Thecuriousmanspodcast

Matt Crawford speaks with author Dr. Martin Abrahamson about his book, Conquering Your Diabetes. It is estimated that by 2045 there will be 700 million people in the world with Diabetes, and of that 95% will have Type 2, a treatable and largely preventable disease. Dr. Abrahamson and Dr. Chopra are both professors at Harvard Medical School, and in their book they tell us everything we need to know about diabetes - the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 and the role genetics, diet and exercise play in each. The advances in detection, monitoring and treatment and how people live and thrive while having the disease. Included in the book are inspiring stories of patients from all walks of life and how they have overcome and not let diabetes define them. 

Matt Crawford speaks with singer, songwriter, photographer, poet, artist and author Darden Smith about his multi-media project, Western Skies. Western skies is a collection of essays, Polaroid photographs and songs that Smith worked on while driving through the American southwest. We discuss what his inspiration was for this project, how it evolved and how he evolved as he has now recorded his 16th album. A great conversation about creation and where it is birthed. Give a listen to the interview, a read to the written word and then a listen to Darden Smith's prose. This is an all-encompassing project that will leave a mark.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Robert Buschel about his book, God's Ponzi. This is a story of justice and revenge and how the line between the two can be very difficult to discern. When someone wrongs one of Gregory Portent's inner circle he must make sure they pay, how does he do this? A Ponzi scheme of course! With details ripped from the headlines and with the twist of Artificial Intelligence this book with keep you reading and hoping for Gregory to succeed. Robert and I also discuss his career as a lawyer and other current events. Please give a listen and buy the book! Now available on Amazon Https://robertbuschel.com/

Matt Crawford speaks with author Thomas Bardenwerper about his novel, Mona Passage. This is a story of friendships and family and how those relationships can be complicated and messy. It is also about nuance and what people will do when they are fighting for their family. Coast Guard Lieutenant Pat McAllister and Cuban emigrant Galan Betances strike up a quick and deep friendship while neighbors in San Juan. When Galan learns his sister is to be committed to a mental health facility back in Cuba, he must find a way to save her. Pat happens to patrol the Mona Passage where she would have to make the journey. Decisions must be made, and friendships will be tested. This is a hard to put down read and a very emotional one, Bardenwerper weaves complex and relatable characters that draw you in and hold tight. 

Matt Crawford speaks with author Dr. Megan Kate Nelson about her book, Saving Yellowstone. Almost four million people visit Yellowstone every year yet the history of how it came into being and the political and social climate of the time are often overlooked. Nelson takes us back to the grand adventure that creating Yellowstone was, while also exploring the dark period of Reconstruction and African American's fight for justice and true equality, while also detailing the exploitation of indigenous peoples and their fight to maintain their land and culture. A multi-faceted and nuanced read that blends exploration, history and social justice. I can't wait till you all read it!

Matt Crawford speaks with author Lynn Garafola about her book, La Nijinska. This is the amazing and riveting story of Bronislava  Nijinska, the twentieth-century ballet's premier female choreographer. Overshadowed by her brother Vaslav Nijinsky, this is the first biography of her. An unparalleled career that spanned more than a half century, through revolution and world wars, this is a story of an enduring women who refused to be marginalized. Whether you are interested in ballet or not, this is an inspiring and moving story of a women who achieved lasting success in a field dominated by men. An empowering and motivating story that all will surely enjoy.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Neil Lanctot about his book, The Approaching Storm. World War I is often buried in the shadows of WWII and yet while the U.S was a brief participant in the war it would change the course of our history and shape the 20th century. The book looks at this time period through the eyes of Teddy Roosevelt, a former President running for a third term, Woodrow Wilson, a current President running for a 2nd term and Jane Addams a pacifist whose story has been dimmed a bit by history. A deep and rich story of what led to WWI but also the tangential events, concerns and issues facing the American people at the time. This is a book that will transport you back to the era and immerse you in the debate of war while stirring your mind of the parallels we face today. 

In this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Neil Thompson about his book, The First Kennedys: The Humble Roots of an American Dynasty. Everyone knows the Kennedy name; it is what most people consider the closest to royalty that America has. Yet, the true origins of this dynasty are misunderstood and often attributed to Joseph Kennedy and not his grandmother, Bridget Murphy. Bridget and Patrick Kennedy arrived penniless, along with thousands of other Irish escaping the potato famine. Soon a widow, Bridget would work her way up from housemaid to shop owner and property owner. What she built would be the foundation of what the Kennedy family built upon. A truly amazing and inspiring read.

Matt Crawford speaks with author William Hazelgrove about his book, Greed in the Gilded Age. Deemed the crime of the century in 1904 this is the story of the ultimate con. Claiming to be the illegitimate daughter of the robber baron Andrew Carnegie, Chadwick used greed, avarice and male chauvinism to dupe multiple banks into lending her millions of dollars. With nothing more than a forged promissory note and psychological manipulation this young woman played educated and learned men to achieve her decadent lifestyle. When caught Carnegie himself would have to grace the court with his presence, was this young woman his daughter after all? An unbelievable and rapturous read, this is another difficult one to put down.

https://www.williamhazelgrove.com/

Matt Crawford speaks with author Keith Ryan Cartwright about his book, Black Cowboys of Rodeo. They ride and rope horses, ride and fight bulls, and even wrestle steers. These are Black Cowboys, and to do all that, they also had to fight racism and prejudice. Cartwright has collected and curated over 100 years of stories told by these pioneers themselves. Set against the backdrop of Reconstruction, Jim Crow, segregation, the civil rights movement, integration and mass incarceration, this is a rich and important history that needs to be read. Black Cowboys are not an anomaly or a punchline, and their struggles and stories need to be told and shared. I hope you will all read this book and help tell their stories.