Tag Archives: Larry Davidson productions

Episode 73 – How Many Threads Intersect and Impact the World of Sports and the History of a Country? Authors Ethan Scheiner and Jon Langmead



How many threads intersect and impact the world of sports and the history of a country? On this episode, Larry invites author Ethan Scheiner to the show to discuss hisnewest bookThe Freedom to Win: A Cold War Story of the Courageous Hockey Team That Fought the Soviets for the Soul of Its People—And Olympic Gold. Freedom to Win follows the story of the 1969 Czechoslovakian World Ice Hockey Championship team who used The Olympics to protest Soviet Russia’s oppression. Larry and Ethan discuss the brothers at the heart of this story, Jiří and Jaroslav Holík, whose father had trained them to become world class athletes to escape the increasing influence of the Communist party. They also talk about the larger political situation in Czechoslovakia at the time, including Alexander Dubcek’s relaxing of political censorship and the Soviet Union’s military response. Ethan also explains the significance of the replica hockey jersey he’s wearing, which is based on the jerseys the Czechoslovakian hockey team altered to protest the Soviet occupation.

After the break, Larry sits down with Jon Langmead, author of Ballyhoo!: The Rough housers, Con Artists, and Wild men Who Invented Professional Wrestling. Larry and John discuss the history of wrestling styles, the development of over-the-top choreography moves, the public’s changing perception of wrestling stars from athletes to entertainers and the physical impact of wrestling on the long-term health of famous wrestlers.


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



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.


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



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.


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



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”

 


Episode 57 – How Many Threads Contribute to a Cascading Series of Events? – Authors Paul Moses and Julia Boyd



How many threads contribute to a cascading series of events? On this week’s episode of The Artful Periscope, Larry sits down with author Paul Moses to discuss his latest book The Italian Squad. As a New York City historian, Paul sheds light on the forgotten work of Italian police officers of the NYPD who battled the Mafia while also striving to protect immigrant Italian families in a society that didn’t welcome them. Larry and Moses discuss his career as a journalist, the legendary police officer Giuseppe Petrosino and the friction between the police and the Italian community.

After the break, Larry invites author Julia Boyd to discuss her book A Village in the Third Reich, which shares the stories of ordinary folks living under the Nazi regime. Julia’s book draws disturbing parallels to modern times, providing a cautionary tale of how world events can push everyday people into extraordinary and terrifying circumstances.  


Episode 56 – How Many Threads Take us Through the Ages? – Authors Bill Morris and Stacie Murphy



How many threads take us through the ages? On this installment of The Artful Periscope, Larry sits down with author Bill Morris to discuss his latest work, The Age of Astonishment. The book chronicles the long life of his grandfather, John Morris, and the historical events he lived through. Larry and Bill discuss the horrors of slavery in the pre-civil war south, his grandfather’s lifespan ranging from The Civil War to the Cold War and his discovery of his grandfather’s long lost German English dictionary manuscript.

After the break, Larry interviews Stacie Murphy, a debut author, about her first novel The Unquiet Dead. Stacie delves into the challenges of writing a novel, the joy of adding historical details into her fictional story and the potential for a series. 


Episode 54 – How Many Threads Can Reveal a Transformation from a Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete? – Author and Athlete Hilary Topper



How many threads can reveal a transformation from a couch potato to endurance athlete? In this  episode, Larry is live in studio with Hilary Topper to discuss her latest book From Couch to Endurance Athlete. As a mother, business owner and adjunct professor with very little time to herself, Hilary decided to take charge of health and go “from zero to one hundred”.  Larry and Hilary examine her non-athletic upbring, early experiences in the gym and the walk run training method. As an avid runner himself, Larry and Hillary have a lively conversation about running legend Jeff Galloway and the joys of running. Afterward, Hilary recounts her triathlon training, her first attempts at learning how to swim and how her son inspires her to keep moving forward. 

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Episode 53 – How Many Threads Bring Strangers Together? – Authors James Grady and Jerry Stahl



How many threads bring strangers together? In this installment of The Artful Periscope, Larry is joined by James Grady, author of This Train. They discuss his debut book Six Days of the Condor and the experience of having it adapted into a Robert Redford movie, as well as methods for keeping thriller plots interesting and the beauty of train ride landscapes.

After the break, Jerry Stahl joins Larry to discuss his latest work Nein, Nein, Nein!, which recounts Jerry’s two-week bus tour of Holocaust sites. Jerry recounts the ethics of touring the locations of tragedies, his friendship with Anthony Bourdain and the origin of the book’s title.


Episode 52 – How Many Threads Need to Align/Connect to Bring Us to a Journey to Freedom – Author David Goodrich and Rory Vecsey



How many threads need to align to take us on a journey to freedom? In this installment of The Artful Periscope, Larry sits down with David Goodrich to discuss his latest book On Freedom Row. Tracing the remaining landmarks of The Underground Railroad, David embarked on a 3,000 mile bike ride to uncover the hidden heroes and stories of abolition. Larry and David discuss the challenges of embarking on such a long journey as well as the history behind some of his most memorable stops- including the route of Harriet Tubman, the unsung hero John Parker’s frequent trips across the Ohio River and the museum dedicated to legendary blues artist Mississippi John Hurt.

After the break, Rory Vecsey hosts another episode of Rory’s Island in which she discusses the New York Times obituary of the Boston Marathon’s official race dog Spencer and the beautiful relationship between humans and animals.  




Episode 50 – How Many Threads Lead Us to Discovery Author Guillermo Martinez and Rory Vecsey



How many threads lead us to discovery? In this edition of the Artful Periscope, Larry virtually visits Argentina to have a chat with Guillermo Martinez, the author of The Oxford Brotherhood. This gripping mystery follows the story of a mathematics student who gets caught up in a scandal involving the life of Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll, a secret society and a series of terrifying murders. While discussing the book, Larry and Guillermo recount Guillermo’s early school experiences with mathematics and chess, the challenges of writing crime fiction and his research into the life of Lewis Carroll.

After the break, Rory Vessey returns with another episode of Rory’s Island. Rory reminiscences about her childhood reading experiences, the struggle to find uninterrupted reading time in today’s electronic world and the importance of keeping the art of the written word alive.