Chatter on Books

“All Boston all the time.“

Jamie McIntyre and Torie are joined by Lydia McOscar of Brookline Booksmith (thanks Eric Londergan!) They gush about seven time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady (yes, Boston misses him!), Indies in the time of pandemics and Simon Winchester love pouring in. Best selling crime author Lisa Gardner joins to talk about her latest, Before She Disappeared.  A recovering alcoholic spends her life looking for missing people everyone else has forgotten.  Deserted Island gets royal.

“But they still took away his lands.“

Snow falls in Chatter land.  Jamie McIntyre zooms with David and Torie to de-stress over books, reject Melville and reread some of the greats.  Award winning (and Officer of the Order of the British Empire) Simon Winchester talks about his latest, Land.  With curiosity, relentless research and terrific storytelling, Winchester examines the earth’s billions of acres and what mankind is doing with them.  And shares a recipe for a Rocky Mountain Sneezer.

“The Survival Triangle“

Chatter starts out with Tom Brady love and awe.  David, Torie and Jamie McIntyre debate censorship – what is it these days?   John Hudson, the British Military’s Chief Survival Instructor, talks plans and prep and hope.  Forget about a Swiss Army knife.  You need a well-prepared brain, advance planning and well-founded optimism to survive the most difficult challenges, including the pandemic.

“ Be a better person.”

David, Torie and journalist Kate Andersen Brower try to make sense of what’s happening in Washington.   Kate’s best sellers, including The Residence, First Women, First in Line and Team of Five take us inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in happier times.   Chatter alum and NYT best selling author Joe Drape returns.   Not with race horses this time but with an inspirational war hero, a behind the scenes look at the Church and an authentic address of his own spiritual journey.

“What am I talking about?”

2021 is off to a flying start!   David Aldridge and Lorraine Voles join Torie and featured author (and Pulitzer Prize winner) Connie Schultz.  They talk new year’s resolutions (we’re for and against them).   Connie crushes the pop quiz on books that changed the lives of famous people.   We love Walter Tevis (he wrote Queen’s Gambit, The Hustler and more) and didn’t know it.   Connie shares her “…voice for the underdog and unprivileged.”   Her novel “The Daughters of Erietown” compellingly shares the hopes and dreams and heartaches of one very real family.

“Internet Sensation“

Chatter winds up the craziest of years with one of the pandemic’s best stories. David, Torie and Washington Post Book Critic Ron Charles debate the latest Woods to stun the golf world.  Ron breaks down highs and lows of books and authors in 2020.  UK broadcaster Andrew Cotter stays up late to share the back stories of Olive and Mabel, his spectacular Labrador Retrievers who charmed the internet during a very dark 2020.

“Respect”

Chatter rolls on with David, Torie and Jamie McIntyre.  Listeners gang up on Torie’s Steelers love.  Jamie gives a heads up on national security challenges that lie ahead.   Award winning author Bill Buford takes us deep inside formidable French kitchens.  They’re filled with endless hours, rigeur and a shared passion for great culinary culture.  Not to mention flying pots and artichokes.   Deserted Island is everyone’s “last meal.”

“The alchemy we bring together…”

If you can’t go home, go Zoom.  Chatter goes live with Susan Hans O’Connor of The Penguin Bookshop and two of Pittsburgh”s  best – Yona Harvey and Deesha Philyaw.  Torie gets David to admit his love for the three rivers.  Going strong for 90 years, The Penguin keeps selling since 1929. Yona Harvey moves easily from Marvel comics to stunning poetry.  Finalist for the National Book Award, Deesha Philyaw’s The Secret Lives of Church Ladies breaks through with stories of love and family and faith when they’re needed most.

“Sappy is okay“

It’s Chatter’s Annual Turkey Palooza show – sort of about books.   COB alum Nevin Martell joins David and Torie.  They talk presidential memoirs, Dolly Parton love and Chatter reflected glory.  And they talk turkey, of course, what makes a good cookbook and answering the question everyone asks:  whatever happened to Michael’s smelly turkey? Books for which we’re thankful take center stage in Deserted Island.

“....where the moles are.” 

Chatter rocks with alums Louis Bayard and Hannah Depp Oliver of Loyalty Books joining David and Torie.   Tapped as a judge for this week’s National Book Awards, Hannah dishes but keeps the winner secret.  Speaking of secrets, award winning author and documentarian Chris Whipple Zooms in to talk about his latest – The Spymasters: How the CIA Directors Shape History and the Future.  He answers all the big questions.  Who succeeds/fails as Director?  How do they serve (or not) their Presidents? What’s the mission, anyhow?  Force for good or evil?  The gang closes with aspirational spy novels for Deserted Island.  And, of course, they talked Kennerly!