Gabriel Urza ("All That Followed") joins the show. We discuss Gabriel's powerful debut novel that explores how startling situations unfold from small decisions.

Chris Field and Katharine Mach from the Carnegie Institution for Science - Department of Global Ecology at Stanford join the show. We discuss how the recent Paris talks have shaped the climate change discussion and what needs to happen moving forward to ensure a sustainable planet.

Nick Berardini (Director of KILLING THEM SAFELY) joins the show. We discuss his new documentary that explores how a seemingly great All-American company crafted a much different version of their backstory than the truth.

Jonathan Kirshner (Cornell University, "Urban Flight") joins the show. We welcome Jonathan back to the program to discuss his novel about New York's past. 1975 was a year when the sprawling city felt completely helpless and residents felt trapped with no end in sight. People in authority felt the need to commit questionable acts in order to try and allow New York to survive.

Antony Loewenstein (Independent Journalist, "Disaster Capitalism: Making a Killing Out of Catastrophe") joins the show. We discuss how disaster capitalism has spread across the globe completely unchecked, and threatens every citizen on the planet.

Helen Phillips (Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Brooklyn College, "The Beautiful Bureaucrat") joins the show. We discuss her novel that is an honest look at the disappointing but ultimate pleasure that can be felt when dealing with monotonous forces.

Matt Lewis ("Last Man Off: A True Story of Disaster and Survival on the Antarctic Seas") joins the show. We discuss how Matt landed his dream job straight out of college, but ended up fighting for his life to survive the brutal and unforgiving Antarctic Seas.

James Shapiro ("The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606, Columbia University) joins the show. We discuss how William Shakespeare managed to write three iconic plays in a single year that were largely shaped by the current events of the day.

J.S. Law ("Tenacity") joins the show. We discuss his debut novel about a recently reassigned female investigator trying to solve a case despite so many forces working against her.

Judith Viorst ("Wait for Me: And Other Poems About the Irritations and Consolations of a Long Marriage") joins the show. We discuss how her long-standing marriage translates into poetry as well as our passion for books.