Books & Looks

Tom Olson's Daughters of the Islands tells how six island-born nurses shaped health care in Hawaii before statehood, in their own words. Olson interviewed the women 25 years ago and promised not to tell their stories until they had passed away. On Books and Looks, he talks with host Blaine DeSantis about the women and why he waited. Tom Olson is a psychiatric nurse who spent much of his career as...

Anna Pitoniak talks The Swiss Agent, her smart CIA thriller of female spies, Russian oligarchs, and Swiss bankers, plus the real research behind it. Pre-order The Swiss Agent The Swiss Agent audiobook Read book one, The Helsinki Affair Visit Anna's website Follow Anna on Goodreads Most spy novels lean on car chases and gunfights. Anna Pitoniak's The Swiss Agent is built around psychology, atmosphe...

A century ago, the birds at your feeder were fair game. Egrets were shot for their breeding plumes, passenger pigeons were shipped to city markets by the barrel, and fashionable women wore hats topped with whole stuffed birds, sometimes with hummingbird earrings to match. On this episode of Books and Looks, Blaine DeSantis talks with Dr. James McCommons about his new book, The Feather Wars and the...

Step inside the Tudor court with bestselling historian and novelist Alison Weir as she joins Blaine DeSantis to discuss her new historical novel, The Boleyn Secret. The story follows Catherine Carey, niece of Anne Boleyn, from the shadow of her aunt’s execution through years of service, marriage, motherhood, religious upheaval, exile, and her complicated bond with her cousin, Elizabeth I. Weir exp...

What if the Lewis and Clark story you learned in school got almost everything wrong? On this episode of Books and Looks, Blaine DeSantis sits down with Craig Fehrman, author of the bestselling book This Vast Enterprise, to reexamine one of the greatest journeys in American history. Fehrman reveals that the expedition began before the Louisiana Purchase was even finalized, that the famous $15 milli...

Before the Hearsts and the Pulitzers, before the front page as we know it, the American newspaper was built by teenagers covered in soot, women who risked hanging, and editors who settled arguments with pistols. Alex Wright joins Blaine DeSantis to talk about Empire of Ink, his sweeping history of how a young republic printed itself into existence between the 1700s and the close of the 1800s. It's...

In July 1831, the whaleship Mentor sailed out of New Bedford Harbor with 22 men aboard, hoping to strike it rich hunting sperm whales in the Pacific. They never made it. Caught in a raging storm, the ship smashed into the remote island chain of Palau — and within hours, half the crew was dead. What followed is one of the most harrowing survival stories in American maritime history. In this episode...

Who truly drove TR's presidency? Discover the untold story of Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet, the diverse, athletic advisors who shaped his legacy. Resources: 【"Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet" By Michael Cullinane】https://a.co/d/0a7YRTmp 【Connect with Michael Cullinane】https://www.michaelpatrickcullinane.com Did you know Theodore Roosevelt's most trusted advisors weren't...

Discover the untold story of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Jim Rasenberger reveals their bitter rivalry and the miracle of their shared July 4th deaths. Episode Links: "A Perfect Coincidence" by Jim Rasenberger Jim Rasenberger Website The odds of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams dying on the exact same day—exactly fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence—were estimated at...

Can you tell time without a clock? Join author Cathy Haynes as she reveals the fascinating art of telling time with nature using birds, flowers, and stars. Episode Resources: "The Fullness of Time" by Cathy Haynes Cathy Haynes Official Website What if you had to tell the time without glancing at a watch, phone, or screen? In this episode of Books & Looks, host Blaine DeSantis sits down with be...

Discover the wild true story of the 1909 transcontinental auto race! Author Eric Moskowitz reveals how Henry Ford cheated to win The Hardest, Longest Race. Episode Resources: "The Hardest, Longest Race" by Eric Moskowitz University of Washington’s Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Collection Historical Overview of the 1909 Transcontinental Automobile Race In 1909, a grueling transcontinental automob...

Discover the hidden origins of modern dance contests. Dr. April F. Masten reveals how 19th-century challenge dancing united cultures through Diamond and Juba. Episode Resources: “Diamond and Juba” by Dr. April F. Masten Charles Dickens’ American Notes (Chapter 6) Listen to Not So Much to Want by April F. Masten The Lost Museum Digital Archive Biography of William Henry Lane (Master Juba) Before Da...

Discover how rebel advantage gamblers used early wearable computers to legally beat the casino for billions. Kit Chellel shares Lucky Devils' secrets. Episode Resources: "Lucky Devils" by Kit Chellel Bloomberg Feature: The Gambler Who Cracked the Horse-Racing Code Guide to the Blackjack Ball Annual Gathering Official Site of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Beating the house is the ultimate gambler’s dre...

Explore the epic history of macaroni and cheese! Learn how this comfort food evolved from an ancient Roman dish into a clever religious fasting loophole. Episode Resources: “The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese” by Karima Moyer-Nocchi Recipe and Excerpt for the Ancient Ancestor of Macaroni and Cheese Karima Moyer-Nocchi’s Official Website (The Eternal Table) “Chewing the Fat” by Karima Moyer-No...

Uncover the hidden WWII history of 600 ships sunk off the U.S. coast. In this episode, Sara Vladic discusses The Dangerous Shore and civilians who fought back. Episode Resources: "The Dangerous Shore" by Sara Vladic The USS Indianapolis Legacy Organization CBS News: Discovery and History of the USS Eagle 56 Smithsonian Magazine: The Citizen Sailors of the Picket Patrol The Mob Museum: Operation Un...

Discover how Scotland's winters fuel creativity. Mystery author Val McDermid joins the Books and Looks podcast to discuss her new non-fiction book, Winter. Episode Resources: Official Page for Val McDermid’s Winter Explore Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie Series Guide to Burns Night and Scottish Traditions Support the Cyrenians Homelessness Charity How does a legendary mystery novelist find inspiration...

Tired of conflicting health claims? Dr. Joe Schwarcz helps you spot scientific misinformation and discover the truth behind health trends and nutrition news. Episode Resources Better Not Burn Your Toast (Book) McGill Office for Science and Society (OSS) NPR: A History of Snake Oil Salesmen The Andrew Wakefield Study Retraction (NCBI) National Cancer Institute: Acrylamide and Cancer Risk The Road t...

Discover The Strength of Water memoir, a powerful story of Chinese reverse immigration. Learn how one woman survived moving from 1920s Detroit to a rural Chinese village. Episode Resources: Get your copy of "The Strength of Water" by Karin K. Jensen Connect with Karin K. Jensen In this incredible interview, author Karin K. Jensen shares the astonishing true story behind The Strength of Water memoi...

Discover the Doctor's Riot of 1788 and the grim history of body snatching. Learn about 18th-century anatomy riots and the shocking modern-day black market for body parts. Episode Resources: Get your copy of "Doctors' Riot of 1788: Body Snatching, Bloodletting, and Anatomy in America" by Andy McPhee Connect with Andy McPhee In 1788, a furious mob stormed the streets of New York, not over taxes or t...

Explore the new John Candy biography with author Paul Myers. Discover powerful stories of the beloved comedian's true character, integrity, and unforgettable kindness. Episode Resources: Get your copy of "John Candy: A Life in Comedy" by Paul Myers Connect with Paul Myers In this definitive John Candy biography deep dive, author Paul Myers reveals the untold stories behind one of cinema's most bel...

Explore the Mysteries of the National Parks with author Mike Bezemek. Discover forgotten stories of the first UFO sighting, lost explorers, and other unsolved national park mysteries. Episode Resources: Get your copy of "Mysteries of the National Parks" Learn more about Mike Bezemek's work Was the first-ever UFO sighting covered up by the Roswell incident? What really happened to the honeymooners...

Tired of seeing the same titles on every "Best Of" list? In this third annual special episode, host Blaine DeSantis cuts through the noise to deliver his personal baker's dozen of the absolute best books he's read all year. If you're searching for the perfect present for the readers in your life, this list of Christmas book recommendations 2025 has something for everyone, from your spouse and pare...

Was the Italian Renaissance only for men? While history remembers the names of Michelangelo, Leonardo, and the Medici, one woman’s story of power, art, and ambition rivals them all. In this episode, we uncover the life of Isabella d'Este , the First Lady of the Renaissance, with acclaimed historical novelist Sarah Dunant . Discover the incredible true story of the woman who ran a state, built a wo...

In 1980, a 20-year-old Graham Broyd turned a prestigious six-week scholarship to Washington, D.C. into the adventure of a lifetime. He traded his ticket for a flight to Los Angeles with a dream of surfing in Malibu and a wild plan to hitchhike across the country. In this episode, Graham shares the incredible story of his journey , a tale he revisited in 2024 to see how the country and he had chang...

In this exclusive Mary Grand A Halloween Murder interview, we explore a high school reunion gone horribly wrong. When old friends gather at a historic castle on the most haunted island in the world, nostalgia quickly turns to terror after one of them is found dead. Was it a tragic accident, a desperate suicide, or a calculated murder? With the castle locked down, everyone is a suspect, and time is...