Month: December 2023

The Power of Christmas Memories: Deborah Raffin’s Sharing Christmas

Bill Thompson

Everyone has memories of the Christmas season Some of those memories are warm and loving, others are troubled or sad

But all have stories to tell. And in 1990, TV and film actress Deborah Raffin published a collection of Christmas memories from a variety of celebrities and noted personalities.

Her book Sharing Christmas reveals that good, bad, or sad, everyone has powerful Christmas memories.

So here now, from 1990, Deborah Raffin.

Deborah Raffin died in 2012 from cancer period she was 59Deborah raffin died in 2012 from cancer. She was 59.

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Cleveland Amory

Paul Petersen

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From Political Thrillers to Christmas Romance: David Baldacci’s Uncommon Bestseller

Bill Thompson

Author David Baldacci is best known for Suspenseful political thrillers. But about 20 years ago he was inspired to write a very different kind of book.

It was a book inspired by his own experience on a long train trip

The Christmas Train is about a writer, not unlike Baldacci, who takes a train trip that will change his life. Hallmark turned it into a TV movie in 2017 starring Dermot Mulroney.

If you like Christmas, if you like trains, this may be just the book for you to read over the holidays.

So here now, from 2002, David Baldacci.

David Baldacci is 63, and lives in Virginia. He has written nearly four dozen books for adults and several for young readers.

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Sidney Sheldon

Jodi Picoult

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How Mathematics Reveals the Mysteries of the Universe: A Conversation with Mario Livio

Bill Thompson
Photo by Festival della Scienza

Today we’re talking about mathematics. But don’t let your eyes glaze over, because there are no formulas to memorize, no problems to solve and there will be no quiz at the end.

In fact, we’re not even looking for answers as much as we are enjoying asking the questions, says astrophysicist Mario Livio.

His 2009 book Is God a Mathematician? asks the big questions about math, and how it explains our entire universe.

Or does it? See, that’s one of the questions.

So here now my 2009 interview with Mario Livio.

MMario Livio is 78 now. He is continuing his work on the emergence of life in the universe.

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Neil de Greasse Tyson

Carl Sagan

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What I Learned from Martha Stewart About Celebrating Christmas in Style

Bill Thompson
Photo by Gage Skidmore

Just a few more days until Christmas. But if you haven’t gotten the house ready yet or the dinner planned?

Well, who knows more about planning for a holiday celebration than Martha Stewart.?

Well, all right. Lots of people probably know more but she’s perhaps the most famous entertainment planner.

Perhaps the most fun interview I ever had with her was in the fall of 1993, not long before Christmas that year when we talked about her book Martha Stewart’s Christmas. And we also talked about her business empire. Her TV show had just premiered a few weeks earlier.

So here now, from 1993. Martha Stewart.

Martha Stewart is 82 now. She lives in New York.

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Ina Garten

Jill St. John

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The Many Talents of Alex Karras: Athlete, Actor, Author

Bill Thompson

Alex karras was a star on the field for the Detroit Lions in the 1960s.

And then he tackled a new career challenge: acting. One of his most iconic roles was in 1974’s “Blazing Saddles.” He was, of course, Mongo.

And when I spoke with him about it, he almost sounded surprised at his own success as a writer.

Later Alex karras starred in the ABC sitcom “Webster,” and along the way he also joined the Monday Night Football broadcast crew. And that’s kind of where he got the idea for his 1991 novel called Tuesday Night Football.

So here now from 1991 Alex karras

Alex karras died in 2012. He was 77.

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Dick Butkus

Bart Starr

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The Real Story of Area 51: A Conversation With Investigative Journalist Annie Jacobsen

Bill Thompson
Photo by Slowking

Area 51 (which is not its official name) is such a highly classified US Air Force installatio nthat for many decades, the United States government wouldn’t even acknowledge its existence.

And forget about finding out anything that really goes on an Area 51.

That is, until 2011, when investigative journalist. Annie Jacobsen wrote her groundbreaking book called simply Area 51.

She talked to men who had once worked there and kept Area 51’s secrets for years. And what she found out, and wrote about, is nothing short of astonishing..

So here now, from 2011, Annie Jacobsen.

Annie Jacobsen lives in Southern California and continues her investigative work.

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Gordon Cooper

Richard Belzer

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Rock and Roll 101: Cousin Brucie Shares His Insights

Bill Thompson

Over the last few decades, entire libraries full of books have been written about the history of rock and roll.

Where do you even begin? How do you wrap your arms around such an enormous subject? And how do you keep it in proper context of the culture and society?

Perhaps few people are as well qualified to do that as Bruce Morrow, otherwise known to millions of radio listeners as cousin Brucie.

When I sat down with him a few years ago, we talked about the music, the culture, the society, and the careers that he helped shape.

So here now from 2009 Cousin Brucie, Bruce Morrow.

Bruce Morrow is 86 now.

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Graham Nash

Wolfman Jack

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The Magic of Tomie dePaola: A Conversation

Bill Thompson

If you’ve had young children in your house anytime in the past 50 years, or if perhaps you were the young child, you know the work of children’s book author Tomie dePaola.

He turned a childhood fascination with drawing into a career in which he produced over 260 children’s books.

One of my interviews with dePaola occurred over 30 years ago, around this time of year, as we talked about his book called Jingle the Christmas Clown.

And he had some fascinating insights into what it takes to create a memorable children’s book.

So here now from 1992 Tomie dePaola

Tomie dePaola died in 2020. He was 85.

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Stan & Jan Berenstain

Berke Breathed

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How Ann Coulter’s Demonic Theory Explains America’s Political Divide

Bill Thompson

It is no secret that America has become more politically divided than ever. And that in turn has raised so many questions about why we are so split.

Why do conservatives think the way they do? And why do liberals think the way they do?

A few years ago conservative commentator Ann Coulter thought she had the answer. She put her theory in a book called Demonic: How the Liberal Mob Is Endangering America. The essence of her theory: Democrats and liberals are simply following a mob mentality.

As you listen to this interview, keep in mind this was years before Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.

So here now from 2011 Ann Coulter.

Ann Coulter will be celebrating her birthday this Friday. She’ll be 62.

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Dan Bongino

James O’Keefe

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