Billy Dees Podcast

What happens when history becomes a political weapon, facts take a back seat to tribal loyalty, and people reject an idea simply because of who said it? On this episode of The Billy Dees Podcast, Billy Dees sits down with author and podcaster Herman Forwood for a wide-ranging conversation about history, political tribalism, government, and the importance of questioning accepted ideas. Herman discu...

What happens when a 20-year Marine Corps veteran brings military leadership and logistics experience into a discussion about government, family law, and public policy? On this episode of The Billy Dees Podcast, Billy Dees sits down with Keith Barton, a former military aviator, author, congressional candidate, and advocate for family court reform, for a wide-ranging conversation about the systems t...

Author Richard Ballo joins Billy Dees for a thoughtful conversation about grief, healing, writing, and the importance of human connection. A published writer since 1972, Ballo shares how losing his first wife to cancer led to his award-winning book Life Without Lisa and shaped his understanding of the long, complicated process of bereavement. He discusses why grief doesn't follow a convenient time...

In this wide-ranging commentary episode of The Billy Dees Podcast, Billy Dees takes a look back at several of the stories and controversies that dominated the news over the past week—and, as usual, doesn't approach them from a neatly packaged ideological perspective. The episode begins with the disturbing allegations surrounding a 2024 incident at Cornell University involving a young woman identif...

This podcast was originally planned to cover several topics in detail and only mention the Lindsay Clancy trial as a decision is pending whether to move forward with a new trial. Billy and Cynthia begin talking about artificial intelligence, the rapid expansion of data centers, the strain they may place on power grids, and the larger implications of the AI arms race. Cynthia explains her work with...

This episode is a simulcast with the Shades of Jade Podcast. The host Sam is joined by fundraiser Jeff Kruszyna (JMK Victory) and Billy Dees Podcast host, Billy Dees. They open with breaking news of an alleged mid-air attack on a flight bound for Israel—the first officer reportedly stabbed the pilot before passengers subdued him and the plane diverted to Saudi Arabia—then talk about post-9/11 unea...

What if a golf match between Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler had actually taken place? In this episode of the Billy Dees Podcast, Bill talks with Jon A. Gegenheimer, a longtime attorney, elected court official, and author whose books blend history, law, morality, and fiction. Gegenheimer explains the unusual genre of historical and alternative fiction and discusses his latest book, Churchill vs...

What happens when you look at decarbonization not simply as a cost, but as an industry? That’s one of the questions at the center of this conversation between Billy Dees and Dr. Christian Komor, a former White House Earth Systems Science Advisor, clinical psychologist, author, and 2026 write-in candidate for Governor of Colorado. Christian brings an unusually broad professional background to the d...

What happens when compassion becomes so distorted that we start feeling more sympathy for the person who caused the harm than for the person who suffered it? In this commentary, Billy Dees takes a hard look at what he calls “false compassion”—and how our desire to understand people can sometimes cross the line into excusing behavior that should never be excused. Using the Lindsay Clancy case as a...

In this conversation, Billy Dees talks with Nigerian-American physician, novelist, and speaker Dr. Nneka Oluoha about mental health, culture, identity, family expectations, immigration, empathy, and the power of storytelling. As an internal medicine hospitalist, Dr. Oluoha has witnessed firsthand the deeply personal stories people often carry beneath the surface. Those experiences helped inspire h...

This episode is a simulcast of the Shades of Jade Podcast and The Billy Dees Podcast. In this Shades of Jade roundtable, host Sam is joined by author Sidney Pines and longtime podcaster Billy Dees for a wide-ranging conversation about media, the justice system, politics, and America’s readiness for challenging times. Sidney, author of Awakening: A Patriot’s Diary of American Deception and Golden A...

What happens when you’re given a second chance at life—and decide to use it to help other people save their relationships? In this episode of The Billy Dees Podcast, Bill sits down with Gaylen Wilson, a heart transplant survivor, 20-year sober alcoholic, relationship author, erectile dysfunction advocate, and co-founder of the Monument Method Institute. Gaylen shares the remarkable story of his he...

In this episode of the Billy Dees Podcast, Billy sits down with composer, storyteller, educator, and creator Christopher Kaufman for a fascinating conversation about the power of imagination and the role of the arts in our lives. Kaufman shares the unusual creative journey that began with fantasy stories and illustrations as a child before leading him into classical music, advanced composition stu...

Billy Dees sits down with George Fontes , host of the World Ablaze podcast, for a wide-ranging conversation about free speech, citizen journalism, politics, geopolitics, artificial intelligence, and the rapidly changing media landscape. Billy and George begin by discussing one of the frustrations facing independent podcasters and commentators: people reacting to headlines, titles, and short clips...

In this episode of The Billy Dees Podcast, Billy sits down with Chase Russell, a political strategist, president of Gray Eagle Strategies, and author of Winning Without Millions for a wide-ranging conversation about the changing landscape of American politics. Russell shares his perspective on Florida politics and Byron Donalds, Ohio politics and Vivek Ramaswamy, and what it takes for candidates t...

Filmmaker and writer Sara Alessandrini returns to The Billy Dees Podcast for a thought-provoking conversation that begins with Italian soccer and expands into a broader discussion about education, work, critical thinking, immigration, and the future of American society. Drawing from her essay, “Italy’s Failure to Qualify for the World Cup Is a Warning to the United States, and It’s Not About Socce...

This episode is a simulcast among the Shades of Jade and Billy Dees Podcast.  In this episode, host Sam reunites with filmmaker Sara Alessandrini and longtime podcaster Billy Dees for a wide-ranging conversation about the lasting fallout from COVID-era decisions and the growing crisis of public trust. They examine Anthony Fauci’s recent testimony, the controversy surrounding the handling of scient...

Billy Dees Podcast: Joel Rakow on Free Speech, Censorship, the Constitution, and Life in Woke America Billy Dees talks with author Joel Rakow about his novel Life in Woke America: A Family’s Story of Truth and Betrayal Under Fire , a work of fiction inspired by real events. Their wide-ranging conversation examines free speech, censorship, political polarization, institutional power, the COVID-19 e...

Film history, Hollywood, streaming, and the future of cinema take center stage in this fascinating conversation with filmmaker Mike Scalere. Billy Dees welcomes Mike Scalere, a cinema studies graduate from NYU and former HBO and History Channel producer, for an engaging discussion about the evolution of movies and television. From Hollywood's Golden Age and the rise of television to blockbuster cl...

Discover why the most successful entrepreneurs plan their exit before they ever launch their business. In this episode, Billy Dees sits down with attorney, business strategist, and Play Big Faster host Scherrie L. Prince to discuss business succession planning, estate planning, entrepreneurship, and long-term business success. Scherrie explains why every business owner needs a strategy for ownersh...

Discover the remarkable journey of author, filmmaker, and producer Angela Page on this episode of The Billy Dees Podcast. Angela discusses her latest historical fiction novel, Enrico G., inspired by the extraordinary life of her great-grandfather during some of Italy's most turbulent moments, including World War II, Mussolini's regime, and the country's political transformation. She shares how ext...

On this episode of The Billy Dees Podcast, Billy sits down with Army veteran, resilience coach, and New Normal Big Life Podcast host Antoinette Berrafato for an inspiring conversation about overcoming trauma, rebuilding health, and creating a life filled with purpose. After suffering a traumatic brain injury, spinal damage, and severe PTSD, Antoinette transformed her life from relying on a walker...

On this episode of The Billy Dees Podcast, Billy welcomes Stacy Rogers, Republican candidate for Governor of Kansas, for a wide-ranging conversation about the issues shaping the future of Kansas and the nation. Topics include the rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers, property taxes, education reform, government transparency, economic development, and the challenges facing rural communities. R...

Discover the surprising story behind one of America's oldest—and most misunderstood—forms of entertainment. Billy Dees welcomes author, comedian, actress, and professional ventriloquist April Brucker to discuss her new book, 250 Years of American Ventriloquism: How Ventriloquism Influenced American Culture. Together they explore how ventriloquism shaped radio, television, comedy, politics, and pop...

On this episode of The Billy Dees Podcast, Billy welcomes author and retired aerospace engineer Jeff Kildow for a fascinating conversation about World War II aviation, military history, and the art of writing historical fiction. Drawing on his career with Lockheed Martin and his passion for preserving history, Kildow shares insights into the remarkable engineering breakthroughs of the era and the...