Thecuriousmanspodcast

Matt Crawford speaks with authors Chris De Pree and Sarah Scoles about their book Astronomical Mindfulness. We often think of looking inward when we think of Mindfulness and for a lot of us Astronomy can be a daunting subject to understand. De Pree and Scoles have found a way to combine the two ever so gently and create an easy to follow and understandable guide to the heavenly bodies above. With easy-to-follow instructions, exercises and star maps, this is a book that will expand your world and bring you joy. Great for adults and kids, I highly recommend it.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Dr. Mark Vonnegut about his book, The Heart of Caring. As a pediatrician for over 40 years Mark Vonnegut has seen a lot of patients with a varied array of cases, from the not so serious to the life threatening. He has also seen the medical system deteriorate and focus more on paper pushing and fees then medical care. Vonnegut shares stories of the young patients he has treated and describes a way to make our healthcare system more humane and efficient. A great mix of memoir and medical care solutions.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Brian Karem about his book Free The Press. Karem is an award-winning journalist, speaker, podcast host and author who has been reporting for over 40 years and has put his money where his mouth is, including going to jail to protect his sources. Karem brings his vast experience to the fore in this book and details the restrictions the press faces and what we as informed citizens can do to fix it. A great conversation and an even better read that I highly recommend.

Matt Crawford speaks with associate director of Project Censored, Andy Lee Roth about State of the Free Press 2022. Project Censored educates students and the public the importance of a truly free press. They also highlight and curate those stories that have not been given a large platform in a yearly book, State of the Free Press. Roth and I discuss all the methods Project Censored uses to try and get us those stories they think matter and what we can do to change our media appetite. Please give a listen, then visit their website so you can find all the ways to support them. 

Matt Crawford speaks with author Jay Parini about his book Borges and Me. A book fifty years in the making, hold on and get ready to go for a ride. As an aspiring author running from the Vietnam draft Parini finds himself at the great Scottish institution of St. Andrews. Through kismet and happenstance, he is asked to be a tour guide-caretaker for the blind and aged author, Jorge Luis Borges. What follows is a hysterical, poignant and meaningful jaunt though the Scottish Highlands in an old car, with a young author and a literary giant. A fun and touching read that will brighten your day and lend some great life perspective.

Matt Crawford speaks with professor and author Dr. Susan Carruthers about her book, Dear John. Are Dear John letters a betrayal of love and country? What type of person would send such a letter to a service member serving overseas risking their lives? Dr. Carruthers and I discuss that and so much more regarding this complex and nuanced issue. From the evolution of spousal communication to the military's changing policy on relationships and marriage in general, this is a book that looks at the administrative and psychological aspects of it all.

In this episode I speak with author Brooklyn Raney about her book, One Trusted Adult. Raney is an experienced teacher, coach, administrator, director of Girl's leadership Camp, co-founder of Generation Change and founder and lead trainer of the organization One Trusted Adult. All her work has been in the service of youth and how to guide adults in building strong connections with them. Whether you are a parent, coach, neighbor, aunt or uncle there is something for us all to take away from this book. I found so many useful lessons, I am glad I read it, and that I got to speak with Raney in such depth.

I speak with author Devi Lockwood about her book 1001 Voices on Climate Change. Lockwood traveled the world for over five years, covering twenty countries across six continents, to record first person accounts of climate change. Achieved mostly on a bike and carrying a sign that read, "Tell me a story about climate change." Lockwood is the Scheherazade of climate change impact, and you will find it hard to put down this book while reading through the "sticky stories" she has cultivated. Can't recommend this book enough!

In this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Wesley Morgan about his book, The Hardest Place. This is an exhaustively researched and compellingly written account of the American war experience in the Pech Valley. A microcosm of the war itself, Morgan fuses reporting embed trips, hundreds of interviews from the American and Afghan perspective to detail The Pech Valley experience. This is a complex topic with a lot of moving parts, but Morgan's accounting and writing style makes it easy to digest and impossible to put down.

In this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Wendy Syfret about her book, The Sunny Nihilist. Wendy and I delve into what Nihilism really is and how we can separate and understand the difference between, meaning, purpose and value. A deep thinking and contemplative read, this is one that will have you questioning the social constructs around you and who is really deciding what is and is not important. This book needs to be read.