Category Archives: Uncategorized

Episode 39: How Many Threads Intersect the Lives of Many? Author Joseph Kanon and Writer Kevin Baker

January 6, 2023Uncategorized1960s, East Berlin, East Germany, Espionage, HBO, Joseph Kanon, Kevin Baker, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Larrydavidsonproductions.com, Sachem Public Library, Spies, The Berin Exchange, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Gilded Ageartfulperiscope

How many threads intersect the lives of many? In this episode, Larry sits down with author Joseph Kanon to discuss his latest book The Berlin Exchange. Joseph shares his experience switching from working in the publishing industry to becoming a published author, spy swaps in fiction and the harrowing reality of those living in East Berlin during the 1960s. His protagonist willingly crosses into East Berlin to reunite with his family- but can he truly find the freedom and safety he’s looking for while tangled in a political nightmare?

After the break, Larry discusses the HBO series The Gilded Age with journalist and historical fiction author Kevin Baker, who illuminates the interest of New York in the 1880s as a setting, and shares with Larry why this era is so fascinating to the modern day viewer.

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Episode 38 How Many Threads Connect Us to a Voyage of Exploration and Discovery: Author Thomas Chaffin and Singer Songwriter Nico Padden

December 23, 2022Uncategorizedand the Voyage that Changed the World, Artful Periscope, Burning Rome to the Ground, Darwin, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Larrydavidsonproductions.com, Nico Padden, Odyssey: Young Charles Darwin, Origin of species, Sachem Library, Sachem Public Library, singer, songwriter, The Beagle, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, Tom Chaffinartfulperiscope

How many threads connect us to a voyage of exploration and discovery? In this installment, Larry chats with author Tom Chaffin to discuss his latest biography Odyssey: Young Charles Darwin, The Beagle, and the Voyage that Changed the World. They discuss the strange path Charles Darwin walked from dropping out of medical school to becoming the father of evolution and publishing the groundbreaking Origin of Species. While pursuing Darwin’s story, Tom also recounts his research, travel, and growing connection to the characters.

Joining Larry for a musical interlude is singer/songwriter Nico Padden, who shares several of her songs and the real-life influences behind them. Weaving together stories featuring difficult issues such as domestic abuse, sexual harassment and systemic racism into her music, Nico discusses the power of songwriting and the stories that fuel creativity.

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Episode 37 – How Many Threads Connect Us Through the Generations – Author Neal Wooten and Singer Songwriter Audrey Jones

November 25, 2022UncategorizedAudrey Jones, family relations, genius, Mental Illness, multigenerational dysfunction, Neal Wooten, potato homicide, rural alabama, Singer songwriter, With the Devil's Helpartfulperiscope

How many threads connect us through the generations. This episode brings us two talented individuals who both are storytellers. First Larry speaks with Neal Wooten, author of the book With the Devil’s Help, a book that Larry can foresee as a 3 act play. Larry speaks to Neal about his early life growing up, how he was not allowed to talk about what happens at home or even have friends over to play and the multigenerational struggles with mental illness, being a genius and a family slaying involving potatoes.After the break, Larry is joined by singer/songwriter Audrey Jones. Audrey is the youngest guest yet to appear on the podcast. Audrey plays 3 songs live in studio, talks about her influences, inspiration for writing songs, why writing is easier than playing or singing and explains her hopes and dreams, gives credit to Frank Toscano Music School, and her teacher Kevin Allen.

Song 1: Forgive

Song 2: Your Mom

Song 3: Rainfall

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Episode 36 – What Are the Threads that Connect us to a True Path? Authors John Searles and Michael Branch

November 11, 2022Uncategorizedamerican culture, Bullying, Her Last Affair, horned rabbits, John Searles, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, LGBTQ+ rights, libraries, Love of libraries, Michael Branch, On the Trail of the Jackalope, Sachem Library, Sachem Public Library, summer truck rides, tall tales, The Booth at The Sachem Public Libraryartfulperiscope

What are the threads that connect us to a true path? In this installment of the podcast, Larry is joined by author John Searles to discuss his new book, Her Last Affair. Searles recounts his childhood being bullied for being gay, his love of the library and the books he read while going on long summer truck rides with his father. After recounting stories about his own life, Larry and John discuss the “public, private and secret” lives of his characters and the way that seemingly unconnected stories intersect in powerful ways.

Larry and author Michael Branch go down the rabbit-hole to discuss Michael’s latest non-fiction work On the Trail of the Jackalope. Michael recounts to origins of the jackalope as a taxidermy hoax, the surprising cancer research related to real life “horned rabbits” and the importance of tall-tales in American culture.

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Episode 35 – How Many Threads Lead Us to Discovery? Author S.D. Sykes, Deborah Spector and Rory’s Island

October 28, 2022Uncategorizedcomedy, Deborah Spector, dietitian, disordered eating, eating disorders, humans and diet, Middle Ages England, Nutritionist, Rory Vecsey, Rory's Island, S. D. Sykes, The Good Death, The Plague, The Things I've Seen People Do with and Without Food, Writing protagonistsartfulperiscope

How many threads lead us to discovery? In this episode Larry chats with S.D. Sykes, author of The Good Death, a mystery novel which takes place in Middle Ages England. S.D. Sykes brings us behind the scenes to paint a picture of discussing the challenges of writing protagonists living in different times, what was considered a “good death” in a society facing the plague and the difficulty of balancing two different time periods in a novel.

After the break, Larry sits down with Deborah Spector, a registered and certified dietitian and nutritionist, discussing her book The Things I’ve Seen People Do With And Without Food. She discusses the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating, as well as the complex relationship between humans and our diet.

We wrap the episode with Rory’s Island, in which Rory Vecsey delivers her thoughts regarding the importance of preserving creativity in comedy.

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Episode 34 – How Many Threads Connect to Challenges and Obstacles? Author Jim Kempton and Para-Athelete Todd Schaffhauser

October 14, 2022UncategorizedArtful Periscope, James Kempton, Jim Kempton, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, para-atheletes, Para-olympics, Sachem Library, Soul Surfer, surfing, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, Todd Schaffhauser, women in surfing, Women on wavesartfulperiscope

How many threads connect to challenges and obstacles? In this episode Larry sits down with author Jim Kempton to discuss his new book Women on Waves. Jim delves into the long history of women in surfing, the great Bethany Hamilton and the film Soul Surfer. Jim also reveals some unexpected surfing celebrities such as Agatha Christie and Marilyn Monroe.

Larry harkens back to his running days to speak Paralympic athlete Todd Schaffhauser. Todd recounts the trauma of losing his leg during high school after a cancer diagnosis, the inspiring community of amputee athletes that motivated him during recovery, and the challenges of his running career. Todd also re-enforces how important mentorship programs are to people who either would like to or are already para-athletes.

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Episode 33 – What is the thread that connects us to complex characters? Authors Julian Rubenstein and Ellen Meister

September 30, 2022UncategorizedAfrican American experience, African American violance, African american violence, Ellen Meister, female protagonists, gang violence, Julian Rubinstein, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Larrydavidsonproductions.com, marketing stories, murder mystery, Sachem Library, Terrance Roberts, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Holly, The Rooftop Partyartfulperiscope

What is the thread that connects us to complex characters? It’s an “alumni” episode! Larry chats with previous guests Julian Rubenstein and Ellen Meister.

Julian discusses his non-fiction work, The Holly: Five Bullets, One Gun and the Struggle to Save an American Neighborhood. and what it is like as an outsider to the community he focuses on, and the importance of making community connections. Larry has Julian expand his thoughts on how the impact of gang violence affects African American communities and the complex personality of Terrance Roberts, the anti-gang activist at the heart of the book.

Fellow alumni, Ellen Meister drops by to speak about her book The Rooftop Party, which features a puzzling, murder, a glitzy shopping channel, and a witty female protagonist trying to clear her name. Meister discusses the difficulty of marketing stories that don’t quite fit in a specific genre, the impact of the “Me Too” movement and her process for naming characters.

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Episode 32 – How Many Threads Lead Us to Understand Men in Power? – Author Mark Arsenault & rReporter S.J. Peddie

September 15, 2022UncategorizedAmerican points of view, History, Investigative Reporter, Journalism, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Larrydavidsonproductions.com, Mark Arsenault, New, News, Newsday, Newsmen, Propaganda, S.J. Peddie, Sachem Public Library, Sonny, Sonny: The Last of the Old Time Mafia Bosses, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Boston Globe, The Imposter's War, World War Iartfulperiscope

How many threads lead us to understand men in power? This week, Larry sits with author and Boston Globe journalist Mark Arsenault about his new book The Imposter’s War: The Press, Propaganda, and the Newsman Who Battled for the Minds of America. The book centers on John Rathom, a journalist known for his World War I propaganda, his riveting press coverage on current events, and the web of lies he weaved in his personal life.

Also joining the discussion is Newsday investigative reporter S.J. Peddie to discuss her book Sonny: The Last of the Old Time Mafia Bosses, John Sonny Franzese. Like Rathom, Sonny lived a double life as a dedicated family man with a passion for music but was also one of the most feared Mafia bosses in history. With his guests, Larry explores the complex identities of these men and how individual ambition can create political, social, and global change.

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Episode 31 – How Many Threads Connect Us to Lies and Deception? – Author Paul Vidich

September 1, 2022UncategorizedArtful Periscope, cold war berlin, dexter series finale, Espionage, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Paul Vidich, recently departed celebrities, Sachem Public Library, Spies, The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlinartfulperiscope

How many threads connect us to lies and deception? In this episode, Larry sits down with author Paul Vidich to discuss his new book The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlin. Larry and Paul discuss the difficulties and intrigue of the spy biz along with the allure of setting thrillers in Cold War Berlin along with the agency of the female protagonist. Afterwards, Larry shares some random thoughts and observation on the private lives of recently departed celebrities along with (spoiler alert!), the series ending of Dexter and the myriad of ways humanity continues to break down barriers.

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Episode 30 – How Many Threads Connect Us to the Past, Present, and the Future? Dr.Simon Morden, author of The Red Planet

August 18, 2022UncategorizedDr. Simon Morden, God Particle Life on mars, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Mars, Sachem Library, Sachem Public Library, Sachem Public Library's The Booth, The Red Planet The Red Planet: A natural History of Marsartfulperiscope

How many threads connect us to the past,the present, and the future? Larry steps into the unknown and speaks with Dr.Simon Morden, author of The Red Planet: A Natural History of Mars. Larry broaches the topics of The God Particle, TheBig Bang Theory and the significance of theJames Webb Telescope. Dr. Morton then discusses the history of Mars, the presence of Carbon-12, why Mars soil is red, the enormity of its topography and the potential effect of human colonization. Afterwards, they return to earth to discuss global warming and how the future of our own planet might unfold.

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