Tag Archives: Kevin Baker

Episode 76 – How Many Threads Connect Us to the Past and the Present? Authors Kevin Baker & J. M. Adams



How many threads connect us to the past and the present? On this week’s episode of The Artful Periscope, Larry is joined by his old friend and returning guest Kevin Baker, author of The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City. Larry and Kevin discuss Kevin’s childhood memories of Yankee Stadium and seeing legendary players like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays in-person. Then the discussion then shifts to the history of baseball in New York, tracing its influence back to the early 1900’s and one of the earliest New York professional teams, The New York Mutuals. Then Kevin delves into the fierce rivalry between the New York Yankees, the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the division between Manhattan and Brooklyn. After the departure of the Dodgers and the Giants from New York, the discussion turns to the remaining team, the Yankees, and their most famous player Babe Ruth.

After the break, Larry welcomes J.M.Adams, a journalist with experience reporting for CBS and NBC news affiliates and the author of the thriller novel Second Term. Larry and Adams discuss his love of language and the dedication in his book to the police officers that defended The Capitol during the January 6th insurrection. Then they discuss the protagonist, Cora Walker, and how her ability to survive a male-dominated profession is informed by the experience of his wife, working as a Wall Street executive. Returning to the events of January 6th, Adams frames his novel as a cautionary tale regarding the dangers of authoritarianism in government as the story presents a terrifying future in which politics continues to become extreme and the foundations of democracy are threatened. Finally, they explore strong characters and how they can shape narratives in unexpected way.


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



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.


Episode 9 – What Happens When One Thread in the American Tapestry is Mutated or Changed – Authors Peter Blauner and



Stop the world, I want to get off.

Yes Virginia, the emperor has no clothes.

Yes Virginia, facts are facts.

What happens when one thread in the American tapestry is mutated or changed?

Joining Larry on this episode, Peter Blauner, Novelist of such works as Sunrise Highway, Proving Ground,The Intruder, The Last Good Day, Man of the Hour, Slow Motion Riot, Casino Moon and Slipping into Darkness.  Peter was also a journalist for New York Magazine and a staff writer for Law and Order: SVU. He is also the recipient of the Edgar Award.  Peter describes what it is like to write for television versus novels versus being a journalist.  We also find out if he has ever met one of his characters after they have been developed for a book.

Also joining the episode is Novelist and Historian Kevin Baker.  Kevin has penned such works as America: The Story of Us, Paradise Alley, Dreamland, Striver’s Row, Becoming Mr. October, The Big Crowd, Sometimes You See it Coming, Luna Park and Dreamland.  Kevin talked about how during the turn of the 20th Century, there were 3 groups that were not wanted in America, Jews, African Americans and the Irish.  He describes those experiences as being similar to the movie Gangs of New York.  He also discusses experiences such as those who lived in Seneca Village, a predominantly African American area of Manhattan in the mid 1800’s which is now part of Central Park.