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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In todays episode we talk to Jay Brown who is a member of the living history group Capital Wing. We discuss not only our Military flying heritage, but the efforts being made to preserve that part of our history. If you are interested in flying, World War II, or the preservation of stories from the past, this one is for you!

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Today on Eyewitness History I have the privilege of sharing an interview with Comedian, Writer, Director, Producer and the creator of my favorite Sitcom, Brent Butt! In addition to creating "Corner Gas" which is the number one Canadian Sitcom in history, he continues to produce content that has uncharacteristic staying power and an international audience. This has uniquely positioned him to understand the role of entertainment in culture as well as the responsibility (and whether or not there really is one) for those who have large platforms. This was a great conversation that entertains and informs while motivating you to stream another episode of "Corner Gas."

For more information about Brent visit: www.brentbutt.com

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When we talk about a movie as a "Cult Classic", what exactly does that mean? And,  how do movies shape the culture in which we live? In todays episode of Eyewitness History, I have the privilege of speaking with Producer and Editor Jeremy Coon who was one of the major influences in the movie Napoleon Dynamite. We talk about how the movie was made, and what causes a rare few movies to transcend generations and become a Cult Classic.

To learn more about Jeremy Coon visit: https://september.club/

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How does the most dangerous country in the world become one of the safest? How can a country that has endured civil war, extreme poverty, and mass exodus of it's citizens become a model for other broken nations around the world? How can a President who barely qualified to run for his first term win his second with over 85% of the vote?

These are the questions we ask and hope to answer on todays episode of Eyewitness History!

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As scientists, politicians, and journalists look back and try to understand the real impact of Covid on our society, one group that has not gotten much attention is that group of young people who were going to college as the world grappled with exactly how we should handle this crisis. After spending years preparing for an education that would set them up for a career, many college students found themselves uncertain about their education let alone their future. How did they navigate these times and what impact did all of this have on not only education but how they would work "post covid?"

Today, I have the privilege of interviewing my daughter Maggie who was a college student during the Covid years and now works in an environment that reflects how the pandemic changed the way we learn and communicate. There are so many lessons to be learned as we reflect on these years and I hope that by having conversations like this one we can learn and better understand how to move forward.

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