Ira's Everything Bagel

This week, Ira spoke with Marisa Finetti, author of 'Marisa’s Wine Doodles'. In this varietal episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Marisa talks about her early years in wine before moving to Las Vegas; her surprise at finding a connection with wine in Las Vegas; her decision to write about wine and eventually to write a book on the subject that was accessible and fun…and full of doodles!; why a wine...

This week, Ira spoke with Alan Snel, author of "Bicycle Man: Life of Journey." In this 10-speed episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Alan talks about when he first developed a pas-sion for bicycles; why he lives the bicycle life (one reason is mobility); why it’s “complete a form of transportation there is on planet earth”; how it connects you with humanity and allows you to engage and interact; one...

This week, Ira spoke with Alan Geik, author of "Uncle Charlie Killed Dutch Shultz, The Jewish Mob, A Family Affair" (published by Sonador Publishing). In this familial  episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Alan talks about why he decided to research and write about his relatives’ “colorful” histories; why he doesn’t feel conflicted about family members who operated on the wrong side of the law; why...

Legendary Comedian This week on Ira’s Everything Bagel Podcast , host Ira Sternberg welcomes a true icon of comedy, the legendary Shecky Greene . In this captivating episode, Shecky Greene shares stories from his incredible career, reflecting on his time performing in the Borscht Belt , his experiences in Las Vegas , and his unique approach to comedy that has made him a household name. Known...

This week, Ira spoke with David Sax, author of "The Future Is Analog: How to Create a More Human World" (published by PublicAffairs). In this digitized episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, David talks about challenging the notion that we live in a digital world; why the pandemic gave us a glimpse of living digitally and a lot was rejected; how the trick is to integrate technology, but put humanity f...

This week, Ira spoke with Steven Sykes, MD, a board-certified neurologist who practices general neurology and clinical neurophysiology with Cedars-Sinai Medical Group in Santa Monica, California. In this Hippocratic episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Dr. Sykes talks about the lesser-known cluster headache; the difference between a migraine headache and the more severe cluster headache, and observi...

Author, The Little Book of Whiskey Cocktails This week, Ira spoke with Bryan Paiement , author of The Little Book of Whiskey Cocktails (published by University Press of Kentucky). In this shaken or stirred episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Bryan talks about how his passion for cocktails developed after a trip to his garden; the popularity of the Old Fashioned and Manhattan due to a TV series; why...

Author, Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century This week, Ira spoke with Stephen Galloway, author of Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century (published by Grand Central Publishing). In this romantic episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Stephen talks about his decades-long interest in Olivier and the discovery of Leigh’s archi...

Author, The Book of Maps: A Novel This week, Ira spoke with Ernest Thompson , author of The Book of Maps: A Novel (published by Global Collective Publishing). In this atlas episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Ernest talks about his novel being the easiest story he has ever written, since he lived it; why he calls himself a storyteller and why this was a story that told him to write it; how her lear...

This week, Ira spoke with Robert Crane, author of "Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father's Unsolved Murder" and nine other books. In this prolific episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, talks about why he decided on a life of writing; how he made the decision to feature Jack Nicholson in his first book; why the book on his father was one that he didn’t settle for less on, especially because Robert was...

This week, Ira spoke with Jon Krampner, author of "Ernest Lehman, The Sweet Smell of Success" (The University Press of Kentucky). In this unscripted episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Jon talks about the life and career of a scriptwriter involved with many iconic films, including “North By Northwest,” “The King and I,” “Sabrina,” “Westside Story,” “The Sound of Music,” and “Sweet Smell of Success”...

This week, Ira spoke with David Lawrence, author of Are We Really BioChemical Robots: Sam Harris’ Crusade Against Free Will. In this willing episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, David talks about determinism deriving from The Big Bang, which results in everything following being foreordained; the reason so many people are determinists; the conundrum that determinists face; why determinists are deter...

This week, Ira spoke with Rick Steves, America's most respected authority on European experiences and travel, and host of a new TV series, “Rick Steves Art of Europe,” a six-episode TV special about Europe’s top 100 masterpieces, airing on PBS in October. In this traveling episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Rick talks about not intially appreciating art, despite his mother’s suggestions; the most...

This week, Ira spoke with Brian Walsh, SoFi Bank’s Manager of Financial Planning and student loan expert. In this repayment episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Brian talks about why the “people” side of finance is important; the $1.8 trillion question with about 45 million people with student loans; the “return on education” approach: the role of private institutions in student loans; the differenc...

Actress, voice-over artist, lecturer, and author of Reel Tears: The Beverly Washburn Story, Take Two This week on Ira’s Everything Bagel Podcast, host Ira Sternberg sits down with Beverly Washburn, an accomplished actress, voice-over artist, lecturer, and author of Reel Tears: The Beverly Washburn Story, Take Two . In this cinematic episode, Beverly shares her fascinating experiences ac...

This week, Ira spoke with Sarah Murdoch,  professional tour guide, travel writer, artist and occasional architect. In this globetrotting episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Sarah talks about growing up and falling in  love with travel; how she ended up giving packing classes as part of her business; the basic strategy of packing; her best advice for a beginning traveler; her best advice for a veter...

This week, Ira spoke with Robert Wittman, author of author of Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures and The Devil’s Diary: Alfred Rosenberg and the Stolen Secrets of the Third Reich. He also finds time to be a keynote speaker at meetings and conventions across the country, as well as a zoom lecture series he is doing on Thursdays, September 8-29 for the University...

This week, Ira spoke with Worbey and Farrell, internationally acclaimed concert pianists, who are also authors of Well Strung: Terrific Tales from Two Turns. In this “key” episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Steven and Kevin talk about starting to work together by accident; their synergy; why their new book is like a conversation; why they don’t take anything for granted; how they changed the comed...

Author, Jumping The Broom The Surprising Multicultural Origins of a Black Wedding Ritual This week on Ira’s Everything Bagel Podcast, host Ira Sternberg delves into the fascinating world of Black wedding traditions with Tyler D. Parry, author of the acclaimed book, Jumping The Broom, The Surprising Multicultural Origins of a Black Wedding Ritual (published by UNC Press). This episode, perfec...

This week, Ira spoke with Debbie Wileman, a vocalist specializing in Judy Garland and other legendary singers (as well as a singer in her own right), whose new album is I’m Still Here. The album features Debbie performing songs from Judy's illustrious career and other tunes that she thinks the legendary singer would perform if she were here. In this Carnegie episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Debb...

Author, John Hervey Wheeler, Black Banking, and the Economic Struggle for Civil Rights Welcome to another enlightening episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” where we have the privilege of hosting Dr. Brandon K. Winford, an esteemed associate professor of history at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Winford is a specialist in the late-nineteenth and twentieth-century United States and Afr...

This week, Ira spoke with comedy writer, songwriter and actor Bruce Vilanch. In this eclectic (and hilarious) episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Bruce talks about his connection to the comedians of the Catskills; his move from the East Coast to Ohio and on to Hollywood; writing for the Academy Awards shows, Joan Rivers and Bette Midler; his relationship with his mother, who adopted him and just re...

This week, Ira spoke with Laura McBride, author of We Are Called to Rise and In the Midnight Room. In this fanciful episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Laura talks about how her first novel was published as a result of extraordinary luck; growing up in a family that prized stories; why she likes to write as a practical person (because writing as a novelist has an impractical quality); how reading f...

Author , The Queen of Technicolor, Maria Montez in Hollywood This week, Ira spoke with Tom Zimmerman, author of The Queen of Technicolor, Maria Montez in Hollywood (published by The University Press of Kentucky). In this silver screen episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Tom talks about how he discovered Maria Montez and realized that he had to write about her; why she became a movie star despite no...

Author (with Jess Oppenheimer),  Laughs, Luck…and Lucy: How I Came to Create the Most Popular Sitcom of All Time  This week, Ira spoke with Gregg Oppenheimer , son of “I Love Lucy” creator-producer-head writer Jess Oppenheimer, and coauthor of  his late father’s humorous memoir, Laughs, Luck…and Lucy: How I Came to Create the Most Popular Sitcom of All Time . In this “Splain that if...