Conversations with My Father

In the 1970s and 1980s, my father, Sam Merrill, had an interview segment on a local radio show in New York City: Direct News. When he passed away, he left a crate full of vinyl records, each with a radio show on it. I’m digitizing and archiving his interview segments here.

My dad interviews Lynda Obst about her book The Sixties. Obst went on to produce Sleepless in Seattle and Interstellar.

In the 1970s and 1980s, my father, Sam Merrill, had an interview segment on a local radio show in New York City: Direct News. When he passed away, he left a crate full of vinyl records, each with a radio show on it. I’m digitizing and archiving his interview segments here.

My dad interviews CIA operative Frank Snepp about his book Irreparable Harm about how the U.S. abandoned its collaborators in Vietnam.

In the 1970s and 1980s, my father, Sam Merrill, had an interview segment on a local radio show in New York City: Direct News. When he passed away, he left a crate full of vinyl records, each with a radio show on it. I’m digitizing and archiving his interview segments here.

In this five-part interview from Trenton State Prison, my dad speaks with Rubin “Hurricane” Carter about incarceration and systemic barriers to justice.

Carter was arrested in 1966 for a triple homicide. There was no physical evidence tying Carter to the crime, and multiple alibi witnesses placed him elsewhere. The prosecution’s key eyewitnesses were later found to have received inducements for their testimony.

Carter’s prediction was correct: he was eventually released in 1985 after 19 years in prison. He was never pardoned. After his release, Carter moved to Toronto, Canada, and eventually became a Canadian citizen. He directed Innocence Canada until 2005.

In the 1970s and 1980s, my father, Sam Merrill, had an interview segment on a local radio show in New York City: Direct News. When he passed away, he left a crate full of vinyl records, each with a radio show on it. I’m digitizing and archiving his interview segments here.

In this segment, my dad interviews John Allen, author of Assault with a Deadly Weapon, about crime, recidivismfounder of Penthouse, about art, pornography, and the future of the publication. Guccioni went on to become very rich in the 80s, only to lose it all on some poor investments.

In the 1970s and 1980s, my father, Sam Merrill, had an interview segment on a local radio show in New York City: Direct News. When he passed away, he left a crate full of vinyl records, each with a radio show on it. I’m digitizing and archiving his interview segments here.

In this segment, my dad interviews anti-abortion lobbyist Nellie Gray about inequality in abortion access in the U.S. medical system and the Constitution.

In the 1970s and 1980s, my father, Sam Merrill, had an interview segment on a local radio show in New York City: Direct News. When he passed away, he left a crate full of vinyl records, each with a radio show on it. I’m digitizing and archiving his interview segments here.

In this segment, my dad interviews Bob Guccioni, founder of Penthouse, about art, pornography, and the future of the publication. Guccioni went on to become very rich in the 80s, only to lose it all on some poor investments.

In the 1970s and 1980s, my father, Sam Merrill, had an interview segment on a local radio show in New York City: Direct News. When he passed away, he left a crate full of vinyl records, each with a radio show on it. I’m digitizing and archiving his interview segments here.

In this segment, my dad interviews Cornell sociologist Dr. Rose Goldsen about how media constructs its audience—and how children’s television created ‘literate’ consumers.

In the 1970s and 1980s, my father, Sam Merrill, had an interview segment on a local radio show in New York City: Direct News. When he passed away, he left a crate full of vinyl records, each with a radio show on it. I’m digitizing and archiving his interview segments here.

My dad talks to fashion photographer and provocateur Francesco Scavullo.

In the 1970s and 1980s, my father, Sam Merrill, had an interview segment on a local radio show in New York City: Direct News. When he passed away, he left a crate full of vinyl records, each with a radio show on it. I’m digitizing and archiving his interview segments here.

My dad talks to former AG and future activist Ramsey Clark.

In the 1970s and 1980s, my father, Sam Merrill, had an interview segment on a local radio show in New York City: Direct News. When he passed away, he left a crate full of vinyl records, each with a radio show on it. I’m digitizing and archiving his interview segments here.

My dad talks to the author Dan Greenburg about policing and corruption.