Tag Archives: Larry Davidson

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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Episode 60 – How Many Threads Connect the Relationships Between Mankind and the Horse? Author Fred M. Kray and Rory’s Island

October 9, 2023UncategorizedBroken: the Suspicious Dream of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing's Golden Age, Ctreeny, culture of horse racing, Fred M. Kray, Horse Racing, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson storytelling, murder of Alydar, Mystery, Rory Vescey, Rory's Islan, Rory's Island, Sachem Public Library, The Booth at The Sachem Public Libraryartfulperiscope

How many threads connect the relationships between mankind and the horse? In this episode of The Artful Periscope, Larry sits down with author Fred M. Kray to discuss his latest book Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing’s Golden Age. Together they untangle the unsolved murder of Alydar, a famous racehorse who mysteriously broke his leg one night when locked up in his paddock. To help us understand this case, Fred discusses the culture of horse-racing, the money and politics that drive the industry and the questionable treatment of racehorses by their people who claim to love them the most. After the break, Rory Vescy hosts another episode of Rory’s Island during which she shares a piece written about Ctreeny, an organization in Sagaponack, NY which uses horses to support adults and children that have special needs.

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Episode 58 – How Many Threads Connect Us to What is Below the Surface Authors Peter Spiegelman and T. J. English

September 16, 2023UncategorizedA Secret About a Secret, Artful Periscope, Billie Holiday, bing crosby, Dangerous Rhythms, Dark Shadows, film noir, frank sinatra, Horror, Larry Davidson, Louis Armstrong, Mafia, Meyer Lansky Jazz, Mob, Peter Speigelman, readers, Sachem Public Library, Strange Fruit, T. J. Engilsh, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, titlesartfulperiscope

How many threads connect us to what is below the surface? In this installment, Larry has a discussion with Peter Speigelman about his latest book A Secret About a Secret. Larry and Peter explore the story out side of the cover of the book, how the title draws the reader, and whether this book is a cautionary tale. Larry draws a comparison of Peter’s work with the television show Dark Shadows, and The Man in the High Castle. Larry posits how important it is for the author to trust the read to understand the implications and be drawn into the plot and narrative.

After a short break Larry welcomes T. J. English about his latest work Dangerous Rhythms. Larry asks about growing up in upper Manhattan, whether Jazz is a completely American art form, and how it reordered the music universe. There is a great discussion of how BillieHoliday’s song Strange Fruit is a seminal work of art along with talking about Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra and the connection of music to the mafia. Larry brings up Meyer Lansky and how there was a “Jazz drain” to Europe.

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

September 7, 2023Uncategorizeddisbelief of holocaust, Giuseppe Petrosino, Immigrant Italian Families, Julia Boyd, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Nazi regime, NYPD, Paul Moses, Sachem, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Italian Squad, Undercover Italian Police officers, World War II A Village in the Third Reichartfulperiscope

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.

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

August 31, 2023UncategorizedAge of Astonishment, Artful Periscope, Bill Morris, civil war, Cold War, German English Dictionary Manuscript, Historical Fiction, John Morris, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Sachem Public Library, slavery, Stacie Murphy, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Unquiet deadartfulperiscope

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.

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Episode 55 – How Many Threads Connect the Good Actors with the Bad Actors, Even if Some of the Good Have Done Some Bad Things? – True Crime & Organized Crime Writer Michael Benson

August 24, 2023UncategorizedAmerican Nazis, Artful Periscope, Author Michael Benson, Camp Siegfried, Gansters vs Nazis, Larry Davidson, Mafia, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Devil at Genesee Junction, Yaphank New Yorkartfulperiscope

How many threads connect the good actors with the bad actors, even if some of the good have done some bad things? In this episode of The Artful Periscope, Larry is joined by true crime and organized crime writer Michael Benson to discuss his latest work Gangsters vs. Nazis. Michael begins by recounting his childhood interest in true crime, chasing after his babysitter’s killer and eventually returning as an adult to uncover new evidence in his book The Devil at Genesee Junction. Then Larry and Michael shift gears to the subject of Gangsters vs. Nazis, which sheds light on the fight between Jewish mobsters and German-American Nazis. To defend their communities and to push back against antisemitic sentiments, Jewish mobsters used their gang and boxing connections to break up Nazi meetings and rallies. Michael also highlights the disturbing history of Nazi organizations on Long Island, including Camp Siegfried in Yaphank, which attempted to recruit American children into the Nazi movement. In an America that is facing the rise of Nazi groups again, Michael’s writing is a reminder of how communities need to band together to stand against hate.

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

August 17, 2023UncategorizedCycling, From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete, gym, Hilary Topper, Jeff Galloway, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, running, Sachem Public Library's The Booth, Swimming, Triathalonartfulperiscope

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

August 11, 2023UncategorizedAnthony Bourdain, Artful Periscope, James Grady, Jerry Stahl, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Nein Nein Nein, RobertRedford, Six Days of the Condor, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, This trainartfulperiscope

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.

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

July 27, 2023UncategorizedBottom Marathon Race Dog, David Goodrich, Harriet Tubman, John Hurt, John Parker, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, On Freedom Row, Rory Vecsey, Rory's Island, Sachem Library, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, Underground railroadartfulperiscope

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.

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

June 30, 2023UncategorizedArtful periscope podcast, Chess, Guillermo Martinez, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson productions, Math, murder mystery, Mystery books, Sachem Public Library's The Booth, Simon and Schuster, The Oxford Brotherhoodartfulperiscope

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.

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