Thecuriousmanspodcast

Matt Crawford speaks with author and illustrator Maria Van Lieshout about her book, Song of a Blackbird. In 1943 Amsterdam, Emma Bergsma's world changes when she witnesses Jewish families being forcibly deported to concentration camps. That pivotal moment lights a fire within her, and she decides to join the Dutch Resistance. Before long, Emma is drawn into a clandestine world of printing presses and counterfeiters, with thousands of lives on the line. In 2011 Amsterdam, teenage Annick's world has changed as well. A search for a bone marrow donor for her beloved oma leads to a shocking revelation: her grandmother was secretly adopted as a child. The only clues to finding their lost family are a series of art prints hanging on the wall―each signed by a mysterious "Emma B." This timely graphic novel weaves together two timelines to reveal how art, in the face of political upheaval and nearly insurmountable adversity, can become our greatest lifeline.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Dr. Neal Baer about his book, The Promise and the Peril of CRISPR.

Scientists and genetic engineers are becoming increasingly adept at editing the human genome. How far can—and should—they go in editing future generations? In The Promise and Peril of CRISPR, editor Neal Baer brings together a timely collection of essays by influential bioethicists, philosophers, and geneticists to explore the moral, ethical, and policy challenges posed by CRISPR technology.

We are at a technological and ethical crossroads in grappling with the impacts of genetic editing. Gene-editing technology holds the promise of curing more than 7,000 known genetic diseases. Yet with that promise comes the peril of using CRISPR to edit the human genome, which could not only lead to manipulating human evolution, but also to creating and releasing pathogens capable of wreaking havoc on human, animal, and plant life. Although CRISPR has already cured several genetic diseases, it could also be used to design biological weapons or to edit the embryos of people who can afford to purchase genetic "enhancements" for their children.

What role can and should the public play in discussing the far-reaching implications of gene editing? What oversights should be put in place to prevent a rogue scientist from engineering another baby – as was recently done with twins in China?

Essay contributors offer informed predictions and guidelines for how the uses of CRISPR today will affect life in the future. Decisions we make now may have unpredictable consequences for future generations. For anyone concerned about the uses and potential abuses of gene editing, these essays provide a critical and comprehensive discussion of the central issues surrounding CRISPR technology.

Contributors: Florence Ashley, R. Alta Charo, Marcy Darnovsky, Kevin Doxzen, Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Gigi Kwik Gronvall, Jodi Halpern, Katie Hasson, Andrew C. Heinrich, Jacqueline Humphries, J. Benjamin Hurlbut, Ellen D. Jorgensen, Peter F. R. Mills, Carol Padden, Marcus Schultz-Bergin, Robert Sparrow, Sandra Sufian, Krystal Tsosie, Ethan Weiss, Rachel M. West

Matt Crawford speaks with author Don Johnston about his book, By Means of Peace: A Novel. In a world teetering on the brink of chaos, one man's promise of peace becomes humanity's greatest threat. Reuben Rogov, a charismatic third-party President, emerges as a beacon of hope in troubled times. He brokers peace in the Middle East, faces down global superpowers, and conquers both the border crisis and a deadly pandemic. As the world hails him a sociopolitical messiah, Rogov ascends to unparalleled power–but at what cost? Darien and Marisa, a young couple from Houston, find themselves caught in the crosshairs of a rapidly changing political landscape. As Marisa is drawn into the heart of the new world order in Washington, their relationship is tested by distance, loyalty, and mounting suspicions about the true nature of Rogov's regime. Don Johnston's gripping narrative serves as a stark warning about the potential consequences of unchecked power and the seductive allure of false peace, all the while keeping pages turning like a classic by Philip K. Dick or Ray Bradbury. Kirkus Reviews hails it as "A chilling, futuristic tale of freedom lost." Don't miss this thought-provoking thriller that will leave you pondering long after you've turned the last page.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Robert B. O'Connor about his book, Jeep Show: A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge. Jim Tanzer is an ordinary soldier tasked with an extraordinary mission, travelling across Europe during World War II performing Jeep shows – small variety acts put on for the infantry just behind the front lines. These presentations are more than just entertainment, they are a beacon of hope, bringing brief moments of song, dance, and laughter to war weary troops, letting them know they are not forgotten. When Jim gets caught up in the Battle of the Bulge, the shows stop, and the action begins. Jim's courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds is a testament to the human spirit. Jeep Show is fiction based on little-known aspects of the U.S. World War II effort seen through the eyes of an unlikely hero. It is a compelling and human story that will appeal to fans of works like Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, and Ken Burns' The War. O'Connor peppers the narrative with fascinating details about the show business world of the 1920s, 30s, and early 40s, while also capturing the grim realities of war.

This is a fiction book but based in reality and these Jeep Shows were an integral part of the war effort. O'Connor really brings us back to just what these shows meant to our troops who were far from home and at war for so long.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Noe Alvarez about his book, Accordion Eulogies: A Memoir of Musci, Migration, and Mexico. Noe and i always have deep and vulnerable conversations, his books pull that out of a person. Always honest with his readers Noe bares himself to those who pick up his books and forces us to ask the tough questions. This is a fraught divisive time and what better time to look inward to see why that is? Give a listen, a read and then ask yourself some of the questions elicited by the book.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Matt Simons about his debut novel and first book in the End of Earth series, A Battle for Tomorrow.

Drafted into a world war that no country can win, young Jason is forced to witness the worst of humanity as everyone around him dies before he is thrown back in time by an explosion that kills him. Seemingly trapped in childhood with memories of a hopeless future haunting him, can Jason find a way to stop the war and save millions of lives if no one believes him? A story of friendship, futility and hope this is a read that really grabs hold and takes you places most books wont. See firsthand how trauma changes a person, how quickly a good person can become a violent killer. This is Jason's story.

Matt Crawford speaks with author, relationship and marriage advocate Arlene Pellicane about National Marriage week. How do we build a lasting marriage that fulfills and nurtures us? Pellicane disguises this and so much more to celebrate National Marriage week 2025and its theme, How to Build a Lasting Love.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Donald Jeffries about his book, I Could Have Been One.I Could Have Been One provides a look into the world Donald Wm. Jeffries was born into, raised, and grew up in through historical and political events of his life. We examine the world starting in the 1940s through our modern day and see how life was and what has changed. The history in which Jeffries has lived through has had a remarkable impact on his life and worldview, and we see this develop and change throughout the course of his journey. As the future comes speeding into view, with his lessons from the past we can start asking ourselves how we got here, what will become of our children's generation and their children's, and where are we headed? By beginning this discussion, we can have a better understanding of our current situation and face our realities, hopefully making better, brighter decisions for the future.

Matt Crawford speaks with author John Lee Hooker Jr. about his book, From the Shadows of the Blues: My Story of Music, Addiction, and Redemption.

The remarkable, powerful story of the son of blues legend John Lee Hooker

Born in Detroit and exposed to the music world from an early age, John Lee Hooker Jr. began singing as a featured attraction in his father's shows as a teenager. His father was a sharecropper's son who became known for hit songs like "Boogie Chillin," "I'm in the Mood," and "Boom Boom," and in 1972, he and his father performed live and recorded an album in Soledad Prison. Junior seemed to have a golden ticket to a successful music career as a child, but trouble brewed as his father's marriage was in trouble and ripped apart the family.

Drug addiction and a series of related crimes, including as a con player, landed Junior in and out of jails & prisons for several decades. An early brush with the law led to a sentence at Synanon, the infamous drug rehabilitation program turned religious cult. Later arrests resulted in time served in prisons including at Soledad, San Quentin, and Avenal.

Shot, stabbed, and convicted multiple times, Junior was at his lowest point doing time at a Santa Rita jail, but it was at that moment that he found the Lord. He emerged clean and sober and began a successful career as a blues singer, earning two Grammy nominations as well as the Bobby "Blue" Bland Lifetime Achievement Award. He eventually devoted himself fully to his faith. Now an ordained minister, Reverend John Lee Hooker Jr. testifies, preaches, and performs gospel music in prisons.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Callan Wink about his book, Beartooth: A Novel. In the Montana backcountry live two brothers who run a saw mill and do a little poaching on the side. Thad is the brains of the operation. His brother Hazen has a talent for tracking and hunting and getting himself into trouble. Together they have just about made it work, but now there are mounting bills, a leaky roof and winter is closing in. When a menacing figure known as the Scot offers them a risky but potentially lucrative hunting job in Yellowstone National Park, the brothers can't refuse, but before long the precarious nature of their lives and their bond is exposed. From a fresh new voice in American fiction, this is a propulsive, bracing story about the cost of survival set against the unforgiving wilderness of the American northwest.