with the very real problem of big data (and who controls it) and says that it has inspired him to be a lot more careful about the information that he shares on his devices.  He also reminisces about the career of his father, famous french actor Jean-Pierre Cassel, and how Gene Kelly discovered his dad on the movie An American in Paris.  He recalls being heavily influenced by Hollywood films as a kid, learning to tap dance from Broadway legend Michael Bennett, and why he originally tried to join the circus before getting into acting.  Vincent reveals how he persuaded director Steven Soderbergh to let him do his own stunts in Ocean's 12, how an acting teacher inspired his role as the controlling choreographer in Black Swan, and why this Frenchman always seems to get cast as a Russian.

See Vincent Cassel in Season 3 of Westworld, airing Sundays on HBO.  Today's episode was sponsored by the podcast Afternoon CyberTea with Ann Johnson.

Tom Pelphrey Joins Netflix's Ozark
35 perc 471. rész

Actor Tom Pelphrey talks about playing Laura Linney's brother in Season 3 of Ozark and what it’s like to work with Jason Bateman as a director.  He also discusses his upcoming role as legendary Hollywood director Joseph Mankiewicz in David Fincher’s film Mank.  He recalls his early days working on the soap operas Guiding Light and As the World Turns, keeping up with the grueling production schedule of daytime television, and how it requires an actor to memorize fast and think on their feet.  He discusses the learning curve involved with switching from soaps to film and primetime television, his popular roles on the hit series Banshee and Iron Fist, and whether Marvel fans or soap-opera fans are the most obsessive.

Season 3 of Ozark is streaming now on Netflix.  Look for Mank coming out on Netflix this fall and follow Tom on Twitter at @Tom Pelphrey.  Today's episode was sponsored by the podcast Afternoon Cyber Tea with Anne Johnson.

 

Newt Gingrich Reports from Italy's COVID-19 Crisis
27 perc 470. rész

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich reports on the Coronavirus crisis from Italy, where his wife Callista serves as U.S. Ambassador the Vatican.  He offers some lessons for America from Italy’s early failure to stop the spread, some tips from what he say of South Korea’s successful containment of the virus, and his own theory of how COVID-19 made it’s way from China to Milan.  He also talks about how the pandemic will affect US-China relations, how he hopes it could lead to regime change in Iran, and how to best address the economic impact here at home in America.  Newt is also out with a new novel to help distract from the stress of these difficult times, and he discusses how top secret military research from World War II and the Cold War inspired the plot of his latest book, why the Russians make the perfect perennial villains, how the murderous Iranian General Qasem Soleimani lives on in his latest book, and how to kill a man with a poisonous snail!

Order Newt Gingrich's new book SHAKEDOWN: A NOVEL on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Check out his podcast Newt’s World wherever you listen to podcasts, visit his website at www.gingrich360.com, and follow him on twitter at @NewtGingrich.

Vice's Jesse Angelo and Isobel Yeung
41 perc 469. rész

Vice Media’s President of Global News and Entertainment Jesse Angelo and Vice reporter Isobel Yeung discuss the move of Vice's flagship television program VICE from HBO to Showtime.   Isobel talks about her groundbreaking coverage of the Syrian civil war and China’s forced detention of Uighur muslims.  She shares what’s it like doing serious journalism in authoritarian nations where media is tightly controlled, and Jesse discusses the complicated process of keeping his reporters safe in those places.  Jesse also talks about his move from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp to the free-wheeling culture at Vice, why Vice will focus on under-reported stories beyond our borders while the rest of the media obsess over the election in 2020, and how he sees Vice filling a demand for grittier, less-produced news
in contrast to the more traditional cable news outlets.

The new season of VICE premieres this Sunday, March 29 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime.  Visit www.vice.com for more information and follow Isobel and Jesse on Twitter at @isobelyeung and @jessemangelo.  Today's episode was sponsored by American Home Shield.  American Home Shield,
America’s most preferred home warranty, gives you a plan when stuff breaks down in your home.  Go to www.ahs.com/kick today to save $50, and start protecting your home and budget from inevitable breakdowns.


Neurotic Filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld
47 perc 468. rész

Director Barry Sonnenfeld (The Addams Family, Men in Black, Get Shorty) talks recalls his first gig out of film school as a cameraman for adult films, working with Joel and Ethan Coen on their debut picture Blood Simple, and why you never want to receive a cake on a Coen Bros movie.  Barry discusses his difficulties working with Penny Marshall on Big, how Rob Reiner taught him about something called “the silent schmuck,” and why he and Danny Devito had such a hard time convincing a studio to make Get Shorty.  He talks about his fight with Larry David over who is the most neurotic person on the planet, his astounding ability to beat any celebrity at leg wrestling, and his secret to making children cry on camera.  Plus what it is like to work with Will Smith and bunch of Confederate Civil War reenactors, Eleanor Roosevelt Jokes, and more.

Order Barry's new book Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother: Memoirs of a Neurotic Filmmaker on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.

Pod Save America's Dan Pfeiffer
46 perc 467. rész

Pod Save America's Dan Pfeiffer says it's not just enough for Democrats to defeat Donald Trump in 2020, but they have to defeat Trumpism in the long-run.  He recalls witnessing some of the early signs of Trumpism when he was White House Communications Director under President Obama, and he explains how the Democratic party was allowed to collapse during the Obama years.  Dan believes that voter expansion is the key to Democrats victory in 2020 and beyond, he suggests a host of ideas to grow the voter rolls from granting statehood to the District of Columbia to enfranchising 16 year-olds, and he offers proposals for how make the Presidency more resilient against corruption and abuse of power in the future.  He talks about the resurgence of Joe Biden’s campaign, whether Bernie still has a shot at the nomination, and what we can learn from the failed campaign of Michael Bloomberg.  Plus Dan reveals the right wing media organization that he says is more dangerous than Breitbart and bigger than Fox News, the person Dan calls the worst person in American politics (hint: it’s not Donald Trump), and he let’s loose on his favorite punching bag -
former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. 

Order Dan Pfeiffer's new book Un-Trumping America: A Plan to Make America a Democracy Again.  Listen and subscribe to Dan’s podcast Pod Save America on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen, and follow him on twitter at @danpfeiffer.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kronos HR solutions.  Visit www.kronos.com/hrswagger to learn more.

The 1000 Voices of Hank Azaria
35 perc 466. rész

Hank Azaria talks about his 31 seasons on The Simpsons, a few of the 150 plus characters he’s played on the show, and some of the classic movie stars who inspired some of his popular voices for The Simpsons.  Hank reveals how he came up with his distinctive sports announcer voice for IFC's Brockmire, he does his best to sell me on the great American pastime, but admits that often times Major League Baseball can’t get out of its own way.  We discuss Brockmire Season 4’s dystopian vision of the future 10 years down the line and why it might not be too far from reality.  Plus the tortured genius of Peter Sellers, Hank’s love for the original man of 1000 voices Mel Blanc, and he reveals which of his many characters from The Simpsons is his favorite.

The 4th and final season of Brockmire premieres March 18 at 10PM ET on IFC.  Today's episode was sponsored by the podcast Afternoon Cyber Tea.  Join Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President for Cybersecurity Solutions at Microsoft
on Afternoon Cyber Tea, and learn from cybersecurity experts about defending your organization and systems from attack.  Subscribe to Afternoon Cyber Tea on on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and PodcastOne. 

Tennis Great John McEnroe
43 perc 465. rész

This is a rebroadcast of a 2017 interview with John McEnroe, who talks about tennis, his famous temper, and his book But Seriously.  He discusses winning his first grand slam at age 20, his life after the pros, and a recurring nightmare he has about his 1984 French Open match with Ivan Lendl.  McEnroe talks about some of his famous arguments with tennis umpires, and how his temper helped his game in his younger years but he says it held him back later in his career.  He’ll handicap this year’s Wimbledon finals, give his characteristically frank take on the state of the game and a few things he’d like to do away with in tennis.  Plus, he’ll even give me a few tips on how to improve my serve.  John McEnroe's book But Seriously on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  

Sports Reporter Ben Cohen on the Science of Streaks
41 perc 464. rész

Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Cohen tells how a child-hood basketball game first got him interested in the mystery of winning streaks, how his work as a sports writer only further convinced him that there is such a thing as being "in the zone," and what recent science has to say about it.  He also describes how streaks can negatively bias everyone from baseball umpires to asylum judges, warns there’s an important corollary to the "Hot Hand" that can cost you big-time, and cautions that there’s a big difference between streaks that can be harnessed and those that can’t.  Plus Ben shares a tip from baseball on how to tell if you can capitalize on a streak, some advice from basketball star Steph Curry on when to take more risks, and the story of how Shakespeare wrote some of his greatest works in the most unlikely of times.

Order his book THE HOT HAND: The Mystery and Science of Streaks on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Read his reporting regularly in the Wall Street Journal and follow him on Twitter at @bzcohen.  Today's episode is sponsored by American Home Shield, the nation's largest home warranty provider.  Visit www.ahs.com/kick for $50 off ANY plan.

Rob Riggle Goes on an Adventure
43 perc 463. rész

Rob Riggle returns to shares his lifelong love of history and why he wanted to blend comedy and education for his new series Rob Riggle: Global Investigator.  He discusses a few of his recent adventures from searching for the Holy Grail to diving for pirate treasure.  Rob what it’s like to play a “heightened version of himself” on the show, and what happens when some fans don’t know the difference between the real Rob and his character.  Plus Rob braves snakes, caves, sharks, quicksand, UFO’s, and more!

Rob Riggle: Global Investigator premieres Sunday March 8 at 10PM ET on Discovery.  Visit www.discovery.com for more information and follow Rob on twitter at @RobRiggle.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kronos HR solutions.

Bryan Cranston on Becoming Walter White and Life Before Acting
52 perc 462. rész

Actor Bryan Cranston recalls a difficult childhood and the two year road trip that changed his life.  He shares some of his adventures before acting including traveling as a carny, catching shoplifters as security guard, and the time he ended up a suspect in a murder investigation.  He talks about getting a crash course in comedy from Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, landing the role of a lifetime on Breaking Bad, and how he built one of the most iconic characters in the history of television.  Bryan Cranston also gives some advice for aspiring actors, reveals how his life has changed since "Walter White," and why he loves making small talk with old people.

Order Bryan Cranston's bestselling memoir A Life in Parts on Amazon or download the audiobook at www.audible.com.  Follow Bryan on Twitter at @BryanCranston.

 

Ezra Klein on America's Polarization Problem
50 perc 461. rész

Vox co-founder Ezra Klein reveals how America's political system is polarizing us and how we are polarizing it with disastrous results.  He explains that the Founding Fathers planned for many things, but they did not designed a system of government that was intended to function effectively in times of hyper partisanship.  He points out that politics came into being to represent deep social cleavages, but now politics is the cleavage, and our political affiliation has grown into a mega-identity that is consuming our lives, making us angrier, and destroying friendships and families.  We discuss how politicians and voters got stuck in a feedback loop of negative partisanship and how polarization has lead many of our leaders in Washington to conclude that bipartisanship is actually irrational. Plus we discuss how demographic threat is fueling political anger, how the rise of extremism correlates with a decline in the influence of parties, and Ezra offers a few recipes for how to reunite the country and make America more democratic.

Order Ezra Klein's new book Why We're Polarized on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Read his political analysis at vox.com, follow him on Twitter at @ezraklein, and subscribe to The Ezra Klein Show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Wave.

 

Adam Davidson on the Passion Economy
58 perc 460. rész

Adam Davidson, creator of NPR's Planet Money podcast
and award-winning New Yorker staff writer, says that the 21st-century economic paradigm offers new ways of making money,
fresh paths toward professional fulfillment, and unprecedented opportunities for curious, ambitious individuals to combine the things they love with their careers.  He talks about his father and grandfather as examples of two different approaches to work and money, and says we’re entering an economy that combines the best of both.  How explains how to tell between a hobby and a passion, how globalization and the internet allow you to monetize that passion like never before, and why it’s important to have what he calls "the Goldilocks of business models" to avoid getting undercut or replaced by bigger companies, foreign competition, or automation.  Plus he shares some surprising examples of people who are making the passion economy work for them including one man who only sells to the Amish, a brush company that took the most basic of products and turned it into a high-priced specialty item for NASA, and an accountant who found his passion  by helping others pursue their own.

Order Adam's new his book The Passion Economy: The New Rules for Thriving in the Twenty-First Century on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold, and follow Adam at www.adamdavidson.com or on Twitter at @adamdavidson.  Today's episode is sponsored Wave and American Home Shield.

Whitmer Thomas Honors His Mom Through Comedy
43 perc 459. rész

Comedian Whitmer Thomas talks about returning to his hometown to film his first hour-long comedy special at Alabama's legendary Flora-Bama Lounge where his late mother used to perform with her band Syntwister.  He says his music and comedy is his way of honoring his mom, and in a way, he’s now fulfilling her dream by pursuing his own.  We also discuss some of his most recent skating injuries, what it was like touring with comedian Bo Burnham, and how he went from being an angst-ridden emo kid in high school to parodying emo bands in his act.  Plus we talk about Pee Wee Herman, Donald Trump, Blink 182 as the ultimate parody band, his early obsession with Zach Galifianakis, and the time a 3-year-old Whitmer got kidnapped by his own obsessed fan!

His hour-long comedy special Whitmer Thomas: The Golden One debuts on HBO on February 22 at 10PM E/P.  Follow him on Twitter at @WhitmerThomas.  Today's episode was sponsored by Online Trading Academy and Wave.

Scoot McNairy on Narcos: Mexico
32 perc 458. rész

Actor Scoot McNairy talks about starring in season 2 of Narcos: Mexico as a DEA agent who heads an "off-the-books" operation to avenge the death of a fellow agent and take down a ruthless drug lord.  He recalls growing up in Texas, coping with dyslexia as a kid, and his early ambition to be a wildlife cinematographer.  He discusses how he prepares for a role and how most of his characters are drawn from a personal friend or acquaintance.  He discusses spending time with real DEA agents for Narcos: Mexico, goes into the history of the Mexican narcotics cartels, and speaks frankly about the endless war on drugs.

Watch Season 2 of Narcos: Mexico now streaming on Netflix.  Today's episode was sponsored by Wave.

 

Doris Kearns Goodwin Reveals the Real George Washington
37 perc 457. rész

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talks about executive producing the History Channel miniseries Washington, some things she’s observed from watching Steven Spielberg on the set of Lincoln, and how the collaborative process of making Washington helped her through her husband's death.  She discuss why she wanted to go beyond the highlights of George Washington’s life to explore the real man, and she debunks and confirms some common legends about our founding father.  Doris reveals the long held personal grudge that led George Washington to join the American Revolution, the intense ambition that drove him to succeed, and how owning and exploiting slaves became essential to that success.

The three night television event Washington begins Sunday February 16 at 8PM E/P on The History Channel.  Today's episode was sponsored by Wave and Kronos.

 

Philip Rucker on Trump's Testing of America
44 perc 456. rész

The Washington Post's DC bureau chief Philip Rucker discusses his new book A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America.  He shares stories from White House insiders about the time President Trump tried to overturn the Foreign Corrupt Practices act so American businesses could bribe foreign governments, the time Trump wanted to turn a profit on the US military by turning our troops into a mercenary force, and the Pentagon meeting when Trump called his decorated generals a bunch of "babies and losers."  Phil discusses the falling out between the President and his former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, how some world leaders have tried to turn Trump against his own advisors, and how the most powerful leader in the world solicited other heads of state for the Nobel Prize.  Plus we talk about Impeachment, Trump tweets, Bolton, Mueller, and more.

Order A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  You can read more by Philip Rucker in The Washington Post and follow him on twitter at @philliprucker.  Today's episode was sponsored by Online Trading Academy and Native deodorant and toothpaste.

Tom Papa Says Hang in There, You're Doing Great!
51 perc 455. rész

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!  He 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 touring with Jerry Seinfeld.  He opens up about his anxiety over sending his daughter off to college and warning her that most men’s “nice guy act” is a total fraud.  Plus Tom talks about his own real life ghost story, the lie of social media, the myth of "the good old days," and the symbiotic relationship between baking and writing comedy.

Tom’s new standup special Tom Papa: You're Doing Great is now streaming on Netflix, and look for his book You're Doing Great in stores May 12.  Visit www.tompapa.com for his upcoming tour dates and follow him on twitter at @TomPapa.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Wave. Wave's easy-to-use invoicing software, allows you to customize your invoices, look professional, and get paid faster for your work.  Create your account at www.waveapps.com/kick and get started with 100% free and unlimited invoicing

Allan Lichtman on Impeachment, Gun Control, and the Election
41 perc 454. rész

Professor Allan J. Lichtman explains why he feels that it is necessary for America to repeal the Second Amendment to clear the way for sensible gun reforms and clarifies that repealing the Second Amendment does not mean that the Federal government is going to take your guns away.  Professor Lichtman discusses why the outrage following every mass shooting quickly devolves into inaction by politicians, how the gun regulation lobby more effective can become more effective, and how to debunk some of the myths about gun violence propagated by the NRA.  He tells the history of the National Rifle Association from its origins as a group intended to improve marksmanship in 1871 to the power special interest lobby that it is today.  Plus the man who has successfully predicted the last 8 elections shares his data on the 2020 race, why election polls are failing us, and his thoughts on the Impeachment of Donald Trump.

Order his book Repeal the Second Amendment: The Case for a Safer America on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow him on Twitter at @AllanLicthman.

Russell Peters: Citizen of the World
40 perc 453. rész

Comedian Russell Peters talks about his life as a middle-aged man dealing with health issues, relationships and fatherhood.  He discusses filming his new standup special Russell Peters: Deported in Mumbai, whether he’d consider doing a Bollywood movie, and why he was exposed to black culture more than his own Indian heritage when he was growing up in Toronto.  Russell recalls getting some early mentorship from the late George Carlin, becoming the first comedian to hit it big on YouTube, and how he still maintains a sense of intimacy when performing in stadiums before tens of thousands of people.  

Watch Russell Peters: Deported on Amazon Prime Video.  Keep up with Russell at www.russellpeters.com and on twitter at @therealrussellp.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Wave.  Wave helps freelancers, consultants, and small business owners make, move, and manage your money with accounting, invoicing, payments, and payroll services that are easy-to-use, secure, and free.  Visit www.waveapps.com/kick.

GOP Guru Rick Wilson on How Dems Can Beat Trump
53 perc 452. rész

Republican political strategist Rick Wilson follows up his #1 Bestseller Everything Trump Touches Dies with a detailed playbook for how Democrats can defeat Trump in 2020.  He warns Democratic candidates that this election is not about policy but a simple referendum on the presidency of Donald Trump.  He also suggests that this race will be settled in fewer than 15 states, and Democrats need to focus on winning in the electoral college instead getting lulled into a false sense of security by Trump's poor poll numbers.  He also says that this election will be a knock-down, drag-out bar fight unlike any others, and Dems should be prepared to go after Trump on his perceived strength - the economy, impeachment, and even his family.

Order Rick's book Running Against the Devil: A Plot to Save America from Trump --and Democrats from Themselves on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with Rick at www.therickwilson.com or on twitter at @TheRickWilson, and look for his regular column at www.thedailybeast.com.

Dr. Daniel Levitin Debunks the Myths of Aging
49 perc 451. rész

Neuroscientist and cognitive psychologist Dr. Daniel Levitin reveals that growing old is a lot more than just a gradual period of decline and indeed we get better at many aspects of life as we age.  He explains how memory really works, why online brain games probably don’t do all that they promise, and how taking up a new hobby or starting a second career could be the best thing for keeping the mind sharp.  Dan debunks most longevity diets and supplements as well as a whole bunch of common myths from the idea that old people get more depressed to the belief that the elderly need less sleep.  Plus Dan shares the secrets of some of the world's sharpest and most active seniors
from former Secretary of State George Shultz to the Dalai Lama.

Order Dan's new book Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with Dan at www.daniellevitin.com or on twitter at @DanLevitin.  Today's episode was sponsored by Wave invoicing software.

BBC's Seven Worlds, One Planet
30 perc 450. rész

Seven Worlds, One Planet is a seven part television event that marks the first time that BBC Studio’s Emmy-winning Natural History Unit has explored all the planet’s continents in a single series. Executive producer Jonny Keeling, and producers Emma Napper and Chadden Hunter discuss how BBC documentaries have turned nature programming into global television events, the logistics of filming on seven continents at once, and how their first episode is hoping raise awareness and support for fire relief efforts in Australia. They talk about some North American polar bears who have found a surprising way to adapt to climate change, how agriculture is threatening over 2000 endangered species in South America, and how Pacific fisherman who had nearly driven the whale shark extinct but are now finding ways to help this magnificent creature thrive again. Plus snakes, scary kangaroos, the real Tasmanian Devil, and a monkey that looks like Don King!

The seven-part series premiere of Seven Worlds, One Planet airs on Saturday, January 18th at 9:00 pm ET/PT on BBC AMERICA, AMC, IFC and SundanceTV.  Visit www.bbcamerica.com for more information.  Today's episode was sponsored by Online Trading Academy.

Greta Gerwig on Art, Commerce, and Female Ambition
37 perc 449. rész

Director/writer Greta Gerwig discusses her Oscar nominated film adaptation of the beloved classic Little Women, how she imbued her movie with even more of author Louisa May Alcott's own personality, and why it was important for her to give a nod to the author's original intended ending.  She talks about the status of female directors and writers in Hollywood, recalls a conversation she once had with a studio executive about how women talk, and how Meryll Streep inspired some of the film's most insightful dialogue about a woman’s role in 19th Century society.  Greta also reveals that she was secretly pregnant while filming Little Women and what it is like to be in competition with her husband Noah Baumbach for Best Picture this year.  Plus we talk about why actresses in the 30’s and 40’s got better roles than they do today, our mutual love of the films of George Cukor and Greta Garbo, and the wicked wit of Dorthy Parker.

See Greta Gerwig's wonderful film Little Women in theaters now.  Check your local listings for showtimes or visit www.littlewomen.movie.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kronos HR Solutions.

 




The Power of Showing Up for Your Kids
52 perc 448. rész

Drs. Daniel J. Siegel and TIna Payne Bryson, the bestselling authors of The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline discuss their new book The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired.  They explain what it means to really show up for your children and how your interactions with your kids shape the course of their lives and literally altering their physical brain.  They discuss the latest discoveries in attachment science, some tips for encouraging the "baby scientist" in you kid, and why sometimes with children, it’s best to answer a question with a question.  Plus we talk about the perils of hyper-parenting, the difference between soothing a child and coddling them, and how even people who experienced neglect and abuse from their own parents can break the cycle for the next generation.

Order Daniel and Tina's book The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today's episode is sponsored by Native Deodorant.  Visit www.nativedeodorant.com and use promo code KICK for 20% off your first purchase.

Ambassador Samantha Power on Idealism, Diplomacy, and Human Rights
47 perc 447. rész

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power recalls her early years as a freelance journalist covering the Siege of Sarajevo, how her Pulitzer-winning book about genocide got the attention of a young Senator Barack Obama, and what it was like for her to go from being an idealistic human rights advocate on the outside of government to working for change in the White House and at the U.N.  She gives an inside account of the discussions in the Oval Office over how to handle the Syrian civil war and talks about how deeply that crisis affected her.  Plus Ambassador Power discusses the rise of China, America’s loss of moral authority under President Trump, and the power of empathy and understanding in politics and diplomacy.

Order Samantha Power's book The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with her at www.samanthapower.com and on twitter at @SamanthaJPower.

The Blue Zones' Dan Buettner on Eating for Longevity
44 perc 446. rész

Dan Buettner has become an expert on longevity ever since he wrote his groundbreaking National Geographic article on the Blue Zones, the five places in the world where the most people live to 100 or older.  One of the key factors is diet, and Dan has been studying what the oldest people in the world eat for more than 15 years.  He reveals the health benefits of dietary monotony and periodic fasting, why HOW you eat is just as important as WHAT you eat, and why you want to load up on beans and veggies instead of meat and eggs.  He shares some cooking secrets that he learned in the kitchens of grandmas in all five of the Blue Zones, including a Sardinian minestrone that has all the properties of a "superfood," a simple dish that he calls healthiest breakfast in the world, and the Greek Island of Ikaria’s unique take on the Mediterranean diet.  He talks about traveling to Okinawa, Japan with his remarkably spry 84-year-old dad, and visiting 100 year old Costa Rican cowboy who still goes riding every day.

Order Dan's new bestselling cookbook The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100.  Learn more at www.bluezones.com and follow him on Twitter at @bluezones.

Dr. Phil
51 perc 445. rész

Dr. Phil McGraw says that some of his guests still surprise him even after 2000+ episodes of his #1 daytime talk show The Dr. Phil Show.  He recalls how losing a football game in junior high school inspired him to go into psychology, what it was like to go into practice with his father, and why he eventually decided to go from getting into the minds of his patients to getting into the minds of juries as a trial consultant.  He explains how that put him into contact with Oprah Winfrey, how he convinced her to move her entire TV operation to Amarillo, Texas for 3 months during the famous mad cow beef trial, and why he was initially hesitant when Oprah first invited him to come on her show.  He discusses his belief that problems are complex but solutions are often fairly simple, but he also says don’t be fooled by the magic of television and his easy going manner.  He says hours of research and peer review by America’s top doctors go into every single episode of The Dr. Phil Show.  He shares a little relationship advice from his 42 years of marriage, how his wife Robin is the "Dr Phil to Dr Phil" who always keeps him in check, and why Robin still sits in the audience of every taping of his show.  Then Dr Phil discusses how his podcast Phil in the Blanks is a welcome chance to interview interesting people without the pressure of having to solve their problems, why he desperately wants to get O.J. Simpson on the show, and why he's planning to enter the popular true crime genre for his next project.  Plus why he never volunteers advice to his friends, what he would say if he was mediating the government shutdown negotiations, and he weighs in on the prospect of an Oprah for President campaign in 2020.

Subscribe to Dr. Phil's podcast Phil in the Blanks on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify, and visit www.drphilintheblanks.com for more information and upcoming guests.  The Dr. Phil Show airs weekdays and you can go to www.drphil.com to find your local listings.  Follow Phil McGraw on Twitter at @DrPhil.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Tim Robbins
50 perc 444. rész

Actor/director Tim Robbins discusses why his classic political mockumentary BOB ROBERTS is more relevant now than ever.  He says Harvey Weinstein reminds him of the shady operators he knew growing up in New York’s Greenwich Village, he recalls studying real studio execs for his role in Robert Altman’s THE PLAYER, and he remembers Altman's mentoring Tim's leap from actor to director.  He discusses how he funded his first play while he was still a struggling actor, how his play THE NEW COLOSSUS is putting personal faces to the immigration issue, and why he’s using The Actors Gang to bring theatre into California prisons.  Plus Tim opens up about turning 60, weighs in on the current struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party, and recounts the time he heckled Henry Kissinger outside of a famous celebrity restaurant.

Visit www.theactorsgang.com for tickets or to learn more. See Tim in Alan Ball’s excellent series HERE AND NOW with a subscription to HBO, HBO GO, or HBO NOW.  Keep up with Tim at www.timrobbins.net or on twitter at @TimRobbins1.  

Bret Baier on 3 Days That Changed WW II
33 perc 443. rész

For three days in November, 1943, Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin met in Tehran, Iran and made decisions that would change the course of World War II.  It's the subject of a new book by Fox News' Bret Baier titled Three Days at the Brink: FDR's Daring Gamble to Win World War II, and today Bret Baier shares how his latest book fits into his Three Days in History trilogy, why the Tehran Conference was so crucial to Allied victory, and how it also set the stage for the Cold War.  He reveals why Stalin held all the cards going into Tehran, how FDR managed to use Stalin's eavesdropping to his advantage,  and why Roosevelt had to risk hurting Churchill’s feelings in order to make a deal.  He also discusses how lots and lots of alcohol greased the wheels of diplomacy among the three leaders, similarities between the personal diplomacy styles of FDR and President Donald Trump, and some key leadership lessons from those three days in Tehran.  Plus this beltway insider weighs in on the mood in Washington as Congress moves forward with Impeachment.

Special thanks to The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum and the Ronald Reagan National Defense Forum for hosting our interview.  Order Bret Baier's book Three Days at the Brink: FDR's Daring Gamble to Win World War II on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Also check out the other books in his Three Days trilogy Three Days in January: Dwight Eisenhower's Final Mission and Three Days in Moscow: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of the Soviet Empire.  Watch Special Report with Bret Baier five days a week on Fox News and follow him on Twitter at @BretBaier.  Today's podcast was sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which wants to remind you not to drive drunk or high this holiday season.

The Art of Being Mike Nichols
57 perc 442. rész

Ash Carter and Sam Kashner discuss their new book about the EGOT-winning director Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Birdcage).   They talk about his early years as one of the founders of the improv group that would become Second City, the story of how Nichols joined up with Elaine May to make comedy history, and how the creative differences that broke up Nichols and May opened the door for Mike Nichols to direct for Broadway and Hollywood.  They reveal how the first time director got the nerve to stand up to movie mogul Jack Warner during the filming of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, why Nichols originally wanted to cast Robert Redford in The Graduate, and how Orson Wells tried to usurp him as director on Catch-22.  They share stories of Nichols’ courtship and marriage of news anchor Diane Sawyer, his lavish life, his many friendships, and a lesson in how to go out in style.

Order their book Life isn't everything: Mike Nichols, as remembered by 150 of his closest friends on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow Sam and Ask on Twitter at @SamKashner and @Psmithjourno.  Today's episode was sponsored by Oris Watches.  Shop their selection of Swiss made mechanical watches at www.oris.ch/kick.

Craig Ferguson's Hobo Fabulous Life
51 perc 441. rész

Craig Ferguson talks about his new limited series Hobo Fabulous, why he wanted to do a rockumentary-style show about his US comedy tour, and how he's ready to take a long break from the road after a 2 month American bus tour. Craig recalls that he never watched a late night television show in his life before taking over The Late Late Show on CBS, what it was like working with David Letterman as a producer, and how doing the show 5 nights a week for 10 years made him fall out of love with show-business.  He says that late shows have become all about viral clips and clicks on the internet instead putting on a show for the tv audience and that he wouldn’t want to do a late night show in today’s politically charged environment.  We also discuss his decision to become a US citizen more than 10 years ago, the one state in the US that won’t grant him honorary citizenship, and why he’s still paying taxes in the US although he's now returned to his native land of Scotland.  Plus we talk about Groundskeeper Willie from the Simpsons, the Scottish production of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, and Craig’s breakout role as "Bing Hitler."

All six episodes of Hobo Fabulous are available now on the Comedy Dynamics Network, iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Comcast, Spectrum, Dish and other platforms.  Visit www.comedydynamics.com for more information.  Today's episode was sponsored by Oris Watches.  Shop their selection of Swiss made mechanical watches at www.oris.ch/kick.

Abby McEnany's Work in Progress
45 perc 440. rész

Abby McEnany discusses her start in Chicago’s improv scene and how her one woman show turned into her new Showtime series Work in Progress.  She reveals how Julia Sweeney’s Saturday Night Live character “Pat” made her life a living hell for a while and how she convinced Julia to join the cast of her new show.  Abby talks about her perennial problem of getting misgendered in the women’s restroom, why the 51 year old sometimes feels like a "square" in the younger gay and transgender community, and why she avoids all social media.

Abby's show Work in Progress airs Sundays At 11pm ET/PT on Showtime.  Today's episode was sponsored by Oris Watches.  Shop their selection of Swiss made mechanical watches at www.oris.ch/kick.

Andrew Marantz on Embedding with the "Deplorables"
66 perc 439. rész

Andrew Marantz, a staff writer for the New Yorker, talks about his experience embedding with the so called "Deplorables,"
and how he got a rare insider's glimpse into the pundits, trolls, and provocateurs who drive the conversation on the alt-right.  He recalls his strange relationship with a right wing media influencer who is able to manipulate America’s political conversation, spread conspiracy theories, and even put words in the mouth of President Trump.  He also discusses how Silicon Valley’s laissez faire libertarianism opened the door hate-mongers and conspiracy theorists, how social media algorithms actually promote that type of content, and why he says it’s time for tech leaders to stop hiding behind the 1st Amendment.  Plus Andrew describes how Reddit is now cracking down on hate speech, the bizarre story of the neo-nazi who is married to a jewish woman, and the pitiful demise of right wing gadfly Milo Yiannopoulos.

Order Adam's book Antisocial: Online Extremists, Techno-Utopians, and the Hijacking of the American Conversation on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Read Andrew Marantz regularly in The New Yorker and follow him on twitter at @AndrewMarantz.  

Master of Suspense Dean Koontz
50 perc 438. rész

Master of suspense Dean Koontz recalls the literary agent who said he'd never be a bestselling author and how he defied expectations with fourteen #1 New York Times Bestsellers.  He discusses his new collection of six short suspense stories for Amazon, why creating an antihero with no memory and no identity appealed to him, and those stories have to say about the blessing and the curse of technology in our lives.  Dean reveals the meticulous research that goes into his writing, how much of himself he puts into his books, and why his love of dogs always seems to make it into his work.

Nameless, collection of short stories by Dean Koontz is available for free to Prime and Kindle Unlimited members.  Keep up with Dean at www.deankoontz.com and on twitter at @deankoontz.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kronos HR Solutions.

Mo Rocca Honors History's Forgotten Figures
56 perc 437. rész

CBS Sunday Morning correspondent and humorist Mo Rocca has always loved obituaries but he says that not every notable life has gotten the send-off it deserves.  He's attempting to right those wrongs with his Mobituaries podcast and his new book Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving.  We discuss celebrities who died on the same day,  historical figures who were eclipsed by the actors who played them in the movies,  and the old debate over whether famous people die in pairs or threes.  Mo tells the stories of lesser known figures like Jimmy Carter’s brother Billy,  the original Siamese twins Ang and Chang, and the world’s first fashion influencer.  Plus we cover the unceremonious sendoff of founding father Thomas Paine, how Lawrence Welk proved it’s hip to be square,  and famous rest stops along the New Jersey Turnpike.

Order his book Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Subscribe to the Mobituaries podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you like to listen.  You can also catch Mo on CBS Sunday Morning and follow him on twitter at @MoRocca.  Today's episode was sponsored by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally's new podcast In Bed with Nick and Megan, Kendra Scott Jewelry (use promo code KICK for 20% off), and Invitae genetic testing.

Alex Gibney on Putin's Public Enemy #1
38 perc 436. rész

Oscar and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney discusses his new film Citizen K and what it was like to profile Russia's billionaire oil oligarch turned political activist Mikhail Khodorkovsky.  He talks about the parallel rise of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Vladimir Putin amid the chaos of post-Soviet Russia and the public showdown between the two men that put Khodorkovsky on Putin’s enemies list and eventually landed him in prison.  Alex reveals why Khodorkovsky refused to flee Russia before his arrest and the personal transformation that he underwent during his decade in a remote Russian prison.  He shares how Khodorkovsky got out of prison and escaped Russia with $500 million in the bank, how the ex-patriot is now waging a political war against Vladimir Putin from London, and whether he worries that Putin might could target him for assassination.  Plus Alex reveals what Mikhail Khodorkovsky knows about Russia’s interference in the 2016 US election, why Vladimir Putin employs a cast of actors to make himself look good, and what Mikhail Khodorkovsky believes is Putin’s worst nightmare.

See Alex Gibney's new documentary film Citizen K now out in theaters and follow Alex on twitter at @AlexGibneyfilm.  Today episode was sponsored by Uncommitted: Iowa 2020, an original podcast from VICE News that's available every Tuesday for free on Spotify and Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood now out on digital.

Senator Sherrod Brown Talks Senate History, Impeachment, and 2020
33 perc 435. rész

Senator Sherrod Brown reveals how he first learned about the rich history of his desk in the U.S. Senate and how he grappled with some of the contradictions and controversies of the men who sat there before him.  We discuss the singing cowboy turned one term Senator from Idaho who once spent a night in Bull Conner’s jail in Alabama and the Senator from Wisconsin who was a legendary penny pincher and never missed a vote.  He talks about getting back to a more movement-oriented definition of Progressivism, his belief in the dignity of work,
and why he feels it’s a winning message for Democrats running against President Trump in 2020.  Plus Senator Brown opens up about his decision to stay out of the Democratic Presidential Primary, whether or not he might reconsider that choice in light recent calls for him to jump into the race, and how he plans to approach a potential impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate.

Order Senator Brown's book Desk 88: Eight Progressive Senators Who Changed America on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold, and follow him on Twitter at @SenSherrodBrown.  Today episode was sponsored by Uncommitted: Iowa 2020, an original podcast from VICE News that's available every Tuesday for free on Spotify.

Malcolm Nance on Trump, Ukraine, and Russia
48 perc 434. rész

As the Ukraine scandal continues to heat up, MSNBC intelligence expert Malcolm Nance explains why US support for Ukraine is in our own national interest, what Rudy Giuliani is getting from being the President’s bag man to Ukraine, and how Paul Manafort started the conspiracy theories about Ukrainian involvement in the 2016 election.  He also shares that Russia has been keeping tabs on Donald Trump since as early as 1977, how Trump went from an unwitting asset of Russia to a willing asset, and why he sees Vladimir Putin’s fingerprints all over Trump’s withdrawal from Northern Syria. Plus Malcolm weighs in on Hillary Clinton’s assertion that Democratic Presidential contender Tulsi Gabbard is a Russian asset.

Order Malcolm Nance's new book The Plot to Betray America: How Team Trump Embraced Our Enemies, Compromised Our Security, and How We Can Fix It on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold, and follow at www.MalcolmNance.com or on Twitter at @MalcolmNance.

Lawrence Lessig on Solving "Unrepresentativeness" in America
45 perc 433. rész

Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig discusses the fundamental issue that he says underlies many of our current political problems - "unrepresentativeness."  He offers some creative prescriptions for how to cure America’s unrepresentativeness problem such as public funding of election campaigns (including campaigns for Congress), a radical restructuring of the United States Senate, and some ways to reform the Electoral College without having to change the Constitution.  He also says we the people are complicit in America’s political dysfunction, and suggests some ways that Americans can take a more proactive role in government such as  "civic juries" and citizen referenda.  Plus I ask this distinguished legal scholar to weigh in on the impeachment of President Donald Trump. 

Order Lawrence Lessig's new book They Don't Represent Us: Reclaiming Our Democracy on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow him at www.lessig.com or on Twitter at @Lessig.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kendra Scott Jewelry.  Visit www.kendrascott.com and use promo code KICK for 20% off your next purchase or mention this ad in your local Kendra Scott store.

Mitch Albom on the Little Girl Who Changed His Life
35 perc 432. rész

Bestselling author Mitch Albom returns to the podcast to talk about how he came to run an orphanage in earthquake ravaged Haiti, how recent political instability in Haiti has led to some frightening encounters for the kids, and the hardest part about running an orphanage.  He shares how he became a surrogate father to a young girl with a terminal illness, how he learned what it means to be "kid tough," and how a girl named Chika taught him some valuable lessons about the important things in life.

Order Mitch's touching book Finding Chika: A Little Girl, an Earthquake, and the Making of a Family on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with him at www.mitchalbom.com or on Twitter at @MitchAlbom.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Bayer.

Jeff Garlin Finds Joy in Comedy
49 perc 431. rész

Actor/comedian Jeff Garlin (The Goldbergs, Curb Your Enthusiasm) reveals how Jimmy Durante inspired him to get into comedy as a boy, what it was like rooming with a young Conan O'Brien when he started at Chicago’s legendary improv group Second City, and the time he witnessed one of Larry David’s famous fights with his audience at a comedy club.  He talks about his worst gig as a comedian, why he always goes on stage to a different song, and why not everyone should follow their dream to Hollywood.  Plus Jeff shares how he kicked the sugar habit, what you can order in a catalogue for fat guys, and how he almost got fired from his hit show The Goldbergs.

Jeff's new hourlong standup special Jeff Garlin: Our Man In Chicago is available on Netflix starting November 12.  You can also catch Jeff on The Goldbergs and the next season of Curb Your Enthusiasm coming in 2020.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Afternoon Cyber Tea podcast and Kendra Scott Jewelry.  Visit www.kendrascott.com and use promo code KICK for 20% off your next order.

Joe Posnanski on Harry Houdini's Enduring Magic
60 perc 430. rész

Bestselling sports writer Joe Posnanski recalls delving into the rabbit hole of magician Harry Houdini’s legendary life and separating fact from the fiction invented by Houdini and his followers.  Joe discusses the handcuffs that Houdini almost couldn’t get out of, some of the more bizarre things people challenged him to escape, and how Houdini upped the ante with increasingly more dangerous escapes to keep audiences interested.  He explains why many people falsely believe that the magician died performing his most famous trick, and we talk about the secret code that Houdini’s widow Bess used  to try to make contact with him from beyond the grave.  Joe also gives us entre into the world of Houdini superfans from the couple who committed a crime to honor their hero to the mysterious man who calls himself "Houdini’s ghost."  Plus he reveals what it’s like inside David Copperfield’s private magic warehouse in Las Vegas, how Houdini learned from some of the turn of the century’s most bizarre sideshow acts, and his daughter’s favorite Houdini revenge story.

Order Joe Posnanski's wonderful new book The Life and Afterlife of Harry Houdini on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with him at JoePosnanski.com or on Twitter at @JPosnanski.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Kronos HR Solutions and Avalara Sales Tax Solutions.  

Edward Norton Talks Noir, Jazz, and Lost New York
43 perc 429. rész

Golden Globe-winner Edward Norton talks about his film Motherless Brooklyn's 20 year journey to the big screen and what it was like to write, direct, and star in this neo-noir masterpiece.  He shares some of the things he’s learned from working with directors like Milos Forman and Woody Allen.  Edward talks about the real life New York powerbroker who inspired his film’s antagonist, his own grandfather’s crusade for low income housing, and the things that get lost in the service of progress.  Plus we delve into our mutual love of jazz, classic noir detective films, and Manhattan landmarks of a bygone era.

Don't miss Edward Norton's new film Motherless Brooklyn now showing in theaters.  Order Stuart Russell's new book Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Afternoon Cyber Tea podcast, Invitae, and Purotrader.  Check out www.Purotrader.com and use the promo code NEWS for a chance to win a day at the Porsche Racing Experience in Los Angeles or Atlanta.

Stuart Russell on Artificial Intelligence
52 perc 428. rész

Artificial Intelligence researcher Stuart Russell says that machines are probably a long way from achieving the kind of self-awareness portrayed in films like 2001 and The Predator, but he warns the greater danger is that they might obey our instructions too well.  We get into the myriad unintended consequences of AI from the social media algorithms that are actually rewiring our political preferences to how AI that is intended to solve global climate change could go horribly wrong.  He suggests that we will need to rethink the standard model of how people use tools and technology to achieve our goals, and he gives just a few examples of the many ways AI will change our lives for the better if we get it right.

Order Stuart Russell's new book Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Bayer,  Avalara Sales Tax Solutions, and Belkin.  Visit www.belkin.com and use promo code KICKASS for 30% off all Belkin products.

John Hodgman on Secret Societies and Marginal Celebrity
50 perc 427. rész

Actor, comedian, and humorist John Hodgman talks about the strange sense of validation he gets from his airline loyalty program, the perks and perils of hotel living, and the best way to get thrown into Disneyland Jail.  We discuss his memorable appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, how his Daily Show colleague Al Madrigal got him into standup, and his podcast where he mediates minor disputes between squabbling couples.  He recalls his early days as a fancy New York literary agent, the worst book manuscript he ever read, and the writer who became his stalker.  Plus we talk about John’s remarkable skill at gaining entry into all manner of exclusive, and sometimes sinister clubs, from Yale’s secret societies and meetings of the New World Order, to the Church of Scientology’s Flag Land Base and Mar-a-Lago.

Order John Hodgman's book Medallion Status: True Stories from Secret Rooms on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Be sure to subscribe to the Judge John Hodgman podcast, and keep up with John at www.JohnHodgman.com or on Twitter at @Hodgman.

Chef David Chang
51 perc 426. rész

Chef David Chang shares that he originally wanted to be Tiger Woods not Wolfgang Puck, and he eventually got into cooking because he hated his job in finance.  He recalls learning in some of the best kitchens in New York and Tokyo, then rebelling against New York’s fine dining establishment, and how struggling to get Momofuku off the ground shaped his success.  Dave talks about his new Netflix series Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, smoking weed and touring Vancouver with Seth Rogen for the show, and exploring the mysteries of Marrakech with Chrissy Teigen.  Plus he talks about his love/hate relationship with the California food scene, customers who Instagram their food, how food delivery apps are disrupting the restaurant industry, and what that means for chefs.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is now available on Netflix.  Keep up with David at momofuku.com or on Twitter at @DavidChang, and be sure to subscribe to his podcast The David Chang Show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Avalara Sales Tax Solutions, and Belkin.  Visit www.belkin.com and use promo code KICKASS for 30% off all Belkin products.

Susan Rice Dishes Some Tough Love
48 perc 425. rész

Ambassador Susan Rice has been at the table during the most pressing international crises of the past 30 years and she discusses it in her new memoir Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For.  She talk about her family’s unique American story and how playing peacekeeper during her parents troubled marriage made her grow up fast but also prepared her for a life in international diplomacy.  She recalls her baptism of fire when she joined the Clinton administration and immediately got thrown into the deep end with back-to-back crises in Somalia and Rwanda.  She describes the US Embassy bombings in 1998 as the hardest day in her career, her contentious relationship with Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, and how she became the public face of the 2012 Embassy attack in Benghazi.  Plus she speculates on what might have motivated President Trump to suddenly pull out of Northern Syria, she says Vladimir Putin is a creep and a pig, and she talks about her famous moves on the dance floor.

Order Susan Rice's book Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Avalara Sales Tax Solutions, the Invitae Genetic Test, and the TRTL Travel Pillow. 

John Kasich on Empowering Everyday Americans
38 perc 424. rész

Governor John Kasich shares some of the stories of every day Americans doing great things that inspired his latest book to write the book It's Up to Us: Ten Little Ways We Can Bring About Big Change.  This two-time Presidential candidate says that the actions of ordinary people matter way more to this country than whose occupying the White House.  He talks about the importance of breaking free of political echo chambers, and shares what kind of news outlets make it into his own daily newsfeed. We talk about his uncanny abilities as a political prognosticator, and why he’s staying out of the Republican presidential primary (at least for now). Plus John Kasich on thinking about eternity, what he’d like his obituary to say about him, and the meditative power of playing golf.

Order his new book It’s Up to Us: Ten Little Ways We Can Bring About Big Change on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Look for him regularly as a political contributor on CNN, and keep up with him at www.johnkasich.com or on Twitter at @JohnKasich.  Todays episode was sponsored by Kronos HR solutions, Purple Mattress, Belkin, and Purotrader.

 

Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman on What It Takes
45 perc 423. rész

Blackstone Co-founder, CEO, and Chairman Stephen Schwarzman shares lessons for how to think about ambition and scale, risk and opportunities, and how to achieve success through the relentless pursuit of excellence.  He talks about his middle class beginnings as the son of a linen salesman in Philadelphia, getting paired with a literal Nazi for a roommate at Yale University, and his own version of a summer at sea - working on Scandinavian shipping boats.  He reveals how a famous statesman convinced him to go into business instead of politics and how he was completely unqualified for his first job in finance.  He recalls how he took $400,000 in 1985 and turned Blackstone into an investment firm that today manages over $500 billion, and how he capitalized the fund just days before Black Monday.  He shares how an early loss completely changed how Blackstone evaluates risk, why the firm jumped into real estate at a time when no one was buying or selling, and how the company weathered the 2008 financial crisis.  Plus Stephen Schwarzman discusses his his friendship with President Donald Trump, his efforts to backchannel trade negotiations between the US and China, and why the Chinese know him by the nickname “Farmer Blackstone.”

Order Stephen Schwarzman's book What It Takes: Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Avalara Sales Tax Solutions. 

Dave Asprey on Hacking Longevity
45 perc 422. rész

Dave Asprey talks about his plan to live to 180 and his new book Super Human: The Bulletproof Plan to Age Backward and Maybe Even Live Forever.  He opens up about a traumatic health crisis that got him interested in health and longevity as a teenager and his battle with early cognitive decline that set him on a path to hacking the human brain. He shares the one food that he never ever eats, the benefits of periodic fasting, and how he manages to feel more rested on less sleep. We talk about the importance of light, gut health, and even jaw alignment to our wellness. Plus he describes some of the more cutting edge treatments that he’s tried from stem cell injections to blood transfusions, including a couple that he wished he hadn’t tried, and he reveals why Russians may have the inside track on hacking longevity.

Order Dave Asprey's new book Super Human: The Bulletproof Plan to Age Backward and Maybe Even Live Forever on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Subcribe to his podcast Bulletproof Radio on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen, and keep up with him at www.bulletproof.com or on Twitter at @BulletproofExec.  Today’s episode was sponsored by TRTL the world's most comfortable travel pillow.  Visit www.trtltravel.com and use the code KICK for 20% off.

Neil deGrasse Tyson Answers Your Questions
55 perc 421. rész

Astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses some of his favorite letters from fans on a diverse array of topics from Pluto and Bigfoot to race and religion.  He shares touching personal letters from his cousin wondering about her deceased father’s spirit, and a mother whose autistic son is torn between what he learns in Hebrew school
and what he learns from Cosmos.  He talks about the tweet that enraged the musician Moby, the rapper who insisted that the earth is flat, and a man who asked Neil to help promote his "perpetual motion machine."  Plus Neil answers your questions about black holes, the speed of light, the moon landing, and more.

Order Neil deGrasse Tyson's new book Letters from an Astrophysicist on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Subscribe to his podcast Startalk on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen, follow him on twitter at @NeilTyson, and visit his webpage at www.haydenplanitarium.org/tyson.  Today’s episode was sponsored by  Avalara sales tax solutions and Purple Mattress.  Text KICK to 84-888 for a FREE Purple pillow with the purchase of a Purple Mattress.

Ryan Holiday on the Power of Stillness
49 perc 420. rész

Bestselling author Ryan Holiday discusses his new book Stillness Is the Key, how he became the leading modern proponent of Stoicism,
and why many people today misunderstand what it means to be a Stoic.  He says ancient Greeks and Romans were every bit as distracted as we are today and reveals some of their secrets to ignoring the chaos and finding focus.  He also shares how he finds silence and serenity in his own life and how his daily routine keeps him calm and prepared even on the most hectic of days.  He discusses his definition of "stillness," how TV’s Mr. Rogers personified it, how Tiger Woods eventually attained it, and why President Donald Trump is the precise antithesis of it.  We talk about our mutual love of Winston Churchill, how learning to see the world like an artist helped Churchill keep it together while freeing the world from tyranny, and why he once altered a priceless painting by Peter Paul Rubens.

Order Ryan Holiday's new book Stillness Is the Key on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with Ryan at www.ryanholiday.com and on Twitter at @RyanHoliday.  Today’s episode was sponsored by BetterHelp online counseling, Avalara sales tax software, Kronos HR solutions, and Purotrader.com.

Jeannie Gaffigan on Humor and Healing
46 perc 419. rész

Jeannie Gaffigan reveals how she went from a perfectly normal life
to being rushed into surgery for a pear-sized brain tumor over the coarse of an Easter Weekend, why things got worse just when she thought she was in the clear, and how she learned that laughter truly IS the best medicine.  She reveals how she and her husband comedian Jim Gaffigan write jokes together, talks about Jim’s surprising swagger when he first began romancing her, and how she finally knew that he was "the one."  She discusses why she and Jim decided to end The Jim Gaffigan Show after two seasons, what it was like to balance a tv family with their real family, and how they manage to keep track of five children.

Order Jeannie's book When Life Gives You Pears: The Healing Power of Family, Faith, and Funny People on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow Jeannie on twitter at @JeannieGaffigan.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Capella University's online doctoral program.

America's Actress Meryl Streep
45 perc 418. rész

Meryl Streep is arguably the greatest actress of this or any generation.  She has starred in more than 60 films, won 3 Oscars, and received a record setting 21 nominations.  Entertainment reporter Erin Carlson discusses Streep's illustrious acting career, her advocacy for women off the screen, and her deeply guarded personal life.  Erin delves Jane Fonda’s mentorship of Streep on the film Julia, Meryl’s rivalries with Jessica Lang, and the behind-the-scenes drama between her and Dustin Hoffman on Kramer vs Kramer.  She suggests that the late actor John Cazale was the love of Meryl Streep’s life, she shares how he how helped her hone her craft, and reveals how Meryl coped with his tragic untimely death.  We talk about acting over 40, how Meryl became a champion for better roles and equal pay for actresses, and how she navigated doing business with disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein.  Plus Erin weighs in on Meryl Streep’s best performances and most underrated films.

Order Erin's book Queen Meryl: The Iconic Roles, Heroic Deeds, and Legendary Life of Meryl Streep on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Stitcher's new podcast Lost at the Smithsonian.  Subscribe on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or favorite podcast app.

Brad Meltzer on History's Heroes
40 perc 417. rész

New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer grew tired of his kids’ obsession with reality TV and people who were famous for being famous so he began to write children's books about real heroes from history.  He talks about the newest additions to his Ordinary People Change the World series I Am Walt Disney and I Am Marie Curie, and  reveals some of his own childhood heroes.  He says he puts just as much historical research into his children’s books as he does into his bestselling political thrillers and explains why it was so important to show kids that even famous historical figures started out somewhere.  He talks about the new PBS TV series based on his books and how it’s a dream come true for a man who grew up with Sesame Street and Mr. Rodgers.  Plus Brad announces his next book for his adult readers - a sequel to his best-selling novel The Escape Artist.  

Order I am Marie Curie and I am Walt Disney and other books in Brad’s Ordinary People Change the World series for kids on Amazon or wherever books are sold.  Visit www.bradmeltzer.com for more information, and follow Brad on Twitter at @BradMeltzer.  Today’s episode was sponsored by PuroTrader, the online community for cigar lovers. Visit www.purotrader.com and use the promo code NEWS for a chance to win a day at the Porsche Racing Experience in Los Angeles or Atlanta.

Scott Aukerman Talks Between Two Ferns
44 perc 416. rész

Scott Aukerman is the co-creator of hilariously awkward talk show Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.  He talks about expanding the Ferns universe for Between Two Ferns: The Movie, how he and Zach improvised the entire film, and what it was to direct his hero David Letterman.  Scott reveals how Between Two Ferns was born out of his and Zach's love of bad cable access programming, why actual ferns were so essential to the look of the show, and how they managed to snag President Barack Obama as a guest.  Plus we celebrate 10 years of Scott's podcast Comedy Bang! Bang!

Between Two Ferns: The Movie comes out on Netflix beginning this Friday, September 20.  Subscribe to Scott’s podcast Comedy Bang! Bang! on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen and follow Scott on Twitter at @Scott Aukerman.  Today's episode was sponsored by Bank of America's The Academy for Consumer and Small Business and Invitae

Randall Munroe on Hard Ways to Do Simple Things
45 perc 415. rész

Randall Munroe is the former NASA physicist turned bestselling cartoonist behind XKCD and the What If blog.  He talks about his new book How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems.  Randall reveals the cost of putting a lava moat around your house, how to move your house with helicopters, how to throw a coin or just about anything across a river, and how Serena Williams takes down a drone.  Plus Randall explains fishing with electricity, why scientists still haven’t figured out how ice works, and why the US military once nuked a bunch of beer cans.

Order Randall Munroe's new his book How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold, and view some of his wonderful cartoons at www.xkcd.com.  Today's episode was sponsored by Capella University's online doctoral program.

Caitlin Doughty Answers Kids' Questions About Death
49 perc 414. rész

Caitlin Doughty is a best-selling author, funeral director, and host of the popular YouTube channel Ask a Mortician.  She returns to the podcast to answer children's questions about death such as "why don’t we eat human’s after they die?" and "what if they make a mistake and bury me in coma?"  She says it’s illegal to own or sell human remains, but there's a loophole that might allow you to keep human bones and you can pretty much do anything with cremated ashes.  She explains how a whole person's ashes can fit into a tiny urn and what happens when a cemetery runs out of room  She unravels some famous movie myths about death, takes me behind closed doors at a funeral directors convention, and opens up about a mortician's worst nightmare!

Buy Caitlin's latest book Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow her on Twitter at @TheGoodDeath, subscribe to her YouTube series Ask a Mortician, and learn more at www.caitlindoughty.com or www.orderofthegooddeath.com.  This episode is sponsored by Kronos HR solutions, BetterHelp online counseling, White Castle microwavable sliders, and MyBookie.

Salman Rushdie on the "Age of Anything Can Happen"
49 perc 413. rész

Acclaimed author Salman Rushdie talks about drawing on Cervantes and pop culture for his new novel Quichotte.  He describes having to consume a massive amount of "trash tv" in preparation for the book, how Quichotte addresses the most pressing issues of our time from opioids to immigration, and why the “the age of anything can happen” may not necessarily a good thing!  Rushdie opens up about his early career as a stage actor, his secret longing to be a second rate spy novelist, and why he finally decided to make a novelist a character in one of his stories.  Then we talk about the moment when a writer finds his own voice, how he developed his signature style of magical realism, and how it manifests in his latest novel with everything from mastodons to talking crickets.  Plus we talk about the fatwa that was issued against him 30 years ago and what it was like to play that scary event for comedy in the latest season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Order Salman Rushdie's latest book Quichotte: A Novel on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Follow him on Twitter at @SalmanRushdie and visit salmanrushdie.com for a list of his upcoming public appearances (unless your fanatic trying to assassinate him...in which case disregard this).  This episode is sponsored by Purotrader and Invitae.

Comedian Anthony Jeselnik
41 perc 412. rész

Comedian Anthony Jeselnik revels in making audiences a little uncomfortable and now he's making his fellow comedians uncomfortable as host of the hilarious new interview show Good Talk with Anthony Jeselnik.  He shares how the Saturday Night Live bit "Deep Thoughts with Jack Handey" inspired his uniquely off-beat style of comedy, the time he auditioned to be the anchor of SNL’s Weekend Update, and some pretty smart advice he once got from Lorne Michaels on how to write a late night monologue.  Anthony recalls the Comedy Central Roast that changed his life and what makes for the perfect roast speech.  We delve into how Good Talk deconstructs the late night talk show, why this famously confident comedian never does self-deprecating humor, the power of silence in standup, and the one thing that Anthony says is the most important element of good comedy.  Plus talks about how to out-deadpan Tig Notaro, what it was like to roast a future President, and the comedic genius of HBO’s Deadwood.

Good Talk with Anthony Jeselnik premieres this Friday, September 6 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central.  Keep up with Anthony Jeselnik at www.anthonyjeselnik.com or on twitter at @Anthony Jeselnik.  This episode is sponsored by MyBookie, and White Castle.

Frank Abagnale Reveals Scams, Cons, and Rip-offs
48 perc 411. rész

If you’ve ever seen the Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-nominated film
Catch Me If You Can, then you know the story of the boy con artist Frank Abagnale. Abagnale has since reformed his ways and now he is a leading expert on fraud, forgery and cybersecurity who consults for Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and law enforcement. Frank discusses his early life of crime, how he turned it all around, and how he’s helping to protect Americans from scammers. He recalls how wearing the uniform of a pilot or a doctor played on people’s trust of authority, he reveals what kind of personalities were most susceptible to his schemes, and he warns that technology has made it much easier for crooks to pull off the same cons that he got away with in the 1960s. He discusses which demographics are most vulnerable to fraud and cautions that it actually has nothing to do with how smart you are. We talk about a range of specific scams including those spam emails from a "Nigerian Prince" and automated phone calls purporting to be the IRS. Frank also gets into how con artists are using crowd funding sites, dating apps, and even ancestry companies to rip you off. Plus Frank reveals why he doesn’t own a debit card and why he wants Americans to do away with passwords once and for all.

Order Frank Abagnale's new book  Scam Me If You Can: Simple Strategies to Outsmart Today’s Rip-Off Artists on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Bank of America’s The Academy for Consumer and Small Business, Capella University's online doctoral program, and BetterHelp online counseling.

Senator Jeff Merkley
47 perc 410. rész

In 2018 Senator Jeff Merkley posted a viral video that triggered worldwide outrage at the forced separation of migrant children from their parents.  Now over a year later, he claims that there are still families who haven’t been reunited and that family separations are the result of a deliberate effort by the Trump Administration to deter immigrants by inflicting maximum pain.  Senator Merkley makes the case that Trump’s zero tolerance policy toward illegal immigration is violating both US and international laws, and he reveals what happened when he confronted his old Senate colleague Jeff Sessions about this issue.  He recalls his travel through war-torn Central America in the 80’s and actually claims that those countries are much worse off today.  Plus he shares heart-breaking stories from refugees who risked everything to escape worst imaginable kind of evil at the hands of gangs and drug cartels.

Order Senator Jeff Merkley's book America Is Better Than This: Trump's War Against Migrant Families on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Follow Senator Merkley on Twitter at @SenJeffMerkley.  This episode is sponsored by Anchor.  Anchor is a Spotify-owned company that makes it easy for anyone to make a podcast, for free. Get started at www.anchor.fm/kickassnews.  We're also sponsored by AncestryDNA.  Go to www.ancestry.com/kick today for 20% off your AncestryDNA kit. 

Josh Gates Explores Legends and Lost Treasures
58 perc 409. rész

Adventurer and explorer Josh Gates has spent his career crossing the globe to investigate the world’s most intriguing mysteries as host of Expedition Unknown on Discovery Network.  In the age of Google Maps, he says there are still unexplored parts of the world full of wonders to be uncovered.  The self-described “opened-minded skeptic” talks his obsession with Yeti and why these "mystery primates" appear again and again in cultures all around the world.  He reveals how Expedition Unknown helped recover Judy Garland’s stolen ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz, new forensic evidence they found in the case of D.B. Cooper, and recent developments that have lead him to revisit several topics in the new season.  Josh recalls some of his craziest adventures in Season 7 such as braving the Siberian winter to look into the bizarre Dyatlov Pass incident and scouring the ancient caves of Israel and Jordan for the lost Dead Sea Scrolls.  He walks me through how he decides which legends to chase, which ones are too dangerous, how to handle a shakedown by local authorities in a strange country, and the most awkward of conversations - how to divvy up a treasure!

Expedition Unknown airs Wednesdays at 9PM Eastern on Discovery Network.  Keep up with Josh at www.joshuagates.com or on Twitter at @JoshuaGates.  This episode is sponsored by Capella University, MyBookie, and White Castle.

Former Secretary of State George Shultz
32 perc 408. rész

This is a rebroadcast of an interview with former Secretary of State George Shultz that originally aired January 19, 2018.  Secretary Shultz recalls his close friendship with President Ronald Reagan, the moment he realized that Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was someone the U.S. could do business with, and Reagan's Pershing missile moment as a masterclass in peace through strength.  He suggests that President Trump may soon need to have a "Pershing moment" of his own, reveals what he learned in a meeting years ago with a young Vladimir Putin, and weighs in as an economist on the Trump tax reform act.  Plus George Shultz discusses why Ronald Reagan never bluffed, why foreign policy is a lot like gardening, and why the prospect of nuclear war still keeps him up at night.

George Shultz is a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution and you can read some of his articles at www.hoover.org.  

Philip Mudd on the CIA after 9/11
40 perc 407. rész

Former deputy director of the CIA Counterterrorist Center Philip Mudd talks about the radical transformation that the intelligence community underwent in the first 90 days after 9/11, why CIA was never intended to be in the business of housing and interrogating prisoners, and how the CIA reached the decision to outsource the job to America’s allies at so-called black sites in what came to be known as "the Program."  He discusses some of the 13 enhanced interrogation methods that were approved by the U.S. Justice Department, how they delineated between aggressive interrogation and torture, and which techniques worked and which ones did not.  He says CIA operators express few regrets about what they did in "the Program," and many still feel they were thrown under the bus by members of Congress and also by former President Barack Obama.  

Order Philip Mudd's book Black Site: The CIA in the Post-9/11 World on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold and keep up with Philip at www.PhilMudd.com.  This episode is sponsored by Capella University, White Castle, and PuroTrader.  

Down the Rabbit Hole w/ the Amazing Johnathan
44 perc 406. rész

The Amazing Johnathan Documentary begins as a profile on a uniquely deranged magician, who built a career out of shock and deception in the 1980s, but it quickly becomes the bizarre story about the unravelling of his documentarian Ben Berman.  Johnathan Szeles and Ben Berman join me at the world famous Magic Castle to talk about the crazy experience of making this film. Johnathan discusses the heart condition that lead to his retirement in 2014, what his doctors say 5 years after giving him a year to live, and why Johnathan believes the secret to his survival is either stem cells, meth, or both! Ben talks about having to relinquish some control as a director and follow the Amazing Johnathan wherever this wild ride took him including having to contend with a second crew filming a totally different documentary about Amazing Johnathan.  Plus the psychology of magic, the gamesmanship of elaborate pranks, why David Copperfield and Chris Angel hate each others’ guts, and Johnathan knows a lot about faking your own death!

The Amazing Johnathan Documentary is available on Hulu and in select theaters beginning Friday, August 16.  Keep up with the Amazing Jonathan at theamazingjohnathan.com or on Twitter at @TheAmazingJ, and follow Ben Berman on Twitter at @LipsBerman.  This episode is sponsored by Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

George Takei Brings WWII Injustice to the Screen
36 perc 405. rész

Long before Star Trek, a very young George Takei was one of 145,000 Japanese Americans held in internment camps during World War II, and now he returns to this formative experience in his life
as a historical consultant and star in the second season of AMC's horror anthology series The Terror: Infamy.  He talks about the painful experience of having his whole family uprooted by their own government, the eerie sense of déjà vu that he got when he first arrived on the set of The Terror: Infamy, and how he served as a link to the past for the other actors on the show.  He recalls being forced to live in a horse stall at a California race track for two months and then getting shipped across the country to an internment camp in the swamps of Arkansas, but that it all just seemed like a great adventure to an innocent boy who was oblivious discrimination and injustice.  George explains why he takes issue with the term "Japanese internment camps," why his parents were nearly deported over a citizenship questionnaire, and why he fears that history might be repeating itself under President Donald Trump.  Plus he reveals how an early experience in the camps partly inspired him to go into acting, and we talk a little Star Trek.

The Terror: Infamy premieres on Monday, August 12 at 9/8 Central on AMC.  Order George Takei’s new graphic novel They Called Us Enemy on Amazon or wherever books are sold and follow him on Twitter at @GeorgeTakei.  This episode is sponsored by Bank of America’s The Academy for Consumer and Small Business, Kronos HR Solutions, and BetterHelp.

Wyatt Russell on Embracing Everyday Magic
46 perc 404. rész

Actor Wyatt Russell is the star of the most original show on television AMC's Lodge 49.  We discuss the allure of ancient fraternal orders, the importance of embracing everyday "magic," and getting curious about the places and the people we all too often drive past.  He talks about how the show speaks to the isolation of modern social media culture and our longing for fellowship.  Wyatt reminisces about previous career as a professional hockey player and the injury that sidelined him from hockey, but opened the door to a career in film and television.  He recalls getting his first big break just when he was ready to give up on acting, following in the steps of his famous parents Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, and what they taught him about keeping celebrity in perspective.

Season 2 of Lodge 49 premieres on Monday, August 12 at 10/9C on AMC.  Visit www.amc.com for more information..  This episode is sponsored by Bank of America’s The Academy for Consumer and Small Business.  

Governor Terry McAuliffe on the Lessons of Charlottesville
47 perc 403. rész

Terry McAuliffe was Governor of Virginia at the time of the infamous Unite the Right rally that left three dead and many injured in Charlottesville, VA.  He offers a behind-the-scenes account of this infamous chapter in our history and shows how we can prevent other Charlottesvilles from happening in the future.  He shares his biggest worries in the weeks leading up to the infamous Unite the Right rally, why local authorities didn’t take his concerns nearly seriously enough, and why he believes that the ACLU shares some of the blame for failing to prevent the violence.  He opens up about the tragic loss his own family suffered on that fateful day and voices his anger at the out-of-state agitators who gave Virginia a bad name.  He discusses his phone call with President Trump on the day of the rally and his outrage when the President later made a wildly offensive public statement on the issue.  Terry McAuliffe also talks about running for Governor and recalls his efforts to bring Virginia into the 21st Century.  Then the former chairman of DNC weighs in on the Democratic debates and what he thinks Democrats are looking for in 2020.

Order Terry McAuliffe's book Beyond Charlottesville: Taking a Stand Against White Nationalism on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow him on Twitter at @TerryMcAuliffe.  This episode is sponsored by Capella University, The Life Is Good Ping Podcast, and Magoosh online test prep.  

Goggins, Gaffigan, and Snakes!
45 perc 402. rész

Walton Goggins and Jim Gaffigan talk about getting over their fear of snakes to portray Pentecostal snake handlers in their new film Them That Follow.  They discuss the beliefs behind the religion, why members of these Pentecostal sect live in fear of the law, and why they took particular care not to reinforce negative stereotypes about the people of rural Appalachia.  We talk about what attracts Walton to religious roles from The Apostle to Them That Follow, and how he manages to move so effortlessly between drama and comedy.  Then Jim Gaffigan discusses his own transition from comedy to drama, how his acting and standup inform each other, and what it’s been like hit the film festival circuit.  He goes into how his experience as a devout Catholic informed his portrayal in the film, his upcoming standup special for Amazon, and how his wife Jeannie’s recovery from a brain tumor has inspired him to get more personal in his act.

Them That Follow opens in theaters this Friday, August 2.  Also look for Walton Goggins in HBO’s new limited series The Righteous Gemstones August 18 and Jim’s new comedy special Quality Time on Amazon Prime Video beginning August 16.  This episode is sponsored by Anchor.  Anchor is a Spotify-owned company that makes it easy for anyone to make a podcast, for free. Get started at www.anchor.fm/kickassnews.  We're also sponsored by BetterHelp Online Counseling and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream.

Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin Bring Back Musical Variety
44 perc 401. rész

Diallo Riddle and and Bashir Salahuddin channeled their nostalgia musical variety shows like SoulTrain and Solid Gold into a hilarious new parody series Sherman's Showcase on IFC.  They reveal how they lured artists like John Legend to the show and why all musicians are secretly aspiring comedians.  They recall drinking with Lorne Michaels, writing sketches for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and how Sherman's Showcase gave them an opportunity to do all the sketches that were too risky for network television.  They reminisce meeting at Harvard, starting their own sketch group just to get better parts, and being on the ground floor of the Youtube comedy boom.  Plus Frederick Douglass sells hair products!

Watch Sherman's Showcase starting Wednesday, July 31st at 10PM ET on IFC, and also be sure to catch Bashir and Diallo's other new show South Side on Comedy Central.  Visit www.ifc.com for more fun stuff about Sherman's Showcase, and follow Diallo Riddle on Twitter at @diallo.

 

Richard Clarke & Robert Knake on Cyber War
44 perc 400. rész

Richard A. Clarke and Robert K. Knake have served as the top cyber security experts to three Presidents, and they discuss their new book The Fifth Domain: Defending Our Country, Our Companies, and Ourselves in the Age of Cyber Threats.  They discuss Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and say that Russia will almost certainly try it again in 2020.  They warn against the folly of continuing to allow local state bureaucrats to ensure the integrity of America’s electronic voting machines and suggest that Russia’s 2015 shutdown of Ukraine’s power grid might have been a dry run for a similar attack on the grid here in the US.  Clarke predicts that the next war that America enters will likely be triggered by a cyber attack.  They discuss the offensive and defensive potential of new technology like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and 5G.  They advocate for private companies to take greater ownership of their own data security instead expecting the government to protect them from attacks.  Plus they offer a few steps that every listener should take to protect themselves from cyber crime.

Order The Fifth Domain: Defending Our Country, Our Companies, and Ourselves in the Age of Cyber Threats on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  This episode is sponsored by Bank of America’s The Academy for Consumer and Small Business and Capella University's Doctoral Degree Program.

Daniel Silva's Spy Fiction Mirrors Geopolitics
36 perc 399. rész

#1 Bestselling spy novelist Daniel Silva's books closely mirror world events, and he reveals how the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi led him to toss out 250 pages of his latest novel and start over.  The New Girl is the 19th book in his wildly successful Gabriel Allon series, and he says he never imagined that his most popular character would last more than one book.  Daniel discusses the similarities and differences between his fictional Saudi Prince and the brutal Mohammed bin Salman and why he believes that Russia may have had something to do with President Trump’s decision to give bin Salman a pass on the Khashoggi murder.  Daniel recalls his start as a journalist working at CNN in the early days of 24-hour news, being there the night when the network brought Operation Desert Storm into America’s living rooms, and meeting his wife and fellow journalist Jamie Gangel during the Iran-Iraq War.  Plus Daniel talks about his unique writing process, his fascination with art restoration, and more. 

Order Daniel Silva's latest thrilling novel The New Girl on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Visit his website at www.danielsilvabooks.com and follow him on Twitter at @DanielSilvaBook.  This episode is sponsored by TruGreen Mosquito Defense.

MSNBC's Joy Reid Talks Trump and 2020
50 perc 398. rész

Joy-Ann Reid is the host of MSNBC's A.M. Joy and she discusses her new book The Man Who Sold America: Trump and the Unraveling of the American Story.  She says only a New Yorker who lived in the city during the turbulent 70s and 80s can truly understand the rise of Donald Trump.  She likens that era to the lawlessness of Gotham City, and says that if NYC is Gotham than Trump is the Joker sowing chaos at every opportunity.  She tells the story of her parents' immigration from Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and suggests that America could learn something about healing racial divides from post-Apartheid South Africa.  Looking ahead to 2020, Joy believes that unregistered voters are a potential goldmine for Democrats.  She explains that the hungriest constituencies win elections and women will be very hungry this time.  Plus she weighs in the first Democratic debate, shares her daughter's nickname for Beto O’Rourke, and predicts that 2020 will be the craziest election yet!

Order Joy's book The Man Who Sold America: Trump and the Unraveling of the American Story on Amazon, Audible or whever books are sold.  Watch her show A.M. Joy on Saturdays and Sundays at 10am Eastern on MSNBC and follow her on twitter at @JoyAnnReid.  This episode is sponsored by Anchor.  Anchor is a Spotify-owned company that makes it easy for anyone to make a podcast, for free.  Get started at www.anchor.fm/kickassnews.

Guy Kawasaki on Marketing, Macintosh, and More
43 perc 397. rész

Silicon Valley icon Guy Kawasaki recalls his childhood in Hawaii, his start in the jewelry business, and how his skills at jewelry sales came in surprisingly handy when he became chief evangelist for Macintosh. He talks about personally witnessing the genius and dark side of Apple founder Steve Jobs, he shares some rules that he calls "the Gospel According to Steve," and opens up about the argument that led him to quit Apple in the 90s.  He talks about honor and honesty in the tech industry, his litmus test for doing business with someone, and why many of his best deals are done on a handshake.  He shares plenty of of sage marketing advice including what he calls "Guy’s Golden Rule" and gives me a crash course in how to be a social media influencer without letting it dominate your life.  Plus Guy discusses the costly mistake Hillary Clinton made with her Silicon Valley supporters, a cost/benefit analysis of standing up to Donald Trump, and the two asian celebrities for whom Guy always gets mistaken!

Order Guy Kawasaki's book WISE GUY: LESSONS FROM A LIFE on Amazon, Audible, and wherever books are sold.  Keep up with him at www.guykawasaki.com, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter at @GuyKawasaki.  Special thanks to Live Talks LA for hosting our interview.  Visit www.livetalksla.org to learn more about their terrific line-up of speakers coming up including Malcolm Gladwell, George Will, and many more.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kronos and Ben & Jerry's.

CNN's Jim Acosta on "Fake News" and Freedom of the Press
57 perc 396. rész

In the President's campaign against what he calls “Fake News,”
CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta has become public enemy number one, but Acosta warns that Trump's attacks on the press could have dangerous consequences for America.  Jim reveals some of the tricks that the White House uses to skew media coverage and avoid tough questions, and he says that the President’s war on the truth is changing journalism itself as reporters have to do double-duty as "real-time fact-checkers."  He shares some of the bone-chilling threats he receives from Trump supporters at rallies and on social media, and reports that hateful anti-media rhetoric only got worse in the 2018 midterms.  He suggest that Trump actually enjoys sparring with him in the press room and that the President only demonizes the press as part of an "act" to placate his base.  He even says he's figured out Trump's "tells" for when he's lying or losing!

Order Jim Acosta's book The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous time to Tell Truth in America on Amazon, Audible and wherever books are sold.  Follow him on Twitter at @Acosta and see him reporting from the White House on CNN.  Today's episode was sponsored by the TruGreen Mosquito Defense and BetterHelp.

Adam Savage Builds, Blows Up, and Has a Blast
54 perc 395. rész

Adam Savage (Mythbusters, MythBusters Junior) talks about building a working prototype of Marvel’s Iron Man suit for his new series Savage Builds and what it was like to fly around with tiny jet engines strapped to his forearms.  He discusses how Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson helped him take to the skies in a real World War I dogfight, why Adam's attempt recreate one of World War II’s most bizarre contraptions was less than successful, and how it served as a lesson in the importance of embracing your failures.  Adam talks about his love of juggling and magic, his friendship with magician and skeptic the Amazing Randy, his own relationship with the skeptic community, and how he discovered that Darwinism doesn’t make for good television.  Plus Adam talks about obsession with the dodo bird and why wire coat hangers are a maker's best friend.

Adam's new series Savage Builds airs Fridays at 10 Eastern on the Science Channel.  Visit Adam at www.adamsavage.com for more fun stuff and follow him on twitter at @donttrythis.  Today's episode was sponsored by the Life Is Good Ping Podcast.

The Daily Show's Trevor Noah
41 perc 394. rész

Today's episode is a rerun of a previous podcast that aired December 3, 2018 with guest Trevor Noah.  Trevor talks about his  standup special TREVOR NOAH: SON OF PATRICIA and why he dedicated it to his mom whom he calls “the first comedian that he ever saw” and “most gangster human being you’ll ever meet in your life.”  He discusses growing up in South Africa during Apartheid, the power of humor to fight oppression, and why he believes that hateful words aren’t nearly as important as addressing with the hate itself.  He shares how the 2016 election affected his own vision for THE DAILY SHOW, why the current President reminds him of certain African dictators, and how he deciphers what’s news and what’s nonsense in the age of Trump.  Plus Trevor talks about interviewing President Barak Obama, whether he would be down to do the same with Donald Trump, and the question that he would most like ask the 45th President.

Watch THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH every weeknight at 11PM ET on Comedy Central.  Visit www.trevornoah.com for more on Trevor including upcoming tour dates, and follow him on twitter at @TrevorNoah.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

George Will on the Conservative Sensibility
46 perc 393. rész

Pulitzer Prize-winning Conservative columnist George Will answers the fundamental question “what is it that conservatives mean to conserve" and suggests that modern conservatives are losing sight of that purpose.  He extolls James Madison’s belief in the importance of natural rights and government’s role in protecting them, and he makes that case against his fellow Princetonian Woodrow Wilson who did the most to unravel the Founders’ vision.  George discusses his decision to change his political affiliation from Republican to Independent in 2016,
why he still can’t make the leap to the Libertarian Party, and why he believes it would be better to vote for Joe Biden over Donald Trump in 2020.

Order George Will's book The Conservative Sensibility on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow him on Twitter at @GeorgeWill and look for his regular column in the Washington Post.  Today's podcast was sponsored by BetterHelp and Ben & Jerry's.

Ash Carter on Leadership in the Pentagon
40 perc 392. rész

Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter takes me behind the scenes to reveal the inner workings of the Pentagon, its vital mission, and what it takes to lead it.  He describes just how massive the D.O.D. is, how he managed a $700 billion dollar budget, and how he recruited top tech talent to the Pentagon.  Ash Carter reveals why his background as a physicist came in handy in the Pentagon and how it led him to oppose President Ronald Reagan’s "Star Wars" program in the 80s.  He discusses how he came up with his successful strategy to defeat ISIS, but cautions President Trump against pulling out of Iraq and Syria entirely.  He talks about his effort to reach out to non-traditional military recruits and his history-making decision to open all combat roles to women. 

Order Ash Carter's book Inside the Five-Sided Box: Lessons from a Lifetime of Leadership in the Pentagon on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by TruGreen mosquito defense.

Vince Houghton on America's Craziest Intelligence Schemes
45 perc 391. rész

Vince Houghton, director of the International Spy Museum, returns to take me on a wild tour of missions and schemes that almost happened, but were ultimately deemed too dangerous, expensive, ahead of their time, or insane.  These include weaponing animals such as eavesdropping cats, spooky glow in the dark foxes, and one plan to strap incendiary bombs to bats!  He reveals some of the CIA’s wackier attempts to take out Castro, the nazi scientist who tried to build a sun gun, and the Florida meteorologist who thought it would be a good idea to use a nuclear weapons to blow up hurricanes.  But just when you think it couldn’t get any crazier, Vince discusses the project that inspired the title of his new book - the U.S. military plan to nuke the moon!  

Order Vince Houghton's book Nuking the Moon: And Other Intelligence Schemes and Military Plots Left on the Drawing Board on Amazon, Audible, and in bookstores.  Today's podcast was sponsored by The Skimm and AncestryDNA.

Scott Pelley on Truth, Values, and Journalism
47 perc 390. rész

As a 60 Minutes correspondent and former anchor of the CBS Evening News, Scott Pelley has been a witness to events that have changed our world and he talks about some individuals who illustrate the best of America.  He recalls the heart-break and exhaustion of reporting on the 9/11 attacks and why he feels it was the finest hour for CBS News.  He shares the three rules of journalism that he learned from CBS legend Walter Cronkite, and why he believes that 24-hour cable news create even more demand for a show like 60 Minutes.  He discusses his time as a combat journalist in Iraq and Afghanistan, the question that landed him on Hillary Clinton’s blacklist, and why he says that President Donald Trump just can’t stop himself from lying.  Plus he elaborates on his accusations that the CBS Evening News was a hostile work environment, explains the secret to 60 Minutes’ longevity, and shares a few favorite memories of 60 Minutes’ lovable curmudgeon Andy Rooney.

Order Scott Pelley's book Truth Worth Telling: A Reporter's Search for Meaning in the Stories of Our Times on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by BetterHelp.com and Kronos.

Senator Tom Cotton on the Old Guard of Arlington
50 perc 389. rész

Senator Tom Cotton recalls the storied history of the Old Guard of Arlington National Cemetery and the rigorous training he went through to become a member of this elite regiment.  He describes what it’s like to perform a military funeral in America’s most hallowed cemetery and how the soldiers of the Old Guard manage to avoid getting choked up.  Senator Cotton shares some of the other ceremonies that the Old Guard performs and how the Old Guard played a pivotal role at the Pentagon in the hours and days following 9/11.  Plus we talk about the special soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier day and night in all kinds of weather, how they deal with unruly children and noisy tourists, and why modern science means there never be another Unknown Soldier.

Order Senator Tom Cotton's book Sacred Duty: A Soldier's Tour at Arlington National Cemetery on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by BetterHelp.com, Kronos, and Soundtrap for Storytellers.

Admiral William McRaven's Life in Special Operations
49 perc 388. rész

Admiral William McRaven (Make Your Bed) reveals how a high school track coach inspired him apply for the Navy SEAL program and why he still compares any struggle he faces to the grueling endurance test of the Navy SEALs “Hell Week.”  He recalls the night he got a gut feeling he was going to catch Saddam and was right, how Saddam never made his bed while he was in McRaven’s custody, and what McRaven said when he finally decided to meet with Saddam face to face.  He talks about the strange experience of personally seeing monsters like Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden cut down to size, how he managed to keep the preparation of the Bin Laden raid a secret, and how 1000’s of special operations prepared him for that mission of a lifetime.  Plus he weighs in on the Navy SEAL who stands accused of war crimes, responds to calls for him to run for President, and expresses his sincerest regret that he’s the reason you have to take off your shoes at the airport!

Order Admiral William McRaven's book Sea Stories:
My Life in Special Operations on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by The Life Is Good Ping Podcast, Udacity, and Ancestry.com.

Michael Wolff on Trump Under Siege
46 perc 387. rész

Best-selling author Michael Wolff discusses his new book Siege: Trump Under Fire and how he got so many White House sources to speak to him again after his explosive tell-all Fire and Fury.  He tells how Steve Bannon remains the ultimate Trump insider even though he's on the outs with the President and why Trump's misfortune has always been Bannon's opportunity.  We talk about how Robert Mueller carefully gamed out every step of the Russia probe and whether Mueller may have actually drafted an indictment of Donald Trump.  He shares how Jared Kushner’s suspicious dealings with shady foreign investors jeopardized his White House security clearance and how he sought the counsel of Henry Kissinger in his effort to install himself as Secretary of State.  He reveals why Nikki Haley really resigned as UN Ambassador and how Trump’s inner circle lives in constant fear of the day when the Me Too Movement may finally catch up to Trump.  He sheds some light on Donald and Melania’s marriage of convenience, reveals how Senator Mitch McConnell got the upper hand on the President, and shares how Trump started a family feud at Fox.  

Order Michael Wolff's latest book Siege: Trump Under Fire on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.

Ron Howard on Luciano Pavarotti's Operatic Life
38 perc 386. rész

Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13) discusses his new documentary Pavarotti.  He talks about the art of filmmaking and storytelling, how he approaches a documentary versus a narrative film about a real person, and how he got the idea to present Pavarotti’s story as an opera.  We get into Pavarotti the romantic, how Ron got the various women of Pavarotti’s life to participate in the film, and why Pavarotti often compared his famous voice to a tempestuous lover.  He tells the story of how the Three Tenors were formed, and how Pavarotti took opera into sports stadiums and the mainstream by collaborating with everyone from Steve Wonder to Sting. Plus we talk about Pavarotti’s enormous appetite, his even bigger heart for charity, and Ron’s own chance encounter with this opera legend.

Ron Howard's film Pavarotti opens in theaters Friday, June 7.  Visit www.pavarottifilm.com for information and show times.  Today's podcast was sponsored by The Life is Good Ping Podcast and Udacity.

David Epstein on Dabbling vs. 10,000 Hours
51 perc 385. rész

David Epstein (The Sports Gene) reveals the flaw in the "10,000 hours" theory of deliberate performance, the fallacy of giving children a head-start, and how it could actually hinder them in the long-run.  He shares why athletes should be more like Roger Federer than Tiger Woods and how "serial innovators" tend to have a broad range of knowledge and experience.  David says the internet and open source information is a boon to generalists, but artificial intelligence may put a lot of specialists out of business.  He encourages the trend of midlife career changes and dabbling and suggests it's better to act THEN decide.  Plus how Venetian orphans inspired the world’s greatest composers,  why Nobel laureates always have a hobby, and why experts make terrible forecasters.

Order David Epstein's book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold. Keep up with david at www.davidepstein.com and follow him on twitter at @DavidEpstein.  Today's podcast was sponsored by BetterHelp.com, SiriusXM Radio , and Ancestry.com.

Neil Gaiman Brings Good Omens to the Screen
37 perc 384. rész

Neil Gaiman talks about adapting his book Good Omens for television, the book’s long journey to the screen, and how he took the reins as show-runner in a promise to his late co-author Terry Pratchett.  Neil recalls the origins of their book as a fable about nature vs nurture and opens up about the on screen cameo that was just too painful for him to film.  He discusses his writing process, how he manages to avoid distractions, and why he chooses to write across many different mediums.  Plus Neil shares the story of the time he and Michael Sheen accidentally dined on an endangered species and got a front row seat for a federal raid.

Neil Gaiman's six-part limited series Good Omens stars Michael Sheen and David Tennant and is available on Amazon Prime Video beginning Friday, May 31st.  Keep up with Neil at www.neilgaiman.com and follow him on Twitter at @neilhimself.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Udacity.

Liam Cunningham Fights White Walkers, Ebola, and Snakes!
39 perc 383. rész

Liam Cunningham discusses his 7 epic seasons as Sir Davos Seaworth on Game of Thrones and going from fighting "White Walkers" to fighting Ebola in National Geographic Channel's limited series The Hot Zone.  We also talk about his original audition for Game of Thrones, why he first thought he got the polite brush off from the series creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and what it's like when he encounters hard-core GoT fans in person.  Then Liam discusses the true story of America’s close call with Ebola in 1989, the very real threat of a new outbreak in the U.S. today, the danger of the modern anti-vaxxer movement, and the importance of striking the right balance between rational and irrational fears.  He talks about filming The Hot Zone in the South African bush, his early years working as an electrician in neighboring Zimbabwe, and how the experience directly led to his pursuing a career in acting.  Plus he reveals the secret to not getting killed off by Game of Thrones producers Benioff and Weiss, we debate whether a knight can really create another knight, and we attempt to figure out who was responsible for that infamous Starbucks cup!

The six-night television event The Hot Zone premieres on Memorial Day, May 27, at 9/8C on National Geographic Channel.  Visit www.nationalgeographic.com for more info and behind-the-scenes extras, and follow Liam on Twitter at @liamcunningham1.  Today's episode was sponsored by Hackable podcast.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Jared Cohen on America's Accidental Presidents
50 perc 382. rész

Jared Cohen talks about the eight men who succeeded to the presidency without being elected to it and how they changed our history for better or worse.  He reveals that presidential succession wasn’t clearly defined for most of America’s history and that most Vice-Presidents come to the Oval Office with great reluctance and a serious inferiority complex.  We talk about the best and worst accidental presidents, the one who assumed the office with the heaviest burden and the least preparation, and the one who was actually accused of conspiring to murder his predecessor.  Plus Jared suggests a better way to choose a running mate, he talks about his childhood fascination with the JFK conspiracy, and shares unusual hobby - collecting presidential hair.  

Order Jared Cohen's new book Accidental Presidents: Eight Men Who Changed America on Amazon and follow Jared on Twitter at @JaredCohen.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

David McCullough on the Pioneers Who Defined America
46 perc 381. rész

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough discusses his latest book The Pioneers, how it fulfilled his lifelong dream to write a nonfiction version of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, and why he wants his book to serve as reminder of fundamental American values.  He tells the story of the New England minister who played an instrumental role in the creation of the Ohio Settlement, how he fought to outlaw slavery in the territory, and how his son carried on his fight for abolition a few years later.  He talks about the wealthy Irish couple who built a paradise on an island in the Ohio River and how they lost everything when they became embroiled in the Aaron Burr treason scandal. McCullough reveals what he’s learned in his 50 plus years of studying history, the importance of hindsight, and why historical figures feel like old friends.

Order The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  This podcast was sponsored by Ancestry.com.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Bill Hader's Long Road to Directing
43 perc 380. rész

Bill Hader (SNL, Trainwreck, Barry) talks about his childhood love of film, his early days as a struggling production assistant in Hollywood, and how he's finally getting back to his cinematic roots with his dark comedy series Barry.  He discusses directing the much talked about episode 5 this season, how he staged an epic 30 minute fight scene, and why he had to hire a construction crew to build him the perfect tree.  Hader recalls his original audition for Saturday Night Live, his first meeting with Lorne Michaels, and a few of his favorite obscure impressions from SNL.  He shares what he learned about story from his time in the writers room on South Park and how his love of cheesy true crime shows like Forensic Files and Snapped inform the grittier aspects of Barry.

Watch the season finale of Barry this Sunday May 19 on HBO.  For more on Barry including out-takes and behind the scenes extras, Visit www.hbo.com/barry for more on Barry including outtakes and behind-the-scenes extras.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kronos HR Solutions and BetterHelp.com.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Jordan Klepper Goes on the Frontlines of Change
46 perc 379. rész

Jordan Klepper returns to the podcast to talk about getting out of the studio and getting out in the real world again for his new Comedy Central docu-series Klepper.  He tells the story of a wrestling club in Texas that is helping veterans body slam their way through PTSD, what it says about how vets get treated by the VA and by their fellow Americans, and how Jordan faired when he donned a cape and got in the ring with them.  Then Jordan recalls sleeping in the swamp for two nights and capsizing his boat in the Louisiana bayou as part of a direct action protest.  He discusses how Georgia is making life difficult for children of undocumented workers and how they are looking to the civil rights movement of the 60’s for inspiration.  Plus Jordan opens up about the incident that got him arrested and his memorable stay in the Fulton County Jail.

Jordan Klepper's new series Klepper airs Thursdays at 10:30PM ET on Comedy Central.  Visit www.comedycentral.com for more information and follow Jordon on Twitter at @jordanklepper.  Today's episode was sponsored by SiriusXM radio.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Sir Kenneth Branagh Becomes the Bard
39 perc 378. rész

Oscar nominated actor and director Sir Kenneth Branagh is the greatest living interpreter of the works of William Shakespeare, and today he talks about his life long love of Shakespeare and stepping into the shoes of his hero for his new film All Is True.  Branagh discusses why he chose to focus on the three years following Shakespeare’s retirement and why he wasn’t afraid to deviate from the accepted biography and embrace the mystery around the man.  He talks about teaming up with writer Ben Elton, forgoing digital graphics in favor traditional matte painting techniques, and the makeup that transformed Kenneth Branagh into the bard himself.  Plus he weighs in on the rumors that the mysterious "dark lady" in Shakespeare’s love sonnets might not have been a lady at all, the sex scandals that embroiled Shakespeare's family in his final years, and speculation that William Shakespeare wasn't the real author of his famous plays.

Kenneth Branagh's film All Is True opens in New York and LA on Friday, May 10 followed by a wide release.  Check your local listings for showtimes.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Jared Diamond on Nations in Crisis
49 perc 377. rész

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 new 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 their democracy would fall to a bloody dictator, and he says this doesn’t bode well for the U.S.  He discusses why some countries like Germany choose to acknowledge their violent past while others like Indonesia choose to bury it.  Then he warns of two nations currently facing crises Japan, who suffers from crippling national debt and an aging/shrinking population, and the United States, where he says the decline of political compromise and voting rights is eroding our democracy.

Order Jared Diamond's terrific book Upheaval: Turning Points for Nations in Crisis on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold beginning Tuesday May 7.  Today's episode was sponsored by So, Bob podcast, SiriusXM radio, and Zebit.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

For Newt Gingrich, Collusion Makes Great Fiction
37 perc 376. rész

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich talks about his new political thriller Collusion: A Novel and how writing fiction has given him a chance to let his imagination run wild about the darker side of Washington.  He discusses why it’s almost impossible to make up a fictional super-villain like Vladimir Putin, his fascination Putin’s deadly penchant for high profile poisonings, and why he believes that Putin doesn’t mind taking the blame for those murders.  Plus he weighs in on President Trump’s Russia policy, the Mueller Report, what issues will drive the next election, and which Democrat could conceivably beat Donald Trump in 2020.

Order his book Collusion: A Novel on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with Newt at www.gingrich360.com, subscribe to his podcast Newt's World, and follow him on twitter at @newtgingrich.  Today's episode was sponsored by BetterHelp.com.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Rep. Seth Moulton Says the Presidency Is about Service not Ego
38 perc 375. rész

Congressman Seth Moulton talks about why he is running for President, what he sees as his path to the Democratic nomination, and how he plans to defeat President Donald Trump by running on Trump’s weakest issues.  He discusses why he chose do 4 tours of duty as a Marine in Iraq even though he personally opposed the war, what it was like working as a special liaison to tribal leaders in Southern Iraq, and what the experience taught him about compromise and bipartisanship. He reveals why he turned down the platinum health insurance afforded to members of Congress in favor of getting his healthcare at the Veterans Administration, what learned about what works and what doesn’t work at the V.A., and why he opposes a single payer healthcare program.  Plus we talk impeachment, abolishing the electoral college, and how he became the star of a popular Iraqi TV show “Moulton and Mohammed.”

Visit www.sethmoulton.com for more information on Congressman Seth Moulton or to donate/volunteer for his Presidential campaign, and follow him on Twitter at @sethmoulton.  Today's podcast was sponsored by SiriusXM radio, and the new Hulu original series RAMY.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Janet Napolitano on Homeland Security Since 9/11
47 perc 374. rész

Janet Napolitano served the 4th Secretary of Homeland Security less than a decade after 9/11, and on today's podcast, she reckons with the critics who call it a Frankenstein's Monster of government run amok and takes a hard look at the challenges we'll be facing as it evolves to fight terrorism 2.0.  She likens the job to finding a needle in a haystack and describes how she used methods like "pushing the borders" and TSA-pre-check to shrink that haystack.  She says it takes a "dark imagination" to be Secretary of Homeland Security, but even in her darkest imagination, she never envisioned a hostile foreign government like Russia would interfere in a US Presidential election.  She takes to task politicians who engage in "security theatre," and this former border state governor has a few choice words about President Trump's zero tolerance policy toward illegal immigration.  Plus Janet Napolitano weighs in on the college admissions scandal and outlines what she's doing to address the issue as President of the University of California Board of Regents. 

Order Janet Napolitano's new book How Safe Are We?: Homeland Security Since 9/11 on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Kronos, SiriusXM radio, and the new Hulu original series RAMY.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Google's Eric Schmidt on Silicon Valley's Trillion Dollar Coach
37 perc 373. rész

Former Google chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt discusses how former college football coach Bill Campbell mentored him and many of Silicon Valley's greatest visionaries from Jeff Bezos and Larry Page to Marc Andreessen and Steve Jobs.  Eric recalls how he initially reacted when venture capitalist John Doerr suggested that he work with a coach, how Coach Campbell helped shape the relationship between Eric and Google's founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and how the coach talked Eric out of resigning as Google’s CEO in 2004.  He shares how Bill Campbell coached teams more than individuals, and talks about the importance of trust and even love to a company's success.  Eric opens up about his decision to step down as Executive Chairman of Google's parent company Alphabet in 2017 and his next big bet on the positive potential of artificial intelligence.  Plus Eric Schmidt reveals why starting a meeting with some little polite chit-chat isn't just a waste of time and the power of hugs in the workplace.

Order Eric's book Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by the new Hulu original series RAMY.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Google's Eric Schmidt on Silicon Valley's Trillion Dollar Coach
0 perc 372. rész

Former Google chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt discusses how former college football coach Bill Campbell mentored him and many of Silicon Valley's greatest visionaries from Jeff Bezos and Larry Page to Marc Andreessen and Steve Jobs.  Eric recalls how he initially reacted when venture capitalist John Doerr suggested that he work with a coach, how Coach Campbell helped shape the relationship between Eric and Google's founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and how the coach talked Eric out of resigning as Google’s CEO in 2004.  He shares how Bill Campbell coached teams more than individuals, and talks about the importance of trust and even love to a company's success.  Eric opens up about his decision to step down as Executive Chairman of Google's parent company Alphabet in 2017 and his next big bet on the positive potential of artificial intelligence.  Plus Eric Schmidt reveals why starting a meeting with some little polite chit-chat isn't just a waste of time and the power of hugs in the workplace.

Order Eric's book Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by the new Hulu original series RAMY.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Valerie Jarrett Is the Ultimate Obama Insider
42 perc 371. rész

As the longest serving senior official in Obama White House, Valerie Jarrett was known as one who "got" President Obama and helped him engage his public life, but she was also an early mentor, trusted advisor, and family confidante to the Obamas for decades.  She remembers her first impression of Michelle and Barack Obama in 1991, shares her unique perspective on their marriage, and tells the story of the time when Michelle Obama recruited her to help convince a young Barack Obama to give up politics and get “a real job.”  She talks about being the person who kept President Obama connected to the world outside of Washington as director of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and how her own experience as a single working mom influenced her to advocate for women and families.  She describes the surreal/heartbreaking experience of watching the 2016 election returns with the Obamas in the White House residence, how she's been handling the Trump Presidency, and a few of her “pinch me moments” from her 8 years in the Obama Administration.  

Order her book Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by the new Hulu original series RAMY.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

In Therapy w/ Lori Gottlieb
44 perc 370. rész

Bestselling psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb talks about the event that led her to seek help for herself, what it was like to switch roles and be the patient on the couch, and how her own quirky therapist got to the underlying issues of in life.  She discusses some of her favorite patients including an insufferable Hollywood producer, a newlywed diagnosed with terminal cancer, and the patient who she says was "like looking in a mirror."  Lori offers some ideas for how to address the mental health crisis in America and she weighs in on the ongoing debate among those in her profession over the Goldwater Rule.  Plus Lori reveals whether she’s ever dozed off on a patient, why her own therapist once kicked her in session, and what her colleagues think about her pulling back the curtain on psychotherapy. 

Order her book Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Visit her website at LoriGottlieb.com and follow her on twitter at @LoriGottlieb1. Today's podcast was sponsored by BetterHelp.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listeners survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

George Papadopoulos on Mueller Investigation Intrigue
44 perc 369. rész

As America waits for the full Mueller Report, I talk with the first Trump official to plead guilty in the Mueller Investigation.  George Papadopoulos was the young foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign who reportedly told an Australian diplomat that Russia had thousands of hacked emails that could damage Hillary Clinton and tip the 2016 election to Donald Trump.  He talks about the Maltese professor who first told him about the Clinton emails and why the mysterious professor has now vanished.  I ask him whether he ever attempted to take the professor up on his offer, whether he reported news of the emails back to the Trump campaign, and why he didn’t take this information to U.S. authorities at the time.  Papadopoulos explains why he refused to wear a wire for the FBI, why he says he didn’t intend to lie to the Mueller Investigation, and why he now believes that he was a "patsy" in what may have otherwise been a legitimate investigation into Donald Trump’s connections to Russia.  Plus he discusses why he’s considering withdrawing his guilty plea and whether he might get a pardon from President Trump himself.

Order his book Deep State Target: How I Got Caught in the Crosshairs of the Plot to Bring Down President Trump on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by The Rochester Institute of Technology.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listeners survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Chelsea Handler's Crush on Robert Mueller
54 perc 368. rész

Comedian Chelsea Handler recalls her anger in the wake of the 2016 election and how Donald Trump became the unlikely catalyst for Chelsea to work through some unresolved personal issues with the help of a clever psychiatrist named Dan.  She discusses her decision to walk away from her Netflix talk show in order to dedicate herself to political activism and campaigning for minority and female candidates in 2018.  Chelsea opens up about how the sudden death of her favorite brother impacted every relationship she has had since then, she says she's finally ready to find a serious partner now, and she lists some of her dealbreakers for a potential mate.  Chelsea talks about the moment she realized she was incapable of operating her own television or making herself a cup of coffee, how she cured herself of “domestic amnesia," and she describes the humbling experience of making a documentary about white privilege.  Plus we get into her deep attraction to Robert Mueller, her obsession with rescuing Chow-Chows, how to fake a Jewish funeral, and more.

Order Chelsea Hander's new book Life Will Be the Death of Me: . . . and you too! on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with Chelsea at www.chelseahandler.com and follow her on Twitter at @ChelseaHandler.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Kronos and Zebit.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listeners survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Wyatt Cenac Fixes America One Problem at a Time
40 perc 367. rész

Comedian Wyatt Cenac discusses how he wanted to distinguish his HBO docuseries Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas from his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show including forgoing the traditional studio audience and creating a fun retro 70s look for the show.  He talks about checking his own biases to explore different perspectives on the contentious issue of policing urban communities, what he wants to learn about America’s education system in Season 2 of Problem Areas, and why the topic of school choice is so controversial.  Plus we get into the college admissions scandal, goat yoga, and more.

Season 2 of Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas debuts Friday, April 5 at 11 p.m. ET on HBO.  Visit www.wyattcenac.com for more info on Wyatt including his upcoming standup dates and follow him on twitter at @WyattCenac.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listeners survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Preet Bharara Says Justice Isn't Just for Lawyers
35 perc 366. rész

Preet Bharara talks about his eight years as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, what movies and TV get wrong about criminal investigations, and why the job is more than just "connecting the dots" or "following the money."  He says if you want to get a confession out of a bad guy, food works better than playing hardball, he discusses the devil's bargain of cutting deals with cooperating witnesses, and why sometimes the cases you don’t prosecute are just as important as the ones you do.  Plus Preet weigh in on the Mueller Report, whether U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr’s interpretation of the report can be trusted, why Mueller didn’t make any recommendations, and whether Mueller intended to "punt" those decisions to Congress rather than Barr.

Order Preet Bharara's book Doing Justice: A Prosecutor's Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Subscribe to his podcast Stay Tuned with Preet on Apple Podcasts and follow him on Twitter at @PreetBharara.  Today's podcast was sponsored by BetterHelp.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listeners survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Stacey Abrams Talks Politics, Star Trek, and 2020
39 perc 365. rész

Stacey Abrams has become a political superstar since running for governor of Georgia in 2018 and delivering the Democratic response to President Trump's State of the Union this February.  We talk about her private meeting with Joe Biden, the rumors of a Biden-Abrams ticket in 2020, and what issues she’d campaign on if she does run for national office.  She discusses making history as Georgia House Minority Leader and her party’s nominee for governor, why she refused to concede defeat in the 2018 gubernatorial race, and why she believes widespread voter suppression tipped that election to her opponent.  She explains the careful balancing act of being a woman of color in a position of power, why minority politicians undergo way more financial scrutiny than their white colleagues, and how the Republican Governors Association mocked her for daring to seek higher office as a woman.  Stacey also admits to being a Star Trek: Next Generation "super-fan" and reveals what the show can teach us about outsider politics.  She shares her personal philosophy of "work-life jenga," talks about moonlighting as a successful romance novelist, and opens up about finally making time for dating and romance in her own life.

Order Stacey Abrams' new book Lead from the Outside:
How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Learn more about Stacey’s voting rights group Fair Fight Action at www.fairfightaction.com,
and follow her on twitter at @staceyabrams.  Today's podcast was sponsored by The Rochester Institute of Technology and Brother INKvestment printers.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on Twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and take our short listeners survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick.

Jeff Bridges Gets Zen About Art, Acting, and the Environment (rerun)
48 perc 364. rész

 

 

Jeff Bridges discusses his 6 decades in Hollywood and what he learned about acting from dad Lloyd Bridges.  He recalls the "Little Rascals" version of Tucker that he and Francis Ford Coppola made prior to filming, laughing it up with Robin Williams and Terry Gilliam on the set of The Fisher King, and how he and his brother Beau tested each other in The Fabulous Baker Boys.  He shares stories about making The Last Picture Show, King Kong, Heaven's Gate, The Contender, and True Grit.  He talks about his Big Lebowski fandom, how he feels about being identified with his iconic character "the Dude," and why he says the Dude is a zenmaster.  Then Jeff Bridges gets zen about the environment with his new documentary Living in the Future's Past.  He discusses how we can take a more global approach to climate change, explains the evolutionary roots of our energy consumption, and says humans collectively form a super-organism that is exhausting resources at a faster and faster pace.  He calls for the removal of politics from the climate debate and suggests how everyone can make individual changes that can have a big impact.

Keep up with Jeff at www.jeffbridges.com and be sure to catch his film Living in the Future's Past.  This podcast was sponsored by Heineken and Espresso Monster.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Drs. Warren Farrell and John Gray Warn That Boys Are In Crisis
42 perc 363. rész

Bestselling authors Dr. Warren Farrell (Why Men Are The Way They Are) and Dr. John Gray (Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus) warn that boys around the world are in crisis and say it's largely the result of a crisis of fathers who suffer from a "purpose void" as their traditional role is being diminished. They reveal how moms and dads parent differently and how fathers use things like rough-housing with the kids to establish boundaries.  They discuss how the lack of boundaries can lead to ADD and ADHD in young men and caution parents to focus on the root cause of ADD before they resort to drugs like Aderall.  They talk about the difficulty they’ve had getting lawmakers to take the boy crisis seriously and offer some recommendations for how the government and our schools can help address this growing problem.

Order John and Warren's new book The Boy Crisis: Why Our Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It on Amazon and learn more at www.boycrisis.org.  Keep up with Warren at www.warrenfarrell.com or on twitter at @drwarrenfarrell, and follow John at www.MarsVenus.com or on twitter at @RealJohnGray. Today's podcast was sponsored by Brother INKvestment tank printers.

Alyssa Mastromonaco on Surviving Presidential Travel, IBS, and "Beaver Fever"
48 perc 362. rész

Alyssa Mastromonaco spent 6 years in the Obama White House as assistant to the president, director of scheduling and advance, and deputy chief of staff for operations.  She says working in the West Wing is a lot like VEEP and recalls some of the lighter moments including getting down on the dance-floor with Michelle Obama,
impersonating a hedge hog for President Obama,
and the time the leader of the free world tried to play matchmaker. She opens up about her at times comical struggles with irritable bowel syndrome including a few close calls at the most inconvenient moments, and the time that she contracted something called "beaver fever" (yes, it’s a real thing) during a state dinner in Tanzania.  She reveals all the care and protocol that went into every foreign trip she planned for President Obama, and why it was more than a little disheartening to watch President Trump bungle his way through a hastily thrown together North Korea summit.  She also warns that Trump’s use of a personal iPhone is a major security risk, she predicts what Democrats will be looking for in 2020, and she advises Dems to banish the term socialism from their vocabulary.

Order Alyssa Mastromonaco's book So Here's the Thing: Notes on Growing Up, Getting Older, and Trusting Your Gut on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Follow her on twitter at @AlyssaMastro44.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Kronos and BetterHelp.  Please take our annual podcast listener survey and register to win a $100 Amazon gift card at www.podsurvey.com/kick.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review.  Follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.  Visit our website at www.kickassnews.com.

Bryan Callen Believes We're All Complicated Apes
51 perc 361. rész

Actor/comedian Bryan Callen (THE GOLDBERGS, SCHOOLED, HANGOVER I & II) shares how his childhood growing up in countries all over the world inspired him to question labels and defy categorization, and he discusses his particular issue with the catch all term "Asians" to describe 48 different nationalities.  We talk about the polarizing effect of political parties, why he believes that liberals and conservatives share the same fundamental values, and why everyone should demand to be treated like a verb instead of a noun.  Bryan gets into the problem of political correctness and says that standup comedy is probably the last bastion of free speech in America.  We talk about how he became associated with mixed martial arts, what it’s like inside the surprisingly inclusive world of MMA, and how women in the UFC cured him of chauvinism.  Plus Bryan thinks he’d be a terrible border patrol agent, his proposal to make the world a better place thought "idea sex," and why at the end of the day we're all just complicated apes.  

Don't miss Bryan's new comedy special BRYAN CALLEN: COMPLICATED APES now available on Comcast, DirecTV, Spectrum, AT&T, Dish, Cox, iTunes, Google Play, PlayStation, Xbox, and many more.  Watch Bryan on his ABC shows THE GOLDBERGS and SCHOOLED, subscribe to his podcasts THE FIGHTER AND THE KID and MIXED MENTAL ARTS on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen, and follow him on twitter at @bryancallen.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Brother INKvestment tank printers.

Arthur Brooks Rejects the Politics of Outrage and Culture of Contempt
47 perc 360. rész

Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, returns to the podcast to call on Americans to reject the culture of contempt and the outrage industrial complex.  He talks about the event that woke him up to the ugliness of our political discourse two and a half years before the 2016 election.  He pulls back the curtain on how political parties are pushing us farther apart and how talking heads in the media are profitting from stoking division and hate.  Arthur reveals the connection between trolling on social media and personality disorders and his own strategy for handling angry emails and twitter trolls.  He shares what we can learn about civility from the Dalai Lama and a leading marriage counselor.  We discuss the power of stories to bridge divides and the necessity of the competition of ideas to a health democracy.  Plus, Arthur shares what he thinks about President Trump’s two hour speech at last week’s CPAC conference, the time he got mistaken for a Mormon (and loved every minute of it), and why this free-market conservative says everyone needs a friend like Cornel West or Robert George.  

Order Arthur's book Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Subscribe to The Arthur Brooks Show wherever you listen podcasts and follow him on twitter at @arthurbrooks.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Brother INKvestment Tank Printers and season 2 of Breach podcast.  Please take our annual podcast listener survey and register to win a $100 Amazon gift card at www.podsurvey.com/kick.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and visit our website at www.kickassnews.com.

Into the Danger Zone w/ Captain Dan Pederson
46 perc 359. rész

On the 50th Anniversary of the Navy's legendary fighter pilot school known as Top Gun, the founder Captain Dan Pederson discusses how the pilot losses he witnessed in the Vietnam War led to the formation of Top Gun, how he and the other original "9 bros" got it up and running in just a matter of weeks with little or no funding, and what they looked for in new recruits.  He recalls the days before Top Gun when aerial combat training was banned by the military and how he and his fellow pilots learned their skills at a secret fight club in the sky off the coast of San Diego.  He talks about getting to train against real Russian MIG fighter jets at the most classified location in America, the mental and physical stamina required to perform the kind of aerial acrobatics taught at Top Gun, and the toll that it can take on a pilot’s personal life.  Plus Dan shares what the famous movie Top Gun gets wrong, he reveals the absolute worst weather to fly in, and he offers a few choice words about the Pentagon’s current reliance on the costly F-35 fighter jet.

Order Captain Dan Pederson's book TOP GUN: AN AMERICAN STORY on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Please take our annual podcast listener survey and register to win a $100 Amazon gift card at www.podsurvey.com/kick.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and visit our website at www.kickassnews.com.

Roger McNamee Says Facebook Undermines Democracy
49 perc 358. rész

Roger McNamee was a mentor to a young Mark Zuckerberg and an early investor in Facebook, but now he warns that the social media platform has become a threat to democracy, privacy, competition, and even public health.  He talks about when he noticed the first signs that not all was well at Facebook and what happened when he brought his concerns to his old friend.  He discusses the role that Facebook played in the 2016 election, how its algorithms are actually designed to polarize and spread disinformation, and how Russian trolls and companies like Cambridge Analytica were able to exploit those flaws.  Roger shares how Facebook employs tricks from psychology and slot machines to keep us coming back for more, and how you’re paying for the service with your personal data.

Order Roger McNamee's book Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Today’s podcast sponsored by Brother INKestment printers, BetterHelp, and season 2 of Breach podcast. Please support the show by taking our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick, and register to win a $100 Amazon gift card.   Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and visit our website at www.kickassnews.com.

The Man Who Caught El Chapo
39 perc 357. rész

For 30 years, DEA special agent Jack Riley led the manhunt for the world’s most wanted drug-lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.   He reveals how El Chapo cleverly wrangled the cocaine trade from the Columbian cartels, how he saw America’s growing opiod epidemic as an opportunity to branch out into meth and heroine, and how he managed to run a multi-billion dollar drug empire from a Mexican prison (until he escaped).  Jack discusses being on the dangerous front-lines of the war on drugs as head of the DEA’s El Paso, TX office, how it led to $100,000 price on his head, and what he learned about policing the border, how drugs get into America, and where they go from there.  He reveals how Guzman escaped capture so many times,  and how the Mexican government had to postpone a raid on his compound because of actor Sean Penn.  We talk about the recent El Chapo trial, the US opiod epidemic and what needs to be done to address it, criminal justice reform, Donald Trump’s wall, and Trump’s wild assertion that El Chapo put out a hit on him.

Order Jack Riley’s new book Drug Warrior: Inside the Hunt for El Chapo and the Rise of America's Opioid Crisis on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Today’s podcast sponsored by Brother Printers INKvestment printer.  Please support the show by taking our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick, and register to win a $100 Amazon gift card.   Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and visit our website at www.kickassnews.com.

The French Intellectual Who Loves America
48 perc 356. rész

France’s leading public intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy accuses President Trump of following the same path of retreat begun by Barack Obama and suggests it has created a void that is now being filled by five old-world empires that are making an unlikely resurgence. Bernard-Henri talks about the Iran Nuclear deal and the larger problem of the Middle East, he discusses his long association with the Kurds who he says represent a hopeful new path for Islam, and he recalls his own role in the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi. He also gets into Russia’s election meddling and what he calls the assault on truth, why he worries that Brexit could lead to end of EU, and the rise of nationalism in his own country represented by the yellow vest protests.

Order his book The Empire and the Five Kings: America's Abdication and the Fate of the World on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Please support the show by taking our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick, and register to win a $100 Amazon gift card. Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review, follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod, and visit our website at www.kickassnews.com.

Parag Khanna Says the Future Is Asian
44 perc 355. rész

Parag Khanna says America has a China problem and the solution is Asia.  He suggests that rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership and building stronger ties with other countries in the region are much more effective and less risky ways to gain leverage over China than a direct trade war.  He reveals what President Trump gets wrong when he says that America holds all the cards with China, and suggests that Trump’s tariffs may actually hasten China’s push to become self-sufficient.  He talks about the booming markets emerging in other parts of Asia and how leading American tech companies are getting in on the game by signing major manufacturing agreements in place like India, South Korea, and Vietnam.  Parag also discusses the growing cultural influence represented by the hit movie Crazy Rich Asians and discusses a new trend of Asian-Americans crossing back over the Pacific to pursue opportunities as "American-Asians."

Order Parag Khanna's new book THE FUTURE IS ASIAN on Amazon or Audible, and follow him at ParagKhanna.com or on twitter at @ParagKhanna.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kronos and BetterHelp.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and rate and review the podcast.  Like Kickass News on Facebook and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.  For more interesting stuff, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com.

 

The Dangerous World of Larry Charles
55 perc 354. rész

Legendary comedy writer and director Larry Charles (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Borat) talks about traveling the world in search of humor in the most unusual, unexpected and deadliest places for his new Netflix series Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy.  He talks about meeting former child soldiers who perform standup in a cemetery in Liberia, the "Jon Stewart" of Iraq who has a price on his head, and the imprisoned terrorist who wanted to show Larry the lighter side of ISIS.  Larry also tells stories about working on the early seasons of Seinfeld, why Kramer was his favorite character to write for, and what he says Seinfeld has in common with Superman.  He shares how Larry David used to fight with audiences in comedy clubs, why David threw a fit when NBC wanted to move Seinfeld to the most coveted time slot in television, and what it’s like to direct Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm.  We discuss how Borat and Bruno exposed racist and authoritarian leanings in the US and abroad long before 2016, why Larry Charles had to play a character while he was directing those movies, and the crazy amount of commitment it required from that hilarious mad genius Sacha Baron Cohen.  Plus, what it was like to grow up in Brooklyn’s Trump Village (yes, that Trump!), how Larry went from selling drugs to selling jokes outside the Comedy Store in Hollywood, and the one country that scared the living hell out of him while making Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy

Watch all four episodes of Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy available on Netflix now.  Follow Larry on Twitter at @LarryCharlesisms.  Today's episode was sponsored by Brother INKvestment Tank Printers.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and rate and review the podcast.  Like Kickass News on Facebook and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.  For more interesting stuff, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com.

 

Governor Chris Christie Gets the Last Word
39 perc 353. rész

Former NJ Governor Chris Christie sets the record straight about his tenure as a corruption-busting prosecutor and a Republican running a Democratic state, as well as what really happened on the 2016 campaign trail and inside Trump Tower.  He recalls how his friendship with Donald Trump began and the nasty details of the infamous Charles Kushner case that would later come back to haunt him.  He talks about why he passed on running for President in 2012, Hurricane Sandy and that notorious Obama hug (which he says wasn’t really a hug), and how the Romney campaign used it as a scapegoat for their own candidate’s shortcomings.  Christie reveals that he even had to convince his own son that he had nothing to do with the George Washington Bridge closure and in the end it boiled down to stupid people doing stupid things.  I ask him if he thinks the Trump-Russia collusion may turn out to be a similar situation, he says he could tell General Mike Flynn was trouble from day one, he talks about his former colleagues Bob Mueller and James Comey, and he shares the advice he gave President Trump when the whole Russia investigation began.  He reveals why he believed he was going to be tapped as Trump’s running mate, how Jared Kushner tossed out the entire Trump transition plan just to get even with him, and the day he finally got fed up and said "I’m done."  Plus Chris Christie on how he became the first Youtube Governor, why he unfollowed every New Jersey reporter on Twitter, and why it took him 3 months to convince Donald Trump to cash his check.

Order Chris Christie's book Let Me Finish: Trump, the Kushners, Bannon, New Jersey, and the Power of In-Your-Face Politics on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Follow him on twitter at @ChrisChristie.  Today's episode was sponsored by BetterHelp.com.

Madeleine Albright Warns That Fascism Is Making a Comeback
43 perc 352. rész

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 powers, not a bloody coup, and in her experience, dictators can be surprisingly normal and polite despite their monstrous cruelty.  She discusses the upcoming summit between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, says Putin plays a poor hand well and Trump plays a good hand poorly, and calls out Donald Trump as "the least democratic President in American history."

Order Madeleine Albright's book Fascism: A Warning on Amazon and follow her on twitter at @madeleine.  Today's episode was sponsored by BetterHelp.com.

National Geographic Chair Jean Case on Being Fearless
50 perc 351. rész

Former AOL exec and chairman of National Geographic Society Jean Case talks about her new book Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose.  She says leaders need to start viewing risk as R&D and failure as a learning experience.  In fact, Jean Case encourages people to talk about their own mistakes by sharing her own "failure resume" and hosting "fail tests."  She discusses why CEO’s need to get out of their bubble and get uncomfortable, and how greater diversity actually affects an organization's bottom line.  Plus she reveals the coolest thing about being the first female chairman of the National Geographic Society and talks about National Geographic’s history of fearless women going back over 125 years.

Order Jean's book Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose on Amazon and learn more about the Case Foundation at www.casefoundation.org.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kronos Payroll Solutions, Blinkist, and Homesick Candles.

Marc Freedman on Connecting the Generations
55 perc 350. rész

Encore.org founder Marc Freedman says seniors are an untapped resource and calls on society to stop segregating the elderly from society and renew the bond between young and old.  Marc talks about the mentors who influenced his life, what we can learn from the movie The Intern, and the evidence that shows that seniors who take an interest in a young person actually live longer, happier lives.  He talks about the elderly neighbors who act as "surrogate grandparents" to his own children, calls out the interests who are trying to pit baby boomers and millennials against each other, and reveals why artificial intelligence may create greater demand for the kind of interactions that only seniors can offer.  Plus we talk about the starry eyed dreamer who accidently created an "age apartheid," how Otto Von Bismark decided your retirement age, and why your kid’s next college roommate might be older than you are!

Be sure to visit Encore.org for more information and order Marc Freedman's book How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Homesick Candles.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

White House Aide Cliff Sims Tells All
38 perc 349. rész

Cliff Sims recalls his time as President Trump's Director of Messaging Strategy in a chaotic White House that he likens to "Game of Thrones with the cast of VEEP."  He shares the real story behind the fiasco around Trump’s inauguration numbers, how the administration takes disorganization to a whole new level, and how many times the President’s senior staff learn of about major policy decisions on cable news.  He recalls helping President Trump draft his notorious "enemies list," how he learned that Kelly Anne Conway was leaking to the press, and why he believes former WH Chief of Staff John Kelly had it in for him.  He discusses how he reconciles his own conservative evangelical values with the President’s less than Christian behavior, how he came to grips with the hard learned lesson that everyone is disposable to Donald Trump, and why he still respects the President even after Trump disavowed Sims and his book in typical Trump fashion - via an angry tweet.  Plus the Mooch is on loose, Sean Spicer needs a refrigerator, and the greatest mystery of all - Donald Trump’s hair!

Order his latest book Team of Vipers: My 500 Extraordinary Days in the Trump White House on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Today's podcast was sponsored by BetterHelp and Homesick Candles.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Rock Star Scientist Professor Brian Cox
57 perc 348. rész

Science Communicator Professor Brian Cox reveals why he left a popular rock band for a career in particle physics, what he is learning through his participation in the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, and why he says the LHC has disproven the existence of ghosts.  He discusses Brexit, the vital link between democracy and science, and his concern over the growing education disparity.  He talks about walking in the footsteps of his hero Carl Sagan as a leading science communicator, the scientific concept that he has the hardest time explaining to non-scientists, and how the digital effects wizards behind the movie INTERSTELLAR are helping him elucidate the wonders of the universe in his spectacular new live show UNIVERSAL: ADVENTURES IN SPACE AND TIME.  Plus Brian says he's ready to call a truce in his ongoing feud with Deepak Chopra.

Visit www.profbriancoxlive.com for dates, tickets and information for Brian Cox's live tour UNIVERSAL: ADVENTURES IN SPACE AND TIME.  Subscribe to Brian’s podcast THE INFINITE MONKEY CAGE and follow him on twitter at @ProfBrianCox. Today's podcast was sponsored by Homesick Candles, Flatiron School, and Blinkist. Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Filmmaker Joe Berlinger Goes in the Dark Mind of Ted Bundy
43 perc 347. rész

Award-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Brother's Keeper, The Paradise Lost trilogy) reexamines America's most notorious serial killer on the 30th anniversary of his execution in his new Netflix documentary Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes.  He discusses how one of Bundy’s first jobs gave him an inside view of the flaws in America’s law enforcement system, how Bundy exploited those weaknesses to his own devilish advantage,
and how it led to dramatic changes in how the FBI hunts serial killers and how state and local police share information.  We talk about how Ted Bundy’s clean cut good looks helped him elude capture, and the movie heart-throb who Joe Berlinger cast as Bundy in his new feature film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.  We talk about the media circus that turned Ted Bundy into a household name, the influence that the Bundy trial had on the true crime genre, and why Berlinger, known as the father of the true crime documentary, doesn’t actually like the term "true crime."

Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes is available on Netflix beginning January 24 and look for Joe's feature film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend and in theatres soon.  Keep up with Joe at www.joeberlinger.com or on Twitter at @JoeBerlinger.  Today's episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Dr. Phil Says People Never Stop Surprising Him
51 perc 346. rész

Dr. Phil McGraw says that some of his guests still surprise him even after 2000+ episodes of his #1 daytime talk show The Dr. Phil Show.  He recalls how losing a football game in junior high school inspired him to go into psychology, what it was like to go into practice with his father, and why he eventually decided to go from getting into the minds of his patients to getting into the minds of juries as a trial consultant.  He explains how that put him into contact with Oprah Winfrey, how he convinced her to move her entire TV operation to Amarillo, Texas for 3 months during the famous mad cow beef trial, and why he was initially hesitant when Oprah first invited him to come on her show.  He discusses his belief that problems are complex but solutions are often fairly simple, but he also says don’t be fooled by the magic of television and his easy going manner.  He says hours of research and peer review by America’s top doctors go into every single episode of The Dr. Phil Show.  He shares a little relationship advice from his 42 years of marriage, how his wife Robin is the "Dr Phil to Dr Phil" who always keeps him in check, and why Robin still sits in the audience of every taping of his show.  Then Dr Phil discusses how his new podcast Phil in the Blanks is a welcome chance to interview interesting people without the pressure of having to solve their problems, why he desperately wants to get O.J. Simpson on the show, and why he's planning to enter the popular true crime genre for his next project.  Plus why he never volunteers advice to his friends, what he would say if he was mediating the government shutdown negotiations, and he weighs in on the prospect of an Oprah for President campaign in 2020.

Subscribe to Dr. Phil's new podcast Phil in the Blanks
on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify, and visit www.drphilintheblanks.com for more information and upcoming guests.  The Dr. Phil Show airs weekdays and you can go to www.drphil.com to find your local listings.  Follow Phil McGraw on Twitter at @DrPhil.  Today's episode is sponsored by Flatiron School.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Dr. Steven Pinker Says Good News Is a Hard Sell
54 perc 345. rész

A year ago, Dr. Steven Pinker's book Enlightenment Now made headlines for giving hard data that proved that the world is safer, happier, and freer than ever, but he was surprised by how many people just don't want to believe good news!  Today Dr. Pinker returns to the podcast to review the metrics of societal progress that continue to show that the world just keeps getting better, but he also discusses two areas that give him cause for concern.  Steven Pinker ponders whether the immigration debate might actually be a positive turning point as polls show that Americans are rejecting alternative facts and alarmism.  He reveals how genetics may play a part in our political preferences and explores how linguistics can make for more productive political discussions.  Dr. Pinker recalls growing up during the turbulent 60’s in Montreal and how he went from a teenage anarchist to a leading proponent of science, reason, humanism, and progress.  Plus we discuss his ongoing fight against political correctness, why we need to stop giving words too much power, and why he says those baby boomers who say millenials are a generation of snowflakes have no one but themselves.

Order his latest book Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with him on Twitter at @sapinker or at www.stevenpinker.com.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Blinkist.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Howie Mandel's Audience Is His Muse
57 perc 344. rész

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 HBO YOUNG COMEDIANS SPECIAL changed his life, and the time when a sitcom audition led to his getting cast in the serious TV medical drama SAINT ELSEWHERE. Howie reveals why he originally turned down the offer to host DEAL OR NO DEAL and the anxiety he gets whenever he sees contestants making bad decisions on the show.  He opens up about his struggle with obsessive compulsive disorder, and how he went from fearing that it might be a career killer to using his fame to raise awareness of mental health issues.  Plus Howie Mandel gives the secret to winning the golden buzzer on AMERICA'S GOT TALENT.

Howie's new comedy special HOWIE MANDEL PRESENTS HOWIE MANDEL AT THE HOWIE MANDEL COMEDY CLUB this Friday Jan 18 at 10PM E/P on Showtime.  DEAL OR NO DEAL airs Wednesdays at 9AM ET on CNBC and AGT: CHAMPIONS airs Mondays on NBC at 8PM ET.  Follow Howie on Twitter at @HowieMandel.  Today's episode is sponsored by Flatiron School and Hackable podcast.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Broad City's Abbi Jacobson on the Road Trip as Therapy
51 perc 343. rész

Abbi Jacobson opens up about the frustrations of TV development hell, playing “herself” on Comedy Central’s Broad City, and being a woman in a position of power.  She discusses her ongoing struggle with work-life balance, how it took a book deal just to make her take 3 weeks off to travel the country and get over a broken heart, and how that trip taught her that “the things we’re most afraid of, are the things that will most change us.”  Abbi reveals how she and co-creator Ilana Wexler got Amy Poehler to champion Broad City for television, how they convinced Hillary Clinton to guest star in the middle of the election, and what you can learn about a TV network from the snack selection in the lobby.  Plus Abbi Jacobson talks aura readings in Sedona, feeling a little out of place at a Mormon lodge in Utah, and why a bed and breakfast is the worst place to go when you just want to be alone!

Order Abbi's new book I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff on Amazon or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with Abbi on Twitter at @AbbiJacobson, and don’t miss the final season of Broad City beginning January 24 on Comedy Central.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Brad Meltzer on the Secret Plot to Kill George Washington
53 perc 342. rész

Brad Meltzer is the #1 bestselling author of political thrillers like The Escape Artist and The Inner Circle.  Today he talks about making his first foray into nonfiction for his latest book The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington, all the research that went into it, and his initial concern that a long forgotten rumor of a secret plot to assassinate America’s founding father might turn out to be just that - a rumor.  He tells the story of America’s "other Benedict Arnold" and the deadly conspiracy by some of the very men charged with protecting George Washington’s life.  He reveals how the incident gave birth to American counterintelligence, why Washington wasted no time in making an example of one of the traitor, and why there was a deliberate effort to cover-up the plot to kill Washington for more than 240 years.  Plus he shares some of the wild conspiracy theories he hears from his fans at book signings, his alarm over the explosion of conspiracy thinking and paranoia in American politics, and a few memories of his friend the late President George H.W. Bush.

Order THE FIRST CONSPIRACY: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington on Amazon or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with Brad at BradMeltzer.com or on twitter at @BradMeltzer.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Bill Murray (Rerun)
39 perc 341. rész

Actor Bill Murray (Lost in Translation, Rushmore) discusses how his music and poetry album New Worlds evolved out of a chance meeting with classical cellist Jan Vogler on a flight from Berlin to NYC. Plus, Bill Murray shares his philosophy of life, his favorite American humorists, and his thoughts on being an internet folk hero.

New Worlds is available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you buy music.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Bob Woodward on Nixon, Impeachment, & How Power Corrupts (Rerun)
41 perc 340. rész

Today's episode is a rerun of my interview with journalist Bob Woodward that originally aired 11/04/15.  Bob talks about his book "THE LAST OF THE PRESIDENT'S MEN" which chronicles the White House career of Alexander Butterfield, who served as deputy assistant to President Nixon.  Through countless documents and hours of interviews, Butterfield gave Bob Woodward a revealing glimpse into the disfunction, paranoia, and corruption in the Nixon White House.  Woodward talks about how Alex Butterfield oversaw the installation of the infamous taping machine in the Oval Office and served as the right-hand man to Nixon Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman.  We'll talk about the isolated world of Richard Nixon, Nixon's relationship with his wife and with Henry Kissinger, Nixon's awkward though likely unconsummated flirtations with White House secretaries, and the chip on Nixon's shoulder that haunted him his entire life.  Plus we'll talk about the man known as "Deep Throat."

If you enjoy this episode, then go to Amazon to order Bob Woodward's fascinating new book "THE LAST OF THE PRESIDENT'S MEN."

Remembering Anthony Bourdain (Rerun)
36 perc 339. rész

Today's episode is a rerun of an interview with Anthony Bourdain that originally aired 10/12/17.  Anthony speaks candidly about the problem of food waste, who is to blame, and who is working on solutions.  He discusses how he and his fellow chefs have been fighting this battle for years in their own kitchens, including embracing the "snout to tail" movement, renaming so called "trash fish," and even turning table scraps into delicious pork.  He also shares how he manages to juggle his a hectic travel schedule, waxes about his love of Vietnam, and reveals some of his most cherished comfort foods.  Plus, Tony and I gripe about California's newly revived foie gras ban and the term "foodie."

Anthony Bourdain's new documentary Wasted: The Story of Food Waste is available in the theatres, on demand, on Amazon, and on iTunes beginning this Friday, October 13.  Visit www.wastedfilm.com for more information.  Keep up with Anthony Bourdain on his website www.explorepartsunknown.com or on Twitter at @Bourdain.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan on Becoming Laurel & Hardy
43 perc 338. rész

John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan discuss their childhood love of the Laurel & Hardy movies, stepping into the shoes of the legendary comedy duo for their new film Stan & Ollie, and the transformation that allowed John to step in the famously large pants of Oliver Hardy.  They share how Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy's 35 year showbiz partnership was a lot like a marriage, what it was like for Steve and John to find that same chemistry (having never worked together before), and how their director's emergency apendactomy gave them an opportunity to bond during an impromptu pilgrimage to Stan Laurel's hometown in England.  Plus John C. Reilly talks about being part of another famous comedy duo with Will Ferrell, Steve and John reveal how they recreated some of Laurel and Hardy's most iconic routines, and we debate the pros and cons of the old Hollywood studio system and the controversy over Oliver Hardy’s most memorable line.

Stan & Ollie which opens in theatres in New York and Los Angeles this Friday December 28.  Visit www.sonyclassics.com/stanandollie for showtimes and more information.  Today's podcast was sponsored by BetDSI.com.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Leon Panetta on Governing by Leadership Instead of by Crisis
37 perc 337. rész

Leon Panetta talks about hard decisions, worthy fights, and "governing by leadership instead of by crisis."  He recalls growing up in Monterey, California as the first generation of Italian immigrants and warns the Trump Administration’s harsh immigration policies could mean fewer immigrant success stories like his own.  He reveals how he started out his political career as a Republican until President Richard Nixon fired him for daring to enforce civil rights.  He shares some early lessons in political civility and bipartisanship from his mentor Senator Thomas Kuchel and how those lessons served him well as a Congressman and President Bill Clinton’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget.  He discusses stepping in as Clinton’s Chief of Staff during a particularly chaotic time in his Presidency, how his early military training helped him get the White House in shape, and some words of advice he recently shared with President Trump’s outgoing Chief of Staff John Kelly.  Panetta admits to his surprise when years later President Obama tapped him for Director of the CIA, opens up about what went through his mind as he watched the Bin Laden raid go down, and says that Obama’s failure to enforce his own red line on Syria’s chemical weapons may have embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Learn more about the Panetta Institute for Public Policy at www.panettainstitute.org.  Thank you to the Ronald Reagan National Defense Forum and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum for hosting this interview.  Today's podcast was sponsored by the new Wondery podcast Safe for Work and Ben Sasse's audiobook Them: Why We Hate Each Other and How to Heal.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

The Office's Paul Lieberstein Turns Back Pain into Laughs
41 perc 336. rész

Paul Lieberstein (THE OFFICE) talks about his 20 year struggle with crippling back pain inspired his funny and moving directorial debut film SONG OF BACK AND NECK.  He shares how the king of indie filmmaking Mark Duplass convinced him to make the movie himself rather than selling it to a Hollywood studio, how he made something as seemingly mundane as back pain visually interesting on the screen, and the complications that arise when you're directing yourself.  We talk about his nine seasons playing Toby on THE OFFICE and what it was like to do double duty as actor and show runner.  He reveals that NBC initially didn’t think the show would last more than a few episodes and weighs in recent talk of an OFFICE revival.  Plus, he addresses how THE OFFICE’s Michael Scott might fare in the age of Me Too, whether there was more to Michael Scott’s visceral hatred for Toby, and some favorite fan theories including one that suggests that Toby was secretly the "Scranton killer."

Watch Paul Lieberstein's wonderful film SONG OF BACK AND NECK available on Video on Demand, and follow Paul on twitter at @PaulLieberstein.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Espresso Monster, BetDSI.com, Zeel, and Ben Sasse's audiobook Them: Why We Hate Each Other and How to Heal.  Subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, visit our website at www.kickassnews.com, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Pete Holmes Talks Fatherhood, Comedy, and Making It Weird
55 perc 335. rész

Comedian Pete Holmes talks about his new HBO comedy special PETE HOLMES: DIRTY CLEAN, paying his dues as a comic, and all of life’s weird and wonderful questions.  Pete says standup is still his first love, but podcasting is how he makes friends these days, and he believes everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, should start of podcast of their own.  He talks about being a brand new father, why his audiences always want him to complain about his baby, and why he’s determined not to be that parent who indoctrinates his daughter with his own beliefs.  He discusses growing up evangelical, his spiritual evolution, how he learned that comedians aren’t all sinful scumbags...and even if they are, they can still be pretty good people.  He reveals what’s autobiographical on his series CRASHING, the real life comedians behind some of the words of wisdom that he receives on the show, and how he’s addressing the Me Too movement in Season 3.  Plus, Pete Holmes offers some sage advice like "tell a pregnant woman she looks small," "tell twins they’re nothing alike," "be better than a grouper," and "don’t be a slave to an iWatch."

PETE HOLMES: DIRTY CLEAN debuts Saturday (12/15) at 10:00 PM E/P on HBO.  Mark your calendars for Season 3 of CRASHING which begins January 20 on HBO, and subscribe to Pete's podcast YOU MADE IT WEIRD on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you like to listen.  Follow Pete on twitter at @peteholmes.

Tha Fabulous Tina Brown Returns
48 perc 334. rész

The legendary Tina Brown returns to talk about growing up in an entertainment family, how she got expelled from 3 different boarding schools for being a “subversive influence,” and how that same subversiveness served her well as editor of Vanity Fair.  Tina talks about her 37 year marriage to the former editor of The Sunday Times - Harry Evans, and their morning ritual of having a “news buffet.”  She talks about turning around The New Yorker after her successful run at Vanity Fair, how she adapted from magazines to the immediacy of digital news when she founded The Daily Beast, and what is was like working with media mogul Barry Diller.  She recalls her torturous years running Talk Magazine with the infamous Harvey Weinstein, finding some peculiar open-ended book contracts with young women when she ran Talk Books, and leading the charge of the Me Too era with her Women in the World Summit.  She reveals what recently attracted her to enter the world of podcasting, how her new show TBD with Tina Brown is a return to her roots as a journalist, and why “the mix” still matters whether you’re running a magazine or a podcast.  Plus, the author of The Diana Chronicles has some advice for Meghan Markle on how to navigate palace intrigues.

Subscribe to Tina's new podcast TBD with Tina Brown on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen, learn more about her Women in the World Summit at www.womenintheworld.com, and follow her on twitter at @TinaBrownLM.  Today's episode was sponsored by Human Rights Watch, Espresso Monster, and The Flatiron School.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Historian H.W. Brands on Washington in the Age of Compromise
47 perc 333. rész

Historian H.W. Brands discusses his new book Heirs of the Founders: The Epic Rivalry of Henry Clay, John Calhoun and Daniel Webster, the Second Generation of American Giants.  Professor Brands talks about how these three political giants crafted the Compromise of 1850 which barely held the Union together, why none of these three men was ever elected President, and how compromise went from being politics at its finest to a dirty word in today’s Washington.  He discusses John Calhoun’s beliefs that slavery was a moral virtue and that states had the right to nullify any federal law, and he says that the moralizing of abolitionists like Daniel Webster actually drove Calhoun to take an increasingly more extreme position on slavery.  He recalls Webster's legendary oratory skills in the days when eloquence was a ticket to political fame, and how one of Webster’s speeches once brought the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to tears.  Then he shares how Henry Clay earned the nickname "the great compromiser" by playing referee between Webster and Calhoun, and why Clay believed that the South would eventually outgrow slavery if he could just postpone a civil war long enough.

Order his new book Heirs of the Founders: The Epic Rivalry of Henry Clay, John Calhoun and Daniel Webster, the Second Generation of American Giants on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold and follow him on twitter at @hwbrands.  Today's episode was sponsored by The Flatiron School.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

The Daily Show's Trevor Noah
41 perc 332. rész

Trevor Noah talks about his new standup special TREVOR NOAH: SON OF PATRICIA and why he dedicated it to his mom whom he calls “the first comedian that he ever saw” and “most gangster human being you’ll ever meet in your life.”  He discusses growing up in South Africa during Apartheid, the power of humor to fight oppression, and why he believes that hateful words aren’t nearly as important as addressing with the hate itself.  He shares how the 2016 election affected his own vision for THE DAILY SHOW, why the current President reminds him of certain African dictators,
and how he deciphers what’s news and what’s nonsense in the age of Trump.  Plus Trevor talks about interviewing President Barak Obama, whether he would be down to do the same with Donald Trump, and the question that he would most like ask the 45th President.

Watch Trevor Noah's new standup special TREVOR NOAH: SON OF PATRICIA now available on Netflix, order his memoir BORN A CRIME on Amazon, and watch THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH every weeknight at 11PM ET on Comedy Central.  Visit www.trevornoah.com for more on Trevor including upcoming tour dates, and follow him on twitter at @TrevorNoah.  Today's episode was sponsored by Human Rights Watch, Espresso Monster, Zeel, and Bombas.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

David Priess Reveals How to Get Rid of a President
42 perc 331. rész

David Priess returns to deliver a colorful political history of the schemes, maneuvers, and conspiracies that have attempted to remove unwanted presidents.  He discusses the various President’s who’ve died in office of natural and unnatural causes including two President’s who some suspect may have been poisoned and a bizarre conspiracy by a cabal of wealthy businessman to overthrow President Franklin Roosevelt.  He explains the 25th Amendment which allows for the President’s Cabinet and Congress to declare a leader physically or mentally unfit to serve, the two Presidents who played instrumental roles in crafting it, and the closest we ever came to using it.  He walks us through the surprising history of Presidential mental illness and why some of Richard Nixon’s closest advisors questioned whether he was mentally stable.  We talk about the process of impeachment, when Presidential lies rise the level of a "high crime or misdemeanor," and whether he thinks Congress could realistically impeach President Trump.  Plus, the man who served as the daily intelligence briefer to former FBI director Robert Mueller weighs in on the Russia investigation, what might be going through Mueller's mind right now, and what we can expect as the investigation winds toward a conclusion.

Order David Priess's book How to Get Rid of a President: History's Guide to Removing Unpopular, Unable, or Unfit Chief Executives on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with David at www.lawfareblog.com/contributors/dpriess or on twitter at @DavidPriess.  Today's episode was sponsored by The Flatiron School.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Author Michael Connelly on Cops, Crime Reporting, and Classic Noir
49 perc 330. rész

Best-selling crime novelist Michael Connelly talks about his literary hero Raymond Chandler, how he followed in the footsteps of the king of detective noir when he first came to Los Angeles, and how Chandler’s novels influenced his own writing.  He reveals why he spent over two decades working as a crime reporter before diving into fiction, how he went about cultivating relationships with LAPD’s top homicide detectives, and how those sources still inform his work today.  He talks about creating his most famous character Harry Bosch, how he came to name him after the 15th century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch, and how Michael's role as a writer and executive producer of the BOSCH television series has influenced his novels including his latest book DARK SACRED NIGHT.  Plus Michael Connelly shares why he gravitates to characters who are loners, some of the craziest things that his friends at LAPD have ever seen, and why he’s jumping into the world of true crime podcasts for his next project.

Order Michael Connelly's book DARK SACRED NIGHT on Amazon, watch BOSCH available on Amazon Prime Video, and subscribe to his upcoming podcast MURDER BOOK on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like listen. Keep up with Michael at www.michaelconnelly.com or on twitter at @ConnellyBooks.  Today's episode was sponsored by Human Rights Watch and The Flatiron School.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Dan Rather on the Values That Unite America
47 perc 329. rész

Legendary newsman Dan Rather talks about his 60 year career and how his travels and conversations have given him a “wide shot” of the American experience and the values that unite us.  He condemns recent attacks on some on those values (including freedom of the press), he shares his own family's experience during the Great Depression as a lesson in empathy, and he recalls how his time spent with men like Martin Luther King Jr. and Medger Evers opened his eyes to institutionalized racism in America.  He talks frankly about how his own thinking has evolved on some social issues, and he weighs in on the recent rash of sexual harassment scandals that have rocked the news business.  He discusses a few of the dozen Presidents he’s known in his 60 years as a journalist and reveals the one word that has always carried Dan Rather through good times and bad.

Order Dan Rather's book WHAT UNITES US: REFLECTIONS ON PATRIOTISM on Amazon or download the audio version on Audible.  Follow him on twitter at @DanRather or at www.newsandguts.com.  Today’s episode is sponsored by Loop Jewelry.

General Stanley McChrystal on Myths and Realities of Great Leaders
48 perc 328. rész

General Stanley McChrystal talks about the myths and reality of leadership.  He shares how he came to reassess the legacy of his military hero General Robert E. Lee in the aftermath of Charlottseville, how he personally learned that the man at the top often gets credit he doesn’t deserve, and why leaders aren’t always judged by their results.  He discusses a 15th century Chinese admiral who has become the symbol for that country’s global ambitions, why he didn’t realize that Coco Chanel was a real person, and one leadership flaw that he shares with Walt Disney.  He reveals why he decided to include his former enemy in combat Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the book, and what it was like to get into the dark mind of the Al Qaeda in Iraq leader.  

Order General McChrystal's book Leaders: Myth and Reality on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.   Today's episode was sponsored by Espresso MonsterHomecoming on Amazon Prime Video, Zeel, Bombas, and Flatiron School. Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Willem Dafoe on Art, Acting and "Embracing the Mystery"
42 perc 327. rész

Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe (Platoon, Spiderman, The Grand Budapest Hotel) shares how his beginnings in experimental theater inform his acting, what draws him to independent films, and what it’s like to make his 100th movie.  He talks about how his latest film At Eternity's Gate challenges the image of Vincent Van Gogh as a unappreciated mad genius and rethinks the constructs of the traditional biopic.  He reveals what it was like to immerse himself in Van Gogh’s world and find his inspiration in the very same scenery that inspired one of the greatest artists of all time.  He discusses the pressure of having to recreate iconic works art in real time and in front of the camera, and how artist/director Julian Schnabel taught him to "paint the light."  Plus we talk about the time Willem Dafoe tried to summon the ghost of Houdini and the beauty of "embracing the mystery in life."

See Willem Dafoe in At Eternity's Gate opening in theaters November 16.  Today's episode was sponsored by National Security Agency Career Recruitment, Homecoming on Amazon Prime Video, and Loop Jewelry.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Washington Post Reporter Greg Miller on Trump, Russia, and the Assault on the Free Press
53 perc 326. rész

Greg Miller is one of the reporters for The Washington Post who received the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting for his groundbreaking stories on Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, and the resulting investigations of the Trump campaign and administration.  Today he shares how he cornered the Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at a science conference in Washington and caught General Michael Flynn in a blatant lie about his dealings with Russian officials.  He describes the almost comical level of incompetence surrounding the 2016 DNC hacks, gives an insider's look at the secretive Russian hacking agencies known as Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear, and the troll farm behind Russia’s social media influence campaign.  He defends the Post’s longstanding practice of using anonymous sources and explains how they go about verifying those stories.  Greg reveals efforts by the White House to derail the Washington Post’s reporting on Trump’s Russia connections,
and how he learned that President Trump discussed targeting him personally and even putting him in jail for refusing to reveal his sources.  Plus he discusses what happened to the Trump-Mueller meeting that never was and we speculate on just what it is that Vladimir Putin might have on Donald Trump.

Order Greg Miller's book The Apprentice: Trump, Russia, and the Subversion of American Democracy on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  You can read Greg’s reporting in The Washington Post and follow him on twitter at @gregpmiller.  Today's episode was sponsored by National Security Agency Career Recruitment, Homecoming on Amazon Prime Video, Flatiron School, and the StarTalk All-Stars podcast.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Comedian Chris Gethard on the Art of Losing
53 perc 325. rész

Comedian Chris Gethard illustrates his personal and professional manifesto "lose well" with hilarious and ultimately empowering tales about his own missteps, misadventures, and public failures from the cancellation of his Comedy Central sitcom after ten episodes to rediscovering his comedic voice and life’s purpose on a public access channel.  He recalls how getting miscast in a school production of Bye Bye Birdie changed his life, the time he invited a heckler on stage during his comedy set, and why the host of a rival cable access show tried to sue him for "violating her Constitutional rights.”  He discusses his love for Andy Kaufman, ponders whatever happened to cable access tv, and shares some of the wonderfully weird things he got away with on The Chris Gethard Show.  Plus, Chris reveals how he handles political differences on his show Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People and talks about "the worst scumbag he ever met."

Order Chris Gerhard's book Lose Well on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Subscribe to his podcast Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen and follow Chris Gethard on Twitter at @ChrisGethard.  Today's episode was sponsored by National Security Agency Career Recruitment and Espresso Monster.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Roger Daltrey on The Who, Woodstock, and his Rock 'n Roll Life
43 perc 324. rész

Roger Daltrey, founder/lead singer of The Who, discusses how the hardships experienced by Brits in WWII paved the way for the musical revolution of the 1960s, he recalls what it was like to be the poster-boys for the British “mod” movement (and why he never fully embraced the fad), and he remembers the “utter chaos” of performing at Woodstock. He talks about how he and Peter Townsend pushed each other’s creative boundaries during the making of the first rock opera Tommy, how he managed to resist the drug fueled excess the 60s, and how it led to quite a bit of tension with his bandmates - especially The Who’s famously reckless drummer Keith Moon. Roger also reveals how he processed Moon’s tragic death in 1978, how it led to the band’s breakup in the early 80s, and a how it took a Silicon Valley con man to finally reunite the band.

Order Roger Daltrey's new book Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Follow The Who on twitter at @TheWho.  Today's episode was sponsored by National Security Agency Career Recruitment, Homecoming on Amazon Prime Video, Loop Jewelry, and Flatiron School.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Sir Michael Caine on Old Movie Stars, Young Cockneys, and Life Lessons
36 perc 323. rész

Sir Michael Caine has starred in over 100 movies and won two Academy Awards, and today he shares stories and advice from his remarkable career.  He reveals why he never believed in taking advice from older movie stars, why he never wanted to be James Bond, and how the 1960’s made it cool to be a young cockney in the movies.  He recalls his humble working class beginnings in the projects of London known as the Elephant Castle, shares how he learned his famous discipline while serving in the Korean War, and advises young actors to "make reliability your brand."  He talks about coming out of his self-imposed retirement over 20 years ago and says he’s getting better parts now at age 85 than he did when he was a young leading man.  Plus Michael Caine on why John Wayne never wore suede shoes, John Huston on a director's most important job, having the best time of his life filming Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and doing Vegas with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack.

Order Michael Caine's wonderful new book Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: And Other Lessons in Life on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold, and follow him on twitter at @themichaelcaine.  Today's episode was sponsored by Espresso Monster and National Security Agency Career Recruitment.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Senator Ben Sasse on Political Division and America's Loneliness Epidemic
53 perc 322. rész

Senator Ben Sasse does a deep dive into the societal shifts affecting modern American life and the roots of our political divisiveness.  He talk about the outsized role politics plays in our daily lives, how "polititainment" celebrities like Sean Hannity are fueling dangerous tribalism in America, and how to build a healthier tribe of family and friends instead of political outrage.  He shares recent data that indicates that Americans are feeling increasingly lonely, and explains how the digital economy and smart technology are leading us to pull up our roots and lose our sense of community.  He then reveals how his own family has embraced the idea of a "digital Sabbath" and shares a few of his favorite tips for unplugging and living in the moment.  Plus I ask Senator Ben Sasse if he’s still comfortable with a GOP that seems to be remaking itself in President Trump's image and what would it take for Senator Sasse to challenge Trump for the nomination in 2020.

Order Senator Ben Sasse's important new book Them: Why We Hate Each Other--and How to Heal on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold, and follow him on twitter at @SenSasse.  Today's episode was sponsored by Heineken and National Security Agency Career Recruitment.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Anthony Atamanuik Opens Up the Trump Presidential Archives
46 perc 321. rész

Anthony Atamanuik, host of Comedy Central's The President Show returns to the podcast to talk about his new book American Tantrum: The Donald J. Trump Presidential Archives, why the President wants to open his Presidential Library while he's still in office, and what kind of secrets we might find in there.  He shares the reason why he stopped doing field pieces in public as Donald Trump, he delves into the strange psyche of the man, and theorizes that Trump might actually welcome news of his extramarital affairs.  He talks about his new Comedy Central special A President Show Documentary: The Fall Of Donald Trump and gives us a glimpse of what’s to come with the 45th President.  Then I get the "President" himself to weigh in on Justice Kavanaugh’s first few weeks on the Supreme Court, how Melania is handling the Stormy Daniels scandal, and who he thinks wrote that anonymous op-ed in the New York Times.

Order his book American Tantrum: The Donald J. Trump Presidential Archives on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  His special A President Show Documentary: The Fall Of Donald Trump is available on Comedy Central On Demand and follow him on twitter at @TonyAtamanuik.  Today's episode was sponsored by Heineken and National Security Agency Career Recruitment.   Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Julian Castro Is Always Looking Ahead
47 perc 320. rész

Julian Castro graduated high school a year early, won election to city council while he was still in law school, and became San Antonio's youngest mayor at age 27, before eventually serving as President Obama's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and making Hillary Clinton's short-list for VP in 2016.  He talks about his family's American dream including the remarkable story of how his Grandmother fled the violence of the Mexican Civil War for America and the values that his political activist mother instilled in he and his twin brother Joaquin.  He shares how he and Joaquin tied each other in their first election for Stanford University’s student senate and how a young Julian Castro ran for San Antonio city council and WON by winning over elderly voters.  He talks about his initiatives as Mayor to promote citizen engagement and pre-K education, why he first turned down a cabinet appointment in the Obama Administration, and what he calls the “weird experience” of being vetted to be Hillary Clinton’s running-mate in 2016.  Plus he talks seriously about running for the top spot in 2020 and lays out his playbook for beating Donald Trump.

Order An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My American Dream on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold, and follow Julian Castro on twitter at @Julian Castro.  Today's episode was sponsored by Heineken, Espresso Monster, and National Security Agency Career Recruitment.   Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Legendary Sports Announcer Verne Lundquist
37 perc 319. rész

Legendary sports broadcaster Verne Lundquist recalls some of his favorite moments in sports and some of his favorite calls from Jack Nicklaus's final victory at the 1986 Masters and Tonya Harding's attack on Nancy Kerrigan at the 1994 Olympics to Christian Laettner's buzzer beater in the NCAA tournament and the Auburn-Alabama shocker of 2013. Verne shares why one radio station owner wanted him to change his name to "Jerry Lund," why he hated his short lived stint as a local news reporter in San Antonio, and how Tex Schram lured him to Dallas to become the voice of the Cowboys.  He recalls how Scott Hamilton gave him a crash course in skating during his first Winter Olympics, why he took it as a demotion when CBS first moved him from covering the NFL to the South Eastern Conference, and he gets a little sentimental when he talks about the huge sendoff that he got during his final season announcing SEC football.

Order Play by Play: Calling the Wildest Games in Sports-From SEC Football to College Basketball, The Masters, and More on AmazonAudible or wherever books are sold. Today's episode was sponsored by Tahereh Mafi's A Very Large Expanse of SeaHeineken, National Security Agency Recruitment, and BambooHR.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Doris Kearns Goodwin on Presidential Leadership
56 perc 318. rész

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin revisits four of her favorite U.S. Presidents for her new book Leadership: In Turbulent Times.  Today she discusses the ideological family tree shared by Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson, how their character was shaped by their setbacks, and how their destinies were forged in times of crisis.  She shares how Abraham Lincoln gave purpose to the Civil War, how Teddy Roosevelt averted a coal strike that would have left millions of Americans in the cold, how Franklin Roosevelt got America through our greatest economic crisis by talking to every American as a trusted friend, and how Lyndon Johnson managed to accomplish what JFK could not on civil rights.  She recounts a meeting between a wily President Franklin Roosevelt and a young Congressman Lyndon Johnson, the time Theodore Roosevelt showed up to cheer on his own protesters, and how President LBJ gradually won over a very young and very skeptical Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Order Leadership: In Turbulent Times on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with Dorris Kearns Goodwin at www.doriskearnsgoodwin.com or on twitter at @DorisKGoodwin.  Today's episode was sponsored by Espresso MonsterHeineken, Bombas, and BambooHR.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Founder of "The Onion" Scott Dikkers
43 perc 317. rész

As the founder of The OnionScott Dikkers practically invented "fake news."  He discusses the origins of the satirical news site as a print newspaper on college campuses, how he drew inspiration from National Lampoon and Spy Magazine, and the article about Bill Clinton and the War in Bosnia that prompted The Onion to finally go online.  He recalls creating cable news parodies with a young Stephen Colbert on the Dana Carvey Show, how the Onion fooled Mahmud Ahmadenijad, and the article that led Donald Trump to threaten to sue.  Then Scott shares why he’s turning his sharp wit on billionaire Elon Musk in his new book Welcome to the Future Which Is Mine.

Order Welcome to the Future Which Is Mine on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Read the latest sidesplitting headlines on the Onion at www.theonion.com, and keep up with Scott at www.ScottDikkers.com or on Twitter at @ScottDikkers.  Today's episode was sponsored by Heineken.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Mitch Albom on Life, Death, and Morrie
53 perc 316. rész

Mitch Albom is the author the all time best-selling memoir Tuesday's with Morrie and six #1 Bestsellers that have sold over a million copies worldwide.  He talks about his new novel The Next Person You Meet in Heaven, how losing his adopted daughter to cancer inspired his latest book, and what the book has to say about mistakes and forgiveness.  He reveals how difficult it was to get Tuesdays with Morrie published, some of the lessons from Morrie Schwartz that have come to mean more to him 20 years later, and what Morrie who preached “don’t buy into the culture" would think about our social media obsessed society.  Plus Mitch discusses how came to care for an entire orphanage in Haiti, the band he formed with Stephen King and other famous writers, and the five people he would like to meet in heaven.

Order The Next Person You Meet in Heaven available 10/9 on Amazon, Audible or wherever books are sold.  For more on Mitch, visit www.mitchalbom.com and follow him on twitter at @MitchAlbom.  Today's episode was sponsored by Heineken and BambooHR.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Jeff Bridges Gets Zen About Art, Acting, and the Environment
48 perc 315. rész

Jeff Bridges discusses his 6 decades in Hollywood and what he learned about acting from dad Lloyd Bridges.  He recalls the "Little Rascals" version of Tucker that he and Francis Ford Coppola made prior to filming, laughing it up with Robin Williams and Terry Gilliam on the set of The Fisher King, and how he and his brother Beau tested each other during The Fabulous Baker Boys.  He shares stories about making The Last Picture Show, King Kong, Heaven's Gate, The Contender, and True Grit.  He talks about The Big Lebowski fandom, how he feels about being identified with his iconic character "the Dude," and why he says the Dude is a zenmaster.  Then Jeff Bridges gets zen about the environment with his new documentary Living in the Future's Past.  He discusses how we can take a more global approach to climate change, explains the evolutionary roots of our energy consumption, and says humans collectively form a super-organism that is exhausting resources at a faster and faster pace.  He calls for the removal of politics from the climate debate and suggests how everyone can make individuals changes that can have a big impact.

Living in the Future's Past opens in theaters Friday, October 5.  Visit www.livinginthefuturespastfilm.com for information and showtimes.  Be sure to catch his other film Bad Times at the El Royale opening in theaters Friday, October 12.  Keep up with Jeff at www.jeffbridges.com.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Heineken and Espresso Monster.  Visit Kickass News at www.kickassnews.com, subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on twitter at @KickassNewsPod.

Cisco's John Chambers on Leadership in a Startup World
44 perc 314. rész

John Chambers is widely considered one of the world’s greatest business leaders, and today he discusses how he turned Cisco into a global tech giant with $47 billion in revenues and 70,000 employees.  He talks about his early years working at IBM and Wang Laboratories and how those experiences led to his lifelong mantra “disrupt or be disrupted.”  He opens up about his struggle with dyslexia, how it helped him see 4 and 5 chess moves ahead as a CEO, and why he encourages other business leaders to “think like a dyslexic.”  He explains how Cisco acquired and absorbed 180 companies, how Cisco vanquished nearly 100 rivals, and the pitfalls of “doing the right thing for too long.”  He reveals how Cisco survived the 2001 dot com crash, the advice that GE’s Jack Welch gave him in the company’s darkest hour, and how that close-call better prepared him when the financial crisis hit a few years later.  John suggests the US could learn something about innovation from France, he shares how he’s planning to replace coal jobs with tech jobs in his homestate of West Virginia, and why he is making a big bet that crickets are the food of the future. 

Order John Chambers's book Connecting the Dots: Lessons for Leadership in a Startup World on Amazon.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Heineken and Ziprecruiter.

CBS White House Correspondent Major Garrett
34 perc 313. rész

CBS News' chief White House correspondent Major Garrett has covered the last 4 administrations but says nothing could prepare him for President Donald Trump.  He recalls his strange first encounter with the reality TV star who would become President and the craziest 11 days he’s ever experienced as a White House correspondent.  He discusses the many ways in which the President is his own worst enemy, how the President’s failure at healtchare reform lead to his success on tax reform, and yet he learned nothing from it.  He shares some of the reasons why many Republicans have said no thanks to a job in the Trump Administration, why the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation is a must win for Trump, and why he believes we are already witnessing a transformative Presidency.

Order Major Garrett's new book MR. TRUMP’S WILD RIDE:
THE THRILLS, CHILLS, SCREAMS, AND OCCASIONAL BLACKOUTS OF AN EXTRAORDINARY PRESIDENCY
on Amazon.  See Major regularly reporting from the White House on CBS News, subscribe to his podcast The Takeout on Apple Podcast or wherever you like to listen, and follow him on twitter at @MajorCBS.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Heineken.

Ken Burns on the Mayo Clinic Miracle
47 perc 312. rész

Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns discusses his new film The Mayo Clinic: Faith Hope Science and tells incredible story of a country physician and a Franciscan nun who built the medical institution known as “The Miracle in Minnesota.”  He talks about the natural disaster that led to the formation of the Mayo Clinic, their astounding success rate at a time when going to a hospital was considered a death sentence, and how Dr. W.W. Mayo and his staff innovated everything from sterilization and surgery right down to patient medical records.  Then he reveals how the Mayo Clinic continues to take the profit motive out of medicine and put the focus back on the patient today, how an institution with more than 62,000 employees still manages to provide personalized care rather than treat people like a number, and why the doctors of the Mayo Clinic believe that faith and hope are every bit as essential to healing as science.  Plus Ken Burns shares just a few of the touching testimonials from people whose lives were changed by the Mayo Clinic including one of the final interviews with the late Senator John McCain.

The Mayo Clinic: Faith Hope Science airs on PBS on Tuesday 9/25 at 9PM ET and airs again on Wednesday 9/26.  For more information, visit www.pbs.org.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Heineken, Emma Email Marketing, Bombas, and the Around the NFL podcast.

Sir Richard Branson on his Adventures in Business, Space, and Beyond
36 perc 311. rész

Sir Richard Branson talks about The Virgin Group philosophy, why he likes to act fast when launching a new business, and how many of his best ideas came from his own desires and frustrations as a consumer.  He gives advice to young entrepreneurs and shares what he’s learned from his mistakes.  He reveals his reasons for selling Virgin America to Alaska Air, and he outlines his vision of the future with Virgin Galactic and his latest venture Virgin Hyperloop One.  Plus he talks about his strange lunch with Donald Trump, his most harrowing adventures, and his habit of chopping off people’s neckties.

Order Sir Richard Branson's new book FINDING MY VIRGINITY on Amazon or download the audio book at Audible.  Keep up with Richard Branson at www.virgin.com or on Twitter at @richardbranson.  Today’s episode is sponsored by Heineken and I Love You, But I Hate Your Politics podcast  

Chris Stirewalt Gives a Colorful History of American Populism
47 perc 310. rész

Fox News' politics editor Chris Stirewalt discusses the history of American populism, how economic resentment fuels populism even in times of huge prosperity, and why the will of the people doesn’t always make for great policy.  He discusses why populist leaders are so prone to hucksterism and easy answers including one politician who literally started out as snake oil salesman, and why it’s a good thing that most populist leaders never actually get to govern.  He talks about how the least likely populist President Teddy Roosevelt's progressive Bull Moose Party impacted the GOP for over a century and how George Wallace shifted the focus from economic populism to cultural populism.  He explains why Pat Buchanan is the grandfather of Trumpism and how Ross Perot invented the trope of the businessman who can fix Washington.  Plus we talk about the time America flirted with electing a self-professed socialist and radical, why the election of 1864 still gives Chris hope, and why modern aspiring populists would do well to study Andrew Jackson's appeal to immigrants.

Order Chris Stirewalt's book Every Man a King: A Short, Colorful History of American Populist on Amazon, subscribe to his podcast Perino and Stirewalt: I’ll Tell You What wherever you like to listen, and follow him on twitter at @Chris Stirewalt.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Heineken, Emma Email Marketing, NFL Podcasts, and Espresso Monster.

Comedian Sam Morrill's Therapist Misses Him
44 perc 309. rész

Comedian Sam Morrill talks about getting his start as an intern on the Colbert Report and breaking into the New York comedy scene.  He reveals why dating and standup don't always mix and why his therapist misses him when he's on the road.  He talks about some of the jokes that have gotten him in trouble with social justice warriors on the internet and how he handles the moral outrage machine on social media. Plus borscht belt comedy, the worst gigs ever, #MeToo, and more. 

Don't miss Sam's new standup special Sam Morrill: Positive Influence on Friday 9/14 at 11PM ET/PT on Comedy Central. Visit Sam online at www.sammorrill.com and follow him on twitter at @SamMorrill.  Today’s episode was sponsored by Heineken and the Move the Sticks Podcast.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Military Astrophysics Alliance and Trump's Space Force
53 perc 308. rész

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson returns to discuss the mutually beneficial relationship between war-makers and star-gazers. He says the military often serves as a source of creative inspiration for astrophysicists and shares some of the unexpected breakthroughs that emerged from government funded defense projects. Then Neil weighs in on President Trump’s proposed Space Force. He cautions that just because Donald Trump suggested it doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad idea, and in fact, he suggested just such an idea during the George W. Bush Administration. He recommends that a Space Force shouldn’t just protect America and our Space assets from enemies but from asteroids and space junk as well. Neil describes what a full-blown space war might look like, and it’s probably not what you’re imagining. Plus we talk about a crazy scheme to weaponize asteroids, the power of the words “I don’t know,” and Neil suggests that America needs a “Truth Force” in addition to a Space Force.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s book Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military is available Tuesday (9/11/18) on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold. For more fun stuff visit www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson, subscribe to his podcast StarTalk Radio wherever you like to listen, and follow Neil Degrasse Tyson on twitter at @NeilTyson. Today’s episode was sponsored by Heineken, Emma Email Marketing, Bombas, and NFL Podcasts.

Mark Leibovich Exposes the NFL's Excess and Anxiety
49 perc 307. rész

Mark Leibovich, Chief National Correspondent for the New York Times Magazine, follows up his #1 bestseller THIS TOWN with a probing examination of pro-football at a moment of peak success and high anxiety BIG GAME: THE NFL IN DANGEROUS TIMES.  This native Bostonian apologizes for those famously annoying Patriots fans, and discusses the Patriots superfan in the White House and Trump’s weird obsession with Tom Brady.  He offers an unprecedented glimpse inside the one club that Donald Trump could never join…the exclusive group of 32 billionaire NFL owners known as “The Membership.”   He reveals how Patriots owner Robert Kraft whines about not getting credit for the team’s success and some comments about Kraft’s love of New York that that have riled fans in Beantown.  We talk about the rivalry between Kraft and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Mark recalls losing a drinking contest with Jones on the famously raucous Cowboys bus.  He discusses fans hatred of Roger Goodell’s astronomical salary and why the “Membership” still protects the much maligned NFL Commissioner.  He reveals just how worried owners were about the national anthem controversy and how it shined a light on the startling racial disparities in pro-football.  Plus we talk about deflategate, Superbowl excess, concussions, and ask “has America has reached peak football?”

Order Mark Leibovich's book BIG GAME: THE NFL IN DANGEROUS TIMES on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Keep up with Mark at www.markleibovich.com or on twitter at @MarkLeibovich.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Heineken, GooglePlay Audiobooks, The Dave Dameshek Football Program, and Espresso Monster.

Amb. Wendy Sherman on Negotiating Nukes w/ Iran & North Korea
48 perc 306. rész

Ambassador Wendy Sherman was the lead negotiator on the Iran Nuclear Agreement, and she writes about it in her new book titled
Not for the Faint of Heart: Lessons in Courage, Power, and Persistence.  Today she recalls working with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to halt North Korea’s nuclear ambitions in the 90’s, and how they came close to an agreement only to see their efforts derailed by the chaos of the 2000 election.  She explains why negotiating with North Korea is always "one part diplomacy and one part absurdity," she recalls her personal interactions with Kim Jung Il, and weighs in on how his successor Kim Jung Un measures up.  Ambassador Sherman talks about the many months of diplomacy (both covert and overt) that went into the nuclear agreement with Iran, how much was lost when President Trump decertified the deal,
and what her colleagues from across the negotiating table are saying about it.  She explains why the negotiation was a lot like solving a Rubik’s Cube, just how heated things got in the behind closed doors, and why sometimes tactics are no substitute for pure raw human emotion.

Order Ambassador Wendy Sherman's book Not for the Faint of Heart: Lessons in Courage, Power, and Persistence is available on Amazon, Audible, or wherever books are sold.  Follow Ambassador Sherman on Twitter at @WendyRSherman.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Heineken, NFL Podcasts, and ZipRecruiter.

Rick Wilson on Trump, Giuliani, and "Vichy Republicans"
54 perc 305. rész

Republican strategist Rick Wilson was one of the very first conservatives to oppose Donald Trump and a co-founder of the Never Trump movement.  Today he enumerate the many reasons why Trump is so abhorrent to him, how his opposition to Trump has caused him to feel like a pariah in his own party, and how he gets far more death threats from crazed Trump-supporters than he ever got from Democrats.  He calls out the “vichy Republicans” in Washington who sold out out to Trump, and singles out former GOP Chairman Reince Priebus for special condemnation as the one person who could have stopped Trump from running away with his party’s nomination.  He talks about the island of misfit toys that make up the President’s inner circle, how any person with experience and integrity the inevitably leaves the Trump White House with his reputation in tatters, and we try to make sense of what has happened to Rick’s former boss Rudy Giuliani.  Rick picks apart what he calls the “But Gorsuch” argument, looks at the potential field of Republican challengers in 2020, and he speaks frankly about inevitable fallout of the Trump Presidency and the long road ahead as the GOP struggles to rebuild its brand.

Order Rick Wilson’s book Everything Trump Touches Dies: A Republican Strategist Gets Real About the Worst President Ever on Amazon or Audible.  Follow Rick on Twitter at @TheRickWilson.  Today's podcast is sponsored by GooglePlay Audiobooks, Emma Email Marketing, and RelentlessMV.

Arthur Brooks on the Art of Disagreement
46 perc 304. rész

As the president of the American Enterprise Institute, Arthur Brooks has long worked to foster more civilized and productive discourse, and now he is exploring the art of disagreement on his new podcast The Arthur Brooks Show.  Arthur says the answer is not to stop talking with people on the opposite side of the political spectrum but to talk to each other better.  Arthur describes how social media lowers our inhibitions and makes us meaner, he discusses America’s addiction to moral outrage as a form of virtue signaling, and says contemptuous political debates can actually impact our health or even lower our immune system.  He talks about the science of persuasion and how we change our minds, why people take politics so personally, and recommends that everyone take a 2 week vacation from politics every now and then. 

Subscribe to The Arthur Brooks Show on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you like to listen.  Visit the American Enterprise Institute at www.aei.org and follow Arthur on twitter at @ArthurBrooks.  Today's podcast is sponsored by and Ladder Life Insurance.

Rob Riggle Talks Improv, Jet Skis, and the Marines
49 perc 303. rész

Rob Riggle (The Hangover, Step Brothers) shares how a running joke spawned his latest project and what it’s like to play a "heightened version of himself" in Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy.  Rob recalls his 23 years in the Marines, what it was like handling public affairs in a country where people wanted to chop your head off, how he managed to juggle his military service with his comedy career, and his fateful decision to pass up pilot school to try his hand at standup.  He talks about studying improv at the New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade, his strange interview with Lorne Michaels when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, and why he thought he blew it during his big auditioned for The Daily Show.  

Watch Rob Riggle’s Ski Master Academy for free on Sony Crackle beginning August 23.  Follow Rob Riggle on twitter at @Rob Riggle, and subscribe to his podcast Riggle’s Picks on Apple Podcasts or wherever you like to listen.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Emma Email Marketing, RelentlessMV, and Ladder Life Insurance.

Dan Buettner Shares Longevity Secrets from the World's "Blue Zones"
56 perc 302. rész

National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner has studied the the world's "blue zones" the 5 areas where people live the longest, and today he shares their secrets. He shares how calorie restriction can lengthen your life, what kind of exercises are best for longevity and mobility, and why loners rarely live to be 100.  He talks about an island in Italy where the men outlive the women, why people with daughters live longer than those with sons, and how modern conveniences are driving the world’s blue zones to extinction.  Then he discusses the science of happiness including why people actually get happier with age, how money really can buy happiness (but only to a point),
and why genetics play a bigger role than you might think.  Plus he reveals the one factor that matters most to your happiness and longevity even more than exercise and healthy eating.

Order Dan Buettner's books The Blue Zones, The Blue Zones SolutionThrive, and The Blue Zones of Happiness on Amazon or Audible.  Visit Dan's website at www.bluezones.com and follow Dan on Twitter at @BlueZones.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Hidden Truth Podcast and Ladder Life Insurance.

Greg Gutfeld: Fox News's Political Unicorn
48 perc 301. rész

Greg Gutfeld discusses his new book The Gutfeld Monologues: Classic Rants from The Five and how it gave him a unique opportunity troll his own work.  He talks about his political evolution starting out at liberal enclave UC Berkeley, his problem with "mob thinking," and how extremism on both the left and the right led him to Libertarianism.  He recalls his early days working at the Huffington Post with his best buddy Andrew Breitbart and how a prank involving costumed dwarves got him fired as editor of Stuff Magazine.  Then he shares how his quirky little late night show Red Eye became a hit on the unlikeliest of networks by giving Fox News viewers a much needed break from 24 hour politics and stoners an alternative to infomercials.  He reveals how he’s broadening the Fox News demographic one unicorn at a time, how thrash metal helps him bridge the political divide,
and how he mostly manages to behave on The Five.  Plus Gutfeld talks about the scourge of British lad culture, cute pet videos, and Fox News’s next big hit...a talk show hosted by a dolphin.

Order The Gutfeld Monologues: Classic Rants from The Five on Amazon or Audible.  Watch Greg on Fox News weekdays on The Five and Saturdays on The Greg Gutfeld Show.  Subscribe Greg's podcast The One with Greg Gutfeld on Fox News Radio, Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Stitcher or wherever you like to listen.  Visit Greg’s website at www.ggutfeld.com and follow him on twitter at @GregGutfeld.  Special thanks to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum for hosting our interview.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Emma and RelentlessMV.

Topher Grace on How David Duke Got Duped
37 perc 300. rész

Topher Grace discusses playing David Duke in Spike Lee's latest film Blackkklansman about Ron Stallworth, the black cop who infiltrated the KKK.  Topher talks about the agony of reading David Duke’s autobiography for the role, why Duke still denies that he was ever fooled by a black man, and how Duke was using phrases like “America First” and “Make America Great Again” long before Trump.  Topher shares how director Spike Lee helped him play the king of all racists, what it was like to screen the film to a 10 minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, and how he hopes releasing the movie on the one year anniversary of the violent protests in Charlottesville may help to spur a dialogue about race and hate in America.  Plus Topher gets a Twitter shout out from the not so "grand wizard" himself.

Spike Lee’s Blackkklansman is now showing in theaters.  Check your local listings for show times or visit www.focusfeatures.com/blackkklansman.  Follow Topher on twitter at @TopherGrace.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Purple Mattress and the Move the Sticks Podcast.

Jenna Elfman Talks Zombie Preparedness and Dharma & Greg in the Trump Era
43 perc 299. rész

Jenna Elfman talks about joining the cast of AMC's Fear the Walking Dead, shares her strategy for surviving a zombie apocalypse, and reveals how working on the show got her thinking about her own family's emergency preparedness.  She discusses her first experience with a "walker" on set, how doing her own stunts has made her a bit of a badass in the eyes of her two young sons, and what it was like to interact with The Walking Dead’s diehard fans at Comicon.  Plus Jenna talks about how she and her husband learned that the couple that podcasts together stays together and whether it's time to bring back her other hit TV series Dharma and Greg for the Trump-era.

Season 4 of Fear the Walking Dead returns this Sunday, August, 12 at 9/8C on AMC.  Visit www.amc.com for more information.  Check out Jenna and her husband's podcast Kicking and Screaming on iTunes or Stitcher, and follow Jenna on twitter at @JennaElfman.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Monster Espresso and GooglePlay.

977 Days Captive By Somali Pirates
47 perc 298. rész

Journalist Michael Scott Moore went to Somalia to write an article about Somali pirates only be kidnapped and held hostage for 977 days as his mother tried to come up with his ransom.  He discusses his captivity, his one daring escape attempt, and how he didn’t even believe it when he was finally released.  He discusses how pirates use the media to drive up their ransom demands, their shocking naiveté about America, and how the man known as the Somali pirate kingpin didn't even know about US policy against paying for hostages.  He shares how one of his guards rationalized being a muslim and a pirate, why the supposed ideological motives for Somali piracy are b.s., and the strange fate that befell his pirate captors after he left.

Order Michael Scott Moore's book The Desert and the Sea: 977 Days Captive on the Somali Pirate Coast on Amazon or Audible.  Visit his website at www.radiofreemike.net and follow him on twitter at @MichaelSctMoore.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Monster Espresso and GooglePlay.

"Elder Millennial" Iliza Shlesinger Gives Wedding Advice
45 perc 297. rész

Newlywed comedian and "elder millennial" Iliza Shlesinger returns to talk about her new comedy special and give me a little advice for my own upcoming nuptials.  She defends a bride’s right to be a "princess" on her special day, explains why it’s never as simple as just "saying yes to the dress," and makes the case for doing away with the traditional bouquet toss.  Iliza also reveals how her walk down the aisle wasn’t exactly what she planned (and neither was the groom’s reaction!) and why she suddenly had to cut her European honeymoon short.  She talks about how this milestone has influenced her act, how she got to shoot her latest comedy special on an aircraft carrier, and weighs in on everything from online dating and who makes the first move to shamanic journeys and the most terrifying sound of all...peacocks!

Watch Iliza Shlesinger's new comedy special ILIZA SHLESINGER: ELDER MILLENNIAL on Netflix.  Follow her on Twitter at @Iliza and visit www.iliza.com for more fun stuff.  Some of her upcoming tour dates include Honolulu, HI (8/4), Calgary, CA (8/12), Edmonton, CA (8/18), and Portland, OR (8/24 & 8/25).  Today's podcast is sponsored by Purple Mattress and GooglePlay.

Bo Burnham Returns to Middle School
38 perc 296. rész

Comedian Bo Burnham discusses making his directorial debut with his critically acclaimed film EIGHTH GRADE which explores the humor and horrors of modern adolescence.  He talks about why he went to great lengths to avoid nostalgia in his portrayal of life in middle school and how casting a real 13 year old girl kept him honest.  He shares how he drew inspiration from watching hours of web videos by middle schoolers, how much the internet has changed since he made his own Youtube debut in 2006, and why he doesn’t judge millennials for their addiction to social media.  He reveals why he only allowed his lead actress to read the script once before shooting and how the comedian known for very BIG humor learned to appreciate the small moments.  Plus a few words of wisdom for kids going through those awkward years!

EIGHTH GRADE is now playing in theatres nationwide. For more information and showtimes, visit www.eighthgrade.movie.  Also check out www.boburnham.com and follow him on twitter at @BoBurnham.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Dollar Shave Club and GooglePlay.

Alan Dershowitz on Impeachment and the Criminalization of Politics
42 perc 295. rész

Famed attorney and lifelong Democrat Alan Dershowitz says even though he make not like Donald Trump's policies, the President is entitled to the same rights as any other American and impeachment is a clearly defined Constitutional procedure not political theatre.  He explains exactly what is and is NOT an impeachable offense, why even a criminal act may not necessarily lead to impeachment, and how this applies to Presidents from Andrew Johnson and Richard Nixon to Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.  According to Dershowitz, President Trump has every right to fire the FBI director, shut down investigations, and pardon anyone he wants...perhaps even including himself.  He warns against a dangerous trend of criminalizing politics on both sides, argues that the Mueller investigation runs the risk of abusing attorney client privilege, and asks where has the ACLU been throughout it all?  Plus he rates Rudy Giuliani’s performance as Trump’s attorney, weighs in on the President’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and advises that Trump should absolutely NOT agree to an interview

with the Mueller investigation.

Order Alan Dershowitz's book THE CASE AGAINST IMPEACHING TRUMP on Amazon or Audible and follow him on twitter at @AlanDershowitz.  Today's podcast is sponsored by GooglePlay.

Jim Gaffigan Talks Tumor Humor and Opening for the Pope
51 perc 294. rész

Comedian Jim Gaffigan opens up about his wife/writing partner Jeannie’s brain tumor scare and how she was the first person to suggest using it in his new comedy special JIM GAFFIGAN: NOBLE APE.  Jim reveals how trial and error led him back to his own authentic voice as a comedian, how he gets inside the head of the audience and plays his own worst critic on stage, and why he’s making fewer and fewer food jokes.  He discusses why he’s breaking free of the Netflix model for his latest comedy special and why he’s taken a number of dramatic film roles in no less than 13 films over the next year.  Plus Jim Gaffigan riffs on the mixed blessing of hot pockets, the worst part about getting a colonoscopy, and the hardest comedy gig in the world...opening for the Pope.

Comedy Dynamics presents Jim Gaffigan's newest comedy special JIM GAFFIGAN: NOBLE APE in theaters, OnDemand, iTunes, Amazon, and all of your favorite digital platforms.  There's eve an album available.  Follow Jim on Twitter at @jimgaffigan and visit Jim's website for tour dates and other fun stuff at www.jimgaffigan.com.  

Jim's upcoming live shows include Kettering, OH (7/27), Clarkson, MI (7/28), Atlantic City (8/4), Bethlehem, PA (8/5) Santa Rosa, CA (8/9), Fresno, CA (8/12), Casper, WY (8/13) the Iowa State Fair (8/14), ACharleston, SC (8.17).

Today's podcast is sponsored by GooglePlay, Dollar Shave Club, Purple Mattressand Morning Brew.

Malcolm Nance Says Trump Is a "Willing Asset" for Putin
42 perc 293. rész

In the wake of the bizarre Trump-Putin Summit, intelligence expert Malcolm Nance says Trump has gone from being an unwitting asset of Russia to a willing asset deliberately undermining NATO, the European Union, and even his own country.  Nance says Donald Trump has betrayed his oath to uphold the Constitution and is the closest thing America's seen to another Benedict Arnold.  He reveals Russia’s broader efforts to undermine US and the influential Americans enabling Russian interference including the most powerful gun-rights organization in the country, the politician known Putin’s man in Congress, and the alt-right media baron he calls “the American Goebbles.”  What’s Vladimir Putin’s end-game?  Malcolm Nance says Putin's ultimate goal is to dismantle western democracy itself!

Order Malcolm Nance's new book The Plot to Destroy Democracy:
How Putin and His Spies Are Undermining America and Dismantling the West on Amazon or Audible.  Follow him on Twitter at @Malcolm Nance.  Today's podcast is sponsored by GooglePlay.

Ben Rhodes on Hope, Change, and Pragmatism in World Affairs
59 perc 292. rész

Former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes talks about how he survived a full 8 years in the White House, his close friendship with President Barack Obama, and what it was like to travel the world representing America.  Ben says the Arab Spring taught him that sometimes hope and change have to take a back seat to pragmatism and the big picture.  He reveals how he secretly worked with the Pope to reopen relations with Cuba, how sleeplessness led to some frayed nerves during the Iran nuclear negotiations, and how wild conspiracy theories around Benghazi continue to follow him even today.  He throws some cold water on Trump’s accusation that President Obama ordered the FBI to investigate him, discusses how he and Obama emotionally processed Trump’s 2016 victory, and talks about the somber mood on President Obama's final foreign trip as he tried to console/encourage other world leaders like Angela Merkel.  Plus the we talk about the Syrian red line, Hillary Clinton’s private server, sanctions against Russia, and Trump’s North Korean photo-op.

Order Ben's book The World as It Is: A Memoir of the Obama White House on Amazon or Audible and follow him on twitter at @BRhodes.  Today's podcast is sponsored by GooglePlay and Morning Brew.

Rob Reiner Brings the "Shock and Awe"
39 perc 291. rész

Rob Reiner returns to talk about the long road to making his latest film Shock and Awe about the journalists who "got it right" about WMD in Iraq and why he says Americans still may not be ready to deal with the mistakes of the Iraq War.  How discusses the lesser known news syndicate that uncovered the truth about WMD and why the mainstream media at the time ignored all the warning signs.  He talks about his love for classic newsroom films like All the President's Men and his urgency to make a film about great journalism at a time when the free press and the truth are under greater assault than ever.  Rob Reiner gives an update on his group the Committee to Investigate Russia, he cautions that the rhetoric on the Left treads a thin line between energizing their base and energizing the other side, and we ponder how Archie Bunker went from a punchline to a political movement.

Rob Reiner's movie Shock and Awe opens in theaters Friday, July 13.  Follow Rob Reiner on Twitter at @RobReiner and learn more about The Committee to Investigate Russia at www.investigaterussia.org.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Adiamor JewelryGooglePlay and Morning Brew.

David Sedaris on the Lighter Side of Death, Aging, and Travel
41 perc 290. rész

Bestselling humorist David Sedaris talks about why he doesn’t do social media, how a fitbit has come to rule his life, and his irritation with the British habit of bullying Americans into drinking.  David shares how watching his father grow old has him thinking about his own mortality and how he keeps politics from coming between him and his Trump-supporting dad.  David Sedaris says his heavy travel schedule has liberated him from the watching the news and he couldn't be happier about it.  Plus he shares a few of his favorite travel tips and regional insults from around the globe.

Order David Sedaris's book Calypso on Amazon or Audible.  For more, visit www.davidsedarisbooks.com.  Today's podcast is sponsored by GooglePlay and Morning Brew.

Astrophysicist Adam Frank on Alien Worlds and Saving Our Own
51 perc 289. rész

Astrophysicist Adam Frank offers an explanation for why we have yet to made contact with extraterrestrials and says it is highly likely that many of ten billion trillion planets in the universe have hosted technologically advanced alien civilizations.  He discusses three possible fates that may have befallen those civilizations and how studying other planets could help us save our own.  He says that climate science actually holds consistent truths across all planets that have atmospheres and if we can predict climate change on Mars, we are certainly able to predict climate change here on earth. Plus Adam talks about the significance of the recent discovery of methane gas on Mars, his experience as a science consultant on Marvel’s Dr Strange,
and why he doesn’t like the term "alien."

Order Adam Frank's book Light of the Stars: Alien Worlds and the Fate of the Earth on Amazon or Audible.  Keep up with Adam at www.adamfrankscience.com or on Twitter at @AdamFrank4.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Outside the Box podcast.

Mike Reiss Celebrates The Simpsons' 30th!
55 perc 288. rész

The Simpsons's longest-serving writer/producer Mike Reiss celebrates the 30th anniversary of the longest running show in TV history and shares stories, scandals, and gossip about working with America’s most iconic cartoon family.  He talks about his early days writing for the Harvard Lampoon and why Lampoon alums make up half the writers rooms in Hollywood.  He recalls working on The Tonight Show, how his only meeting with Johnny Carson was just like being a guest on his show, and a Carnac joke taught him that there’s just no science to comedy.  He discusses coming on board the first episode of The Simpsons, why Fox had little faith in the first primetime cartoon since The Flintstones, and why The Simpsons became a cultural phenomenon right out of the gate.  He reveals that Simpsons characters are just bad impersonations of old movie stars, how the writers add special guest roles into the script just to meet their childhood heroes, and Mike shares a few of favorite celebrity guests and some of the ones that got away.  He talks about the fans' love/hate relationship with the show, some of the crazier conspiracy theories swirling around The Simpsons, and the show's complicated relationship with Seth McFarlane's Family Guy.  Plus Mike Reiss tells me which countries have actually banned and even sued The Simpsons and how his own popular children's book got boycotted by the Texas Board of Education.

Order Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons on Amazon or Audible. Watch The Simpsons every Sunday night on Fox and follow Mike Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReissWriter.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Michelin Premiere Tires and Dollar Shave Club.

James Clapper on Trump, Russia, & a Life in Intelligence
43 perc 287. rész

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper recalls how tinkering with a TV set as a boy led to a career in signals intelligence, his frustration when working as an intelligence briefer to General William Westmoreland during the Vietnam War, and what it was like to be in the room when President Obama ordered the raid on Osama Bin Laden.  He discusses Russia's interference in the 2016 election, the now infamous intelligence meeting with President-elect Trump at Trump Tower, and why he believes that Russia’s efforts successfully tipped the election for Donald Trump. Plus he weighs in on the North Korean Summit, his war or words with President Trump, and much more.

Order James Clapper's book Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence on Amazon or Audible. Today's podcast is sponsored by The Jim Jefferies Show podcast and Dollar Shave Club.

Dave Itzkoff on Robin Williams' Comedy and Tragedy
55 perc 286. rész

New York Times culture reporter Dave Itzkoff talks about the surprisingly patrician upbringing of Robin Williams, his time studying to be a serious actor at Julliard, and Robin's early influences as a comedian.  Dave reveals how Star Wars helped Williams land the role of Mork the Ork, and why his shenangigans on Mork and Mindy might have landed him in hot water in the age of #MeToo.  He discusses Robin’s gradual evolution as a movie star, and why Hollywood didn’t really know what to do with him at first.  Dave shares how John Belushi’s overdose scared Robin Williams straight, what eventually caused him to fall back into addiction some 20 years later, and how a rare disease led to his tragic suicide.  Plus Dave Itzkoff recalls his own favorite personal encounters with the comedian, and why Robin always wanted to give total strangers what he called “an authentic Robin Williams experience.”

Order Dave Itzkoff's book Robin on Amazon or Audible.  Read more by Dave Itzkoff in the New York Times and follow Dave on Twitter at @ditzkoff. Today's podcast is sponsored by The Daily Show w/ Trevor Noah: Ears Edition, LegalShield, and Dollar Shave Club.

Eugene Jarecki Goes Road Tripping with Elvis
50 perc 285. rész

Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Eugene Jarecki drove across the U.S. in Elvis Presley's 1963 Rolls Royce to talk to people about Elvis as a metaphor for the American dream in his new documentary The King.  He traces Elvis’s journey from his birth in a Mississippi town that's barely kept alive by Elvis tourism to the musical melting pot of Memphis, and ultimately to Las Vegas and the "sweaty sequined jumpsuit Elvis" who became more of a corporate brand than a man.  He reveals how he acuired Elvis’s Rolls Royce, and how it became a beacon for people on both sides of the political divide to have a conversation about the promise of America, the sins of the past, and where our country is headed today.  Plus Eugene Jarecki talks about the perils of driving and directing and roadtripping in a 55 year old car.

The King opens in theaters in NYC on 6/22 and in LA on 6/29. For information and showtimes, visit www.theking.film.  Today’s podcast was sponsored by Outside the Box podcast, LegalShieldMichelin Premiere Tires, and LightStream.

An American Ambassador in Putin's Russia
53 perc 284. rész

Ambassador Michael McFaul helped President Obama craft the US-Russia “reset," and he later had a front-row seat for the end of the reset with the return of the hostile, paranoid Russian President Vladimir Putin.  He recalls witnessing history unfold during the attempted Russian military coup in 1989 and early encounter with a young unimpressive Vladimir Putin in the 90s.  He gives an insiders account of being with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she presented the infamous "reset" button, the first meeting between Putin and the newly elected President Obama, and his own thoughts on what motivates the Russian President.  He talks about arriving to protestors in Moscow on his first day as Ambassador, the Russian FSB’s sinister surveillance and harassment campaigns against him and his family, and the extensive efforts to gain Kompromat on US officials as well as certain wealthy American businessmen.

Order From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia on Amazon or Audible. Follow Michael McFaul twitter at @mcfaul or at www.michaelmcfaul.com.  Today’s podcast was sponsored by Michelin Premiere Tires, Just for Men Control GX, and Travel Guard Travel Insurance.

Billy Bob Thornton & Mark Duplass on Indie Film, Amazon's Goliath, and TV's Renaissance
39 perc 283. rész

Billy Bob Thornton and Mark Duplass talk about Season 2 of Goliath.  Billy reveals why he’s so attracted to outsider roles,
what he found particularly appealing about playing an attorney,
and how the show’s creators David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro (both former attorneys) helped him prepare for the courtroom.  He talks about some of his own favorite movie lawyers, the death of independent film, and how television has come a long way
since his early days on the 90’s sitcom Evening Shade.  Mark Duplass talks about his excitement to play a bad guy on Goliath, what it's like to be one half of the acclaimed filmmaking duo the Duplass Brothers, why it took a while for them to learn to “individuate,” and what it's like to work as an actor on another director's set.  

Season 2 of Goliath is available on Amazon beginning Friday, June 15. For more information, visit http://a.co/i02m9ob and follow Mark Duplass on twitter at @MarkDuplass.  Today’s podcast was sponsored by Legal Shield.

Bonus Episode - Akimbo
52 perc 282. rész

I love sharing new podcasts, and in this special bonus episode, I want to introduce you to my friend Seth Godin and a great new podcast called Akimbo.  The first episode is about the hype around grand openings, whether it’s a summer blockbuster or a new startup, and in the second episode of Akimbo, Seth Godin delves into status roles in society, how we measure up alongside others, and what we’re willing to do to achieve a higher status role.  Subscribe to Akimbo in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you listen, or go to www.akimbo.me.  You can also follow Seth Godin on twitter at @ThisIsSethsBlog or at www.sethgodin.com.

Bob Balaban Puts the "Character" in Character Actor
56 perc 281. rész

Bob Balaban has been a delightful part of many of the best movies and TV shows of the past 50 years including Moonrise Kingdom, A Mighty Wind, Gosford Park, Capote, and Seinfeld.  This Oscar and Emmy-nominated actor, director, and producer shares how a character actor can have a much longer career than a movie star, why he sometimes enjoys auditioning for a role more than actually getting it, and why he likes to study the famous directors with whom he works from Stephen Spielberg to Wes Anderson.  He recalls his family’s early roots in the golden age of Hollywood, his first break playing Linus in the original production of Your A Good Man Charlie Brown, and how he ended up playing Francois Truffaut’s translator (both on and off screen) in Close Encounters.  Bob Balaban discusses reuniting with his old friend William Hurt for the miniseries Condor, getting to play his first role as a "bad guy" in ages, and what this remake of Three Days of the Condor says about America’s growing paranoia the so-called “deep state.”  Plus we talk about Bob’s career as "six degrees of Warren Littlefield," why strangers still come up to him pitching ideas for television, and how to shoot a film about the richest woman in the world on a shoestring budget.

Condor airs Wednesdays at 10PM ET/PT on ATT Audience Network and Direct TV.  Visit http://start.att.net/exclusive/audience/condor to learn more. Follow Bob on Twitter at @BobBalaban.  Today’s podcast was sponsored by Legal ShieldGrasshopper, and Travel Guard.

Todd Purdum on Rodgers & Hammerstein's Musical Magic
43 perc 280. rész

Todd Purdum, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and a senior writer at Politico, discusses his own life-long love of the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, and why their Broadway shows like South Pacific are so timeless.  He reveals how Oklahoma! revolutionized the Broadway musical and how their shows perfectly tapped into the mood of post-war America.  He talks about how Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein bravely addressed social injustices in their work, and how Hammerstein's politics landed him in hot water at the height of McCarthyism.  He discusses their troubled relationship with Hollywood and why the film version of The Sound of Music has been something of a mixed blessing for the R & H legacy.  Plus Todd Purdum talks about how the troubling themes of spousal abuse and suicide in Carousel play with modern audiences in a new Broadway revival, what Donald Trump could learn from The King and I, and the Dominican nun who served as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s behind-the-scenes collaborator.

Order Todd Purdum's fantastic book Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution on Amazon or Audible, and look for his regular political articles in Vanity Fair.  Today’s podcast was sponsored by Outside the Box podcast, Michelin Premiere Tires, and Legal Shield.

Max Brooks on Star Wars, Real Wars and Ewok Insurgency
53 perc 279. rész

Author Max Brooks is well known for his bestselling zombie books like World War Z and The Zombie Survival Guide, and he applies the same creative thinking to military strategy as a fellow at the Modern War Institute and The Art of Future Warfare Project.  He reveals how he gets military leaders to think outside the box about complex problems, some of the threats for which he fears the US is least prepared, and why American ingenuity and self-reliance will be crucial to surviving modern disasters like an attack on the power grid.  He discusses how his mother the late Anne Bancroft helped him cope with dyslexia, how Alan Alda taught him to write, and why his dad Mel Brooks is still a bundle of energy (and laughs) at age 91.  Max weighs in on everything from President Trump's North Korea policy to the Russian cyber-attacks, plus he shares what the military can learn from the Star Wars movies, how to survive a zombie apocalypse, and why an Ewok insurgency is not so cute.

Order Strategy Strikes Back: How Star Wars Explains Modern Military Conflict (co-edited by Max Brooks) on Amazon.  Learn more about Max at www.maxbrooks.com and follow him on twitter at @maxbrooksauthor.  Today’s podcast was sponsored by US Markerboard, Michelin Premiere Tires, Simple Contacts, Grasshopperand Legal Shield.

CNN's Jake Tapper on Political Fiction, the Swamp, and Secret Societies
46 perc 278. rész

CNN'S Jake Tapper discusses his foray into writing fiction with his new political thriller The Hellfire Club, his interest in the politics of the 1950s, and the real-life Washington powerbrokers who make up the supporting cast of his story.  He shares how his years of observing how eager young Congressmen slowly sell their souls inspired the central character of The Hellfire Club, and he illuminates some disturbing parallels between Donald Trump and Joseph McCarthy,
the infamous red-baiting Senator who plays a key role in his novel.  He reveals the real secret society on which his story is based, and warns of the danger when the line between truth and conspiracy theories becomes blurred.  Plus Jake Tapper talks about his brief time in film school, Trump’s weirdly aggressive handshake, and why the U.S. Senate once investigated comic books.

Order Jake Tapper's his book The Hellfire Club on Amazon or Audible.  Watch him weeknights on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper and Sunday mornings on CNN’s State of the Union.  Follow Jake on twitter at @jaketapper.  Today’s podcast was sponsored by Outside the Box podcast, Legal Shield, and Adiamor Jewelry.

Sebastian Junger Talks War, Tribalism and Honoring Our Vets
42 perc 277. rész

Journalist/documentary filmmaker Sebastian Junger (Restrepo, The Perfect Storm) talks about the new PBS Memorial Day special Going to War and his experience as an embedded reporter covering the War in Afghanistan. He recalls his first close call with an I.E.D. in the Korengal Valley, the fear and exhilaration of first arriving in the combat zone, and how war taps into something primal in all of us. He discusses his own struggle with PTSD, how sharing war stories helps our soldiers reintegrate to civilian life, and why so many men and women in uniform feel uncomfortable when someone says “thank you for your service.”

Going to War airs Memorial Day, May 28, at 9PM ET/PT on PBS. Visit https://www.pbs.org/show/going-to-war/ to learn more. Keep up with Sebastian Junger at www.sebastianjunger.com and follow him on twitter at @sebastianjunger.  Today’s podcast was sponsored by The Brave podcast, Dollar Shave Club, PolicyGenius, and Lightstream.

Al Roker on the Johnstown Flood, America's Gilded Age Disaster
38 perc 276. rész

The Today Show's Al Roker talks about his book Ruthless Tide: The Heroes and Villains of the Johnstown Flood, America’s Astonishing Gilded Age Disaster.  He discusses the elite country club that compromised the structural integrity of the South Fork Dam causing the flood, he reveals some of the famous industrialists who belonged to that club, and how they escaped justice for the Johnstown flood in a notorious trial that ultimately led to important changes in US liability laws.  Plus Al Roker relates the lessons of the 1889 flood to global climate change and America’s modern day infrastructure needs, and on a lighter note, the self-described BBQ aficionado offers a few summer bbq tips for the grillmaster in your family.

Order Al Roker's book Ruthless Tide: The Heroes and Villains of the Johnstown Flood, America’s Astonishing Gilded Age Disaster on Amazon or Audible.  See Al weekday mornings on NBC's The Today Show, visit him at www.alroker.com, and follow him on twitter at @alroker.  Today's episode was sponsored by Citizen Watches, Outside the Box podcast, Grasshopper, and Adiamor Jewelry.

Ethan Hawke's Spiritual Approach to Acting, Life, and Social Change
46 perc 275. rész

Ethan Hawke joins me on the podcast for wide ranging conversation
covering art, politics, spirirtuality, the environment, and more.  He describes working with Robin Williams on Dead Poets Society, why he finds the most creative fullfillment in music not acting, and what he calls the "spiritual marriage" between an actor and director.  He opens up about how his admiration for the work of Thomas Murton, and his thoughts on the social responsibility of religious leaders, and his own spiritual journey influenced his performance as a parish pastor in his latest film First Reformed.  Plus Ethan talks about what he calls the velocity of depression, why he’s not afraid to take long breaks from the silver screen, his work with the YMCA to help kids overcome divisiveness, and his upcoming project about our favorite “mad scientist” Nicola Tesla.

See Ethan Hawke in Paul Schrader's brilliant film First Reformed now playing in theaters.  Today's episode was sponsored by Adiamor Jewelry.

Ehud Barak on Fighting for Israel & Searching for Peace
42 perc 274. rész

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak discusses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, his role in the 2000 Camp David Summit, and his tortured dealings with Yasser Arafat.  He recalls his early years growing up on a kibbutz, how his intelligence and navigating skills lead the physically unimposing young man to become commander of Israel's special forces unit Sayeret Matkal, and the time he lead a daring mission to rescue hostages on a hijacked Sabena Flight in 1972.  He talks about current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who served under his command and later became his political rival, he discusses his own transition from military officer to politician, and reveals what he says was the biggest mistake of his political career.  Plus, Ehud Barak shares how his thinking has evolved on the Iran nuclear agreement.

Order Ehud Barak's book new memoir My Country, My Life: Fighting for Israel, Searching for Peace on Amazon or Audible.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Citizen Watches  and Grasshopper.

Former CIA Director Michael Hayden on Trump's Attack on the Intelligence Community
48 perc 273. rész

General Michael Hayden, former Director of the CIA, talks about his concerns over President Trump's attack on the Intelligence Community and objective facts.  He refutes the President’s paranoid narrative of a so called "deep state" operating in the shadows, explains the lasting impact of a damaged relationship between the Intelligence Community and the Commander-in-Chief, and reveals what friends inside the IC are saying about that relationship including how they have to tailor the Daily Intelligence Brief to a President with zero attention span and constantly wonder “do you think he got that?”  General Hayden talks about the lasting impact of the IC’s decision to focus their efforts on cyber instead of information dominance and reveals how one analyst saw the early warning signs 2 years before the Russian attack of the 2016 election.  He weighs in on the President’s nominee for CIA director Gina Haspel, the decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, and why he believes Kim Jung Un is unlikely to give up his nukes.  Plus General Hayden discusses the advice he gives to those considering a job in the Administration, how the President’s Twitter addiction aids our enemies, and the Russian’s FSB’s nickname for men like Donald Trump..."the useful idiot."

Order Michael Hayden's book The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in an Age of Lies on Amazon or Audible.  and follow him on twitter at @GenMHayden.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Citizen Watches, US Marker Board, and Grasshopper.

CNN's Sally Kohn on Hate, Humanity, and Twitter Trolls
44 perc 272. rész

CNN political analyst Sally Kohn talks about her investigation into the epidemic of hate all around us and how we can stop it. She discusses what scientists and researchers have learned about the evolutionary and cultural roots of hate, and how incivility can be a gateway to much worse.  She shares some surprising lessons and dramatic stories from her travels to Rwanda, the Middle East, and across the United States engaging with former terrorists, white supremacists, and even her own Twitter trolls.  Plus Sally Kohn opens up about confronting some of her own less than perfect moments such as when she bullied a classmate in school or times when the ugliness of the politics has gotten the best of her.

Order her book The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity on Amazon or Audible.  Subscribe to her podcast The State of Resistance on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.  For more information, visit www.sallykohn.com and follow her on twitter at @sallykohn.  Today's podcast is sponsored by Everquote, US Marker Board, and Zyppah.

Jon Meacham on the Soul of America and Donald Trump
45 perc 271. rész

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham helps us understand the present moment of crisis in American politics by looking back at critical times in our history when hope overcame hatred and reveals how his latest book The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels was born in the dark days following the infamous Charlottesville rally.  He talks about similarities between the current age and the 1920’s, how America during Great Depression could have easily followed the path of Germany into totalitarianism, and what Donald Trump could learn from the fate of red-baiting Senator Joseph McCarthy.  He discusses moments when Presidents have served as moral leaders for the nation including the day George H.W. Bush handed in his NRA card and an oft forgotten speech by Dwight Eisenhower that is all too relevant today.  Plus George H.W. Bush's biographer shares some candid memories of the late former First Lady Barbara Bush.

Order Jon Meacham's book The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels on Amazon or Audible.  Keep up with him at www.jonmeacham.com and follow him on Twitter at @jmeacham.  Today's episode was sponsored by Citizen Watches, Grasshopper, Quip, and U.S. Markerboard

The Dark Heart of White Nationalism w/ Journalist Vegas Tenold
49 perc 270. rész

For six years, journalist Vegas Tenold embedded himself
among the members of three of America's most ideologically extreme white nationalist groups including the KKK, neonazis, and the Traditionalist Workers Party.  He reveals how this self-described Norwegian socialist managed to gain access to some of the worst hate groups in America, and why he says the most dangerous groups aren’t the KKK or neonazis, but a new class of well organized activists seeking to take their hateful ideology mainstream.  He recalls covering the notorious Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville 
and explains why law enforcement was partly to blame for the violence.  He talks about some of the dog whistles that politicians use to signal fidelity with white nationalists, his experience watching the 2016 election returns with the head of the Traditionalist Workers Party, and why he says these groups are ultimately doomed to fail.  Plus the dangers of being a bald white Norwegian at a skinhead rally.

Order Everything You Love Will Burn: Inside the Rebirth of White Nationalism in America on Amazon or Audible and follow Vegas Tenold on twitter at @vegastenold.  Today's episode was sponsored by Everquote, Grasshopper, and Zyppah

Cinco de Funny w/ Comedian Paul Rodriguez
43 perc 269. rész

Comedian Paul Rodriguez tells stories from his 40 year career in showbusiness, including his first time on The Tonight Show, why Johnny Carson banned him from the NBC studios, and the "higher power" who intervened on his behalf.  He talks about getting his start as a valet at the Comedy Store and how that led to his being a runner for Richard Pryor, he shares some advice Comedy Store owner Mitzi Shore gave him when he started out, and recalls some wild times from his days living in a comedians dormatory above the Comedy Store.  Plus Paul Rodriguez shares his worst gig ever.

Paul Rodriguez's new standup special The Here & Wow
is available May 1 via Comedy Dynamics Network
The album of The Here and Wow comes out May 4.  For Paul’s upcoming shows, visit his website at www.paulrodriguez.com
and follow him at @ThePaulRod.  Today's episode was sponsored by Intercom, Citizen Watches, Dollar Shave Club, and Policy Genius.

Michael Isikoff & David Corn on Trump's Russian Roulette
49 perc 268. rész

Journalists Michael Isikoff and David Corn discuss Russia’s long simmering plan to undermine American democracy, and how the U.S. Intelligence Community failed to see the warning signs in 2016.  They delve into a rogue’s gallery of Russia enablers from Paul Manafort to Carter Paige and analyze why the Trump campaign and Russian cyberattackers seemed to be so suspiciously in sync.  They talk about President Donald Trump’s strange infatuation with Vladimir Putin, why President Obama didn’t do more to stop Russian interference before it was too late, and what was Donald Trump up to in that infamous Moscow hotel room in 2013.

Order Michael Isikoff and David Corn's book Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin's War on America and the Election of Donald Trump on Amazon or Audible.  You can read more by Michael Isikoff on Yahoo News or on twitter at @Isikoff and subscribe to his podcast Skullduggery wherever you listen to podcasts.  You can read David Corn’s articles at www.mortherjones.com and frequently hear his expert political analysis on MSNBC.  Follow David on Twitter at @DavidCornDC.  Today's episode was sponsored by Grasshopper, Untuckit, and Intercom.

Bryan Cranston on Life Before Acting & Becoming Walter White
52 perc 267. rész

Rerun of 9/5/17 episode w/ guest Bryan Cranston. Actor Bryan Cranston recalls a difficult childhood and the two year road trip that changed his life.  He shares some of his adventures before acting including traveling as a carny, catching shoplifters as security guard, and the time he ended up a suspect in a murder investigation.  He talks about getting a crash course in comedy from Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, landing the role of a lifetime on Breaking Bad, and how he built one of the most iconic characters in the history of television.  Bryan Cranston also gives some advice for aspiring actors, reveals how his life has changed since "Walter White," and why he loves making small talk with old people.

Order Bryan Cranston's bestselling memoir A Life in Parts on Amazon or download the audiobook at www.audible.com.  Bryan Cranston stars in Last Flag Flying which opens in theatres November 3.  Follow Bryan on Twitter at @BryanCranston.

 

Steven Pinker Makes the Case for Science, Reason, Humanism, and Progress
44 perc 266. rész

Professor Steven Pinker (Bill Gates' favorite author) discusses the irony that the news media has become measurably more negative at same time as our quality life has dramatically improved.  He outlines how the top 15 objective metrics of human progress indicate that life is getting better not worse, and he says fear of things like globalism and income inequality is greatly exaggerated and largely unfounded.  He calls for the left and the right to stop politicizing science, the embrace of humanism over tribalism, and more critical thinking and less political correctness in our universities.

Order Steven Pinker's book Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress on Amazon or Audible.
Keep up with Steven Pinker at www.stevenpinker.com or on twitter at @sapinker.  Today's episode was sponsored by Grasshopper, Untuckit, and Adiamor Jewelry.

Louie Anderson Says Be Nicer to Your Mom
48 perc 265. rész

Comedian Louie Anderson returns to talk about mining the more poignant moments of his childhood for comedy and some of the comedic expressions he borrowed from his own parents.  He discusses how his mother Ora Zella Anderson inspired his Emmy-winning role on Baskets, he reveals the questions he’d most like to ask his mother if she were still alive, and opens up about learning to forgive his abusive father and also himself.  Plus Louie Anderson on finally learning to eat healthy after 65 years, what he says to fans who fear a skinny Louie won’t be funny anymore, and his curious connection to silent movie star Fatty Arbuckle.

Order Louie Anderson's new book HEY MOM: STORIES FOR MY MOTHER, BUT YOU CAN READ THEM TOO on Amazon or Audible.com.  Watch his new standup special BIG UNDERWEAR on Amazon, Comcast, DIRECTV, AT&T, DISH, iTunes, Charter, Google Play and many other platforms.  Visit www.louieanderson.com for his upcoming standup dates and follow him on Twitter at @LouieAnderson.  Today's episode was sponsored by Policy Genius, Grasshopper, and Adiamor.

Jennifer Palmieri Empowers Women w/ Lessons from the Clinton Campaign
45 perc 264. rész

Jennifer Palmieri, communications director of the 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign, says she wants to turn the results of the 2016 election into something empowering for future female leaders and advises the next woman who runs for President to write her own playbook not emulate her male predecessors.  She shares her insider’s perspective on the Clinton campaign, gives some insight into the candidate who she says was reluctant to run for President in 2016 and was all too aware of the slings and arrows that would come her way.  She also shares some wisdom from another famous female mentor of hers the late Elizabeth Edwards, she re-examines the role of former FBI director James Comey in the 2016 election, and explains why Hillary Clinton’s email problem was about way more than just emails.  Plus Jennifer Palmieri responds to all those armchair strategists who asked “where was THAT Hillary?” after her concession speech, she suggests that candidates for office should cry more and nod less, and she casts the Batman version of the 2016 election.

Order Dear Madam President: An Open Letter to the Women Who Will Run the World on Amazon or download the audio version at www.audible.com.  Follow Jennifer Palmieri on twitter at @jmpalmieri.  Today's episode was sponsored by Grasshopper and AppRiver.

Director Barry Levinson on Paterno, Pacino, & Our "Wag the Dog" Reality
44 perc 263. rész

Director Barry Levinson explores the Penn State sexual abuse scandal that ended Coach Joe Paterno’s career in his new film PATERNO on HBO.  He explains why he wanted to present the straight facts of the case without actually taking sides, talks the about the student riots that broke out when Penn State fired Paterno, and reveals what the film has to say about Americans’ views on issues of loyalty, tribalism, and the truth.  Barry Levinson also recalls his early days teaming up with another "coach" Craig T. Nelson to form a nightclub comedy duo, writing sketches for THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW, directing his first movie at the urging of his mentor Mel Brooks, and he shares behind-the-scenes stories from some of his classic films including DINER, TIN MEN, RAIN MAN, AVALON, and more.  Plus Barry Levinson talks about why Hollywood doesn’t make films about human beings anymore, whether he’d like to make a sequel to WAG THE DOG for the age of "fake news," and how an infamous drug kingpin got him into his first acting class.

PATERNO is available now on HBO GO, HBO NOW and HBO ON DEMAND.  Today's episode was sponsored by AppRiver, Adiamor Jewelry, and Grasshopper.

Ed Helms on Re-examining Ted Kennedy and Embracing Your Inner-Fool
49 perc 262. rész

Actor Ed Helms (THE OFFICE, THE HANGOVER) talks about playing Ted Kennedy's best friend in CHAPPAQUIDDICK, why the Chappaquiddick incident is an often forgotten chapter in America’s modern political history, and how making the film led him to reassess his own ideas about "Camelot."  He also reveals how the Kennedy damage control team used the moon landing to distract from the scandal, ponders Chappaquidick’s place in Ted Kennedy’s larger legacy, and wonders how the scandal might have played out differently in the age of 24 hour news and social media.  Ed Helms talks about working with fellow comic Jim Gaffigan on the film,
mining the Kennedy story for moments of dark comedy, and mastering the notoriously tricky Massachusetts accent.  He also discusses his own politics, gleefully recalls exposing hypocrites and bad guys as a correspondent on The Daily Show, remembers his start in entertainment as a cocky sarcastic voiceover guy, and explains why he says it's good to be "a fool at life."

CHAPPAQUIDDICK opens in theatres tomorrow Friday April 6.  Follow Ed Helms on Twitter at @edhelms, check out his website for bluegrass lovers at www.thebluegrasssituation.com and visit his own bluegrass band the Lonesome Trio at www.thelonesometrio.com.  Today's episode was sponsored by AppRiver, Adiamor Jewelry, and Grasshopper.

Andie MacDowell on Acting Over 40, Time's Up, & Her Film "Love After Love"
51 perc 261. rész

Andie MacDowell discusses why there are so few good roles for actresses over 40 and why she thinks that’s about to change.  She talks about getting thrown into the deep end on her very first movie GREYSTOKE, the hard work she had to do to get from that film to her break-out role in SEX LIES AND VIDEOTAPE, and what she learned about grief and healing on her latest movie LOVE AFTER LOVE.  She discusses why she’s chosen to live outside of Los Angeles until recently, some of the advice she gives to her two daughters who are now acting, and her perspective on Hollywood's long road to Time's Up.

LOVE AFTER LOVE opens in theaters Friday, March 30.  Follow Andie on twitter at @AndieMacDowell3.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Squarespace, AppRiver Grasshopper, Google Cloud Platform.

Tim Robbins Humanizes Immigration & Heals Prisoners w/ Theatre
50 perc 260. rész

Actor/director Tim Robbins discusses how his new HBO series HERE AND NOW is tapping into the anxiety of America in 2018 and why his classic political mockumentary BOB ROBERTS is more relevant now than ever.  He says Harvey Weinstein reminds him of the shady operators he knew growing up in New York’s Greenwich Village, he recalls studying real studio execs for his role in Robert Altman’s THE PLAYER, and he remembers Altman's mentoring Tim's leap from actor to director.  He discusses how he funded his first play while he was still a struggling actor, how his latest play THE NEW COLOSSUS is putting personal faces to the immigration issue, and why he’s using The Actors Gang to bring theatre into California prisons.  Plus Tim opens up about turning 60, weighs in on the current struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party, and recounts the time he heckled Henry Kissinger outside of a famous celebrity restaurant.

THE NEW COLOSSUS is playing now through May 12 at The Actors Gang in Culver City, CA.  Visit www.theactorsgang.com for tickets or to learn more.  See Tim in Alan Ball’s excellent new series HERE AND NOW with a subscription to HBO, HBO GO, or HBO NOW.  Keep up with Tim at www.timrobbins.net or on twitter at @TimRobbins1.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Dollar Shave Club and Policy Genius.

David Mamet on Jazz, Noir, and Whorehouse Piano Players
41 perc 259. rész

David Mamet 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 his longing to live as a reporter in the 1920’s and die as a whorehouse piano player with a whiskey and a cigarette.

Order David Mamet's new book CHICAGO: A NOVEL on Amazon.
Today's podcast was sponsored by Google Cloud Platform podcast, AppRiver, Breach podcast, Quip, Google Cloud Spanner, and Hair Regrowth from Just for Men.

Futurist Michio Kaku on Mars, Immortality, and Interstellar Travel
43 perc 258. rész

Futurist Michio Kaku says sooner or later humanity will face the possibility of extinction, and it’s up to scientists to come up with a plan B whether it’s another planet or even another galaxy.  He explains why it’s important for us to return to the moon, how we would go about terraforming Mars, and what he calls the new "gold rush" that could fund NASA indefinitely.  He shares his theory on why we haven’t encountered alien life and where humans fit in on his hierarchy of civilizations.  Michio Kaku describes the three ways the universe will almost certainly die, but says in the meantime immortality might be just around the corner.  Plus he gives me a progress update on what he calls his life’s work proving Einstein’s Unified Theory of Everything.


Order Michio Kaku's book The Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth on Amazon.  Keep up with him at www.mkaku.org and follow him on Twitter at @michiokaku.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Grasshopper, Policy Genius, Google Cloud Platform, and Hulu's The Looming Tower.

Bizarre Foods Host Andrew Zimmern
50 perc 257. rész

Andrew Zimmern host of Bizarre Foods on The Travel Channel talks about how he became the man who’ll eat anything and some of the weirdest foods he’s tried over the years.  He reveals some of the strangest delicacies that turned out to be surprisingly good and whether he’s finally learned to love his old nemesis - the infamously stinky durian fruit.  He’ll discuss his broader mission to spread tolerance and understanding because as he puts it, "social change often starts with our stomachs."  He recalls how he went from living on the streets to globe trotting on The Travel Channel, he explains why his newest show The Zimmern List is his most personal one yet, and why he finally decided to share the one special restaurant that he swore he’d never reveal to the public.  Plus, Andrew discusses why freshness matters when eating testicles, the best bird fetus he ever ate, and two words...snake wine.

The Zimmern List airs Tuesdays 9 p.m. ET/PT on The Travel Channel.  To learn more, visit www.travelchannel.com.  You can also check out lots of other cool stuff at www.AndrewZimmern.com and follow Andrew on twitter at @AndrewZimmern.
This podcast was sponsored by Grasshopper, ZQuiet, Google Cloud Platform Weekly Podcast, and VMWare Executive Perspective Podcast.

Robert Malley Lists 10 Conflicts to Watch in 2018
51 perc 256. rész

Robert Malley, president of the International Crisis Group, discusses ICG's annual list of the 10 Conflicts to Watch in 2018.  He cautions against Donald Trump’s bluster about decertifying the Iran Nuclear Deal, warns that the stakes in North Korea are too high to be ignored, and speculates on what will happen in Syria once ISIS has been defeated militarily.  He reveals why he thinks a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is unlikely and how his childhood practically destined him for a life in crisis resolution.

Visit www.crisisgroup.org to learn more about the International Crisis Group, and follow Robert Malley and ICG on twitter at @Rob_Malley and @CrisisGroup.  This podcast was sponsored by Grasshopper, Squarespace, and Google Cloud Platform.

Comedian Nikki Glaser Is Up and On the Radio
50 perc 255. rész

Comedian Nikki Glaser talks about the worst week of her life, why she’s steering clear of politics for a while, and why she decided to move to NYC rather than get up early. She reveals why she likes long distance relationships, why she prefers to follow really good comedians, and why she’s banned from Urban Outfitters. Plus, how Nikki sorta saved my relationship.

Her new radio show YOU UP WITH NIKKI GLASER airs Monday through Thursday from 10:00 A.M to Noon ET and 7-9A.M. PT to 9:00 A.M. PT on SiriusXM’s Comedy Central Radio Channel 95. Keep up with Nikki at www.NikkiGlaser.com and follow her on twitter at @NikkiGlaser.  This podcast was sponsored by AppRiver, Linked In Jobs, Just for Men Hair Regrowth and Google Cloud Platform.

Steve Buscemi, Armando Ianucci, & Andrea Riseborough on The Death of Stalin
48 perc 254. rész

The cast and creator of THE DEATH OF STALIN talk about mining one of Russia’s darkest chapters for comedy and some of absurd but true stories that make into THE DEATH OF STALIN. Writer/director Armando Ianucci (VEEP, THE THICK OF IT) talks about how fighting ruthless authoritarians is a family tradition for him, why Russian officials think his movie is part of a western plot destabilize that country, and why the creator of VEEP is finally ready to give politics a break for a while.

Steve Buscemi (BOARDWALK EMPIRERESERVOIR DOGS, FARGO) discusses playing Nikita Kruschev in THE DEATH OF STALIN, his early career in standup comedy, how he says Stalin’s inner circle was more like The Three Stooges, and why his old AOL account is the best insurance against Russia hackers. Andrea Riseborough (BIRDMAN, OBLIVION)who portrays Svetlana Stalina talks about the illusive relationship between the ruthless dictator and his daughter and some of her favorite British comedies.


THE DEATH OF STALIN opens in theaters on Friday, March 9. For more information, visit www.DeathOfStalin.co.uk or www.ifcfilms.com. Today’s podcast was sponsored by Grasshopper, ZQuiet, Hulu's The Looming TowerGoogle Cloud Platform Podcast, and the VMWare Executive Perspective Podcast.

Cass Sunstein on Authoritarianism in America
46 perc 253. rész

Cass Sunstein attempts to answer the question "Can authoritarianism happen in America?"  He discusses a few of America’s past flirtations with authoritarianism, some of the weaknesses in our system that could be exploited by an aspiring strongman, and why if it did happen, it would likely be a very gradual process instead of a bold power-grab.  He talks about the ways that tribalism, nationalism and conspiracy theories create a fertile breeding ground for authoritarianism, he reveals whether he thinks President Trump secretly aspires to that sort of power, and America's most cited legal scholar weighs in on the Trump-Russia investigation.

Order Cass Sunstein's book Can It Happen Here?: Authoritarianism in America on Amazon and follow him on Twitter at @CassSunstein. Today's podcast is sponsored by The Big Question with Cal FussmanQuip, AppRiver, and Google Cloud AI.

Matt Ingebretson & Jake Weisman Go Corporate
42 perc 252. rész

Matt Ingebretson and Jake Weisman, the stars and co-creators of the new Comedy Central series CORPORATE talk about their own experiences in corporate America and the irony doing their new show for corporate conglomerate Viacom.  They discuss why they wanted a darker tone than typical workplace comedies, how they convinced Lance Reddick to play their tyranical boss, and why they took on the one holiday you that can’t make fun of in their season finale.  Plus Matt and Jake talk about development hell, marvel at the modern wonder of a simple banana, and reveal why everyone’s a number at Amazon.

CORPORATE airs Wednesdays at 10/9Central on Comedy Central.  For more information, go to www.cc.com/shows/corporate.  Follow Matt Ingebretson and Jake Weisman on Twitter at @mattingebretson and @weismanjake.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Google Cloud AI, The Looming Tower on Hulu, and Grasshopper.

Gloria Allred Was Saying Time's Up Long Ago
43 perc 251. rész

Attorney Gloria Allred was fighting for women long before anyone ever hashtagged Me Too or Time's Up, and she's the subject of a new Netflix documentary Seeing Allred.  She reveals how her own personal experience inspired to fight for victims assault, harassment, and discrimination.  She addresses critics who say she just does it all for the publicity, and explains that for many of her clients such as the Cosby accusers, a "trial" in the court of public opinion may be the only justice they can get.  She talks about how that's changing with a new California law that extends the statute of limitations for sexual assault, she discusses why she decided to represent the family of Nicole Brown Simpson during the O.J. trial, and she gives an update on her client Summer Zervos’s pending defamation suit against President Donald Trump.  Plus she talks about her surprisingly cordial relationship with defense attorney Alan Dershowitz, the battle of the Friar’s Club steam room, and why so many people call her "Senator."

Watch Seeing Allred on Netflix now, and keep up with Gloria Allred at www.gloriaallred.com or on Twitter at @GloriaAllred.  Today's podcast was sponsored by App RiverGrasshopperJust for Men Hair Regrowth, ZQuiet, and Google Cloud Platform podcast.

Comedian Ali Siddiq Goes from Jail to Jokes
47 perc 250. rész

20 years ago comedian Ali Siddiq served six years in the Texas state penitentiary, and now he’s returning to the cellblock for his new Comedy Central standup special Ali Siddiq: It’s Bigger Than These Bars.  On today’s podcast, Ali talks about the incident that landed behind bars, and why he says “mental prison” is far worse than physical prison.  He discusses how he started his comedy career by telling funny stories to his fellow prisoners, how he convinced the Bell County Jail to let him back in for his new standup special, and some of the surprising changes he saw in both the inmates and their guards. He recalls starting out in showbusiness on the modern day equivalent of the “chitlin' circuit,” reveals why his favorite comics are all old white guys, and answers which is the tougher audience…comedy club-goers or hardened criminals.

Ali Siddiq: It’s Bigger Than These Bars premieres on Friday, February 23 at 11:00 p.m. Eastern on Comedy Central. Check out Ali's upcoming live dates at www.alisiddiq.com and follow him on Twitter at @Ali_Speaks.  Today's podcast was sponsored by Google Cloud PlatformGrasshopper, SeatGeek, and Adiamor.com.

Malcolm McDowell on Mozart, Movies & Never Looking Back
47 perc 249. rész

Malcolm McDowell has starred in over 260 films and television shows from classics like Clockwork Orange to his latest role as an egotistical conductor on Mozart in the Jungle.  He shares stories about "mostly drunken gambling and whoring" at the Royal Shakespeare Company, how he came up with the infamous Singin' in the Rain scene for Clockwork Orange, and how he got stiffed by the film’s notoriously cheap director Stanley Kubrick.  The maestro discusses his strategy for conducting the symphony on Mozart in the Jungle and how the show bravely rebels against agism and Hollywood's conventional idea's about romance.  Plus he recalls working with greats like Peter O’Toole, Laurence Olivier, and John Gielgud, he reveals why he turned down a chance to be knighted, and he talks about the role that made him public enemy number one for trekkies.

Season 4 of Mozart in the Jungle is now available with a subscription to Amazon Prime. Today's episode was sponsored by Squarespace,  Google Cloud Platform Weekly Podcast, and Grasshopper.  

Twice the Funny w/ the Sklar Brothers
55 perc 248. rész

Comedians Randy and Jason Sklar talk about how they got into comedy and why they don’t just want to be known as the "twin comics." They talk about their podcast Dumb People Town that riffs on the dumbing down of America, talk about a few of the DPT characters who’ve become folk heroes to their fans, and what it says about life in the age of Donald Trump.  Plus they talk about their new docu-comedy Poop Talk that uses humor to address one the biggest social taboos of all.

The Sklar Brothers' new film Poop Talk is available On Demand, on iTunes, on Amazon, and in theaters starting Friday, February 16.  Subscribe to the Sklar bros podcasts Dumb People Town
and View from the Cheap Seats. Visit their website at www.supersklars.com and follow them on twitter at @SklarBrothers.  Today's episode was sponsored by Last Week Tonight w/ John Oliver, Google Cloud Platform Weekly Podcast, and Grasshopper.  

An Unspirational Conversation w/ Elan Gale
47 perc 247. rész

Elan Gale, executive-producer of The Bachelor, says if you want to improve your life, be your own worst critic, not your own best cheerleader, and get to know your new best friends...shame, anxiety, and desperation.  He takes on some of the most popular and meaningless inspirational phrases explaining why only narcissists believe "everything happens for a reason and "living without regrets" is a recipe for complacency.  Plus Elan Gale on why Trump never learns anything, the best question to ask in an interview, and the stupidest hashtags on instagram.

Order Elan Gale's book You’re Not That Great (But Neither Is Anyone Else) on Amazon or Audible and follow him on twitter and instagram at @TheYearOfElan.  Today's episode was sponsored by Squarespace, LinkedIn Jobs, and Hair Regrowth from Just for Men.

Whitney Cummings Hacks the Female Brain
46 perc 246. rész

Comedian Whitney Cummings talks about the humbling experience of being a first time director on her film The Female Brain, how she learned that every moment doesn’t have to be a joke, and why she says The Female Brain isn’t just for the ladies.  She shares how she broke free of a cycle of co-depency once she started understanding the neurochemistry behind her bad choices and why she says it’s a lot harder to come up with jokes when you don’t have all that none-stop drama.  Whitney weighs in on the Me Too movement and hints that the new Roseanne reboot (which she's executive-producing) might just help us understand how middle-America went for Trump.  Plus, Whitney talks about being a lady comedian in the Middle East, those women who see Marilyn Monroe as a feminist role model, and how she almost accidentally killed Sofia Vergara.

The Female Brain opens in theaters Friday, February 9.  For more information, visit www.ifcfilms.com.  Order Whitney’s very funny book I’m Fine…And Other Lies on Amazon, and you can keep up with her at www.whitneycummings.com or on twitter at @WhitneyCummings.  Today's episode was sponsored by Google Cloud AI.

David Frum on How Trump Corrupts the American Republic
38 perc 245. rész

David Frum, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, discusses his new book TRUMPOCRACY: THE CORRUPTION OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC.  He documents how Trump and his administration is steadily damaging the tenets of American democracy, warns that Trump’s military generals could become a liability to the President, and how the Trump Administration’s buffoonery may be incompetence by design with an end game of subverting the rule of law and undermining our Democratic institutions. Plus, Frum throws cold water on the idea that Trump might be a useful idiot for Congressional Republicans, explains why a Democrat win in the 2018 midterms could drive Republicans even closer to Trump, and discusses Trump’s bizarre habit of picking fights with allies in his own party.

Order TRUMPOCRACY: THE CORRUPTION OF THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC on Amazon or Audible.  Read David’s writing in The Atlantic, visit his website at www.davidfrum.com, and follow him on twitter at @DavidFrum.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kubernetes Engine on Google Cloud Platform.

David Cay Johnston Tried to Warn You About Trump
44 perc 244. rész

David Cay Johnston, bestselling author of The Making of Donald Trump, returns to the podcast to say "I told you so" and discuss his new book It’s Worse Than You Think: What the Trump Administration Is Doing to America.  The Pulitzer-winning investigative journalist says the President who promised to "drain the swamp" has become the biggest swamp monster of all.  He describes how Trump is packing government agencies with "political termites" who are eating away at the very institutions they’re supposed to protect.  He gives lie to the myth of Donald Trump as the champion of the American worker, explains the President’s two very different standards of justice, and reveals how Trump is enriching his family and giving away valuable government property to a new class of American oligarchs.  Plus David Cay Johnston says he knows what the Mueller investigation has on Trump, he weighs in on the Stormy Daniels scandal, and makes a prediction for the 2018 midterms.

Order It's Worse Than You Think: What the Trump Administration is Doing to America on Amazon or Audible.  Visit www.davidcayjohnston.com and follow David on twitter at @DavidCayJ.  Today's episode was sponsored by Kubernetes Engine on Google Cloud Platform.

A Skeptic's Guide to the Afterlife, Immortality, and Utopia w/ Dr. Michael Shermer
48 perc 243. rész

Dr. Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic Magazine, talks about his new book Heavens on Earth: The Scientific Search for the Afterlife, Immortality & Utopia.  He reveals the surprising history of our concept of heaven, he proves that out-of-body experiences are nothing more than hallucinations, and he questions why reincarnated souls only seem to hang around India.  He discusses why it’s unlikely that you or anyone else will ever live past 125, why utopian societies always end badly, and why scientists still have some major kinks to work out in their quest to cheat death.  Plus, skeptic Michael Shermer talks about his unlikely friendship with Deepak Chopra, he weighs on Trump’s ongoing battle with the truth, and settles whether Walt Disney is cryonically frozen.

Order Heavens on Earth: The Scientific Search for the Afterlife, Immortality & Utopia on Amazon or Audible.  Visit www.skeptic.com and www.michaelshermer.com, and follow Michael on twitter at @MichaelShermer.  Today's episode was sponsored by Squarespace and SeatGeek.

Phil Rosenthal Eats His Way Around The World
47 perc 242. rész

Phil Rosenthal, creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, reveals how the idea for his new travel show Somebody Feed Phil came from a trip he and Ray Romano took to Italy, he recalls some of the cultural roadblocks he encountered when he later produced the Russian version of Everybody Loves Raymond, and talks about the places he likes to call the "world’s greatest hits."  He praises TelAviv as a perfect example of food’s power to overcome all differences, says Portugal is way more than just Spain’s little stepbrother, and suggests a city where you can experience all kinds of international cultures and flavors right here in America.  Plus talks about an encounter with the notorious durian fruit, how to eat on camera without looking like a slob, and why the best meal of your life may only cost you a buck!

Watch all six episodes of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix
and follow Phil on twitter at @PhilRosenthal. Today's episode was sponsored by Squarespace and SeatGeek.

Secretary of State George Shultz on Reagan, Gorbachev, and Winning the Cold War
32 perc 241. rész

Former Secretary of State George Shultz recalls his close friendship with President Ronald Reagan, the moment he realized that Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was someone the U.S. could do business with, and Reagan's Pershing missile moment as a masterclass in peace through strength.  He suggests that President Trump may soon need to have a "Pershing moment" of his own, reveals what he learned in a meeting years ago with a young Vladimir Putin, and weighs in as an economist on the Trump tax reform act.  Plus George Shultz discusses why Ronald Reagan never bluffed, why foreign policy is a lot like gardening, and why the prospect of nuclear war still keeps him up at night.

George Shultz is a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution and you can read some of his articles at www.hoover.org.  Today's episode was sponsored by Credit Karma and The Art of Charm podcast.

Greg Barker Captures Obama's Final Year
41 perc 240. rész

Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Greg Barker (Ghosts of Rwanda, Manhunt, Homegrown) talks about following President Barack Obama and other senior White House officials during the final 12 months of the Obama Administration for his new film THE FINAL YEAR. He reveals some of the heartbreaking humanitarian nightmares faced by UN Ambassador Samantha Power, what it was like for Secretary of State John Kerry to return to Vietnam 45 years after fought in the war there, and why President Obama chose Greece for his last overseas stop.  He explains John Kerry's version of diplomatic speed dating, gives a fly on the wall perspective on the Syrian peace deal that never was, and discusses the Obama Administration’s fundamental miscalculation about Russian President Vladimir Putin.

THE FINAL YEAR opens in theatres and on demand this Friday, January 19.  For more information visit www.thefinalyearfilm.com and follow Greg Barker on twitter at @GJBarker.  Today's episode was sponsored by Control GX

General David Petraeus on the Counterinsurgency, the Paradox of Nation Building & a Military Commander's Worst Enemy...Yes Men
44 perc 239. rész

General David Petraeus talks about implementing the successful "Surge" strategy in Iraq, and some of the unique complexities he encountered when translating that plan to the war in Afghanistan.  He discusses the fundamentals of counterinsurgency, his personal disdain for yes men, the paradox of nation building, and how a grad school dissertation on the Vietnam War helped shape his world view.  Plus General Petraeus weighs in on President Trump and the return of large geopolitical rivalries.  Today's episode was sponsored by LinkedIn Jobs and The Art of Charm podcast. 

Nightline's Dan Harris Becomes My Meditation Guru
45 perc 238. rész

ABC Nightline's Dan Harris has become a self-professed meditation evangelist ever since his infamous on-air panic attack in 2004 and today he tries to win over the ultimate skeptic...ME.  He reveals how daily meditation has improved life at home and at work, he dispels some of the myths surrounding meditation, and he discusses the  science behind the physical, mental and emotional health benefits of meditation.  He gives a crash course in how you can begin meditating with as little as one minute of free time, and he tells stories from his 23 state meditation bus tour including encounters with some surprising meditation fans like an Ohio Congressman and the cadets and professors of VMI.

Order Dan's book MEDITATION FOR FIDGETY SKEPTICS on Amazon or download the audio book on Audible.  Subscribe to Dan's 10% Happier Podcast and download the 10% Happier App.  Follow him on twitter at @danbharris and at www.10percenthappier.com.  Watch him weeknights on ABC’s Nightline and on the weekend edition of Good Morning America.  Today's episode was sponsored by Squarespace and The Post.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Daniel Ellsberg Reveals America's Secret Nuclear War Plan
39 perc 237. rész

Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower behind the Pentagon Papers, reveals how helped design America's top secret nuclear war plan and why he has since dedicated his life to dismantling it.  He explains why the movie Dr. Strangelove is not far from the truth, discloses that the President isn’t the only one with his finger on the nuclear button, and explains just how far down the chain of command that authority may reverberate.  He reveals the potentially staggering human cost of America’s first strike strategy,
the logic behind the Joint Chiefs’ apparent peace with that risk, and their calculated willingness to obliterate US allies in the process.  Plus Daniel Ellsberg weighs in on the nuclear game of chicken between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un, he lends some credence to the idea that’s there’s a so called “deep state” operating beyond the President’s authority, and America’s most famous whistleblower shatters the myth that all secrets in Washington eventually get leaked.

Order Daniel Ellsberg's book The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner on Amazon or download the audio book at Audible.com.  Daniel Ellsberg is on Twitter at @Daniel Ellsberg, and you can keep up with him and view lots of supplementary documents about the Pentagon Papers and America’s nuclear war plan at www.ellsberg.net. Today's episode was sponsored by The Art of Charm podcast.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Mike Duncan Answers "Is America Rome?"
41 perc 236. rész

Mike Duncan, host of The History of Rome podcast and Revolutions, constantly gets asked "Is America doomed to the same fate as the Roman Empire?"  Today he points to some startling parallels to US current events including populist demagoguery, economic inequality, the erosion of societal norms, and debate over who deserves to be a citizen.  He also offers ideas on how the American Republic can avoid the same fate as the Roman Republic before it's too late.

Order Mike Duncan's book The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic on Amazon or download the audio book at Audible.com.  Subscribe to Revolutions and The History of Rome wherever you listen to podcasts or visit www.revolutionspodcast.com and www.thehistoryofrome.typepad.com.  Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeDuncan.  Today's episode is sponsored by Tripping.com.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Dilbert Creator Scott Adams on Persuasion in the Age of Trump
43 perc 235. rész

Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert cartoons, talks about his new book Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don't Matter.  He reveals why facts and ideology no longer matter, why Donald Trump makes what he says are intentional misstatements, and how Trump uses what he calls “linguistic kill shots” to flatten his opponents.  He also weighs in why Trump’s "persuasion skills" haven’t been very effective on Congress and whether or not Trump supporters should be insulted at being manipulated by their President.  Plus, how to hypnotize anyone, how Scott’s endorsement of Trump impacted his Dilbert readership, and an early prediction for 2020.

Order Scott's book Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don't Matter on Amazon or download the audiobook on Audible.  Visit Scott’s website at www.blog.dilbert.com and follow him on Twitter at @ScottAdamsSays.  Today's episode is sponsored by Credit Karma.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Ridley Scott & Charlie Plummer Talk About Saving Their Film on the Getty Kidnapping
35 perc 234. rész

Academy Award-nominated director Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Black Hawk Down, The Martian) joins me on the podcast to discuss how he saved his movie ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD from the Kevin Spacey scandal by making the unprecedented decision to recast the role with the legendary Christopher Plummer and reshoot much of the film just 6 weeks before it hits theaters.  He talks about the late billionaire J. Paul Getty, why the richest man in the world refused to pay his own grandsons’ ransom, and what the oil magnate’s heirs have had to say about the film.  Then actor Charlie Plummer (Boardwalk Empire, The Dinner), who plays Getty's kidnapped grandson talks about the unimaginable wealth and privilege that came with being a Getty and what it was like to re-enact the gruesome moment when the real-life John Paul Getty III got his ear chopped off.

ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD opens in theatres on Christmas day 12/25.  To find out more visit www.allthemoney-movie.com.  Today's episode is sponsored by Grasshopper.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Father Greg Boyle with a Holiday Message of Hope & Compassion
44 perc 233. rész

Father Gregory Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry program in the world.  He reveals what inspired him to start Homeboy Industries,
how he fosters kinship between the most unlikely of friends - rival gang members, and how more often then not it’s just a matter of getting two people in the same room.  He shares how law enforcement leaders are getting involved, what he’s learned from testifying in 50 death penalty trials, and how the church can do more to reach out to “the people in the margins.”

Order Father Greg's book Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship on Amazon or download the audiobook on Audible.  To donate or find out more about Homeboy Industries, visit www.homeboyindustries.com.  Follow them on twitter at @HomeBoyInd and follow Father Greg at @FrGregBoyle.  Today's episode is sponsored by Grasshopper.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

David Hallberg, the First American in the Bolshoi Ballet
44 perc 232. rész

David Hallberg is a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and the first American ever to be admitted into Russia's legendary Bolshoi Ballet.  David talks about the discipline and dedication needed to make to the top as a dancer, the unique chemistry of partnering with the right ballerina, and the behind the scenes coaches who have passed down ballet’s greatest roles since the very beginning.  He recalls his tough adjustment to life in Moscow, some of the charming age-old traditions at the Bolshoi Ballet, and the unbelievable 2013 acid attack on his former boss Bolshoi director Sergei Fillin.  Plus David opens up about the debilitating injury that required him to completely relearn how to dance and his hard-won comeback to the ballet stage.

Order his book A Body of Work: Dancing to the Edge and Back
on Amazon or download the audiobook on Audible.  Visit David’s website at www.DavidHallberg.com and follow him on Twitter at @DavidHallberg.  Today's episode is sponsored by Grasshopper and Orbi.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Brian Kilmeade on Andrew Jackson & America's Second Revolutionary War
45 perc 231. rész

Brian Kilmeade, co-host of Fox & Friends, talks about his new book  Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle That Shaped America's Destiny.  He describes a confrontation with a British officer that became a defining moment for a young Andrew Jackson, how Jackson lead an army with a bullet wound to his shoulder and dysentery, and how Jackson never deserted his men and threatened to shoot any man who deserted him!  Brian reveals why New Orleans was so strategically important, how Jackson’s army was able to defeat the British in a mere 45 minutes, and what the consequences might have been if Jackson had lost.  Plus Brian Kilmeade talks about the comparisons between Jackson and Trump and weighs in on recent calls to reavaluate Jackson’s place in the history books.  

Order Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle That Shaped America's Destiny on Amazon or download the audio book on Audible.  Catch Brian Kilmeade every weekday on Fox and Friends and his radio show The Brian Kilmeade Show.  For more information visit www.briankilmeade.com and follow him on twitter at @Kilmeade.  Today's episode is sponsored by Grasshopper and Orbi.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Corey Lewandowski & David Bossie Say "Let Trump Be Trump"
36 perc 230. rész

Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie served as campaign manager and deputy campaign for Donald Trump's successful Presidential campaign and they write about that wild ride in their new book Let Trump Be Trump: The Inside Story of His Rise to the Presidency.  Today they talk about the man they still call "the boss," his seemingly limitless energy, and his obsession with leaks and loyalty. They discuss some of tense moments on the campaign from Trump's attack on Senator John McCain’s military service which Corey thought might end Trump’s candidacy to the make-or-break meeting of the campaign inner circle following the release of the Access Hollywood tape. Corey talks frankly about his falling out with the Trump kids and his opinion of Paul Manafort, and they settle whether George Papadopoulus was really a campaign insider or a glorified coffee boy.

Order Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie's new book Let Trump Be Trump: The Inside Story of His Rise to the Presidency on Amazon or download the audiobook on Audible.  Follow them on twitter at @CLewandowski and @David_Bossie.  Today's episode is sponsored by Grasshopper and iFit Nourish  Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Judd Apatow Returns to Stand-up Comedy
39 perc 229. rész

Director/writer/producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Funny People, Trainwreck) talks about his lifelong love of comedy and how Amy Schumer got him to return to stand-up after a 25 year absence from the stage.  He shares some advice to young comedy writers, gives his take on Hollywood’s sexual harassment problem, and talks about fatherhood and his marriage to actress Leslie Mann.  Plus Judd Apatow discusses the tao of Gary Shandling, "stalking" Steve Martin, and what to do when Kermit the Frog thinks you’re unlovable.

Judd Apatow's Netflix comedy special Judd Apatow: The Return is available starting Tuesday, December 12.  Follow him on twitter at @JuddApatow.  Today's episode is sponsored by Grasshopper.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Dan Rather on Patriotism, the Press, and the Values that Unite Us
45 perc 228. rész

Legendary newsman Dan Rather talks about his 60 year career and how his travels and conversations have given him a “wide shot” of the American experience and the values that unite us.  He condemns recent attacks on some on those values (including freedom of the press), he shares his own family's experience during the Great Depression as a lesson in empathy, and he recalls how his time spent with men like Martin Luther King Jr. and Medger Evers opened his eyes to institutionalized racism in America.  He talks frankly about how his own thinking has evolved on some social issues, and he weighs in on the recent rash of sexual harassment scandals that have rocked the news business.  He discusses a few of the dozen Presidents he’s known in his 60 years as a journalist and reveals the one word that has always carried Dan Rather through good times and bad.

Order Dan Rather's book WHAT UNITES US: REFLECTIONS ON PATRIOTISM on Amazon or download the audio version on Audible.  Follow him on twitter at @DanRather or at www.newsandguts.com.  Today’s episode is sponsored by iFit Nourish.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Lawrence O'Donnell on the Lasting Impact of the 1968 Election
55 perc 227. rész

For Lawrence O’Donnell, host of MSNBC’s The Last Word,
the 1968 U.S. Presidential election was his political awakening,
and it has remained one of his abiding fascinations.  Today he talks about the war that sunk LBJ’s presidency and the wild election that followed including the indignities suffered by Senator Senator Eugene McCarthy, how the assassination of Bobby Kennedy threw the Democratic primary into chaos, and the impossible political position of the eventual Democratic nominee Humbert Humphrey.  He analyzes the strategy behind the unlikely political comeback of Richard Nixon, the disturbingly familiar tone of the racist George Wallace campaign, and how 1968 has set the stage for every presidential election to follow.

Order Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics on Amazon or download the audio version on Audible.  Watch The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell every week night at 10PM Eastern on MSNBC, and follow him on twitter at @Lawrence.  Today’s episode is sponsored by Grasshopper and Credible.com.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

A.J. Jacobs Explores the World's Family Tree
47 perc 226. rész

A.J. Jacobs recounts his attempt to throw the worlds biggest family reunion, and his efforts to connect with the billions of people he calls his "cousins" via a project called the world family tree.  He discusses how this crazy project all began with an email from a dairy farmer in Israel, and quickly led him down a genealogical rabbit hole as he played "six degrees of A.J. Jacobs."  He says any person on the planet is no further than 70th cousins with anyone else, and every one of the 7 billion people on earth will be connected through a global family tree within the next 10-20 years.  A.J. discusses the potential for this idea to bridge divides, but he warns that genealogy can also expose uncomfortable truths and upend long held family narratives.  Plus A.J. earns the ultimate Mormon street cred, attends a get-together of the Hatfields and McCoys, and nearly loses his mind trying to round up thousands of his "cousins" for the world's biggest family reunion.

Order A.J. Jacobs' book IT'S ALL RELATIVE: ADVENTURES UP AND DOWN THE WORLD'S FAMILY TREE on Amazon or download the audiobook on Audible. Follow A.J. on twitter at @ajjacobs or at www.ajjacobs.com.  Today’s episode is sponsored by GrasshopperCredible.com, and iFit Nourish.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.

Magazine Queen Tina Brown
40 perc 225. rész

Tina Brown is arguably the most influential magazine editor of the past 50 years, having served as editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Tatler, and The Daily Beast.  She discusses her new book The Vanity Fair Diaries: 1983-1992, tells stories of the glamorous and cut-throat magazine trade, and dishes about some of the larger than life personalities she encountered in that world including a young Donald Trump and disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.  She discusses the importance of the "mix" of a good magazine and recounts how she completely remade Vanity Fair from front to back.  She recalls having a front row seat for the excess of New York in 1980’s, and gives the backstory behind some of her favorite Vanity Fair covers including Annie Leibovitz's now iconic portrait of a naked pregnant Demi Moore.

Order The Vanity Fair Diaries: 1983-1992 on Amazon or download the audiobook on Audible. Follow Tina Brown on twitter at @TinaBrownLM or at www.tinabrownmedia.com.  Today’s episode is sponsored by Credible.com.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take our listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.  

Eric Ries on Applying Startup Thinking to Big Companies, Governments & More
52 perc 224. rész

The Lean Startup founder Eric Ries talks about his new book The Startup Way.  Eric recalls his first crash-course in entrepreneurship, what went wrong with his very first tech venture, and why having failed startup under your belt is something of a right of passage in Silicon Valley.  He discusses the strikingly similar issues faced by both large corporations and new ventures, and why the biggest problem with many startups is that they simply never plan for success.  He discusses how he helped form the innovative Fastworks Program at the granddaddy of legacy companies General Electric, and how a more entrepreneurial system can improve the bottom line for all kinds of organizations from large multinational corporations to government bureaucracies.

Order The Startup Way: How Modern Companies Use Entrepreneurial Management to Transform Culture and Drive Long-Term Growth on Amazon or download the audiobook on Audible. Follow Eric on twitter at @ericries or at www.theleanstartup.com

Today’s episode is sponsored by Grasshopper.   Please take our new listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.  

Comedian Brian Regan on Working Clean, Tennis Scores & Middle East Peace
48 perc 223. rész

Comedian Brian Reagan talks about his very first standup act, the worst gig he ever had, and the double-edged sword of being labeled a "clean comic."  He reveals why he doesn’t like to see his audience,
why he never plays the town he lives in, and the incredibly weird audition that got him on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Plus Brian has a bone to pick with whoever invented tennis scoring, and he offers his sage advice for Middle East peace.

Brian Regan's Netflix comedy special Nunchucks and Flamethrowers  is available November 21.  Follow Brian on twitter at @brianregan and visit www.brianregan.com for tickets and tour dates.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex.  Please take our new listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.  

Paul Reiser & Jeff Sotzing on Bringing Johnny Carson Back to Television
51 perc 222. rész

Paul Reiser and Jeff Sotzing discuss their new show There's...Johnny!, a funny and heartwarming coming of age series set amid the backstage antics on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.  They talk about bringing Carson to a new generation of TV viewers, meticulously recreating the look of The Tonight Show for There's...Johnny!, and building each episode around some of Johnny Carson's most iconic television moments.  Paul recalls his first appearance on Carson, Johnny’s impeccable sense of comedic timing, and his generosity to young comics like himself.  Jeff shares memories of his uncle Johnny and his time working on The Tonight Show including being there for Carson’s final episode.  Plus the antics of the legendary Pat McCormick, the time Johnny Carson foiled an extortion plot, and Tony Danza as the oh so cool Tonight Show producer Freddie deCordova.

Season 1 of There’s...Johnny! is available on Hulu November 16. Keep up with Paul at www.paulreiser.com or on Twitter at @PaulReiser, and visit www.johnnycarson.com for memorable clips and other fun stuff from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and Grasshopper.   Please take our new listener survey at www.podcastlistener.com/KICK.  

Jenna & Barbara Bush on their Unbreakable Bond & Life in a Political Dynasty
38 perc 221. rész

Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush discuss their surprisingly normal childhood when they assumed that everyone’s grandfather got to have an inauguration, and why they initially didn't want their dad to run for President.  Barbara discusses the difficulties of having the same name as the First Lady, and the time a Yale professor offered her an A if she could convince her dad to call off the Iraq War.  Jenna talks about the infamous night they got caught drinking underage and recalls her and her husband's comical first date at the White House.  They reveal the creepy dictator who had photos of them in his palace, their experiences on election night 2000 and 9/11, and weigh in on the recent story that neither their dad nor their grandfather voted for Donald Trump in 2016.

Order Jenna and Barbara’s #1 bestseller Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life on Amazon or Audible.  To learn more, visit www.sistersfirst.com.  Catch Jenna on The Today Show on NBC and follow her on Twitter at @jennabushhager.  Learn more about Barbara’s terrific charity Global Health Corps at www.ghcorps.org  and follow them on twitter at @ghcorps.  Thank you to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum for hosting our interview.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex, Grasshopper, and AppRiver. Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  

Alec Baldwin & Kurt Andersen Talk Presidential Parody
36 perc 220. rész

Alec Baldwin and Kurt Andersen discuss their new book You Can't Spell America Without Me: The Really Tremendous Inside Story of My Fantastic First Year as President Donald J. Trump. Alec shares his thoughts Donald Trump’s bizarre twitter war with SNL, and Alec reveals a secret fan he has in the White House. They talk about the mentally taxing process of getting into the strange mind of Donald Trump, how Trump has blurred the lines between reality and fiction, and Trump’s deep love for conspiracy theories and dictators. Plus Paul Ryan tells off the President, Ivanka tricks him into seeing a shrink, and we debate whether Trump is the Godfather or Freddo.

Order Alec and Kurt’s book You Can't Spell America Without Me on Amazon or download the audio version hilariously read by Alec and Kurt on Audible. Subscribe to Alec’s podcast Here’s the Thing and Kurt's podcast Studio 360 on iTunes and look for lots more of Alec Baldwin as Donald Trump this season on Saturday Night Live. Visit the guys websites at www.kurtandersen.com and www.alecbaldwin.com and follow them on twitter at @alecbaldwin and @KBAndersen. 

Today’s episode is sponsored by NadexPlease subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  

A Lesson in Girl Logic w/ Comedian Iliza Shlesinger
52 perc 219. rész

Comedian Iliza Shlesinger explains the often misunderstood and highly evolved way of thinking that she calls "girl logic."  She relates girl logic to everything from the fashion and the work place to the most frustrating question a man can ask a woman - “what do you want to eat?”  Plus Iliza shares her thoughts on Harvey Weinstein, guys who fake their own deaths, how to win a reality show, and how to deal with mermaid hate mail.

Order Iliza Shlesinger's new book GIRL LOGIC: The Genius and The Absurdity on Amazon or download the audio version on Audible.
For Iliza's upcoming tour dates and more info, visit her website at www.iliza.com and follow her on twitter at @iliza.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and AppRiverPlease subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  

Gilbert Gottfried Gets Real About Comedy, Family Life & His New Documentary
52 perc 218. rész

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried talks about his fear of being "outted" as family man in his new documentary GILBERT, recalls some of the worst gigs he ever had, and reveals why he used to look down on comics who "work dirty."  He explains why nazis love him, tells traveling salesmen jokes, does his impressions Humphrey Bogart at the postoffice and Jackie Gleason as Rick in Casablanca, and tells his infamous Danny Thomas story.

His documentary GILBERT opens at the IFC Center in NYC on 11/3, Laemmle Fine Art Theatre in LA on 11/10 and then in theatres across the country.  Subscribe to Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast, and you can keep up with him at www.GilbertGottfried.com or on twitter at @RealGilbert.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and AppRiver.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff. 

LORE's Aaron Mahnke on Monstrous Creatures & Dark History
45 perc 217. rész

Aaron Mahnke, host of LORE podcast, shares the real history behind the legends of ghosts, vampires and werewolves, and how our scary folktales say a lot about our attitudes toward women, outsiders, and those who are different.  He talks about the spiritualism craze of the turn of the century, the most sadistic witch hunters throughout the ages, as well as the Jersey Devil, the Beast of Bray road, gremlins, fairies and more. 

Subscribe to LORE podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts. Don’t miss the LORE Amazon series available now,
and order THE WORLD OF LORE: MONSTROUS CREATURES on Amazon
or download the audiobook on Audible. You can learn more about LORE and Aaron Mahnke at www.lorepodcast.com or www.aaronmahnke.com and follow them on Twitter at @lorepodcast or @amahnke.  

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and Sonos.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff. 

Ron Chernow on Redeeming Ulysses S. Grant
50 perc 216. rész

Pulitzer-winning author/historian Ron Chernow (Alexander Hamilton, Washington: A Life) wants Americans to rethink the 18th President with his new biography GRANT.  He discusses Ulysses S. Grant’s drinking and early failures, his meteoric rise through the ranks during the Civil War, and how Grant struggled with his own personal civil war at home.  He makes the case for General Grant as a brilliant military strategist, and argues that he deserves more credit for holding the Union together during Reconstruction.  We discuss how Ulysses S. Grant later went broke when he trusted his fortune to the Bernie Madoff of his day and how Mark Twain helped the former President dig himself out of debt before suffering a painful death by throat cancer.

Order Ron Chernow's terrific biography GRANT on Amazon or download the audio book at Audible.  Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and AppRiver.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff. 

Sir Richard Branson on his Adventures in Business, Space & Beyond
40 perc 215. rész

Sir Richard Branson talks about The Virgin Group philosophy, why he likes to act fast when launching a new business, and how many of his best ideas came from his own desires and frustrations as a consumer.  He gives advice to young entrepreneurs and shares what he’s learned from his mistakes.  He reveals his reasons for selling Virgin America to Alaska Air, and he outlines his vision of the future with Virgin Galactic and his latest venture Virgin Hyperloop One.  Plus he talks about his strange lunch with Donald Trump, his most harrowing adventures, and his habit of chopping off people’s neckties.

Order Sir Richard Branson's new book FINDING MY VIRGINITY on Amazon or download the audio book at Audible.  Keep up with Richard Branson at www.virgin.com or on Twitter at @richardbranson.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Harry's Razors, SonosNadex and The Daily Zeitgeist podcast Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff. 

King of Cards Richard Turner
47 perc 214. rész

Richard Turner is the greatest card magician in the world and the subject of a new documentary called DEALT.  He’s virtually never seen without a deck in his hands, and today he fesses up to shuffling cards in the movies, during church and even while making love to his wife!  He shares why he doesn’t like to be called a magician or an illusionist, he discuss some of the less than ethical origins of card trickery, and talks about the man who mentored him in card manipulation.  Then after the break, Richard Turner reveals a fact about himself that will completely blow your mind and leave you wondering how he can possibly do what he does!

DEALT opens in theatres in New York as well as On Demand and on iTunes October 20, then in Los Angeles starting October 27 followed by other select cities. For showtimes and information visit www.dealtmovie.com. You can keep up with Richard Turner at www.RichardTurner52.com.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and AppRiver Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff. 

Astronaut Scott Kelly's Year in Space
46 perc 213. rész

Astronaut Captain Scott Kelly talks about his year on the International Space Station, including how it pushed his body the limit, why the hardest physical test was re-adjusting to life on earth, and how his experience could get NASA one step closer to a manned mission to Mars.  He reveals how he combatted boredom in space, what he missed most about earth, and how he got along with his Russian crew-mates amid strained US-Russia relations.  Plus Scott tells me if the "overview effect" ever wears off, what space smells like, and much more.

Order Scott Kelly's book Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery (available 10/17) on Amazon or Audible.  Keep up with him at www.ScottKelly.com and follow him on twitter at @StationCDRKelly.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex, AppRiver, and Sonos Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff. 

Anthony Bourdain Wants to End Food Waste
36 perc 212. rész

Anthony Bourdain speaks candidly about the problem of food waste,
who is to blame, and who is working on solutions.  He discusses how he and his fellow chefs have been fighting this battle for years in their own kitchens, including embracing the "snout to tail" movement, renaming so called "trash fish," and even turning table scraps into delicious pork.  He also shares how he manages to juggle his a hectic travel schedule, waxes about his love of Vietnam, and reveals some of his most cherished comfort foods.  Plus, Tony and I gripe about California's newly revived foie gras ban and the term "foodie."

Anthony Bourdain's new documentary Wasted: The Story of Food Waste is available in the theatres, on demand, on Amazon, and on iTunes beginning this Friday, October 13.  Visit www.wastedfilm.com for more information.  Keep up with Anthony Bourdain on his website www.explorepartsunknown.com or on Twitter at @Bourdain.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Grouchy Historians Ed Asner & Ed. Weinberger
48 perc 211. rész

Ed Asner and Ed. Weinberger discuss their book The Grouchy Historian: An Old-Time Lefty Defends Our Constitution Against Right-Wing Hypocrites and Nutjobs.  They talk about the surprising origins of the Bill of Rights, their problem with Constitutional "originalists," and the motives, disagreements and private doubts of the founding fathers.  They tackle Republicans from Ted Cruz to Clarence Thomas and chastise Democrats for ceding the Constitution to Conservatives.  Plus Ed Asner ponders what that grump newsman Lou Grant might say about the state of news media in 2017. 

Order Ed Asner and Ed. Weinberger's book The Grouchy Historian: An Old-Time Lefty Defends Our Constitution Against Right-Wing Hypocrites and Nutjobs on Amazon or download the audio book on Audible.  

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and Sonos Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Merry Mortician Caitlin Doughty on Changing Americans' Attitudes Toward Death & Dying
51 perc 210. rész

Mortician, author and activist Caitlin Doughty discusses her new book From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death.  She reveasl how America’s funeral industrial complex overcharges and overregulates how we say goodbye to our loved ones and how funerals went from private family affairs to big business in just a century.  She shares how people around the world honor the dead including villagers in Indonesia who sleep, eat, and interact with their deceased on a daily basis, and high tech innovators are revolutionizing how the dearly departed are remembered in Japan.  She tells of a community in Colorado that forgoes the sterile funeral home cremation in favor of an old fashioned funeral pyre, and a green advocate in North Carolina who wants to compost your corpse.

Order Caitlin Doughty's book From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death on Amazon or download the audio book on Audible.  To learn more about Caitlin Doughty and The Order of the Good Death, visit www.caitlindoughty.com and www.orderofthegooddeath.com.  Check out her popular Ask a Mortician videos on youtube, and follow Caitlin on Twitter at @TheGoodDeath.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Bill Murray & Jan Vogler Explore New Worlds of Music, Poetry & Humor
39 perc 209. rész

Actor Bill Murray (Lost in Translation, Rushmore) & classical cellist Jan Vogler discuss how their album New Worlds evolved out of a chance meeting on a flight from Berlin to NYC and a mutual love of music and poetry.  Plus, Bill Murray shares his philosophy of life, his favorite American humorists, and his thoughts on being an internet folk hero.

New Worlds is available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you buy music.  Bill and Jan's concert tour begins Friday, October 6 in Santa Barbara and includes dates in Chicago (10/10), Buffalo (10/11). Toronto (10/13), New York (10/16), Portland (11/28), Seattle (11/29), San Francisco (12/8), and Denver (12/10).  For dates and tickets, visit www.janvogler.com.  

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex.  Please subscribe to Kickass News on Apple Podcasts and take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Obama's Funny Man David Litt
54 perc 208. rész

Presidential speechwriter David Litt reflects on his political coming of age in the Obama White House, fiction vs. reality on The West Wing, and his sometimes nemesis in the White House research department.  He talks about President Obama's sense of humor, writing for the White House Correspondents Dinner speeches, and self-deprecation as a political tool.  Plus, he shares some of the jokes that DIDN’T make it into the President’s speeches.

Order David Litt's book Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years on Amazon or download the audio version on Audible.
Follow David on Twitter at @DavidLitt and check out some of his more recent shenanigans at www.funnyordie.com.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex.  Please take a minute to take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Improv's Budd Friedman & Entertainment Writer Tripp Whetsell
40 perc 207. rész

The Improv's legendary founder Budd Friedman and entertainment writer Tripp Whetsell talk about their new book The Improv: An Oral History of the Comedy Club That Revolutionized Standup.  Budd discusses how much of The Improv was a happy accident and shares memories of comics like Richard Pryor, Rodney Dangerfield, Andy Kaufman, and others.  Tripp discusses how The Improv invented the comedy club, the infamous LA comedy club wars between Budd and The Comedy Store's Mitzi Shore, and some of his favorite comedians who you might not have heard of yet.

Order Budd and Tripp's book The Improv: An Oral History of the Comedy Club That Revolutionized Standup on Amazon.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex.  Please take a minute to take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Lesley Stahl Celebrates 50 Years of 60 Minutes
44 perc 206. rész

Lesley Stahl celebrates the 50th season of 60 Minutes and her 26th season as host/correspondent on the show.  She shares stories from her 45 years at CBS including how the young reporter beat out the other networks as the first to report on Watergate scandal, the time she broke the news that Ronald Reagan had picked George H.W. Bush as his running mate (and no one believed her), and her impressions of the three U.S. Presidents she covered during her time as CBS White House correspondent.  She discusses some of her more interesting interviews for 60 Minutes including the first post-election sit-down with Donald Trump, the incident when Nicolas Sarkozy stormed off in the middle of a taping, and the time she ticked off an angry drunk Boris Yeltsin.  Plus Lesley Stahl shares fond memories of Don Hewitt, Mike Wallace, and Andy Rooney.

The 50th season of 60 Minutes kicks off with special anniversary episode this Sunday, September 24, at 6/7 Central on CBS.  For more information, visit www.CBSnews.com and order Lesley Stahl’s charming memoir Becoming Grandma: The Joys and Science of the New Grandparenting on Amazon.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and Credit Associates.  Please take a minute to take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Tennis Player Maria Sharapova on Serena, That 2016 Drug Test, and Her American Dream
36 perc 205. rész

Tennis player Maria Sharapova shares the remarkable story of how her father brought the six-year-old Maria from Russia to Florida with only $700 in his pocket and an unwavering faith in his daughter’s dream.  She talks about the first time she watched the Williams sisters practice as a kid, and a locker room moment that has defined the rivalry between Serena Williams and her.  She reveals what went through her mind when she learned that she had failed a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open, what she did during her subsequent 15 month suspension, and how the experience changed her mind about retiring from tennis.  Plus Maria Sharapova talks about her dramatic comeback at last month’s US Open, the fuss over women tennis players who grunt, and why she wouldn’t even be playing tennis if it weren’t for the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

Order Maria Sharapova's book UNSTOPPABLE: MY LIFE SO FAR on Amazon or download the audiobook on Audible.  Visit Maria Sharapova's website at www.mariasharapova.com and follow her on Twitter at @MariaSharapova.  

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and Credit Associates.  Trade global stock indexes, commodities, forex, even economic numbers – All from one account and always with limited risk at www.Nadex.com.  Credit Associates can settle your credit card debt for a fraction of what you owe without debt consolidation or bankruptcy.  For free information, call 1-800-500-0351.

Please take a minute to take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Ken Burns & Lynn Novick Re-examine the Vietnam War
51 perc 204. rész

Acclaimed documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (The Civil War, Baseball, The War) discuss their epic 10-part film The Vietnam War which airs 9/17 on PBS.  They discuss how the Vietnam War continues to evolve 40 years later, the ways their own perceptions have changed since they were young people growing up in the turbulent 1960’s, and how hindsight has given birth to some humbling and surprising epiphanies among those who fought on both sides.  They ponder if some of the lessons of Vietnam have changed America for the better, they share what Vietnamese audiences have had to say about their film, and the man behind the acclaimed miniseries that re-examined the American Civil War weighs in on the Confederate statue controversy.

Episode 1 of The Vietnam War airs Sunday, September 17 at 8/7 Central on PBS.  For more information, visit www.PBS.org or at www.kenburns.com.  Follow Ken and Lynn on Twitter at @KenBurns and @LynnNovick

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and Credit Associates.  Trade global stock indexes, commodities, forex, even economic numbers – All from one account and always with limited risk at www.Nadex.com.  Credit Associates can settle your credit card debt for a fraction of what you owe without debt consolidation or bankruptcy.  For free information, call 1-800-500-0351.

Please take a minute to take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison's Plan for a 100 Year Starship
43 perc 203. rész

Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison discusses her bold initiative to create a starship capable of transporting humans beyond our solar system.  She talks about the cooperation that will be necessary across all scientific fields, the logistical and biological hurdles to be overcome in order to make extended human space travel feasible and safe, and why it's important for longterm "moonshot initiatives" to inspire the next generation.  Plus the first astronaut to appear on Star Trek shares her childhood love of the show and the real science behind it.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2017 Milken Global Conference.  Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more about the exciting work they are doing in science and education.  

Visit Dr. Mae Jemison at www.DrMae.com and follow her on twitter at @MaeJemison.  To learn more about 100 Year Starship, visit www.100YSS.org and follow them on twitter at @100YSS.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Nadex and Credit Associates.  Trade global stock indexes, commodities, forex, even economic numbers – All from one account and always with limited risk at www.Nadex.com.  Credit Associates can settle your credit card debt for a fraction of what you owe without debt consolidation or bankruptcy.  For free information, call 1-800-500-0351.

Please take a minute to take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Danny Strong Brings Author J.D. Salinger to the Big Screen
45 perc 202. rész

Actor, writer, director Danny Strong talks about his new movie Rebel in the Rye about the life of author J.D. Salinger.  He discusses the challenges of portraying a man who spent so much of his life out of the public spotlight, the autobiographical aspects of his novel Catcher in the Rye, and why this film is probably the closest we will ever get to a Catcher in the Rye movie.  Plus, Danny reveals how a young video clerk named Quentin Tarantino stoked his early love of film, and we talk about Danny's big screen adaptation of the musical Guys & Dolls.

Rebel in the Rye opens in theatres tomorrow Friday, September 8,
and his show Empire returns for a 4th season on September 27 on Fox.  Follow Danny Strong on Twitter at @DannyStrong.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Credit Associates.  Credit Associates can settle your credit card debt for a fraction of what you owe without debt consolidation or bankruptcy.  For free information, call 1-800-500-0351.

Please take a minute to take our annual listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Bryan Cranston on Life Before Acting and Becoming Walter White
52 perc 201. rész

Actor Bryan Cranston recalls a difficult childhood and the two year road trip that changed his life.  He shares some of his adventures before acting including traveling as a carny, catching shoplifters as security guard, and the time he ended up a suspect in a murder investigation.  He talks about getting a crash course in comedy from Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, landing the role of a lifetime on Breaking Bad, and how he built one of the most iconic characters in the history of television.  Bryan Cranston also gives some advice for aspiring actors, reveals how his life has changed since "Walter White," and why he loves making small talk with old people.

Order Bryan Cranston's bestselling memoir A Life in Parts on Amazon or download the audiobook at www.audible.com.  Bryan Cranston stars in Last Flag Flying which opens in theatres November 3.  Follow Bryan on Twitter at @BryanCranston.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Hello Fresh.  HelloFresh is the meal kit delivery service that makes cooking more fun.  Go to www.hellofresh.com and enter promo code KICK30 when you subscribe for $30 off your first week of deliveries.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson (Rerun)
38 perc 200. rész

Today's episode is a rerun of my interview acclaimed astrophysicist, author, and a highly popular science communicator Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson.  Today Dr. Tyson talks about his new #1 New York Times Bestseller Astrophysics for People in a Hurry and why he wants to make science accessible and understandable for all.  He shares his thoughts on how movies and television portray science.  He reveals just how rapidly the universe was born and why the debate over the big bang theory vs intelligent design really shouldn’t be a debate at all because as he says “science doesn’t care about your opinion.”  Plus we talk about Einstein’s thought experiments, wormholes, what’s in the dark areas of the night sky, how to gain a “cosmic perspective” of the universe, and whether Pluto can ever work its way back into Dr. Tyson's good graces.  We'll be back with new episodes next Tuesday after Labor Day starting with guest Bryan Cranston.

Order Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's new bestseller Astrophysics for People in a Hurry on Amazon or download the audio version for free with a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Subscribe to his weekly StarTalk podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts or visit www.startalkradio.net.  You can also learn more about Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and the Hayden Planetarium at www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson and follow him on Twitter at @neiltyson.

Today’s episode is sponsored by ResumeWritingSucks.com and On the Media.  Tailor your resume for the job of your dreams for free at www.resumewritingsucks.com.  On the Media is the weekly podcast hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield that investigates how the media shapes our world view.  Subscribe to On the Media on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Carol Burnett (Rerun)
38 perc 199. rész

This a previous episode with the great Carol Burnett who reminisces about some of the best times on The Carol Burnett Show.  She shares stories about Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Vickie Lawrence, including which one she almost had to fire and which one could always crack her up in front of the cameras. She talks about the boys club that was network television in the 60’s and 70’s and she reveals the comedy sketch that she wished she hadn’t done and some of her favorite questions from the audience. Plus some advice for young comedic actors and some exciting news about her big return to network television.  New episodes of Kickass News return after Labor Day weekend.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Carol Burnett's memoir In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review.  Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Richard Dawkins Has a Soul for Science
38 perc 198. rész

Famed evolutionary biologist, author, and science communicator Richard Dawkins shares his wonder for science, debunks the entire premise of intelligent design, and calls on the scientific community to stop calling evolution a theory.  He talks about Berkley University’s recent decision to uninvite him to speak and what he calls higher learning’s dangerous elevation of opinion over truth and objective facts.  Plus the well known atheist talks about his friend the late Christopher Hitchens, where an atheist gets their moral code, and why he’s still more than happy to wish you Merry Christmas.

Order Richard Dawkins' new book Science in the Soul: Selected Writings of a Passionate Rationalist on Amazon.  Learn about the Richard Dawkins Foundation at www.richarddawkins.net and follow him on Twitter at @richarddawkins. 

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Al Madrigal on Comedy, Trump, and Avoiding Cilantro
46 perc 197. rész

Comedian Al Madrigal (The Daily Show, I'm Dying Up Here) talks about exploring the dark side of the 70's stand-up comedy boom on his new Showtime series, why he’s resisted being pidgeonholed as a latino comic, and why he thinks white guys actually have it tougher in comedy.  He discusses his audition for The Daily Show, and faking a border crossing as a field correspondent.  Plus seafood as revenge,
why you might want to avoid cilantro for the next 4 years,
and Al Madrigal on Donald Trump and the border wall.

Watch Al Madrigal’s standup special Shrimpin' Ain’t Easy and his series I’m Dying Up Here with a subscription to Showtime or Showtime Anytime.  Listen to his podcast and other hilarious shows on the All Things Comedy podcast network at www.allthingscomedy.com or wherever you get your podcasts.  For Al Madrigal’s live standup dates and other fun stuff, visit www.almadrigal.com, and follow him on Twitter at @almadrigal.

Today's show is brought to you by Bombfell, an online personal styling service that helps men find the right clothes for them. Get $25 off your first purchase at www.bombfell.com/KICK.  

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Dennis Prager on Politics, Religion, & Happiness
50 perc 196. rész

Radio host and author Dennis Prager discusses the politicization of his recent classical concert at Walt Disney Hall, explains why the media is a greater threat to America than Vladimir Putin, and warns that America may be in the middle of a "second civil war."  Dennis says he'd rather spend most of his time talking about the big issues in life than politics, he shares his philosophy of happiness, and why he believes happiness is not just a feeling but a moral obligation.  Plus we talk about his love of a good cigar, the time he shared a stogie with George Burns, and why LA traffic sometimes brings out the worst in him.

The Dennis Prager Show airs from 9AM to Noon Pacific and from Noon to 3PM Eastern.  Visit www.DennisPrager.com to find your local station and learn more.  Check out his educational videos at www.PragerU.com and consider making a donation to support Prager University.  Order Dennis Prager's book Happiness is a Serious Problem on Amazon, and follow him on Twitter at @DennisPrager.

Today's show is brought to you by Bombfell, an online personal styling service that helps men find the right clothes for them. Get $25 off your first purchase at www.bombfell.com/KICK.  

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Rob Reiner Talks Movies, Politics, & Presidents LBJ to Trump
39 perc 195. rész

Director Rob Reiner talks about his new film LBJ and how his own view of President Lyndon Johnson has changed since he was a young man of draft age during the Vietnam War.  He shares some favorite LBJ legends and talks about the evolution of Johnson as a civil rights warrior.  He discusses growing up in showbusiness, his father Carl Reiner's remarkable energy at 95, and the time a very young Rob Reiner got in trouble for grabbing Mary Tyler Moore's ass on the set of his dad's show.  Plus Rob weighs in on President Trump, the Russia investigation, healthcare, and whether he could get used to the words "President Meathead" in 2020.

Mark your calendars for his latest film LBJ which comes out this Nov 3, and follow Rob Reiner on Twitter at @RobReiner.

Today's show is brought to you by Michael Moore's world premiere Broadway show - The Terms of My Surrender.  Visit www.MichaelMooreonBroadway.com for tickets and information.  

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

200th Episode w/ Anthony Atamanuik, Host of The President Show
44 perc 194. rész

Anthony Atamanuik, host of Comedy Central's The President Show joins us for the 200th episode of Kickass News!  Anthony reveals what goes into his dead-on impersonation of the President, he shares his mixed feelings about having his own fortunes tied to those of Donald Trump, and explains why he thinks "The Donald" is a lot more like "an old lonely dowager" than the macho man he pretends to be.  Atamanuik describes how Trump is not that different than the guys he grew up with in Massachusetts, he recalls what it was like to attend a Trump rally dressed up as the man himself, and he dishes about his online feud with fellow Trump impersonator Alec Baldwin.  Then at the end of the podcast, Anthony Atamanuik will step aside and allow "President Trump" to answer a few of my questions about Valdimir Putin, his marriage to Melania, and more.

The President Show airs Thursdays at 11:30 Eastern on Comedy Central.  For more information including full episodes, behind the scenes extras, and bonus content visit www.cc.com/shows/the-president-show.com Follow Anthony Atamanuik on Twitter at @TonyAtamanuik.

Today's show is brought to you by Michael Moore's world premiere Broadway show - The Terms of My Surrender.  Visit www.MichaelMooreonBroadway.com for tickets and information.  

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Snopes Founder David Mikkelson on Fighting Fake News
49 perc 193. rész

Snopes founder and CEO David Mikkelson talks about combatting fake news and why he's asking fans of the popular fact checking site to help save Snopes.  David reveals what inspired him to start Snopes 20 years ago, how it grew from a site that debunked urban legends to the most reliable fact checking site that is depended on by everyone from Facebook to the Washington Post, and a few tips on how you can verify the news you consume.  He discusses the danger of misinformation, where misleading stories often originate, and how some of the worst offenders have even tried to peddle fake stories about Snopes and David Mikkelson himself.  Plus we find out if Snopes is funded by CNN, George Soros or the CIA, and we answer burning questions like "is Bob Barker dead?" and "Are there snakes in your Doritos?"

Visit www.snopes.com and follow Snopes on Twitter at @snopes.  If you want to fight alternative facts and fake news and keep Snopes running, consider donating to the Save Snopes campaign at www.GoFundMe.com/SaveSnopes.

Today's episode is sponsored by Hello Fresh.  For $30 off your first week of meal deliveries, visit www.hellofresh.com and enter KICK30 when you subscribe.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Creators of Amazon's COMRADE DETECTIVE
39 perc 192. rész

The creators of the new Amazon series COMRADE DETECTIVE Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka and series director Rhys Thomas talk about recreating a Cold War-era Romanian police drama that satirizes both Soviet and American propaganda of the 80's.  They discuss the 80’s cop shows and a popular Czech TV series that inspired COMRADE DETECTIVE, why graffiti was such a problem for them in post, and working with a Romanian crew that included a foul-mouthed translator.  Plus, a lesson about blindly following political dogma that is just as applicable today as it was during the Cold War.  

COMRADE DETECTIVE is available exclusively on Amazon beginning this Friday, August 4.  Visit www.amazon.com for more information.

Today's episode is sponsored by Hello Fresh.  For $30 off your first week of meal deliveries, visit www.hellofresh.com and enter KICK30 when you subscribe.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Other Russia Scandal w/ Filmmaker Bryan Fogel
46 perc 191. rész

Filmmaker/cyclist Bryan Fogel set out to see if he could take performance enhancing drugs and get away with it, but he soon found himself in the middle of the most notorious doping scandal in sports history as he helped scientist Grigory Rodchenkov escape Russia and expose an elaborate state-run conspiracy to dope Russia's Olympic athletes.  It's all in his thrilling documentary ICARUS which is available on Netflix and in theaters starting on 8/4.  

Bryan Fogel discusses how he used himself as a human guinea pig to prove just how easily athletes can cheat anti-drug tests, and he shares how he firsthand experienced the power and the limitations of human growth hormones.  Bryan Fogel reveals how Russia’s FSB agents helped athletes at the Sochi Olympics cheat the system, just how high up this scandal goes, and why he says scientist Grigory Rodchenkov is Russia’s Edward Snowden.  He also discusses the reaction when he presented this evidence to officials at the World Anti-Doping Agency, and he speculate on why the International Olympic Committee ignored WADA’s recommendations and allowed Russian athletes to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. 

ICARUS comes out in select theaters and on Netflix this Friday, August 4.  For more information visit www.netflix.com.  Keep up with Bryan at www.bryanfogel.com and follow him on Twitter at @BryanFogel.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn on the Science of Aging
41 perc 190. rész

Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn is a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who was named one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People for her research into human telomeres and how they affect how we age.  She’ll share how everything from your marriage to where you live effects your longevity, how trauma experienced during childhood and even in the womb can shorten our lives, and some tricks you can use to change your perspective and keep life’s worries from sending you to an early grave.  She'll give tips for extending longevity and repairing your telomeres, she’ll weigh in on tests that measure your telomeres and supplements that claim to extend telomeres, and she'll explain why when it comes to telomere growth, you CAN get too much of a good thing.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2017 Milken Global Conference.  Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more about the exciting research they are doing in health science and aging.  

Order her book THE TELOMERE EFFECT: A REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO LIVING YOUNGER, HEALTHIER, LONGER on Amazon or download the audiobook for free with a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Cyberwar Expert Alexander Klimburg
41 perc 189. rész

Cyber security expert Alexander Klimburg discusses his book  THE DARKENING WEB: THE WAR FOR CYBERSPACE and just what the recent Russia hack means for the US, the internet, and the state liberal democracy around the world.  He reveals what he believes Russia was really up to in the 2016 presidential race, and how it may be far more sinister and potentially devastating than simply influencing one election.  He discusses how some of America’s most fundamental democratic values make us particularly susceptible to information warfare, how authoritarian governments like Russia and China want to scare the US into rolling back internet freedoms, and how the US may one day soon have to make a difficult choice between preserving our freedoms here at home and supporting freedom abroad.

Order THE DARKENING WEB: THE WAR FOR CYBERSPACE on Amazon
or download the audiobook for free with a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Follow Alexander on Twitter at @AKlimburg.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

99% Invisible's Roman Mars Talks Trump, the Constitution, & Ugly Flags
43 perc 188. rész

Roman Mars, host of 99% INVISIBLE, talks about his love of good design, his hatred for ugly city flags, and his new podcast WHAT TRUMP CAN TEACH US ABOUT CON LAW.

Subscribe to 99% INVISIBLE and WHAT TRUMP CAN TEACH US ABOUT CON LAW on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.  Keep up with Roman Mars at www.romanmars.com and follow him on Twitter at @RomanMars.

This episode is sponsored by Outside the Box podcast and The Weather Channel.  

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Sea Power w/ Admiral James Stavridis
38 perc 187. rész

Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Admiral James Stavridis spent 35 years sailing the seven seas and talks about his love of the ocean and the strategic importance of America's naval power.  He takes us on an ocean by ocean tour, discussing his experiences and his concerns about geopolitical events in every region of the world, from China’s manmade islands in the South China Sea to Russia’s ambitious territorial grab in the Arctic Circle.  He urges President Trump to sign the Law of the Sea Treaty and warns him not to abandon our NATO allies, and he describes how he’s seen the results of global warming with his own eyes in the Arctic.

Order Admiral James Stavridis's book SEA POWER: THE HISTORY AND GEOPOLITICS OF THE WORLD’S OCEANS on Amazon or download the audiobook for free with a special promotion for our listeners at www.audible.com/kickassnews.  Follow Admiral Stavridis on Twitter at @StavridisJ

This episode is sponsored by The Weather Channel.  Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Coral Bleaching: The Next Ecological Catastrophe w/ Filmmaker Jeff Orlowski
47 perc 186. rész

Emmy and Sundance Award-winning documentary filmmaker Jeff Orlowski discusses his new film CHASING CORAL.  He’ll explain the extraordinary ecosystems that form around coral and how the health of our ocean’s coral is an early indicator of the health of the planet as a whole.  We discuss some of the technical and logistical hurdles that Jeff and his team faced in their race to capture images of the most recent bleaching event, whether the rapid demise of coral reefs can be reversed before it’s too late, and why some coral reefs are suddenly and mysteriously glowing.

CHASING CORAL will be available on Netflix and in theaters beginning Friday, July 14.  For more information, visit www.chasingcoral.com.

This episode is sponsored by Hello Fresh and The Weather Channel.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Senator Al Franken Is Allowed To Be Funny Again!
44 perc 185. rész

Senator Al Franken talks about his journey from Saturday Night Live to the Senate and his new book AL FRANKEN: GIANT OF THE SENATE.  He shares his memories of SNL cast members like Chris Farley and John Belushi,
and why he's glad Lorne Michaels didn't cast him as the anchor on Weekend Update.  He discusses how he won over a reluctant Democratic establishment in his first election and how he has had to control his comedic impulses as a Senator.  He gives the inside scoop on his confrontational exchange with Jeff Sessions, doing comedy routines with Republican Senator Pat Roberts, and why he describes Ted Cruz as a toxic co-worker.  Plus, Senator Franken sings for his supper with his very own fundraising song.

Order AL FRANKEN: GIANT OF THE SENATE on Amazon or download the audiobook for free with a special promotion just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Keep up with him at www.franken.senate.gov, and follow him on Twitter at @AlFranken.

This episode is sponsored by OUTSIDE THE BOX podcast and BOMBFELL.  Check out OUTSIDE THE BOX on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.  Get $25 off your first BOMBFELL clothes purchase at www.bombfell.com/KICK.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Science Writer Mary Roach on the Curious Science of Humans at War
49 perc 184. rész

Science writer Mary Roach talks about her new book GRUNT: THE CURIOUS SCIENCE OF HUMANS AT WAR which explores the often ignored aspects of modern warfare that relate not to the killing, but to keeping soldiers alive.  She talks about various oddball military research projects with names like “The Chicken Gun” and “Stench Soup, why diareah is enemy #1 for US Special Forces, and how she experienced first hand the insomnia of working on a nuclear submarine.  Plus why combat fashion matters, how medics train for real combat scenarios, and why maggots might be a wounded soldier’s best friend.

Order GRUNT: THE CURIOUS SCIENCE OF HUMANS AT WAR on Amazon or download the audiobook for free with a special promotion just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Keep up with her at www.MaryRoach.com, and follow her on Twitter at @Mary_Roach.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

John McEnroe on Tennis, Temper, and a Few Life Lessons
43 perc 183. rész

Tennis great John McEnroe talks tennis, temper, and his new book BUT SERIOUSLY.  He discusses winning his first grand slam at age 20, his life after the pros, and a recurring nightmare he has about his 1984 French Open match with Ivan Lendl.  McEnroe talks about some of his famous arguments with tennis umpires, and how his temper helped his game in his younger years but he says it held him back later in his career.  He’ll handicap this year’s Wimbledon finals, give his characteristically frank take on the state of the game and a few things he’d like to do away with in tennis.  Plus, he’ll even give me a few tips on how to improve my serve.

John McEnroe's new book BUT SERIOUSLY on Amazon or download the audiobook for free with a special promotion just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Look for John McEnroe broadcasting live from Wimbledon 2017 on ESPN and the BBC, and learn more about the John McEnroe Tennis Academy at www.sporttimeny.com.

Today's podcast is sponsored by The Weather Channel and Hello Fresh.  When storm season hits, you need the nation's most trusted source for severe weather coverage The Weather Channel.  Visit www.HelloFresh.com and enter KICK30 when you subscribe for $30 off your first week of delicious meal deliveries.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Nuns! Nuns! Nuns! w/ Kate Micucci
41 perc 182. rész

Kate Micucci discusses her hilarious new movie The Little Hours and the origins of her comedy folk duo that became a Youtube sensation Garfunkel and Oates.  She talks about how The Little Hours satisfied her lifelong obsession with nuns that even includes a "nun collection."  She reveals why no one in the film does an accent, we talk about the funniest nude scene ever, and she shares how she became a professional sandcastle builder.

The Little Hours opens in theatres tomorrow Friday June 30. Keep up with Kate at www.KateMicucci.com and follow her on Twitter at @KateMicucci. Check out some of the best Garfunkel and Oates at www.garfunkelandoates.com.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Outside the Box, US MarkerboardBelay, AwayThe Weather Channel.  Check out the Outside the Box podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.  Get 10% off standard and custom whiteboards, glass boards, and more by going to www.USMarkerboard.com and using promo code KICK at checkout.  Visit www.awaytravel.com/KICK and use promo code KICK at checkout for $20 off an incredible Away suitcase.  Learn more about how a Belay Virtual Assistant can benefit you at www.belaysolutions.com/KICKASSNEWS.  When storm season hits, you need the nation's most trusted source for severe weather coverage The Weather Channel.  

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Senator Mike Lee on the Forgotten Founding Fathers
41 perc 181. rész

Senator Mike Lee returns to the podcast to talk about his new book Written Out of History and some of America's founding fathers you've never heard of.  He discusses the Iriquo chief who had a profound impact on Benjamin Franklin, the slave woman who won her own freedom and paved the way for emancipation, the founding father's who refused to sign the Constitution, and why they may have been vindicated by history.  Plus Senator Lee explains why he thinks it’s time to wrap up the Russia investigation, what the Broadway musical Hamilton gets wrong about Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, and whether or not the founding fathers intended for the U.S. Constitution to be a "living breathing document."

Order Senator Mike Lee's new book Written Out of History: The Forgotten Founders Who Fought Big Government on Amazon or download the audio book for free with a special trial offer from Audible at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Keep up with him at www.lee.senate.gov and follow him on Twitter at @SenMikeLee.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Belay, SimpliSafe, The Weather Channel, Revisionist History, and Aspiration.  Learn more about how a Belay Virtual Assistant can benefit you at www.belaysolutions.com/KICKASSNEWS.  Get 10% off a SimpliSafe home security system at www.SimpliSafe.com/LISTEN.  When storm season hits, you need the nation's most trusted source for severe weather coverage The Weather Channel.  If your fed up with big banks and poor interest rates, check out the bank with a conscience Aspiration at www.aspiration.com/kickass.  Malcolm Gladwell's podcast Revisionist History is returning for a news season, so subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

GMOs: Fact v. Fiction w/ Filmmaker Scott Hamilton Kennedy
54 perc 180. rész

Scott Hamilton Kennedy is the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind a new documentary narrated by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson called Food Evolution which explores the controvery over GMO foods and the science of genetically modified crops. Today, he explains exactly what GMO’s are, and whether there’s any scientific evidence that GMOs harm humans or the environment. He discusses how Hawaii became ground zero for the debate over GMOs and a misguided GMO ban in Uganda that threatened to starve 1/3 of the country’s population. We talk about who is fueling alarmism over GMOs, what motivates them, and the problems facing scientist who are trying to combat the anti-GMO hysteria with facts and data. He debunks the infamous Seralini Study that claimed GMO causes cancer, and he reveals the truth behind claims that GMOs have increased harmful pesticides. Plus he shares some of the remarkable things that scientists are working on with GMOs, and what would happen if the whole world went organic.

Food Evolution opens in theaters in New York City on June 23 and in Los Angeles on June 30. For more information, visit www.FoodEvolutionMovie.com and follow the film on Twitter at @foodevomovie.

Today’s episode is sponsored by U.S. Marker board and the Best of the Left podcast. US Markerboard is the premium supplier of whiteboards and visual display products in North America. Go to www.USMarkerboard.com and use the promo code KICK for 10% off.  Subscribe to the Best of the Left podcast wherever you get your podcasts or visit www.bestoftheleft.com.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Great Communicator Alan Alda Returns!!
53 perc 179. rész

As an award-winning actor, director, writer, and science communicator, Alan Alda has become something of an expert in empathy, relating to others, and facilitating greater communication and understanding.  Today he returns to the podcast to share some of what he's learned.  He recalls how an unfortunate experience with his dentist set him on a path to teaching better communication between doctors and their patients, and how he became a much better interviewer on Scientific American Frontiers when he stopped trying to be a know-it-all and just indulged his own curiosity.  He talks about theory of mind, how he experimented in his daily life to develop greater empathy for others, how to heal the political divide one conversation at a time, and whether his wife of 60 years thinks he's really a great communicator.

Order Alan Alda's new book If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating on Amazon or download the audiobook for free with a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Visit his website at www.alanalda.com and support The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at www.alanaldacenterlearning.org.  Follow Alan Alda on Twitter at @AlanAlda.

Today's episode is sponsored by Aspiration, Revisionist HistoryUSMarkerboard.com, and Couchbase.  If your fed up with big banks and poor interest rates, go to www.aspiration.com/kickass.  Malcomb Gladwell's podcast Revisionist History returns for a new season. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.  Find out why US Markerboard is the premium supplier of whiteboards and visual display products in North America.  Go to www.USMarkerboard.com and use the promo code KICK for 10% off.  The Couchbase Data Platform is built on the most powerful No SQL technology to give your web, mobile, and internet-of-things apps unparalleled agility, manageability, and performance at any scale.  You can learn more at www.couchbase.com/KickassNews.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Art of Manliness w/ Brett McKay
40 perc 178. rész

Brett McKay is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Art of Manliness, the largest independent men’s lifestyle magazine on the web, and the host of The Art of Manliness podcast.  We discuss the changing definitions of manliness, what many are calling a modern crisis of manhood, and why men don’t fix things anymore.  Brett shares his tips on things like how to be an awesome uncle, how to use your baby as exercise equipment, how to get the perfect shoe shine, survive a bear attack, and how to use your smart phone to start a fire.  Plus Teddy Roosevelt, the Eisenhower decision matrix, and a crash course in situational awareness.

Order Brett McKay's new book The Illustrated Art of Manliness: The Essential How-To Guide: Survival • Chivalry • Self-Defense • Style • Car Repair • And More on Amazon.   Check out www.artofmanliness.com and subscribe to The Art of Manliness podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Brett on Twitter at @BrettMcKay.

Today's episode is sponsored by Aspiration.  If you're fed up with big banks and poor interest rate,s visit www.aspiration.com/kickass.  

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Remembers Coach John Wooden
33 perc 177. rész

NBA 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 helped him overcome that setback by showing him how use his signature "skyhook" to maximum effect on the court.  Plus Kareem shares some of Wooden’s favorite inspirational quotes, the Coach's essential advice on how to put on your shoes and socks, and Kareem explains how his two loves - basketball and jazz are really very similar. 

Order Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's new book Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court on Amazon or download the audiobook for free with a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. You can learn more about what Kareem is up to these days at www.kareemabduljabbar.com and support his charity The Skyhook Foundation at www.skyhookfoundation.org.  Follow Kareem on Twitter at @KAJ33.

Today's episode is sponsored by USMarkerboard.com.  Find out why US Markerboard is the premium supplier of whiteboards and visual display products in North America.  Go to www.USMarkerboard.com and use the promo code KICK for 10% off.

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Daily Show's Jordan Klepper Solves Guns
40 perc 176. rész

The Daily Show's Jordan Klepper talks about his new Comedy Central special Jordan Klepper Solves Guns.  He reveals what enflames the passions on both sides of the gun debate, and he says Americans really aren’t so far apart on the issue of gun safety.  In fact, he shares some surprising data on where rank and file NRA members stand on things like background checks.  Plus he talks about brining his gun-owning cousin Pete on the program, embedding with the Georgia militiamen, and covering Trump Rallies for The Daily Show during the 2016 election.

Don’t miss Jordan Klepper Solves Guns on Sunday, June 11 at 10PM Eastern on Comedy Central.  For information visit www.comedycentral.com and follow Jordan Klepper on Twitter at @JordanKlepper.

Today's episode is sponsored by Couchbase.  The Couchbase Engagement Database is the only database specifically designed to deliver ever richer and more personalized customer experiences as your business innovates and grows. Learn more at www.couchbase.com/KickassNews.  

Subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Comedy Legend Carl Reiner Returns!
45 perc 175. rész

Comedy legend Carl Reiner returns to talk about his first break in showbiz, confronting a racist army sergeant during WW II, his friendship with Mel Brooks, Your Show of Shows, and the 2000 Year Old Man.  He also discusses his new HBO documentary about thriving in your 90's called If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast and his book Too Busy to Die.  Plus, Carl Reiner says he's figured out the meaning of "cowfefe."

Order Carl Reiner’s newest book Too Busy to Die at www.randomcontent.com and don’t miss his HBO documentary If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast tonight Monday, June 5 at 8PM Eastern on HBO.  For information visit www.hbo.com.  Follow Carl Reiner on Twitter at @CarlReiner.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Comedian Demetri Martin on Directing, Drawing & Death
46 perc 174. rész

Comedian Demetri Martin discusses his directorial debut on his new movie DEAN.  He talks about how writing and directing a film about coping with grief helped him deal with his own loss and required him to rely more heavily on his own creative instincts.  He also talks about lovingly lampooning LA in DEAN, working with Kevin Kline, giving up law school for comedy, and how he came to incorporate his drawings into his standup act.  Plus Demetri Martin on fatherhood, seeing the world through his children's eyes and how to make binoculars out of toilet paper rolls.

DEAN opens in theaters Friday, June 2.  Check your local listings for theaters and show times or visit www.cbsfilms.com/dean for more information.  Follow Demetri Martin on Twitter at @DemetriMartin and visit his website at www.live.demetrimartin.com for more on his drawings, books, and live shows.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Outside the Box, Couchbase, and Hello Fresh. Outside the Box is a new podcast featuring conversations with some of the most brilliant thought leaders, innovators, and visionaries today, available on Apple Podcasts, Sticher, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Couchbase Engagement Database is the only database specifically designed to deliver ever richer and more personalized customer experiences as your business innovates and grows. Learn more at www.couchbase.com/KickassNews. HelloFresh delivers new delicious meals with step-by-step recipes designed to take around 30 minutes.  For $30 off your first week of deliveries, visit www.hellofresh.com and enter KICK30 when you subscribe!

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson Gives a Lesson in Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
38 perc 173. rész

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is an acclaimed astrophysicist, author, and a highly popular science communicator who serves as director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC.  Today Dr. Tyson talks about his new #1 New York Times Bestseller Astrophysics for People in a Hurry and why he wants to make science accessible and understandable for all.  He shares his thoughts on how movies and television portray science.  He reveals just how rapidly the universe was born and why the debate over the big bang theory vs intelligent design really shouldn’t be a debate at all because as he says “science doesn’t care about your opinion.”  Plus we talk about Einstein’s thought experiments, wormholes, what’s in the dark areas of the night sky, how to gain a “cosmic perspective” of the universe, and whether Pluto can ever work its way back into Dr. Tyson's good graces.

Order Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's new bestseller Astrophysics for People in a Hurry on Amazon or download the audio version for free with a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Subscribe to his weekly StarTalk podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts or visit www.startalkradio.net.  You can also learn more about Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and the Hayden Planetarium at www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson and follow him on Twitter at @neiltyson.

Today’s episode is sponsored by ResumeWritingSucks.com and On the Media.  Tailor your resume for the job of your dreams for free at www.resumewritingsucks.com.  On the Media is the weekly podcast hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield that investigates how the media shapes our world view.  Subscribe to On the Media on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

WAR MACHINE Director David Michod
35 perc 172. rész

Filmmaker David Michod discusses his new film WAR MACHINE starring Brad Pitt.  He talks about adapting Michael Hasting's book The Operators for film and his decision to fictionalize the character based on General Stanley McChrystal.  He discusses the flawed thinking behind counter-insurgency and the danger of leaders making decisions within a bubble.  Plus we talk about about Sir Ben Kingsley’s fopish portrayal of former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Brad Pitt’s power walk,
and why no one grows cotton in Afghanistan.

WAR MACHINE is available on Netflix and in theatres starting Friday, May 26.  For more information, visit www.netflix.com.

Today’s episode is sponsored by On the Media.  On the Media is the weekly podcast hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield that investigates how the media shapes our world view.  Subscribe to On the Media on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Ocean Explorer Dr. Robert Ballard on Finding Titanic, What Sank the Lusitania, & Searching for the Earliest North Americans
52 perc 171. rész

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 Lusitania, what Russia is up to in the waters around vital fiber optic cables in the Atlantic, and the future of fishing with sustainable floating fisheries in the open ocean.  Plus, how Dr. Ballard is now trying to bring his underwater adventures right into every classroom in America.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2017 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more about the exciting work they are doing in science and education.

Learn more about Dr. Robert Ballard and his Ocean Exploration Trust at www.oceanexplorationtrust.org, and as of May 12, you can follow the explorations of Dr. Ballard and the crew of the EV Nautilus in real time at www.nautiluslive.org.  Follow Dr. Ballard and his team on Twitter at @EVNautilus.

Today’s episode is sponsored by FilterBuyOn the Media, and Resume Writing Sucks.  Get 10% of a new air filter for your HVAC unit by going to www.filterbuy.com/KICK On the Media is the weekly podcast hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield that investigates how the media shapes our world view.  Subscribe to On the Media on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. ResumeWritingSucks.com perfectly tailors your resume for the job you want for FREE at www.resumewritingsucks.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Dave Anthony & Gareth Reynolds of "The Dollop" Tell Weird Tales From America's Forgotten History
42 perc 170. rész

Comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds, hosts of The Dollop podcast share some of the stranger tales in their new book The United States of Absurdity: Untold Stories in America's History.  They discuss quack medicine, meat showers, and straw hat riots. We talk about the excruciating death of America’s founding father, and how another U.S. president left a 1400 lb wheel of cheese sitting in the White House hallway for over year. We talk about Congress’s plan to bring hippo meat to the masses, Dr. Henry Heimlich’s idea to cure AIDS with malaria, two guys who built a flying Pinto, and how, not surprisingly, alcohol played a key role in some of the weirdest and most idiotic chapters in our history.

Order The United States of Absurdity: Untold Stories in America's History on Amazon or download the audiobook for free with a special trial offer from Audible at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Subscribe to Dave and Gareth’s podcast The Dollop on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts or go to www.dolloppodcast.com.  Follow the them on Twitter at @daveanthonycomedy and @reynoldsgareth. 

Today’s episode is sponsored by Church & State and On the Media.  On the Media is the weekly podcast hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield that investigates how the media shapes our world view.  Subscribe to On the Media on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.   Church & State is the hilarious new dramedy about faith, politics and "the Twitter" now playing at New World Stages in NYC.  For tickets and information, visit www.churchandstatetheplay.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Governor John Kasich/Dr. Richard Haass
45 perc 169. rész

A double bill today w/ Ohio Governor John Kasich and Dr. Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations.  In Part 1, Governor Kasich discusses his book Two Paths: America United or Divided, the contentious 2016 GOP primary, and how to heal the country.  He talks about valuing truth in the age of alternative facts, he shares why he’s opposed to the current version of the Republican healthcare bill, and why he’s tired some in his own party telling him to shut up about it. Governor Kasich also discuss how the Trump campaign approached his team about putting him on the ticket and why he’s more interested in swimming than running for President these days.  

In Part 2, Dr. Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, talks about his book A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order.  He says the old world order is poorly equipped to address the crises of the 21st Century so he’s calling for a 2.0 version of world order that takes into account non-state actors and our increasing interconnectedness. We also discuss Russia, the Syria crisis, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, and “Twitter diplomacy.”

Order Two Paths: America United or Divided and A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order on Amazon or download the audiobook for free with a special trial offer from Audible at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Follow Governor John Kasich on Twitter at @JohnKasich or at www.governor.ohio.gov. Follow Dr. Richard Haass on Twitter at @RichardHaass and learn more about the Council on Foreign Relations at www.cfr.org.  

Special thanks to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum for hosting my interview with Governor John Kasich, and thank you to the Milken Institute for hosting my interview with Dr. Richard Haass during their 2017 Global Conference.

Today’s episode is sponsored by FilterBuy.com and ResumeWritingSucks.com.  Get 10% of a new air filter for your HVAC Unit by going to www.filterbuy.com/KICK.  Start creating your perfect resume for FREE at www.resumewritingsucks.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Anne-Marie Slaughter on Strategies of Connection in Networked World
38 perc 168. rész

Dr. Anne-Marie Slaughter, president of the New America Foundation and former director of the State Department Office of Policy Planning discusses her new book The Chessboard and the Web: Strategies of Connection in a Networked World. She talks about the old model of Cold War era game theory and how the US needs to employ more inclusive strategies to deal with an increasingly more complex and decentralized world. She discusses how criminal and terrorist networks are using this type of organization to great effect, she talks about the divide between open and closed societies as the new capitalism vs communism, and how “America First” is terrible foreign policy in the age of globalization. She also discusses her time in the State Department, what she learned working for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and what might have been if her old boss was in the Oval Office right now.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2017 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more about their work to improve global stability and connectivity.

Order Anne-Marie Slaughter’s book The Chessboard and the Web: Strategies of Connection in a Networked World on Amazon or download the audiobook for free with a special trial offer from Audible at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Follow Dr. Slaughter on Twitter at @SlaughterAM and visit the New America Foundation at www.newamerica.org.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Church & State, the hilarious new dramedy playing at New World Stages in NYC. For information and tickets, visit www.churchandstatetheplay.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Bad Taste & Making Trouble w/ Director John Waters
38 perc 167. rész

The king of bad taste director John Waters discusses his new book Make Trouble.  We talk about his career in film, some of his inspirations, and why he considers his biggest commercial success to be his most subversive film.  John Waters throws cold water on the romanticization of the tortured artist, extols the virtues a healthy work ethic, and suggests that in an age when everyone seems to want to be an outsider, maybe it’s more daring to be an insider.  Plus we talk about political correctness, why everyone needs a "youth spy," and the origins of his famous pencil thin moustache.

Order Make Trouble on Amazon or download the audio version for free with a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Visit the ultimate John Waters fan site at www.dreamlandnews.com.

Today's episode is sponsored by FilterBuy and Texture.  Get 10% of a new air filter at www.filterbuy.com/KICK.  Get access to over 200 magazines with a free 14 day trial at www.texture.com/KICKASS.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Prof. Allan Lichtman Predicts Impeachment for President Trump
40 perc 166. rész

Professor Allan J. Lichtman has successfully predicted every US Presidential election since 1984, and now he predicts a bumpy road ahead for President Donald Trump in his new book The Case for Impeachment.  He talks about what he sees as the 8 most likely paths to impeaching Donald Trump including the possibility of removing Trump from office on the grounds that he is mentally unfit to hold office.  He discusses the surprising likehood of Republicans in Congress abandoning Trump in favor of VP Mike Pence, and he gives some tips for how Donald Trump could save his Presidency.  Step 1 - fire Steve Bannon!

Order The Case for Impeachment on Amazon
or download the audio version for free with a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Follow Professor Lichtman on twitter at @AllanLichtman.

Today's episode is sponsored by Churh & State, the new dramedy about faith, politics, and “The Twitter"now playing at the New World Stages in NYC.  For tickets and information, visit www.churchandstatetheplay.com.  

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Inside Hillary Clinton's Shattered Campaign w/ Jonathan Allen
35 perc 165. rész

Political writer Jonathan Allen discusses his new book Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign.  He talks about the various warring factions in the Clinton camp including Huma Abedin, John Podesta, and Robby Mook, and organizational disfunction and “too many cooks in the kitchen” undermined Hillary’s campaign. We discuss some of the fundamental flaws with Hillary Clinton as a candidate including her inability to articulate why she was running, her tone deaf response to outrage over her private email server, and he own admission that she didn’t “get what’s happening with the country.” Plus we’ll discuss how how close Joe Biden got to entering the race, how much of a factor Bill Clinton was, and a minute by minute account of election night from those who witnessed Hillary’s soul-crushing defeat first hand.

Order Shattered: Insider Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign on Amazon
or download the audio version for free with a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Follow Jonathan Allen on twitter at @jonallendc.

Today's episode is sponsored by Amazon's Bosch and FilterBuy.  Watch Season 3 of Bosch now on Amazon Prime.  Visit www.filterbuy.com/kick for 10% off a new air filter.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Comedian W. Kamau Bell on Denzel, the KKK & Black James Bond
46 perc 164. rész

Comedian W. Kamau Bell, host of CNN's United Shades of America discusses the online marketing skills of the KKK, his leisurely stroll through the neighborhood with one of the most notorious gangs in Chicago’s South Side, and what it’s like to open carry while black.  We debate the merits of Denzel Washington films, the phrase "All Lives Matter," and whether the term negro is actually racist.  Plus, a white nationalist who has a big problem with the idea of a black James Bond.

The season premiere of United Shades of America airs this Sunday, April 30 at 10PM Eastern on CNN.  For more information including behind the scenes extras,
visit www.CNN.com/UnitedShades.  For more information on W. Kamau Bell including upcoming live performances visit www.wkamaubell.com and follow Kamau on Twitter at @wkamaubell.  Kamau's new book The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell hits shelves May 2 but you can pre-order it on Amazon now.

Today's episode is sponsored by Amazon's Bosch Season 3.  Watch Season 3 of Bosch now on Amazon Prime.  

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Adam Campbell of NBC's "Great News"
38 perc 163. rész

British actor Adam Campbell (Epic Movie, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) talks about Great News, NBC's new comedy series from the creators of 30 Rock.  He discusses British comedy, the English funny men who inspired him, and defines a particular type of sarcasm known as "west country humor."  He talks about living as a British ex-pat in LA, his thoughts on "fake news," and how Great News creator Tracey Wigfield may have drawn her inspiration from her time as intern at CNN.

The series premiere of Great News airs Tuesday, April 25 at 9/8 central on NBC.  For more information visit www.nbc.com/great-news and follow Adam on Twitter at @adamcampbelly.

Today's episode is sponsored by FreshMac and FilterBuy.  Go to www.FreshMac.com to speed up your Mac and free up hard drive space in minutes.  Breathe easy with an air filter you can count on from FilterBuy and get a 10% discount
by going to www.FilterBuy.com/KICK

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Chris Whipple on the President's Gatekeeper
43 perc 162. rész

Emmy and Peabody-winning producer and journalist Chris Whipple (60 Minutes, ABC News Primetime) discusses his new book called The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency.  He'll reveal why the Chief of Staff is considered the 2nd most powerful job in government, who is considered to be the gold standard of White House Chiefs, and why the burnout rate is so high.  He'll talk about how this relatively recent position was born out of Dwight Eisenhower's experience in the military and he'll discuss the Presidents who tried (and failed) to get by without a Chief of Staff.  Plus, Chris rates the new Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, and reveals which mistake is a "hanging offense" for a White House Chief of Staff.

Order The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency on Amazon or download the audio book for free with special promotion for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  You can read can visit Chris Whipple’s website at www.chriswhipple.com and follow him on Twitter at @ccwhip.

Today's episode is sponsored by the Amazon series Bosch.  Stream season 3 of Bosch on Amazon Prime on April 21st.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night w/ NYT Comedy Critic Jason Zinoman
57 perc 161. rész

Jason Zinoman, the comedy critic New York Times, talks about his new book Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night.  Jason discusses how Letterman created something totally different that parodied talk shows and rewrote the conventions of comedy and he talks about the many ways that Letterman’s legacy can be seen on every late night show on television today. We’ll get into the legendary “late night wars” between Leno and Letterman, what made Letterman a far superior interviewer to Carson or Jay Leno, his amazing ability as an ad-libber, and his subtle and not so subtle digs at the phoniness of celebrity. Plus, stupid pet tricks, top 10 lists, and Jason’s surprisingly candid interview with David Letterman himself.

Order Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night on Amazon.  Read Jason Zinoman's column in the New York Times and follow him on Twitter at @Zinoman.

Today's episode is sponsored by Texture, Casper, and Bosch.  Get access to over 200 magazines on your smartphone or tablet with a 14 day free trial at www.texture.com/KICKASS.  Get $50 toward any Casper mattress purchase by visiting www.casper.com/KICK and using offer code KICK.  Stream season 3 of Bosch on Amazon Prime on April 21st.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

 

 
Daniel Franklin of "The Economist" Envisions Technology in 2050
40 perc 160. rész

Daniel Franklin, Executive Editor at The Economist discusses his book Megatech: Technology in 2050 including the best ways to predict tech trends,
which sector will most benefit from technology in the 21st Century,and why some are predicting that Moore’s Law may finally be running out of steam. He reveals how 3D printing may bring manufacturing jobs back to the US, how your next car might be sewn together, and why Google glasses might be poised to make comeback. Plus Daniel Franklin talks about how his 3 decades at The Economist have shaped his world view and what he sees as the role of the magazine that extolls globalism, free trade and immigration in the face of the current populist revolt. Click below to listen.

Order Megatech: Technology in 2050 on Amazon and subscribe to The Economist at www.economist.com.  Follow Daniel Franklin on Twitter at @EconWorldIn.


Today's episode is sponsored by FreshMac.  FreshMac can speed up your Mac
and free up hard drive space in minutes for free at www.freshmac.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

 

 
Laughing Through the Arab Spring w/ Bassem Youssef
46 perc 159. rész

Bassem Youssef is the political satirist described as the "Jon Stewart" of Egypt and host of Fusion TV's Democracy Handbook with Bassem Youssef. Today he shares how he went from being a doctor to the host of the most popular show in the history of Arab-language television during one of the most tumultuous chapters in Egypt’s history. He talks about the Egyptian military's absurd claim that they had invented an "AIDS curing machine" and the time he had to explain to government interrogators why people were laughing at his show. He also discusses his disappointment at many Egyptian protesters who he says simply traded Islamist fascism for military fascism, he reveals some of the tensest moments behind the scenes of his show, and remembers the heartbreaking day he fled Egypt for good. Plus, Bassem Youssef says he's feeling a disturbing degree of de ja vu as he covers the presidency of Donald Trump.


Order Bassem Youssef's new book Revolution for Dummies: Laughing through the Arab Spring on Amazon or download the audio book for free with special promotion for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Check out his show Democracy Handbook with Bassem Youssef on Fusion TV. For more information www.fusion.net. Follow Bassem Youssef on Twitter at @BYoussef.


Today's episode is sponsored by Stamps.com and Blue Apron. Go to www.Stamps.com and enter code KICK for a 4 week trial with free digital scale and postage. Try Blue Apron and get your first three meals free with free shipping by visiting www.blueapron.com/kick.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Philipp Meyer & Kevin Murphy Talk Texas Oil & Buffalo Blood
37 perc 158. rész

Philipp Meyer and Kevin Murphy discuss adapting Meyer's Pulitzer-nominated novel THE SON into an epic new AMC drama series starring Pierce Brosnan.  They talk about the frontier spirit that led larger than life characters to risk everything, first in the cattle business and then in the Texas oil boom, and how that story fits into the mythology of America.  They talk about the violent racial history of Texas including the oft forgotten chapter known as the "bandit wars," and how popular culture glosses over native Americans' own bloody past.  Plus Philipp Meyer drinks buffalo blood!

The 2 hour series premiere of THE SON airs tonight Saturday, April 8 at 9/8C on AMC.  For more information, visit http://www.amc.com/shows/the-son.  Order Philipp Meyer's novels THE SON and AMERICAN RUST on Amazon.  Visit Philipp Meyer's website at www.philippmeyer.com and follow Kevin Murphy on Twitter at @@kevinmurphyhc

Today's episode is sponsored by Blue Apron. Try Blue Apron and get your first three meals free with free shipping by visiting www.blueapron.com/kick.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Exploring the Dark Net w/ Mati Kochavi
34 perc 157. rész

Mati Kochavi is the Israeli tech entrepreneur who created the Showtime docu-series Dark Net, which explores the mysterious world of the deep web and how technology is changing our lives for better and for worse. Today, he talks about the dark web, home of illegal arms sales, sex trafficking, drug deals, and chat rooms for hackers, terrorists, and other illicit communities. He discusses how his interest in the deep web began with the our failure to predict the Arab Spring and what the deep web can reveal about our changing society. Plus Mr. Kochavi shares how we may be the last generation to enjoy privacy and why technology may soon make human love obsolete.

Season 2 of Dark Net premieres Thursday, April 6, at 10PM Eastern on Showtime, or you can watch it whenever you want with a subscription to Showtime Anytime. For more information visit www.showtime.com. You check out Mati Kochavi’s news site Vocativ at www.vocativ.com.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.godaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.  

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Theoretical Physicist Lawrence Krauss Answers "Why Are We Here?"
31 perc 156. rész

Theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss (A Universe from Nothing) is at the forefront of the quest to discover the origins of the universe and human existence. He says human beings need to get past our need to believe that we’re “the center of the universe” and to start focusing on how we’re here instead of why we’re here.  Today he talks about that and his new book The Greatest Story Ever Told--So Far: Why Are We Here?  He gives a sweeping narrative of the history of science, which he says is far more compelling than bible parables, and he discusses some of the great physicists who make up part of that story.  He extols the virtue of science for science sake and not just for developing new consumer gadgets.  In the process, he takes on education in America, President Donald Trump, so-called “intelligent design,” and Deepak Chopra.  Plus he reveals why The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (which he chairs) just moved the infamous “doomsday clock” a lot closer to midnight.

Order The Greatest Story Ever Told--So Far: Why Are We Here? on Amazon or download the audiobook for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Learn more about Lawrence Krauss at www.krauss.faculty.asu.edu and follow Lawrence Krauss on Twitter at @LKrauss1.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.godaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.  

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

P.J. O'Rourke on Election 2016: How the Hell Did This Happen?
48 perc 155. rész

Best-selling political satirist P.J. O'Rourke (Parliament of Whores) discusses his new book How the Hell Did This Happen?: The Election of 2016.  The hilarious pundit shares his thoughts on a better way to choose the President, a tax on the Kardashians, and rates the candidates fashion.  He ponders what happened to the Libertarians' "big moment" in 2016, reminisces about his days as editor at National Lampoon, and offers some tips on how to talk like a pundit.

Order How the Hell Did This Happen?: The Election of 2016 on Amazon or download the audiobook for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Read P.J. O’Rourke’s regular articles in The Weekly Standard or at www.pjorourke.com. Follow P.J. O'Rourke on Twitter at @pjorourke.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy and Texture. Visit www.godaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.  Texture gives you access to over 200 magazines whenever you want on your tablet or smartphone.  Go to www.texture.com/kickass for a free 14 day trial.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Professor Tom Nichols on the Death of Expertise & the Rise of American Ignorance
52 perc 154. rész

 

Tom Nichols is a professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, an adjunct professor in the Harvard Extension School, and a 5 time Jeopardy! champion. He’s a respected expert on national security, Russia, and nuclear proliferation, and he’s alarmed by Americans sudden rebuke of experts like himself, and the elevation of ignorance to some sort of virtue. He writes about it in a new book called The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters.

Today he discusses how colleges are fostering a society in which everyone’s opinion is treated as fact and how the internet is turning Americans into a bunch of ignorant “know-it-alls.” He talks about how fact checking sites like Snopes are fighting a losing battle against the tide of disinformation on the internet, he spells out how experts share part of the responsibility for the rebellion against knowledge, he talks about Donald Trump's professed "love" of "uneducated people," and how the embrace of ignorance could lead to an erosion of democracy in America. Plus, how to consume a balanced diet of news every day, and how to win at Jeopardy!

Order The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters on Amazon. You can visit Tom Nichols at www.tomnichols.net and follow him on Twitter at @RadioFreeTom.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.godaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Henry Winkler on the Fonz, Fonts & Helping Dyslexic Kids
39 perc 153. rész

Actor, producer, and author Henry Winkler (Happy Days, Arrested Development) talks about his best-selling series of Hank Zipzer books for children with dyslexia inspired by his own childhood struggles with the learning disability. He shares how his reading disorder led to some creative auditioning when he tried out for Happy Days, his fondest memories of the show’s creator Gary Marshall, and why the network tried to shoot down the Fonz’s famous leather jacket. He discusses how he navigates the hurdles presented by his learning disorder in his roles as actor, producer, and author, and he talks about the innovative new font he uses in the Here’s Hank books that actually makes reading easier for dyslexics. Plus, why bad grades aren’t the end of the world and why “jumping the shark” isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

There are 17 books available in Henry Winkler’s Hank Zipzer: World’s Greatest Under-Achiever series (ages 8-12) and 9 books in the Here’s Hank series (ages 6-8) including his latest Here’s Hank: Always Watch Out for Flying Potato Salad available to order on Amazon. Follow Henry Winkler on Twitter at @hwinkler4real.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.godaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Making a Murderer: Jerome Buting vs. Ken Kratz
54 perc 152. rész

Making a Murderer received over 16 million viewers in its first two months on Netflix, and the docu-series made convicted murderer Steven Avery a household name. Many people now believe Avery was framed and over 500,000 Americans have petitioned the President for a pardon for Avery.

Today, the prosecutor Ken Kratz and Jerome Buting, the defense attorney for Steven Avery, will argue their cases and discuss what Making a Murderer did and didn’t show you. They’ll both share their thoughts on the appeal of Brendan Dassey’s conviction and recent statements by Steven Avery’s former girlfriend Jodi Stachowski in which she says he’s guilty. Plus Jerome Buting will discuss alternative suspects for the Theresa Halback murder, and Ken Kratz reveals why he and Steven Avery later became pen pals.

Order Jerome Buting’s book The Illusion of Justice: Inside Making a Murderer and America's Broken System and Ken Kratz’s book Avery: The Case Against Steven Avery and What "Making a Murderer" Gets Wrong on Amazon or download the audio versions for free with a special offer at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. You can watch all 10 episodes of Making a Murderer with a subscription to Netflix.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy.  Visit www.godaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain. 

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Evgeny Afineevsky Discusses His Documentary "Cries from Syria"
41 perc 151. rész

Oscar nominated documentary filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky (Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom) returns to the podcast to talk about his new HBO documentary Cries from Syria. Evegny details how Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad helped fuel radical groups like ISIS to force the Free Syrian Army to fight a war on two fronts and misdirect media attention toward ISIS instead of Assad’s own crimes. He shares evidence that Assad continues to use chemical weapons on his own people and bombs civilian neighborhoods, hospitals and schools in a deliberate campaign of terror. He tells some of the heartbreaking stories of the thousands of children who have become the innocent victims of the Syrian War and he debunks Vladimir Putin’s claim that Russia is helping to fight ISIS in Syria. Plus Evgeny’s thoughts on the murky Trump-Putin relationship.

CRIES FROM SYRIA airs tonight Monday, March 13 at 10PM Eastern on HBO or you can view it whenever you want with a subscription to HBO NOW or HBO GO. For more information, visit www.HBO.com/documentaries. Follow Evgeny Afineevsky on Twitter at @evgeny_director and visit his production company at www.NewGenerationFilmsInc.com.

Today's episode is sponsored by Stamps.com, Blue Apron, and GoDaddy. Visit www.Stamps.com and enter the promo code KICK for a 4 week Trial that includes postage and a digital scale. Try Blue Apron and get your first three meals free by visiting www.blueapron.com/kick.  Visit www.godaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain. 

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Man of 1000 Voices Rich Little
41 perc 150. rész

“The man of 1000 voices” celebrity impersonator Rich Little talks about his 50 years in showbiz and his memoir Little by Little: People I’ve Known and Been. He discusses the time he stood in for Ronald Reagan at a White House press conference, the time Jack Benny led him on a ridiculous quest for the perfect chicken noodle soup, an embarrassing cocktail party at Richard Nixon’s house, and how a trip to the San Diego Zoo helped him perfect his Johnny Carson impersonation. He says Ed Sullivan was dumb as a rock, Cary Grant was surprisingly insecure, and Jimmy Stewart avoided signing autographs by acting like Quasimodo. Rich Little even shares some tips on how to do celebrity voices.

Order Rich Little’s book Little by Little: People I’ve Known and Been on Amazon
or you can download the audio version for free with special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Visit Rich at www.RichLittle.com or on Facebook and buy tickets for Rich Little Live! at the Tropicana in Las Vegas at www.troplv.com.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy.  Visit www.godaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Author Patricia Cornwell Solves Jack the Ripper Case
49 perc 149. rész

Best-selling crime writer Patricia Cornwell discusses her investigation into the true identity of the most infamous serial killer of all time. She claims that a famous artist led a double life as Jack the Ripper, and she shares the clues in his paintings, letters, and conversations as well as forensic evidence that implicate him as the Whitechapel killer. She debunks the accepted Ripper timeline and body count, she talks about the frustrating incompetence of the original Scotland Yard investigation, and she shares what the art world has say about her controversial theory.

Order Patricia Cornwell’s book RIPPER: THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER SICKERT on Amazon or you can download the audio version at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.com. Visit Patricia Cornwell’s website at www.patriciacornwell.com and follow her on Twitter at @1pcornwell.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy, Texture, and Home Chef. Visit www.godaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.  Get access to over 200 magazines with a 14 day free trial from Texture at www.texture.com/KICKASS.  Get $30 in free meals from Home Chef at www.HomeChef.com/KICKASS.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Most Famous Hacker Gives Tips For Personal Cyber-Security
46 perc 148. rész

Kevin Mitnick is the world's most famous hacker and a leading cyber security expert.  

Today he’ll reveal how vulnerable you might be to a security hack, and he’ll share some fairly simple steps you can take to protect yourself.  He’ll discuss what kind of information companies like Uber and Facebook are gathering from you (even when you’re not using their apps), how your digital photos show more than you may think, and whether your computer, your phone, and even your television might be listening to everything you say - even when they’re not on.  Plus why you should never use public wifi, why the documents you store in the cloud may not have 4th Amendment protection, and why anyone with $200,000 to spend, could hack the cellphone of the most powerful man in the world.

Order Edward Thorp’s book The Art of Invisibility: The World's Most Famous Hacker Teaches You How to Be Safe in the Age of Big Brother and Big Data on Amazon or download the audio version for free with a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  You can learn more about Kevin’s security testing company at www.mitnicksecurity.com and his security training group is at www.knowbe4.com.  Follow him on twitter at @kevinmitnick.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Legendary Mathematician Edward Thorp on Card Counting, Quantitative Investing, & Catching Bernie Madoff
47 perc 147. rész

Edward O. Thorp is the legendary mathematician who invented quantitative investing, card-counting, and the first wearable computer. Today he discusses how he used mathematics to win at blackjack, some of the tricks casinos employed to try and thwart his methods, and how he created the first wearable computer in order to beat  casinos at roulette. Then he reveals how he used his math skills to become one of the best hedge fund mangers in the world, why he sees Wall Street as the biggest casino of all, and why he’s skeptical of the so called "wisdom of markets." Plus Ed Thorp shares how he figured out Bernie Madoff was a con man, his calculations on the 2016 election, and his odds on whether there’s an afterlife.

Order Edward Thorp’s book A Man for All Markets: From Las Vegas to Wall Street, How I Beat the Dealer and the Market on Amazon or download the audio version for free with a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. You can visit Edward Thorp’s website at www.edwardothorp.com.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

VICE Correspondents Gianna Toboni & Isobel Yeung
44 perc 146. rész

Gianna Toboni and Isobel Yeung are the fearless correspondents for HBO's news magazine show VICE.

On today’s episode, Gianna and Isobel voice their concerns about President Trump’s recent demonization of journalists and discuss some of the stories they cover in Season 5 of VICE.  Isobel shares her encounter with Bashar Assad’s Orwellian propaganda machine as she covered the War in Syria, and she talks about her experience spending the night in women’s prison.  Gianna reveals the difficult decisions facing trans youths, she shares her personal experience sneaking into France with migrant refugees, and the shocking war on drugs taking place in the Philippines.  Plus extending longevity, curing blindness, and the fast food of the Middle East.

Season 5 of VICE premieres on HBO this Friday, February 24, at 7:30PM Eastern. You can watch it on demand with a subscription to HBO GO or HBO NOW. For more information, visit www.hbo.com/vice or www.vice.com.  Follow Gianna and Isobel on Twitter at @giannatoboni and @isobelyeung.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on T.P.P., Pacific Rim Security, China, & The Infamous Trump-Turnbull Phone Call,
43 perc 145. rész

 

Kevin Rudd served twice as Australian Prime Minister as well as Foreign Minister and is currently the President of The Asia Society Policy Institute. He offers his perspective on the strangely confrontational phone conversation between President Donald Trump and Mr. Rudd’s successor as Prime Minister Malcomb Turnbull. He also discusses Trump’s exit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, what this means for the other partner nations including Australia, and what a new Pacific trade bloc with China might look like. We talk about Trump’s Florida holiday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his sudden embrace of the "One China Policy," and a wide range of security issues from a Nuclear North Korea to China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea. Plus how to throw a boomerang.

To learn more about The Asia Society, visit www.asiasociety.org. You can visit Kevin Rudd’s website at www.KevinRudd.com and follow him on Twitter at @MrKRudd.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Bloomberg Tech Editor Brad Stone on Uber, AirBnB, & the New Silicon Valley
52 perc 144. rész

Brad Stone is Senior Executive Editor for technology at Bloomberg News and author of the New York Times bestseller The Upstarts: How Uber, Airbnb, and the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley Are Changing the World.  

Today he’ll discuss how both companies got there starts including how a James Bond movie inspired Uber and how a wiley illegal hotelier who almost wrecked AirBnB’s plans in New York City. We’ll talk about the rideshare wars between Uber and Lyft, Uber’s efforts to muscle in on the Chinese market, and Uber CEO Travis Kalanick’s decision to resign from President Trump’s business advisory council. We’ll also discuss why the rivals to Uber and AirBnB failed to take off, we’ll talk about Amazon’s latest experiments with blimps, drones, and cashless convenience stores, and why it’s good to be a “cockroach” in Silicon Valley.

Order Brad Stone’s book The Upstarts: How Uber, Airbnb, and the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley Are Changing the World on Amazon or you can download the audio version at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Read Brad Stone’s articles at www.bloomberg.com or www.brad-stone.com and subscribe to his podcast Decrypted on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.  Follow Brad on twitter at @BradStone.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Cast & Creators of AMC's HUMANS Imagine a Future w/ Artificial Intelligence, Robots & More
46 perc 143. rész

The creators of the AMC drama series HUMANS Jonathan Brackley and Sam Vincent return to the podcast, and then I'm joined by the stars of the show Gemma Chan, Tom Goodman-Hill and Sam Palladio.  We discuss how consciousness might spread among intelligent machines, what "the singularity" might be like from their perspective, whether recent behavioral and psychological disorders arising from kids attachment to smart devices may foreshadow even more disturbing problems to come, and Gemma Chan shares what it’s like to learn to be a robot at "synth school."  Plus robot marriage counselors, robot/human love, and the Scartlett Johansen robot.

If you enjoyed this episode, then don't miss the season 2 premiere of HUMANS tonight, Monday, February 13, at 10/9 Central on AMC. For more information, visit www.amc.com/shows/humans.

Today's episode is sponsored by Stamps.com, Home Chef, Casper, and Blue Apron.  Visit www.Stamps.com and enter the promo code KICK for a 4 week Trial that includes postage and a digital scale.  Visit www.HomeChef.com/kickass for $30 in FREE meals.  Get $50 off any Casper mattress and 100 risk free trial by visiting www.casper.com/kick and using offer code KICK.  Try Blue Apron and get your first three meals free by visiting www.blueapron.com/kick.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.  You can like Kickass News on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @kickassnewspod.

Political Dirty Trickster Roger Stone on The Making of the President 2016
44 perc 142. rész

Legendary Republican political strategist Roger J. Stone, Jr. has been called “the lord of mischief,” “the master of rightwing political hit-jobs,” and “the most dangerous man in America.”  Stone and his political trickery played an integral role in the elections of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush, as well as George W. Bush’s victory during the 2000 Florida recount. He was also instrumental in the 2016 win of his friend of 40 years Donald Trump. He writes about it in his new book The Making of the President 2016: How Donald Trump Orchestrated a Revolution.

Today Roger Stone recounts his crash course in underhandedness on the Nixon campaign, his first introduction to Donald Trump through mob-attorney Roy Cohn, and the moment years ago when he knew Trump was serious about running for President. He also addresses allegations that he was involved in the Russian email hacks that brought down Hillary Clinton and he accuses someone in the “deep state” of poisoning him in an attempt to silence Roger Stone once and for all. Plus Roger’s Inauguration fashion tips.

Order Roger Stone’s book The Making of the President 2016: How Donald Trump Orchestrated a Revolution on Amazon or you can download the audio version at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Visit Roger Stone’s website at www.stonezone.com and follow him on twitter at @RogerJStoneJr.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Hugh Hewitt's "Fourth Way" for President Trump & the GOP
46 perc 141. rész

Conservative author and radio host Hugh Hewitt has what he has described as an “unusual relationship” with President Donald Trump. He interviewed Trump 15 times during the 2016 election and was a panelist on 4 of the Presidential debates, and now Hugh Hewitt draws his personal experience with the President and his service for two previous Republican Presidents in a new book called The Fourth Way: The Conservative Playbook for a Lasting GOP Majority.

Today, he comes on the show to share what the “4th Way” is as well as his suggestions for President Trump’s proposed infrastructure program and why he says Trump should approach immigration the way Nixon approached China. He’ll discuss why he opposes overhauling the tax code and why he’s for Trump’s plan for a 350 ship navy. Hugh Hewitt also explains why Trump must implement the “4th Way” quickly, or he could risk losing the GOP majority in Congress and perhaps even impeachment.

If you enjoyed today’s episode then you can order Hugh Hewitt’s book The Fourth Way: The Conservative Playbook for a Lasting GOP Majority on Amazon or download the audio version for free through a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. The Hugh Hewitt Show airs 5 mornings a week and is syndicated to over 120 stations on the Salem Radio Network.  You can find your local station or download the Hugh Hewitt app at www.HughHewitt.com and follow Hugh Hewitt on twitter at @HughHewitt.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Decode DC and GoDaddy. Subscribe to Decode DC on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Amazon's Fresh Take on Zelda & Scott Fitzgerald
45 perc 140. rész

Amazon is telling the story of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald through Zelda’s eyes in the new television series Z: The Beginning of Everything which stars Christina Ricci and David Hoflin as the original “IT” couple.

Today, David Hoflin talks about filling the shoes of America’s most iconic author, the often disfunctional relationship between Scott and Zelda, and their cautionary tale about getting too much, too soon. Then I talk with the executive producers and creators of Z: The Beginning of Everything Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich. They talk about what attracted them to Zelda’s POV, they weigh in on whether F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “borrowing” of his wife’s words amounts to plagiarism, and whether Zelda’s husband may have contributed to her steady descent into madness. Plus Nicole shares memories of her father - legendary TV producer Bud Yorkin.

Watch the first season of Z: The Beginning of Everything with a subscription to Amazon Prime. For more information visit www.amazon.com and search Z: The Beginning of Everything. Also be sure to check out Dawn and Nicole’s brilliant show The Killing on AMC.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

John Avlon, Editor of The Daily Beast on Washington's Farewell Address
49 perc 139. rész

John Avlon, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Beast, comes on the podcast to talk about his new book Washington’s Farewell: The Founding Father’s Warning to Future Generations.  

He’ll discuss the origins of George Washington’s Farewell Address and why he describes it as the most famous speech you’ve never read. He’ll reveal some of the other founding fathers worked as ghost writers on the address, discuss how Washington’s Farewell Address influenced President Eisenhower’s famous Farewell Address, and how it was even misused as a rallying cry for one pro-Nazi organization at the start of World War II. Plus John Avlon debunks the phrase most famously associated with the Farewell Address and shares the dire warning that President Trump and Congress ignore at their peril.

If you enjoyed today’s episode then you can order his book Washington’s Farewell: The Founding Father’s Warning to Future Generations on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free through a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Follow John Avlon on twitter at @JohnAvlon or at www.johnavlon.com. You can also read many of John Avlon’s articles and other good stuff covering politics and culture at www.thedailybeast.com.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Decode DC, the podcast that gives you an honest look into how politics affects your life. I've been a fan of Decode DC since been before they become a sponsor so I highly recommend checking them out. Subscribe to Decode DC on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

In Praise of Free Trade w/ Austan Goolsbee, Martin Feldstein & Amb. Michael Froman
53 perc 138. rész

In one of his first actions as President, Donald Trump signed an Executive Order that put the final death nail in the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (T.P.P.) this week.  My guests today will discuss what was in the T.P.P., what the U.S. will be missing out on by backing out of the T.P.P., and why Trump's decision just opened a window for China to become the dominant player in the Pacific Rim.  

I'll talk with the outgoing U.S. Trade Ambassador Michael Froman who negotiated the Trans-Pacific Partnership on behalf of the U.S., and then I'll talk with two leading economists who both served as the Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisors. Prof. Austan Goolsbee, served as Chairman of the C.E.A. under President Barack Obama, and Prof. Martin Felstein held that position under President Ronald Reagan, but they BOTH agree that free trade is a net win for the U.S. and the demise of the T.P.P. is a terrible loss opportunity for America.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then follow Prof. Austan Goolsbee at @Austan_Goolsbee and Amb. Michael Froman at @MikeFroman.  You can read many articles by Prof. Martin Feldstein at www.nber.org/felstein, and articles and research by Prof. Austan Goolsbee are at www.faculty.chicagobooth.edu/austan.goolsbee.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Decode DC, the podcast that gives you an honest look into how politics affects your life.  I've been a fan of Decode DC since been before they become a sponsor so I highly recommend checking them out.  Subscribe to Decode DC on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein w/ CIA Analyst John Nixon
42 perc 137. rész

When the brutal Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was captured in 2003, senior CIA leadership analyst John Nixon was called in to confirm his identity and became the first person to conduct a prolonged interrogation of the man known as the “Butcher of Bagdad.”  He talks about it in his new book Debriefing the President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein.

Today Nixon recalls the surreal experience of debriefing one of the most notorious men of our time.  He’ll discuss Saddam’s sadistic sense of humor, his personal heroes, and how his opinion of his fellow leaders in the Middle East.  He’ll talk about Saddam’s delusional view of the US-Iraq relationship, why he thought 9/11 should’ve brought the two countries closer, and his almost prophetic warnings about the rise of extremism and chaos in the region.  Nixon will also reveal what President George W. Bush asked him about Saddam and he’ll weigh in on the Russia-Trump Intelligence Report.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order John Nixon's book Debriefing the President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein on Amazon or you can also download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy and Blue Apron. Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.  Check out some of the delicious meals from Blue Apron and get your first 3 meals FREE by going to www.blueapron.com/kick.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Louie Anderson, Martha Kelly & Jonathan Krisel of FX's BASKETS
47 perc 136. rész

Today I talk with comedian Louie Anderson, who won an Emmy for his role as "Christine" on BASKETS, and Martha Kelly, who plays the brilliantly deadpan "Martha" on BASKETS.  Louie talks about starting out as a joke writer for the king of the one liners - Henny Youngman, coming up as a young comedian in the heyday of the legendary Comedy Store, and getting his big break on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, plus Louie reveals which of his family members inspired his chactacter "Christine" on BASKETS.

Martha Kelly talks about coming up in the Austin comedy scene, and how her  BASKETS co-star Zach Galifianakis and Jonathan Krisel convinced her to take the role of "Martha."  Then BASKETS show-runner, executive producer, and director Jonathan Krisel talks about why he often prefers to work with non-actors, how the show got past the audience's preconceived expectations, and what it's like working with his co-creators Zach Galifianakis and Louis C.K. on BASKETS and his co-creators Fred Armisen and Carry Brownstein on his other show Portlandia

Season 2 of BASKETS premieres tonight at 10/9C on FX.  For more information including bonus content, behind the scenes footage and cast and crew interviews, visit www.FXNetworks.com.  Follow Louie Anderson at Louie Anderson at www.LouieAnderson.com or on Twitter at @LouieAnderson.  If you want to see Louie perform live, check his upcoming tour dates.  Follow Martha Kelly on Twitter at @MarthaKelly3 or at www.MarthaKelly.net.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Cast & Creators of History Channel's SIX
46 perc 135. rész

History Channel’s new dramatic series SIX authentically captures the inside world of America’s elite Special Operations unit known as SEAL Team Six. Today I talk with the creators William Broyles Jr. and David Broyles and the stars of the show Barry Sloane, Kyle Schmid, and Edwin Hodge. They discuss the dangerous and secretive nature of SEAL Team Six’s missions and how it can put a strain on SEAL’s relationships back home. They talk about the psychological strength required of a SEAL, how the show creators’ own military experience influenced the series and the grueling physical training the actors endured at SEAL bootcamp.

SIX airs this Wednesday, January 18, at 10PM Eastern on the History Channel. For more information including bonus content, behind the scenes footage and cast and crew interviews, visit www.History.com.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Mack Weldon Underwear, Home Chef, and Bernie Sanders' new book Our Revolution. For great meals delivered to straight to your door, visit www.HomeChef.com/kickass to get $30 in FREE meals.  Go to www.MackWeldon.com and enter the promo code KICKASS for 20% off.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Globalist Parag Khanna Calls for Technocracy in America
49 perc 134. rész

Leading global strategist and best-selling author Parag Khanna returns to the show to discuss his new book Technocracy in America: The Rise of the Info-State.  On today’s podcast, he proposes a 7-person Presidency, replacing the U.S. Senate with an Assembly of Governors, and he discusses which cabinet agencies should be eliminated or combined for better efficiency.  He reveals what countries like Singapore and Switzerland are getting right, what the federal government can learn from America’s mayors and cities, and why he says if you want to “Make America Great Again,” build a road.

Order Parag Khanna’s book Technocracy in America: The Rise of the Info-State on Amazon. You can keep up with Parag Khanna at www.paragkhanna.com, at www.facebook.com/drparagkhanna or on Twitter at @paragkhanna.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Blue Apron, GoDaddy, and Bernie Sanders' new book Our Revolution. For great meals delivered to straight to your door, visit www.BlueApron.com/kick and get your first 3 meals FREE.  Also,visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Stephen Dubner of Freakonomics Wants To Tell You Something You Don't Know
42 perc 133. rész

Stephen J. Dubner is the best-selling co-author of Freakonomics and the host of the Freakonomics Radio Podcast.  Today he comes on the show to talk about his new gameshow podcast Tell Me Something I Don't Know.  We’ll discuss the origins of the Freakonomics phenomenon and his friendship with quirkly rogue economist Dr. Stephen Levitt. We’ll talk about the Freakonomics philosophy of why incentives matter, whether or not everyone cheats, and some the perils of exploring the hidden side of everything.

If you enjoyed today’s episode then subscribe to Tell Me Something I Don’t Know and Freakonomics Podcast on iTunes. For more information, visit www.tmsidk.com or www.freakonomics.com. Follow Stephen Dubner on Twitter at @Freakonomics.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Home Chef, GoDaddy, and Bernie Sanders' new book Our Revolution. For great meals delivered to straight to your door, visit www.homechef.com/kickass for $30 in FREE meals.  Also,visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain, and 

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Brain Warriors Dr. Daniel & Tana Amen Share Tips for Better Brain Health
47 perc 132. rész

Dr. Daniel and Tana Amen are leading brain health experts and the best-selling authors of The Brain Warrior's Way: Ignite Your Energy and Focus, Attack Illness and Aging, Transform Pain into Purpose. Today they reveal how everything from junk food and cable news to smart phones and alcohol are eating away at our brains every day. They give some helpful advice about the foods and even herbs and spices that can give your brain a boost. They discuss what exercises and activities are not just great for your body, but specifically improve brain function. They talk about some of the secrets to fighting aging and reveal what has been scientifically proven to be the single largest predictor of longevity. Plus they dispel a variety of brain health fads, they extol the virtues of periodic fasting, and explain how the food industry uses neuroscience to manipulate you into buying products that are bad for you.

If you enjoyed today’s episode then subscribe to Daniel and Tana Amen’s new podcast The Brain Warrior’s Way Podcast on iTunes. You can order their book
The Brain Warrior's Way: Ignite Your Energy and Focus, Attack Illness and Aging, Transform Pain into Purpose on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free through a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.
For more information visit www.BrainWarriorsWay.com and learn more about the Amen Clinics at the www.AmenClinics.com. Follow the Amens on Twitter at @DocAmen and @TanaAmen.

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy. Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Bradley Birkenfeld, The Swiss Banker Turned Whistleblower Who Exposed UBS Switzerland
43 perc 131. rész

Bradley C. Birkenfeld is the Swiss private banker who became the biggest financial whistleblower in history when he blew the lid of off secretive Swiss banks by exposing how UBS, the world’s largest bank, helped ultra-wealthy Americans commit billions in tax fraud.  Today he’ll reveal the dirty little secrets of Swiss Banking and UBS’s dealings with the brother of the world’s most notorious terrorist.  He’ll discuss how UBS courted wealthy Americans who wanted to hide their money, and then made it as hard as possible for their clients to withdraw from their own accounts.  He’ll expose the surprisingly cozy ties between UBS and Washington politicians and how that relationship may have led Justice Department officials to "throw him under the bus" to protect some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in America.  

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Bradley Birkenfeld's book Lucifer’s Banker: The Untold Story of How I Destroyed Swiss Bank Secrecy on Amazon or you can also download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  For more information on Bradley Birkenfeld, visit www.LucifersBanker.com and follow him on Twitter at @LucifersBanker.  

Today's podcast is sponsored by GoDaddy.  Visit www.GoDaddy.com and enter our promo code "KICK30" to get 30% off a new domain.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis
42 perc 130. rész

 

Greg Louganis is a four-time Olympic champion and widely considered to the greatest diver in history.  He's also a champion of LGBT rights and today's Olympic divers.  On Monday, January 2, he will serve along-side his fellow Olympic medalists Janet Evans and Allyson Felix as Grand Marshall in the 128th Annual Rose Parade.  

Today Greg will talk about his remarkable sport career and some of the hurdles he’s overcome along the way, including when the US decided to boycott the 1980 Olympics, his infamous head injury in the ’88 Olympics and how he came back to win the gold medal the next day, and his battles with HIV and homophobia.  Plus, a strange encounter he had with Vice-President-elect Mike Pence and what Greg Louganis is doing help today's Olympic athletes adjust to life after sports.

Be sure to watch Greg in the 128th Annual Pasadena Rose Parade on ABC at 8AM Pacific on Monday (12/2/17).  For more information on Greg, visit www.GregLouganis.com and follow him on Facebook and on Twitter at @GregLouganis.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

AOL Founder Steve Case on the Third Wave of Tech (Rerun)
43 perc 129. rész

Today’s guest is the co-founder & former CEO of AOL Steve Case. In his new book THE THIRD WAVE: AN ENTREPRENEUR’S VISION OF THE FUTURE, Steve describes the third wave of the internet’s evolution in which the internet is going to be ingrained in every aspect of our lives and he talks about the business sectors that stand to benefit most. He’ll discuss the key factors that will separate the successful startups from the failures and why disruptive industries won’t necessarily spring up in Silicon Valley but all over the country. He’ll reminisce about the early days of the internet and the lessons learned as he took AOL from an idea that no one even knew they wanted to the biggest merger in business history.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, order THIRD WAVE: AN ENTREPENEUR’S VISION OF THE FUTURE on Amazon or download the audiobook for free through a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.com. You can follow Steve Case at www.revolution.com or on Twitter at @SteveCase.

Please subscribe to KickAss News on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickassnews.com and click on the donate button.  Be sure to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/kick Thanks for listening!

Comedian David Steinberg Talks Carson, Comedy, and Curb (Rerun)
53 perc 128. rész

My guest today is legendary comedian David Steinberg. David Steinberg will talk about how being part of the early days of Second City in Chicago, his 130 appearances on The Tonight Show (more than anyone other than Bob Hope) and his friendship with Johnny Carson, and how his appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour singlehandedly got the most popular show on television cancelled. Plus David Steinberg talks about directing Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm, being bestman at a gangster’s wedding, getting on Nixon’s enemies list, and why he says I definitely should NOT try my hand at stand-up comedy.

If you enjoyed my conversation with David Steinberg, I would highly recommend that you subscribe to his wonderful podcast The David Steinberg Podcast on iTunes. Order the documentary Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story on Amazon, and follow David on Twitter at @david_steinberg or at www.thedavidsteinberg.com.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave a review. Help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickassnews.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Are You a Risky Drinker? w/ Dr. George Koob & filmmaker Perri Peltz
48 perc 127. rész

Perri Peltz is a filmmaker behind the new documentary Risky Drinking.  It's a co-producting between HBO and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.  Today I talk with Perri and Dr. George Koob who is the director of the NIAAA about some of the signs that you or someone you love might have an alcohol disorder, the toll alcoholism can take on a person's physical and mental health, and some of the new treatments being used that go way beyond the traditional 12-step model.

Risky Drinking airs tonight at 8PM EST on HBO.  You can also watch it on demand with a membership to HBO GO or HBO NOW.  For more information, visit www.HBO.com.  For more information on alcohol disorders and treatment options, visit the NIAAA website at www.niaaa.nih.gov.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Reuters TV, video news that's personalized, always up to date, and ready when you are. Visit www.reuters.tv/kickass to check out their cool new free news app and show your support for the podcast.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Former CIA Analyst Nada Bakos Is NOT "Maya" from Zero Dark Thirty (Or So She Says!)
35 perc 126. rész

Nada Bakos was a CIA analyst and the Chief Targeting officer charged with finding the godfather of ISIS and mastermind of al Qaida in Iraq - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. She’s also (according to some) the inspiration for the character of “Maya,” the CIA analyst in the Oscar-winning film Zero Dark Thirty. Today, Nada Bakos will talk about how she rose up through the predominantly male world of the CIA to become one of the agencies top analysts and the chief targeter of the most wanted man in the world. She reveals how CIA trackers finally found Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, how communications intercepts gave her a unique window on the power struggle between Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda and Zarqawi’s Al Qaeda in Iraq, and how those communications eventually led to the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden himself.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2016 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more about their work to improve global stability and prosperity.

You can visit Nada Bakos’s website at www.NadaBakos.com and read more of her work as a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute at www.fpri.org. Follow Nada Bakos on twitter at @NadaBakos and pre-order her book The Targeter: My Life in the CIA, on the Hunt for the Godfather of ISIS which hits book shelves in June 2017.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Reuters TV, video news that's personalized, always up to date, and ready when you are. Visit www.reuters.tv/kickass to check out their cool new free news app and show your support for the podcast.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Middle East Peace w/ Senator George Mitchell & Alon Sachar
49 perc 125. rész

Senator George J. Mitchell was the primary architect of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement for peace in Northern Ireland and the U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace. Today he and his co-author Alon Sachar discuss their new book A Path to Peace: A Brief History of Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations and a Way Forward in the Middle East.

They talk about why the peace process has failed time after time, and they outline the specific concessions each side must make to finally achieve lasting peace. Senator Mitchell discusses the big differences between brokering peace in Northern Ireland and negotiating peace in the Middle East, and how the political constraints on the Israeli Prime Minister and the Palestinian President can often work against the peace process. Plus we’ll talk about the history of U.S.-Israeli  the sometimes tense relationship between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Order A Path to Peace: A Brief History of Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations and a Way Forward in the Middle East on Amazon or you can also download the audio version for free through a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Follow Alon Sachar on Twitter at @alonsachar, and visit his website at www.AlonSachar.com.

Today's podcast is sponsored by Reuters TV, video news that's personalized, always up to date, and ready when you are.  Visit www.reuters.tv/kickass.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

The Daily Show: An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests
50 perc 124. rész

 

For almost seventeen years, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brilliantly re-defined the borders between television comedy, political satire, and opinionated news coverage. Now a new book called The Daily Show: An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests chronicles the show's behind-the-scenes gags, controversies, and camaraderie.

Today, the journalist and author Chris Smith talks about how The Daily Show rose from a scrappy jester in the age of 24-hour political news to become part of the beating heart of politics and a trusted source for not only comedy but also commentary.  He talks about the weirdly symbiotic relationship between Fox News and The Daily Show, he’ll talk about Jon Stewart’s legendary scraps with conservative pundits like Bill O’Reilly, and a creepy meeting Stewart had with Fox News founder Roger Ailes. He’ll reveal how Stephen Colbert morphed into a right wind pundit, which Daily Show alum was Jon Stewart’s original handpicked replacement, and how the show has inspired activists in other countries to use satire to take on some of the world’s most oppressive regimes. Plus we’ll talk about whether Jon Stewart is getting sick of everyone asking “don’t you wish you’d stuck around for the 2017 election?”

If you enjoyed today’s episode then you can order The Daily Show: An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests on Amazon or you can also download the audio version for free through a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. For more information visit www.DailyShowTheBook.com. Follow Chris Smith on Twitter at @chrissmithnymag and read more of his work in New York Magazine or at nymag.com. You can watch The Daily Show 4 nights a week on Comedy Central. For more info and bonus content, visit Comedy Central’s website at www.CC.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Michael Medved on The American Miracle
43 perc 123. rész

Talk radio host and author Michael Medved disucsses his new book The American Miracle: Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic. He’ll talk about the idea of American exceptionalism, and why it’s about more than just ego. He says fortune has favored America from the very start, and he points to watershed moments like the Louisiana Purchase as evidence that a divine hand has guided the United States through her most troubled times. He’ll also talk about the responsibility that comes with that and his many years as a national film critic.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Michael Medved's book The American Miracle: Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. The Michael Medved Show airs every weekday on Salem Radio Networks.  For information and stations, visit www.MichaelMedved.com and follow Michael Medved on Twitter at @MedvedSHOW.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Award-winning Author Deirdre Bair on Al Capone's Life, Legacy & Legend
50 perc 122. rész

Two time American Book Award winning author Deirdre Bair digs deep into the notorious gangster who ruled Chicago with an iron fist in her new biography Al Capone: His Life, Legacy, and Legend. Today she’ll share how she got unprecedented access to the surviving relatives of Al Capone and how their stories passed down through the family revealed the human side of the notorious gangster. She’ll cut through some of the many myths surrounding Capone including the famous baseball bat scene and talk about the Harvard Business School case study on his illegal empire.  She’ll discuss the security precautions Al Capone took and divulge where the gangster hid out when things got too hot in Chicago. She’ll dispel the legend of Elliott Ness and talk about the people who really caught Al Capone including one prominent lady lawyer in the 1920’s.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Deirdre Bair's book Al Capone: His Life, Legacy, and Legend on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Visit her at www.deirdrebairauthor.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a moment to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Dana Perino Says "If You Want a Friend in Washington, Get a Dog!"
49 perc 121. rész

The former White House Press Secretary and co-host of The Five on Fox News Channel says if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.  She talks about her new book called Let Me Tell You about Jasper...How My Best Friend Became America's Dog and how pets can bridge political divides between humans.  She also talks about her time as White House Press Secretary, the post-election vibe at The Five, how her dog Jasper became a social media celebrity, and her ideas for the next White House dog.  

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Dana Perino's book Let Me Tell You about Jasper...How My Best Friend Became America's Dog on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Watch Dana Perino on The Five weekdays on Fox News and subscribe to her podcast called Perino and Stirewalt: I'll Tell You What on iTunes or GooglePlay.  Visit her at www.danaperino.com and follow her on Twitter at @DanaPerino.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Rebroadcast: Arianna Huffington Is Starting A Sleep Revolution
33 perc 120. rész

My guest today is Arianna Huffington, co-founder, president, and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post and author of the new best-seller THE SLEEP REVOLUTION: TRANSFORMING YOUR LIFE ONE NIGHT AT A TIME. She talks about America's dangerous sleep crisis and how our culture of ambition discourages us from getting a proper night's sleep. But she says we've got it all wrong. In fact, sleep is the ultimate performance enhancer.

She'll discuss the research that shows how sleep deprivation has a negative effect on our physical and mental health, our brain function, our job performance, our relationships, and our overall happiness. She'll reveal what actually goes on with our body and mind while we're sleeping, she'll discuss her personal sleep ritual and 12 tips for getting a better night's rest.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, order THE SLEEP REVOLUTION: TRANSFORMING YOUR LIFE ONE NIGHT AT A TIME on Amazon or download the audiobook for free through a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. You can follow Arianna Huffington at www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna or on Twitter at @ariannahuff.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

 

The Boston Marathon Bombings w/ Documentary Filmmakers Ricki Stern & Annie Sundberg
31 perc 119. rész

Emmy-nominated documentary filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg talk about their new film Marathon: The Patriots Day Bombing, which airs 11/21 on HBO. Today, they discuss the 2013 Boston marathon bombings, the long road to recovery for the 264 people who were injured, and the unique bond that has formed between these survivors and our warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. They also talk about some of the remarkable advances in prosthetics that are helping them regain their mobility, and the survivors’ diverse opinions on capital punishment for Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Marathon: The Patriots Day Bombing airs Monday, November 21 at 8PM Eastern on HBO, or you can watch any time with a subscription to HBO GO or HBO NOW. For more information, visit HBO.com. Ricki and Annie’s website is www.breakthroughfilms.org, and you can follow them on Twitter at @RicksterStar and @anniesundberg.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Space Journalist Leonard David on NatGeo's MARS
53 perc 118. rész

MARS, a six-part miniseries from Ron Howard, premiered this week on National Geographic Channel, and today my guest is space journalist Leonard David. He authored the companion book to the miniseries titled MARS: Our Future on the Red Planet.

He discusses why we want to go to Mars, how we’ll get there, and how long it may take. Leonard David also shares how humans will survive the harsh environment of the red planet including little oxygen, gail force winds, and cancer causing radiation. He talks about the possibility that life may already exist there, the psychological toll of venturing so far from earth, and why private sector initiatives led by businessmen like Elon Musk could beat NASA to the punch.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Leonard David's new book MARS: Our Future on the Red Planet on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Learn more about NatGeo's MARS miniseries at http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/mars  Keep up with Leonard David at www.leonarddavid.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Carol Burnett Reminisces About 11 Hilarious Years of "The Carol Burnett Show"
38 perc 117. rész

The great Carol Burnett joins me to reminisce about some of the best times on The Carol Burnett Show.  She shares stories about Harvey Korman, Tim Conway and Vickie Lawrence, including which one she almost had to fire and which one could always crack her up in front of the cameras. She talks about the boys club that was network television in the 60’s and 70’s and she reveals the comedy sketch that she wished she hadn’t done and some of her favorite questions from the audience. Plus some advice for young comedic actors and some exciting news about her big return to network television. 

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Carol Burnett's memoir In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Supermensch Shep Gordon on Film, Food, & Rock 'n Roll
50 perc 116. rész

Shep Gordon is a legendary music manager, film producer and inventor of the “celebrity chef.” Among his many clients, he has guided the careers of Alice Cooper, Luther Vandross, Pink Floyd, Blondie, Teddy Pendergrass, Groucho Marx, and Raquel Welch. He is beloved in the entertainment business for his kindness, honesty, and sense of service in an otherwise cut-throat industry, and it has earned him the nickname “Supermensch.”

Today, Shep Gordon will reveal how checking into the right motel and a little advice from Jimi Hendrix launched his career in the music business. He’ll talk about some of the stunts he came up with to get publicity for his very first client, Alice Cooper, and how an incident with the band and a very young Cameron Crowe inspired a classic scene in the movie “Almost Famous.” He talks about taking on the notorious “chitlin’ circuit” while managing R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass, and how he invented the concept of the “celebrity chef” and made guys like Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse household names. Plus Shep Gordon discusses the high price of fame, his rules for doing “compassionate business,” and cooking for the Dalai Lama.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Shep Gordon's new memoir They Call Me Supermensch: A Backstage Pass to the Amazing Worlds of Film, Food, and Rock ’n Roll on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Follow Shep Gordon on Twitter at @SupermenschShep.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

An Anti-Endorsement and Final Thoughts on the 2016 Election
42 perc 115. rész

It's almost finally over!  Today, I share some final thoughts on the 2016 election and make my closing arguments against Donald Trump.  With guests Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, Pulitzer-winning New York Times journalist David Cay Johnston, former CIA/NSA director, General Michael HaydenStuart Stevens, chief strategist for Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, Jonah Goldberg, senior editor at National Review, CNN Global contributor Parag Kanna, Jacob Weisberg, editor-in-chief of Slate Magazine, General Wesley Clark, and former Mexican President Vicente Fox.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Historian H.W. Brands on the Epic Rivalry Between Truman & MacArthur
43 perc 114. rész

 

Today, author/historian H.W. Brands talks about his new book The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War.  The Pulitzer finalist and master story-teller reveals the two men’s competing vision for America during the Cold War, just how close we came to a nuclear war with China and the Soviets, and the significance of the Korean War as the first real test of the newly formed United Nations. He’ll discuss why taking a stand in the Korean Peninsula was important to Truman, why Truman wanted MacArthur to win the war but not win too much, and the many ways the General subtly (and not so subtly) snubbed his Commander-in-Chief. Plus, we talk about Donald Trump’s obsession with General MacArthur, and whether or not we would WANT a man like MacArthur running America’s military today.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order H.W. Brands' book The General vs. the President: MacArthur and Truman at the Brink of Nuclear War on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Visit his website at www.hwbrands.com and follow him on Twitter at @HWBrands.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Chef Mario Batali Celebrates America's Favorite Regional Comfort Foods
38 perc 113. rész

Celebrity Chef Mario Batali (host of The Chew) comes on the show to celebrate America’s favorite regional dishes and talk about his new book Big American Cookbook: 250 Favorite Recipes from Across the USA. We talk about the history of our regional cuisines and how they evolved from popular “Old World” recipes brought over by our immigrant forefathers. We discuss the amazing diversity of barbecue, the age-old debate over New England clam chowder vs. Manhattan clam chowder, and where he thinks the next big culinary scene is about emerge. He discusses the origins of his love for cooking, how he maintains quality and consistency when operating 26 different restaurants around the world, and why it's not the end of the world if you can't buy “locally grown and organic."  Plus proper pickling/preserving and other helpful tips.

Order Chef Mario Batali’s Big American Cookbook: 250 Favorite Recipes from Across the USA on Amazon. You can watch his show The Chew every weekday on ABC, visit his website at www.mariobatali.com for all kinds of other fun stuff, and follow him on twitter at @mariobatali.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Author James Patterson on the Shocking True Crimes of Billionaire Pedophile Jeffrey Epstein
44 perc 112. rész

Author James Patterson has sold over 350 million books and had more #1 New York Times Bestsellers than any author in history. He is best known for his fictional Alex Cross novels, but today he comes on the show to talk about his newest book - a true crime story about the sensational case of Jeffrey Epstein, the Palm Beach billionaire accused of sexually assaulting or molesting as many as 47 underaged girls as young as 12 and 13.

James Patterson reveals how Epstein went about recruiting teenage girls on an almost industrial scale and how it led Donald Trump to personally ban him from Mar-a-Lago.  We talk about the recent rape allegations against Trump involving Epstein, as well as other high profile figures who have been drawn into Epstein’s sordid story including Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and Allen Dershowitz.  Patterson discusses how Epstein finally landed on the Palm Beach Police’s radar, and he talks about the strange matter of the Florida State Attorney who intervened in the investigation and some would say even  “stacked the deck” in Epstein’s favor.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order his book Filthy Rich: A Powerful Billionaire, the Sex Scandal that Undid Him, and All the Justice that Money Can Buy: The Shocking True Story of Jeffrey Epstein on Amazon or you can download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Patterson also has a new novel in his popular Alex Cross series called “Cross the Line” coming out on November 21st.  James Patterson’s website is www.JamesPatterson.com and follow him on Twitter at @JP_Books.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Critical Thinking in the Information Age w/ Dr. Daniel Levitin
52 perc 111. rész

Dr. Daniel J. Levitin is the #1 best-selling author of A Field Guide to Lies: Critical Thinking in the Information Age and today he’ll teach you how to sharpen your b.s. detector.  He exposes ways supposedly reliable news sources like USA Today and Fox News monkey with charts and graphs to fool you and how to tell whether a website is a reliable news source or has a hidden a agenda.  We discuss some terms you should know when looking at health data, we make sense of the proliferation of counter-knowledge on the internet, we talk about why you can’t always trust experts, and we fact check the 2016 election.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order his book A Field Guide to Lies: Critical Thinking in the Information Age on Amazon or you can also download the audio version for free through a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Keep up with Dan Levitin on his website at www.DanielLevitin.com and follow him on Twitter at @DanLevitin.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Kevin Kelly, Senior Maverick At Wired, On 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future
44 perc 110. rész

Kevin Kelly is co-founder and senior maverick at Wired magazine. He has a new book called The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Techonological Forces That Will Shape Our Futureand he lays out his optimistic view of the next 30 years. He says right now is the best time in history to invent something, and he has a simple formula for the next 10,000 startups.  We talk about big trends like the shift from an ownership society to an access society and how consumers are now becoming active participants, editors, and even creators of content.  We talk about how virtual reality will transport us to whole other worlds and why Americans need to get over our Orwellian fear of data tracking.  Plus Kevin talks about his love/hate relationship with those pesky software updates.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Kevin Kelly’s book
The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future on Amazon or you can also download the audio version for free through a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. Keep up with Kevin Kelly at www.kk.org and follow him on Twitter at @kevin2kelly.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Director Rod Lurie on "Killing Reagan" for National Geographic Channel
50 perc 109. rész

Director Rod Lurie talks about his new film Killing Reagan for Nat Geo.  He sets the record straight about the popular myths of a situation room crisis and a power grab by Alexander Haig while Reagan was in the operating room.  Rod talks about where he was on the day Reagan was shot, collaborating with Killing Reagan author Bill O'Reilly, and the recent release of Reagan attacker John Hinckley Jr.

Killing Reagan airs Sunday, October 16 at 8/7 Central on the National Geographic Channel or you can watch online at www.natgeotv.com.  For more information about Killing Reagan, including clips, and behind the scenes extras, go to www.channel.nationalgeographic.com/killing-reagan.  Follow Rod Lurie on Twitter at @RodLurie.

Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Dylan Thuras of Atlas Obscura on the World's Hidden Wonders
43 perc 108. rész

Dylan Thuras is the co-founder and creative director at AtlasObscura.com, the popular travel site that revels in the weird, the unexpected, the overlooked, the hidden and the mysterious.  He co-authored a new book based on the site and it's called Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders.  

Today we'll talk about some of the strangest attractions the world has to offer including a Fiery crater that has been burning in the desserts of Turkmenistan since 1971, the independent micronation of Sealandia on an abandoned offshore oil platform in the North Sea, and a saloon in the Ukon that serves cocktails garnished with a severed human toe.  Plus hipster tourism, lake monsters, doggie suicide bridges, and the hidden wonders in your neighborhood.

If you enjoyed this episode, then order Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders on Amazon and visit www.AtlasObscura.com to read articles, find new travel ideas, and join special Atlas Obscura tours abroad and in your city. Follow Dylan Thuras on Twitter at @DylanThuras and Atlas Obscura at @atlasobscura.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.

Artificial Intelligence (Pt. 2) w/ Prof. Nick Bostrom, Dr. Seth Baum, & the Creators of AMC's HUMANS
53 perc 107. rész

In Part 2 on Artificial Intelligence, we examine the possibility of A.I. achieving "the singularity," the moment when technology achieves human-like consciousness and  the possible consequences for humanity if and when machines surpass us.

Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley, the creators of AMC's drama series HUMANS, discuss how intelligent machines and people might interact, what the singularity might be like from the perspective of a conscious A.I., and whether a man-made system that thinks and feels like a human being should be entitled to human rights.  

Then Dr. Seth Baum, Executive Director of the Global Catastrophic Risk Institute, will map out several scenarios that could lead to the end of human civilization at the hands of A.I.  He talks about how more traditional existential threats like a nuclear disaster or a pandemic might play into it, and we also discuss the more near-term issues of lethal autonomous weapons and hackers infiltrating intelligent systems.  

Finally I talk with Professor Nick Bostrom, Director of the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University.  His best-selling book Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies has won acclaim from tech leaders including Elon Musk and Bill Gates.  He warns that the singularity could come much faster than we think in the form of an "intelligence explosion," and humanity would be wise to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.  He’ll outline ideas for the best ways to get A.I. to work WITH humans, rather than against us, and he'll talk about his mission to persuade the tech industry and popular media to take the issue of artificial intelligence seriously.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting parts of this interview during the 2016 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more about their work in the areas of science, education and innovation.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Nick Bostrom’s Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies on Amazon.  Follow him at www.nickbostrom.com or at www.fhi.ox.ac.uk.  Keep up with Seth Baum at www.sethbaum.com and www.gcrinstitute.org or you follow him on Twitter at @SethBaum. Follow Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley on Twitter at @smavincent and @JonBrackley.  Visit the fan site for AMC'S HUMANS at www.amc.com/shows/humans, and you can watch the first season of HUMANS at AMC On Demand or Amazon.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

Artificial Intelligence (Pt. 1) w/ Michio Kaku, IBM's Guru Banavar, Wired's Kevin Kelly, & Martin Ford
43 perc 106. rész

Artificial Intelligence is coming, and in Part 1 of this two part podcast, I talk with some of the leading A.I. scientists, tech journalists, and futurists about how A.I. may change our lives within the next three decades.  First I ask futurist Prof. Michio Kaku about just how close we are to developing real artificial intelligence.  Then I talk with Dr. Guruduth Banavar, Vice President and Chief Science Officer in charge of IBM's Cognitive Computing Division, about the latest version if IBM's Watson computer and how it's already transforming a wide range of industries from medicine to law.  Then I'll talk with Martin Ford, author of Rise of the Robots and Kevin Kelly, founding editor of Wired Magazine, about their competing visions of how A.I. could affect our economy and society in the next few years.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting parts of this interview during the 2016 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more about their work in the areas of science, education and innovation.

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, then you can order Martin Ford’s Rise of the Robots and Kevin Kelly’s book The Innevitable on Amazon.  If you’re interested IBM’s cognitive solutions including Watson, then visit www.IBM.com/cognitive. Kevin Kelly's website is www.kk.org, and Martin Ford’s blog at www.econfuture.wordpress.com.
Follow Guruduth Banavar on Twitter at @banavar, Kevin Kelly at @kevin2kelly,
and Martin Ford at @MFordFuture.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer of CRIMINAL Podcast
47 perc 105. rész

CRIMINAL is the wildly popular true-crime podcast hosted by Phoebe Judge and produced Lauren Spohrer.  These "partners in crime" talk about the criminal justice system, their love of fictional detective stories, and how the name of their podcast sometimes proves problematic when booking guests.  They share some of the quirkier and more touching stories they’ve investigated including a truck stop owner with a Bengal tiger, the black market for a famously hard to get bottle of bourbon, and a white collar prison inside the last leper colony in America. Plus we discuss getting letters from prison, cops who won’t talk, and whether or not they would take an interview with Charles Manson.

Subscribe to CRIMINAL on iTunes and visit their website at www.thisiscriminal.com.  Follow CRIMINAL on Twitter at @CriminalShow and follow Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer at @PhoebeVJudge and @LaurenSpohrer.

Order tickets to their upcoming live podcast recordings in Washington, DC (10/25), Durham, NC (10/27), Philadelphia, PA (10/28), Anaheim, CA (10/29), Brooklyn (10/31-11/01), Boston, PA (11/02), Chicago, IL (11/04), Iowa City, IA (11/05), Minneapolis, MN (11/06), Seattle, WA (11/07), Portland, OR (11/09), San Francisco (11/14), and Toronto (11/18).

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

CNBC'S Larry Kudlow & Historian Brian Domitrovic on JFK the Tax-Cutter
42 perc 104. rész

CNBC's Larry Kudlow and historian Brian Domitrovic talk about their new book JFK and the Reagan Revolution: A Secret History of American Prosperity.  They dismantle the perception of John F. Kennedy as a Keynesian and make the case that he was the first President to embrace supply-side economics and an inspiration for Reagan's Presidency.  Brian and Larry talk about the popular myth of post-war prosperity in the 1950s, the unusual team of rivals who advised Kennedy on economic policy, and how that policy influenced civil rights.  Plus Larry Kudlow talks about his role as informal economic advisor to Donald Trump.

Order JFK and the Reagan Revolution: A Secret History of American Prosperity on Amazon or download the audio version for free through a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.

Larry Kudlow can frequently be seen on CNBC and you can read his articles at National Review Online. His radio show The Larry Kudlow Show airs on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. ET on WABC Radio and is syndicated nationally by Cumulus Media. His website is www.Kudlow.com, and you can follow him on Twitter at @Larry_Kudlow. You can read Brian Domitrovic’s work at www.LafferCenter.com or at www.Forbes.com, and follow him on Twitter at @BrianDomitrovic.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

Al Jean, Head Writer/Exec Producer of "The Simpsons" Is Doing What He Loves
49 perc 103. rész

The moment Al Jean completed the first episode of The Simpsons in 1989, he knew that he wanted to work on that show for the rest of his career.  He's been doing just that as the head writer and exec producer of The Simpsons, guiding that groundbreaking series to a record-breaking 28 seasons.  

Today Al Jean talks about his early days writing for “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” including those famous letters to Santa that were supposedly from little children. Then he talks about the birth of the Simpsons, the origin of many of the characters, and the early controversies that surrounded the show including a strange rivalry between the fictional Simpsons family and the first President Bush.

We talk about the process of making the show, the challenge of keeping the show fresh after 625 episodes, and what he’d like to do with the final episode (if that day ever comes). Plus we talk about the fans and some of the crazy conspiracy theories they have about the show.

Be sure to watch the season premiere of The Simpsons this Sunday 9/25 at 8PM Eastern on Fox and watch Simpsons reruns five days a week on FXX.  For more fun Simpsons fan stuff, visit www.SimpsonsWorld.com.  Follow Al Jean on Twitter at @AlJean and you can even follow the Simpsons on Twitter at @TheSimpsons

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

HBO's "Three Days of Terror: The Charlie Hebdo Attacks" w/ filmmaker Dan Reed
40 perc 102. rész

 

Emmy-nominated filmmaker Dan Reed talks about his new HBO documentary THREE DAYS OF TERROR: THE CHARLIE HEBDO ATTACKS. He discusses the cartoons that served as the catalyst for the vengeful massacre of 10 employees at the French satiric magazine Charlie Hebdo by two brothers affiliated with Al-Qaeda in Yemen and the sympathy attacks by a third terrorist which became the Islamic State’s first assault on the French homeland. We talk about the broader issue of freedom of speech, the French government’s “burkini ban,” and the second wave of deadly Paris attacks that caught French authorities off guard just 10 months after the Charlie Hebdo murders.

THREE DAYS OF TERROR: THE CHARLIE HEBDO ATTACKS airs Monday, September 19, at 8PM Eastern on HBO. You can also watch THREE DAYS OF TERROR any time with HBO ON DEMAND, HBO GO or HBO NOW. For more information, visit www.HBO.com. Follow Dan Reed on Twitter at @danreed1000 or at www.amospictures.co.uk.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

 

 

James Carville Makes the Democrats' Case for 2016
29 perc 101. rész

Political strategist, author and pundit James "The Ragin' Cajun" Carville comes on the show to talk about his new book We're Still Right, They're Still Wrong: The Democrats' Case for 2016.  Carville says "it's still the economy, stupid!" and he claims to have the hard data that proves that the economy does better under Democratic Presidents than Republican Presidents.  He credits Donald Trump with dragging the Republican Party to the issue of income inequality but says Trump's solutions to the problem are all wrong.  He also discusses his problem with the idea of being a "social liberal and a fiscal conservative," the scandals or non-scandals around the Clintons (including Hillary Clinton's health), and why he says politics and social media don't mix.  

If you enjoyed today’s episode, then order James Carville's new book
We're Still Right, They're Still Wrong: The Democrats' Case for 2016 on Amazon, or you can download the audio version for free with a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Follow James Carville on Twitter at @JamesCarville or at www.jamescarville.info.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

 

 

Discovery Network's "Taking Fire" w/ Kyle Boucher & J.J. McCool
34 perc 100. rész

TAKING FIRE is a 5-part docu-series for The Discover Network that follows a handful of rookies with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division who packed helmet cameras to film their one year deployment to the farthest flung region of the Taliban-held Korangal Valley in Afghanistan in 2010. 

Today I talk with Kyle Boucher and J.J. McCool who did triple duty as soldiers, cameramen and stars of this unconventional series. They reveal how they were able to film this remarkable footage without interference from the Pentagon, they talk about some of the risks they took to get the perfect shot, and discuss the creepy feeling of fighting an enemy they couldn’t see but who was constantly watching them. They speak frankly about their working relationship with the Afghan National Army and the local Police forces, and what it's like getting shot at in the shower, at dinner, and while working out at “the world’s deadliest gym.”

The first episode of TAKING FIRE premieres tonight, Tuesday, September 13, at 10PM ET/9PM CT on The Discovery Network. Check your local listings or visit www.discovery.com to learn more.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickassnews or www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

David Cay Johnston On The Making of Donald Trump
43 perc 99. rész

David Cay Johnston is a Pultizer Prize winning investigative reporter who covered Donald Trump for 30 years for the New York Times. He pulls back the curtain on the carefully crafted illusion of Donald Trump in his new best-seller The Making of Donald Trump

Today David shares what he knows about Trump’s shady family history, and his close ties to organized crime bosses and a convicted drug trafficker. He calls into question Trump’s claims that he is a billionaire, a philanthropist, and a Wharton MBA. He exposes the many investors, vendors, and clients who have been ripped off, swindled, and stiffed by Donald Trump. He reveals evidence that Donald Trump deceived the New Jersey Gaming Commission in order to get his casino license and speculates on the curious matter of a forged tax return. Plus we’ll answer why Trump doesn’t want to release his taxes and does Donald Trump have any friends?

Order David Cay Johnston’s new bestseller The Making of Donald Trump on Amazon or download the audio version for free through a special offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. You can read David Cay Johnston’s weekly columns in www.thedailybeast.com and www.investopedia.com.
You can follow him on Twitter at @DavidCayJ and learn more on his website at www.DavidCayJohnston.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickassnews or www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

Ann Coulter on Trump, Immigration, The Roast & More
40 perc 98. rész

Ann Coulter follows up her Comedy Central Roast appearance by coming on Kickass Politics to talk about Trump, immigration, and more.  She explains what the Trump phenomenon is really about, why she says he is uniquely suited to take on the political establishment, and why it’s time for the GOP stop living in the 80’s and get past Reagan.  We talk about Trump’s meeting with Mexican President Nieto and the speculation that Trump is “softening” his stance on deportation.  Plus she answers listener questions like “Is this all an act?” and “Is she a lizard person?”

And if you enjoyed today’s episode with Ann Coulter, then order his book IN TRUMP WE TRUST: E PLURIBUS AWESOME on Amazon or download the audio book at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. You can follow Ann Counter on Twitter at @AnnCoulter or at www.anncoulter.com .

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickassnews or www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

David Priess Reveals All About "The President's Book of Secrets"
48 perc 97. rész

My guest today is former CIA analyst and daily intelligence briefer Dr. David Priess, and he talks about his new book The President's Book of Secrets: The Untold Story of Intelligence Briefings to America's Presidents from Kennedy to Obama. Today he’ll talk about the history of the top secret document, how it’s tailored to each President’s taste, and the massive intelligence bureaucracy that goes into publishing what is essentially a highly classified daily newspaper created just for one customer. We talk about the daily briefers like David who personally deliver “the book” every morning and discuss the most sensitive national security developments with the most powerful man in the world. We also discuss the intelligence briefs that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are now getting as candidates and which President’s had preference for gossip about the bedroom antics of fellow world leaders in the daily brief.

And if you enjoyed today’s episode with David Priess, then order his book The President's Book of Secrets: The Untold Story of Intelligence Briefings to America's Presidents from Kennedy to Obama on Amazon or download the audio book at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews. You can follow David Priess on Twitter at @DavidPriess or at www.davidpriess.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickassnews or www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

CNN Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin on the Patty Hearst Kidnapping
35 perc 96. rész

Jeffrey Toobin is a CNN legal analyst, journalist, and best-selling author.  Today he talks about his new best-seller American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes, and Trial of Patty Hearst.  He discusses bizarre story of her captors the Symbionese Liberation Army, some of the desperate measures the FBI resorted to in their effort to find her, and Patricia Hearst’s strange transformation from captive to criminal. We talk about how the case influenced media coverage of breaking news events, and how the Patty Hearst saga came to be synonymous with the idea of “Stockholm Syndrome.”  

And if you enjoyed today’s episode, then order Jeffrey Toobin's new bestseller American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes, and Trial of Patty Hearst on Amazon or download the audio book at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  You can follow Jeffrey Toobin on Twitter at @JeffreyToobin or at www.JeffreyToobin.com, and look for his legal analysis on breaking events on CNN or in The New Yorker Magazine.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickassnews or www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

Mary Matalin Says the GOP Needs to Change, not Donald Trump
30 perc 95. rész

Mary Matalin is one of the most respected conservative strategists, authors and pundits in America, and this April she left the Republican Party to register as a Libertarian, but says she will still vote for the GOP nominee Donald Trump.  We discuss her motives for leaving the GOP, why she says it’s been a long time coming, and why she’s more inclined to vote for Trump over the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson.  Plus I ask Mary Matalin how her mentor President George H.W. Bush and her husband James Carville took the news of her exit from the Republican Party.

If you enjoyed this interview, you can tune in to Mary Matalin's radio show Both Sides Now.  Find out more at www.BothSidesRadio.com.  You can also keep up with Mary at www.MaryMatalin.info.  Finally, I highly recommend Mary Matalin's and James Carville's most recent book Love & War: Twenty Years, Three Presidents, Two Daughters and One Louisiana Home.  Order it on Amazon or download the audio version for free through a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.  

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickassnews or www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

Creators of AMC's Halt & Catch Fire, Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers
44 perc 94. rész

Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers are the creators, show-runners, and executive producers of AMC's Halt and Catch Fire, and today they talk about the real stories and personalities that inspired them to create the fictional series about the personal computer revolution that came out of the Texas "Silicon Prairie" in the 1980's.  

We discuss the constant tug of war between the programmers and the visionaries in the tech industry and which Steve they'd rather be (Wozniak or Jobs).  They hint at what we can expect in season 3 including moving the show's setting to Silicon Valley and a shift in focus from the PC boom to the birth of the internet.  Plus, our collective love of dysfunctional 80's robots.

Be sure to watch the 2-hour season premiere of Halt and Catch Fire at 9PM Eastern on Tuesday (8/23) on AMC.  For more information, visit www.AMC.com.  You can follow Chris Cantwell on Twitter at @ifyoucantwell and Chris Rogers at @CCR.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickassnews or www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

Can a Robot Take YOUR Job? w/ guest Martin Ford
37 perc 93. rész

Martin Ford is a prominent futurist, best-selling author, and leading expert on artificial intelligence and robotics and their potential impact on the job market, economy and society.  His new book Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future warns that rapid advances in robotics and artificial intelligence are going fundamentally disrupt the world economy and your job just might be a lot more replaceable than you think.  We talk about which jobs are most susceptible AI and Robotics and why it’s not going to be limited to just low-skilled manufacturing jobs. We discuss the ways it could fundamentally change our society and lead to mass uneployment, unrest, and a huge expansion of the government social safety net.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2016 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more about their work in the areas of science, education and innovation.

If you liked this episode, then order Martin Ford's book Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future on Amazon or download the audio version for free at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  Follow Martin Ford on Twitter at @MFordFuture or visit www.econfuture.wordpress.com

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickassnews or www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

Alexandra Pelosi Exposes the World of Political Mega-Donors
39 perc 92. rész

My guest today is Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi who has a new film called MEET THE DONORS on HBO.  Today she’ll talk about the Top 100 people who fund US political campaigns including the Koch Bros and George Soros, and she’ll reveal why one Soros family member is working to get money OUT of our politics. We’ll discuss what these mega-donors want from politicians, the perils of this nuclear arms race to buy political influence, Citizens United, and possible solutions to campaign finance reform. Plus I ask Alexandra what her mom Nancy Pelosi had to say about her efforts to shut down the gravy train for Washington politicians. 

You can watch MEET THE DONORS on demand with a subscription to HBO GO or HBO NOW.  Keep up with Alexandra Pelosi by visiting her website at www.AlexandraPelosi.com.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickassnews or www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnewspodcast.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

100th Episode! Special Guest Dick Cavett
50 perc 91. rész

TV legend and witty raconteur Dick Cavett joins me for my 100th episode. Known as the “thinking man’s talk show host,” Dick Cavett shares stories from his 5 decades in television.  He discusses how he broke into show business, his long friendship with his personal idol Groucho Marx, his surprisingly chummy relationship with late-night rival Johnny Carson, his not so chummy relationship with the Nixon White House, and the time a guest actually died on air.  He reminisces about Muhammad Ali, Truman Capote, Jack Benny, Walter Winchell, Ed Sullivan and the night a young woman tried to seduce he and Marlon Brando into a threesome.

If you enjoyed my conversation with Dick Cavett, then order his book Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic moments, and Assorted Hijinks
 on Amazon or you can download the audio version of her book for free through a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickassnews.  You can follow Dick Cavett on Twitter at @TheDickCavett and visit his website at www.DickCavettShow.com for show clips, episode guides, and news from Dick Cavett.

Please subscribe to Kickass News and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickassnews or www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

Ben Shapiro on Political Correctness & Journalistic Integrity in the Age of Trump
34 perc 90. rész

Ben Shapiro is a conservative political commentator, nationally syndicated columnist, author, radio talk show host, and founder/editor-in-chief at The Daily Wire.  Today Ben Shapiro talks about his on-going fight against political correctness on our college campuses, why he cringes every time Donald Trump misuses the cause against political correctness as a "get-out-of-jail-free-card" for Trump's bad behavior, and why Shapiro won't vote for him.  Ben also talks about journalistic integrity and his reasons for leaving Breitbart.com when the news site refused to support his colleague Michelle Fields after she was assaulted by Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.  Plus, Ben Shapiro gives his tips for how to win a political argument with a liberal.

If you enjoyed this episode, then visit www.DailyWire.com to read articles by Ben Shapiro and subscribe to his podcast The Ben Shapiro Show on iTunes.  You can also follow Ben on Twitter at @benshapiro and catch is morning radio show The Morning Answer weekdays on KRLA.  

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics. Visit www.kickasspolitics.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

The Holdouts - Prominent Republicans Against Trump
74 perc 89. rész

Today I talk to prominent Republicans who say Donald Trump doesn’t speak for them. My guests include GOP political operatives like Stuart Stevens, who was the lead strategist behind Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, and Tim Miller, who served as communication director for the Jeb Bush campaign and the leading anti-Trump SuperPAC. I also talk with conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg of National Review and former Republican Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman. Plus Kendal Unruh, founder of the Free the Delegates movement encourages voters to vote their conscience.

You can follow today's guests on Twitter at Stuart Stevens @stuartpstevens, Jonah Goldberg @JonahNRO, Governor Christine Todd Whitman @GovCTW, Tim Miller @TimODC, and Kendal Unruh @ConscienceVoter.  Order Stuart's novel THE INNOCENT HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR on at www.stuartstevens.com, on Amazon or get the audiobook at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.  You can read Jonah Goldberg’s articles at www.NationalReview.com.  Keep up with Governor Whitman at www.christiewhitman.com and support her efforts to get a third party on the ballot at www.BetterforAmerica.com.  You can support Tim Miller's www.ourprinciplespac.com and www.americarisingpac.org as well as Kendal Unruh's Free the Delegate movement at www.freethedelegates.com

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics and leave us a review. And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics. Visit www.kickasspolitics.com for more fun stuff. Thanks for listening!

The Dawn of Driverless Cars
38 perc 88. rész

Self-driving cars are coming faster than you think.  Today I talk with Raj Rajkumar, co-director of the General Motors-Carnegie Mellon Autonomous Driving Research Lab about the tech behind driverless cars, the challenges they're encountering, and how they plan to protect passengers from a hostile cyber-attack.  Then I talk with Doug Newcomb, the founder and president of the Connected Car Council, about selling American drivers on the idea of giving up so much control, the life-saving/time-saving potential of this technology, and the massive cultural and economic changes that will come from the autonomous car revolution.  We also discuss regulation and how one day soon, driving your own vehicle on public roads will quite possibly be outlawed.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2016 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more about their work in the areas of science, education and innovation.

Please subscribe to KickAss News on iTunes and leave a review.  Thanks for listening!

Alan Alda on Making Scientists & Doctors Better Communicators
41 perc 87. rész

My guest today is six-time Emmy and Globe Award-winning actor, director and writer Alan Alda. Science and medicine have influenced his acting in roles like Army Surgeon Hawkeye Pierce on the hit TV series MASH but now he’s using his art to help scientists and doctors become better communicators. He discusses the need for scientists to get better at explaining their very important work to the rest of us and how he’s using improv to help them do just that. He talks about teaching empathy to doctors and challenging scientists to explain a flame to an 11-year-old. Plus we discuss his encounter with a doctor who saved his life in the mountains of Chile, the complicated love life of Albert Einstein, and the medical accuracy of all those surgeries he performed on MASH.

If you enjoyed my talk with Alan Alda then I encourage you to visit wwwcenterforcommunicatingscience.org and support the great work he's doing at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University.  You can also visit www.alanalda.com to keep up with the latest from Alan Alda and follow him on Twitter at @alanalda.  Finally, you might enjoy his highly entertaining autobiographies Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself and Never Have Your Dog Stuffed, and Other Things I've Learned available on Amazon or for audiobook at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave a review. Help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Dana Loesch Stands Up for Flyover Country
35 perc 86. rész

Dana Loesch is the host of Dana on Glenn Beck's The Blaze TV and the nationally syndicated radio show The Dana Show: The Conservative Alternative.  She has a new book called Flyover Nation: You Can't Run a Country You've Never Been To, and on today's podcast, she stands up for the good folks of the so-called "flyover states" and corrects misperceptions and media portrayals of the hardworking people in middle America.  Dana talks about what matters in Flyover Nation, including issues like gun control, manufacturing jobs, and religious liberty.  We discuss what it is that Trump voters in Flyover Nation are so angry about and the irony of the blue collar Americans choosing a rich New Yorker to represent the interests of the common man.  Plus, Dana really, really likes Walmart!  

If you enjoyed my conversation with Dana Loesch, then order her new book Flyover Nation on Amazon or you can download the audio version of her book for free through a special trial offer just for our listeners from Audible.  You can find out more about Dana including stations and showtimes for her syndicated radio show The Dana Show on her website at www.DanaLoeschRadio.com, and subscribe to The Blaze TV to watch her show Dana every weekday.  Follow Dana Loesch on Twitter at @DLoesch.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics and leave us a review.  And support the show by donating at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics.  Visit www.kickasspolitics.com for more fun stuff.  Thanks for listening!

Glenn Beck Talks Trump, Libertarianism, & Orson Wells
38 perc 85. rész

Glenn Beck hosts the third highest-rated radio talk show in America - The Glenn Beck Program, and he is the founder of www.theblaze.com.  He's also the author of 7 #1 New York Times Best-Sellers.  Today we talk about how Orson Wells inspired Glenn Beck's an early love of radio and why he went the independent route when he left Fox News to found The Blaze.  He shares his worries over recent incidents of people taking the law into their own hands, he reiterates his gravest concerns about Donald Trump, and he makes an impassioned appeal for GOP delegates to vote their conscience at the upcoming convention.  Glenn Beck also discusses why he will most likely be voting for the Libertarian candidate for President, and he makes the case for a Libertarian approach to federal government, drugs, and foreign entanglements.

If you enjoyed my talk with Glenn Beck then visit www.theblaze.com where you can sign up for a free 14 day trial of The Blaze TV.  You can also go to www.glennbeck.com to find out more about Glenn and which radio station broadcast The Glenn Beck Program in your area.  Check out his best-selling books on Amazon and follow him on Twitter at @glennbeck.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave a review.  Help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

The Hilarious Gilbert Gottfried
45 perc 84. rész

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried talks about the misery of working on the infamous Season 6 of Saturday Night Live and his ongoing problem with his podcast guests kicking the bucket just before they can make it on his show.  He talks about his lifelong battle against political correctness from his joke at the Friar’s Club Roast 2 days after 9/11 to his tweets about the Japanese Tsnumani that got him fired from his gig as the voice of the Aflac duck.  He talks about old movies and does his impressions of my recent podcast my guest David Steinberg, Vincent Price, early Larry David, old Lucille Ball, and senile Groucho, plus I verify the legend about Milton Berle.  You know which legend I'm talking about!

If you enjoyed my talk with the hilarious Gilbert Gottfried then subscribe to GILBERT GOTTFRIED'S AMAZING COLOSSAL PODCAST on iTunes.  You can also keep up with Gilbert and get upcoming dates for his live shows at www.gilbertgottfried.com or at www.gilbertpodcast.com.  Follow Gilbert on Twitter at @RealGilbert.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave a review. Help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Trump, the GOP, & Playing the Political 'Long Game'
34 perc 83. rész

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell talks about his childhood battle with polio, the longshot bid that got him elected to the Senate in 1984, and his difficult re-election in 2014.  He discusses what the institution of the Senate means to him, his frustration with the 2013 government shutdown, and the need to put an end to Republicans attacking Republicans.  Senator McConnell discussed his endorsement of Donald Trump and the serious concerns he has about the presumptive GOP nominee.  He also reveals what advice he gave Trump in a recent meeting.

If you enjoyed my conversation with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, you can order his new book THE LONG GAME: A MEMOIR on Amazon or download the audio version for free with a special offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.  Follow him on Twitter at @McConnellPress and at www.mcconnell.senate.gov.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave a review. Help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper Talks Beer, Politics & More
37 perc 82. rész

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper is rumored to be on Hillary's short list for VP and today he talks about his unconventional path to political office, his success as a brewmaster, and how he sees his state as a microcosm for America.  He also discusses Colorado as a test case for marijuana legalization and bridging the gap between environmentalists and the energy industry.  Plus Governor Hickenlooper talks about drinking frack fluid, nude photography, what makes a good beer, and why he once took his mother to see the X-rated movie "Deep Throat."

If you enjoyed my conversation with Governor John Hickenlooper, you can order his new book THE OPPOSITE OF WOE: MY LIFE IN BEER AND POLITICS on Amazon or download the audio version for free with a special offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics. Follow him on Twitter at @HickforCO and visit his original brewpub Wynnkoop next time you're in Denver.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave a review. Help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Comedian David Steinberg Talks Comedy, Carson & "Curb"
51 perc 81. rész

My guest today is legendary comedian David Steinberg.  David Steinberg will talk about how being part of the early days of Second City in Chicago, his 130 appearances on The Tonight Show (more than anyone other than Bob Hope) and his friendship with Johnny Carson, and how his appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour singlehandedly got the most popular show on television cancelled.  Plus David Steinberg talks about directing Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm, being bestman at a gangster’s wedding, getting on Nixon’s enemies list, and why he says I definitely should NOT try my hand at stand-up comedy.

If you enjoyed my conversation with David Steinberg, I would highly recommend that you subscribe to his wonderful podcast The David Steinberg Podcast on iTunes.  Order the documentary Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story on Amazon, and follow David on Twitter at @david_steinberg or at www.thedavidsteinberg.com.  

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave a review.  Help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Suing the President, Restoring the Constitution, & Rising to the Top from a Wheelchair
40 perc 80. rész

Texas Governor Greg Abbott talks about his plan to restore the Constitution to our federal government as outlined in his new book BROKEN BUT UNBOWED: THE FIGHT TI FIX A BROKEN AMERICA.  Governor Abbott also discusses his inspiring story of how he rose to become the longest serving Attorney General in Texas history and now Governor of that state despite being a paraplegic, how being wheelchair bound may have helped him win one of his first cases, and his thoughts on the Americans with Disabilities Act.  He talks about his 31 lawsuits against the Obama Administration including challenges to Obamacare and President Obama’s executive order granting amnesty to illegals, plus he also gives his tips on where to go for the best BBQ and Tex-Mex in the Lone Star State.

If you enjoyed my conversation with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, I would highly recommend that you order his new book BROKEN BUT UNBOWED on Amazon or you can download the audio version of his book for free through a special trial offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.  You can follow him on Twitter at @GregAbbott_TX or visit his website at www.gregabbott.com

Vote for Kickass Politics for the 2016 Podcast Award in the category of News & Politics at www.podcastawards.com. You can vote for us once every day between now and June 12. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!
 

General Wesley Clark on Vietnam, the Wars in Bosnia & Kosovo, and the Future of U.S. Military
43 perc 79. rész

My guest today is General Wesley Clark.  In his 38 years of military service, he served in various positions including Director of Strategic Plans and Policy during the War in Bosnia and NATO commander and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe leading Operation Allied Force during the war in Kosovo.  Today General Clark will talk about the harrowing experience that earned him a Silver Star in Vietnam and what strategic mistakes were made in that war.  He'll talk about leading the allied campaign during the war in Kosovo, his first impressions of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, and how Milosevich was evaded justice for his war crimes.  He'll discuss how he rethought the traditional organization of our military to give greater strategic responsibility to soldier on the ground plus General Clark speaks about the war in Iraq, the 2016 election, and why he likes Ike.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2016 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more.

If you enjoyed my conversation with General Wesley Clark, you can follow him on Twitter at @GeneralClark or visit his consulting firm's website at www.wesleykclark.com.  I would also encourage you to read his excellent book A Time to Lead: Duty, Honor, Country.

Vote for Kickass News for a 2016 Podcast Award in the category of News & Politics at www.podcastawards.com.  You can vote for us once every day between now and June 12. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickassnews.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

 

Parag Khanna Explains Why Globalism Is Great for America and the World
47 perc 78. rész

My guest today is global strategist, world traveler and best-selling author Dr. Parag Khanna.  He's written a new book called Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization.  In contrast to the demonization of globalization, trade and immigration that's taking place in the 2016 election, Parag Khanna offers a hopeful vision of the future in which global supply chains matter more than borders, resources are shared most efficiently, and the most connected nations and people will thrive.  Today he'll talk about the fallacies of nationalism and anti-globalism, he’ll talk about connectivity and trade as the greatest force for world peace, and he’ll discuss how the future will be less about nations and borders and more about interconnected mega-cities.

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2016 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more. 

If you enjoyed my conversation with Parag Khanna, I'd encourage you to read his book Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization.  You can order it on Amazon or download the audiobook for free through a special trial offer for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics. Follow Parag Khanna at www.paragkhanna.com or on Twitter at @ParahKhanna.

 

Dr. Francis Collins, Director of NIH & Head of the Human Genome Project
36 perc 77. rész

 

Today I'm talking about genomics with the man who headed the Human Genome Project Dr. Francis Collins.  He is currently the director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.  On the podcast Dr. Collins explains how genomics works, how it is leading to breakthroughs in our understanding of many diseases, and leaps in early detection and targeted treatment of them.  He also discusses the limits of genomics and some of the ethical and regulatory issues that have arisen from it.

If you enjoyed my conversation with Dr. Francis Collins, you can learn more about the Human Genome Project by visiting www.genome.gov and you can learn about some of the exciting new research going on at the National Institutes of Health at www.nih.gov.  Follow Dr. Collins on Twitter at @NIHDirector.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.patreon.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

 

Director Jay Roach Goes ALL THE WAY with LBJ
46 perc 76. rész

Emmy-winning director Jay Roach talks about his new biopic ALL THE WAY which stars Brian Cranston (BREAKING BAD) as President Lyndon B. Johnson.  Jay Roach is the Emmy & Golden Globe Award-winning director/producer behind such hits as the AUSTIN POWERS films, MEET THE PARENTS & its sequel MEET THE FOCKERS, THE CAMPAIGN, RECOUNT, GAME CHANGE, and last year’s critically acclaimed movie TRUMBO.  His new film ALL THE WAY (premieres 5/21 on HBO) follows L.B.J. during the tumultuous year when he assumed the White House, passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and staved off a revolt by Southern delegates in his own party to win a difficult re-election as President.

On the podcast, Jay discusses his interest in political subject matter like RECOUNT, GAME CHANGE & ALL THE WAY, and how he finds political history rife with opportunities for humor. We talk about Lyndon Johnson’s unconventional negotiating tactics, why L.B.J. took a huge politics risk in fighting for the Civil Rights Act, and how that risk nearly led to his own political demise at 1964 Democratic National Convention. We talk about his complicated relationships with Martin Luther King Jr., Hubert Humphrey, and his wife Lady Bird Johnson, and how he was perhaps the only President who intimidated J. Edgar Hoover. Plus we ponder whether Lyndon Johnson, the ultimate Washington insider, would survive or thrive in today’s anti-establishment political climate.

If you enjoyed my interview with director Jay Roach, I highly recommend that you watch ALL THE WAY. The performance by Bryan Cranston as President Lyndon B. Johnson is remarkable and the film is certain to win a slew of Emmy Awards this year. It premieres this Saturday May 21 on HBO at 8PM Eastern or you can watch it anytime with a subscription to HBO GO or HBO NOW.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

 

Paul Wolfowitz on Fighting Dictators, Encouraging Freedom, & His Problem with the Term "Neoconservative"
43 perc 75. rész

My guest is Paul Wolfowitz, former President of the World Bank, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and Ambassador to Indonesia.  Today the world’s most famous neoconservative will tell us why he doesn’t like the term neocon.  He'll talk about how his hatred of dictators and the teachings of Leo Strauss have shaped his own political philosophy, and how that has led to a lifelong passion for promoting freedom and combatting corruption as the first step to ending global poverty and preventing wars.  Ambassador Wolfowitz will discuss both U.S. conflicts in Iraq and how Saddam Hussein's cynical manipulation of Iraqi Islamists may have inadvertently lead to ISIS.  He will discuss his time as Ambassador to Indonesia and how that country might be a good template for democracy and reform in the Muslim world.  He’ll share some great advice he once got from Secretary of State George Schultz and voice his concerns over the Iran nuclear deal and North Korean missile tests.  

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2016 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more.  If you enjoyed today’s episode, then you can keep up with Paul Wolfowitz's work and writings at www.aei.org.  You can also follow the American Enterprise Institute on Twitter at @AEI.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Campaign Advance Man Josh King On White House Stagecraft, Photo-Ops Gone Wrong & The "Hat Rule"
43 perc 74. rész

My guest Josh King is a master of political optics. He is the former White House director of production for presidential events under President Bill Clinton. He has a new book called OFF SCRIPT: AN ADVANCE MAN’S GUIDE TO WHITE HOUSE STAGECRAFT, CAMPAIGN SPECTACLE, AND POLITICAL SUICIDE. Today he talks about some of the most infamous political blunders caught on camera including the infamous Dukakis in the tank image and his experience on the ill-fated Dukakis campaign. He’ll discuss how advance teams create memorable campaign events, how the best planned photo-op can backfire, why no President EVER wears a hat, and the pitfalls of political optics in the age of social media, including how to avoid creating a meme-able photo.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, order OFF SCRIPT: AN ADVANCE MAN’S GUIDE TO WHITE HOUSE STAGECRAFT, CAMPAIGN SPECTACLE, AND POLITICAL SUICIDE on Amazon or download the audiobook for free through a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.com. You can follow Josh King at www.polioptics.com or on Twitter at @Polioptics.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Vicente Fox Unloads on Trump, Trade, & The Wall
53 perc 73. rész

In his frankest interview yet, former Mexican President Vicente Fox pulls no punches about the man he calls a “false prophet."  It was recorded the same week as his apology to Donald Trump, and President Fox strikes a very different tone, doubling down on his statement "I'm not going to pay for the f-ing wall" and adding "and please don’t take out the f-ing full word." Vicente Fox compares the man he calls the "hated gringo" and "ugly American" to Latin American dictators like Hugo Chavez and Juan Peron.  He also warns that if Trump starts a trade war, then Mexico could retaliate by stopping or limiting money transfers and remittances for US corporations and American tourists in Mexico.  Because as Vicente Fox says "Don’t play around with us, we can jump walls, we can swim rivers, & we can defend ourselves."  And he warns that if Trump becomes President, he "could take us to a war, not just a trade war."  

Special thanks to the Milken Institute for hosting this interview during the 2016 Milken Global Conference. Visit www.milkeninstitute.org to learn more.  If you enjoyed this interview, you can learn more about the Centro Fox at www.centrofox.org.mx. You can follow Vicente Fox on Twitter at @VicenteFoxQue.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Disaster Response w/ Steven McAndrew, Head of Emergency Operations at Red Cross
40 perc 72. rész

Today’s guest is Steven McAndrew, Head of Emergency Operations for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.  He's been on the front lines of some of the biggest disasters in recent history including earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, super-typhoons, disease outbreaks, and violent conflicts.  He'll talk about what it's like to snap into action, coordinate a disaster response, and mobilize his teams every passing hour can be the difference between life and death.  He'll talk about his work leading the Red Cross response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and what that taught him about the importance of information/education and the potential for a global pandemic.  Plus he'll share his recent experiences handling a very different sort of humanitarian disaster as Head of the Emergency Operations for the Syrian Refugee Crisis.

To donate and learn more about the International Committee of the Red Cross, go to www.ifrc.org.  You can also visit www.redcross.org, to donate and volunteer at a Red Cross location near you.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

AOL Co-founder Steve Case on the Third Wave of Tech
41 perc 71. rész

Today’s guest is the co-founder & former CEO of AOL Steve Case. In his new book THIRD WAVE: AN ENTREPRENEUR’S VISION OF THE FUTURE, Steve describes the third wave of the internet’s evolution in which the internet is going to be ingrained in every aspect of our lives and he talks about the business sectors that stand to benefit most. He’ll discuss the key factors that will separate the successful startups from the failures and why disruptive industries won’t necessarily spring up in Silicon Valley but all over the country. He’ll reminisce about the early days of the internet and the lessons learned as he took AOL from an idea that no one even knew they wanted to the biggest merger in business history.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, order THIRD WAVE: AN ENTREPENEUR’S VISION OF THE FUTURE on Amazon or download the audiobook for free through a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.com. You can follow Steve Case at www.revolution.com or on Twitter at @SteveCase.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Juan Williams of Fox News on the Modern-Day Founding Fathers
48 perc 70. rész

 

Fox News political analyst and co-host of “The Five” Juan Williams talks about the modern day figures who have reshaped and affirmed the founding father’s vision of America. They range from Billy Graham and Ronald Reagan to Martin Luther King and Eleanor Roosevelt. Juan Williams talks about the situations that the framers of our Constitution never dreamt of and how 20th Century leaders applied their founding principles to meet the challenges and changes of modern day America.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, order Juan Williams' book WE THE PEOPLE: THE MODERN-DAY FIGURES WHO HAVE RESHAPED AND AFFIRMED THE FOUNDING FATHER’S VISION OF AMERICA on Amazon.  You can follow Juan Williams at on Twitter at @TheJuanWilliams and watch him every weekday at 5PM EST on "The Five" on Fox News.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. And be sure to vote for Kickass Politics in the 2016 Podcast Awards at www.podcastawards.com.

Nominate KICKASS POLITICS for the 2016 Podcast Awards
1 perc 69. rész

Go to www.podcastawards.com and nominate KICKASS POLITICS in the categories for PEOPLE'S CHOICE and NEWS & POLITICS.  

Share your support on Twitter by tagging @podcastawards and @KApolitics & using the hashtag ‪#‎pca16‬.  The deadline for nominations is this Sat 4/30 so don't wait and nominate the show now!  Thanks for listening!  

Arianna Huffington Says Go To Bed!
33 perc 68. rész

My guest today is Arianna Huffington, co-founder, president, and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post and author of the new best-seller THE SLEEP REVOLUTION: TRANSFORMING YOUR LIFE ONE NIGHT AT A TIME.  She talks about America's dangerous sleep crisis and how our culture of ambition discourages us from getting a proper night's sleep.  But she says we've got it all wrong.  In fact, sleep is the ultimate performance enhancer.

She'll discuss the research that shows how sleep deprivation has a negative effect on our  physical and mental health, our brain function, our job performance, our relationships, and our overall happiness.  She'll reveal what actually goes on with our body and mind while we're sleeping, she'll discuss her personal sleep ritual and 12 tips for getting a better night's rest.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, order THE SLEEP REVOLUTION: TRANSFORMING YOUR LIFE ONE NIGHT AT A TIME on Amazon or download the audiobook for free through a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.com. You can follow Arianna Huffington at www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna or on Twitter at @ariannahuff.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Comedy Legend Carl Reiner
46 perc 67. rész

My guest today is comedy legend Carl Reiner. With a dozen Emmys, he’s behind some of the funniest television shows and movies from his start on Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” to his collaboration with Mel Brooks on the Grammy-winning “The 2000 Year Old Man” and Steve Martin on films like “The Jerk.”

On today’s show, Carl Reiner talks about the early days of television, his start in showbiz on Sid Caesar's “Your Show of Shows,” and how it inspired him to create the beloved “Dick Van Dyke Show.” We talk about his son Rob Reiner, his hero Mark Twain, directing Steve Martin in “The Jerk,” his brush with Hollywood’s communist witch-hunt, and how he avoided naming names. Plus Carl Reiner talks about his best-friend Mel Brooks, how they came up with the “The 2000 Year Old Man," and Carl's new book "Why & When The Dick Van Dyke Show Was Born."

If you enjoyed this episode, you can follow Carl Reiner on Twitter at @carlreiner, and you should definitely buy Carl Reiner’s wonderful new book “Why & When The Dick Van Dyke Show Was Born.”  If you order it at www.randomcontent.com then Carl to will even sign it and inscribe it with a special message just for you.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

China's One Child Policy w/ Mei Fong, Pulitzer-winning Reporter for Wall Street Journal
53 perc 66. rész

 

On today’s episode, I talk about China's One Child Policy with Mei Fong, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who served as the China correspondent for the Wall Street Journal. She has a new book called ONE CHILD: THE STORY OF CHINA’S MOST RADICAL EXPERIMENT.

We’ll talk about how the One Child policy started as a “quick fix” to China’s overpopulation problem and how it suddenly came to an end 35 years later in October 2015. We’ll talk about the many people who were collateral damage in China’s attempt to socially engineer families including China’s rural poor who suffered forced abortions and sterilization. Finally, we’ll examine the many unintended consequences of the One Child Policy including a rapidly growing elderly population with no one to care for them, a massive gender imbalance and a whole lot of lonely men, and a shrinking workforce that is threatening to undermine the bedrock of the Chinese economy - manufacturing.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, order ONE CHILD: THE STORY OF CHINA'S MOST RADICAL EXPERIMENT on Amazon or download the audiobook for free through a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.com. You can follow Mei Fong at www.meifong.com or on Twitter at @meifongwriter.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Documentary Filmmaker Ken Burns
42 perc 65. rész

My guest today is renowned documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.  He has made 26 documentary specials for PBS including The Civil War, Baseball, Jazz, The War (about World War II), The West, and The Roosevelts: An Intimate Portrait which have earned him 13 Emmy Awards, 2 Oscar nominations, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.  He has a new two-part documentary on the life of Jackie Robinson which airs April 11 & 12 at 9PM Eastern on PBS.

On today's podcast, Ken Burns will talk about how the first black baseball player revolutionized the game and brought down baseball’s color barrier with the sheer force of his talent.  He’ll also talk about how Robinson inspired many civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King and the difficult relationship he had with that movement in the later years of his life.  Plus Ken Burns will talk about his research process, what he looks for in a story, and how the “Ken Burns effect” ended up on every Apple computer.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review.  You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.  Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Cyber War w/ National Security Journalist Fred Kaplan
51 perc 64. rész

Fred Kaplan, Pulitzer Prize-winning national security journalist for Slate Magazine, talks about his new book DARK TERRITORY: THE SECRET HISTORY OF CYBER WAR. We discuss why it took Washington decades to take cyber threats seriously, and how a computer pioneer and a Mathew Broderick film led President Ronald Reagan to sign the first presidential directive on cyber security.

Fred Kaplan reveals how the 2010 cyber attack that damaged Iranian nuclear facilities may have opened a pandora’s box, we’ll get an idea of just how much U.S. cyber teams are capable of, and we’ll weigh the cyber arms race between the U.S. and China. Plus we discuss the how the FBI broke into the San Bernadino shooter’s iPhone and whether Hillary Clinton’s private unsecured email server might have gotten hacked.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, order DARK TERRITORY: THE SECRET HISTORY OF CYBER WAR on Amazon or download the audiobook for free through a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.com. You can read Fred Kaplan's column at www.slate.com or at www.fredkaplan.info. You can follow Jacob Weisberg on Twitter at @fmkaplan.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Jacob Weisberg, Editor-in-Chief of Slate Magazine, On All Things Donald Trump
35 perc 63. rész

My guest today is Jacob Weisberg, editor-in-chief of Slate.com.  He has a new podcast called Trumpcast, and he's determined to warn voters about Donald Trump until he puts an end to Trump's political ambitions once and for all.

We'll talk about how the whole Trump phenomenon happened in the first place,
the prospect of a brokered GOP convention, and Trump’s chances in the general election.  Jacob will discuss what a psychologist's analysis revealed about Donald Trump, what it is that Trump voters are so angry about, and why comparing Trump to Hitler is ridiculous, but comparing Trump to other authoritarian figures like Mussolini might not be ridiculous at all.  Plus we'll talk about getting trolled by Trumpinistas on social media and Jacob’s review of Trump wine.

If you enjoyed this episode, then subscribe to Jacob Weisberg's podcast Trumpcast on iTunes or at www.slate.com.  You can follow Jacob Weisberg on Twitter at @jacobwe.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Innovation Expert Alec Ross on The Industries of the Future
35 perc 62. rész

Today I’m learning about the innovations that will drive the next industrial revolution with my guest Alec Ross, author of the best-selling book THE INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE.  Alec served for four years as Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, acting as the diplomatic lead on a range of issues including cybersecurity, Internet Freedom, disaster response, and the use of network technologies in conflict zones.  Now he’s a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Johns Hopkins University and works as an advisor to investors, corporations, and government leaders.

Alec Ross will reveal the specific fields that will most shape our economic future, and examine pressing issues like the prospect of a cyberwar arms race and the impact of robotics on the U.S. job market. Plus we’ll discuss what skill sets will be most in demand in the next decade, how Americans can adapt, and what today’s parents can do to prepare their children for tomorrow.

If you enjoyed this episode, then you can order THE INDUSTRIES OF THE FUTURE by Alec Ross on Amazon at http://amzn.to/1RNws3e.  You can also download the audio version of his book for free with a special trial offer just for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.  Follow Alec Ross on Twitter at @AlecJRoss or visit his site at www.alecross.com.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review.  You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

War Correspondent Michael Ware On The War In Iraq & The Birth of ISIS
37 perc 61. rész

My guest today is Australian journalist Michael Ware. He’s a former Bagdad Bureau chief for Time Magazine and war correspondent for CNN. In 2003 Michael Ware arrived in Baghdad as a novice reporter on a three-week assignment to cover the invasion of Iraq. He left seven years later, having gained unprecedented access to the Iraqi insurgency and American troops and scarred by having seen the unimaginable brutality of the group that eventually became ISIS. Now his story is told in a new documentary called ONLY THE DEAD SEE THE END OF THE WAR that airs Monday, March 28, at 9PM Eastern on HBO.

On the podcast, Michael Ware talks about the time he was kidnapped and nearly beheaded by Al Qaeda in Iraq and he reveals how he became in his own words “obsessed” with the leader of that group Abu Mousab Al Zarqawi. He also talks about being embedded with U.S. marines during the grueling battle of Falluja and having a front row seat for the birth of the modern day terrorist nation state called ISIS.

If you enjoyed this episode, then you can watch Michael Ware's film ONLY THE DEAD SEE THE END OF THE WAR tonight, Monday, March 28, at 9PM Eastern on HBO.  Or you can view it with a subscription to HBO NOW or HBO GO.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Part 2: Futurist Dr. Michio Kaku On Amazing Inventions Coming In Our Lifetime
40 perc 60. rész

Today in Part 2 of my interview with theoretical physicist and futurist Dr. Michio Kaku, we look as some of the incredible advances in science and technology that will radically transform our lives within our lifetime.  In many cases, these inventions are already in the testing phase and may be widely available within the next 5 to 10 years.  

These include computers that will fit into a contact lens, Iron Man-like super soldiers, modular robots, liquid biopsies that will detect cancer 10 years before a tumor forms, replaceable human organs, hand-held MRI machines, recording motion pictures of our dreams, uploading information into our brain, downloading our entire consciousness onto a computer after we're gone, and recent discoveries that will dramatically slow down aging and perhaps one day even stop death entirely.  It's an amazing discussion about some very real technological leaps being made right now and the unbelievable inventions that could completely change our lives very soon.

If you enjoyed my interview with Dr. Michio Kaku, then follow him at www.mkaku.org or on Twitter at @michiokaku.  If you're interested in the science and technology of the near future, then I highly recommend Dr. Michio Kaku's books "The Physics of the Future" and "The Future of the Mind."  You can order them on Amazon or you can download the audio version of these books for free with a special trial offer at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics. Also be sure to subscribe to his weekly podcast on iTunes called "Explorations in Science" and you can check his site for stations that carry his weekly syndicated radio show called "Science Fantastic."

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Part 1: Dr. Michio Kaku, Theoretical Physicist & Futurist Talks About Einstein, Gravity Waves, & The Future
46 perc 59. rész

My guest today is world renowned theoretical physicist, futurist, best-selling author, and popularizer of science Dr. Michio Kaku.  He is the co-founder of string field theory and he continues to work on his ambitious mission to complete Albert Einstein's Unified Field Theory a.k.a. Einstein's Theory of Everything.  Today he'll talk about his work on the Unified Field Theory, he'll discuss how the recent discovery of Einstein's Gravitation Waves will give scientists "a window into creation," and how his lifelong love of theoretical physics and the science of the future began.  He'll reveal the real science that may one day make science fiction wonders like force fields, time machines, starships, teleportation, and travel to parallel universes possible.  Plus Dr. Michio Kaku saves my life from the same thing that took down Malaysia Air Flight 370.

If you enjoyed my interview with Dr. Michio Kaku, then follow him at www.mkaku.org or on Twitter at @michiokaku.  You can order his books "Einstein's Cosmos," "The Physics of the Impossible," "The Physics of the Future," and "The Future of the Mind" on Amazon or you can download the audio version of these books for free with a special trial offer at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics. Also be sure to subscribe to his weekly podcast on iTunes called "Explorations in Science" and you can check his site for stations that carry his weekly syndicated radio show called "Science Fantastic."

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Steve Forbes, Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Magazine on Reviving America
43 perc 58. rész

My guest today is Steve Forbes is chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media. He’s authored or co-authored 4 books including his most recent one titled REVIVING AMERICA: HOW REPEALING OBAMACARE, REPLACING THE TAX CODE, AND REFORMING THE FED WILL RESTORE HOPE AND PROSPERITY.

Steve Forbes discusses the tragic irony of a healthcare system caters to the insurance companies, employers and big government while all but ignoring the needs of the end user. He’ll reveal how one of the unintended consequences of Obamacare is that it’s forcing many Americans to take charge of their own healthcare and paving the way for a true healthcare market that put the needs of consumers first. He also makes the case for a flat tax as the one system that really benefits everyone and a return to the gold standard as the best way to stabilize and grow the U.S. economy. Plus Steve Forbes will talk about the future of Forbes, running for President, and more.

If you enjoyed my interview with Steve Forbes, then order his book REVIVING AMERICA: HOW REPEALING OBAMACARE, REPLACING THE TAX CODE, AND REFORMING THE FED WILL RESTORE HOPE AND PROSPERITY on Amazon. You can also download the audio version of his book for free with a special trial offer at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics. You subscribe to Forbes at www.forbes.com and follow Steve Forbes on Twitter at @SteveForbesCEO.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard On the GOP Primary
39 perc 57. rész

 My guest today is Bill Kristol, founder and editor of The Weekly Standard and a political contributor to ABC’S This Week with George Stephanopalis. Just in time for the big GOP primaries in FL & OH, we talk about whether  Rubio, Cruz, and Kasich may have missed chance to beat Donald Trump outright. We discuss the possibility of a brokered convention and the prospect of an alternative conservative launching a third party run. Plus we talk about Bill Kristol’s 20 year career as editor of the #1 weekly conservative publication in America.

If you enjoyed this episode then go to www.weeklystandard.com to read Bill Kristol’s op-eds and subscribe to the print or online versions of The Weekly Standard. You can also subscribe to the Weekly Standard podcast on iTunes and follow Bill on Twitter at @BillKrystol.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Debunking Conspiracy Theories w/ Dr. Michael Shermer, Founder of Skeptic Magazine
58 perc 56. rész

 

On this episode, we tackle that special breed of whacko known as the conspiracy theorist.  You've probably encountered them at a cocktail party or on your social media.  They're the ones who are always carrying on about the JFK assassination or Obama's birth certificate and they say things like "that's exactly what THEY want you to believe" or "you have to connect the dots."  The problem is that in most instances they're connecting "dots" that aren't there and fueling ignorance, irrationality and paranoia.

My guest today is an expert at dispelling such nonsense.  He's Dr. Michael Shermer, founder & publisher of Skeptic Magazine.  He also writes a monthly column for Scientific American and he's published 14 books about debunking conspiracy theories, the paranormal and pseudoscience including his newest book SKEPTIC: VIEWING THE WORLD WITH A RATIONAL EYE.

Today Dr. Michael Shermer will talk about the type of person who falls for conspiracy theories, the psychology behind conspiracy beliefs, how media figures like Alex Jones and Jesse Ventura are willing accomplices to the spreading ignorance and paranoia, and the danger of conspiratorial thinking infecting our politics.  Plus he'll debunk popular conspiracies surrounding the JFK assassination, 9/11, the moon landing, vaccinations, Area 51, the death of Princess Diana, secret societies, the Denver Airport, the Sandy Hook massacre, Elvis, Obama's birth certificate, and much more.

If you enjoyed this episode, then you can follow Dr. Michael Shermer on Twitter at @michaelshermer or at www.michaelshermer.com.  You can also learn more, subscribe to Skeptic Magazine and even join the Skeptic Society by visiting www.skeptic.com.  You can order SKEPTIC: VIEWING THE WORLD WITH A RATIONAL EYE or any of Dr. Michael Shermer's books on Amazon.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

General Michael Hayden, Former Head of CIA & NSA
41 perc 55. rész

General Michael Hayden is the only person in U.S. history to have served as head of both the CIA and the NSA.  General Hayden served as the Director of the National Security Agency from 1999 to 2005 where he implemented a dramatic overhaul and expansion of the agency in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.  He later serves as America's first Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and then as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency under President George W. Bush.  General Hayden has written a new book called PLAYING TO THE EDGE: AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE IN THE AGE OF TERROR.

On the podcast, General Michael Hayden will give a frank assessment of the intelligence failures leading up to 9/11 and talk about what he did as NSA director and later as director of the CIA to close those intelligence gaps.  We’ll discuss the conundrums of domestic surveillance, CIA black sites, and enhanced interrogation.  Plus we’ll talk about cyber warfare, the Apple encryption controversy, the personal toll for the men and women who keep America’s secrets, why he says the U.S. military may have an obligation to reject orders from a President Donald Trump, his thoughts on James Bond and the TV series Homeland, and much more.

If you enjoy this episode, you can order General Michael Hayden's new book PLAYING TO THE EDGE: AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE IN THE AGE OF TERROR on Amazon.  You can also download the audio version of PLAYING TO THE EDGE for free with a special 30 day trial for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.  Follow General Michael Hayden on Twitter at @GenMHayden.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Political Cartoonist Michael Ramirez
47 perc 54. rész

My guest today is two time Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative political cartoonist Michael Ramirez.  His cartoons appear daily in Investor's Business Daily where he serves as co-editor and his work is also syndicated in over 550 newspapers and magazines.

He'll will talk about what makes good political satire, what’s fair game and when is "too soon."  Plus we’ll discuss the very first political cartoon that he drew in college, how President Obama has been a gift comedy gods, and how one innocent drawing led to a not so friendly visit from the Secret Service.

If you enjoy this episode, you view Michael Ramirez's work each day in Investor's Business Daily at www.investors.com/cartoons.  Follow him on Twitter at @Ramireztoons and you can order his new book of cartoons called GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME OBAMACARE on Amazon.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Donald Rumsfeld On Modernizing The Military, Saddam Hussein, Snowflakes, & Churchill Solitaire
51 perc 53. rész

My guest is former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.  In his remarkable 50 year career, he has served as a U.S. Congressman, Director of the Office Economic Opportunity and U.S. Ambassador to NATO under President Richard Nixon, White House Chief of Staff to President Gerald Ford, Special Middle East Envoy for President Ronald Reagan, and Secretary of Defense...both for Presidents Gerald Ford and George W. Bush.  In fact, Donald Rumsfeld has the distinction of being both the youngest and the oldest Secretary of Defense.  

Today he comes on the show to talk about the his amazing career, the current state of national defense, and the "unknown knowns" that America might be missing.  Plus he'll talk about his first impression of Saddam Hussein, his favorite President, his prolific body of memos written, the issues that keep him up at night, and how Winston Churchill inspired him to create a fun new gaming app called Churchill Solitaire.

If you enjoy this episode, then be sure to go to your app store and download Churchill Solitaire for your tablet device or smart phone.  You can also find out more about the Rumsfeld Foundation at www.rumsfeldfoundation.org.  View the massive archive of his memos at www.papers.rumsfeld.com and be sure to order his fascinating books Knowns and Unknowns and Rumsefeld's Rules on Amazon.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Oscar-Nominee Evgeny Afineevsky On His Documentary WINTER ON FIRE
47 perc 52. rész

 

Just in time for Oscar weekend, my guest is Evgeny Afineevsky director/producer of WINTER ON FIRE: UKRAINE'S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, which is currently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.  He and his crew spent 93 days risking their lives to film the 2013/2014 Ukrainian revolution from the initial protests in Kiev's Maidan Square through the murderous government crackdown in the streets to the eventual overthrow of corrupt President Viktor Yanukovych.

We talk about what separates the Maidan demonstrations from the Arab spring and other recent revolutions, and how it can serve as a blueprint for democracy and reform around the world.  We also talk about the brutality of the now disbanded Ukrainian Berkut police force and how it brought Ukrainians of all types together in unity against the corrupt and criminal government of Viktor Yanukovych.   Plus Evgeny will talk about the emotional toll that making WINTER ON FIRE took on the filmmakers, and the inspiring story of one brave 12 year old boy who risked his life for freedom and his country.

If you enjoy this episode, then I encourage you to see WINTER ON FIRE: UKRAINE’S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. You can order it on Netflix or see it in select theatres.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Doug Schoen, Pollster & Fox News Political Analyst, Talks About "The Nixon Effect"
34 perc 51. rész

Doug Schoen is Democrat pollster, campaign consultant, author, and Fox News political analyst. He pioneered overnight polling and has worked on the campaigns on Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Evan Bayh, Michael Bloomberg, Tony Blair, Silvio Berlusconi and three Israeli Prime Ministers just to name a few. He’s a regular columnist for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Newsmax.

He’s authored eleven books, and today he comes on the podcast to talk about his latest book THE NIXON EFFECT: HOW RICHARD NIXON’S PRESIDENCY FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED AMERICAN POLITICS. Doug makes the case that Richard Nixon was one of the most accomplished Presidents in history and the most liberal president in modern times. He’ll also talk about the profound effect that Nixon has had on the politics of the past 40 years including inventing the wedge issue, creating the “Silent Majority,” launching the GOP’s often misunderstood “Southern Strategy,” polarizing the two parties in ways we still see today, and unintentionally giving birth to the modern conservative movement.

Plus we talk about why the polling business has missed the mark in several recent high profile elections, what can be done to improve polling accuracy, and Doug’s recommendations for the most reliable public polls.

If you enjoyed this episode, then order Doug Schoen’s book THE NIXON EFFECT: HOW RICHARD NIXON’S PRESIDENCY FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED AMERICAN POLITICS on Amazon. You can follow Doug Schoen on twitter at @DouglasESchoen or at www.dougschoen.com. You can also read his regular column for Newsmax Magazine at www.newsmax.com.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Iconic Photographer Platon On Shooting World Leaders & Human Rights
39 perc 50. rész

Over the years, Iconic photographer Platon has captured every living U.S. President from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama on film, and he’s photographed well over a hundred world leaders including Tony Blair, Ban Ki Moon, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Adhmadenijad, Silvio Berlusconi, Mohamar Qaddafi, Hugo Chavez, and Vladimir Putin for the 2007 Time Man of Year cover.

 

His work has been featured on 20 Time Magazine covers as well as GQ, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Esquire, New York Times Magazine, Wired, Texas Monthly, and the New Yorker Magazine, with whom he won a Peabody Award for his large scale photo essay on Russia’s Civil Society. Platon also started his own non-profit foundation called The People’s Portfolio which “aspires to create a visual language to break barriers and enlist public support human rights around the world.”


On today’s podcast, he’ll reveal some of his secrets to getting the most powerful people in the world to let their guard down, he’ll talk about the most intimidating shoot of his life (Vladimir Putin), and he’ll give the inside scoop on his now infamous cover photo of Bill Clinton for Esquire. Plus he’ll talk about his photographing the Arab Spring protests and his new mission to put a face on human rights sufferers around the world.

 

If you enjoy this episode, you can view Platon’s work at www.platonphoto.com or on instagram at @platon. You can find out more about the People’s Portfolio at www.thepeoplesportfolio.com.


Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Mark McKinnon, Co-Host of Showtime's Political Docuseries "The Circus"
42 perc 49. rész

Today I talk with campaign media advisor Mark McKinnon about his new documentary series for Showtime called THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH.  He co-stars with journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann of Bloomberg Politics as they follow all of the Presidential candidates as well as the campaign teams and traveling reporters.  They give an inside glimpse into the stress and craziness and the ups and downs of running for the most powerful position in the world.  

Mark McKinnon will talk about the break-neck pace of THE CIRCUS and how they manage to produce a political reality series in real time as well as what it's like for him going from being the ultimate campaign insider to being a member of the media following the campaigns.  He'll also talk about his experience as the chief media strategist to President George W. Bush's campaigns in 2000 and 2004 and Senator John McCain in 2008.  Plus he'll give his observations from the trail and predictions for 2016.  

If you enjoy this episode then be sure to see Mark McKinnon in THE CIRCUS: INSIDE THE GREATEST POLITICAL SHOW ON EARTH every Sunday at 8PM EST on Showtime.  You can also read his weekly column at www.thedailybeast.com and support his efforts to take money out of politics at www.mayday.us.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Greg Barker, Director of HBO's "Homegrown: The Counter-Terrorism Dilemma"
41 perc 48. rész

Today I talk with filmmaker Greg Barker, who won an Emmy for his HBO documentary MANHUNT: THE UNTOLD STORY BEHIND THE HUNT FOR BIN LADEN, about his new film for HBO called HOMEGROWN: THE COUNTER-TERRORISM DILEMMA.  In his latest project, he explores the threat of "self-radicalizing" terrorists right here in America through the eyes of the Deputy Directors of the National Counter Terrorism Center and the FBI's National Security Branch, as well as the family members of the Ft. Hood shooter and other U.S. citizens convicted of providing "material support to terrorism."  

We talk about the film and the many aspects of the issue of homegrown terrorism including domestic surveillance, 1st Amendment rights, the availability of jihadi propaganda online, and the need for U.S. Muslims to take a more proactive role in combating that propaganda and saving young Muslim-American men from the influence of groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS.  

Greg Barker's film HOMEGROWN: THE COUNTERTERRORISM DILEMMA premieres Monday, February 8 at 9PM EST on HBO.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

What's an Iowa Caucus? w/ Congressman Steve King, radio host Steve Deace, & Cody Hoefert, Co-Chair of the Iowa GOP
50 perc 47. rész

Today is the Iowa Caucuses when the first votes are cast in the 2016 Presidential election!  But what exactly is a Caucus?  And why does Iowa get to be the first?  Is it different from a Primary?  Does the weather really affect caucus results?  Can a candidate win Iowa without loving ethanol?  And what the heck is a "full Grassley?"  We'll answer all of these questions and I take a comprehensive look at the Iowa Caucuses with my guests today - Congressman Steve King, nationally syndicated radio host Steve Deace, and Dr. Cody Hoefert Co-Chairman of the Iowa GOP.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Senators Trent Lott & Tom Daschle on Fixing the Partisan Divide in Washington
38 perc 46. rész

For 10 years The Senate Majority Leader office traded hands between Senators Tom Daschel (Democrat) and Trent Lott (Republican).  As the leaders of their respective parties in the U.S. Senate, Senator Lott and Senator Daschle often found themselves on opposite sides of an issue, but they kept things moving in the Senate and got things done for the American people by working together, showing mutual respect, and engaging in that four letter word-compromise.  

Today they say that politics is getting so ugly and divisive that has nearly stalled the legislative process, because no one is willing to reach across the aisle and find common ground.  They write about it in their new book, CRISIS POINT: WHY WE MUST - AND HOW WE CAN - OVERCOME OUR BROKEN POLITICS IN WASHINGTON AND ACROSS AMERICA.  Today they come on the show to talk about it and offer solutions to fix the rancorous partisan divide and get Congress moving again.

If you enjoy this episode, you can click here order Tom Daschle and Trent Lott's book CRISIS POINT: WHY WE MUST - AND HOW WE CAN - OVERCOME OUR BROKEN POLITICS IN WASHINGTON AND ACROSS AMERICA on Amazon.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Rich Lowry, Editor of National Review, on Donald Trump, Buckley, & More (Re-broadcast)
47 perc 45. rész

This week National Review Magazine published a special edition with the headline "Against Trump."  In that issue, the editors of National Review along with 22 noted conservatives like Bill Kristol, Glenn Beck, Katie Pavlock, Michael Medved, and Dennis Prager made an impassioned plea for Republican voters not to nominate the brash real estate billionaire as the Republican nominee.  They look at Donald Trump's record (including his many years as a Democrat) and make a thorough case that Donald Trump is not a credible conservative.

I'll have a new episode for you later in the week, but in light of all the media and the controversy surrounding this "Against Trump" issue of National Review, I am rebroadcasting my interview from this past December with National Review editor Rich Lowry.  In it we discuss Donald Trump's worse than spotty record as a conservative, his influence on the conservative movement and his role in the GOP primary, and I'll ask Rich Lowry what his late friend and mentor William F. Buckley, Jr. might think of Trump if he were alive today.  We'll also talk about the 60th Anniversary of National Review, the possibility of a Cruz-Rubio showdown, hashtag heroics in the wake of the Paris attacks, and his memories of William F. Buckley, Jr.

If you enjoy this conversation with Rich Lowry, then click here to read more and subscribe to the online or print edition of National Review Magazine. You can also go to Amazon to order Rich Lowry's books Lincoln Unbound: How an Ambitious Young Railsplitter Saved the American Dream and How We Can Do It Again, Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years, & his novel Banquo's Ghost.

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Congressman Michael McCaul, Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee
39 perc 44. rész

As Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Congressman Michael McCaul has looked into the dark minds of America’s enemies and their most diabolical plans. In his new book FAILURES OF IMAGINATION: THE DEADLIEST THREATS TO OUR HOMELAND AND HOW TO THWART THEM, he lays out 8 horrifying scenarios for how terror groups and hostile nations might attempt to attack the U.S. The scariest part of it all is that these nightmarish situations are largely based on real intel about past, present and potential threats.

On today’s episode, we discuss everything from a North Korean cyber-attack on U.S. financial markets to terrorists releasing smallpox at Disney World or detonating a radiological bomb at the second busiest U.S. port. Chairman McCaul reveals the terrorist plots that form the basis for these theoretical attacks and what we can do to prevent them from becoming reality.

If you like this epsiode, you can order Congressman Michael McCaul’s book FAILURES OF IMAGINATION: THE DEADLIEST THREATS TO OUR HOMELAND AND HOW TO THWART THEM on Amazon or download the audio version of his book for free with a special promotion for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.
 
Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

Criminal Justice Reform w/ Sen. Rob Portman, Julie Stewart & Jeff Smith
58 perc 43. rész

In today's episode, I explore the areas where America's prisons are failing society and the growing call for sensible, results-based criminal justice reform.  My guests are Senator Rob Portman, author of the Second Chance Act, Julie Stewart president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, and Jeff Smith, author of Mr. Smith Goes to Prison: What Me Year Behind Bars Taught Me About America's Prison Crisis.

 

In the first part, Jeff Smith will recount his eye-opening year in federal prison, and what he saw personally about how the prison system is failing to rehabilitate criminals, destroying families, and in many ways, financially crippling the most vulnerable Americans.  Then I'll talk with Julie Stewart, founder and president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, about how sentencing discretion has been taken away from judges, filling our prisons will non-violent offenders.  Finally, I'll talk with Senator Rob Portman of Ohio who authored The Second Chance Act and has been a leader on the Hill on the issue of criminal justice reform.  He'll explain how innovative programs like the Second Chance Act are doing a better job of reforming and rehabilitating criminals by giving them a shot at a better life.

 

If you enjoy this episode, visit the website for Families Against Mandatory Minimums at www.famm.org or follow Julie Stewart on Twitter at @julieonjustice.  Encourage your Congressman or Senator to support the re-authorization of the Second Chance Act and get involved with a local Prisoner Re-Entry Task Force in your county.  You can order Jeff Smith's book Mr. Smith Goes to Prison: What Me Year Behind Bars Taught Me About America's Prison Crisis on Amazon or download the audio version of his book for free with a special promotion for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics.

 

 

Please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review. You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Or go to the website for the show at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button. Thanks for listening!

(Rebroadcast) Part 2: The Political Genius of George Washington
27 perc 42. rész

Ben is sick this week, but he'll be back with a brand new episode on Monday.  In the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast.  In part 2 of The Political Genius of George Washington, I'll talk again with author and historian John Ferling about motivated George Washington to run for President, what motivated him to leave the office after two terms and what he might think of the political climate today.
 
 
If you enjoyed this episode, then please subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review on Itunes for a chance to win Ben's book of the week.  All you have to do to enter is subscribe and leave a review.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like show your support then donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

(Rebroadcast) Part 1: The Political Genius of George Washington
27 perc 41. rész

Ben is sick this week, but he'll be back with a brand new episode on Monday.  In the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast.  In this episode, I'll talk with author and historian John Ferling about the hidden political genius of our first President.
 
 
If you enjoyed this episode, then please subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review on Itunes for a chance to win Ben's book of the week.  All you have to do to enter is subscribe and leave a review.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

(Rebroadcast) Pt. 2: E.M.P. - The Day the Earth Stood Still w/ guest Dr. Peter Vincent Pry
33 perc 40. rész

Ben is a little sick this week, but he'll be back with a new episode on Monday.  In the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast of Part 2 of his expose on E.M.P.

In Part 1 on E.M.P. or the phenomenon known as an electromagnetic pulse, guest Dr. Peter Vincent Pry (director of the Task Force on National & Homeland Security) warned that an electromanetic pulse, either caused naturally by a solar flare or by a high altitude nuclear detonation by our enemies, has the ability disable the entire U.S. electric grid and send Americans right back to a time before electricity.  And not just for weeks or months but for years.  The scariest part is that right now, the U.S. is completely unprepared and defenseless against an E.M.P.  We are a sitting duck.

 
In Part 2, Dr. Peter Vincent Pry will discuss why the U.S. government refuses to take the neccessary steps to protect the grid against an E.M.P. attack, the powerful lobby that is behind a misinformation campaign in the media designed to convince you that E.M.P. isn't even real, and how some states aren't waiting around for the Feds to act but instead are protecting their citizens against the very real threat of an electromagnetic pulse.
 
If you enjoyed this episode, then please subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review for a chance to win Ben's book of the week.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
 

(Rebroadcast) Pt. 1: E.M.P. - The Day the Earth Stood Still w/ guest Dr. Peter Vincent Pry
33 perc 39. rész

Ben is a little sick this week, but he'll be back with a new episode on Monday.  In the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast on E.M.P.

If you have heard of an electromagnetic pulse at all, it's probably from sci-fi movies like The Matrix or novels, but an E.M.P. is not science fiction.  E.M.P. is a real scientific phenomenon that has the ability to destroy not just every single electronic in your home, but the entire U.S. electric grid.  It has happened before and will almost certainly happen again.  But next time, it may not be a natural E.M.P. from a solar flare.  It very well may be a man-made E.M.P. from a nuclear warhead detonated at a high altitude by one of America's enemies like North Korea or Iran.  And the scariest part is that right now the U.S. is entirely defenseless against an E.M.P. attack.  E.M.P. expert Dr. Peter Vincent Pry will explain what an E.M.P. is, how bad the devastation would be, and which countries have weaponized E.M.P. with the intention of using them against the United States.

 
If you enjoyed this episode, then please subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review for a chance to win Ben's book of the week.  All you have to do to enter is subscribe and leave a review.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

Daniel Pipes, President of the Middle East Forum on Radical Islam
39 perc 38. rész

My guest today is one of the leading scholars on the Middle East and Middle East history.  He's Daniel Pipes, president of the Middle East Forum and publisher of Middle East Quarterly.  Prior to that he was appointed to the Board of the U.S. Insitute for Peace by President George W. Bush, and he served as director of the Foreign Policy Research Institute.  

He says it is Islamists, not Muslims, who represent an existential threat to Israel and the West.  He says America should support moderate Muslims and reform in the Middle East, but he also says that real change will come from a brewing ideological civil war between moderate Muslims and radical Islamists who promote Sharia law and the goal of a worldwide Caliphate.  We also discuss which group the U.S. should be supporting in Syria, new signs of hope for an uprising by moderates in Iran, the new authoritarianism in Turkey, a three state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the rise of Islam in Europe, and ISIS inspired attacks in the U.S.

You can read more about the Middle East Forum at www.meforum.org or follow him at www.danielpipes.org or on Twitter at @DanielPipes.

If you enjoy this episode, then please subscribe to KickAss Politics on iTunes and leave us a review.  You can also help us reach our fundraising goal for this year and donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.  Or go to the website for the show at  www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the donate button.  Thanks for listening!

Rich Lowry, Editor of National Review on William F. Buckley, Trump as Jacksonian, Hashtag Heroics, & More
46 perc 37. rész

 

In 1955, a 30-year-old conservative intellectual named William F. Buckley Jr. founded National Review magazine.  Since then it has become the most widely read and influential magazine for conservative news, commentary, and opinion.  

 

In honor of the 60th Anniversary of National Review, my guest is editor of National Review Rich Lowry.  You've also seen him as a regular political commentator on Fox News, The McGlaughlin Group, and NBC'S Meet the Press.

 

On the podcast, we talk about his late mentor William F. Buckley Jr., National Review's role in the the future of the conservative movement, and his first job out of college working as a research assistant for Dr. Charles Krauthammer.  Rich Lowry also discusses Donald Trump as a populist in the mold of Andrew Jackson and his theory about an eventual two man GOP primary between Cruz and Rubio.  Plus Rich vents about our mutual pet-peeve - shallow gestures of social media solidarity like #PrayforParis or #IamCharlie.

 

If you enjoy this conversation with Rich Lowry, then click here to read more and subscribe to the online or print edition of National Review magazine.  You can also go to Amazon to order Rich Lowry's books Lincoln Unbound: How an Ambitious Young Railsplitter Saved the American Dream and How We Can Do It Again, Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years, & his novel Banquo's Ghost.

 

And before you do your online shopping for the holidays, visit our site at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the Amazon link on our sponsor page. If you do that then Amazon will donate a portion of your holiday purchases to help support the podcast. It won’t cost you anything extra. Just do your holiday shopping for books, clothes, jewelry, electronics, etc. on Amazon, and your purchase will help keep us up and running here at KickAss Politics.

 

Another very important way that you can support the show is by helping us reach our end of the year fundraising goal before Christmas. Please donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics or click on the donate button on our website. Please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a glowing review. Thanks for listening!

Garry Kasparov Warns That Vladimir Putin Is The Enemy of the Free World
49 perc 36. rész

My guest today is the Garry Kasparov.  For 20 years he was the World Chess Champion and is widely considered to the greatest chess master of all time. Then in 2005, he retired from chess to become a political activist in his native country of Russia.

He has since become the most vocal and high profile critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2008, he even ran for President against Putin’s hand-picked successor Dimitri Medvedev until being forced out of the election due to rampant corruption and election fraud by pro-Putin forces in Russia. Today Garry Kasparov is in self-imposed exile in New York, where he serves as chairman of the Human Rights Foundation and continues to call for reform in Russia and an end to the corruption and oppression of Vladimir Putin.

 

He has a new book called WINTER IS COMING: WHY VLADIMIR PUTIN AND THE ENEMIES OF THE FREE WORLD MUST BE STOPPED.  He says Vladimir Putin is no longer just Russia’s problem and he could pose a serious threat to world peace and free countries everywhere. Kasparov says talks about Russia’s rocky path to democratic reform in the 1990’s and the factors that made it easy for Vladimir Putin to quickly begin to roll back freedoms in Russia and consolidate his power. Kasparov says that Putin is a ruthless dictator with disturbing parallels to Adolf Hitler, and he will hold on to power at all costs.  Plus, just wait until you hear what he says Vladimir Putin may do if energy prices plummet.  It’s a wake-up call to the free world with my guest Garry Kasparov.

 

If you enjoy this episode then you can order Garry Kasparov’s new book WINTER IS COMING: WHY VLADIMIR PUTIN AND THE ENEMIES OF THE FREE WORLD MUST BE STOPPED on Amazon. You can also download the audiobook for free thanks to a special promotion for our listeners at www.audible.com/kickasspolitics. You can also follow Garry Kasparov at www.kasparov.com or at Twitter at @kasparov63.

 

And before you do your online shopping for the holidays, visit our site at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the Amazon link on our sponsor page. If you do that then Amazon will donate a portion of your holiday purchases to help support the podcast. It won’t cost you anything extra. Just do your holiday shopping for books, clothes, jewelry, electronics, etc. on Amazon, and your purchase will help keep us up and running here at KickAss Politics.

 

Another very important way that you can support the show is by helping us reach our end of the year fundraising goal before Christmas. Please donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics or click on the donate button on our website. Please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a glowing review.  Thanks for listening!

Karl Rove on William McKinley & Why the Election of 1896 Still Matters
39 perc 35. rész

This is officially the 50th episode of KickAss Politics, and we’re celebrating with Karl Rove! He’s a Fox News political contributor and writes a weekly op-ed for the Wall Street Journal. He was the Senior Advisor to the President George W. Bush and Deputy White House Chief of Staff. As Bush’s chief political strategist, Karl Rove masterminded the successful Bush/Cheney campaigns in 2000 and 2004 as well as the historic 2002 midterm election earning him the nickname “The Architect.”

 

Today he comes on the podcast to talk about his new book THE TRIUMPH OF WILLIAM MCKINLEY: WHY THE ELECTION OF 1896 STILL MATTERS. We talk about why 1896 was a crucial turning point for America, how the McKinley campaign invented many of the campaign tactics still used today, and how McKinely waged the first truly national campaign…all from his front porch of his house in Canton, Ohio. Plus Karl will highlight some uncanny similarities between the election of 1896 and the current political environment leading up to 2016, and he’ll draw some important lessons for those candidates running in the GOP primary right now.

 

If you enjoy this episode, you can order Karl Rove’s book THE TRIUMPH OF WILLIAM MCKINLEY: WHY THE ELECTION OF 1896 STILL MATTERS on Amazon. You can get the audio version of his book, narrated for free with a special offer for our listeners at www.audible.com/kickasspolitics.
 

And before you do your online shopping for the holidays, visit our site at www.kickasspolitics.com and click on the Amazon link on our sponsor page. If you do that then Amazon will donate a portion of your holiday purchases to help support the podcast. It won’t cost you anything extra. Just do your holiday shopping for books, clothes, jewelry, electronics, etc. on Amazon, and your purchase will help keep us up and running here at KickAss Politics.

 

Another very important way that you can support the show is by helping us reach our end of the year fundraising goal before Christmas. Please donate at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics or click on the donate button on our website. If you enjoyed this 50th episode of KickAss Politics, then please subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a glowing review. Thanks for listening!

Brian Kilmeade, Co-Host of "Fox & Friends" on Thomas Jefferson & America's First War w/ Radical Islam
34 perc 34. rész

Brian Kilmeade is the co-host of Fox News morning show Fox & Friends and host of his own national radio show called Kilmeade & Friends. He's the co-author of the  bestseller GEORGE WASHINGTON’S SECRET SIX, and new he and his co-author Don Yaegar have a new book on a often over-looked chapter in American History.  The book is called THOMAS JEFFERSON AND THE TRIPOLI PIRATES: THE FORGOTTEN WAR THAT CHANGED AMERICAN HISTORY.

200 years before Al-Qauda or ISIS, a young America led by Thomas Jefferson, took a stand against radical Islam and first asserted herself as a world power.  Brian Kilmeade will talk about how the Barbary Wars saved the U.S. economy and how Thomas Jefferson was a reluctant "hawk" who chose to flex America’s military might rather than pay extortion money the pirates who prayed on U.S. ships in the Mediterranean Sea.  Plus we'll discuss the war as a defining moment for new U.S. Navy and the Marines, our first attempt at regime change, and some very important lessons for America's modern day war on radical islam.

 

If you enjoy this episode, you can order Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaegar's book THOMAS JEFFERSON AND THE TRIPOLI PIRATES: THE FORGOTTEN WAR THAT CHANGED AMERICAN HISTORY from Amazon.com or you can even get a signed and inscribed book if you order at www.briankilmeade.com.   Or you can get the audio book for free with a special offer for our listeners at www.audible.com/kickasspolitics.

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please help us reach our fall fundraising goal & donate to the show at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is at http://www.podtrac.com/audience/start-survey.aspx?pubid=VaSxWQpFs7xV&ver=short

The Young Turks - Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian, & John Iadarola
41 perc 33. rész

 

With over 2 billion views on YouTube, The Young Turks has become the largest online news show in the world.  Every day, an average of a million and a half people watch The Young Turks or one of many programs from The Young Turks Network.  

 

On today's podcast, I visit the Young Turks Studio in Culver City, California to talk with TYT founder Cenk Uygur as well as Ana Kasparian (co-host of The Young Turks) and John Iadarola (co-host of TYT's Think Tank).  We'll talk about the future of news in the digital age and why TYT's irreverent mix of political news and entertainment has caught on with millennials.  Plus will talk about TYT's 99 hour filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee, Trump on SNL, the American immigrant experience, and much more with The Young Turks.

 

You can check out The Young Turks on YouTube or at www.tytnetwork.com.

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please help us reach our fall fundraising goal & donate to the show at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is at http://www.podtrac.com/audience/start-survey.aspx?pubid=VaSxWQpFs7xV&ver=short

The Rise & Reign of Vladimir Putin w/ guest Steven Lee Myers
52 perc 32. rész

Forbes Magazine recently announced their annual list of the most powerful people in the world, and for the third year in a row, they chose Russian President Vladimir Putin as #1. In explaining why Putin was picked as the most powerful person in the world for the 3rd year in a row, Forbes said “Russia's president continues to prove he's one of the few men in the world powerful enough to do what he wants --and get away with it.”

 

Putin has been described as cold, enigmatic, calculating, ruthless, and even megalomaniacal, but in this episode we go beyond the comic book villain idea of Vladimir Putin with my guest Steven Lee Myers. He’s been a reporter for the New York Times for 26 years, spending 7 of those years in Russia and part of that time as Moscow bureau chief during the period when Putin consolidated his power.

 

He’s recently written the most extensive biography to date on Valdimir Putin called “The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin.” Today we’ll talk about Putin’s early life in the KGB, how he quickly rose from obscurity to Russian Prime Minister in less than 4 years, what drives him, how he views the west, and what his end game is.

 

If you enjoy this episode then order Steven Lee Myers new book “THE NEW TSAR: THE RISE AND REIGN OF VLADIMIR PUTIN” on Amazon.

 

Or you can download the audio version of this book for free with a special promotion for our listeners at www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics for a free 30 day trial and a free audio book download,

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please help us reach our fall fundraising goal & donate to the show at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is at http://www.podtrac.com/audience/start-survey.aspx?pubid=VaSxWQpFs7xV&ver=short

Rebroadcast: Reagan's "A TIME FOR CHOOSING" speech w/ guest Dr. Steven F. Hayward
33 perc 31. rész

This is a rebroadcast of an episode that aired in November 2014 celebrating the 50th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's famous "A Time for Choosing" speech.  

 

In the final days of the 1964 Presidential election, actor Ronald Reagan gave a 30 minute televised speech in support of Republican Barry Goldwater. Goldwater lost by a landslide, but Reagan's "A Time for Choosing," later known simply as "The Speech," put Ronald Reagan on the road to the White House and defined the Conservative movement ever since. On the 50th anniversary of Reagan's "A Time for Choosing," I'll talk with political scholar and Reagan biographer Dr. Steven F. Hayward about the lasting impact that "The Speech" had on Ronald Reagan's political career and Republican party.

 

If you enjoyed this episode, then please subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review on Itunes for a chance to win Ben's book of the week. All you have to do to enter is subscribe and leave a review. For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

Bob Woodward on Nixon & The Last of the President's Men
41 perc 30. rész

 

My guest on this podcast is Bob Woodward.  Together with fellow reporter Carl Bernstein, he tied the Watergate break-in to the Nixon White House in 1972, bringing down President Richard Nixon and earning the first of two Pulitzer Prizes for the Washington Post.  Today he remains associate editor at the Washington Post and has authored a dozen #1 Best-Sellers on the New York Times Nonfiction list.

 

He comes on the show to talk about his new book "THE LAST OF THE PRESIDENT'S MEN" which chronicles the White House career of Alexander Butterfield, who served as deputy assistant to President Nixon.  Through countless documents and hours of interviews, Butterfield gave Bob Woodward a revealing glimpse into the disfunction, paranoia, and corruption in the Nixon White House.  Woodward talks about how Alex Butterfield oversaw the installation of the infamous taping machine in the Oval Office and served as the right-hand man to Nixon Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman.  We'll talk about the isolated world of Richard Nixon, Nixon's relationship with his wife and with Henry Kissinger, Nixon's awkward though likely unconsummated flirtations with White House secretaries, and the chip on Nixon's shoulder that haunted him his entire life.  Plus we'll talk about the man known as "Deep Throat."

 

If you enjoy this episode, then go to Amazon to order Bob Woodward's fascinating new book "THE LAST OF THE PRESIDENT'S MEN." Or if you want to download the audio version, go to www.audibletrial.com/kickasspolitics to get your free 30 day trial and a free audio book download of "THE LAST OF THE PRESIDENT'S MEN."

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please help us reach our fall fundraising goal & donate to the show at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is at http://www.podtrac.com/audience/start-survey.aspx?pubid=VaSxWQpFs7xV&ver=short

Fred Barnes & Mort Kondracke from Fox News' "The Beltway Boys" on Jack Kemp, 2016 & Tonight's GOP Debate
50 perc 29. rész

My guests today are Fred Barnes and Mort Kondracke. Fred Barnes is the co-founder and executive editor of The Weekly Standard and Mort Kondracke served as the executive editor of Roll Call and former Washington bureau chief for Newsweek.  For over ten years, they co-hosted the popular weekly political show The Beltway Boys on Fox News. Today they still regularly appear as political commentators on Fox News, and they recently teamed up to write the first ever biography exploring the legacy of the late Congressman, quarterback and self-proclaimed bleeding heart conservative, Jack Kemp.

 

According to them, Jack Kemp may well have been the most important American politician who never made it to the White House and in their words, he’s a model of how politics ought to be. We’ll talk about how Jack Kemp’s pro-football career influenced his leadership style, and how he became the backbone behind President Ronald Reagan’s economic policy. We’ll also discuss his crusade to help America’s underprivileged and bring African Americans BACK to the party of Lincoln. Plus Fred Barnes and Mort Kondracke will explain why the next speaker of the House may be the natural political heir Jack Kemp, plus Kemp on Trump, the turn in Jeb Bush’s political fortunes, what to look for in tonight’s 3rd Republican debate.

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please help us reach our fall fundraising goal & donate to the show at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is at http://www.podtrac.com/audience/start-survey.aspx?pubid=VaSxWQpFs7xV&ver=short

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann on Tax Reform, the Tea Party, & America's Role in the World
47 perc 28. rész

My guest in this podcast is former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. From 2007 until just this year, she represented Minnesota’s 7th district in Congress and in 2012 Michele Bachmann ran for the Republican nomination for President. In Congress, she served on the House Financial Services Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence which oversees the CIA, the NSA, and other intelligence agencies. She has been a strong supporter of the Tea Party movement from it’s earliest days and founded the House Tea Party Caucus when she was in Congress.

On this podcast, she’ll talk about the Tea Party’s role in the Republican party today and her thoughts on the GOP field in 2016. As a former tax attorney, she’ll also share her ideas on how to simplify the tax code, and talk about her grave concerns about Russia, Iran, and Syria, and America’s shrinking role in the world under President Obama. Plus she’ll reveal how one of her foster children’s 11th grade homework assignment led to her career politics.

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please help us reach our fall fundraising goal & donate to the show at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is at http://www.podtrac.com/audience/start-survey.aspx?pubid=VaSxWQpFs7xV&ver=short

Mike Pesca, Host of Slate's The Gist
38 perc 27. rész

 

Mike Pesca hosts Slate's The Gist podcast 5 days a week and he's a weekly panelist on Slate's Hang Up & Listen podcast.  Before that he was a national desk correspondent for NPR covering sports, culture and politics.  He's won two Edward R. Murrow Awards for Excellence in Electronic Journalism, and he has a loyal following of fans who tune in daily to heir his "spiel" of the day.

Today, he'll talk about the House Speakers race, money in politics, and the filibuster.  Plus he'll go off on his one man boycott of Starbucks, The Tea Party and his disdain for the phrase "no problem."

 

If you enjoyed this episode then check out Mike Pesca's weekday podcast called Slate's The Gist.  You can listen on iTunes or go to www.slate.com

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please help us reach our fall fundraising goal by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is and what you want.

 

Curator of the International Spy Museum Dr. Vincent Houghton on the story behind BRIDGE OF SPIES and more
51 perc 26. rész

Just in time for BRIDGE OF SPIES, Dr. Vincent Houghton comes on the show.  Vince is historian and curator of the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC and host of SPYCAST, a popular weekly podcast covering all things espionage.

 

On today's show, he'll talk about the true story and the real people behind the U-2 spy plane incident and the movie BRIDGE OF SPIES.  Plus he'll talk about the greatest spy who ever lived, Cold War espionage, America's spy history from the Revolutionary War through the CIA, and he'll reveal some of the coolest spy gadgets in the collection at the International Spy Museum.

 

You can learn more about the International Spy Museum by going to www.spymuseum.org, and be sure to check out Vince's podcast on iTunes called SpyCast.

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please help us reach our fall fundraising goal by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is and what you want.

David Axelrod On The President, Hillary Clinton, & Why He's Still A Believer After 40 Years in Politics
48 perc 25. rész

David Axelrod joins me on the show from Politicon in Los Angeles.  In his 40 year career in politics, he has advised over 150 Democrat campaigns.  He's the campaign wizard behind President Barack Obama's victories in 2008 and 2012 and he served in the White House as Senior Advisor to the President.  Today he's founder and director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago and he now has his own podcast called The Axe Files.

 

On the podcast, he talks about his very first campaign, his early days covering notorious Chicago politics for the Tribune, his 23 year friendship with Barack Obama,
and his love of the political process. We also discuss the healthcare act and the president’s relationship with Israel.  Plus he reveals why he almost sat out the 2008 election, why he shaved his mustache and at least one reason why he says Donald Trump isn’t so bad.

 

If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe to David's new political podcast The Axe Files on iTunes.  You can also purchase his fascinating and insightful autobiography BELIEVER: MY FORTY YEARS IN POLITICS on Amazon.

 

And if you're a young person looking at colleges and considering a career in politics, consider the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago.  David Axelrod is the founder and director of the Institute.  Face it, whether you're a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent, if you're aspiring to a career in politics, you'd be hard pressed to find a better teacher than David Axelrod!  Click here to learn more.

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please help us reach our fall fundraising goal by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is and what you want.

Michael Reagan On Why Conservatives Need To Stop Looking For The Next Ronald Reagan
45 perc 24. rész

Following the Reagan Library Republican debate, I talk with conservative author, radio host, and speaker, Michael Reagan.  He also happens to be the son of the late President Ronald Reagan.  He says the 2016 GOP candidates need to stop trying to imitate his father and repackage the Reagan legacy to better match their own political brands.  Instead they should embody Reagan's spirit and his leadership qualities.

He says if conservatives want to win in 2016, they need to focus on the future of the party instead of looking back nostalgically to the 80's and the Reagan era.  He also says that many conservatives seem to misunderstand Ronald Reagan and he questions whether the icon of the conservative movement could get elected in the era of the tea party and strict insistence on conservative "purity" from less moderate factions of the Republican Party.  Plus for the first time, Michael Reagan will tell the story of how the morning after losing the 1976 Republican nomination to President Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan's major backers tried to convince him to run against Gerald Ford as an independent candidate and he'll tell us why his father turned them down.


For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics. Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is and what you want.

ISIS's War on Cultural Heritage & the Modern Day Monuments Men Fighting to Stop Them
54 perc 23. rész

In the past month, the murder of a Syrian Archeologist by ISIS terrorists and their senseless destruction of two temples at the UNESCO World Heritage site at Palmyra sent shockwaves through the archeological community,
and drew media attention to what very well may be the biggest threat to the word’s shared cultural heritage since World War II. The maniacs of the so called Islamic State are blowing up historic monuments and looting and selling priceless ancient antiquities in what is now their second biggest revenue source only behind oil.

In this podcast I talk with the men who are leading the charge to rescue some of the most important treasures of the ancient world before it’s too late. Dr. Amr Al Azm who served as Director of Scientific and Conservation Laboratories at the General Department of Antiquities and Museums in Syria and as Head of the Centre for Archaeological Research at the University of Damascus. Now he’s an associate professor of Middle Eastern history and anthropology at Shawnee State University in Ohio, and he’s chairman of the Syrian Opposition’s Heritage Task Force. Then I talk with Roger Michel Jr. He’s the founder and executive director of the Institute for Digital Archeology, which is using some high tech gadgets to catalogue ancient monuments and artifacts in hope of recovering and restoring them one day for future generations.  
 
For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.  Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is and what you want.

Cuba Under Castro w/ guests Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado & author Carlos Eire
43 perc 22. rész

Following President Obama’s decision to normalize relations with Cuba and re-open the U.S. embassy in Havana, I talk with two men who bore witness the brutality and economic collapse of Cuba under Fidel Castro.  They both escaped to the U.S. as young boys, but their fathers weren’t so lucky, and they’ll tell their stories in today’s episode.

 

 

My first guest is Carlos Eire.  Today he’s a history and religion professor at Yale University and a best-selling author who won the 2003 National Book Award for his memoirs, WAITING FOR SNOW IN HAVANA: CONFESSIONS OF A CUBAN BOY, which he followed up with LEARNING TO DIE IN MIAMI: CONFESSIONS OF A REFUGEE BOY.  

 

 

And in the second half of the podcast, I’ll talk with Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.  After coming to America as kid, he became a broadcast journalist at the spanish-language network Univision and the first Cuban-American member of the White House Press Corps.  Now Tomas Regalado is Mayor of the city Miami, and he is personally dealing with the aftermath of Obama’s Cuba policy as it affects his constituents in “Little Havana,” home to the largest group of Cuban exiles in America.

 

 

We’ll take an honest look at the cost of throwing away 53 years of U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba and caving to the world’s last communist dictator.

 

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.  Also, we’d appreciate it if you would take our listener survey to give us an idea of who our audience is and what you want.

Senator Lindsey Graham on the Iran Nuclear Deal, Running for President, & Trump
25 perc 21. rész

Just in time for the Senate debate over President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran, Senator Lindsey Graham comes on the show to talk about why the deal is bad for America & the Middle East and how he intends to prevent Iran from getting a nuke.  Plus we talk about the GOP primary, Trump, and the advice Senator John McCain gave him about running for President.

 

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

Millennials & the 2016 Election w/ Pollster Kristin Soltis Anderson
47 perc 20. rész

Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson is founding partner at the polling firm Echelon Insights.  She's also the co-host of the political podcast The Pollsters and author of a new book called The Selfie Vote: Where Millennials Are Leading America (and How Republicans Can Keep Up).  

 

 

She'll talk about what separates millennials from previous generations and how their values and priorities are shaping their politics.  Kristen warns that if Republicans write off millennials now, they may never get them back.  She'll outline a plan for winning young voters with a conservative message that addresses their priorities and relates to their values.  Then she'll talk about who in the 2016 field "gets it" and who doesn't.  Plus she'll share some broader polling data on the Trump phenomenon, the Hillary email scandal, and the issues that may drive the 2016 election.

 

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

The End of Doom with Ronald Bailey, Science Writer for REASON Magazine
41 perc 19. rész

My guest today is Ronald Bailey.  He's an award-winning science journalist for Reason Magazine and an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute.  In his new book THE END OF DOOM: ENVIRONMENTAL RENEWAL IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURYhe says the sky ISN'T falling, and in fact, the world is becoming safer, cleaner, and healthier than ever before.  On this podcast, he'll present the proponderance of scientific data debunking a wide range of environmental alarmist myths about overpopulation, world hunger, the "energy crisis," GMOs & pesticides, deforestation, the "cancer epidemic," endangered species, and more.

 

He'll reveal how activists parading as "scientists" completely ignore the scientific method and overwhelming data when it contradicts their wild theories.  Why?  Because sensational predictions of environmental apocalypse and misinformation campaigns against things like vaccination mask a radically anti-capitalist agenda, and doom has become a powerful fundraising tool for some of the world's biggest environmental organizations.  Plus Ron Bailey will argue for a rational, measured approach to climate change and explain how the FDA is killing millions more people than it helps by delaying life-saving drugs from hitting the market.

 

If you enjoyed listening to this episode then please subscribe to "KickAss Politics with Ben Mathis" on iTunes so you'll receive new episodes as they become available. For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

THE CONSERVATIVE HEART w/ Author Arthur C. Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute
44 perc 18. rész

Welcome to the preview station for KickAss Politics with Ben Mathis!  My guest today is Arthur C. Brooks, best-selling conservative author and president of the American Enterprise Institute.  He has a new book called THE CONSERVATIVE HEART: HOW TO BUILD A FAIRER, HAPPIER, AND MORE PROSPEROUS AMERICA.  He says conservatives need to stop just being against things and start being FOR people.  He talks about his journey to from a french horn player and a liberal ex-patriot living in Barcelona to economist, best-selling conservative author and head of A.E.I.  He believes conservatives must become better at delivering their message and relating to everyday Americans if they're going to grow the party and he has some advice for the 2016 candidates.  He also says Republicans need to correct the impression that they are against entitlements and a social safety net and they need to make fighting poverty and lifting up people a moral priority.

 

This is just a sample episode as part of the KickAss Politics preview station.  If you enjoyed listening to this episode, there are many more episodes at our main iTunes station at "KickAss Politics with Ben Mathis.”  Just go to the link below, then click “View in iTunes” and “Subscribe.”

 

https://itun.es/i6Sq5Vn 

 

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

 

A Governor, a Speechwriter & the Scandal That Became a Trainwreck w/ guest Barton Swaim
41 perc 17. rész

In the summer of 2009, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was a darling of the Tea Party and a leading contender for the GOP nomination in 2012 until it all came crashing down in a bizarre sex scandal and an even more bizarre attempt at "damage control."  His speechwriter Barton Swaim had a front row seat for the fiasco and he writes about it in his new book THE SPEECHWRITER: A BRIEF POLITICAL EDUCATION.  

He'll discuss the scandal as a case study in how NOT to do damage control.  He'll also talk about the former Governor's legendary cheapness, his obsession with Rosa Parks, and what it's like to be a speechwriter for a politician who loves bad writing.  Plus Barton will talk about what it's like to work in the political spin room and his observations about politicians in general.

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

 

Former Israeli Ambassador Danny Ayalon On The Iran Nuke Deal & Israel
32 perc 16. rész

Welcome to the preview station for KickAss Politics with Ben Mathis!  In the last podcast, we covered the broad strokes of President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran as well as the ramifications of this deal for the Middle East and for U.S. diplomacy.  In today’s podcast, we’ll focus on the one who has the most to lose in this deal - Israel.  Today’s guest is Danny Ayalon.  He’s the former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. and served as the Deputy Foreign Minister under the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  He’ll discuss what the Iran deal means for Israel, how it may lead to some surprising alliances with Israel’s Arab neighbors, and we’ll discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu’s next move.

 

 
For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
The Iran Nuke Deal w/ guest Michael Rubin, Middle East Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute
35 perc 15. rész

In today's episode, we'll look at just what's in President Obama's nuclear agreement with Iran and what it means for U.S. prestige, Israel, and the Middle East.  Will it set Iran on a path torward a nuclear bomb?  Will it set off a nuclear arms race among other Middle East nations?  Will it set a dangerous precedent in U.S. foreign policy.  We'll discuss all of this with Michael Rubin.  He's a former Pentagon official specializing in Iran and a Middle East scholar with the American Enterprise Insititute.  He has written extensively on the subject of rogue regimes and Iran's nuclear ambitions, and he'll explain why this deal is not something to celebrate.

 

 
For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
Bruce Carlson, Host of MY HISTORY CAN BEAT UP YOUR POLITICS
42 perc 14. rész

In today's episode, I talk with Bruce Carlson, the host of the very popular podcast "My History Can Beat Up Your Politics."  Bruce takes the politics of today and puts it into larger historical context for listeners.  He says knowledge of the political history of America    is key to putting political devleopments into perspective, controlling heated partisanship, and creating better and more informed voters.  He'll share historical precedents for the 2016 election, give us a crash course in the "Lyndon Johnson treatment," discuss his favorite "what ifs" in American history, and give his two cents on the decision to knock Alexander Hamilton off the $10 bill.

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
John Tamny, Editor of RealClearMarkets.com & Author of Popular Economics
38 perc 13. rész

Today's guest is John Tamny.  He is the editor of RealClearMarkets.com and the political economy editor at Forbes Magazine.  He’s got new book called Popular Economics: What the Rolling Stones, Downton Abbey, and LeBron James Can Teach You About Economics.  He’ll pull back to the curtain to explain how economics is one of the simplest and most basic disciplines to understand because according to him everyone is an economist.  He’ll explain how the Dallas Cowboys, and Paris Hilton are excellent examples of good and bad tax policy.  And how Monday Night Football and HBO's The Sopranos reveal the downside of anti-trust regulation.  He'll also explain why the U.S. should eliminate the dividend tax, why Americans should embrace free trade, and why he thinks it's time for us to go back to the gold standard.

 

 
For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

 

Dr. Ben Carson On The Debate, His Vision For America & His Journey From Surgeon To Candidate
32 perc 12. rész

Famed neurosurgeon, author and now Presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson comes on the podcast to talk about the GOP debate, his suprising political ascent, the issues that matter most to him, and some of the life lessons he's picked up along the way.  He'll tell us how his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast two years ago and his subsquent political rise interrupted his plan for a quiet retirement and why he feels compelled to run for office for the first time in his life.  Plus Dr. Carson will talk about what it's like to be the only vegetarian in the GOP Presidential field, how American's can improve their health, and how a fit of rage when he was a boy almost turned into a tragedy and changed the course of his life.

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

 

Senator Mike Lee on Our Lost Constitution
29 perc 11. rész

Does it seem like America is straying farther from the original framework designed by our Founding Fathers?  Does it seem like the Federal government is increasingly encroaching on the rights of individuals and the states?  Do you think the President is expanding the powers of the Executive Branch into dangerous Constitutional territory?

If so, then you are not alone.  Senator Mike Lee says he's spent the past 4 years in the U.S. Senate getting a crash course in how politicians, judges, and bureaucrats are slowly wittling away at the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  He says we're entering a period of Constitutional Crisis and he discusses it in his new book, OUR LOST CONSTITUTION: THE WILLFULL SUBVERSION OF AMERICA'S FOUNDING DOCUMENT.  He's coming on the podcast to talk about our Constitutional origins, how we've strayed so far from them, and how we can get them back.  Plus he'll tell us why Senator Harry Reid once locked him in a garage!  It's a true story.

 
For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
Grover Norquist Says It's Time to END the IRS
36 perc 10. rész

Did you know that many of the 13 colonies were founded as tax havens from the British?  Or that our Founding Fathers declared independence from Britain because King George wanted to raise the 1-2% on colonial Americans to 3-4%?  Compare that to the 33% income tax that the average American pays today!  Did you know that the tax on your telephone calls was originally intended to be a "temporary tax" to pay for the Spanish-American War over 100 years ago?

 

How did taxes get so out of control between 1776 and now?  Grover Norquist, president and founder of Americans for Tax Reform has a new book called END THE IRS BEFORE IT ENDS US: HOW TO RESTORY A LOW-TAX, HIGH GROWTH, WEALTHY AMERICA and he is coming back on the show to explain America has strayed so far from our anti-tax, pro-liberty origins.

He says the IRS has gotten out of control and he has a plan to roll back taxes and promote economic growth with the eventual goal of abolishing the IRS entirely.  He'll provide tips on how every American can reduce their individual tax burden.  

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
Policing for Profit - The Civil Asset Forfeiture Nightmare (Part 2)
24 perc 9. rész

In yesterday's episode, we talked about how law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels have been misusing U.S. civil asset forfeiture laws to seize billions in property and money from ordinary law-abiding Americans.  They're taking homes, cars, boats, and even the cash out of your wallet.

In this episode, you'll hear about how the feds are taking civil asset forfeiture abuse one step farther and literally stealing money out of the bank accounts of citizens who have done nothing wrong.  You NEED to download this episode, because you could be their next victim.

We'll also reveal that one of the worst abusers of civil asset forfeiture laws is President Obama's new U.S. Attorney General.  In just one case, her department took $446,000 straight from the bank account of three brothers who had done nothing wrong and were never accused of any crime.  And worst of all, her department drug the case on for 2 1/2 years without even giving the brothers a hearing before a judge.

We'll talk to a man who had $35,000 stolen from his bank account by the IRS, plus we'll talk with Rob Johnson, an attorney with the Institute for Justice,  and Roger Pilon, the founder and director of the Cato Institute's Center for Constitutional Studies.

 
For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
Policing For Profit - The Nightmare Of Civil Asset Forfeiture (Part 1)
36 perc 8. rész

Can law enforcement take your stuff even if you've committed no crime?  Yes the can.  Money?  Yep, they can take that too.  In fact, law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels are doing it every day.  They're seizing cars, boats, jewelry, cash, and even homes and businesses all without ever charging the owner with any crime.  

It's a little known but widely abused area of law called Civil Asset Forfeiture and it's turning entire police departments into financial predators.  In this episode, I'll talk to a single mom who got shook down by cops for $10,000 during a routine traffic stop and one man who nearly lost his family business thanks to the the police's preditory law.  And neither of these people committed any crime.  I'll also talk with Rob Johnson, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, who has defended a number of these cases, and Roger Pilon, the founder and director of the Cato Institute's Center for Constitutional Studies.

 
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave us a review.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
George Washington Deserves His Own Day
24 perc 7. rész

Last week was President's Day and in this episode, I'll provide a brief history of the holiday and talk about how our founding father George Washington has really gotten shortchanged with this whole President's Day thing.  I'll look at the many ways in which our country would not be the same or might not even exist today if it hadn't been for our first President and our greatest patriot.  Today I'm making the case for why George Washington deserves his own day.

 
Be sure to subscribe on iTunes and leave us a review.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
 
Bonus Episode - The Wit And Wisdom Of Winston Churchill
13 perc 6. rész

In yesterday's podcast, Churchill on Leadership, I talked with Dr. Steven F. Hayward about the leadership qualities that made Winston Churchill one of the greatest men in history.  In this short bonus podcast, I'll take a look at the lighter side of Sir Winston with a collection of some of my favorite quotes and anecdotes that highlight the razer sharp wit of Winston Churchill.

 
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review on iTunes.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

 

Churchill on Leadership with guest Dr. Steven F. Hayward
46 perc 5. rész

50 years ago this past Saturday, the world mourned the passing of the greatest leader of the 20th Century - Sir Winston S. Churchill.  On the anniversary of Churchill's death, I'll sit down with Dr. Steven F. Hayward, author of Churchill on Leadership to discuss some of the qualities that made Winston Churchill a remarkable leader and a towering figure in history.

 
Be sure to subscribe to the show on iTunes and leave us a review.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
Stephen Hadley, Former National Security Advisor To The President
32 perc 4. rész
In this episode, I ask Stephen Hadley, the former National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush, just how dangerous is the world today?"  We also talk about the Islamic StateVladimir Putin, and the need for a greater U.S. investment in conflict prevention and post-conflict infrastructure.
 
 
If you like this episode then subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

 

African-Americans Deserve A Leader Like Nelson Mandela, Not Al Sharpton
33 perc 3. rész

Welcome to this preview station for KickAss Politics In my recent interview with Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin, we discussed her experience as a journalist in South Africa covering the end of apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela after 27 years in prison.  Our conversation inspired me dedicate an entire episode to Nelson Mandela.  He was a man of remarkable personal strength, wisdom and humility who represented the very best of the human spirit.  Sadly though, Mandela's memory serves as a stark contrast to the so called "leaders" in today's African-American community.  It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and in the wake of the Ferguson riots and recent violence against police, I'll ask where are the civil rights heroes of today?  Because African-Americans deserve a Neson Mandela, not an Al Sharpton.

 
If you like this episode then please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

 

Fox News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin On ISIS, Middle East Peace, & The Concerns That Keep Her Up At Night.
36 perc 2. rész

Welcome to this preview station for KickAss Politics!  In this podcast, I talk with Fox News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin.  We talk about her and her husband's experiences in the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and her early years covering the fall of Aparheid and the release of Nelson Mandela.  She also tells me about the transition from reporting in some of the most dangerous places in the world to being a working mom and Fox Pentagon Correspondent and how that experience has led to a surprising bond with our troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.  She reveal the scariest moment of her life as a foreign correspondent in the world's hot zones and she tells me which national security concerns are the ones that keep her up at night.

 
 
If you enjoy this episode, then please subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes.  For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.
Disruptive Technology vs. Government Regulation w/ guest Grover Norquist
36 perc 1. rész

In this first episode of KickAss Politics, I'll explore how the emerging "sharing economy" and innovative businesses like Uber, Lyft and AirBnB are radically reshaping our notions of ownership and traditional distribution models.  Then I'll talk with Grover Norquist, president and founder of Americans for Tax Reform, about how government regulators and politicans are stifling the sharing economy and going out of their way to tax, over-regulate, and even destroy innovative companies in spite of overwhelming popular support.  I'll also talk with Grover about his wacky and enlightening experience as a Libertarian Republican at this year's Burning Man festival.  

 

If you enjoy this episode, then please help us out by subscribing and leaving us a review on iTunes.  Then you'll receive new episodes as soon they become available.  https://itun.es/i6Sv9Ym

 

For more information, visit www.KickAssPolitics.com, and if you enjoyed the show and would like to help keep us on the air, then please show your support at www.gofundme.com/kickasspolitics.

Sebesség:
Érd el és vezéreld távolról a helyi hálózaton elérhető IntoRadio Cast képes eszközöeidet!
Böngésző-kiegészítő telepítése szükséges!
Chrome web store