Books & Looks

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...

Before the Pink Ribbon, talking about breast cancer was taboo. In this episode, we uncover the shocking and inspiring history of breast cancer awareness and the three women who defied a dismissive medical establishment to save millions of lives. Author Judith L. Pearson joins us to discuss her groundbreaking book, " Radical Sisters ," revealing how Shirley Temple Black, Rose Kushner, and Evelyn La...

It took 30 years, multiple rewrites, and a publisher going out of business, but author Cindy Fazzi's groundbreaking story is finally here. In this episode, we sit down with Cindy for an in-depth author interview about her perseverance and the incredible journey behind the Domingo the Bounty Hunter series, a compulsively readable set of novels that turn the hard-boiled genre on its head. How do you...

What's deadlier: a puffer fish or a great white shark? A tiger or a lion? A beautiful flower or a venomous snake? In this episode, we sit down with PhD entomologist and author Eleanor Spicer Rice to explore the shocking, fascinating, and sometimes gross world of her hit The Deadliest book series. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged as we uncover which creatures are nature's most lethal com...

Were the Martian canals real? For decades, some of the world's most respected astronomers and newspapers answered with a resounding YES. But how did a simple misunderstanding spiral into a global belief in an advanced, dying civilization on the Red Planet? This episode unwraps the incredible story of the turn-of-the-century Martian craze, a period when fact and fiction blurred, and humanity collec...

What if you could transform your life from a pack-a-day smoker who gets winded after 500 meters to a world-record athlete? In this episode, we talk to Marie Leautey, the fastest woman to run around the world, who did exactly that. She reveals the incredible story of how an ordinary financial director with no athletic background ran the equivalent of a marathon every single day for 825 days, coveri...

What happens in Sherlock Holmes' world when the master detective is away and Dr. Watson is kidnapped? In this episode, we sit down with author Jeri Westerson to do a deep dive into her An Irregular Detective Mystery series , a thrilling and historically rich take on the Victorian detective genre. When Dr. Watson goes missing, it’s up to Tim Badger, a former Baker Street Irregular, and his partner,...

Have you ever wondered about the dark side of the American dream? In this episode, we delve into the complete Seabrook Farms history, a story of ambition, innovation, and betrayal that built—and ultimately destroyed—one of America's largest agricultural empires. Author John Seabrook , grandson of the company's visionary founder, joins us to discuss his book, The Spinach King , and unearth the secr...