On Mic Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Joining us today in the first of two interviews is author Dale Pollock.  Dale is a seasoned  journalist, movie producer and film professor. On this podcast, we talk about his book “Chopped: A Novel,” a vintage crime novel about the infamous Webster-Parkman trial in 1850 Boston, involving a heinous murder case that captivated the nation.

James Deary, a successful business entrepreneur and family man.  never wanted to be a psychic medium. This ability more or less “happened” to him. His first near-death experience occurred when he was two years old. At age eight, he saw his first apparition. Soon thereafter, psychic experiences became commonplace. Looking back, he was always a clairvoyant who could see Spirit, but the sensing, knowing, and hearing Spirit developed over many years.  He has published a memoir entitled, “The Birth of an American Medium.”   Jim has never been in it for profit, he is as regular a guy as anyone.  He just happen to have certain gifts and offers evidence that the experiences are real.  A fascinating conversation awaits!

Today’s guest is a neighbor of mine in Boston who has as family name known to thousands of sports fans. Greg Agganis is a relative of the late Harry Agganis, “The Golden Greek,”  a star college football player and a promising first baseman for the Boston Red Sox in the mid 1950’s. Harry’s life was tragically cut short in his mid-twenties. This revered player was beloved and upon his death was mourned nationwide, sadly  robbed of a long life and surely a Hall of Fame future. Greg and the Agganis family honor Harry through the work of The Agganis Foundation, named for the legendary athlete from Lynn Classical High, Boston University and the Red Sox. The Foundation’s mission is simple: to provide college scholarships to deserving student-athletes.

Meet the former Harvard University Admin Assistant who built her empire selling sex toys. You heard right. There is a lot  more to Kim Airs’ story and on today’s episode we explore the life and times of this self-described “badass” who has done a lot to change the way consenting adults think about sex.  She is a big proponent of adding back fun and joy into relationships. Kim is an educator, reviewer and podcaster who has successfully taken on a male dominated industry with some incredible stories to share!

Meet Mona Dolgov – nutritionist, creative consultant, health advocate, author, publisher, teacher. Wow, does this lady wear many hats and she does so tastefully (and more to the point deliciously).  She’s the author of several healthy meal cookbooks including her latest called, “Satisfry,”  for air fryer enthusiasts. Join us as we talk about Mona’s passion for preparing scrumptious meals that are truly good for you!

Join me as I welcome my dear friend Brad Meltzer back for his annual On-Mic  appearance.  This time the NY Times best-selling author unveils his latest project, co- written with Josh Mensch entitled, “The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill.”   Brad uncovers history and tells its story as well as anyone.   As fellow historian Douglas Brinkley says about this new project, “Every page is mesmerizing and eye-opening.  A must-read!”

“Put It Down on Paper: The Words and Life of Mary Folsom Blair, A Fifty-Year Search,”  is the personal passion project of longtime newspaper man Phil Primack.  Part coming of age story, part old-fashioned detective work on his part, Phil stumbles upon the journals and letters of a young woman  born over a century ago.  He then weaves together a fascinating biography of someone who might have been lost to history,  a resilient woman  named Mary Folsom Blair, who wrote eloquently about life, loss, love and more.

We invite you to meet a marvelous writer Henriette Lazaridis whose newest novel “Terra Nova” will transport you to a fascinating time and place. Her book is an immersive story of the race to the frigid South Pole at the turn on of the last century, while at the same time the struggle for women’s  suffrage is underway  in England.   It’s a tale of adventure, complex relationships and major social change, told by a former Rhodes Scholar and master storyteller.

Mental illness is a serious worldwide problem with millions affected. Sadly, so many suffer in silence, fearing vulnerability and stigma. On today’s episode I team up once again with my good friend Larry Ruttman (a past guest here and host of his own podcast “A Life Lived Backwards”). We produced two pods on his platform about our respective  encounters with depression. I thought it was worth producing a single ON MIC podcast  to again share our  individual stories of struggle , and more importantly, our paths to  healing. If this motivates you or someone in need to seek  help, then we will have accomplished something worthwhile.  We are NOT dispensing medical advice, for that you should consult a qualified physician. What we are doing is as old as civilization  itself; telling  deeply personal stories that remind us we are all very much part of the human family.

On Mic takes to the road!   We enjoyed a delightful two-week holiday in France recently and couldn’t help recording interviews with some fascinating people along the way.  On today’s episode one of the most innovative  restaurants in the world, a visit to the Champagne region, meeting up with a fellow podcaster at Radio France, the mayor of a picturesque French town that labored under  the Nazis and a visit from Hitler, and a  woman who has created a unique card game,  certain  to spark romance, so appropriate to play when in Paris!