Here’s my conversation with Doug Swanson about his book, “Blood Aces: The Wild Ride Of Benny Binion, The Texas Gangster Who Created Vegas.” We discussed Benny’s origins in the Lone Star State and why he had to leave, how he set up Binion’s Horseshoe as a place to gamble — not to see shows, and […]
It would be impossible for someone who produces a new movie annually to keep making good ones, but Woody Allen had settled into a solid good/bad alternating pattern in the last few years. In 2011, “Midnight In Paris” worked. In 2012, “To Rome With Love” didn’t. In 2013, he created “Blue Jasmine,” one of his […]
“Freakonomics” co-author Stephen Dubner returned to my show today to talk about the new book he’s written with Steven Levitt, “When To Rob A Bank.” We started by discussing how bad people are at risk assessment, too often making bad decisions because we’re afraid, and how politicians exploit that fear to manipulate us. Then we […]
The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most popular destinations for people who want to commit suicide. When Kevin Briggs was on duty with the California Highway Patrol, he was the guy called in to talk people into not jumping to their death, and earned the nickname Guardian Of The Golden Gate. He’s written about […]
Here’s my conversation with Barry Svrluga, national baseball writer for the Washington Post, about his book, “The Grind: Inside Baseball’s Endless Season.” I asked him how players stay focused and in shape over the course of 162 games (not to mention spring training and post-season), including those — like the Phillies — who have no […]
Mandy Smith spent more than a decade as a flight attendant for Virgin Airlines, and has written about her adventures in a book called “Cabin Fever.” On my radio show, we discussed: How is it different being a flight attendant for Virgin compared to other airlines? Have passengers ever tried to join the Mile High […]