Tag Archives: Espionage

Episode 85: How Many Threads Lead Us Down The Rabbit Hole of Deception ? Author Mary Haverstick

September 26, 2024UncategorizedArtful periscope podcast, Assassination, Espionage, Jerrie Cobb, JFK, John F. Kennedy, Judy Cobb, Larry Davidson, Mary Haverstick, NASA, Rabbit Hole of Deception, Spies, The Woman I knowartfulperiscope

How many threads lead us down the rabbit hole of deception? On this week’s episode of The Artful Periscope, Larry invites biographer Mary Haverstick onto the show to discuss her latest book, A Woman I Know: Female Spies, Double Identities and the New Story of the Kennedy Assassination. Mary’s book focuses on Jerrie Cobb, a well-known aviator, NASA astronaut candidate, and women’s rights advocate who was the subject of a biopic Mary was creating. However, after being told by a government official some of her documents on Cobb were classified, Mary realized there was a much larger story to be uncovered. As Mary reveals over the course of the book, there is a high probability that Jerrie Cobb was also Judy Cobb, a spy with a potential link to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Larry and Mary discuss the evidence: Mary’s meticulous research in matching the schedules of both identities, the similarities in appearance between the two women and eyewitness identification. They also discuss Jerrie as a person and her cautious but cunning persona, including the character of Mary Cobb who was created in reference to her on the Apple TV show For All Mankind.

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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 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 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 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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