Today’s guest has spent much of his career navigating the shadowy world of hostage negotiations, where lives hang in the balance and fortunes are exchanged for freedom. Rob Phayre isn’t just an expert in the field—he’s been on the front lines, directly involved in securing the release of over 800 hostages, billions of dollars’ worth of shipping and cargo, and overseeing hundreds of millions in ransom payments. Some of those operations even hold Guinness World Records for the largest ransoms ever paid at sea.

Rob also brings his expertise to the page as the award-winning author of The Response Files series, including the Amazon bestseller The Ransom Drop, Jungle Heist, and The Insurgency. His upcoming book, How to Deliver a Ransom, dives deep into the real-world mechanics of the kidnap-for-ransom business—a true crime, non-fiction guide to an industry most of us only see in movies.

Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to negotiate with kidnappers, deliver ransoms, and bring people home. Rob Phayre, welcome to the show.

To find out more about Rob and his book, check out his website: https://robphayre.com/

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Robert L. Harned joins the show to discuss Edithe Beutler: Beautifying Hawaii with Color, his new book about his grandmother, a pioneering 20th-century colorist. We explore Edithe’s artistry in transforming black-and-white photos, her collaboration with Kodak in Hawaii, and her influence on visual storytelling. Harned also shares insights into his family’s Hollywood connections and his work preserving their legacy.

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Natalie Grumet’s story is one of extraordinary resilience. A breast cancer survivor, she faced an even greater battle when she was shot in the face during the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting. Through years of recovery, she has transformed her trauma into a message of strength and hope, inspiring countless others to overcome adversity. Featured in Dateline, Inside Edition, and the Emmy-nominated 11 Minutes documentary, Natalie shares her journey of survival, perseverance, and finding purpose after tragedy.

Natalie's Website: https://www.nataliegrumet.com/

Natalie's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/warriorNatalie/

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Jean Shinoda Bolen is a world-renowned Jungian analyst, psychiatrist, activist, and author whose work has shaped the fields of psychology, spirituality, and women’s empowerment. Her thirteen books—translated into fourteen languages—have inspired readers around the globe. But behind her influential writings lies a deeply personal journey that has informed her wisdom and vision.

In Ever Widening Circles & Mystical Moments, Dr. Bolen shares nearly ninety years of lived experience—from confronting Japanese American racism as a child during World War II to her lifelong advocacy, caregiving, and pursuit of authentic living. Through her reflections on mystical moments and the power of trusted circles, she offers profound insights into how we can heal ourselves and our world.

In this episode, we explore Dr. Bolen’s extraordinary life, her intuitive approach to psychology, and the spiritual wisdom she has cultivated through decades of practice and activism. Join us for a conversation that promises to be both enlightening and deeply moving.

For more on Dr. Bolen’s work, visit www.jeanbolen.com.

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We sit down with Wendy Young, the ex-girlfriend of Christopher Duntsch—better known as Dr. Death. Duntsch, a once-promising neurosurgeon, left a trail of maimed and murdered patients before his eventual conviction and life sentence.

Wendy shares firsthand accounts of his disturbing behavior, from his professional downfall to his personal descent into chaos. She recounts the terrifying moments when Duntsch broke into her home covered in blood, the bizarre ransom note written in his own hand, and the emotional toll of raising his children while grappling with the reality of his crimes.

This is an episode you don’t want to miss. Tune in for an inside look at the monster behind the mask and the people who survived his destruction.

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In this episode of Eyewitness History, we talk with author Amory Patrick Blaine about his novel, American Renaissance: Missions Dangerous.

Based on leaked government documents found at Mar-a-Lago, the book blends espionage, mystery, and history, following a U.S. soldier-turned-spy embedded in the world of a radical artist.

Blaine shares the real-life inspirations behind the story, his experiences in the Foreign Service, and how secrecy, power, and art collide in his writing.

Check out his website: https://amorypatrickblaine.com/

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In this episode of Eyewitness History, we sit down with Lois Lowry, the two-time Newbery Medal-winning author behind The Giver, Number the Stars, and many other beloved works. Lowry discusses the inspiration behind her stories, the themes of memory and morality that run through her work, and the lasting impact of The Giver on readers and society.

Check out her website: http://loislowry.com/

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Today is the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

In recognition of this, please listen to this re-release of an interview I did with Holocaust survivor, Gene Klein.

In the spring of 1944, a teenage Gene Klein and his family were taken from their village in Hungary and thrown into the infamous Nazi extermination camp known as Auschwitz.

His father was taken straight to the gas chamber. Klein was forced into slave labor until liberated in the spring of 1945, and he spent two years as a refugee before his and other family members were allowed to immigrate to the United States.

“Eventually, I decided that, like [Elie ] Wiesel, I needed to be public about being a survivor and that, in my own small way, I should contribute to the mission of educating the world about the Holocaust,” he wrote.

“I will tell our story,” he continued, “and I will speak — especially in these times — about the tolerance and compassion necessary to prevent what happened to us from happening to others.”

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In this episode, I sit down with Jody Gelb, an accomplished actor and author whose forty-year career on stage and screen includes roles in Tony Award-winning Broadway productions like The Who’s Tommy, Titanic, Big River, and Wicked. You may also recognize her from guest appearances in hit television shows like Law & Order and Dr. Death.

Beyond her impressive acting career, Jody Gelb is the author of the profoundly moving memoir She May Be Lying Down but She May Be Very Happy. In this poetic and emotionally rich book, Gelb reflects on the life of her daughter, exploring the complex experiences of love, loss, and resilience that come with raising a child with profound disabilities. Her writing has earned praise from luminaries like Elizabeth Gilbert, who called the book “a stunning work of art, of truth, and of love.”

Check out her website: https://www.jodygelb.com/

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Josh Cohen returns to man the helm of Eyewitness History!

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