Thecuriousmanspodcast

Matt Crawford speaks with author Ed Hess about his book: Own Your Work Journey: The Path to Meaningful Work and Happiness in the Age of Smart Technology and Radical Change. The Smart Technology Age will be a time of constant change that will require us to continually adapt and learn new skills to maintain employment. The best research from Oxford predicts that between 25-47% of the U.S workforce will be automated by the end of this decade. Hess highlights the tools we will need to be adaptable and employable. The time of getting a static position and working somewhere for 20-30 may be close to its end. Part psychology, self-help, business and technology this book should be required reading by all and, more importantly, required teaching.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Alan Questel about his book, Practice Intentional Acts of Kindness and Like Yourself More. Questel has never met a person who didn't want more kindness in their life. Are you kind? Would you like to be kinder? Kindness is a skill we can all develop. This book is a practical guide to creating more kindness in your life towards yourself and others. In this age of social media friends this book shows us how to change the way we feel about ourselves and I think is the perfect salve for some of the social issues we see in soceity. 

Matt Crawford speaks with authors Greg Glasgow and Kathyrn Mayer about their book: Disneyland on The Mountain: Walt, The Environmentalists, and the Ski Resort That Never Was. We all know the name Disney as a behemoth of a company and landowner, but in the 1960's this was far from being a given. How Walt Disney's desire to turn Mineral King in southern California into a skiing mecca, spurred an environmental momevent is truly fascinating. The outcome of this story has implications in how we protect our nations land today and the way in which Disney builds implements lessons learned from this fight to this day.

Matt Crawford speaks with authors Chris Mefford and Kyle Buckett about their book, Leadership Is Overrated: How the Navy Seal (and Successful Businesses) Create Self-Leading Teams That Win. What is leadership and where did we all learn to define it? For many of us it happens in the business world through perpetual motion. Where do our current leaders get the skill and training to be effective? In most cases it is self-taught and taken from bad examples. Mefford and Buckett merge corporate culture with that of the Navy Seals to show us all what really works and what doesn't. This book should be required reading for those already in and those joining the business world, but also anyone in a leadership position. I hope you will listen to the interview and give the book a read.

Matt Crawford speaks with authors John Roth and Leonard Grob about their book, Warnings: The Holocaust, Ukraine, And Endangered Democracy. American democracy is under the most sever threat since the Civil War. As Holocaust experts both Roth and Grob are aptly placed to make the careful comparison to the mechanisms that led up to the Holocaust and the similar patterns we see here in the U.S and abroad. Ignorance and lies are the foundation to autocracy, reading this book and discussing it is great way to counteract those forces. 

Matt Crawford speaks with author and educator Adam Bessie about his new book, Going Remote: A Teacher's Journey. An English professor at a community college in the Bay Area, Bessie shares with us what it was like for both teachers and students to have to go virtual. Unlike most of his colleagues however, Bessie was also in remission with brain cancer and had just returned to teaching after sabbatical. With students from diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic backgrounds, veterans, immigrants, the formerly incarcerated, parents and older returning students, his perspective is a wide ranging and an important voice to listen to. With images that are sure to move the reader and flood us with memory and emotion, I highly recommend it.

Matt Crawford speaks with Sally and Jonah Ismael about their book, The Night Blooming. Twin competitive Taekwondo athletes Sally and Jonah endured severe childhood psychological, emotional, and mental distress as they confronted their fears, doubts, pain, and chronic PTSD during the traumatic experience of abuse, bullying, and rejection they have encountered. All while they simply wanted to be part of a team and participate in the sport they loved, simply because of their race and religion. A true story of endurance, perseverance and inspiration, this is a book for all and can be a salve for those who suffer any type of adversity.

Matt Crawford speaks with author S.C Gwynne about his book, His Majesty's Airship: The Life and Death of the World's Largest Flying Machine. This is the tragic story of the British airship R-101 which went down in a hydrogen fireball in 1930, killing more people than died in the Hindenburg disaster seven years later. Why has such a story been largely forgotten? In His Majesty's Airship, historian S.C Gwynne brings us back in vivid detail to this tragedy and details what events led up to this moment of hubris. A cautionary tale that shows how we tend to make the same mistakes again and again for the same reasons. Gwynne will transport you back in time and raise you among the clouds in this hard to put down read. 

Matt Crawford speaks with authors, creators and producers Andrew Moskos and Pep Rosenfeld about their book, Boom Chicago Presents The 30 Most Important Years In Dutch History. What do Ted Lasso, Get Out, Late Night with Seth Meyers, 30 Rock, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Breaking Bad and Saturday Night Live, just to name a few have in common? They all feature writers, creators, directors or stars who got their start at Boom Chicago. Andrew and Pep discuss what made them start and American Improv show in Amsterdam 30 years ago, and created a comedic institution that continues to cultivate amazing talent.

Matt Crawford speaks with Dr. Stephen Furlich about his book, Sex Talk: How Biological Sex Influences Gender Communication Differences Throughout Lifes' Stages. Sex Talk can benefit all readers, from teens to senior citizens, when interacting with friends, families, and other relationships, along with helping to advance their careers through strategic communication. It precisely tracks how gender communication differences change as one's biology and physiology changes and shows how these changes occur throughout different stages of life. This is a thread through every aspect of our lives and care with which we receive, I highly recommend it.

Matt Crawford speaks with Thom Hartmann about his book, The Hidden History of American Democracy: Rediscovering Humanity's Ancient Way of Living. Hartmann presents a sweeping history of and searing analysis of American democracy, showing how democracy is the one form of governance most likely to produce peace and happiness among people. He offers a clear call to action and a set of solutions with road maps for individuals and communities to follow to create a safer, more just society and a more equitable and prosperous economy, ensuring democracy's survival.

Matt Crawford speaks with Rabbi Michael Strassfeld about his book, Judaism Disrupted: A Spiritual Manifesto for the 21st Century. This book is a call for individuals seeking a deeper connection with their faith. Rabbi Strassfeld urges us all to let goof outdated rituals and embrace a more open and modern approach to Judaism. While this is a book about Judaism, we discuss how this can relate to all religions and the issues they face, with the next generations steering away from organized religions writ large. A thought-provoking book no matter your beliefs.

Matt Crawford speaks with sculptor and author, Judith Peck about her book, Art and Social Interaction: A Guide For College Internships Serving Correctional, Rehabilitation, and Human Service Needs. This manual contains the information needed for human service institutions, liberal arts colleges, and community volunteers to present a program of creative visual arts in jails, psychiatric facilities, drug rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, shelters and facilities for youth in need. Students not only perform community service but gain unique personal understanding of the major domestic issues of our time- crime, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and aging.

Matt Crawford speaks with author and retired MH-47E pilot Alan Mack about his book: Razor 03: A Night Stalker's Wars. Mack shares his behind-the-scenes perspective of the Horse Soldier's infill into Afghanistan. The hunt for Osama Bin Laden at Tora Bora and describes his shootdown during Operation Anaconda. Years later, he chased Bowe Bergdahl, rescued hostages in Iraq, and the U.S Navy Seal 'Lone Survivor' from the Kunar Valley. Mack also discusses the sacrifices he and his family made while serving this country and how they coped. A truly inspirational read that all should pick up.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Mary Harper about her book, The Sound of Her Voice: My Blind Parents' Story. An inspiring chronicle of a remarkable couple (both blind since childhood) who - against all odds- lived full and productive lives. Mario became the first blind graduate of Notre Dame Law School and was later elected a Judge of two different counties. Jane ran a household of four sighted children without assistance. Both born in the early 20th century before the ADA and many programs for assistance that we take for granted today. What this story is mostly about though is that of love, and love for each other. This is a beautiful book that is sure to inspire and warm your heart.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Ken Rusk about his book, Blue Collar Cash: Love Your Work, Secure Your Future, and Find Happiness for Life. This book lays out in straightforward and accessible ways a path to success and happiness that doesn't require a mortarboard and gown. White-collar jobs are being threatened by AI. Economists have estimated that at least 4/5's of the jobs created by the infrastructure bill and the broader economic plan would not require college degrees. Add in the Baby Boomer retirements, and this nation is primed for a blue-collar resurgence. 

Matt Crawford speaks with author Larry Freeland about his book, Legacy of Honor: The Patriarch. A tale of courage, sacrifice, love, and honor, this 20th century historical fiction saga addresses the horrors of WWI and the challenges that military men faced upon returning including mental trauma, and physical illness in addition to the hardships of the Great Depression. All told through the eyes of the character, Doughboy Sam McCormack who was based on author Larry Freeland's own grandfather, Sam Freeland. 

Matt Crawford speaks with author William Hazelgrove about his book, The Last Charge of the Rough Rider: Theodore Roosevelt's Last Days. There have been many books about Teddy Roosevelt but few that focus on his last moments. Racked by rheumatism, pathogens in his blood, an embolism, a bad leg from an accident and a bullet lodged in his chest from an assassin's attempt, he was still trying to recapture his "Crowded Hour." With the U.S on the verge of joining The Great War, Roosevelt wanted nothing more than to make that one last charge up the hill and recapture his former glory or, go out in a blaze of glory. As always Hazelgrove transports us back in time and takes us along on T.R's last ride. Hop on!

Matt Crawford speaks with author, poet and editor Kwame Dawes about his and Chris Abani's edited work, Tisa: New-Generation African Poets, A Chapbook Box Set. This twelve-piece, limited-edition box set, an African Poetry Book Fund (APBF) project, features the work of eleven new African poets. For those of you out there who are daunted by poetry, I implore you to listen to this interview and then go and get the box set. professor Dawes, completely lifts the veil on poetry and makes it accessible to us all. In this set I discovered how an African poet could transport me to their home and convey their struggle with one verse. 

Matt Crawford speaks with author Alex Wheatle about his book, Sufferah: Memoir of a Brixton Reggae Head. In this breathtaking memoir, acclaimed author Alex Wheatle details how reggae music became his salvation through a childhood marred by abuse, imprisonment, and police brutality.