Beyond Texas with W.F. Strong

This is  Hemingways' famous Switzerland Christmas post which he wrote for the Toronto Star in 1923 when he was 24 years old.  He was on a skiing holiday with his first wife Hadley and his best friend, Chink.  I posted it an earlier version a last Christmas, but before it was remastered with appropriate sounds by my buddy Daryl Missen, audio guru down under in Melbourne, Australia.   I think i...

An interview with the gifted memoirist, Cherly Strayed, about her now classic nonfiction work, WILD, which has been a decade long bestseller and popular movie starring Reese Witherspoon.   To comment write to:  wfstrongpodcast@gmail.com Support the show

My interview with Amor Towles about his exquisitely flawless novel,  A Gentleman in Moscow.  To comment write to:  wfstrongpodcast@gmail.com Support the show

Edgar Allan Poe's frightening tale about premature burials is a perfect Halloween treat.  My suggestion is that you listen to it in the dark, lying on your bed in silence, if possible.  as you know, the right ambiance is everything with horror fiction.  To comment write to:  wfstrongpodcast@gmail.com Support the show

Rainer Maria Rilke's famous advice to a young poet is great advice for us all, and particularly for young artists, not matter their passion.  He advises to look within and tells you how.  If you downloaded this episode before 8:00 p.m. October 8th, you might want to download it again for the new improved version.   Only 1% of the whole was changed, mostly deletions of unintended duplicate nar...

A short biopic of Johnathon Edwards with a focus on his most famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. "  This was the prototypical "hell fire and brimstone sermon" that became afterwards a popular salvation strategy by priests and ministers who preferred  the power of fear over love in their preaching.   For comments and questions:  wfstrongpodcast@gmail.com Suppor...

An examination of one of the most famous essays ever written, "A Message to Garcia."  Was it true?  Was it accurate?   Why was Elbert Hubbard inspired to write it and how did it affect his life?   For comments and questions:  wfstrongpodcast@gmail.com Support the show

Here we look at the original Baron Munchausen and how his stories because the basis of the now famous syndrome.   Support the show

First Part of a two part series examining Munchausen Syndrome and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy and its origins, tracing the phenomenon all the way back to the fabulous storyteller himself,  Baron Munchausen.   Support the show

Here's a commencement speech that is to my mind the best ever because it is short and packed with extraordinary advice that is truly useful to young graduates.   Support the show

The 19th century wasn't ready for Kate Chopin - so it was the latter 20th century that rediscovered her and the 21st that continues to embrace her groundbreaking perceptions. This is one of her best short stories, often listed among the very best in the world - and of all time.   Support the show

Oscar Wilde was sent to prison for two years of hard labor for the crime, essentially, of being gay.   The time in prison influenced some marvelous writing completed later.  He died young (at 46) likely due to the prison conditions he suffered through.  But his humor and wit did not die with him.  They live on today, everyday, in prolific memes on the internet, and it his books and movies and play...

In 1982-83 Oscar Wilde toured America and lectured on great design - in clothes, in furniture, in homes and cities.  His style of dress, his wit and humor and his erudite knowledge of world art and history had audiences eager to see what he was all about.   Support the show

An interview with Susan Cain, author of Quiet:  The Power of Introverts in a World that Won't Stop Talking.   Support the show

Oscar Wilde rose to fame quite rapidly as a young man.  How did he achieve that?  Was it all literary genius at work?  Or did he have a genius of another sort as well?   Support the show

The third installment of Frank Abagnale Jr's adventurous life as one of the world's top ten con men of all time.   Support the show

The continuing saga of Frank Abagnale, rated as one of the 10 greatest con men in history.  We look further at his imposter roles and how he managed to be successful at these diverse cons.   Support the show

The story of Frank Abagnale, Jr. , who is often cited as one the ten most infamous (and talented) con men of all time.  We'll examine his "career" as a Pan American Airline Pilot.  We'll take a look at how he pulled off this audacious con.  It's the little things that matter.  Support the show

An interview with Christophe Galfard concerning his book The Universe in Your Hand. Dr. Galfard is a theoretical physicist and says the universe has a story to tell, if you know how to look and listen.   Support the show

Twain gives advice about smoking, drinking, eating, exercise and living well in his 70th Birthday Speech.   Also covered is his acceptance of his honorary doctorate in Literature at Oxford.  The picture here is of Twain receiving his Oxford doctoral robe. Support the show

Two major themes in this podcast:   How Twain became a celebrity and how he nurtured and maintained his enormous fame and a look at his most famous book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and how it contributed to the lasting fame he achieved.  wfstrongpodcast@gmail.com Support the show

Somerset Maugham shortest short story, and some say the most shocking.  Support the show

Twain's unique humor as demonstrated in his live performances and short stories.  He was the paradigm shift that moved American humor from European to a truly American style.  Support the show

A brief overview of Somerset Maugham's genius as a writer accompanied by a reading of one his best short stories, The Verger.   Support the show

How Joan of Arc was captured and tried, resulting in her being burned at the stake as a heretic.  This episode covers also how she was fully exonerated by the church 25 years after she died and was canonized as a Saint in 1920.   Support the show