Show cover of Ira's Everything Bagel

Ira's Everything Bagel

Discover Ira’s Everything Bagel, a blend of US arts and culture. Schmeared with podcasts rich in ideas worth spreading, as well as captivating stories.

Tracks

This week, Ira spoke with Ayoola Dominic, CEO of Koolboks, which provides sustainable, solar-powered cooling systems in underserved areas. In this cold episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ayoola talks about his background as a pharmacist and his parents, who are both medical doctors; why he’s passionate about the developing world; why re-frigeration is important in these areas; the lack of refrigeration in Sub-Saharan Africa (compared to the West); how to make refrigeration affordable and accessible to everybody; utilizing the resources of water and the sun; what is the good of technology if you can’t afford it; the role of lithium batteries; how 90 percent of their customers are small businesses that are generating income; his recent appearance at the Clinton Global Initiative; why the need for data collection on usage; using data to connect customers with needing a middleman, such as a fish farmer and a frozen food seller; the pay-as-you go billing system; how third-party banking agencies facilitate the billing; and optimizing sales for all their customers. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

07/11/2024 • 28:47

This week, Ira spoke with Marilyn Raichle, author of "Don’t Walk Away: A Care Part-ner’s Journey." In this caring episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Marilyn talks about how her mother, Jean, told her and her siblings that when she got Alzheimer's, they should just “walk away”; why Marilyn didn’t walk away; how an art class showed her that her that Jean was “still there”; how she was still living with invention, wit and joy; Jean’s new “family”; the “enduring personhood” of people who live with dementia; why she wrote the book; sharing joy; the framework of loss: care partners; how she became the family caregiver; the “ladies of assisted living”; why “sometimes your brain just gets in the way”; letting go of the person who used to be; and learning to relate by slowing down. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

31/10/2024 • 27:59

This week, Ira spoke with actor Michael Warburton, who provides quality commentary and insight into movies, culture & the arts on X with his handle, @TheMonologist. In this curated episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Michael talks about his acting background, including the stage; why he decided to start this project (during COVID); how he started it as altruistic exercise and eventually asked people to contribute; authentically sharing with people what he likes; his process; why the appreciation of people is rewarding; the validation of his instincts; how he was amazed at the famous people from all walks of life who follow him; planning a podcast based on his postings in 2025; the importance of the legacy element and keeping these artists’ work alive; why more and more people are looking back for quality; and why he won’t pander to his followers. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

24/10/2024 • 28:53

This week, Ira spoke with Burt Kearns, author of "SHEMP!: The Biography of The Three Stooges’ Shemp Howard, The Face of Film Comedy." In this slapstick episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Burt talks about why Shemp was put in a very thankless role in The Three Stooges; why he decided to write the book on Shemp; why what most of what we know about The Three Stooges isn’t true; how Moe and Shemp started out as a vaudeville act; how it became violent comedy; why Shemp was the star of the show; why Moe disparaged Shemp; how kids watching TV in the 60’s never took to Shemp; Shemp as a versatile actor; why he feels that Moe was responsible for Curly’s death and Shemp’s death; and the most surprising thing he found about Shemp while doing research. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

17/10/2024 • 27:08

This week, Ira spoke with Colonel Joshua M. McConkey, M.D., author of "Be The Weight Behind The Spear." In this leading episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Joshua talks about why the book title is his personal leadership ethos; how he worked with people in the military who are the tip of the spear; why the weight behind the spear is important ; his con-cern with the “Covid” generation, which has problems communicating with people on a face-to-face basis and has a sense of “entitlement”; why they lack leadership skills; how it’s important to get everyone engaged in the community; the mental health crisis in the United States; why his kids don’t have any social media accounts: how he won the lottery (literally); how his time in Iraq changed him as a person; how holding kids accountable in essential; why teachers need to be empowered; why he advocates one-on-one mentorship for that Covid generation; and how it’s free to teach accountability, integrity and leader-ship. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

10/10/2024 • 27:26

This week, Ira spoke with speechwriter, confidant and strategist Ken Khachigian, author of "Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan & Nixon." In this inside episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ken talks about why he decided to write the book (including information nobody else had); how he kept diaries and meticulous records; how Nixon and Reagan jointly ended the Cold War; how he had the discipline to write notes on his meetings with the two presidents despite his grueling schedule; how he gained the trust of two dissimilar presidents; why they both felt comfortable with him; why he took Reagan at his word; how he felt he was part of history with both Nixon and Reagan; how there was internal disloyalty in the Reagan administration; why power is a terrible addiction; what he regrets; the technology at the time; how he unearthed a “very significant piece of information in the Reagan archives that on one else saw; how he avoided becoming jaded working in that high-level environment; and the big historical takeaway from the book. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

03/10/2024 • 30:10

This week, Ira spoke with Steven Hoffen, an award-winning teen documentarian who installs hydroponic gardens in places of need. In this growing episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Steven talks about how he developed an interest in hydroponics; why he decided to do a documentary on the subject; how he started a non-profit to fund and place hydronic equipment in areas of food need; using a sustainable technology to supplement or alleviate food insecurity; how his film project led him to great partnerships; how he set up the Growing Peace Foundation; expanding chapters to others states; receiving awards for his work; and what he wants for the future of the organization. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

26/09/2024 • 26:43

Photo by Maddie Lovell This week, Ira spoke with photographer, educator and creative explorer Benita VanWinkle, who photographs and documents America’s vanishing movie theaters. In this celluloid episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Benita talks about how she started on her road to capturing theaters on film; how beautiful theaters that couldn’t sustain as film venues could be preserved and repurposed to meeting venues, etc.; how she maps out a trip to photograph 65-90 movie houses in small towns; why she never knows whether she will get inside a theater or not; the wide variety of design elements in movie houses; the best camera she recommends to her students; how she has photographed 1,100 theaters; why she’s partial to small-town theaters; and what they represent in American culture. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

19/09/2024 • 30:00

This week, Ira spoke with award-winning photographer, TV host, conservationist and National Geographic photographer Jason Edwards, author of "Icebergs to Iguanas: Photographic Journeys Around the World," a large format series of books illustrating his National Geographic imagery. In this wide-angle episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Jason talks about his early years as a drawing and painting artist; experiencing the influence of two German curators as an eighteen year old; forming his own style; starting out with film and eventually converting to digital photography (but somehow still carrying the same weight); how he keeps in shape for his globe-trotting adventures; viewing the world as a photo; what he views in the camera that the rest of us do not; seeing the “rectangle” in everything he does; why he is paid to make images, not excuses; how the book project came into existence; why story telling in the book is essential, along with the stunning im-ages; the “behind the scenes” perspective; how the photos and text were curated for the book; and why it will become a series of books. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

12/09/2024 • 30:14

This week, Ira spoke with FBI consultant and forensic psychologist Tahir Rahman, M.D., author (with Jeffrey Abugel) of "Extreme Overvalued Beliefs: Clinical and Forensic Psychiatric Dimensions." In this believable episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Tahir talks about why he decided to specialize in this work; how he developed a new and better classi-fication system for criminal behavior involving mass shootings, terrorism, etc.; why people have extreme overvalued beliefs; the cultural reinforcement of these beliefs; copycat behaviors; why he is an amateur historian; the thinking behind the behavior; binary simplistic thinking; learning about these behaviors; the role of media; coming up with solutions; how to evaluate a threat; establishing a probable cause; the role of substance abuse, grief, and financial losses; the underutilization of crisis response teams; who the book was written for; delusions vs. belief systems; and what he wants readers to take from his book. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

05/09/2024 • 30:59

This week, Ira spoke with marine biologist Sally Ann Hunter, author of "Transfigured Sea." In this oceanic episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Sally talks about becoming a marine biologist; why she decided to write a novel; her style of writing, which is “nature writing”; her writing regime; moving from her short story to writing a book; her story of two women who explore the sea and their personal growth; how she balanced writing between the creatures and the two characters in the book; how her writing came out of her subconscious; why most of the people in her novel are based on people she knows; how she combined her scientific education with her emotional connection with the sea; why the edge of the sea is the most fascinating place of all; how whale sharks are not dangerous to humans; where magic happens in estuaries; why the ocean seems to be alive; how humans can help protect the ocean; and learning about self-development and growth. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

29/08/2024 • 28:33

This week, Ira spoke with Charles J. Moxley Jr., author of “Nuclear Weapons and International Law: Existential Risks of Nuclear War and Deterrence through a Legal Lens.” In this explosive episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Charles talks about what the risks are in eliminating nuclear weapons; how can the law apply “lawless” nations; why it’s in everyone’s self-interest to adhere to notions of international law; the enduring legacy of MAD (mutual assured distruction); the fallacy of using low-yield nuclear weapons; how to deal with irrational leaders; why the need to harness the potential for survival; how we have chemical and biological conventions; the danger of a “nuclear winter”; why our policies are misguided; proportionate response; and being optimistic about progress. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

22/08/2024 • 28:37

This week, Ira spoke with Jane Lee Rankin, author of "Farm Family: A Solo Mom’s Memoir of Finding Home, Happiness, and Alpacas." In this sheared episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Jane talks about when she first fell in love with the mountains and rural living; first meeting an alpaca at the Kentucky State Fair; her dream of raising alpacas; shearing them once a year; why her farm is considered a fiber farm; the importance of agritourism (“farms plus people”); having a sense of humor to survive; how the book derived from customers’ questions during tours of the farm (Apple Hill Farm); why what started out as a story of the farm became a memoir; why a lot of her farm team are students; how alpacas have a spiritual energy; why there’s a heartbeat to a farm; and what she wants people to take away from her book (hint: real life on the farm). (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

15/08/2024 • 27:08

This week, Ira spoke with Dr. Roy Meals, (a Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at UCLA and author of several books), who walked the 342-mile perimeter of Los Angeles in 10-mile segments, talked with the people he encountered, and explored local points of interest. In this peripatetic episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Roy talks about how he got the idea for his project; his preparations for the walks; the people (and locations) who had an impact on him; discovering the Simms Library of Poetry; relying on his sense of human nature; visiting a landfill; and what he discovered about people and places. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

08/08/2024 • 26:38

This week, Ira spoke with Bernie J. Mullin, author of "Reimagining America's Dream: Making It Attainable for All." In this imaginative episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Bernie talks about a lack of mutual understanding of what the American dream is; the top ten social issues in America; how to create the ability to generate wealth; the nasty divide in politics; the “entitlement game”; why “elbow grease,” honesty and integrity are important; how we became the “trophy generation” and how to change it; why the fundamental thing is discipline; the importance of free pre-school for every child; and the challenge for the majority of people in this country. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

01/08/2024 • 31:05

This week, Ira spoke with Stephen Harrison, author of "The Editors." In this novel episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Stephen talks about his book, which takes readers behind the scenes of a fictionalized version of Wikipedia called Infopendium, where the facts seen near the top of most Google searches are the result of cooperation and curation between dozens, even hundreds of volunteer editors…but where what is written can also spark fierce battles between the editors and sway the truth for millions; why he was writing about some truths in the form of fiction; why he didn’t want to hurt real people who live in countries where access to Wikipedia is illegal; how his novel reduces “Wikipedia’s” polices to four; their aim for neutrality; why we’re not lacking for information in today’s world, we are lacking quality of information; and how part of the story takes place during the pandemic. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

25/07/2024 • 26:59

This week, Ira spoke with Suzanne Maggio, author of "Estrellas: Moments of Illumination Along El Camino de Santiago." In this walking episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Suzanne talks about why she decided to walk along the El Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain; how she planned the walk; why you have to be open to letting go of the best plans and dealing with what’s right in front of you; walking yourself into shape; physical, spiritual and mental; why Spain supports that journey and provides infrastructure; the uniqueness about it; silence and reflection, where you create an opportunity for change to occur; why it left her changed; how her husband supported her during the solo walk; why she never used her phone while walking; the challenge of the walk becoming too touristy; some of the wonderful people she met on the walk itself; alternate routes on the El Camino de Santiago; why she decided to write the book (“it wasn’t about walking, it was about what happens when you’re walking”); and how she wrote it during COVID. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

18/07/2024 • 27:52

This week, Ira spoke with Linda Ambrus Broenniman, author of "The Politzer Saga." In this researched episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Linda talks about the story of the box with documents that survived a house fire and led to finding out her Catholic father was Jewish ; her quest going back eight generations; why the documents were written in Hungarian; finding the right person to help her, which turned out to be Andras Gyekiczki a Hungarian sociologist and lawyer; being surprised at what she found; why she had never intended to write a book; how she organized and contained the material; by writing it, it made her ancestors come alive; the reaction of her family to her research; and why her mother, who was Catholic, was an honoree in Israel at Yad Vashem. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

11/07/2024 • 27:38

This week, Ira spoke with Marcia Naomi Berger, author of "The Bipolar Therapist: A Journey From Madness to Love and Meaning." In this therapeutic episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Marcia talks about her first manic episode; why it took three hospitalizations before she realized she needed help; how after her hospitalizations, her colleagues interacted with her with, in some cases, a lack of acceptance); how her illness helped her become more compassionate towards her clients ; why he did not lose her confidence being able to help people; how having a sense of humor is crucial to get through life and helps her in her work; the importance of mentors; and writing the book so people who read it don’t feel alone with their mental illness. (Photo by Patty Spinks) (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

04/07/2024 • 27:44

This week, Ira spoke with R.J. Stewart, author of "Crazy Hawk," a dystopian, post-apocalyptic thriller about a resilient and fierce woman named Deirdre. In this post-apocalyptic episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” R.J. talks about starting as a writer in Hollywood (but working first as a Teamster driver); writing for “Remington Steele”; how he became head writer of “Xena,Warrior Princess”; working with “Leading Man” types and appreciating star power; why he wasn’t star struck at first; why you can always say no to a movie, but there’s a limit to how many times you can say no to television; why he chose to write a book as opposed to a film or TV script; how he came up with the idea for the book; expecting a reaction from “woke” Hollywood for writing about a female lead; how long it took him to develop the lead character; how he was influenced by the death of his daughter; his unique writing schedule; why he likes to revise his work; and what he wants people to take away from reading his book.

27/06/2024 • 29:21

This week, Ira spoke with David Weill, author of "All That Really Matters." In this transplanted episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” David talks about why he took the uncommon decision to leave his career as a transplant surgeon at a relatively early age and become a writer; his novel about Joe Bosco, an arrogant, hard-charging transplant surgeon whose ambition knows no bounds; how he named his main character; why writing fiction allowed him to explore more transparently the hospital ecosystem; how surgeons can suffer from compassion fatigue; why he consults and advocates for paying more attention to the medical work force; how he emphasizes relying on each other;; how you get educated from your patients; the importance of a sense of humor; “greater tolerance for greater talent”; how everything in the novel could happen or did happen in the real world; what he wants people to take away from the novel; and the religious or spiritual element in dealing with life and death issues as a surgeon.

20/06/2024 • 27:25

Award-winning children’s author, musician and podcaster This week, Ira spoke with Patrick Adams, award-winning children’s author, musician and podcaster, who will release his eighth album for kids and families, "Imagination Time with Patrick," on June 14. In this versatile episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Patrick talks about  how his creative juices hit later in life; how he juggles his day job with his creative side; his creative output of books and albums for children and his family life; how he got into songwriting and one of his funniest stories about the process; how he started his podcast and developed a community; running original songs past his 4-year old and 19-year old daughters; why there are few people producing children’s music in Las Vegas; and why he enjoys the world he has created. A triple-threat in the world of children’s entertainment, Las Vegas-based Patrick Adams is an award-winning children’s musician, author, and podcaster. Following closely on the heels of his 2023 album, "Adventure Time with Patrick" – which was honored with a prestigious National Parenting Products Award – Patrick will release his eighth album for kids and families, "Imagination Time with Patrick," on June 14. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning "Amazing Lisa" and "Rhythm’s World" children’s book series (13 books so far), and is the creator/producer/host of the NAPPA-winning "Kindie Rock Stars" podcast (5 seasons and 323 episodes so far). He is a board member of the Children’s Music Network, serving as co-president and treasurer of that organization.  Patrick’s day job is Lead Project Manager at Caesars Entertainment where he does mostly design and construction projects, ranging from new restaurants to new resorts, with a special focus on the IT elements. Patrick Adams      Website Patrick Adams      Facebook Patrick Adams      Instagram Patrick Adams X

06/06/2024 • 29:20

This week, Ira spoke with Patricia Walsh Chadwick, author of "Breaking Glass: Tales from the Witch of Wall Street." In this cultish episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Patricia talks about growing up in a cult (which started out as a religious community); the paradox of the community being intellectually stimulating, but very rigid; the one defining theme that held the cult together; why she was told to leave in her senior year, leaving her family behind; her will to survive with few places to go to for advice; going to secretarial school and keeping her eyes and ears open, because she didn’t know anything; how she got her first job on Wall Street as a receptionist and then became a research analyst; how she was aggressive when she began working there; why she became adaptable; picking up millions of dollars in checks when she was 20; getting her broker’s license before she was 21; her mentors (including one female); why, at 45, she had twins; and what she wants people to take away from her book.

23/05/2024 • 28:55

(Photo by Sarah Silbiger) This week, Ira spoke with Steven L. Herman, author of "Behind the White House Curtain: A Senior Journalist’s Story of Covering the President—and Why It Matters". In this presidential episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Steve talks about why he wrote the book, which explains the mechanics of covering the White House; working for the Voice of America (VOA) and what kind of organization it is; why VOA is the only news institution mandated to be objective; why the VOA is part of the press pool and what a press pool does; the vetting of White House journalists by the Secret Service; why there are 49 seats in the press briefing room and why the White House Correspondents Association determines seating; how White House reporting can be both a boring and thrilling job; why radio is his first love; the concept of accuracy over speed; his biggest challenge in the White House; “confirmation bias”; and the most surprising thing he discovered when writing the book.

16/05/2024 • 30:02

This week, Ira spoke with Glenn Plaskin, a New York Times best-selling author and interviewer who has written 30 books, including "Horowitz: The Biography of Vladimir Horowitz"and "Turning Point: Pivotal Moments in the Lives of America’s Celebrities". In this prolific episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Glenn talks about his early life and originally not planning to be a writer, but instead a classical pianist; the importance of selling your idea instead of yourself; why his first book was life changing; why, after his first successful book on Horowitz, he decided to become an interviewer; the intimate rapport you establish with your interviewee; his backstage “moments” with celebrities; why he wouldn’t have written books and done interviews if he hadn’t felt bad about himself; his ability to connect with people; why he became a ghost writer; how everybody has a book inside them; bringing out the true emotion of the story; why his favorite book, "Katie Up And Down The Hall, The True Story of How One Dog Turned Five Neighbors into a Family," is about the concept of family; and why a book is sometimes a legacy for an author.

09/05/2024 • 28:04

This week, Ira spoke with Sarah Cart, author (along with Glenn Plaskin) of “On My Way Back To You, One Couple’s Journey through Catastrophic Illness to Healing and Hope." In this healing episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Sarah talks about why she decided to write the book about her husband’s incurable autoimmune disease and its impact on their lives; their life-and-death love story; why she decided to journal during her care giving ex-perience; why the emails she sent to family and friends were the first outline of the book; having a close core of friends; how her first Zoom was the night her husband went into the hospital (because of COVID); the importance of humor in coping; the challenges of being a caregiver; the practical steps her husband shared with her in case he died; and why writing her book was her therapy.”

02/05/2024 • 28:04

This week, Ira spoke with Burt Kearns, author of "Marlon Brando: Hollywood Rebel." In this Adler episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Burt talks about why he decided to write a book about Marlon Brando with a new perspective, something that previous books had not covered; how Marlon Brando influences popular culture today; why he defines himself as a “pop culture journalist”; how he structured the book; how Brando influenced Elvis; why acting meant so little to the actor; how he lied in media interviews in the early days of his Hollywood career; the connection between Marlon Brando and James Dean; Marlon’s lifelong friendship with Wally Cox; how Burt researched his book and talked with people who knew Brando; the most surprising thing he found out about the actor; Brando’s involvement in civil rights; why the actor didn’t put his heart into film after “Last Tango in Paris”; and why Paramount didn’t want Marlon Brando for “The Godfather.”

25/04/2024 • 29:24

This week, Ira spoke with actor Thaao Penghlis, author of "Seducing Celebrities One Meal at a Time" and host of "Thaao Penghlis’ Lost Treasures" Podcast. In this delicious episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Thaao talks about exploring the world as an outlet from acting; how travel helped him with his dialogue on television; actors he was influenced by; the importance of listening; the imperative of relaxation and humor; how he learned lines for “Days of Our Lives”; why he wrote the book; why Doris Roberts wrote the introduction to the book; how life is a work in progress; why the book is more than recipes and more on how he experienced life with celebrities; some of the greats he cooked for; the challenging part of writing the book; and his four-episode podcast on exploring the Trilogy of Homer through the life of German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann.

18/04/2024 • 31:59

This week, Ira spoke with William J. Carl, author of "Assassin’s Manuscript. "In this killing episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” William talks about how Alex Haley convinced him to write a novel; the concept of two genres coming together; why it took 30 years to finish the novel; how this is not a typical good guys or bad guys novel; his copious research, including trips to seven countries; his meeting with assassins and how surprisingly normal they appear; how his biggest challenge writing the book…was writing; literary depth; why it was important to learn how to write for the screen; how rewriting is key; why one of the assassins he met is just like his main character; and why there are short chapters with a hook at the end of each chapter.

11/04/2024 • 28:19

This week, Ira spoke with Liz J. Steblay, author of "Succeeding as a Solopreneur: Six Keys to Taking the Leap, Winning Clients and Building Wealth." In this enterprising episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Liz talks about the difference between an entrepreneur and a solopreneur; why it’s the toughest job you’ll ever have, but could be the most rewarding; how you have to push your boundaries and there is no fallback plan; how to mitigate FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt); why being self-employed is not for everybody; why you need to figure out what you hate to do and outsource it; the two key mistakes people make - how to go to market and pricing; defining your niche; going to “where the fish are”; why you’re never too old; the concept of fractional leadership; why LinkedIn is so important; and how to distinguish yourself from other solopreneurs.

04/04/2024 • 27:55

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