Studies show that loneliness has been on the rise in the United States—even before the pandemic.

Social psychologist and lawyer, J. W. “Terry” Freiberg, explores the very real pain of chronic loneliness in his latest award-winning book, “Surrounded By Others, and Yet So Alone.”

It’s the third publication in his award-winning series exploring the profound impacts of loneliness. In this episode of Watching America, we hear heartbreaking stories of loneliness. We also hear inspirational stories of healing.

Freiberg holds a Ph.D. from UCLA and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is also the author of “Critical Sociology: European Perspectives,” and “The French Press.”

https://www.jwfreiberg.com/

Clarissa Ward has been reporting from Afghanistan as the Taliban takes control. Her compelling journalism from the streets of Kabul brings the reality of the situation to the world.

Ward spoke about her career as a journalist in hectic environments earlier this year on Watching America.

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Growing up between two cultures - two worlds - can teach a kid a lot. But it cannot teach an innate love and talent for storytelling. Clarissa Ward has both.

Ward is the chief international correspondent for CNN and has collected quite a number of stories during her lifetime of traveling, reporting and teaching others what she knows.

Dr. Alan Campbell talks with Ward about her childhood, early career, biggest lessons for aspiring journalists, and her new book that ties it all together: "On All Fronts: The Education of a Journalist."

Stephen Spielberg’s blockbuster film “Catch Me If You Can” brought the story of con man Frank W. Abagnale into widespread public awareness. But as award-winning author Alan C. Logan reveals, Abagnale’s confessions of his own exploits are hoaxes themselves.

Logan’s new book, “The Greatest Hoax on Earth: Catching the Truth, While We Can,” is an exhaustively researched debunking of the myth crafted by the self-proclaimed “world’s greatest con man.”

Watching America host, Dr. Alan Campbell, notes that Abagnale has presented himself as a “benign cowboy of trickery.” Listen to this interview with Logan to hear about the more malignant aspects of Abagnale’s frauds – and how they were kept undercover for so long.

Seth David Radwell was puzzled when he noticed his colleagues were increasingly less inclined to discuss topics of national interest. “How are we,” he says, “as a democratic republic, going to forge solutions if we can’t even discuss the problem?”

Radwell says the way to reignite robust public discussion is to embrace enlightenment values--objectivity, science, and tolerance.

Radwell’s deeply researched book, “American Schism: How the Two Enlightenments Hold the Secret to Healing Our Nation,” explores the roots of discord through an analysis of how the moderate and radical strands of enlightenment thought clashed throughout history and into modern times.

We hope you enjoy this lively conversation between Radwell and Watching America host, Dr. Alan Campbell.

sethdavidradswell.com

SETH DAVID RADWELL is an internationally known business executive with a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude from Columbia University. He served as President of e-Scholastic and as President of Bookspan/Bertelsmann, where he oversaw all editorial, marketing, media, and digital functions for iconic brands such as Book of the Month Club and developed book clubs for a diverse readership, including Black Expressions.

T.K. Thorne served on the police force in Birmingham, Alabama for more than two decades before retiring as a precinct captain. After that, she began the career she’d dreamt of since childhood as an award-winning author.

Her latest book, “Behind the Magic Curtain: Secrets, Spies, and Unsung White Allies of Birmingham’s Civil Rights Days,” peels back the veil of history to reveal little-known or never-told stories of an intriguing cast of characters. These include progressive members of the Jewish, Christian, and educational communities, and a racist businessman and a Ku Klux Klan member, who, in an ironic twist, helped bring about justice and forward racial equality and civil rights.

The book is based in part on firsthand recollections of a reporter with the state's major newspaper of the time, who was embedded with law enforcement.

Listen to Dr. Alan Campbell’s intriguing discussion with Thorne about Magic City—Birmingham, Alabama.

Learn more about Thorne's works at tkthorne.com

Jemel McWilliams is the creative force behind performances you've likely seen-- John Legend, Janelle Mona, Alicia Keys, Lizzo, MAGIC! and The Walls Group have worked under his direction. His artistic vision has manifested on the multiple platforms, including the Oscars, Grammy's, Coachella, BET Awards, NBC's "The Voice," and numerous music videos. McWilliams is a dancer, choreographer, and an all-around Renaissance man. His work is inspiring, but as revealed in this conversation with Dr. Alan Campbell, his positive worldview is infectious.

On this episode of Watching America, we hear from a former secret service agent who studied abnormal and forensic psychology. Mary Beth Wilkas Janke discusses her memoir, “The Protector: A Woman's Journey from the Secret Service to Guarding VIPs and Working in Some of the World's Most Dangerous Places.” Janke shares details of her harrowing adventures around the world along with some tips on how to stay calm in the middle of crisis.

Dr. Stephen Meyer has dedicated his life to the philosophy of science in an attempt to answer some of the most pressing questions in the universe.

In this episode of Watching America, Meyer talks about his book, “Return of the God Hypothesis.” While intellectuals in the 19th century began insisting that science and religion were in a never-ending war, Meyer details three modern scientific discoveries with decidedly theistic implications. You don’t want to miss this thought-provoking conversation.

Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. He was a geophysicist and college professor, and now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture in Seattle.

Other works by Meyer include the bestselling “Darwin’s Doubt” and the award-winning “Signature in the Cell.” His work can be found in various publications and media, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Jim Lehrer News Hour, Nightline, and Tavis Smiley Show, amongst many more.

Details at stephencmeyer.org

The legacy and the promise of John F. Kennedy, Jr. has always been a subject of controversy speculation in American culture. Now a scholar and friend of Kennedy comes forward with an important book to help unravel the mystery. In AMERICA'S RELUCTANT PRINCE: THE LIFE OF JOHN F. KENNEDY JR., Steven M. Gillon draws on his scholarship and his personal experience to bring us a portrait of a could-be leader the nation lost before he could achieve his potential. Dr. Alan Campbell discusses this important work with the author.

This conversation first aired on November 7, 2019

From Amazon: Steven M. Gillon is the scholar in residence at the History Channel and a professor of history at the University of Oklahoma. He is one of the nation’s leading experts on modern American history and politics, and his articles have appeared in academic journals and such newspapers as the Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, and The Boston Globe. He is a frequent contributor to HuffPost and has made appearances on NBC’s Today show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News as a commentator and expert on issues related to modern American history. He has written or edited nearly a dozen books, including the New York Times bestsellers America's Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr. and The Pact: Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and the Rivalry That Defined a Generation.

Several years ago, Donna Francart started volunteering for a community crisis response team. She became aware of her innate compassion in dealing with difficult situations, which ultimately led her to a new line of work as a Deputy Coroner.

Francart shares her experiences, documented through years of journaling, in her memoir, “I’ve Seen Dead People: Diary of a Deputy Coroner.”

In this episode of Watching America, Dr. Alan Campbell speaks to Francart about the emotional and physical challenges of working with the dead—and most importantly, the friends and family left behind.

“I've Seen Dead People” has been adapted into a screenplay by Frank Burmaster and Gary Revel, with plans to develop it for a feature film.