A Book with Legs

In this special bonus episode, Cole Smead and Conor O’Callaghan sit down with former Taoiseach of Ireland Enda Kenny to dive deeper into Ireland’s rich history and the Great Famine. They also explore the spread of the Irish people and their modern identity. Kenny reflects on his experience as a politician, including run-ins with U.S. Presidents and what it means to be a leader.

In this episode, Cole Smead and Conor O’Callaghan sit down with Author and Educator Padraic Scanlan to discuss his book, “Rot: An Imperial History of the Irish Famine.” The three explore the history of the Great Famine, explaining how Ireland’s position in the British Empire and reliance on the potato made it uniquely susceptible to starvation, and more.

In this episode, Cole Smead speaks with author and historian Russell Shorto about his latest book, ”Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events that Created New York and Shaped America,” discussing the birth of New York City, originally a Dutch-controlled settlement called New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island, until English takeover. Their conversation explores this pivotal transfer of power, and the key figures involved, explaining how it shaped the future of New York and the American identity.

In this episode, Cole and Bill Smead speak with journalist and author Kyle Paoletta about his book, “American Oasis: Finding the Future in the Cities of the Southwest.” Their conversation explores the unique history of the American Southwest and its most iconic cities. The discussion spans from Spanish colonialism to the impact of railroads and suburbanization. They also examine the region’s key drivers of economic growth today, including innovative water conservation solutions being used to support growing populations.

In this episode, author, professor, and Council on Foreign Relations member Amar Bhide, joins Cole Smead to discuss his book, “Uncertainty and Enterprise: Venturing Beyond the Known.” Their conversation explores the relationship between profit and uncertainty when investing, the old and new schools of thought emerging from the Chicago School of Economics, artificial intelligence, and more.

In this episode, writer and medievalist Mary Flannery joins Cole Smead to discuss her book, “Geoffrey Chaucer: Unveiling the Merry Bard.” Their discussion explores the life and work of English writer and poet Geoffrey Chaucer, a father figure in the English literary tradition, covering his most influential and controversial works, numerous titles and royal affiliations, impact on the modern English language, and more.

In this special quarterly ‘book list’ episode of A Book with Legs, Cole and Bill Smead revisit the most memorable takeaways from the books recently featured on the podcast, share what’s on their current reading list, and preview what’s next. They also offer fresh insights into inflation, tariffs, investment opportunities in oil, and more!

In this episode, author, speaker, and radio host Eric Metaxas joins Cole Smead to discuss his book, “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.” Their discussion explores the remarkable life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a dedicated pastor, unwilling to waver in his convictions, even when facing the Nazi regime. Bonhoeffer’s story spans continents and finds him playing a role in a plot to kill Hitler, protecting the German Church from Nazi takeover, and more.

In this episode, Lucy Santos, freelance historian, writer, and consultant, joins Cole Smead to discuss her book, “Chain Reactions: The Hopeful History of Uranium.” Their discussion covers topics such as the history of the element, the impact on culture, its role as an energy source, and more.

Max Frumes, author and Global Head of Distressed and Restructuring at 9Fin, joins Cole Smead and Conor O’Callaghan to discuss his book, “The Caesars Palace Coup: How A Billionaire Brawl Over the Famous Casino Exposed the Power and Greed of Wall Street.” In this episode, they discuss the 2015 bankruptcy brawl for Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas, the key figures involved, and more.