Tag Archives: Sachem Public Library’s The Booth

Episode 19 – How Many Threads Connect us to a Series of Events – Author Amanda Fairbanks and Singer/Songwriter Stuart Markus



How many threads connect unto a series of events.  Joining the podcast is author Amanda Fairbanks, author of the book The Lost Boys of Montauk.  Amanda speaks to Larry about the process of writing this story and how it was a labor of love, being a resident of the South Fork of Long Island.  We learn about how the Montauk of1984 (a primarily fishing town) transitioned to a playground for the ultra wealthy along with the secrets that can haunt the families of the lost.

Photo Credit: Sharon Suh .

Also joining the podcast is singer/songwriter/seachanteyman Stuart Markus.  Stuart joined Larry in studio to play some tunes both popular and original, including The View from the Side of the Road and Gloucester Ladies.  Stuart spoke about growing up with music in Rochester, New York, his first experiences with music as a kid and what inspires him to write music and perform with his band Gathering Time.  You can get more information about where to find Stuart here.


Episode 15 – What is the Thread that Connects Human Behavior to a Range of Pathologies – Abigail Esman, Tom Clavin and Commentary by Peter Blauner



What is the Thread that Connects Human Behavior to a Range of Pathologies.  Joining Larry on this episode is Authors Abigail Esman and Tom Clavin along with a commentary by Peter Blauner.

Abigail Esman is the author  of Rage: Narcissism, Patriarchy and the Culture of Terrorism.  Abigail kicks off the episode with a short passage from her book and then explains why she needed to pen this work. She has a lively conversation about how personal experiences & the experience of the events of 9/11 inspired her to write about pathological narcissism and its roots in shame-honor cultures—both familial and sociopolitical—through portraits of terrorists and batterers.

Abigail R. Esman - Pen & Sword

Guest and friend of the program Tom Clavin, New York Times Bestselling author, returns to the podcast to discuss his new book Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday and the Vendetta Ride from Hell.  Always a fun guest, Larry talks about his love for the old west stemming from the movies of his childhood.  This passion for the old west and storytelling drove him to turn his book Dodge City, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and the Wickedest Town in the American West into the first in a Trilogy which also includes Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontiers First Gunfighter.

Peter Blauner, author, journalist and friend to the podcast joins with commentary on the year we lost writing giants Journalist Pete Hamill, his brother and writer in his own right John Hamill and Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist Jim Dwyer.  Peter reflects on how 2020 took these important journalists how they shaped and influenced him and the profound effect of their loss is because their brand of writing will never be seen again.

Peter Blauner


Episode 14 – Is There a Thread that Connects Us to Our Own Sense of Well-being – Author S. J. Rozan, Gayle Fisher Stewart, Judith Finlayson & Pete Mancini



Is there a thread that connects us to our own sense of well-being.  Larry has a jam packed episode with author S. J. Rozan speaking about her new book The Art of Violence, her thought process in creating a character’s point of view, writer’s self doubt, the process of writing which is never smooth and a deep dive into the art and character development of The Art of Violence.

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Gayle Fisher Stewart author of Preaching Black Lives Matter re-joins the podcast with thoughts and observations about the January 6th insurrection along with her reflections and observations of the event.  She voices her perspective about law enforcement’s treatment of the participants of that day and how the event could have played out differently if black and brown participants had attempted the same actions and how there needs to be a meaningful discussion about race, racism and systematic racism.

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Judith Finlayson, author of You are What you Grandparent’s Ate talks about lifecycle and links among all kinds of disease and what happens to you before you were born, epigenetic  modifications, eating healthy and how climate change can effect your health along with how your genes effect the development of diseases.

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Pete Mancini plays out the podcast with his original song Millions More


Episode 8 – Is There a Thread that Connects the Past, the Present & the Future – Authors Phil Keith and Tom Clavin



Is there a thread that connects the past, the present and the future?

Larry welcomes authors Phil Keith and Tom Clavin, authors of All Blood Runs Red: The Legendary Life of Eugene Bullard―Boxer, Pilot, Soldier, Spy.  The authors discuss the extraordinary life of Eugene Bullard, an African-American who led a dynamic life under extreme and difficult circumstances of war, both in France and at home.  Phil and Tom discuss the dynamics of this amazing life.

Larry also gives his thoughts on the state of the United States today, the pandemic, the premonition of Lenny Bruce after the Berlin Wall falls, and a unique comparison between Donald Trump and Michael Jordan.


Episode 7 – Is There a Thread that Gives Us a Connection to a Super Power Inside Us All – Singer Songwriter Pete Mancini



Is there a thread that gives us a connection to a super power inside us all?

Larry discusses the significance of the numbers 13, 41, 42 and 99 and laments the tragedy of Kobe Bryant and his daughter GiGi, Sachem North teacher and volleyball coach Matt DiStefano and “Aunt Ada”.  Larry also ponders the connection between a parent and a child, a father and a daughter.

Larry is also joined by singer/songwriter Pete Mancini.  Pete talks about the creative process, his beginnings with Butcher’s Blind, and the story behind the songs Old Wooden Cross, Patchwork, Back in Bakersfield and SLA Check that he shares in studio. You can hear Pete’s work on Spotify, at Diversion Records or on his webpage petemancini.com.


Epsiode 6 – What is the Thread that Connects Who You Were, to Who You Are – Angelo Fraboni from Madison Theater and Brian D. Caplan, Attorney and Author



What is the Thread that Connects Who You Were, to Who You Are?

Larry is joined by Angelo Fraboni, Artistic Director of the Madison Theater at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, New York.  Angelo talks about his beginnings as a child learning the art of Ballet in Minnesota and his journey that has taken him to the Madison Theater at Molloy College.

Also joining Larry is Brian D. Caplan, Esq. author of the book J.D. to J.D.: My Journey from Juvenile Delinquent to Doctor of Jurisprudence.  Brian shares his upbringing and the incredible amount of luck that has taken him from “taking stupid pills” to becoming an entertainment attorney.  He also talks about his book and shares stories about Keith Richards, Donald Trump & Mike Tyson and Rodney Dangerfield (just to name a few).


Episode 5 – What is the Thread that Connects a Story to a Storyteller – John Theissen from the John Theissen Children’s Foundation and Author Susan Isaacs



What is the thread that connects a story to a storyteller?

Larry is joined by John Theissen.  John is the founder of the John Theissen Children’s Foundation which came to be in 1992.  John tells the story of his diagnosis of brain cancer at 17, his recovery and the inspiration to start his foundation.  John also shares the story of a fellow cancer patient he shared his experience with Tasha a girl who he would very much like to meet again.  John’s story is inspirational and heart stirring. 

John’s son is also a movie maker and created a movie about the Covid pandemic.

Also Joining the program is author Susan Isaacs. Susan Isaacs is the author of fourteen novels, including Compromising Positions, Shining Through, After All These Years, and As Husbands Go. Her newest novel, Takes One to Know One, published in October 2019. She is a former editor of Seventeen and a freelance political speechwriter. Susan is chairman of the board of Poets & Writers and a past president of Mystery Writers of America. She shares her inspiration for her newest work, talks about character development and her love for writing.