Books & Looks

Explore the new John Candy biography with author Paul Myers. Discover powerful stories of the beloved comedian's true character, integrity, and unforgettable kindness.

Episode Resources:

• Get your copy of "John Candy: A Life in Comedy" by Paul Myers
• Connect with Paul Myers

In this definitive John Candy biography deep dive, author Paul Myers reveals the untold stories behind one of cinema's most beloved figures. While we all know John Candy for his iconic roles in movies like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, and Cool Runnings, what was the man behind the laughter truly like? This conversation explores the incredible highs and heartbreaking lows of his life, from his early days in comedy to the secret pain he carried.

Paul Myers, author of "John Candy: A Life in Comedy," shares intimate details sourced from those who knew him best. This episode unpacks the complex and admirable John Candy character, a man who stood up for pay equity for his female co-stars on SCTV and famously gave his own star trailer to screen legend Maureen O'Hara on the set of Only the Lonely. We explore his creative genius, tracing his journey from the legendary stages of Second City Toronto, where he honed his improv skills and developed characters like Yosh Shmenge, to his iconic status in Hollywood. The conversation also delves into the complex relationship between SCTV and Saturday Night Live, and how a single piece of advice from Candy inspired a young Mike Myers to pursue comedy.

This comprehensive interview with Paul Myers, author and comedy historian, doesn't shy away from the difficult moments. Discover the story behind Candy's infamous conflict on the set of Stripes over the demeaning mud wrestling scene, a moment that highlighted his career-long struggle with body-shaming. We also explore the immense pressure he was under during his time as a co-owner of the John Candy Toronto Argonauts, a dream that ended in heartbreak following a fraud scandal. Finally, learn about the unprecedented and moving tribute from the LAPD, who shut down the 405 freeway for his funeral procession. From his most celebrated John Candy movies to the private battles he faced, this episode paints a complete picture of a comedic genius and a profoundly decent human being, based on the research from this essential John Candy biography.

About Our Guest:

Paul Myers is an author, musician, and journalist with a deep connection to the world of comedy. As the brother of comedian Mike Myers, he grew up surrounded by the industry and brings a unique, respectful perspective to his work. In this interview, he discusses the meticulous two-year process of interviewing legends like Dan Aykroyd and Martin Short for his definitive John Candy biography, "John Candy: A Life in Comedy."

Timestamps:

(0:00) Why John Candy's Story Still Matters

(2:17) Crafting the Biography & The John Candy Family Documentary

(5:38) How John Candy's Advice Launched Mike Myers' Career

(14:58) The Rise of Second City Toronto & SCTV

(19:18) The Origin of the Hilarious Shmenge Brothers

(22:07) Fighting for Equity: John Candy’s Stand Against SCTV Producers

(24:21) A Noble Act: The Story of John Candy & Maureen O'Hara's Trailer

(28:35) The "I Like Me" Scene: Analyzing Planes, Trains & Automobiles

(35:51) The Conflict on 'Stripes': Why John Candy Hated the Mud Wrestling Scene

(42:56) Johnny Toronto: The Dream and Heartbreak of Owning the Argonauts

(47:52) A Final Farewell: The Unprecedented 405 Freeway Tribute

Explore the Mysteries of the National Parks with author Mike Bezemek. Discover forgotten stories of the first UFO sighting, lost explorers, and other unsolved national park mysteries.

Episode Resources:

• Get your copy of "Mysteries of the National Parks"
• Learn more about Mike Bezemek's work

Was the first-ever UFO sighting covered up by the Roswell incident? What really happened to the honeymooners who vanished on the Colorado River? Author and outdoor adventurer Mike Bezemek joins us to uncover the shocking secrets and strange events hidden within America’s most treasured landscapes. In this episode, we dive deep into his fascinating book, Mysteries of the National Parks, exploring forgotten tales that defy simple explanation.

From bizarre crimes to perplexing natural phenomena, this conversation peels back the curtain on the unsolved national park mysteries that have puzzled historians and scientists for decades. We investigate the incredible story of the first UFO sighting in 1947, where pilot Kenneth Arnold witnessed nine mysterious objects over Mount Rainier, an event that predates the more famous Roswell incident. Mike Bezemek reveals why this foundational story has been largely forgotten and shares the plausible explanation behind the Roswell craze that followed. We then travel to Yosemite for the tale of a brazen stagecoach robbery where the bandits posed for a photograph—possibly the only authentic picture of a Wild West holdup in existence.

The discussion covers a wide range of incredible stories, including the tragic Glenn and Bessie Hyde disappearance in the Grand Canyon, where the newlywed couple and their boat vanished without a trace after a perilous journey down the Colorado River. We also explore the eerie phenomenon of the Angel's Glow at Shiloh Battlefield, where wounded Civil War soldiers' wounds emitted a strange blue light, a mystery later potentially solved by a high school science project involving bioluminescent bacteria. Other incredible topics include the strange history of the Gateway Arch and its surprising connection to Mussolini, the famous sliding stones of Death Valley's Racetrack Playa, and the debate over whether Utah's Upheaval Dome was created by a salt formation or a massive meteor impact. These tales are just a fraction of the 35 incredible cases explored in the book, revealing that our national parks hold more than just beautiful scenery—they hold secrets.

About Our Guest:
Mike Bezemek is an author, outdoor writer, and adventurer whose work focuses on history, travel, and mystery. His latest book, "Mysteries of the National Parks," is the culmination of decades of exploring the U.S. National Park system, from the grand landscapes of Yosemite to the historic battlefields of the East. His curiosity was sparked during a cross-country road trip that led him to investigate the Lost Colony of Fort Raleigh, inspiring him to collect and document the strangest and most compelling mysteries our parks have to offer.

Timestamps / Chapters:
(00:00) The Hidden Mysteries in Our National Parks
(02:17) Mount Rainier 1947: The Forgotten First UFO Sighting
(08:27) Behind the Book: Weaving History, Adventure, and Mystery
(10:22) Yosemite's Bizarre Stagecoach Robbery: The Only Known Photograph
(13:51) The Author's Inspiration: A Cross-Country Journey of Discovery
(17:31) The Gateway Arch's Twisted History: A Surprising Mussolini Connection?
(20:56) Death Valley's Racetrack Playa: The Mystery of the Sliding Stones
(24:27) Vanished on the Colorado: The Disappearance of Glenn and Bessie Hyde
(29:24) Angel's Glow: Solving a Civil War Mystery at Shiloh Battlefield
(34:18) The Making of a Mystery Book: A Lifetime of Research
(39:35) Upheaval Dome: Meteor Impact or Salt Dome?
(42:21) What’s Next for Mike Bezemek?

Tired of seeing the same titles on every "Best Of" list? In this third annual special episode, host Blaine DeSantis cuts through the noise to deliver his personal baker's dozen of the absolute best books he's read all year. If you're searching for the perfect present for the readers in your life, this list of Christmas book recommendations 2025 has something for everyone, from your spouse and parents to siblings and friends. Forget the popularity contests; these are 13 compulsively readable books, read cover-to-cover, that are guaranteed to surprise and delight.

This is the ultimate Books and Looks podcast wish list, curated to solve the overwhelming problem of choosing from over a million books published each year. Blaine dives deep into his top picks across a wide range of genres, ensuring you'll find the perfect match for any taste. We start with some of the best nonfiction books 2025 has to offer, exploring pressing geopolitical issues in America in the Arctic by Mary Thompson-Jones and getting a stunning insider's view of modern Russia with Jill Doherty's My Russia. The episode then moves into a collection of unique memoir recommendations that celebrate the human spirit, from Marie Leautey's incredible story of running a marathon every single day in Leautey's World Run to John Seabrook's fascinating and complex family history in The Spinach King, the story of the family that made frozen lima beans a household staple. We also follow Graham Broyd's journey in Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard, as he retraces his 1980 hitchhiking trip across America.

The list continues with incredible historical fiction and mystery books, including Sarah Dunant's masterful novel The Marquesa, which brings to life the first woman of the Italian Renaissance, Isabella d'Este. Blaine also highlights captivating biographies, such as Sister Aimee, Claire Hoffman's look at the spectacular rise and fall of Pentecostal preacher Aimee Semple McPherson, and Jan Gradvall's The Story of ABBA, offering an exclusive look into the lives of the iconic supergroup. We explore captivating nonfiction, from the surprisingly fascinating story of a despised bird in Starlings by Mike Stark to disappearing global traditions in Eliot Stein's Custodians of Wonder. David Krell's Do You Believe in Magic? provides a vibrant snapshot of America during the disco era of 1978. Finally, for those who love a good page-turner, Blaine recommends two compulsively readable mysteries: Danger, No Problem by Cindy F. Fariña, a thriller featuring a Filipino-American bounty hunter, and Ivory Bones by Sara Winokur, which centers on the mysterious and valuable Lewis Chessmen. These Christmas book recommendations 2025 are the best of the best from a year of reading.

Was the Italian Renaissance only for men? While history remembers the names of Michelangelo, Leonardo, and the Medici, one woman’s story of power, art, and ambition rivals them all. In this episode, we uncover the life of Isabella d'Este, the First Lady of the Renaissance, with acclaimed historical novelist Sarah Dunant. Discover the incredible true story of the woman who ran a state, built a world-class art collection, and navigated a dangerous marriage—all while a secret disease swept through Europe, changing her destiny forever.

Join us as celebrated author Sarah Dunant, a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, discusses her groundbreaking new novel, The Marchesa. Dunant shares how a simple question from her teenage daughter—"Where were the women?"—sparked a two-decade journey to uncover the forgotten stories of Renaissance women. This episode reveals the fascinating life of Isabella d'Este, a political mastermind and fashion icon who was brilliantly educated in humanist culture. From an early age, she was a force to be reckoned with, known for her sharp intellect and unshakeable confidence. Dunant explains how Isabella became a pioneer of female art patronage, commissioning works from the greatest artists of her time and building a collection that was the envy of popes and kings.

We dive deep into the thousands of letters preserved in the Mantua archive, which provide an unprecedented look into Isabella’s mind. These documents reveal her cunning diplomacy as she ran the city-state of Mantua while her husband was away at war. We also explore her intense rivalry with her notorious sister-in-law, Lucretia Borgia. In a particularly captivating part of the interview, Dunant sheds light on a shocking and little-known aspect of the era: the history of syphilis in Italy. She details how the "French pox" arrived from the New World and secretly ravaged the European aristocracy, revealing a stunning discovery from her research that suggests Isabella knew her husband had the disease and took control of her own fate. Finally, hear about the author's own journey to publish Sarah Dunant The Marchesa, a beautifully illustrated hybrid of history and fiction that she was so passionate about, she decided to publish it herself.

About Our Guest:

Sarah Dunant is an award-winning British novelist, journalist, and critic. She is a recognized expert on the Italian Renaissance and has written six novels set in the period, all focused on bringing the vibrant and often hidden lives of women to the forefront. Her latest book, The Marchesa, is a culmination of years of deep archival research into the life of the extraordinary Isabella d'Este.

Timestamps:

(01:12) "Where Were the Women?": Sarah Dunant's Journey to the Renaissance

(05:32) Introducing Isabella d'Este: The First Woman of the World

(10:08) Uncovering History: Inside the Gonzaga Archive in Mantua

(14:18) The First Female Art Patron: Building Isabella's Legendary Collection

(20:23) A Rivalry of Style and Power: Isabella d'Este and Lucretia Borgia

(24:52) The Past Talks Back: How Fiction Can Challenge Our View of History

(31:36) The Secret Disease That Forged a Marriage: The History of Syphilis in the Renaissance

(38:15) The Author’s Own Battle: The Journey to Self-Publishing The Marchesa

(41:21) What's Next for Sarah Dunant?

Learn More & Episode Resources:

• Get your copy of The Marchesa by Sarah Dunant
• Learn more about Sarah Dunant's work

In 1980, a 20-year-old Graham Broyd turned a prestigious six-week scholarship to Washington, D.C. into the adventure of a lifetime. He traded his ticket for a flight to Los Angeles with a dream of surfing in Malibu and a wild plan to hitchhike across the country. In this episode, Graham shares the incredible story of his journey, a tale he revisited in 2024 to see how the country and he had changed. This is the ultimate story of hitchhiking across America then and now. What happens when you have just $600 to survive for six weeks, relying on your wits and the kindness—or danger—of strangers?

This sprawling conversation, a must-listen for fans of incredible travel stories, is like a living "Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard" book review. Author Graham Broyd sits down with Blaine DeSantis to recount his unbelievable journey. We hear tales of extreme budget survival, like his method for turning a single Big Mac into a three-course meal, a story that comically landed his book in the "cooking humor" category on Amazon. Graham shares the unwritten rules and etiquette of the road, offering a fascinating look into the lost art of hitchhiking. This Graham Broyd travel memoir comes to life as he discusses his disastrous first attempt at surfing in Malibu, how he acquired an eight-foot surfboard as a travel companion, and the frightening night he spent alone in the desolate expanse of Death Valley.

The episode explores the stark difference between America in 1980 vs 2024, contrasting the past with the present through Graham’s retraced journey. He shares thrilling and sometimes chilling stories from hitchhiking America, from navigating an unwelcome advance near the Grand Canyon to the bizarre experience of ending up in Tijuana, Mexico on a trip to Malibu—a mystery he still hasn't solved. We learn how a single smart jacket gave him access to the high-rolling casinos of 1980s Las Vegas and how a chance encounter in a youth hostel led to a stunning interview with Senator Howard Baker about the Panama Canal Treaty. This detailed look at hitchhiking across America then and now culminates in a tale of unexpected benevolence on the gritty subways of New York City, proving that adventure and humanity can be found where you least expect them.

About Our Guest:
Graham Broyd is the author of the travel memoir "Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard." In 1980, at the age of 20, he embarked on an impromptu hitchhiking trip across the United States, a journey that profoundly shaped his life. Over 40 years later, he retraced his steps to recapture 24 photos from his original trip, discovering not only how much America had changed, but how much he had as well.

Timestamps:
(00:00) A Scholarship Becomes an Epic Adventure
(02:12) From D.C. Scholarship to a Cross-Country Hitchhiking Adventure
(05:20) Surviving on $15 a Day: The Three-Course Big Mac Meal
(07:45) The Mystery of Tijuana: Retracing Steps 40 Years Later
(14:29) The Reality of Surfing Malibu & Acquiring a Surfboard
(17:22) The Unwritten Rules and Etiquette of 1980s Hitchhiking
(19:49) A Terrifying Night Alone in Death Valley
(22:56) How a Smart Jacket Got Me Into Vegas Casinos
(28:09) The Dangers of the Road: An Unwelcome Encounter
(35:18) How a Hitchhiker Interviewed Senator Howard Baker
(39:48) Unexpected Kindness in 1980s New York City
(41:52) America Then and Now: A Love Letter to a Changing Nation

Learn More From Our Guest & Episode Resources:

• Get your copy of "Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard"
• Learn more about Graham Broyd

In this exclusive Mary Grand A Halloween Murder interview, we explore a high school reunion gone horribly wrong. When old friends gather at a historic castle on the most haunted island in the world, nostalgia quickly turns to terror after one of them is found dead. Was it a tragic accident, a desperate suicide, or a calculated murder? With the castle locked down, everyone is a suspect, and time is running out to find the truth before the killer can escape.

Author Mary Grand joins the podcast to unpack her thrilling new novel, a perfect Halloween read for fans of classic whodunits. We discuss why the Isle of Wight haunted island reputation, with its mysterious ley lines and numerous historic buildings, makes it the ultimate setting for a spooky mystery. Mary shares the fascinating Carisbrook Castle history, revealing how its past as a Saxon fort, a Norman stronghold, and a royal prison for Charles I inspired this chilling tale. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who loves intricate locked room mystery books, as Mary explains how she crafted a puzzle where the killer had to be one of the guests trapped inside the castle walls.

Throughout this Mary Grand A Halloween Murder interview, we delve into the author's creative process. Mary talks about her beloved amateur detective from the Susan Flynn book series, and how Susan gets entangled in the investigation through her daughter, Zoe, who is a key suspect. We also explore the complex group dynamics of a high school reunion, the intense and frightening Ouija board scene, and the real-world research behind the plot, including the harrowing details of the synthetic drug 'spice' and how it's smuggled into prisons. Mary gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the actual Carisbrooke Castle ghost walk she attended for research and shares fun anecdotes about the famous Isle of Wight tomatoes and her tradition of naming fictional dogs after her friends' real-life pets. If you're a fan of Agatha Christie, you won't want to miss this deep dive into the craft of plotting a modern cozy mystery that keeps you guessing until the final page.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Mary Grand is the acclaimed author of the Susan Flynn book series, a collection of cozy mysteries set on the picturesque and eerie Isle of Wight. Often compared to Agatha Christie for her well-plotted and character-driven stories, Mary specializes in creating intricate puzzles that keep readers captivated. She lives on the Isle of Wight, the real-life setting that inspires her compelling novels.

TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS:

(00:00) A Halloween Murder: A High School Reunion Gone Wrong

(02:43) Why the Isle of Wight is the World's Most Haunted Island

(04:07) Plot Deep Dive: A Locked-Room Mystery in a Castle

(06:19) The Real History of Carisbrook Castle

(09:11) The Psychology of a High School Reunion That Curdles

(11:30) The Intense and Terrifying Ouija Board Scene

(15:49) Fun Facts: Twixmas and Famous Isle of Wight Tomatoes

(20:19) The Shocking Research Behind Smuggling the Drug 'Spice'

(24:12) Fact vs. Fiction: The Real Carisbrooke Castle Ghost Walk

(25:54) The Author's Craft: Writing Unlikable Characters and Plotting the 'Whydunit'

(31:30) The Evolution of Protagonist Susan Flynn

(36:43) What's Next for Mary Grand?

Before the Pink Ribbon, talking about breast cancer was taboo. In this episode, we uncover the shocking and inspiring history of breast cancer awareness and the three women who defied a dismissive medical establishment to save millions of lives. Author Judith L. Pearson joins us to discuss her groundbreaking book, "Radical Sisters," revealing how Shirley Temple Black, Rose Kushner, and Evelyn Lauder launched a revolution from their hospital beds and boardrooms. How did a child star, a determined journalist, and a cosmetics mogul tear down the wall of silence and change medicine forever?

This deep dive into the evolution of breast cancer advocacy explores the dark ages of treatment and the courageous fight for patient rights. Judith L. Pearson details the brutal radical mastectomy history, specifically the disfiguring Halstead radical mastectomy, a procedure that persisted long after it was proven ineffective. We revisit the pivotal moment of Shirley Temple Black breast cancer advocacy when the beloved star held an unprecedented 1972 press conference from her hospital room, urging women not to be afraid and to perform self-exams. The episode then follows the tenacious activist Rose Kushner and the one-step procedure, a barbaric practice where women went in for a biopsy and woke up with their breasts removed without their consent. Kushner’s relentless research and in-your-face advocacy, including a daring appearance on the Donahue show, forced the medical community to confront its paternalism. Finally, we explore the origins of the Evelyn Lauder Pink Ribbon Campaign and her "department store" concept for cancer care at Memorial Sloan Kettering, which was born from the frustrating and fragmented patient experience. This interview sheds light on the complete history of breast cancer awareness, from comparing the fight for funding to the AIDS movement to the discovery of the BRCA gene mutation, revealing a story of courage, tragedy, and ultimate triumph.

About Our Guest:
Judith L. Pearson is an author and historical biographer specializing in uncovering the stories of overlooked heroes. In her book, "Radical Sisters: The Women Who Pushed for and Paved the Way to Breast Cancer Awareness," she reveals the untold story of the three women whose personal battles and public advocacy transformed medicine and created the modern breast cancer movement.

Timestamps / Chapters:
(00:00) The Three Women Who Transformed Breast Cancer Awareness
(03:31) Shirley Temple Black's Groundbreaking 1972 Announcement
(06:05) Rose Kushner's Daring Appearance on the Donahue Show
(09:07) The Near-Death Experiences That Shaped the "Radical Sisters"
(14:38) How Shirley Temple's Press Conference Changed Everything
(19:22) The Brutal History of the Halstead Radical Mastectomy
(24:19) Rose Kushner's Fight Against the "One-Step Procedure"
(29:56) Evelyn Lauder's Philanthropic Vision Before and After Her Diagnosis
(32:28) Learning from the AIDS Movement to Fight for Funding
(36:04) Evelyn Lauder’s "Department Store" Concept for Cancer Care
(40:10) The True Origin Story of the Pink Ribbon Campaign

It took 30 years, multiple rewrites, and a publisher going out of business, but author Cindy Fazzi's groundbreaking story is finally here. In this episode, we sit down with Cindy for an in-depth author interview about her perseverance and the incredible journey behind the Domingo the Bounty Hunter series, a compulsively readable set of novels that turn the hard-boiled genre on its head. How do you tell a thrilling story about the chase while realistically portraying the complex, vulnerable lives of undocumented immigrants?

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Cindy Fazzi as she discusses her unique contribution to the Filipino-American thriller genre. We dive deep into the first book, Danger, No Problem, exploring the decades-long cat-and-mouse game between Domingo, a bail enforcement agent, and Monica Reed, a desperate woman in hiding. Cindy shares the fascinating reason the book was originally titled "Multo" (meaning "ghost" in Tagalog) and why her new publisher, Thomas & Mercer, decided to change it. We discuss the inspired choice to rewrite the story from Domingo's point of view, which led to the creation of his "handbook for immigrants," a book-within-the-book that adds incredible depth and humor to the character. This Cindy Fazzi author interview reveals her powerful motivation to create authentic Filipino-American characters and introduce readers to a culture rarely seen in mainstream thrillers.

But the story doesn't end there. We also discuss the highly unusual strategy of simultaneously releasing both Book 1, the Danger, No Problem book, and Book 2, Sunday or the Highway. Cindy gives us a glimpse into the plot of the second book, where Domingo is hired to find the missing parents of an heiress's mysterious boyfriend. Throughout our conversation, we touch on the serious themes in her books about undocumented immigrants, her transition from an Associated Press reporter to a novelist, and what's next for the Domingo the Bounty Hunter series.

About Our Guest:
Cindy Fazzi is a Filipino-American author and former Associated Press reporter. After a 30-year journey of perseverance, her hard-boiled thriller series was picked up by publisher Thomas & Mercer. A passionate advocate for representation in literature, Cindy created the character of Domingo to introduce readers to a captivating Filipino-American protagonist and to subvert the classic bounty hunter trope. Her books, Danger, No Problem and Sunday or the Highway, are celebrated for their tight plots, rich characters, and compassionate exploration of immigrant life in America.

Timestamps / Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:33) Introducing Cindy Fazzi & The Domingo the Bounty Hunter Series
(05:37) From "Multo" to "Danger, No Problem": The Story Behind the Title Change
(08:46) Inside the Story: The Handbook for Immigrants
(11:05) Championing Filipino-American Representation in the Thriller Genre
(13:48) Subverting the Bounty Hunter Trope
(16:29) The Three-Part Structure of "Danger, No Problem"
(21:43) An Unlikely Love Story: The Relationship Between Domingo and Monica
(25:33) Crafting a Realistic Portrayal of an Undocumented Immigrant
(30:55) From Associated Press Reporter to Thriller Novelist
(32:51) An Unlikely Strategy: The Simultaneous Release of Two Books
(34:00) Uncovering the Plot of Book 2: "Sunday or the Highway"
(39:02) What’s Next for Domingo and Cindy Fazzi?

What's deadlier: a puffer fish or a great white shark? A tiger or a lion? A beautiful flower or a venomous snake? In this episode, we sit down with PhD entomologist and author Eleanor Spicer Rice to explore the shocking, fascinating, and sometimes gross world of her hit The Deadliest book series. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged as we uncover which creatures are nature's most lethal competitors - and why the winners might not be what you expect.

This interview is a must-watch for curious kids, parents, and anyone fascinated by the natural world. Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, an expert in entomology for kids, reveals the incredible science behind her unique children's science books, which are formatted like a thrilling game show where animals compete for the title of "deadliest." We dive deep into the criteria she uses to crown a winner (it's all about the numbers!) and discuss some of the most surprising contenders from her books on snakes, flowers, big cats, and the upcoming sea creatures edition. Dr. Rice shares why the deadliest flower kills 8 million people a year and why the deadliest sea creature isn't a shark, but a delicacy people eat on purpose

Beyond The Deadliest book series, the Eleanor Spicer Rice author discussion covers her journey from studying ants and bees to writing for children. She shares mind-blowing facts, like that the average American eats four pounds of insects a year and that clean houses can contain 100 different species of bugs. We also explore her other work, the Your Hidden Life series, which investigates mind-controlling microbes that can influence your mood and the secret ways your pets interact with the world - like how dogs align with the Earth's magnetic field when they go to the bathroom. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Rice's passion for turning fear into fascination shines, encouraging a sense of wonder about the often-misunderstood creatures living all around us.

LEARN MORE FROM OUR GUEST / EPISODE RESOURCES:
Explore The Deadliest book series (Spiders, Snakes, Big Cats, Flowers, and more)
Discover the Your Hidden Life series

Were the Martian canals real? For decades, some of the world's most respected astronomers and newspapers answered with a resounding YES. But how did a simple misunderstanding spiral into a global belief in an advanced, dying civilization on the Red Planet? This episode unwraps the incredible story of the turn-of-the-century Martian craze, a period when fact and fiction blurred, and humanity collectively looked to the stars, convinced someone was looking back. We explore how this mania began, who its biggest champions were, and how the idea of intelligent Martians shaped science and culture forever.

This deep dive into the history of our obsession with Mars is guided by acclaimed author David Baron, whose book "The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze That Captured Turn-of-the-Century America" chronicles this fascinating era. We begin with the story's surprising European origins, specifically with Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli and his 1877 observations of "canali" on the Martian surface. A critical mistranslation of Giovanni Schiaparelli canali (Italian for "channels") into "canals" in English ignited the public imagination with the possibility of artificial structures. This idea was popularized by French astronomer and author Camille Flammarion, but it was an American who would become the theory's most fervent and influential advocate: Percival Lowell.

Born into a wealthy Boston family, Percival Lowell dedicated his fortune and his life to proving the existence of an intelligent Martian race. We detail the astonishingly complex Percival Lowell Mars theory, which proposed that Mars was an old, drying planet and its inhabitants had built a planet-wide irrigation system—the Martian canals—to channel water from the polar ice caps to their desert cities. To prove it, Lowell founded the iconic Lowell Observatory in Arizona and even funded a massive expedition to Chile to capture the first-ever photographs of the canals, which he presented as undeniable proof. This led to a major rift in the scientific community, dividing astronomers into "canalists" and "anti-canalists."

The belief in Martians wasn't just confined to scientific circles; it exploded into a full-blown cultural phenomenon. We discuss the immense impact of H.G. Wells War of the Worlds, a "scientific romance" that terrified and thrilled readers. Baron reveals how American newspapers, in a bout of Yellow Press sensationalism, pirated and serialized the story, localizing the invasion to New York and Boston and presenting it almost as a news report—a tactic Orson Welles would later famously use for his 1938 radio broadcast. The fervor grew so intense that in 1924, the U.S. military was convinced to enforce national radio silence to listen for signals from the Red Planet. So, what was the final nail in the coffin for the Martian canals? Baron explains how astronomer Eugène Michel Antoniadi's crystal-clear observations in 1909 and, ultimately, NASA's Mariner 4 spacecraft flyby in the 1960s, finally disproved the theory, revealing a cratered, lifeless landscape where canals were once drawn. This entire episode serves as a powerful look into the turn-of-the-century Martian craze and how it left an indelible mark on science fiction, inspiring figures like Robert H. Goddard and Carl Sagan and shaping our dreams of outer space to this day.

About Our Guest:
David Baron is an author and science journalist who specializes in telling gripping historical tales about the history of astronomy. He is the author of the new book, "The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze That Captured Turn-of-the-Century America," as well as the award-winning "American Eclipse," which is being adapted into a Broadway musical.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction: The Martian Saga
(03:01) The 1906 New York Times Headline: "There is Life on Mars"
(04:47) European Origins: Schiaparelli, Flammarion, and the "Canali" Mistranslation
(09:09) Percival Lowell: The American Champion of the Martian Cause
(14:52) The Great Debate: Canalists vs. Anti-Canalists
(19:26) The Hunt for Proof: Lowell's Astrophotography and The Chilean Expedition
(23:26) Percival Lowell's Grand Theory of Martian Civilization
(26:54) H.G. Wells and The War of the Worlds Sensation
(33:32) Listening for Martians: The US Military's 1924 Radio Silence
(35:11) How The Martian Canals Were Finally Disproven
(41:01) The Enduring Legacy of the Martian Craze on Science Fiction

Learn More From Our Guest / Episode Resources:
Get David Baron's Book, "The Martians"