Curiosity Invited

David Bryan speaks with author Steve Schlam about his debut novel, 'The Harvesting of Haystacks Cain.' They explore the inspiration behind the book, which originated from a dream, and delve into the character development of the protagonist, Herschel "Haystacks" Kane. Schlam discusses the themes of identity, empathy, and the writing process, as well as his literary influences, including Faulkner and Joyce. The conversation also touches on the importance of empathy in storytelling and Schlam's reflections on his future writing projects.

"Steve Schlam first gained entry to the City of Words through the doors of the public library in Brooklyn, New York, where he was born and spent a good part of his childhood; and has maintained his residency ever since while living in cities and towns across the United States and in Mexico. An actor as well as an author, he has performed on stages in all the places he has called home, and earned a Master's Degree in Creative Writing and English under the tutelage of Joseph Heller, renowned author of "Catch-22." He lives currently in Southern California in a pretty little Craftsman bungalow with orange and lemon trees growing in the backyard, in the company of his wife, Liora. His debut novel, "The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane," was released in March 2024."

In this conversation, David Bryan interviews Sharri Foos, a marriage and family therapist and founder of the Narrative Method.  Shari shares insights on the importance of creative writing in healing and personal growth, emphasizing the non-therapeutic, supportive nature of her workshops. The discussion also covers the core concepts of the Narrative Method.
      Shari  and David explore the importance of creating a safe space for individuals to connect and share their stories. They discuss the role of humor and creativity in facilitating meaningful conversations, the challenges of navigating vulnerability, and the significance of self-compassion.
      Shari emphasizes the need for understanding and empathy in human interactions, while also addressing the promotion and accessibility of the Narrative Method, which aims to foster connection and healing through storytelling.

Shari Foos is the founder of The Narrative Method, an award-winning 501C3 that addresses the crisis of loneliness by connecting people through their stories and creative expression. Now in its 12th year, TNM offers numerous online groups open to all as well as programs for underserved communities including veterans, youth in crises and mature adults.

Ms. Foos is a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in California and New York. She earned an MS in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University (2012) and her MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles (1997), where she founded BRIDGE in 1999, a free humanities program for low-income adults, and where she is also an adjunct professor. She is the recipient of the New Directions for Veterans Community Hero Award (2015) and The Antioch University Los Angeles Lifetime Achievement Award (2016). Ms. Foos serves on the board of the City Kids Foundation and has served as a judge for Gold Humanism in Medicine since 2014. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Shari was a television writer, punk-rock singer and the creator of cutting-edge salons and events.

As a sought-after expert on the subjects of relationships, loneliness and meaningful connection, Foos’ writing and commentary have appeared in a range of online and print publications and podcasts, including Real Simple, Huffington Post, Women’s Health, KBLA, Fatherly, Thrive Global, Shondaland, The LA Weekly, Sparks & Honey Culture Briefings, Body Green, Sondership and Bustle.

https://www.thenarrativemethod.org/
https://www.instagram.com/thenarrativ...

In this conversation, host David Bryan speaks with Dr. Tracie Canada about her recent book, which explores the intersection of race, gender, and college football. They discuss the unique experiences of Black college football players, the implications of a Black feminist perspective, and the importance of community and care among players. The conversation highlights the exploitation faced by student-athletes and the broader societal issues impacting their lives. Canada discusses the intricate dynamics of college athletics, focusing on the bonds formed among players, the challenges they face in balancing education and sports, and the systemic issues within the NCAA. She emphasizes the importance of brotherhood among athletes, the complexities of their educational experiences, and potential solutions to improve their circumstances, including unionization and cost-sharing. The conversation also critiques the term 'student-athlete' and advocates for a more honest representation of their roles within the collegiate sports system. 

Big-time college football promises prestige, drama, media attention, and money. Yet most athletes in this unpaid, amateur system encounter a different reality, facing dangerous injuries, few pro-career opportunities, a free but devalued college education, and future financial instability. In one of the first ethnographies about Black college football players, anthropologist Tracie Canada reveals the ways young athletes strategically resist the exploitative systems that structure their everyday lives.

Tackling the Everyday shows how college football particularly harms the young Black men who are overrepresented on gridirons across the country. Although coaches and universities constantly invoke the misleading "football family" narrative, this book describes how a brotherhood among Black players operates alongside their caring mothers, who support them on and off the field. With a Black feminist approach—one that highlights often-overlooked voices—Canada exposes how race, gender, kinship, and care shape the lives of the young athletes who shoulder America's favorite game

Dr. Tracie Canada is a socio-cultural anthropologist whose ethnographic research uses sport to theorize race, kinship and care, gender, and the performing body. Her work focuses on the lived experiences of Black football players.
 
Canada is the Andrew W. Mellon Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology & Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies at Duke University. I'm also the founder and director of the Health, Ethnography, and Race through Sports (HEARTS) Lab.

Her research has been supported by various agencies, including the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, the National Science Foundation, the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.

In addition to her academic writing, her work has been featured in public venues and outlets like The Museum of Modern Art, TIME, The Guardian, and Scientific American.

In this conversation, Jamaal Lewis shares his remarkable journey from a military upbringing to becoming a college football star, then briefly playing in the NFL, and his move to modeling and acting.  He discusses the challenges he faced, including struggles with accountability, partying, and addiction. Jamaal reflects on the pivotal moments that led him to find purpose and the importance of family in shaping his life.

His story is one of resilience, growth, and the message of staying blessed amidst adversity. In this conversation, Jamaal Lewis shares his transformative journey from a life of partying and addiction to finding purpose through responsibility and faith. He discusses how he transitioned into modeling and acting, the creation of his clothing line 'Stay Blessed', and the challenges of navigating the entertainment industry while staying true to his values. Jamaal emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself and the power of resilience in the face of rejection and adversity.

https://www.stayblessedclothing.com/
https://www.instagram.com/officialjam...
https://www.instagram.com/stayblessed...

In this conversation, Dr. Paul Sunseri discusses the concept of gentle parenting, particularly in relation to children with oppositional behavior. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the emotional lives of children and the need for parents to adapt gentle parenting strategies to effectively manage challenging behaviors. The discussion covers various topics including the impact of screen time, the implementation of family time, the significance of setting boundaries, and the role of effective communication in parenting. Dr. Sunseri provides practical strategies for parents to navigate the complexities of raising children, especially those with mental health challenges. In this conversation, Dr. Paul Sunseri discusses the importance of behavioral interventions in parenting, challenging common misconceptions about gentle parenting and emotional regulation. He emphasizes the need for limit-setting and disengagement during tantrums, advocating for a structured approach to behavior change that fosters positive family dynamics. Dr. Sunseri also highlights the feedback loop created by improved behavior and family relationships, offering hope to families struggling with oppositional behavior.

Paul Sunseri, Psy.D., the developer of IFFT, has decades of experience working with children and teens with very serious mental health conditions. He is a child and family psychologist, a published researcher in peer-reviewed journals, and a TEDx speaker. Dr. Sunseri is also the author of Gentle Parenting Reimagined: How to Make It Work With Oppositional and Defiant Kids and Family-Focused Treatment for Child and Adolescent Mental Health: A New Paradigm

linkedin.com/in/paul-sunseri-psy-d-54033b7
myIFFT.org 
NCAFT.org 
[email protected]

n this conversation, Chanchal Garg shares her journey as an executive coach and author of the intimate and revealing memoire, 'Unearthed: The Lies We Carry and the Truths They Bury.' She discusses her experiences with cultural identity, personal narratives, and the impact of spiritual and sexual abuse on her life. Chanchal emphasizes the importance of owning one's story and the healing process that comes from sharing it. The conversation also touches on the role of spirituality, the influence of guru culture, and the challenges of navigating personal agency within cultural expectations. Ultimately, Chanchal aims to inspire others to question their narratives and find empowerment in their own stories.

Chanchal is an Executive Coach and Facilitator of Conscious Leadership who has never been satisfied with “the way things are.” Through all of her professional and personal experiences, Chanchal is committed to going deep--to the layer where we remember life was meant to be so much better than feeling stressed, anxious, and depleted. Chanchal believes that when we invest in revisiting and nourishing our roots, deeper connections revitalize our workplaces and communities.
Through her many business roles over the years, including business ownership and facilitating Stanford’s interpersonal dynamics graduate business course, she’s gained a big picture perspective around strategic thinking, systems evolution, and interpersonal dynamics for relationship-building. Chanchal helps her clients uproot the beliefs and behaviors that keep them small, and begin to cultivate authentic connections with healthy boundaries and expansive vision.  

https://www.realspaceco.com/

In this conversation, Dr. Greta Uehling discusses her work on the Crimean Tatars and the broader implications of indigenous rights in Ukraine. She emphasizes the importance of experiential learning in anthropology and shares insights into the resilience of the Crimean Tatars despite historical oppression. The discussion explores Ukraine's evolving national identity, the impact of Russian occupation, and the significance of cultural continuity for the survival of indigenous peoples. Dr. Uehling highlights the need for understanding history to foster social cohesion and the role of indigenous peoples in conflict resolution.

Dr. Greta Uehling emphasizes the importance of experiential learning in anthropology.The Crimean Tatars have a rich history of resilience despite oppression. Ukraine's national identity is evolving to include indigenous rights.The 2014 occupation of Crimea by Russia significantly impacted the Crimean Tatars.Cultural continuity is vital for the survival of the Crimean Tatars. Ukrainians are beginning to recognize their historical mistreatment of the Crimean Tatars. The relationship between the Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians is complex but evolving positively. Indigenous peoples provide valuable lessons in conflict resolution and cultural responsibility.
The Crimean Tatars view their land as a responsibility, not a resource.
Understanding history is crucial for building social cohesion in Ukraine.

Greta Uehling is an anthropologist who specializes in the study of war, conflict, and population displacement. A Professor at the University of Michigan, she teaches seminars on human rights and humanitarianism for the Program in International and Comparative Studies.

Her new book, Decolonizing Ukraine (2025) shows readers how understanding Crimea is essential for understanding Ukraine – and the war with Russia – today.

In 2023, she published Everyday War with Cornell University Press. The book challenges conventional ideas about the role of civilians in contemporary wars and was awarded Harvard University’s Davis Book Prize.

Uehling has consulted with a number of international organizations including UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

https://gretauehling.com/

In this conversation, Jeff Schoep speaks about his recently published memoire, American Nazi - the story of his transformative journey from leading the National Socialist Movement to founding Beyond Barriers, an organization dedicated to helping individuals exit extremist groups. He discusses the challenges of writing his memoir, the psychological factors that contribute to radicalization, and the importance of human connections in overcoming hate. Schoep emphasizes the need for dialogue and understanding in combating extremism and shares insights from his current work in educating youth about the dangers of hate and the value of compassion.

For over 2 decades, Schoep led America’s largest neo-Nazi organization, the National Socialist Movement (NSM), overseeing its growth to a nationwide movement. Beginning in 2016, through interactions with a black musician, Daryl Davis, and a Muslim film maker, Deeyah Khan, Jeff began to question not only his work, but his entire life. Experiencing relational dialogue and interpersonal relationships with those he once vilified changed Jeff’s life forever. 

In 2019, he left the the NSM and publicly denounced the ideology. Jeff Schoep transitioned from mastering propaganda that promoted hatred and fear dedication to speaking about our shared humanity. He provides unique insights into the inner workings of far-right extremism from first hand knowledge and personal experience. Jeff has spoken nationally and internationally, from synagogues to universities, from broadcasts to speaking at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway with Deeyah Khan. 

In 2020, Jeff founded Beyond Barriers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to a world devoid of extremism, radicalized organizations, hate, violence, coercive and violent ideologies. In addition to working alongside both community and government agencies, such as the Office of Juvenile Justice Department (OJJDP), Jeff and his organization, Beyond Barriers, have worked with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, RAND Corporation, International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (ICSVE), mental health professionals, academic research and development teams, as well as religious and educational institutions across the United States and abroad. 

In this conversation, Dr. Wylin D. Wilson discusses the concept of womanist bioethics, its historical context, and the need for a more inclusive approach to bioethics that addresses the experiences of marginalized populations, particularly women of color. The discussion highlights the shortcomings of mainstream bioethics and the importance of expanding narratives to include diverse voices in healthcare and ethical considerations. In this conversation, Wylin D. Wilson and David Bryan explore the complex intersections of race, genetics, healthcare, and faith. They discuss the role of public health in addressing racism as a social determinant of health, the historical significance of the Black church in public health activism, and the broader implications of womanist bioethics. The conversation emphasizes the importance of awareness, advocacy, and the interconnectedness of all individuals in addressing health disparities and fostering community well-being.

Dr. Wylin D. Wilson is Assistant Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School, where she teaches within the Theology, Medicine and Culture Initiative.  Her teaching and research are at the intersection of Bioethics, Gender, and Theology. She is former Teaching Faculty at Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics, she served as a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Divinity School Center for the Study of World Religions, and Visiting Lecturer in Harvard Divinity School Women’s Studies in Religion Program.  She is also former Associate Director of Education for the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care and former faculty member of the Tuskegee University College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences. She is currently Principle Investigator for the Bioethics and Black Church: Addressing Racial Inequalities and Black Women’s Health in North Carolina research project which examines the potential of the Black Church as a resource in addressing the Black maternal health crisis in the U.S.
 
Dr. Wilson earned her Ph.D. in Religion, Ethics and Society from Emory University; her M.S. in Agricultural, Resource, and Managerial Economics from Cornell University; and her M.Div. from the Interdenominational Theological Center.  She is a member of the Society for the Study of Black Religion, the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, the American Academy of Religion, and the Center for Reconciliation Advisory Board at Duke Divinity School. Dr. Wilson’s publications include: “‘This is My Body’: Faith Communities as Sites of Transfiguring Vulnerability” in Bioenhancement and the Vulnerable Body: A Theological Engagement (Baylor University Press, 2023); her first book, Economic Ethics and the Black Church (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017) and her second book, Womanist Bioethics: Social Justice, Spirituality and Black Women’s Health (New York University Press).

https://wylindwilson.com/
linkedin.com/in/wylin-dassie-wilson-55bb7a47

In this engaging conversation, David Bryan and Tom Lutz explore the significance of the year 1925 in American literature, discussing its remarkable contributions and the evolution of literary publishing. 

Lutz shares insights into the founding of the Los Angeles Review of Books, reflecting on the cultural perceptions of literature and the ongoing presence of extraordinary talent in the arts. In their conversation, Tom Lutz and David Bryan explore various themes related to entrepreneurship, cultural perspectives on publishing, the role of nonprofits in literature, and the surprises of the 1920s. 

They discuss the evolution of gardening and sustainability, the creative process of writing, and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in literature. The conversation culminates in reflections on the lessons from the 1920s that can inform contemporary society, particularly in the context of rising nationalism and the need for resistance against regressive movements.

Tom Lutz (born March 21, 1953) is an American writer, literary critic, and academic, renowned for his contributions to literature and publishing. He is the founding editor-in-chief and publisher of the Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB), which he launched in 2011 to provide a platform for literary criticism and cultural commentary.

     After working in various trades, Lutz pursued higher education, earning a B.A. in English and Journalism from the University of Massachusetts. He then obtained a master's degree and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University. 

       Lutz served as a Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside). He retired in 2024 and now holds the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Throughout his academic tenure, he taught at various institutions, including Stanford University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Copenhagen. 

Lutz is the author of numerous books spanning cultural history, travel writing, and fiction. His notable works include:

• American Nervousness, 1903: An Anecdotal History (1991)

• Crying: The Natural and Cultural History of Tears (1999)

• Doing Nothing: A History of Loafers, Loungers, Slackers, and Bums in America (2007), which received the American Book Award in 2008

• Born Slippy: A Novel (2020)

• Aimlessness (2021)

• The Kindness of Strangers (2021)

• Portraits: Moments of Intimacy on the Road (2022)

His forthcoming works include Still Slippy: A Novel and 1925: A Literary Encyclopedia, both slated for release in 2025