Thecuriousmanspodcast

What if the American Revolution wasn't just a national uprising — but a global turning point?

Prize-winning historian Richard Bell joins Matt Crawford to discuss his groundbreaking new book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World. In this episode, Bell reframes the Revolution as an event that reverberated far beyond the thirteen colonies — reshaping empires, inspiring new movements for liberty, and transforming ideas about democracy itself.

Richard and I explore the global consequences of America's founding struggle, the untold stories of those left out of its triumph, and how its ideals still echo — and clash — in the world today.

Join the conversation about power, freedom, and the unfinished legacy of the Revolution.

They were told they could be anything — then handed a world on fire.

Award-winning journalist Charlie Wells joins Matt Crawford to discuss his new book What Happened to Millennials: In Defense of a Generation, a deeply reported and provocative look at how the largest generation in history was shaped by economic crises, digital revolutions, and cultural change.

Matt and Charlie explore how millennials have been misunderstood, misrepresented, and underestimated — and why their struggles reveal so much about modern society itself. From work and wealth to meaning and identity, this conversation challenges every stereotype about "the participation trophy generation."

This is the millennial story — told from the inside out.

What happens when the person searching for truth is the one most haunted by it?

In this episode, host Matt Crawford speaks with Canadian author Joel Nedecky about his powerful debut novel, The Broken Detective. This isn't your typical crime story — it's a meditation on guilt, redemption, and the fragile humanity behind every investigation.

Nedecky's novel follows a detective unraveling not only a mystery but also himself — exploring what it means to seek justice in a world where the lines between right and wrong are constantly shifting. Together, Matt and Joel discuss the psychology of brokenness, the tension between duty and doubt, and how writing a detective story can become an act of personal discovery.

In this episode, we're joined by Anne Hand, author of Austrian Again: Reclaiming a Lost Legacy, a powerful exploration of identity, ancestry, and rediscovery.

Through personal storytelling and historical reflection, Anne takes us on her journey to reconnect with her Austrian roots—uncovering forgotten family stories, confronting the silences of the past, and reclaiming a legacy nearly lost to history.

We discuss the emotional process of piecing together family identity after war and migration, what it means to belong to multiple cultures, and how uncovering our heritage can heal generational wounds.

This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered where they come from—and how our stories shape who we become.

For decades, we've been told the dinosaurs were wiped out by a single catastrophic asteroid impact — a story that has become almost mythic in its simplicity. But what if that isn't the full truth? In this episode, host Matt Crawford speaks with Professor Gerta Keller, one of the world's leading paleontologists and a bold voice challenging conventional science.

Drawing on over 40 years of fieldwork and groundbreaking research, Keller's new book The Last Extinction: The Real Science Behind the Death of the Dinosaurs reexamines the evidence and makes a compelling case that massive volcanic eruptions — not just an asteroid — drove the greatest extinction in history.

Together, they discuss scientific resistance, the importance of questioning accepted narratives, and what ancient mass extinctions can teach us about our own fragile planet today.

In this episode, we're joined by Eden Collinsworth, bestselling author and cultural commentator, to discuss her latest book The Improbable Victoria Woodhull: Suffrage, Free Love, and the First Woman to Run for President.

Victoria Woodhull was one of the most audacious and unconventional women of the 19th century: a suffragist, stockbroker, publisher, spiritualist, and in 1872, the first woman to run for president—decades before American women could vote. Her advocacy for "free love" shocked Victorian sensibilities, while her business dealings and political ambitions made her both admired and reviled.

Eden takes us through Woodhull's improbable rise, her controversies, her clashes with the press and fellow suffragists, and her lasting—if complicated—impact on American history.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Shirley Strum, professor of anthropology and director of the Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project in Kenya. For over five decades, Dr. Strum has observed wild baboons, uncovering surprising truths about their lives—and about our own.

Her new book, Echoes of Our Origins: Baboons, Humans, and Nature, brings readers into the world of baboon society, revealing what these remarkable primates can teach us about cooperation, conflict, survival, and what it really means to be human.

We discuss the joys and challenges of long-term fieldwork, the deep connections between humans and baboons, and how storytelling can inspire conservation and empathy across species.

In this episode, we talk with tutor, coach, and author Dana Sutton about her heartwarming children's book Maddie Finds Her Place. The story follows Maddie, a young girl on a journey to understand who she is and where she belongs—a theme that resonates deeply with children and adults alike.

Dana shares how her work with kids inspired the book, why stories about belonging matter, and how parents, educators, and coaches can use books like Maddie Finds Her Place to support children's emotional growth.

We sit down with author Elizabeth Pines-Boyle about her novel, Choosing Her.

Centered around flawed, multidimensional characters simmering with chemistry, mounting betrayals, and explosive revelations, Choosing Her is truly a fast paced psychological thriller that will keep you guessing till the end.

This book grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go!

Can't wait for the rest of the world to get a chance at reading this.

In this episode, we sit down with renowned cardiologist, researcher, and author Dr. Peter Kowey to discuss his eye-opening new book, Failure to Treat. Drawing from decades of experience in medicine, Dr. Kowey exposes the systemic flaws that are failing both patients and the professionals who care for them.

This is a must-listen conversation for patients, providers, and anyone concerned about the future of healthcare.