Catalog
Episodes
John F. Kennedy Jr. with Kyle MaraSep 21, 2023 · 42 minBen and comedian Kyle Mara (@kylemara on YouTube) discuss the life and tragic death of lawyer, magazine publisher and son of JFK and Jackie O, John F. Kennedy Jr.- Abraham Lincoln with Bobby SheehanSep 7, 2023 · 1 hr 6 minDoesn't get any bigger than this! Ben and comedian Bobby Sheehan (@bobbysheehanlol, The Before Hours podcast) talk about the 16th President of the USA, Abraham Lincoln.
- Wilt Chamberlain with Jack BuckleyAug 24, 2023 · 1 hr 13 minJack Buckley returns to the podcast to talk about basketball and one of the greats, The Big Dipper, Wilt Chamberlain.
- Tony Accardo with Josh AccardoAug 3, 2023 · 42 minBen and comedian Josh Accardo (@joshaccardo, Working Classholes podcast) talk about the life and career of one of the central figures in the history of the Chicago Outfit, "Joe Batters" a.k.a. Tony Accardo.
- J. Robert Oppenheimer with Tobin MillerJul 20, 2023 · 47 minBen and comedian Tobin Miller (@tobinmillercomedy, Baby Shower Comedy) discuss the rise and fall of American physicist and director of the Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II, J. Robert Oppenheimer.
- Noor Inayat Khan with Prof. Mehnaz AfridiJul 6, 2023 · 34 minBen and Prof. Mehnaz Afridi discuss the life and death of the princess turned British resistance agent in France during World War II, Noor Inayat Khan.
Dr. Mehnaz Afridi is a professor of religious studies at Manhattan College and the director of the Holocaust, Genocide & Interfaith Education Center. Her courses focus on Islam and the Holocaust. She is also a member delegate for the State Department for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
Read Prof. Afridi's story "The Blue Angel and the Holocaust":
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b7d51a9358a048a492f5f5031810802c
- James Brown with Chris MetcalfeJun 8, 2023 · 56 minBen and comedian Chris Metcalfe (@chrismetcalfecomedy) dive into the life of the hardest working man in show business, music legend, James Brown.
- Cornelius Vanderbilt with Rich HappelMay 25, 2023 · 48 minComedian Rich Happel (The Happel Hour podcast) is back! He and Ben discuss the life and wealth of American business tycoon, Cornelius "The Commodore" Vanderbilt.
- Pat Tillman with Dan PulzelloMay 11, 2023 · 44 minComedian Dan Pulzello (Culture Clash Comedy podcast) returns to the podcast to discuss the life and death of NFL player and Army Ranger, Pat Tillman.
- John Lennon with Jermaine Affonso Part 2Mar 30, 2023 · 1 hr 10 minPart 2 of Jermaine Affonso (writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers and Founding Editor of ClickHole) and Ben's conversation about music legend, John Lennon.
Interviews used:
John talks about his two main collaborators and about meeting Yoko Ono 1980 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXnULIoQyDo
John talks about the other Beatles' reactions to Yoko Ono and about his genius - Rolling Stone interview 1970 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YelhzUbrCE&t=4378s
John talks about a Beatles reunion 1975 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW5A3UHqLWM
- John Lennon with Jermaine Affonso Part 1Mar 16, 2023 · 1 hr 29 minWe're back! And with a two-parter no less! Jermaine Affonso (writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers and Founding Editor of ClickHole) returns to the pod to discuss the many sides of singer, songwriter, activist, and of course, Beatle, John Lennon.
Interviews used:
Beatles first ever radio interview October 1962 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJeaoHe3Bus
John talks about his Aunt Mimi on The Mike Douglas Show February 1972 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-HES64-D7w
Interview with Jim Steck about naming the Beatles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMhpFH0wjxs
John talks about his violent past - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpSiB4-og_o&
John and Paul on their writing process - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qz9a72ljyM
The Beatles discuss how long they'll last 1962 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIKlcfEtgyM&t=13s
- Alfred Hitchcock with Maximilian SpinelliSep 20, 2022 · 51 minComedian Maximilian Spinelli (We Were Had podcast) returns to talk to Ben about the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.
- Hilma af Klint with Steffi StromAug 23, 2022 · 43 minBen talks to artist and interior architect Steffi Strom about the life and rediscovery of Swedish-born artist and mystic, Hilma af Klint.
Check out some of Hilma af Klint's art as you listen!
https://www.wikiart.org/en/hilma-af-klint
- Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart with Lisa HurwitzAug 9, 2022 · 51 minBen and filmmaker Lisa Hurwitz discuss her documentary The Automat and the founders of the most famous chain of automats in New York and Philadelphia, Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart.
The Automat was selected for the 2021 Telluride Film Festival. For more information on the film and to find ways to watch it, go to: http://automatmovie.com/
- Richard Kuklinski with Tom LucianoJul 12, 2022 · 33 minBen and comedian Tom Luciano (@nottomluciano) discuss the life and psychology of criminal and murderer, Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski.
- Richard Pryor with Phil IrvineJun 28, 2022 · 34 minBen and Phil Irvine (Clear the Air with RPA podcast) look at the life and influence of iconic comedian, Richard Pryor.
Check out Phil's podcast Clear the Air with RPA!
https://podcasts.apple.com/bn/podcast/clear-the-air-with-rpa/id1592391403
Also, here's one of the many great Pryor bits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWulvchFpYs
- Buddy Cianci with Mae PlanertJun 7, 2022 · 28 minComedian Mae Planert (We Were Had podcast, Risque Business News podcast) returns to Give Me a Name to go through the peaks and troughs in the life of the longest serving Mayor of Providence, Buddy Cianci.
- Dr. Donald Winnicott with Dr. Steven TuberMay 24, 2022 · 43 minBen and Dr. Steven Tuber discuss the life and ideas of 20th century English pediatrician and psychoanalyst, Donald Woods Winnicott.
Dr. Steven Tuber is the Director of Clinical Training, Program Head and Professor of Psychology in the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at City College, CUNY, where he has taught for over 35 years. He is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Psychology and a licensed psychologist in New York State. Dr. Tuber has also been awarded the President's Award for Excellence, City College's highest faculty award, for extraordinary teaching, scholarship and service to the College.
He is the author of numerous works including Attachment, Play & Authenticity: A Winnicott Primer
- Coco Chanel with Patricia DinglasanMay 17, 2022 · 32 minBen and comedian Patricia Dinglasan (@patriciadinglasancomedy) talk about the eventful life of French fashion icon, Coco Chanel.
Check out Patricia's show Banana Ketchup in NYC. Go to Patricia's instagram for more details
- Ned Kelly with Jimmy HVDFeb 8, 2022 · 54 minBen and comedian Jimmy HVD (UncommonTakes podcast) review the short but eventful life and complicated legacy of Australia's most iconic outlaw, Ned Kelly.
- Cleopatra with Zubi AhmedFeb 1, 2022 · 39 minBen and comedian Zubi Ahmed (@chopzubi) dig up the story of Julius Caesar and Marc Antony's lover, the last pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra VII.
- John D. Rockefeller with Zach BrazaoJan 25, 2022 · 42 minBen and comedian Zach Brazao (@zachbrazao) go over both the brutal and magnanimous sides of the richest man in American history, John D. Rockefeller.
- Nikita Khrushchev with Prof. William Taubman Part 1Jan 4, 2022 · 48 minIn part one of this two-part episode, Ben and Dr. William Taubman examine the improbable rise to power of 20th century Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev.
Dr. Taubman is the Bertrand Snell Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Amherst College. He is the author of Khrushchev: The Man and His Era, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography (2004) and the National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography (2003). He is also the author of Gorbachev: His Life and Times, Moscow Spring (with Jane Taubman) and Stalin's American Policy: From Entente to Détente to Cold War.
- Edwin Stanton with Juan NicolonNov 23, 2021 · 43 minBen and comedian Juan Nicolon (@juannicolon) go over the positives and negatives of a complex character: Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton.
- Stan Lee with Michael GoodNov 2, 2021 · 38 minBen and comedian Michael Good (Morning Good podcast) dive into the life and work of the face of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee.
- Chyna with Ali O'NeilOct 26, 2021 · 49 minBen and comedian Ali O'Neil (@itsalioneil) talk about wrestling and one of its all-time greatest stars, Chyna.
- Muammar Gaddafi with Ismael LoutfiOct 19, 2021 · 39 minBen and comedian Ismael Loutfi (@ismael.loutfi) review the life and death of Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi.
- Ulysses S. Grant with Dan PulzelloSep 28, 2021 · 1 hr 1 minBen and comedian Dan Pulzello (@danpulzello) look at the improbable trajectory of the Commanding General of the Union Army and 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant.
- John McAfee with Laura SogarSep 21, 2021 · 57 minBen and comedian Laura Sogar (Risque Business News podcast) go over the wild life of eccentric businessman, presidential candidate, and computer programmer responsible for the first commercial anti-virus software, John McAfee.
- Bobby Fischer with Max MoacaninSep 7, 2021 · 53 minBen and comedian Max Moacanin (@moacanin) go through the life of the American chess grandmaster and international figure, Bobby Fischer.
- Muhammad Ali with Luis LopezAug 3, 2021 · 46 minBen and comedian Luis Lopez (@LuisLopezIsHere) talk about The Greatest - boxer, activist, philanthropist, and poet, Muhammad Ali.
- GG Allin with Marcus MonroeJul 27, 2021 · 36 minBen and comedian Marcus Monroe (@marcusjmonroe) talk about the, one could say, "out there" punk rocker, GG Allin.
- Paul Hindemith with Isabel HagenJul 6, 2021 · 38 minBen and comedian/violist Isabel Hagen (Good Timing with Isabel Hagen podcast) get into the life, times and trials of early 20th century German composer/musician Paul Hindemith.
- Mahatma Gandhi with Shafi HossainJun 22, 2021 · 52 minBen and comedian Shafi Hossain (IAMericanized podcast) go over the life and legacy of 20th century Indian leader and icon, Mahatma Gandhi.
- Groucho Marx with Mark NormandJun 8, 2021 · 56 minBen and comedian Mark Normand (The Tonight Show) nerd out on the life and work of comedy legend, Groucho Marx.
- Amelia Earhart with Samantha ProsserMay 18, 2021 · 33 minBen and comedian Samantha Prosser (The Toni Awards podcast) unpack the life and disappearance of the iconic aviator, Amelia Earhart.
- David Bowie with Maximilian SpinelliMay 11, 2021 · 56 minBen and comedian Maximilian Spinelli (We Were Had podcast, What a Week News Channel) discuss the many faces of musician, actor, and icon, David Bowie.
- Hunter S. Thompson with Mike BramanteApr 27, 2021 · 55 minBen and comedian Mike Bramante (Do Less podcast) go on a wild search for the American Dream talking about the famed writer of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as well as numerous other books, articles, and letters, Hunter S. Thompson.
"The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved" (1970) - http://brianb.freeshell.org/a/kddd.pdf
Letter to Hume Logan (1958) - https://fs.blog/2014/05/hunter-s-thompson-to-hume-logan/
"Security" (1955) - http://www.ram.org/contrib/security.html
- Lizzie Borden with Mae PlanertApr 13, 2021 · 50 minBen and comedian Mae Planert (We Were Had podcast, Risque Business News podcast) break down the life, times, and legacy of possible axe murderer, Lizzie Borden.
- Give Me a Name TrailerMar 24, 2021The trailer for Give Me a Name with Ben Kirschenbaum. A guest gives Ben the name of an intriguing historical figure and they discuss.
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