Thecuriousmanspodcast

In this episode, leadership strategist and bestselling author Brooke Dukes discusses her book Burn On, Not Out and her Culture Compass framework for building healthier workplace cultures. We explore why burnout has become so widespread, how leaders can create environments where people thrive, and practical strategies individuals can use to maintain energy, purpose, and resilience.

Today's episode takes us into a sweeping science-fiction universe shaped not just by imagination, but by real-world experience in medicine, travel, and the fragility of the human body. My guest is Nicholas Keating Casbarro , author of the novel Vitalerium: Descent into the Void . Born in Providence in 1990, Nicholas trained as a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Northeastern University and spent years...

My guest is Mark Kaplan , Managing Partner of the Dagoba Group and co-author, along with Mason Donovan , of the book The Parenthood Advantage: Building Corporate Cultures That Value Working Parents . In the book, Mason and Mark argue that supporting working parents isn't just the right thing to do—it's a powerful competitive advantage for organizations. They explore how companies can rethink polic...

In this episode, I speak with David King Dunaway , professor of English and author of A Four-Eyed World: How Glasses Changed the Way We See . We explore the surprising cultural and intellectual history of eyeglasses, how they transformed education and longevity, and why this small invention had such a profound impact on human civilization.

In this episode, I speak with award-winning journalist and author Tom Junod about his memoir, In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man . We explore how cultural expectations shape boys and men, how personal identity evolves over time, and how vulnerability, creativity, and self-awareness can challenge traditional ideas of masculinity. Junod reflects on his upbringing, career, f...

In this episode, constitutional law professor and author Gloria J. Browne-Marshall discusses her book A Protest History of the United States , a sweeping examination of American history through the lens of dissent and activism. From the nation's founding to modern social movements, we explore how protest has shaped laws, expanded rights, and defined democracy itself.

In this episode, media entrepreneur Javier Marín discusses his book Live from America: How Latino TV Conquered the United States and the extraordinary rise of Spanish-language broadcasting. From grassroots beginnings to major cultural influence, Marín shares insider stories about business challenges, community impact, political engagement, and the future of Latino media in the digital age.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, former USAF Combat Special Missions Aviator Anthony Dyer discusses his memoir Moon Child: A Warrior's Reckoning with War, Addiction, and Purpose . From high-risk combat missions to the invisible wounds of trauma and addiction, Dyer shares his journey toward recovery, meaning, and hope. This conversation offers rare insight into the realities veterans f...

In this episode, AI pioneer and author Maya Ackerman discusses her book Creative Machines: AI, Art & Us and the rapidly evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and human creativity. We explore whether machines can truly create, how AI is reshaping artistic fields, and what this technological shift means for culture, work, and identity.

In this episode, we speak with Joel S. Wit , former U.S. State Department official and author of Fallout: The Inside Story of America's Failure to Disarm North Korea . Wit takes us inside decades of diplomatic efforts, behind-the-scenes negotiations, missed opportunities, and policy missteps that shaped North Korea's nuclear rise. We explore what went wrong, what could have been done differently,...

In this episode, we sit down with award-winning poet, educator, and cultural commentator Lee Woodman to explore her book Colorscapes , a luminous collection that transforms color into poetry and emotion into imagery. We discuss how color shapes memory, identity, culture, and creativity—and how poetry can deepen the way we perceive the world.

In this episode, I speak with historian Matthew F. Delmont , author of Until the Last Gun Is Silent: A Story of Patriotism, the Vietnam War, and the Fight to Save America's Soul . We discuss the untold story of Vietnam veterans who became leaders in the antiwar movement — challenging the meaning of patriotism, confronting government power, and shaping how Americans remember the war. From battlefie...

In this episode, I'm joined by Alice Lovejoy , author of Tales of Militant Chemistry: The Film Factory in a Century of War , a fascinating exploration of how film has shaped — and been shaped by — modern warfare, propaganda, industry, and scientific power. We talk about cinema as a political tool, how film factories became part of war efforts, how science and technology were turned into spectacle,...

Before Blue Note became a brand and before Impulse! turned jazz into a cosmic mission, there was Prestige Records — raw, loose, experimental, and absolutely electric. Today, I'm joined by Chris Entwisle, authors of Wail: The Art of Prestige Records 1949–1960 , a stunning deep dive into the label that captured some of the most vital moments in jazz history — from Miles Davis and John Coltrane to So...

Today's episode dives into a true story that sits at the crossroads of crime, cannabis, and consequence. My guest is Scott Eden , author of A Killing in Cannabis , a gripping work of narrative nonfiction that unpacks a shocking murder connected to the legal marijuana industry—and the human decisions that led to it. Through meticulous reporting and storytelling, Scott explores not just what happene...

Today's episode looks at the economy through a lens that's too often ignored—and wildly underestimated. My guest is Misty Heggeness , economist at the University of Kansas and author of Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine the Economy . In this eye-opening book, Misty challenges traditional economic assumptions by showing how women—through spending, caregiving, community-building, and c...

Today's episode celebrates a woman who refused to behave—and changed American culture because of it. My guest is Carla Kaplan , Davis Distinguished Professor of American Literature at Northeastern University and author of Troublemaker: The Fierce, Unruly Life of Jessica Mitford . In this rich and revelatory biography, Carla traces the extraordinary journey of Jessica Mitford—from British aristocra...

Today's conversation explores one of the darkest and least examined chapters of modern history—and why it still matters. My guest is Susanne Antonetta , author of The Devil's Castle: Nazi Eugenics, Euthanasia, and How Psychiatry's Troubled History Reverberates . In this powerful and deeply researched book, Susan examines how psychiatric institutions and medical authority were used to justify eugen...

In this episode, I sit down with  Dr. Allen Saxon , a veteran general surgeon and now debut novelist, to discuss his new book  Training in Charity . Drawing from decades of surgical experience, Dr. Saxon offers a rare glimpse into the world of medical training — not just the technical rigor, but also the emotional, ethical, and human challenges that define life inside an operating room. We explore...

Today's guest is Chester L. Richards — a retired rocket scientist, inventor, author, and co-writer of one of Star Trek's most iconic episodes, "The Tholian Web." Chester's life has unfolded at the crossroads of imagination and engineering. From working on advanced aerospace projects to helping bring bold science fiction ideas to television screens, his career reflects a lifelong belief in curiosit...

Today's guest is Leokadia George , a mental health therapist, Wolf Center volunteer, and the author of the children's book Trumpet Becomes a Mom . Blending her love for wildlife with her professional understanding of emotional development, Leokadia has created a story that gently introduces young readers to themes of nurturing, responsibility, and change — all through the eyes of a wolf named Trum...

I welcome Dr. Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio back on the show to discuss her newest book, Building A Thriving Future: Metaverse and Multiverse. We discuss what the terms Metverse and Multiverse mean. How steeped they are in our everyday life (even though we may not realize it), and how we can be early adopters and evolve with the times.

The 1970s are often remembered as a decade of protest, liberation, and social change — but they were also marked by violence, fear, and political extremism. Today's guest Jason Burke is an  international security correspondent for The Guardian and the author of The Revolutionists: The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s . In this book, he traces how radical groups across the globe turne...

In this episode, we sit down with renowned cardiologist, researcher, and author  Dr. Peter Kowey to talk more about his eye-opening book,  Failure to Treat. Drawing from decades of experience in medicine, Dr. Kowey exposes the systemic flaws that are failing both patients and the professionals who care for them. We discuss what we think can be done to change the system and how most of us would pro...

Grief has a way of stopping time — but it can also open unexpected doors. Today's guests are Bob and Tammy Cranston , authors of The Blank Journal , a deeply personal story about loss, faith, and what can happen when two grieving people meet at exactly the right moment. Their journey — which they describe as guided by divine intervention — led not only to love and marriage, but to a shared commitm...