Episode 70 – How Many Threads Takes Us Behind the Scenes of the Basketball World – Rich Cohen & Michelle J. Manno

March 1, 2024Uncategorized1987, Artful periscope podcast, Basketball, Bob Hope, Denied: Women, female Basketball players, Isaiah Thomas, Larry Bird, Larry Davidson, Magic Johnson, mental health sexual orientation, Michelle Manno, NBA, provost Northwestern University, Rich Cohen, sexuality, Sports and the Contradiction of Identity, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, When the Game was Warartfulperiscope

How many threads take us behind the scenes of the basketball world? In this week’s episode of The Artful Periscope,Larry sits down with author Rich Cohen to discuss his latest book, When the Game was War: The NBA’s Greatest Season. The book chronicles the NBA season of 1987 and the basketball stars that dominated the game. Rich discusses his childhood growing up with his basketball coach father and his gradual interest in high school basketball. Then Rich and Larry recall the hidden personal stories of basketball greats such as, Isaiah Thomas’s talented older brother who passed away after a drug overdose, Bob Hope’s unheard of $1,000,000 offer to Larry Bird, and the tragic rivalry between Isaiah Thomas and his former best friend Magic Johnson.

After the break, Larry welcomes Michelle J. Manno to the show to discuss her most recent book Denied: Women, Sports, and the Contradictions of Identity. Michelle, a sociologist and Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion at Northwestern University, highlights the journey of female athletes through a male dominated industry. By interviewing anonymous female basketball players at the college level, Michelle discusses the fine line female players must walk between masculinity and femininity, how the playful filming of a music video during a winter break led the girls to face uncomfortable truths about how the industry weaponizes sexuality, the struggle of maintaining good mental health in the face of physical exhaustion and the importance of intersectionality between race, sexual orientation, and feminism.

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Episode 69 – How Many Threads Do Storytellers Weave Together? – Author S. J. Rozan

February 16, 2024Uncategorizedculture, food, immigrants, Larry Davidson, Love affair, Martin Luther King Jr, Mayors of New York, New York City, object of a story, S. J. Rozan, SJ Rozan, subject of a story, The Booth at The Sachem Public Libraryartfulperiscope

How many threads do storytellers weave together? Joining Larry on the show is return guest S. J. Rozan to talk about her latest work Mayors of New York. S. J. shares that she has a love affair with New York City and wants to share that love with the reader. Larry asks if part of the book was influenced by Jeffrey Epstein and S. J. shares that she is interested in people of a lower social strata. S. J. explains the concept of a character being the “subject or the object” of a narrative. Larry shares his affection for one of S. J.’s character’s mothers and how he missed not having her in this most recent work. Then the conversation evolves into first generation immigrants and how a the place they settle in becomes a hub for their home culture, and the food seems to be the largest representation of their homelands. There was also a great discussion of Martin Luther King as this episode was recorded the day after the holiday.

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Episode 68 – How Are The Threads of Family History Interwoven into Storylines? – Author Stephen Hunter

February 2, 2024Uncategorized1950's, Art and craft of storytelling, character development, Front Sight, guns, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Novela, Novella, plot line development, show dont tell, Stephen Hunterartfulperiscope

How are the threads of family history interwoven into storylines? In this episode, Larry checks off his bucket list by being joined by Pulitzer prize winning author, Stephen Hunter to talk about his new work Front Sight. Larry and Stephen explore the origin of character names and “if you don’t get the name right, you don’t get the character right”. Larry also posits that when a grandfather passes away so does an entire library and Stephen shares what he learned from his grandfather. In weaving and crafting a story, Stephen shares his thoughts on planning plotlines, especially since he feels like he just jumped out of a Super Sabre fighter with blue shade shoes on from the 50’s. Larry also questions whether or not our history is a prologue.

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Episode 67 – How Many Threads Connect Us to Story Tellers Whether an Author or a Singer Songwriter? Author James Wolff and Singer Pete Mancini

January 20, 2024UncategorizedBritish spy, Butchers Blind, Espionage, georgia, golden hour, indictments, James Wolff, law of the river, Man in teh Corduroy Suit, Man in the corduroy suit, Pete Mancini, private life, public life, secret life, Singer songwriterartfulperiscope

How many threads connect us to story tellers whether an author or a singer/songwriter? In this episode, Larry chats with James Wolff author of the book The Man in the Corduroy Suit. Larry loves spy novels and asks how James picked his “pen name”. James shares what genre of book tickles his fancy and some of his favorite authors. Larry speaks about the idea of a “public life”, “private life” and a “secret life” and asks James about each and how they help him develop his characters. In the world of intelligence, it is a “zero sum game” because in the end there isn’t much progress and James gives his thoughts. Larry asks if James knows what his characters sound like, whether accent or tone of voice. James, being a former intelligence agent, has to have his work vetted by his previous employer with a rather mysterious process. Larry asks how sharing intelligence between Britain and the US happens. Larry and James talk about Russia, Brexit and Ukraine and how things have changed from the “good old days”.

After the break, Larry is joined by return guest Pete Mancini. Pete joins the podcast with the song Golden Hour. Larry asks how Pete felt being in Georgia during the time of recent Supreme Court decision regarding election indictments. Pete shares an update since being the band Butchers Blind and has put out 3 albums. Larry talks about how special music can be including being transported back in time. Pete then plays The Law of the River and speaks about inspiration behind the song. Larry asks exactly “what is American music” talking about all that has evolved from the American experience and Larry expands the question to talk about how Pete expands his roots to develop his art. Pete shares what he listens to so he can “tune out” and get lost in music. Pete ends the podcast with his work Madison Avenue Blues.

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Episode 66 – How Many Threads Lead Us To Cultural Dissonance – Author Alma Katsu

January 13, 2024Uncategorized1927, 1940s, Alma Katsu, female spy novelist, Fire Balloons, fire bombing, historical horror novel, japan, japanese internment camp, jet stream, Larry Davidson, Red London, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Furvor, United states, World War IIartfulperiscope

How many threads lead us to cultural dissonance? In this installment of the podcast, Larry invites back to the program author Alma Katsu discussing her latest work The Fervor Larry asks how difficult is it to put a character into a crisis and how they work their way out of that situation? Alma discusses developing conflict in a story and always ask what the worst thing that can happen, then write their way out. Larry talks about how Alma’s culture growing up with a Japanese mother and being a Roman Catholic affects her writing. The book jumps from the 1927 to the 40’s and Larry posits why the basis of the story starts with a man and his family. Larry asks about the “spy balloons” from China and the balloons in Alma’s book and why are balloons so central to the story? There is also a pensive talk about how the settings are also characters in the story. In terms of memory there are 3 types, short term, long term and institutional memory. Larry asks which memory is central to the book? Alma describes how this work is different than most of her other historical horror/fiction. After a break, Larry speaks about storytelling in terms of professional wrestling. Larry watched the sport in the past and has recently began watching once again. In storytelling there are heroes and villains, but in wrestling, there are heels and babyfaces, and Larry speaks about the Netflix series Wrestlers and how the characters personal lives follow their characters.

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Episode 65 – How Many Threads Connect Authors and What We Can Learn – Nelson and Alex DeMille

January 6, 2024UncategorizedAlex DeMille, Blood Lines, co-authoring, Larry Davidson, losing colleagues, Nelson DeMille, storytelling, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, writing style, Writing with a family memberartfulperiscope

How many threads connect authors and what we can learn. On this episode are two amazing authors who really need no introduction. Nelson DeMille and his son Alex DeMille join the program to talk about their latest work Blood Lines. Larry asks what it is like to co-author a book with a fellow family member and also if it was a challenge to find the starting point for the story. Nelson talks about his writing style which is a departure from most authors with a “write as you go” plan. There is also a lively discussion about how the development of the characters develops in the writing process. Nelson and Alex also discuss how they study both current events and do extensive research before formulating a story and Larry posits how losing colleagues in the field can effect writing.

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Episode 64 In the World of Espionage, How Many Threads are Unwoven Author I. S. Berry

December 22, 2023UncategorizedAfghanistan, Cambodia, Espionage, I.S. Berry, iraq, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, master manipulator, Sachem Public Library, spy business, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Peacock and the Sparrowartfulperiscope

In the world of espionage, how many threads are unwoven? In this installment of the podcast, Larry chats with author of the book The Peacock and the Sparrow, I. S. Berry. Larry talks of origin stories and asks when a child, where did the door open up to have a thought to be a writer? Ilana shares how she came to work as a spy with her beginnings in law. Larry poses the idea of the importance of trees in storytelling and Ilana shares how the “spy business” is the only career that is made or broken (or even life threatening) by bonds with strangers. Ilana also delves into the nature of manipulation and when you become a master at it, you sometimes cannot see when it is you who are manipulated.

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Episode 63 – In the World of Espionage How Many Threads are Frayed

November 3, 2023UncategorizedBeirut Station, Book cover designs, CIA, Espionage, Hamas, historical figures, israel, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, marathoners, Paul Vidich, spys, storytellers, The Studio at the Sachem Public Libraryartfulperiscope

In a world of espionage, how many threads are frayed? In this installment of the podcast, Larry speaks with Paul Vidich, author and 3 time guest on the show. He has penned the new novel Beirut Station. Larry and Paul speak about the parallels between the current crisis in Israel with Hamas and how timely his book is. Then the conversation shifts to the size of Paul’s name on the cover, what he does once a work is complete and they even draw a comparison between the movie Empire of the Sun and Beirut Station. Larry also asks Paul what historical figure he would like to have dinner with; past of present.

After a short break, Larry discusses how marathoners and storytellers both have the same process of “Preparation, Research and Practice”

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Episode 62 – In Relationships, How Many Threads are Unwoven? Joseph Ammendolea

October 28, 2023UncategorizedBroken Hearted, Childhood, Directing, Film casting, film making process, Film promotion, Hofstra University, I Like to Play with Toys Productions, Joseph Ammendolea, Larry Davidson, music, PHD student, Sachem Public Library's The Boothartfulperiscope

In relationships, how many threads are unwoven? This this installment of The Artful Periscope, Larry sits down with Joseph Ammendolea, film director and owner of “I Like to Play with Toys” productions. Joseph recounts his childhood, his early filmmaking experiences at Hofstra University and how he finds actors for his projects. Then the discussion turns towards his latest film, Broken Hearted, which follows the love story between a struggling PHD student and woman who has just left a toxic relationship, as well as the relationships of the people around them. Joseph reveals the process behind the film’s creation, recounting the challenges of filming on location, finding indie music artists to craft the soundtrack, coaching and directing the film’s cast, and the challenges of film promotion.

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Episode 61 – How Many Threads Connect the Past to the Present – Nicci Gerard and Sean French

October 21, 2023UncategorizedAgatha Christie, dog intelligence, dogs, ethics, Jules Howard, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson storytelling, Nicci Gerard, Sachem Public Library, Sean French, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Favor, Wonderdog, wonderful dogsartfulperiscope

How many threads connect the past to the present? In this installment of the podcast, Larry sits down with wife and husband writing team Nicci Gerard & Sean French to discuss their latest book The Favor. Together they examine the ethical dilemma at the center of the novel- how far would you go to do a favor for someone who is important to you? Nicci and Sean also discuss living in rural England, famous mystery writer Agatha Christie and the creative process behind their writing.

After the break, Larry interviews Jules Howard about his book Wonderdog, which explores the science of dog psychology. Howard sheds light on historic (and sometimes unethical) attempts to study dogs, as well as modern perspectives on dog intelligence, cognition, and relationships. At the end of the episode, Larry reminiscences about the wonderful dogs who changed his own life.

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