Shows
Cross WordBombs and Beasts: The Hidden Battle for Zoo SurvivalSend us a text "World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age." University of Chicago PressTo find our more about Michele McAloon: Your host.https://www.bookclues.comWhat happens to zoo animals when war breaks out? It's a question few of us consider, yet the answer reveals profound truths about humanity's moral compass. Professor John M. Kinder takes us on a haunting journey through World War II's forgotten captives in "World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in th...2025-06-1142 min
Cross WordThe Secret Truth About Ukraine Nobody is Telling YouSend us a textMichele McAloon speaks with Olena Tregub, a Ukrainian civil society leader and anti-corruption advocate, about the realities of war in Ukraine and why American support remains crucial despite political uncertainty.• Olena describes the terrifying routine of air raid alerts and Russia's intensified attacks on Ukrainian civilians• Ukrainian defense relies heavily on US-supplied Patriot systems which cannot be replaced by European support• Most corruption stories about Ukraine are Russian propaganda - approximately 60% are completely fake• Ukraine has implemented significant anti-corruption reforms even during wartime, including new procurement agencies and oversigh...2025-06-0237 min
Cross WordParis 1919: How the Treaty That Ended World War I Continues to Shape Modern EuropeSend us a textLike and subscribe to Crossword on YouTube at Crossword Author Interviews. You can also find us at bookclues.com and follow Michele McAloon on X, BlueSky and TrueSocial, all @MicheleMcAloon1.Professor Margaret MacMillan joins us to explore how the 1919 Paris Peace Conference shaped our modern world and why understanding this pivotal moment is essential for making sense of today's European conflicts.• World War I as the war that made World War II possible and ended the relatively peaceful 19th century• The challenge of self-determination in ethnically mixed regions wher...2025-03-2046 minCross WordThe Enduring Influence of the Bible: A Journey Through History and Culture with Professor Bruce GordonSend us a textHow has the Bible managed to influence cultures across the globe for over two millennia? Join me, Michelle McAloon, as I sit down with Professor Bruce Gordon, the distinguished Titus Street professor of ecclesiastical history at Yale Divinity School, to uncover the Bible's remarkable journey. Together, we promise to unearth how this sacred text has continued to evolve, both through its divine inspiration and as a cultural artifact. Professor Gordon offers a wealth of knowledge from his acclaimed work, "The Bible: A Global History," as we explore the intricate historical and linguistic transformations...2024-12-1148 minCross WordNavigating Divided Berlin in 'The Berlin Apartment' with Bryn TurnbullSend us a textEver wondered how a city could be divided by more than just a wall? Join me, Michele McAloon, as I sit down with the brilliant Bryn Turnbull to navigate the poignant and gripping world of historical fiction in her latest book, "The Berlin Apartment." We promise you'll gain a deeper understanding of Berlin's turbulent history post-World War II, from the city's division by Allied powers to the eventual rise of the Berlin Wall in 1961. Through the compelling story of Lise, a medical student caught on the West side while her fiancé remains trapped i...2024-08-2730 minCross WordNew Perspectives on Presidential HistorySend us a textmysteryhints@gmail.com email for Michele McAloonTrump. Presidential history was made this past week whether or not you agree or disagree with the verdict. The President of the United States of America. There is no other political office in the world like it. The 45 men who have filled the office have come from diverse backgrounds to embrace the many different challenges unique to the American experiment. Mary Carol Ghislin, a seasoned teacher and author has written a very charming and important book; Growing Up to Be President: U.S. history...2024-06-0138 minCross WordParis- City of LightSend us a textParis..a charachter in it's own right. Join me in conversation with Professor Mike Rapport Author of City of Light, City of Shadows: Paris in the Belle Epoque published by Basic Books https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/imprint/basic-books/If you are traveling to Paris this summer, have traveled to Paris or have ever dreamed of traveling to Paris this is a book you MUST read. A great history book that can easily serve as a travelogue for the curious. The Eifel Tower, the Metro, Department Stores, Cabarets, the word...2024-05-1650 minCross WordBorderland: A journey into UkraineSend us a textAnna Reid, author of Borderland: A Journey Through the History of Ukraine writes about the history of Ukraine in a prosaic story of the people who through the centuries have claimed Ukraine as home. From saber rattling Cossacks to Kiev Rus, to Poles, Jews, Lithuanians and Crimean Tatars all who have walked and fought in Ukraine have woven a tale of hardship, endurance and determination to become a a fiercely proud Ukrainian people. Borderland is an entertainingly informative book to understand Ukraine, past, present, and future and why the independence of Ukraine...2024-04-2941 minCross WordThe Last Tsarina and Her SistersSend us a textTwo royal princesses from a small principality in late 19th century German lands marry into the House of the Russian Romanovs. Princess Alex of Hesse and her sister Princess Ella lives end tragically when killed by the Russian Communists in 1918. Clare McHugh in her second novel tell the history of the fate of these two young women. Join me in conversation as we talk about Clare McHugh's latest novel The Romanov Brides. published by William Morrow Paperbacks.Check out Clare McHugh's website http://claremchugh.com2024-04-1630 minCross WordAlfred DreyfusSend us a textA French scandal over 125 years ago that still reverberates around the world. Alfred Dreyfus was a captain in the French Army whose faith was Jewish. He was accused of spying for the German Army. His conviction in 1894 and subsequent acquittal gripped the attention of the world and forever changed France.Join me in conversation with Dr Maurice Samuels about his recent book Alfred Dreyfus; The Man at the Center of the Affair published by Yale University Press https://yalebooks.yale.edu/ Also my podcast now is on t...2024-03-2244 minCross WordA Nasty Little WarSend us a textDid you know that American soldiers actually went to war in Russia in 1918? Listen to this discussion with Anna Reid, author of "A Nasty Little War; The West's Fight to Reverse the Russian Revolution" published by Basic Books. It is a tale of heroes and scoundrels that few in the West know about much less understand. Check out Basic Books ...they have some very well written history books. https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/imprint/basic-books/ 2024-02-2339 minCross Word"He Left Us So Much"Send us a textA conversation with Father Fessio, Founder of Ignatius Press about "He Left Us So Much" A Tribute to Pope Benedict XVI written by Cardinal Robert Sarah. Pope Benedict XVI -Cardinal Ratzinger was an amazing man. His life spanned the 20th century. He saw the rise of Nazi Germany to the 21st Century crisis in the Church. Throughout it all he followed a spiritual itinerary that lead him to an ever closer friendship with God. The late Pope Benedict was probably one of the most cultured and educated men to hold the Chair of St...2024-01-3029 minCross WordThe Book at WarSend us a textDid you know that Stalin, Hitler and Mao were voracious readers? Where did the paper book pocket book come from? Join me in this conversation with renowned historian Andrew Pettegree, as we discuss his latest The Book at War, How Reading Shaped Conflict and Conflict Shaped Reading. We discuss the fascinating and often overlooked role of books in warfare, exploring how reading shapes conflict and how conflict, in turn, shapes reading. Professor Pettegree reveals that books are not just hapless victims of destruction in wars but powerful tools for war making, as t...2024-01-1840 minCross WordNapoleon BonaparteSend us a text Napoleon Bonaparte was not only a brilliant military strategist but also a master of propaganda. Join me in this conversation with Professor David A Bell from Princeton University. He is an author of several books to include Napoleon: A Concise Biography (Oxford University Press, 2015) is a short study written for Oxford's "Very Short Introductions" series.You can find more information about Professor Bell at https://history.princeton.edu/people/david-bellTo my listeners who have been so patient! Thanks for encouraging me back to podcasting. It's a joy to be ba...2023-12-0440 minCross WordNapoleon!!2023-11-2145 minCross WordIt's a Charlie Brown ChristmasSend us a textWho has not wondered through the Christmas Tree lot trying to avoid the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree? In 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas made its debut. The first TV special based on the comic strip Peaunts garnered wide acclaim and throughout the decades it has become an American Christmas tradition. Join me in conversation with Blake Ball author of Charlie Brown's America: The Popular Politics of Peanuts. My apologies for the re-runs. I will start a new season January 2023 2022-12-1237 minCross WordIts Turkey Time!!Send us a textJoin me in conversation with Melanie Kirkpatrick to talk about all things Thanksgiving!! Have a great Thanksgiving!2022-11-2233 minCross WordA Hiker's Guide to PurgatorySend us a textWhat is purgatory? is it horrible? Does it lack joy? What is it suppose to achieve? Join me in conversation with first time author Michael Norton to discuss his book A Hitchhiker's Guide to Purgatory published by Ignatius Press. This is a charming tale of the possible journey toward eternity. Find Michele McAloon @MicheleMcAloon12022-11-1521 minCross WordThe Legacy of Vatican IISend us a textTo some it was a disaster and the ruin of the Roman Catholic Church to others a saving grace..Vatican II from its very inception until today has been the center of a storm of controversey. Join me in conversation with none other than the leading Catholic intellectual in the world today--Mr. George Weigel as we talk about his book To Sanctify the World ; The Vital Legacy of Vatican II (Basic Books) You can find George Weigel's writings at the Catholic Difference on https://eppc.org/ 2022-11-0728 minCross WordDracula-the original Catholic horror story!Send us a textBecause you can never get enough Dracula this time of year. This is a repeat performance! Dracula..the Motherlode of all horror stories just in time for all hallows eve and all souls day .Join me in conversation with Dr Doug Mitchell, my friend with a PhD in literature, as we talk about Brahm Stoker"s 1897 classic Dracula. Redemption. purity, bats and werewolves all rolled into this towering gothic novel. We discuss the Catholic and literary themes that have long held a fascination for a cl...2022-10-2729 minCross WordThe Sassoon’s: Global MerchantsSend us a textThe Sassoon family was one of the richest families in the world in the 19th century, From a Baghdadi Jewish community to the dizzying heights of British aristocracy the Sassoons were an economic success story mirroring the fortunes of colonial Britian. Join me in conversation with Joseph Sassoon, author of The Sassoons: The Great Globbal Merchants and the Making of an Empire published by Pantheon Books. 2022-10-2039 minCross WordAs I Have Loved YouSend us a textWant io understand why individualism does not work for human beings, familiies or communities? Want to understand how our individualistic understanding of our selves is not the turth? Join in Conversation with Father Timothy Vivarek, author of as I have Loved You. published by Emmaus Road Publishing. BE A RADICAL listen to this PODCAST! You can read Father Timothy Vavarek's article on https://www.thecatholicthing.org/Find Michele @michelemcaloon12022-10-1236 minCross WordThe PersecutedSend us a textCasey Chalk is one of the premier Catholic voices in the US today. Join me in conversation with Casey as we discuss his book, The Persecuted: The Stories of Courageous Christians Living Their Faith in Muslim Lands published by Sophia Institute Press. You can find Casey at https://www.caseychalk.com/Talk to Micele on Twitter @michelemcaloon1 2022-10-0632 minCross WordIslam and ChristianitySend us a textOne of my most interesting conversations yet! Join me as we discuss Islam in view of Christianity , with Dr David Pinault, author of The Crucifix on Meccas Front Porch (Ignatius Press) This is not an apology for Islam but an analytical view of Islam in order to better understand Christianity.Dr Pinault is also the author of Providence Blue, a fictional tale of kenotic theology. Youn can listen to my interview here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1677349/9414830-providence-blue.mp3?download=true2022-09-2844 minCross WordThe True EnglandSend us a textJoin me in conversation with Joesph Pearce, author of Faith of Our Fathers, A History of True England (Ignatius Press) as we talk about St Albin, Edward the Confessor, the Glastonbury thron tree, middle English and Shakespeare as a Catholic. Find Michele on Twitter @MicheleMcAloon1.2022-09-2132 minCross WordRoyalty and RussiaSend us a textThe family of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is an integral part of the history of Europe. Join me in conversation as we talk about some of the Queens 20 th century family desendants . Two young girls Alexandra and Ella, ( who were also Prince Phillip's great aunts) of the royal Hesse family in Darmstadt Germany marry into the Russian royal family for love. They both come to a tragic end at the hands of Russian Bolsheviks. Authr Clare McHugh discusses her research on the lives and deaths of these two young royal women. Clare...2022-09-1336 minCross WordExtra Terrestrial intelligence and Catholic TheologySend us a textIf alien life is discovered on another planet or in another universe how woud they relate to us and God? Would they be marked by origninal sin like us? Would aliens need baptizing? join me in conversation with Dr Paul Thigpen author of ETI and Catholic Theology, published by Tan Books. Dr Thigpen traces the history of man's wandering about the existence of alien life. From the ancient Greek to the Foo Fighters humanity has always looked to the heavens and wondered who else may be in the universe. I BELIEVE! They are...2022-08-1635 minCross WordShooting At Heaven's GateSend us a textIn a world without God can suffering and evil be understood? What makes a Mass Shooter? Kaye Park Hinkcley author of Shooting At Heaven's Gate explores these questions in her well written fictional story set in Alabama. Ms Hinkcley creates a crisp, poignant and sometimes humorous narrative in asking how does suffering and faith shape our lives. Summer Reading at its Best!Find Kay's Book at https://chrismpress.com/2022-08-0421 minCross WordThe JesuitsSend us a textJuly 31st is the Feast Day of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order. Join me in dicussion with German Professor Markus Friedrich as we discuss his book The Jesuits; A History, an Amazon's Editor's pick. (published Princeton University Press) From St Ignatius, a wounded war veteran to Pope Francis I, Jesuits have always been on the forefront of contemproary history and controversey. Learn about the history of this storied order. 2022-07-2547 minCross WordAndrew Jackson..the Man and The LegendSend us a textWho really was this man President Andrew Jackson? Join me in conversation with David S. Brown author of The First Populist; The Defiant Life of Andrew Jackon published by Scribner. Andrew Jackson looms large in the American historical imagination Find out who the man really was from frontiersman, war hero to the seventh president of the Untied States. A very well informed and balanced bigoraphy of the historical figure of Andrew Jackson 2022-07-2133 minCross WordAlexis de Tocqueville..A man who understood DemocracySend us a textJuly 14 is Bastille Day. A great way to commenorate this auspicious event is to grab a glass of chmpagne or a good bordeaux and listen to my interview with Professor Olivier Zunz, author of The Man Who understood Democracy: The Life of Alexis de Tocqueville published by Princeton University Press. A wonderfully well crafted biography about a French man who truly beleived in democracy in both the US and France . You can find out more about the works of Professor Zunz https://press.princeton.edu/our-authors/zunz-olivier Follow Michele on Twi...2022-07-1234 minCross WordWhere Cowards Go To DieSend us a textHow does a person live with the moral injury of war? Through hope and faith. Benjamin Sledge, combat veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq battlefields, author of Where Cowards Go To Die -Regnery Gateway Publishing, talks about PTSD, loss, growth and hope. How does one grow out of horrific expereinces? Sledge tells of his path of resiliency and coming home after combat. Connect with Bejamin Sledge https://benjaminsledge.com/ 2022-07-0542 minCross WordTearing Us ApartSend us a textJoin me to discuss the hottest topic in the nation with Alexandra Desanctis coauthor of Tearing US Apart; How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing, published by Regnery. Written before the Court decsion to overturn Roe vs Wade, Ryan Anderson and Alexandra DeSanctis were able to foretell some of the logic used by the Supreme Court justices to come to their historical decsion. Read the Supreme Court decsion yourself! Dont let the media tell you what is in the decsion..you can find it here https://www.supremecourt.gov/op...2022-06-3025 minCross WordVeterans Come Home: Best Years of Our LivesSend us a textThe Best Years of Our Lives was a 1946 movie classic. The movie narrates a story of three veterans returning from the front lines of World War II and their struggles to adapt to the front lines of home life, work and family. Alison Macor, film critic and author has written a charming book about the making of this award winning classic . Join me in discussion as we talk about her recently published book Making the Best Years of Our Lives; The Hollywood Classic that Inspired a Nation. You can find this book on ht...2022-06-1737 minCross WordThe Rifle and The Greatest GenerationSend us a textIn light of DDay June 6, I have decided to rerun this interview made for Veteran's Day of last year. The M-1 Garand, the standard rifle for World War II Infantryman. becomes a microphone for the living members of the Greatest Generation. Join me in conversation with Mr. Andrew Biggio, US Marine, combat veteran, and Massachusetts police officer, author of The Rifle: Combat Stories From America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand.. published by Regnery History. Mr. Biggio traveled the country to speak with over 200 living veterans from World War II. He shares w...2022-06-0930 minCross WordFierce Valor: The Story of Ronald SpeirsSend us a textD-Day is June 6. We have all heard of Easy Company, the Band of Brothers and Dick Winters but little has been written of Ronald Speirs, the longest serving commander of Easy Company. Join me in conversation with co-author Jared Frederick as we discuss his new book Fierce Valor: The True Story of Ronald Speirs and His Band of Brothers published by Regnery History. 2022-06-0335 min