Tag Archives: The Booth at The Sachem Public Library

Episode 78 – How Many Threads Connect Us to the Events of the Day, Past and Present? Journalist Ben Bradford and Author Kurt Wagner

June 20, 2024Uncategorized1976 presidential primary, and the $44 Billion Fight for Twitter's Soul, Battle for the bird: Jack Dorsey, Ben Bradford, challenge of journalism in the 24 hour news cycle, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Free Speech, Gerald Ford, Jack Dorsey, Kurt Wagner, Landslide podcast, Larry Davidson, Larry Davidson Production, nationalism, neo-conservatism, patriotism vs nationalism, Republican party, Ronald Reagan, Sachem Public Library, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, Twitterartfulperiscope

How many threads connect us to the events of the day, past and present? On this week’s episode of The Artful Periscope, Larry welcomes journalist and fellow podcaster Ben Bradford to the show to discuss his latest NPR podcast Landslide. The series recounts the 1976 presidential primary race between Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan and its long-lasting effect on the trajectory of the Republican Party. Together, Larry and Ben dissect the difference between patriotism and nationalism, how Ronald Regan’s rhetoric shifted conservative ideology, and the challenges of modern journalism in a twenty-four-hour news cycle. Then the discussion shifts to Landslide, and how understanding the trajectory of political parties throughout history can shape our understanding of modern politics.

After the break, Larry welcomes author Kurt Wagner to discuss his book, Battle for the Bird: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk, and the $44 Billion Fight for Twitter’s Soul, which recounts Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter. They discuss Twitter’s original founder, Jack Dorsey, and the behind-the-scenes negotiations between Twitter and Elon Musk. Then they examine Musk’s ideal of a free-speech platform without restrictions, and whether users will want to take part in a community with no filters. Finally, they wrap up by dissecting the connection between Musk and former president Donald Trump, and how it might impact the upcoming election.

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

May 23, 2024UncategorizedArtful periscope podcast, authoritarianism, Babe Ruth, Brooklyn Dodgers, Cautionary tale, Cora Walker, foundations of democracy, J. M. Adams, January 6th insurrection, Kevin Baker, Larry Davidson, Mets, Mickey Mantle, New York Giants, New York Mutuals, Sachem Public Library, Second Term, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The New York Game, Wall Street, Willie Mays, Yankeesartfulperiscope

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.

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Episode 70 – How Many Threads Takes Us Behind the Scenes of the Basketball World – Rich Cohen & Michelle J. Manno

March 1, 2024Uncategorized1987, Artful periscope podcast, Basketball, Bob Hope, Denied: Women, female Basketball players, Isaiah Thomas, Larry Bird, Larry Davidson, Magic Johnson, mental health sexual orientation, Michelle Manno, NBA, provost Northwestern University, Rich Cohen, sexuality, Sports and the Contradiction of Identity, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, When the Game was Warartfulperiscope

How many threads take us behind the scenes of the basketball world? In this week’s episode of The Artful Periscope,Larry sits down with author Rich Cohen to discuss his latest book, When the Game was War: The NBA’s Greatest Season. The book chronicles the NBA season of 1987 and the basketball stars that dominated the game. Rich discusses his childhood growing up with his basketball coach father and his gradual interest in high school basketball. Then Rich and Larry recall the hidden personal stories of basketball greats such as, Isaiah Thomas’s talented older brother who passed away after a drug overdose, Bob Hope’s unheard of $1,000,000 offer to Larry Bird, and the tragic rivalry between Isaiah Thomas and his former best friend Magic Johnson.

After the break, Larry welcomes Michelle J. Manno to the show to discuss her most recent book Denied: Women, Sports, and the Contradictions of Identity. Michelle, a sociologist and Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion at Northwestern University, highlights the journey of female athletes through a male dominated industry. By interviewing anonymous female basketball players at the college level, Michelle discusses the fine line female players must walk between masculinity and femininity, how the playful filming of a music video during a winter break led the girls to face uncomfortable truths about how the industry weaponizes sexuality, the struggle of maintaining good mental health in the face of physical exhaustion and the importance of intersectionality between race, sexual orientation, and feminism.

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Episode 69 – How Many Threads Do Storytellers Weave Together? – Author S. J. Rozan

February 16, 2024Uncategorizedculture, food, immigrants, Larry Davidson, Love affair, Martin Luther King Jr, Mayors of New York, New York City, object of a story, S. J. Rozan, SJ Rozan, subject of a story, The Booth at The Sachem Public Libraryartfulperiscope

How many threads do storytellers weave together? Joining Larry on the show is return guest S. J. Rozan to talk about her latest work Mayors of New York. S. J. shares that she has a love affair with New York City and wants to share that love with the reader. Larry asks if part of the book was influenced by Jeffrey Epstein and S. J. shares that she is interested in people of a lower social strata. S. J. explains the concept of a character being the “subject or the object” of a narrative. Larry shares his affection for one of S. J.’s character’s mothers and how he missed not having her in this most recent work. Then the conversation evolves into first generation immigrants and how a the place they settle in becomes a hub for their home culture, and the food seems to be the largest representation of their homelands. There was also a great discussion of Martin Luther King as this episode was recorded the day after the holiday.

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Episode 66 – How Many Threads Lead Us To Cultural Dissonance – Author Alma Katsu

January 13, 2024Uncategorized1927, 1940s, Alma Katsu, female spy novelist, Fire Balloons, fire bombing, historical horror novel, japan, japanese internment camp, jet stream, Larry Davidson, Red London, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Furvor, United states, World War IIartfulperiscope

How many threads lead us to cultural dissonance? In this installment of the podcast, Larry invites back to the program author Alma Katsu discussing her latest work The Fervor Larry asks how difficult is it to put a character into a crisis and how they work their way out of that situation? Alma discusses developing conflict in a story and always ask what the worst thing that can happen, then write their way out. Larry talks about how Alma’s culture growing up with a Japanese mother and being a Roman Catholic affects her writing. The book jumps from the 1927 to the 40’s and Larry posits why the basis of the story starts with a man and his family. Larry asks about the “spy balloons” from China and the balloons in Alma’s book and why are balloons so central to the story? There is also a pensive talk about how the settings are also characters in the story. In terms of memory there are 3 types, short term, long term and institutional memory. Larry asks which memory is central to the book? Alma describes how this work is different than most of her other historical horror/fiction. After a break, Larry speaks about storytelling in terms of professional wrestling. Larry watched the sport in the past and has recently began watching once again. In storytelling there are heroes and villains, but in wrestling, there are heels and babyfaces, and Larry speaks about the Netflix series Wrestlers and how the characters personal lives follow their characters.

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Episode 65 – How Many Threads Connect Authors and What We Can Learn – Nelson and Alex DeMille

January 6, 2024UncategorizedAlex DeMille, Blood Lines, co-authoring, Larry Davidson, losing colleagues, Nelson DeMille, storytelling, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, writing style, Writing with a family memberartfulperiscope

How many threads connect authors and what we can learn. On this episode are two amazing authors who really need no introduction. Nelson DeMille and his son Alex DeMille join the program to talk about their latest work Blood Lines. Larry asks what it is like to co-author a book with a fellow family member and also if it was a challenge to find the starting point for the story. Nelson talks about his writing style which is a departure from most authors with a “write as you go” plan. There is also a lively discussion about how the development of the characters develops in the writing process. Nelson and Alex also discuss how they study both current events and do extensive research before formulating a story and Larry posits how losing colleagues in the field can effect writing.

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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 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 59 – How Many Threads Connect the Reader to the Crime Fiction Writers They Follow – Reed Farrel Coleman and Ben Crane

September 23, 2023UncategorizedArt and craft of storytelling, Ben Crane, character development, covers of books, crime fiction writing, Elmore Leonard, Fargo, illusion, Larry Davidson storytelling, Man of Lies, Ozark, Reed Farrel Coleman, Sachem Library, settings as characters, Sleepless City, The Booth at The Sachem Public Library, The Stingartfulperiscope

How many threads connect the reader to the crime fiction writers that they follow.

Larry was fortunate to have well known crime fiction writer Reed Farrel Coleman to talk about his latest work Sleepless City. Larry asks Reed how he defines Noir fiction to which he responds “french for black” which brings a chuckle. Some have called Reed the “crime fiction writers crime fiction writer” and the response is very telling. Larry posits the question “how important is the cover of a new book to attract a new reader” and folds that question into how an author challenges himself with a character’s development. The two also discuss Elmore Leonard and how the protagonist in a work is not always the enemy.

After the break, Larry is joined by author Ben Crane, author of the book Man of Lies. Larry first poses that the feeling he got from the book is a combination of Ozark, The Sting, and Fargo, and the chill he felt when he read the line from the book “nothing I say is the truth, nothing I say is a lie”. There is a discussion of how the character’s fascination at a young age with illusionists shapes his world, and how the setting of a story is also a character. Larry also explores what the true definition of an “anti hero” can be.

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