Thecuriousmanspodcast

Matt Crawford speaks with Dr. Kendall Smith about his book, The Interluken Revolution. Dr. Smith recaps his career, from medical school through a two-decade stint as a medical professor at Dartmouth in the 1970s and 1980s, in which he made pioneering contributions to immunology. The book dives deep into his research on T cells—immune cells that destroy pathogens and provide long-term immunity—and the role of interleukin-2, a protein that promotes T-cell growth. Smith’s narrative features scenes of exhilarating discovery in which experiments worked beautifully and he gradually conceived a vision of interleukins as a set of hormones meticulously regulating the immune system. An interesting read mixed with science and personal stories that is sure to entertain.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Sonja Williams about her book, A Kid's Guide to Life Choices. When should we start to think about financial planning and even retirement? In our teens is the best time and William's book lays out key points for our teens to really latch on to. I learned so much from this book and discovered conversations I wish I had with my parents when I was younger. Easily accessible and a book I feel we should read along with our kids.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Shad White about his book, Mississippi Swindle: Brett Favre and the Welfare Scandal That Shocked America. This riveting exposé details how a small team of auditors and investigators, led by the youngest State Auditor in the country, uncovered a brazen scheme where the powerful stole millions in welfare funds from the poor in a sprawling conspiracy that stretched from Mississippi to Malibu. Well-connected donors, highly placed officials, and popular public figures diverted tens of millions of dollars from the federal government's TANF — temporary assistance for needy families — program until a Republican auditor, his small team of dedicated investigators, and a Democratic prosecutor joined forces to hold them accountable in the face of intense obstruction and harassment. Peopled with unforgettable characters — from the perpetrators; to the impoverished citizens for whom the money was intended; to the investigators, prosecutors, and reporters who held them to account — Mississippi Swindle is a political and true crime drama that highlights larger crises while appealing to a broad nationwide audience.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Jay Baron Nicorvo about his book, Best Copy Available: A True Crime Memoir. In the winter of 1984, Sharon Nicorvo was violently raped while delivering pizza to Fort Monmouth Army Base in New Jersey. At the same time, her seven-year-old son Jay was being subjected to repeated and secret sexual abuse by his babysitter. What follows is Nicorvo's search into what happened to his mother and his unraveling of his own abuse. Best Copy Available is a read that forces the reader to action, Nicorvo's writing has the tempo of a chainsaw and you feel rawness and hurt in this book as if you were there. 1 and 6 men have suffered sexual abuse and many never talk about it, not only does this book highlight what the author went through but it opens a door for those reading it. I implore everyone to give this a read and have a conversation about it.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Frank Andre Guridy about his book, The Stadium: An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play. Stadiums are monuments to recreation, sports, and pleasure. Yet from the earliest ballparks to the present, stadiums have also functioned as public squares. Politicians have used them to cultivate loyalty to the status quo, while activists and athletes have used them for anti-fascist rallies, Black Power demonstrations, feminist protests, and much more.         Guridy and I discuss how fundamental these structures are to our society and how they are a microcosm of larger moments in our history. A truly interesting read that will spur introspection and make you rethink these venues.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Sally Hunter about her book Transfigured Sea. This is a book that blurs the genre classification, from poetry, to love story, fantasy and nature this is a book that is sure to inspire and transport its readers beneath the surface of the ocean with its characters Laura and Daphne. Both are searching for meaning and adventure, their journey will become yours as well.

Matt Crawford speaks with former transplant surgeon and author David Weill about his novel, All That Really Matters. Dr. Joe Bosco is at the top of his field in transplant surgery, but the pursuit of perfection keeps him on the edge. What follows is his fall from grace and his road back to redemption.

Matt Crawford speaks with Psychologist and author Daniel Chappelle about his book A Minimalist Ethic for Everyday Life. The Golden Rule of the Abrahamic religions says: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” In contrast, the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius says: “Don’t do to others what you don’t want for yourself.” Or as Chapelle puts it, "Don't be a schmuck." Philosophy and Psychology are often thought of as separate disciplines and Chapelle shows us how intertwined they are in an accessible, easy to understand and fun way. A thought provoking read that is sure to spur some interesting conversations.

Matt Crawford speaks with author William Cooper about his book, How America Works... and Why It Doesn't. We are at a time of great division in our nation and much of that is because of polarizing media or our own ignorance of how our country works. Cooper looks to shed some light on that issue and to dispel some of that darkness with education and understanding. Why do many of us feel that AMerica doesn't work for us and what can we do to fix it? Read this book and then have a conversation with your fellow citizens to become part of the solution to that which ails us.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Rupert Taylor about his new novel, Please Let Me Destroy You. While trying to heist a casino in the Cambodian jungle, Apollo Jones has a crippling panic attack. But he’s no seasoned crim, he’s a filmmaker, and he’s heisting the casino so he can turn the story into the first season of a preposterously ambitious TV show he hopes to sell to HBO or Netflix or some other global streaming powerhouse. Spoiler alert: his panic attack stuffs up the heist. As punishment, his partners slice off his right pinky. But the TV show is all he has, so Apollo bandages his stump and heads off on a search for stories that will take him to the steaming streets of Saigon, the glittering hills above Hollywood, and all the way back to the dark and damp Cambodian jungle, where he may or may not be forced to dig his own grave.

Taylor shines a light on the dark underbelly of our society stoked by social media and our celebrity obsessed culture. A delicious satire that is as thought provoking as it is fun to read.