This week, I'm chatting with Chip Taylor, the head coach of the Hamline University Pipers football team.  We discuss the following topics: Coach Taylor shares insights into his coaching journey and philosophy, emphasizing player development, leadership, and mentorship. Team dynamics, player recruitment, and the balance between academics and athletics. Coach Taylor also reflects on memorable moments and challenges in his coaching career. Coach Taylor walks through a typical game week, emphasizing preparation and tough practices. He discusses his coaching influences, interactions with ..read more

This week, I'm chatting with Javier Corrales, professor of Political Science at Amherst College and author of "Autocracy Rising: How Venezuela Transitioned to Authoritarianism."  We cover the following topics: The rising trend of autocracy globally; The autocratic tendencies in El Salvador under President Bukele; The erosion of democratic norms and institutions in various countries, including the United States and Hungary; Analysis of American political opinion on autocracy and its impact on foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine; The autocratization process in Venezuela and Madu ..read more

This week, we chat with actor and filmmaker Steve Lichtenstein, creator and star of Never Too Late—a sci-fi short delving into AI, climate change, and the human experience.  Steve shares his inspirations, the acting and filmmaking journey, and why he believes storytelling can spark thought and change. Check out the website:  https://www.thenevertoolate.com   ..read more

This week, Dan engages in a conversation with Robin Bose, India's leading golf journalist.  Dan and Robin delve into the transformative impact of LIV Golf and the implications of the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). Interview highlights: LIV Golf's Genesis: Robin Bose sheds light on the origins of LIV Golf, tracing its roots to Greg Norman's vision of a select group of elite players guaranteed substantial prize money. Influence and Expansion: Reflecting on LIV's influence, Robin argues that its coexistence with the PGA Tour has not dilut ..read more

In this episode, Tahani Mustafa, Senior Palestine Analyst for the International Crisis Group, provides insights into the multifaceted Gaza conflict. From the grim reality under military occupation to the complexities of Hamas's rise and the questionable viability of a two-state solution, we delve into the duration of the conflict, critiquing Israeli actions and exploring intentions behind open declarations by Israeli officials. Below is a summary of some of the topics we discuss: Pre-October 7th Situation: Grim reality of Palestinians under military occupation. Critique of Oslo Accords as Pal ..read more

This week, Dan chats with Steven Heydemann, who serves as the Director of Middle East Studies at Smith College. We cover the following topics: Understanding Middle Eastern Conflicts: The intricacies of Palestinian-Israeli relations, dissecting Hamas and the PLO differences. China's and Russia's roles in the Palestinian conflict, shedding light on their involvements. Insights on Syria: U.S. ambivalence and Russia's intervention in Syria, and missed opportunities for early U.S. support. Turkey's Position in NATO: Turkey's contentious role within NATO, and the value of having Turkey in ..read more

In this week’s episode, I engage in a comprehensive 'Israel 101' discussion with Doron Ben-Atar, Professor of History at Fordham University.  We explore pivotal historical events, including: - The founding of Israel: Analyzing the impact of political anti-Semitism in Europe, the Zionist movement's quest for a Jewish state, and the significance of the 1947 UN partition plan. - The 2000 Camp David Summit and the Oslo Peace Accord: Unpacking the complexities of failed negotiations and underlying trust issues between Palestinians and Israelis. - Examining Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and h ..read more

This week, Dan chats with Satira Osemudiamen, a storyteller and PR professional, and president of Satira Media and Public Relations. https://satiramediaandpr.com/ Satira explains that storytelling is a key part of her profession, using words to persuade and invoke action.  She emphasizes the importance of tailoring storytelling to different clients and industries, considering their goals and target audiences.  Satira also talks about starting her own PR agency, Satira Media, and the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.  She touches on the evolving field of public relation ..read more

After our annual spring hiatus, we're back with all new episodes! This week, we're chatting with Andres Mayo, immersive audio designer and mastering engineer from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Andres has 2 Latin Grammys and 7 Gardel Awards, and credits in over 3,000 albums. Andres gives us a primer on the basics of immersive audio, and shares how the industry and the technology have changed during his 30 years in the business.  One of the noteworthy changes has been the increase in overseas clients that Andres works with, outside of the LATAM market. Andres has a great passion for promoting th ..read more

This week I'm chatting with Leo Notenboom of askleo.com.  Leo has a popular YouTube channel of the same name in which he answers all manner of tech questions. In fact, by way of giving himself a job title for his enterprise, he calls himself the "Chief Question Answerer" at askleo.com We talk about a number of tech issues, including how to preserve digital content after a person dies, why using a password vault is essential for online security, why you maybe shouldn't use your neighbor's wifi, and why you're never too old to delve into the world of tech. Check out Leo here: https://www.as ..read more