Shows
ThecuriousmanspodcastCharlie Wells InterviewThey were told they could be anything — then handed a world on fire. Award-winning journalist Charlie Wells joins Matt Crawford to discuss his new book What Happened to Millennials: In Defense of a Generation, a deeply reported and provocative look at how the largest generation in history was shaped by economic crises, digital revolutions, and cultural change. Matt and Charlie explore how millennials have been misunderstood, misrepresented, and underestimated — and why their struggles reveal so much about modern society itself. From work and wealth to meaning and identity, this conversation challenges every stereotype about “the participatio...
2025-10-281h 04ThecuriousmanspodcastJoel Nedecky InterviewWhat happens when the person searching for truth is the one most haunted by it? In this episode, host Matt Crawford speaks with Canadian author Joel Nedecky about his powerful debut novel, The Broken Detective. This isn’t your typical crime story — it’s a meditation on guilt, redemption, and the fragile humanity behind every investigation. Nedecky’s novel follows a detective unraveling not only a mystery but also himself — exploring what it means to seek justice in a world where the lines between right and wrong are constantly shifting. Together, Matt and Joel discuss the psychology of b...
2025-10-241h 06ThecuriousmanspodcastGerta Keller InterviewFor decades, we’ve been told the dinosaurs were wiped out by a single catastrophic asteroid impact — a story that has become almost mythic in its simplicity. But what if that isn’t the full truth? In this episode, host Matt Crawford speaks with Professor Gerta Keller, one of the world’s leading paleontologists and a bold voice challenging conventional science. Drawing on over 40 years of fieldwork and groundbreaking research, Keller’s new book The Last Extinction: The Real Science Behind the Death of the Dinosaurs reexamines the evidence and makes a compelling case that massive volcanic eruptions — not...
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Called to Rise: Business and FitnessBuilding Podcasts & Businesses: Matt x NicMatt sits down with Beyond Business host Nic Hancock for a back-and-forth conversation where they interview each other, share how their podcasts started, and swap stories about their business ventures.
2025-09-021h 46Called to Rise: Business and FitnessA Little More on MattIn this episode, Chapman interviews Matt! For those that may not know the host of the show or maybe want to get to know him better, this episode is for you. Matt discusses everything from his childhood to the craziness of his daily life today. https://linktr.ee/CalledToRisePodcast
2025-08-2835 minCalled to Rise: Business and FitnessRolling in Sweet Success with Kaylin CohnIn this episode, Matt sits down with friend and entrepreneur Kaylin Cohn, the creative force behind KLC Creations, a one-of-a-kind bakery truck serving up fresh treats on the go. Having known Kaylin for nearly a decade, Matt has witnessed her remarkable journey from dreamer to full-time food truck owner. Together, they talk about the highs and hurdles of running a mobile bakery, the lessons learned along the way, and what makes KLC Creations stand out in a competitive industry. It’s an honest, inspiring, and deliciously sweet conversation about chasing passion.https://linktr.ee/CalledToRisePodcast
2025-08-121h 06Called to Rise: Business and FitnessMorning RoutineIn this quick episode, Matt talks about his morning routine! This episode has more context on YouTube as Matt is writing on a white board throughout! Subscribe to our YouTube channel below to watch all our podcasts too! https://linktr.ee/CalledToRisePodcast
2025-07-2507 minCalled to Rise: Business and FitnessFlipping the Script (and the Dough): Michael Jump’s StoryIn this episode, Matt sits down with longtime friend and former employee Michael Jump, now the proud owner of a Crawford’s Pizza location. Michael shares his journey from working under Matt to taking the leap and purchasing the shop himself. He opens up about what motivated the transition, the challenges of running a pizza business, and how he and his wife are navigating ownership together. It’s a story of friendship, risk, growth, and of course, pizza.https://linktr.ee/CalledToRisePodcast
2025-07-151h 04Called to Rise: Business and FitnessBuilt on Rock: Why God Is the Only Foundation That LastsIn this episode, Matt dives deep into the importance of building every part of your life—whether it's your business, your family, or your daily decisions—on a solid foundation: God. Matt shares his personal journey of transformation, revealing how surrendering control and trusting God's guidance brought clarity, balance, and peace into areas of his life that once felt chaotic and overwhelming. If you've ever struggled with work-life balance, decision fatigue, or feeling like you're building success on shaky ground, this episode is a must-listen. Learn how faith can realign your priorities, strengthen your purpose, and anchor you in a wa...
2025-07-1016 minCalled to Rise: Business and FitnessReal Estate & Reps with Tony PirainoMatt Crawford is joined by guest Tony Piraino, a local realtor with a strong passion for fitness. In this episode, Tony shares stories from both worlds—what it’s like navigating the challenges of the real estate market, and how staying active and committed to fitness plays a big role in his everyday life. From tough deals to tough workouts, Tony talks about the ups and downs of each, and why he enjoys pushing himself in both areas. It’s an easygoing conversation about work, health, and finding balance in a busy lifestyle.
2025-07-081h 17Called to Rise: Business and FitnessBrotherhood & Pizza Ovens: The Crawford Pizza LegacyIn this episode, Matt welcomes his brother Josh Crawford for a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and the realities of running a restaurant. Both own and operate their own pizza spots in the area, and in this episode, they share what it’s really like to build and manage a food business. From supply chain headaches and staffing challenges to brand building and community engagement, the Crawfords offer honest insights into the highs and lows of life in the restaurant industry. Whether you're a fellow business owner or just curious about what goes on behind the counter, this episode delivers a...
2025-07-0143 minCalled to Rise: Business and FitnessA Redemption Story– A Conversation with My DadIn this powerful first interview of Called to Rise, host Matt Crawford sits down with his very first guest—his own father, Mark Crawford. Once the owner of the Pizza Factory in Decatur where Matt spent his childhood working, Mark opens up about his incredible journey through raising kids and owning a business, addiction, and how finding faith helped him rebuild his life. It's a raw, honest conversation about failure, forgiveness, and the strength it takes to rise again.Follow us on: Facebook & Instagram
2025-06-1841 minThecuriousmanspodcastSimon Tolkien InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Simon Tolkien about his book, The Palace At The End Of The Sea. Today, we're honored to welcome novelist and historian Simon Tolkien. Known for his gripping historical fiction and literary craftsmanship, Simon's latest novel, Palace at the End of the Sea, is a sweeping, emotionally layered story with the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War. A former barrister turned acclaimed author, Simon brings a unique perspective to themes of loyalty, legacy, coming-of age and the cost of war. In this episode, we explore his creative process, the real-life history behi...
2025-06-1759 minThecuriousmanspodcastGeorge Zavershinskiy InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author George Zavershinskiy about his book, The Atomic Shepard. Amid Cold War tensions, a gifted nuclear physicist – poised to become the future father of new weapons – shockingly gains religious faith. Seeking to confess this revelation, he enters the priesthood, finding purpose but facing myriad trials. His startling 1970s conversion from secret Soviet weapon scientist to devout priest elicits incomprehension and suspicion on all sides. Colleagues shun him as studies now intermix seminary training with Siberia’s nuclear work. His transfer to a lowly role with barred access quashes the prestige of high-stakes research. Friend...
2025-06-131h 00ThecuriousmanspodcastChristina Li InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Christina Li about her debut adult novel, The Manor of Dreams. Vivian Yin is dead. The first Chinese actress to win an Oscar, the trailblazing ingénue rose to fame in the eighties, only to disappear from the spotlight at the height of her career to live out the rest of her life as a recluse. Now her remaining family members are gathered for the reading of her will, and her daughters expect to inherit their childhood home: Vivian’s grand, sprawling, Southern California garden estate. But due to a last-minute change to...
2025-06-1248 minThecuriousmanspodcastJudy Karofsky InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Judy Karofsky about her book, DisElderly Conduct: The Flawed Business of Assisted Living and Hospice. The book is a personal account of unmet needs in assisted living and hospice aiming to spark discussions about new approaches for America’s aging population and family decision makers. There are 30 thousand assisted living facilities in the US, but most are unaffordable for middleclass Americans and fraught with staffing deficiencies and mismanagement. Chapters on the author’s experience helping her mother move from an age-restricted community in Florida to independent living in Wisconsin to assisted living will interest seni...
2025-06-111h 07ThecuriousmanspodcastJanelle Kellman InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California Janelle Kellman about her career and political aspirations. As the Mayor of Sausalito, member of the Town Council, and across ten years serving on the Sausalito Planning Commission, Janelle solved many of the same challenges facing California today. Janelle looks to take action with economic policies that directly improve the affordability of living in our state - job creation, supporting small business, workforce development, and balancing California’s budget - so all can continue to live in our great state!
2025-06-1045 minThecuriousmanspodcastLynne Olson InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with NYT Best-selling author Lynne Olson about her book, The Sisterhood of Ravensbrück: How an Intrepid Band of Frenchwomen Resisted the Nazis in Hitler's All-Female Concentration Camp . The extraordinary true story of a small group of Frenchwomen, all Resistance members, who banded together in a notorious concentration camp to defy the Nazis—from the New York Times bestselling author of Madame Fourcade’s Secret War “At once heartbreaking and beautifully told, this is a masterwork of nonfiction, a must-read for anyone who wants more of the incredible true story behind Lilac Girls.”—Mart...
2025-06-051h 04ThecuriousmanspodcastJustin Evans InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Data Scientist and author Justin Evans about his book, The Little Book of Data: Understanding the Powerful Analytics that Fuel AI, Make or Break Careers, and Could Just End Up Saving the World. Data is not about number crunching. It’s about ideas. And when used properly (read: ethically), it is the problem solver of our time. Yet many savvy people seem to be in data denial: they don’t think they need to understand data, or it’s too complicated, or worse, using it is somehow unethical. Yet as data and AI...
2025-06-041h 04ThecuriousmanspodcastLisa Pratta InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Big Pharma Whistleblower Lisa Pratta about her book, False Claims: One Insider's Impossible Battle Against Big Pharma Corruption. In Big Pharma, lives are secondary to profit margins. But Lisa Pratta stood her ground—risking everything to expose the lies of a billion-dollar pharmaceutical business mired in deception, greed, and the systemic abuse of both patients and employees As a rising star in pharmaceutical sales, Lisa Pratta wanted to believe that she was helping improve the lives of people who suffered from illness. But as she climbed the corporate ladder, she uncovered a s...
2025-06-031h 03ThecuriousmanspodcastAlia Dastagir InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Alia Dastagir, an award-winning journalist and author of For Those Who Have Confused You to be a Person. Part memoir, part cultural commentary, her book is a searing meditation on identity, invisibility, and the hunger for dignity in a fractured world. Alia shares how years of reporting on trauma, injustice, and inequity shaped her voice—and how this book became a personal reckoning. Together, we explore what it means to write truthfully when the world demands silence, how journalism and literature diverge when dealing with human suffering, and why empathy alone is never eno...
2025-05-281h 05ThecuriousmanspodcastSylvia Lerch InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Sylvia Lerch about her book, Grasp the Nettle. Set in a remote district of Western Australia in the 1920s, an era which outlawed suicide, an unidentified body has been found and police are treating the death as suspicious. The story presents a chance for strangers (the reader) to peruse the very private diaries of the protagonists. Intriguingly, this is like peeping through the coin slot of a piggy bank to count the wealth inside. Elsie has married Tom in an arrangement brokered by her brother. Tom’s job is delivering the Royal Mail, and it...
2025-05-2356 minThecuriousmanspodcastDavid Singer InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author David Singer about his book, From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall. David and I talk about his eclectic careers and how he managed to end up playing Clarinet for two U.S Presidents; one the same day as he was driving a cab. Resilience and gratitude is the overarching message of this book and everyone can take something from this story.
2025-05-221h 04ThecuriousmanspodcastStephen R. Platt InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Stephen R. Platt about his book, The Raider: The Untold Story of a Renegade Marine and the Birth of U.S Special Forces in World War II. In this compelling episode, historian Stephen R. Platt joins us to discuss his latest book, The Raider, a powerful chronicle of Evans Carlson—the controversial, visionary Marine officer who broke ranks with military convention during World War II to lead one of the first elite units in U.S. history. We explore Carlson’s radical leadership philosophy, his time with Mao Zedong in China, and how his...
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The TransactionInverting your Go-To-Market Strategy Thinking with Jordan Crawford - Ep 55AI use cases & tactics are moving at a million miles per hour which can make it hard to adopt some of these amazing innovations into your go-to-market strategy. Thankfully, we knew just the guy to have on the show to help us put into practice what otherwise could seem like technological mumbo, and or jumbo.That man’s name is Jordan Crawford, the Founder of Blueprint GTM and one of the foremost go-to-market engineers innovating B2B sales and marketing on the cutting edge of AI advancements.Jordan joins co...
2025-05-1751 minThecuriousmanspodcastSusan Sturm InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Columbia Law Professor Susan Sturm about her book, What Might Be: Confronting Racism to Transform Our Institutions. Even as anti-racism practices seemed to be gaining momentum, the nation shows signs of falling back into long-standing patterns of racial injustice and inequality. Leaders who introduce anti-racist approaches to their organizations often face backlash from white colleagues and skepticism from colleagues of color, leading to paralysis. In What Might Be, Susan Sturm explores how to navigate the contradictions built into our racialized history, relationships, and institutions. She offers strategies and stories for confronting racism within predominantly white i...
2025-05-141h 06Called to Rise: Business and FitnessManaging the ChaosIn this first episode, Matt talks about managing the daily life of a business owner. He gives tips and helpful insight on what has helped him manage multiple businesses at once. Owning a business brings a bit more than just stress and sometimes it is hard to manage it all. This episode will bring you some guidance if you are having trouble getting through those busy days, as well as, some tips from Matt's daily routines.
2025-05-1217 minThecuriousmanspodcastCraig Foster InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Academy award winning documentary filmmaker of My Octopus Teacher and author Craig Foster about his book, My Amphibious Soul: Finding the Wild in a Tame World. Craig and I discuss his worldwide phenomenon documentary My Octopus Teacher and how that led to his follow up book My Amphibious Soul. How do we connect with nature in an increasingly disconnected world? Foster takes us through is journey and struggle of maintaining that connection and balancing his own well-being and mental health. We discuss what led him to start a daily routine of immersing himself in the...
2025-05-1255 minThecuriousmanspodcastDean Van Nguyen InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Dean Van Nguyen about his book, Words for My Comrades: A Political History of Tupac Shakur. Before his murder at age twenty-five, Tupac Shakur rose to staggering artistic heights as the preeminent storyteller of the 1990s, building, in the process, one of the most iconic public personas of the last half century. He recorded no fewer than ten platinum albums, starred in major films, and became an activist and political hero known the world over. In this cultural history, journalist Van Nguyen reckons with Tupac’s coming of age, fame, and cultural capital, and ho...
2025-05-091h 02ThecuriousmanspodcastAndrew Holter InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Andrew Holter about his book, Going Around: Selected Journalism Murray Kempton. A courtly man of Southern roots, Murray Kempton worked as a labor reporter for the New York Post, won a Pulitzer Prize while at Newsday, and was arrested at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago along the way. He wore three piece suits and polished oxfords and was known for riding his bicycle around New York City while listening to his CD Walkman and smoking a pipe with wild red hair that later turned white. He developed a taste for baroque prose and became, i...
2025-05-0854 minThecuriousmanspodcastProfessor Bill Yousman InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Professor Bill Yousman the director of the Media Literacy and Digital Culture graduate program at Sacred Heart University. We discuss misinformation, disinformation and the important distinction between them as well as how we can become more literate in our media consumption. If we start there, that will enable us to have more meaningful conversations based in fact and not emotion.
2025-05-071h 10ThecuriousmanspodcastDr Charles LeBaron InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with former CDC Epidemiologist Dr. Charles LeBaron about his book, Greed to Do Good: The Untold Story of CDC's Disastrous War on Opioids: A CDC Physician's Personal Account. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that overdose deaths had quadrupled in ten years, hitting a record high of 90,000 in 2020, opioid researchers around the country expressed shock with terms such as “huge” and “unprecedented.” They might have reserved a few adjectives since overdose deaths grew to 100,000 in 2021 and 110,000 in 2022. Each year there are now twice as many deaths from overdoses as from breast ca...
2025-05-061h 05ThecuriousmanspodcastRobert Walker InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Robert Walker about his book, Six Moons, Seven Gods: An Arthurian Fantasy Medieval Adventure (The Legends of Baelon Book 1.) The skilled thieves of the Takers Guild plot to overthrow the kingdoms of Baelon, but when their plans are thwarted by a prescient woman and her brooding daughter, they must turn to the League of Assassins for assistance. Meanwhile, retired royal guard Rolft Aerns returns to the palace of King Axil with an old score to settle. When they all cross paths and swords in the dark shadows of Fostead’s south end, nothing is as...
2025-04-2958 minThecuriousmanspodcastWill Bardenwerper InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Will Bardenwerper about his book, Homestand: Small Town Baseball and the Fight for the Soul of America. What happens when a minor league team—the heart and soul of a Rust Belt town in western New York—is shut down by the billionaires who run Major League Baseball? Batavia, New York—between Rochester and Buffalo—hosted its first professional baseball game in 1897. Despite decades of deindustrialization and evaporating middle-class jobs, the Batavia Muckdogs endured. When Major League Baseball cravenly shut them down in 2020—along with forty-one other minor league teams—the town fought back...
2025-04-241h 07ThecuriousmanspodcastSusan Polgar InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Susan Polgar about her book, Rebel Queen: The Cold War, Misogyny, and the Making of a Grandmaster. A real life Queen’s Gambit, this captivating memoir tells the story of one of the most renowned women in chess history, Susan Polgar, taking on a sexist establishment and rewriting the rules of what women could achieve against the oppressive backdrop of Cold War Eastern Europe. Born to a poor Jewish family in Cold War Budapest, Susan Polgar would emerge as the one of the greatest female chess players the world had ever seen—the highest r...
2025-04-2345 minThecuriousmanspodcastHelen Sheehy InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Helen Sheehy about her novel, Just Willa. Just Willa is a family chronicle of rare beauty-more than reminiscent of Willa Cather in capturing the regional flavors of America-stretching over a span of decades through an intimate focus on the life of one woman. In it, Helen Sheehy gives us a character of indomitable spirit who fuels and anchors her family with love and bravery. We meet Willa Hardesty in 1964, while she's burning trash in a barrel and thinking "this is hell." Angry and frustrated, she finds some items she...
2025-04-211h 02ThecuriousmanspodcastBeau L'Amour InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Beau L'Amour about his stewardship of his father Louis L'Amour's catalog. L'Amour eventually wrote 100 novels, over 250 short stories, and (as of 2010) sold more than 320 million copies of his work. By the 1970s his writings were translated into over ten languages. Every one of his works is still in print. Beau has taken that vast body of work, managed and released previously unpublished works as well as an audio series.
2025-04-171h 07ThecuriousmanspodcastLady Dyana Ziegler InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Lady Dyana Ziegler about her book, Midnight Train From Georgia. Midnight Train from Georgia chronicles the incredible rise of Gladys Knight and the Pips from their origins singing in a small Atlanta church to their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. When two families' destinies intertwine at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, they discover the extraordinary musical talents of their children. Young cousins William Guest, Eleanor Guest, Gladys Knight, Brenda Knight, and Bubba Knight unite their heavenly vocals to form The Pips gospel choir. We follow William Guest from his formative years...
2025-04-1653 minThecuriousmanspodcastShelly Fisher Fishkin InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with professor and author Shelly Fisher Fishkin about her book, Jim: The Life and Afterlives of Huckleberry Finn’s Comrade. Mark Twain’s Jim, introduced in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), is a shrewd, self‑aware, and enormously admirable enslaved man, one of the first fully drawn Black fathers in American fiction. Haunted by the family he has left behind, Jim acts as father figure to Huck, the white boy who is his companion as they raft the Mississippi toward freedom. Jim is also a highly polarizing figure: he is viewed as an emblem both of Twain’s alleged...
2025-04-151h 01ThecuriousmanspodcastKristian Ronn InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Kristian Ronn about his book, The Darwinian Trap: The Hidden Evolutionary Forces That Explain Our World (and Threaten Our Future.) When people talk about today’s biggest challenges—pollution, misinformation, artificial intelligence, inept CEOs, and politicians—they tend to frame the conversation around “bad people” doing “bad things.” But is there more to the story? Humans, it turns out, are intrinsically wired to seek short-term success at the expense of long-term prosperity. Kristian Rönn, an entrepreneur formerly affiliated with the University of Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute, calls these deeply rooted impulses “...
2025-04-081h 02ThecuriousmanspodcastBremond Berry MacDougall and Lisa Cooper InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Bremond Berry MacDougall and Lisa Cooper about their new publishing company Quite Literally Books. Quite Literally Books is a heritage press devoted to discovering and reissuing ought-to-be-in-print books by American women authors-and occasionally others-who've been shelved for far too long. We discuss the first six books they are republishing, how and why they choose them and what inspired them to undertake this endeavor.
2025-04-0752 minThecuriousmanspodcastDr. Ran Anbar InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Dr. Ran Anbar about his book, The Life Guide for Teens: The Life Guide for Teens: Harnessing Your Inner Power to be Healthy, Happy, and Confident. Today’s generation of teenagers are living in a world no one could have imagined just a couple decades ago, a world of social media and an endless flow of information (and disinformation). They are also more likely to be lonely, depressed, stressed out, and diagnosed with mental health issues than any generation before them. But they can learn to take control of their own wellness—and Dr. Ran Anba...
2025-04-041h 05ThecuriousmanspodcastDenise Haynes InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Denise Haynes about her book, Talent Show. Do you really know your parents? We all think we do but never consider them as persons before parenthood descended. And do they know you? In Talent Show an introverted father becomes talkative and lifts the curtain on who his wife was before she was a mother, who she became after, and who each of his children were in his eyes. He reveals a few secrets of his own and describes life in a household of ten children as a perpetual talent show. Everyone is always...
2025-04-0358 minThecuriousmanspodcastRebe Huntman InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Rebe Huntman about her book, My Mother in Havana: A Memoir of Magic and Miracle. Writing with a physicality of language that moves like the body in dance, Rebe Huntman, a poet, choreographer, and dancer, embarks on a pilgrimage into the mysteries of the gods and saints of Cuba and their larger spiritual view of the Mother. Huntman offers a window into the extraordinary world of Afro-Cuban gods and ghosts and the dances and rituals that call them forth. As she explores the memory of her own mother, interlacing it with her search for...
2025-04-021h 04ThecuriousmanspodcastAndy Lee Roth InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Editor at large for Project Censored about its State of the Free Press 2025. We discuss media bias, under reported news stories and how algorithms are controlling most of the information we consume. A worthy and thought-provoking listen.
2025-03-311h 07ThecuriousmanspodcastChristian Sheppard InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Christian Sheppard about his book, The Ancient Wisdom of Baseball: Lessons for Life from Homer's ODYSSEY to the World Series. Who are you, how are you supposed to live, and what about happiness? Answers to age-old questions are offered in classic myths about heroes, gods, and monsters, and at the ballgame. In The Ancient Wisdom of Baseball, author Christian Sheppard interweaves Homer’s epics with glorious stories from the green fields of America’s pastime, celebrating Achilles’ courage and Odysseus’ cunning along with the virtues of Hall of Fame players such as J...
2025-03-271h 02ThecuriousmanspodcastCassidy Randall InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Cassidy Randall about her book, Thirty Below: The Harrowing and Heroic Story of the First All-Women's Ascent of Denali. Cassidy Randall draws on extensive archival research and original interviews to tell an engrossing, edge-of-the-seat adventure story about a forgotten group of climbers who had the audacity to believe that women could walk alone in extraordinary and treacherous heights. Grace Hoeman dreamed of standing on top of Denali. The tallest peak in North America, the fierce polar mountain loomed large in many climbers’ imaginations, and Grace, a doctor in Alaska, had co...
2025-03-2555 minThecuriousmanspodcastHoward Lewis InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Howard Lewis about his book, Leave Your Phone at the Door: The Joy of Offline. Real life happens beyond your phone screen. Leave Your Phone at the Door embraces the OFFLINE philosophy, which is a celebration of the much underrated virtues of randomness and serendipity. Whether sharing stories of unexpected encounters, alarming behavioral trends or the joys of quiet and contemplation, Howard Lewis encourages us to adopt an open mind and a generosity of spirit whenever we are confronted by the unfamiliar or surprising or different. We all h...
2025-03-241h 13ThecuriousmanspodcastEdward L. Jones III InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Edward L. Jones III about his book, Medication, Mental Illness, and Murder: What Really Killed the Crespi Twins. While Kim Crespi was getting a haircut, her husband David murdered their five-year-old twin daughters during a game of hide and seek. In the aftermath, family, friends, and even David have more questions than answers. In 2005, Kim Crespi had what she later described as “the perfect life.” She and her husband, David—a gentle giant of a man, devoutly religious, a loving father, and a proven star in the world of finance—had five hea...
2025-03-211h 11ThecuriousmanspodcastSamuel Ashworth InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Samuel Ashworth about his book, The Death and Life of August Sweeney: A Novel. Legendary chef August Sweeney has served his final meal, dying in the middle of service in the very restaurant he built to secure his legacy. When Dr. Maya Zhu, a guarded, intense autopsist, is summoned to investigate, she discovers she must operate under strict conditions Sweeney himself dictated before he died. As she digs deeper into his immense body, everything that can go wrong, does, because August Sweeney isn't about to let a little thing like death stop h...
2025-03-2058 minThecuriousmanspodcastKit Karson InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Kit Karson about her book, Nefarious Intent: A Sheriff Elliott Mystery. Holiday festivities in tiny Anderson, Montana take an unexpected turn when a welfare check becomes a murder investigation. Stone County deputy Tom Edwards discovers the frozen corpses of a local couple bound to chairs at their home in the Moonlight Mountains. The couple’s son and daughter-in-law soon go missing, the only clue a puddle of blood. A tragic bus accident and embezzled church funds add suspects and complicate motives. Stone County Sheriff Peter Elliott and his crew are on...
2025-03-1949 minThecuriousmanspodcastDr. Suzanne O'Sullivan InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Neurologist and author Dr. Suzanne O'Sullivan about her book, The Age of Diagnosis: How Our Obsession with Medical Labels is Making Us Sicker. We live in an age of diagnosis. Conditions like ADHD and autism are on the rapid rise, while new categories like long Covid are being created. Medical terms are increasingly used to describe ordinary human experiences, and the advance of sophisticated genetic sequencing techniques means that even the healthiest of us may soon be screened for potential abnormalities. More people are labeled "sick" than ever before—but are these diagnoses im...
2025-03-191h 04ThecuriousmanspodcastDr. Henry Gee InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with Dr. Henry Gee about his book, The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire. In this provocative book, award-winning science writer Henry Gee offers a concise, brilliantly-told history of our species--and argues that we are on a rapid, one-way trip to extinction. The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire narrates the dramatic rise of humanity, how a scattered range of small groups across several continents eventually inbred, interacted, fought, established stable communities and food supplies, and began the process of dominating the planet. The human story is relatively brief―the oldest fossils of H. Sapi...
2025-03-181h 24ThecuriousmanspodcastTom Kubiniec InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with entrepreneur and CEO Tom Kubiniec about his career and company SecureIT Tactical. How did Tom go from a promising guitarist to a business owner, serial entrepreneur and CEO of SecureIT Tactical, a secure firearm storage after never owning a firearm until 2011? Give a listen and prepare to be inspired. We often think the inspiration we seek is linear and must come from the area we look to delve into. Obviously, that is not the case, but this is a conversation that proves that innovation can come from anywhere if you are willing to listen and...
2025-03-121h 17ThecuriousmanspodcastNathan Lents InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with professor of Biology at John Jay University and author Nathan Lents about his book, The Sexual Evolution: How 500 Million Years of Sex, Gender, and Mating Shape Modern Relationships. Evolutionary biologist Nathan H. Lents knows what makes humans unique—and it’s most definitely not our sexual diversity. A professor at John Jay College, Lents has spent his career studying what makes us, well, us, and contrary to what the culture warriors want people to believe—diverse sexual behavior is not a new development, or even a human one. It didn’t just emerge from a prog...
2025-03-111h 02ThecuriousmanspodcastEtienne Labuschagne InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with lawyer, judge, painter, illustrator and author Etienne Labuschagne about his work and his book, Bedtime Stories for Clever Children. Etienne and I discuss how to broach difficult subjects with children and how to empower them to tackle the challenging moments in life. Many of us try to protect our kids from the moments in life that will test them, but we do them no favors in doing so.
2025-03-071h 03ThecuriousmanspodcastN.L Holmes InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author N.L Holmes about her book, Flowers of Evil: Hani's Daughter Mysteries. When two young women in ancient Egypt open a medical dispensary, they don’t expect their first patient to be a dying florist of Amen whose last words are totally mysterious. It’s Neferet and Bener-ib’s nature to want to appease the ba of the murder victim by finding his killer, and their teenaged apprentice is a born detective. But between the skepticism of their own families and the malice of a rival healer, they find out the simple desire to do the r...
2025-03-0445 minThecuriousmanspodcastLevi Browde InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with executive director of the New York based Falun Dafa information center about Shen Yun. We have all seen the ads on T.V but what exactly is Shen Yun and why was it started? Based on the Falun Gong teaching Shen Yun is a celebration of over 5000 years of Chinese heritage with choreography, vibrant handmade costumes, a dynamic live orchestra and an emcee that makes sure no one is unsure of what the symbolism of it all means.
2025-02-261h 01ThecuriousmanspodcastMaria Van Lieshout InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author and illustrator Maria Van Lieshout about her book, Song of a Blackbird. In 1943 Amsterdam, Emma Bergsma’s world changes when she witnesses Jewish families being forcibly deported to concentration camps. That pivotal moment lights a fire within her, and she decides to join the Dutch Resistance. Before long, Emma is drawn into a clandestine world of printing presses and counterfeiters, with thousands of lives on the line. In 2011 Amsterdam, teenage Annick’s world has changed as well. A search for a bone marrow donor for her beloved oma leads to a shocking reve...
2025-02-251h 06ThecuriousmanspodcastDr. Neal Baer InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Dr. Neal Baer about his book, The Promise and the Peril of CRISPR. Scientists and genetic engineers are becoming increasingly adept at editing the human genome. How far can—and should—they go in editing future generations? In The Promise and Peril of CRISPR, editor Neal Baer brings together a timely collection of essays by influential bioethicists, philosophers, and geneticists to explore the moral, ethical, and policy challenges posed by CRISPR technology. We are at a technological and ethical crossroads in grappling with the impacts of genetic editing. Gene-editing technology holds...
2025-02-2453 minThecuriousmanspodcastDon Johnston InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Don Johnston about his book, By Means of Peace: A Novel. In a world teetering on the brink of chaos, one man’s promise of peace becomes humanity’s greatest threat. Reuben Rogov, a charismatic third-party President, emerges as a beacon of hope in troubled times. He brokers peace in the Middle East, faces down global superpowers, and conquers both the border crisis and a deadly pandemic. As the world hails him a sociopolitical messiah, Rogov ascends to unparalleled power–but at what cost? Darien and Marisa, a young couple from H...
2025-02-2158 minThecuriousmanspodcastRobert B. O'Connor InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Robert B. O'Connor about his book, Jeep Show: A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge. Jim Tanzer is an ordinary soldier tasked with an extraordinary mission, travelling across Europe during World War II performing Jeep shows – small variety acts put on for the infantry just behind the front lines. These presentations are more than just entertainment, they are a beacon of hope, bringing brief moments of song, dance, and laughter to war weary troops, letting them know they are not forgotten. When Jim gets caught up in the Battle of...
2025-02-201h 01ThecuriousmanspodcastNoe Alvarez InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Noe Alvarez about his book, Accordion Eulogies: A Memoir of Musci, Migration, and Mexico. Noe and i always have deep and vulnerable conversations, his books pull that out of a person. Always honest with his readers Noe bares himself to those who pick up his books and forces us to ask the tough questions. This is a fraught divisive time and what better time to look inward to see why that is? Give a listen, a read and then ask yourself some of the questions elicited by the book.
2025-02-181h 13ThecuriousmanspodcastMatt Simons InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Matt Simons about his debut novel and first book in the End of Earth series, A Battle for Tomorrow. Drafted into a world war that no country can win, young Jason is forced to witness the worst of humanity as everyone around him dies before he is thrown back in time by an explosion that kills him. Seemingly trapped in childhood with memories of a hopeless future haunting him, can Jason find a way to stop the war and save millions of lives if no one believes him? A story of friendship...
2025-02-1745 minThecuriousmanspodcastArlene Pellicane InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author, relationship and marriage advocate Arlene Pellicane about National Marriage week. How do we build a lasting marriage that fulfills and nurtures us? Pellicane disguises this and so much more to celebrate National Marriage week 2025and its theme, How to Build a Lasting Love.
2025-02-1452 minThecuriousmanspodcastDonald Jeffries InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Donald Jeffries about his book, I Could Have Been One.I Could Have Been One provides a look into the world Donald Wm. Jeffries was born into, raised, and grew up in through historical and political events of his life. We examine the world starting in the 1940s through our modern day and see how life was and what has changed. The history in which Jeffries has lived through has had a remarkable impact on his life and worldview, and we see this develop and change throughout the course of his journey. As the f...
2025-02-1453 minThecuriousmanspodcastJohn Lee Hooker Jr. InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author John Lee Hooker Jr. about his book, From the Shadows of the Blues: My Story of Music, Addiction, and Redemption. The remarkable, powerful story of the son of blues legend John Lee Hooker Born in Detroit and exposed to the music world from an early age, John Lee Hooker Jr. began singing as a featured attraction in his father’s shows as a teenager. His father was a sharecropper’s son who became known for hit songs like “Boogie Chillin,” “I’m in the Mood,” and “Boom Boom,” and in 1972, he and his father p...
2025-02-1350 minThecuriousmanspodcastCallan Wink InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Callan Wink about his book, Beartooth: A Novel. In the Montana backcountry live two brothers who run a saw mill and do a little poaching on the side. Thad is the brains of the operation. His brother Hazen has a talent for tracking and hunting and getting himself into trouble. Together they have just about made it work, but now there are mounting bills, a leaky roof and winter is closing in. When a menacing figure known as the Scot offers them a risky but potentially lucrative hunting job in Yellowstone National Park, the...
2025-02-1243 minThecuriousmanspodcastAndres Schabelman InterviewMatt Crawford speaks with author Andres Schabelman about his book, Captains Wanted: A Novel. Inspired by personal anecdotes with indigenous ceremonial and Western therapeutic modalities that author Andres Schabelman sought after working at some of Silicon Valley’s largest tech companies, this captivating story combines elements of magical realism and literary fiction to offer an experimental take on success and self-growth. Captains Wanted! tells the story of what happens when people are willing to follow a new path, especially one they don’t logically understand. Through a collection of ceremonial anecdotes that touch upon each of the...
2025-02-1158 min
The Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 41 [REPOST from ep. 11]: Preaching Planning [REPOST from ep. 11] Fred and Matt discuss their processes for planning preaching, both for individual messages and series. The "Series Map" that Fred and Matt discuss can be found here: https://sermonillustr8r.wordpress.com/2022/12/31/series-map-example-for-pastor-in-the-middle-podcast/
2023-08-0135 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 39: Finishing Well, with Dr. Richard Hipps Fred and Matt discuss finishing well in ministry with Dr. Richard Hipps, the Pastor Emeritus at Trinity Baptist Church (where Matt currently serves). Richard served for 17 years at Trinity.
2023-07-1845 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 29: Community Involvement Fred and Matt discuss ways to show the light of Christ and the gospel through community involvement - both as individuals and as churches.
2023-05-0933 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 28: Ministering After a Disaster, with Cliff Marion On March 31, 2023, a historic tornado outbreak occurred across the Mid-South, doing particularly devastating damage in Covington, Tennessee. In this episode, Fred and Matt interview their friend Cliff Marion, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Covington, about the doors of ministry that the Lord opened in the aftermath of those storms.
2023-05-0241 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 27: Creating a Discipleship Culture Evangelism and discipleship go hand-in-hand. In this episode, Fred and Matt talk through ideas for building a culture of discipleship within the local church.Here's the link to an article (referenced in the episode) that Matt wrote for LifeWay Research in 2020: https://research.lifeway.com/2020/06/04/how-to-avoid-sacrificing-evangelism-for-discipleship-and-vice-versa/
2023-04-2535 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 26: Ordinations Fred and Matt discuss the church's ordination processes and ceremonies - both for deacons and for pastors.
2023-04-1830 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 25: Sermon Illustrations Fred and Matt discuss the importance of effective sermon illustrations, as well as methods for collecting, tagging, and utilizing them.
2023-04-1131 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 24: Finding Joy in Ministry Fred and Matt discuss a recent Barna study on pastor's satisfaction in ministry, and then how pastors can find joy in the gift God has given them in ministry.Here's the Baptist Press article mentioned in the episode: https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/pastors-satisfaction-certainty-of-call-in-rapid-decline-barna-finds/
2023-04-0434 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 23: Casting Vision in the Local Church, with Dean Inserra Fred and Matt interview special guest Dean Inserra, founding and lead pastor of City Church Tallahassee (citychurchtallahassee.com). We discuss casting vision as leaders in the local church.
2023-03-2845 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 22: Theological Education Fred and Matt discuss the importance of theological education for the pastor, as well as pros and cons of different methods of getting that education.
2023-03-2139 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 21: Prayer Fred and Matt discuss the importance of prayer for the Christian in general and the pastor in particular. We share some helpful practices and things we've learned regarding personal and corporate prayer.
2023-03-1433 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 20: Deacons Fred and Matt discuss the biblical role of deacons in the church, as well as ideas on recruiting and developing deacons.
2023-03-0733 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 19: Ordinances, Part 2 (Baptism) Fred and Matt continue their 2-week discussion of the ordinances. This week they address baptism.
2023-02-2836 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 18: Ordinances, Part 1 (Lord's Supper) Fred and Matt start a 2-part series on the ordinances, including a discussion of the concept of theological triage. This week covers the Lord's Supper, with baptism coming next week.Here's a link to the Lord's Supper document Matt uses with his deacons when they take the Lord's Supper to shut-in or homebound church members: https://sermonillustr8r.wordpress.com/2023/02/20/communion-for-the-homebound-guide/
2023-02-2137 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 17: Staff Development Fred and Matt discuss the why and the how of strategies for developing church staff members.Sample staff evaluations mentioned on the podcast can be found at the link below. One is for ministerial staff, and the other is for support/administrative staff.https://sermonillustr8r.wordpress.com/2023/02/13/sample-evaluations-ministerial-and-support-staff-for-pastor-in-the-middle-podcast-episode-17-staff-development/
2023-02-1436 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 16: The Pastor's Library Fred and Matt discuss the pastor's reading and the building of a pastoral library.Resources mentioned in the show:1) LibraryThing.com - a personal library database2) Daniel Akin's "Building a Theological Library" - https://www.danielakin.com/pdf-download-building-a-theological-revised-edition-2019/3) Bestcommentaries.com - recommendations and rankings of Bible commentaries (Matt accidentally said ".net" on the episode. It's ".com")4) Thomas Schreiner's New Testament commentary recommendations: https://www.9marks.org/article/recommended-new-testament-commentaries-for-evangelical-pastors/
2023-02-0735 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 15: Church Facilities Fred and Matt discuss the use of church facilities.
2023-02-0132 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 14: Your First Year as a New Pastor Fred and Matt follow up on their two episodes about pastor search processes with an episode about how to walk through your first year in a new pastorate.
2023-01-2431 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 13: Search Process, Part 2 Fred and Matt work through Part 2 of their two-part series on pastor search committees (which is also relevant for ministerial position searches). This second episode is addressed to the candidate. Again, a sample theological and ministry questionnaire for these kinds of searches can be found here: https://sermonillustr8r.wordpress.com/2023/01/08/sample-theological-and-ministry-questionnaire/
2023-01-1727 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 12: Search Process, Part 1 Fred and Matt work through Part 1 of two episodes on search committee processes. This first episode is geared to the members of search committees. You can find a sample theological questionnaire for search committees to use here: https://sermonillustr8r.wordpress.com/2023/01/08/sample-theological-and-ministry-questionnaire/
2023-01-1035 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 11: Preaching Planning Fred and Matt discuss their processes for planning preaching, both for individual messages and series. The "Series Map" that Fred and Matt discuss can be found here: https://sermonillustr8r.wordpress.com/2022/12/31/series-map-example-for-pastor-in-the-middle-podcast/
2023-01-0335 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 10: The Pastor's Rest Fred and Matt discuss how they biblically and practically flesh out rest in the life of the pastor.
2022-12-2735 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 9: Christian Celebrity Culture Fred and Matt discuss the issue of putting other Christians on pedestals.
2022-12-2031 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 8: Shepherding Our Families Fred and Matt discuss the pastor's first ministry responsibility.
2022-12-1332 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 7: Big Events Fred and Matt discuss the value of churches using big events for outreach ministry.
2022-12-0629 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 6: Handling Criticism Fred and Matt talk about how a pastor should react to criticism in ministry.
2022-11-2929 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 5: Addressing Difficult Topics Fred and Matt discuss addressing difficult topics as a pastor, both from the pulpit and on social media.
2022-11-2230 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 4: In the Middle of the Church Fred and Matt discuss what it means to be a pastor doing ministry in the middle of your congregation.
2022-11-1528 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 3: The Spiritual Life of the Pastor Fred and Matt interview their friend and co-laborer in Memphis, Pastor Shun Abram, about the spiritual life of the pastor. Shun is the founding and lead pastor of Binghampton Community Church in Memphis, as well as the Director of the SEND Relief Ministry Center in the Raleigh area of Memphis.Link to sermon by Dr. Donald Whitney at Southern Seminary, mentioned by Matt in the episode: https://equip.sbts.edu/chapel/chapel-fall-2005/the-almost-inevitable-ruin-of-every-minister-and-how-to-avoid-it/
2022-11-0830 minThe Pastor in the MiddlePITM Episode 2: Traditions Fred and Matt talk through a balanced, biblical approach to traditions in the church.
2022-11-0132 min
The Smoking TireMatt Crawford (Author of "Why we Drive")Matthew Crawford is the author of the book, "Why we Drive: Toward a Philosophy of the Open Road." We talk about why people see autonomous cars as an inevitability, and why we shouldn't. Buy his book: http://www.matthewbcrawford.com/why-we-drivehttps://www.crownandcaliber.com/mattUse code "TIRE" at https://www.shipstation.com Follow us!T: @thesmokingtire @zackklapmanIG: @thesmokingtire @fakezackklapman Watch the show!: https://youtu.be/AcB1LgUpqs4
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