How Martin Luther King Jr. Transformed Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek

Bill Thompson

Nichelle Nichols was cast in the role of Communications Officer Uhura on the original TV series “Star Trek” in 1966. But a routine casting decision it was not, as Nichols overnight became an icon and role model. But it took a chance meeting with a powerful and charismatic man to convince her of her own stature.

Photo by Alan Light

Nichols was a show business veteran by the time Gene Roddenberry selected her for “Star Trek.” So just one year into her journey where “no man had gone before,” Nichols was anxious to try something else new.

Then she met a fan who changed her mind and changed her life.

Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day in the U.S., so today, the story of how Dr. King changed Nichelle Nichols’s life and career, and even the very direction that “Star Trek” took. It’s a story Nichols told in her 1994 memoir Beyond Uhura. That’s when I met her.

So here now, from 1994, Nichelle Nichols.

Nichelle Nichol cied in 2022 at age 89.

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Dan Rather: A Journey Through 70 Years in American Journalism

Bill Thompson
Photo by Moody College of Communication

Dan Rather has been a fixture in American journalism since the early 1950s.

As a young boy, growing up in Texas Rather became enamored of heroes like Edward r. Murrow, and vowed to become a journalist himself someday.

After establishing himself as a local reporter in the ’50s, Rather joined CBS News in the early 1960s. He was promoted to White House correspondent, and famously had run-ins with President Richard m. Nixon.

In 1981 Dan Rather succeeded Walter Cronkite as anchor of the CBS evening News, a position he held for the next 24 years. His tenure in the anchor chair was not without its controversy and rather occasionally found himself at the center of the news.

In 1976 he wrote a best-selling book about the network news business, called The Camera, Never Blinks. And in 1994 he wrote its sequel, The Camera Never Blinks Twice. And that’s when I had one of my several interviews with him.

So here now, from 1994, Dan Rather.

Dan Rather is 92 now and still covering the news. Since 2021, he has been writing the newsletter “Steady” on the Substack platform.

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From Hollywood Glamour to Metaphysical Wisdom: Shirley MacLaine’s Fascinating Evolution

Bill Thompson

She was considered one of America’s brightest young stars almost from the moment she entered show business in the mid 1950s.

And over the next few decades, Shirley MacLaine fulfilled that promise in a big way. She has won, or been nominated for, dozens of awards, including an Oscar, and Emmy, and several Golden globes.

She was also associated with the famous rat pack, which included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr.

And then in the mid-1980s, Shirley MacLaine acquired a whole new kind of fame, when she became a well-known authority on the metaphysical, and past lives and reincarnation

For some her pronouncements became father for ridicule, but many people accepted her beliefs and embraced them.

Her 1987 book. It’s All In The Playing was a candid active self-reflection and a deeper exploration of her metaphysical beliefs.

As she shepherded me carefully through my sometimes awkward questions, MacLaine helped us all better understand

So here now, from 1987, shirley McClain.

Shirley MacLaine will be 90 in April./

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Echoes of a Legend: John Denver’s Autobiography

Bill Thompson
Photo by RCA Records

When John Denver died in a plane crash in October 1997, the world lost not just a popular singer, but a songwriter whose work touched the hearts of millions.

Among the 300 or so songs that he recorded, some 200 he wrote. He had 33 gold records, and was uncommonly successful in crossing genre lines, from country to adult contemporary to the Billboard Hot 100. .

Both Colorado and West Virginia have adopted John Denver songs as official state songs.

In 1994, John Denver published his autobiography, called Take Me Home. And that’s when I met him.

So here now, from 1994, John Denver.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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