Coming From Left Field (Video)

Think you know the story of the American Revolution? Think again. In this episode, acclaimed author and history professor Dr. Richard Bell joins the podcast to discuss his book "The American Revolution and the Fate of the World,” where he dismantles the myths and explores the shocking global story behind America's founding.

Forget the simple tale of colonists vs. the British crown. Dr. Bell reveals the Revolution as a world war, a chaotic and contingent struggle whose outcome was never certain. We dive into the fascinating, often overlooked connections to China, India, and the Caribbean, and uncover the critical roles played by Native Americans, enslaved Africans, and European powers. 

Dr. Richard Bell is a historian and professor specializing in early American history, currently serving as a Professor of History at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Bell received his BA from the University of Cambridge and his PhD from Harvard University. He joined the University of Maryland in 2006, earned tenure in 2012, and was promoted to full professor in 2020. His teaching and research focus on American history between 1750 and 1877, with a particular emphasis on social history, slavery, and revolutionary transformation.

Get the Book: https://kingsbookstore.com/book/9780593719510  

Richard Bell’s Website: https://www.richard-bell.com

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

RichardBell#TheAmericanRevolutionandtheFateoftheWorld#AmericanRevolution#RevolutionaryWar#USHistory#WorldHistory#GlobalHistory#FoundingFathers#EarlyAmerica#MythvsHistory#Loyalists#250thAnniversary#Washington#KenBurns#ThomasJefferson#KingGeorgeIII#MollyBrant#HarryWashington#Hessians#MarquisdeLafayette#BenedictArnold#PeggyShippen#BaronvonSteuben#PatCummings#GregGodels#CFLF#ComingFromLeftField#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

In this episode, acclaimed author and law professor Joan Williams joins the podcast to discuss her book "Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back."

Williams delivers a powerful diagnosis of the political rift dividing America, arguing that the Democratic Party has become dominated by a cosmopolitan elite and has alienated the "middle 50%" of Americans through economic neglect and cultural condescension. She describes how alienation is a primary reason for Trump’s appeal.

The conversation offers a roadmap for how the left can reconnect by acknowledging a rigged economy, ditching neoliberal policies, and finally showing respect for the communities it has left behind. The New York Times Magazine described Joan Williams as having “something approaching rock star status” in a 2007 profile highlighting her influence as a leading voice on gender equality and workplace reform. She is currently Distinguished Professor of Law (emerita) at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, and previously at American University. As Founding Director of WorkLife Law (WLL), Williams has played a leading role in documenting workplace bias against mothers. In 2012, Williams was honored with the American Bar Foundation's Outstanding Scholar Award.

Get the Book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250368980/outclassed/

Mentioned in the podcast- Class Bubble Quiz: https://www.classbubblequiz.com/ 

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

#JoanWilliams#Outclassed#WorkingClass#DemocraticParty#TrumpVoters#PoliticalDivide#ClassDynamics#DEI#CulturalElites#EconomicInequality#Wages#GigEconomy#Neoliberalism#Populism#Classism#Cosmopolitanisvs.Rootedness#WhiteWorkingClass#EconomicAnxiety#PoliticalRealignment#UnionDecline#StoptheSteal#BrahminLeft#CulturalCondescension#HillaryClintonDeplorables#DonaldTrump#JDVance#JohnFetterman#RubenGallego#RachelMaddow#TeaParty#JenniferSherman#NewDealCoalition#PatCummings#GregGodels#CFLF#ComingFromLeft Field#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

In this episode of "Coming from Left Field," we discuss the book, "Domestic Causes of American War: Economic and Political Triggers," with author and former National Security Analyst for Congress, Dr. Ivan Eland.  This is a provocative reassessment of American military history. Dr. Eland systematically argues that the standard narrative of the United States going to war for national security and democratic ideals is largely a myth. Instead, he contends that the true drivers behind most major US conflicts, from the early Barbary Wars and the War of 1812 through the World Wars and up to the invasion of Iraq, have been domestic economic interests and political calculations. This revisionist history challenges us to see past patriotic rhetoric and recognize a persistent pattern where commerce, territorial expansion, and the political benefits of war have consistently outweighed genuine defensive needs.

Dr. Eland's analysis extends to re-evaluating America's most "righteous" wars, suggesting that even the Civil War and World War II were more complex and less morally clear-cut than traditional histories claim. A central theme of his work is the powerful role of the "military-industrial-congressional complex," an iron triangle of defense bureaucracy, weapons manufacturers, and Congress that perpetuates interventionist policies for economic gain. The book ultimately serves as a cautionary tale, urging greater public skepticism toward the justifications for war and highlighting the recurring and often ill effects that these conflicts have had on American society and civil liberties.

Dr. Eland has worked for more than four decades in the fields of foreign policy, national security, energy, and presidential studies, including 16 years working for the U.S. Congress. He is currently the Director of the Center on Peace and Liberty at the Independent Institute. Dr. Eland has written and published eight other books, written many pieces in prominent newspapers and journals, appeared on hundreds of major TV and radio interviews, and testified before congressional committees. He has a PhD in defense policy, an MBA in business economics, and a BA in Poli Sci/International Relations. Dr. Eland is the author of many books, including the forthcoming US Role in a New Multipolar World: Less Military Intervention Brings More Security with Fewer Costs. Some of his eight previously published books have won publishing awards. He is a contributor to numerous other books and the author of forty-five in-depth studies on national security issues.

Get the Book: https://www.claritypress.com/product/domestic-causes-of-american-wars-economic-political-triggers/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

#DomesticCausesofWar#EconomicTriggers#PoliticalTriggers#MilitaryIndustrialCongressionalComplex#IronTriangle#Warof1812#MexicanAmericanWar#SpanishAmericanWar#CivilWar#WorldWarI#WorldWarII#VietnamWar#WarinAfghanistan#IraqWar#WaronTerror#IndependentInstitute#Libertarianism#GeopoliticalConcepts#TerritorialExpansion#CommerceProtection#Isolationismvs.Interventionism#Sanctions#IsraelGazaConflict#PatCummings#GregGodels#CFLF#ComingFromLeftField#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

In this episode of "Coming from Left Field," we sit down with world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Robert Zatorre to discuss his book “From Perception to Pleasure: The Neuroscience of Music and Why We Love It.”

We discuss the connection between music and the human brain, exploring how abstract sounds are transformed into intense emotional experiences and profound pleasure. Dr. Zatorre shares the fascinating science behind musical "chills," why we have emotional epiphanies with new music, and how our brains are physically rewired by the music we love.

Moving from the laboratory to daily life, the conversation delves into the vital role music plays in our social and emotional well-being. We discover why musical taste is formed during adolescence, how music functions as a powerful tool for mood regulation across all cultures, and the critical importance of music education. Dr. Zatorre also addresses the puzzling question of why some people don't enjoy music at all, a condition known as "musical hedonia." If you've ever wondered why a particular song can evoke such a profound emotional response, our discussion offers an accessible look at the neuroscience behind one of life's greatest joys.

Robert Zatorre, PhD, is a distinguished cognitive neuroscientist renowned for pioneering work in the science of music and auditory cognition. He is a professor at the Montreal Neurological Institute of McGill University in Canada, where he holds a Canada Research Chair in Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience. In his lab, he studies how the brain processes complex auditory abilities, especially speech and music. He has published over 300 scientific papers spanning topics such as pitch perception, auditory imagery, music production, absolute pitch, and the role of brain reward circuitry in musical pleasure.

Get the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Perception-Pleasure-Neuroscience-Music-Love/dp/0197558283/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

#FromPerceptiontoPleasure#TheNeuroscienceofMusicandWhyWeLoveIt#neuroscienceofmusic#RobertZatorre#neuroscience#musicpsychology#brainscience#whywelovemusic#musicandthebrain#cognitivescience#dopamine#auditorycortex#neuroplasticityandmusic#musicalhedonia#musicchills#fromperceptiontopleasure#McGillUniversityneuroscience#PatCummings#GregGodels#CFLF#ComingFromLeftField#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

In this podcast, we have a conversation with poet Bill Ehrhart, whose new poetry book, “Smart Fish Don’t Bite,” serves as a testament to a life fully examined. While Ehrhart's identity is often intertwined with the war—a theme he explores but resists being solely defined by—the discussion reveals a writer whose poetry grapples with a vast range of human experience, from the nostalgic innocence of childhood and the enduring comfort of love and friendship to sharp, satirical critiques of modern politics.

The interview traces his unconventional path to becoming a writer, sustained by his wife's support and his own determination to prioritize art over career, and evolves into a broader philosophical reflection on memory, aging, and finding perspective in the face of political and personal turmoil, all punctuated by readings of his evocative and powerful poems.

Ehrhart is a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Vietnam War and was involved with Vietnam Veterans Against the War. He has authored numerous books of prose and poetry, such as "Vietnam-Perkasie: a Combat Marine Memoir" and "Thank You for Your Service: Collected Poems." He is a prominent interview subject in the 2017 PBS documentary by Ken Burns, “The Vietnam War.” Ehrhart earned a PhD from the University of Wales at Swansea and worked for many years as a Master Teacher of English and History at the Haverford School for Boys, retiring in 2019.

0:00 - Introduction to Bill Ehrhart

Get the Book: https://moonstone-arts-center.square.site/product/ehrhart-w-d-smart-fish-don-t-bite/YD2QGAXXBUFHBNEM4K6HS6AF

Mentioned:  Hollywood Progressive article "Cycling at Vesinet" https://hollywoodprogressive.com/art/cycling-at-vesinet

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

#BillEhrhart#WDEhrhart#SmartFishDon'tBite#PoetryReading#VietnamVeteran#PoetInterview#WarPoetry#KenBurnsVietnam#SmedleyButler#HaverfordSchool#VeteranStories#AntiWarPoetry#GregGodels#PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftField#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

Richard Beck was 14 years old when planes flew into the Twin Towers on 9/11. He grew up in a Philadelphia suburb as a “mainstream liberal Democrat,” and during high school, was more concerned with music than politics. After graduating from Harvard, Beck moved to New York, where he still resides, and began contributing to the progressive journal n+1, a print and digital magazine of literature, culture, and politics.

In this podcast, we discuss his new book, “Homeland: The War on Terror in American Life,” a groundbreaking history of how the decades-long war on terror changed virtually every aspect of American life.

Key Themes Discussed:

Get the Book: https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9780593240229

Mentioned:  https://www.nplusonemag.com/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

RichardBeck#Homeland:TheWaonTerrorandAmericanLife#WeBelievetheChildren#WaronTerror#9/11#AmericanPolitics#HomelandSecurity#ImpunityCulture#PoliticalEconomy#DonaldTrump#GeorgeW.Bush#BarackObama#n+1Magazine#SuperheroMovies#NewAtheism#Islamophobia#Trumpism#Authoritarianism#DemocraticErosion#U.S.Hegemony#Torture#Surveillance#MilitaryIndustrialComplex#GregGodels,PatCummings,CFLF,ComingFromLeftField,Podcast,zzblog,mltoday

Was the founding of the United States a "great leap forward for humanity" or a project deeply rooted in slavery and settler colonialism?

In this episode, we sit down with renowned historian Dr. Gerald Horne to discuss his new book, “The Capital of Slavery: Washington, D.C. 1800-1865.”

We dismantle the myth of Washington, D.C. as a pure symbol of democracy and reveal its brutal reality as the nerve center of American slavery. We discuss how enslaved people were sold in the shadow of the Capitol and how their resistance—including joining the British to burn the White House in 1814—shaped the nation's politics.

We explore:

Dr. Horne places this history in an urgent contemporary context, arguing that understanding this past is essential to comprehending the rise of neo-fascism and the political struggles of today. This is a conversation about America’s hidden past and the fight for its future.

Horne received his undergraduate education at Princeton, received his Ph.D. from Columbia University, and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently the John J. and Rebecca Moores Chair of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston.

Get the Book: https://www.intpubnyc.com/browse/capital-of-slavery/  

Mentioned:  https://www.kpfk.org/on-air/freedom-now/

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

GeraldHorne#AmericanHistory#Slavery#WashingtonDCCapital Slavery# 1619Project#AmericanRevolution#SettlerColonialism#BlackHistory#Historiography#Trump#Fascism#Smithsonian#Reparations#IndigenousHistory#BookInterview#CriticalRaceTheory#NatTurner#GregGodels#PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftField#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

In this episode of Coming from Left Field, we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with author Leigh Claire La Berge about her book “Fake Work: How I Began to Suspect Capitalism is a Joke.” Drawing from her surreal experience documenting Y2K compliance for a Fortune 500 company—a job focused on generating legal cover rather than solving technical issues— La Berge explores the absurdity of modern corporate culture and how "bullshit jobs" reveal deeper flaws in capitalism.

The discussion touches on Marxist critiques, parallels between the dot-com bubble and today’s AI hype, and La Berge’s humorous project Marx for Cats, which uses feline behavior to explain economic theory.

Blending memoir, satire, and political analysis, the episode challenges listeners to rethink the meaning of work while offering sharp insights into alienation, class dynamics, and the possibility of systemic change.

Get the Book: https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2534-fake-work

Mentioned: http://marxforcats.com

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

#LeighClaireLaBerge#FakeWork#HowIBegantoSuspectCapitalismisaJoke#Capitalism#Marxism#BullshitJobs#Y2K#CorporateCulture#MarxforCats#DavidGraeber#LateStageCapitalism#GregGodels#PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftField#Podcast#zzblog#mltoday

Join us for a heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation with poet Janice Cummings O’Mahony as we dive into her new collection of poetry, “Raise Your Hand If You Hear My Voice,” exploring memory, family, love, grief, and resilience.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

Get the Book: JaniceO’Mahony.com (https://JaniceOMahony.com )

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

#JaniceOmahony#JaniceCummingsOmahony#O’Mahony#RaiseYourHandIfYouHearMyVoice#Poetry #PoetryPodcast #PoetryCommunity #PoetryLovers #SpokenWord #AuthorInterview #PoetInterview #BookLaunch #NewBook #PoetryBook#MemoryPoetry #FamilyPoetry #LovePoems #GriefAndHealing #Resilience #MilitaryPTSD #VeteranStories #WhidbeyIsland#FeministPoetry #SocialJustice #AgingAndTime#GregGodels#PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftFieldPodcast #zzblog #mltoday

In this thought-provoking episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Greg Grandin joins us to discuss his groundbreaking book, “America, América: The Origins of Hemispheric and Global Hegemony,” which challenges traditional narratives of U.S. history by centering Latin America’s pivotal role.

We discuss:

We also debate FDR’s New Deal, the failures of neoliberalism, and why Latin America’s leftist "Pink Tide" (Chávez, Lula, Morales) faced backlash—leading to today’s right-wing surge (Bolsonaro, Milei, Bukele).

This is a must-listen for history buffs, political junkies, and anyone questioning the standard U.S. origin story!

Order the book: https://www.kingsbookstore.com/book/9780593831250

Greg Grandin Website: https://greggrandin.com/

Follow Greg Grandin on Twitter: @GregGrandin

Greg’s Blog: http://zzs-blg.blogspot.com/

Pat’s Substack: https://patcummings.substack.com/about

#GregGrandin #USHistory #America, América # The Origins of Hemispheric and Global Hegemony #LatinAmerica #AmericanRevolution # Pulitzer Prize-winning historian #ColdWar #PinkTide #SocialRights #Trumpism #PoliticalHistory #American Revolution #Spanish Conquest #Colonialism #New Deal #Cold War in Latin America # Indigenous Resistance #GregGodels# PatCummings#CFLF#ComingFromLeftFieldPodcast #zzblog #mltoday