Shows
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Mike Grynbaum about Empire of the EliteWelcome to Light On Light Through episode 413, in which I interview Mike Grynbaum about his book Empire of the Elite: Inside Condé Nast, the Media Dynasty That Reshaped America, which was just published today. Condé Nast is the publisher of The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Vogue, GQ, Wired, and other iconic magazines, so we had a lot to talk about. order Empire of the Elite Maureen Dowd interviews Mike Grynbaum at the 92nd Street Y tonight! Mike Grynbaum's "Mangia Mafia! Food, Punishment, and Cultural Identity in The Sopranos" in The Essential Sopranos Reader, eds. David Lavery, Douglas Howard, an...2025-07-1556 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Tom Cooper 1 May 2025 about Wisdom WeaversWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 412, in which I interview Tom Cooper about his new book Wisdom Weavers: The Lives and Thought of Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan published on May 1, 2025 by Connected Editions. A group of 51 scholars from the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and Poland gathered on May 1 via Zoom -- a mini global village -- to see this interview with Tom Cooper. The interview and subsequent Q&A is presented here in audio its entirety. We started off with some casual conversation ... Transcript of the complete Zoom Chat that took place after...2025-05-301h 38
Light On Light ThroughCaptain Phil interviews Paul Levinson about Tom Cooper's Wisdom WeaversWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 411: I returned to Captain Phil's Planet on WUSB (Stony Brook University) Radio the other day to talk to Captain Phil about Tom Cooper's new book, Wisdom Weavers: The Lives and Thought of Harold Innis and Marshall McLuhan, to be pubished by Connected Editions (my publishing company) on May 1. As we discussed in the interview, I'll be interviewing Tom about his book via Zoom on the evening of Wisdom Weavers' publication -- 8pm (New York time), May 1. If you'd like to attend, email me at Levinson at Fordham dot edu and I'll...2025-04-1945 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews The Polar editorsWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 410, in which I interview Kingsley Marin and Massimo Seriale, two freshmen at Fordham University, who have created and edit a new publication (independent of the University), The Polar. More about The Polar here. 2025-04-1245 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Simon Vozick-Levinson about Rolling Stone's Top 100 Protest SongsWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 409, in which I interview Simon Vozick-Levinson, Deputy Editor of Rolling Stone, about the magazine's list of the 100 Best Protest Songs of All Time. We talk in particular about Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, and Sam Cooke, and also discuss the importance of publications like Rolling Stone standing up for democracy in these politically troubling times. As a special treat, at the end of this interview, I play a song, "Dance with Destiny," from James Harris's new LP, The Moons of Jupiter. This is consistent with Phil Ochs' view that we needs wo...2025-03-0850 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Lance Strate about 'Not A, Not Be &C'Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 408, and my in-depth interview with Lance Strare about his new book, Not A, Not Be &C. Relevant links: Get a copy of Not A, Not Be &C Come see Lance, Thom Gencarelli, and me talking about Lance's book at The Players in Manhattan on 19 February 2025 at 6pm. More information about this book launch, including FREE registration, here Frank LoBuono's Facebook page -- where he will be live streaming the dramatic reading from my novel, It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles, taking place at Big Red Books i...2025-02-181h 11
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Sarah Seltzer about The Singer SistersWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 407, and my in-depth interview with Sarah Seltzer about her novel, The Singer Sisters. Relevant links: Get a copy of The Singer Sisters My review of The Singer Sisters Sarah Seltzer personal appearances at JCC-MidWestchester (Scarsdale, NY) February 28, and JCC-Rockland (West Nyack, NY) March 12 Dramatic reading from It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles with Paul Levinson, Anthony Marinelli, Amanda Greer, Frank LoBuono, and Denise Reed, at Big Red Books, Nyack NY, February 23. 2025-02-0632 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews David Browne about Talkin' Greenwich VillageWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 406, and my in-depth interview with Rolling Stone writer David Browne about his masterful book, Talkin' Greenwich Village. We talk at length about Dave Van Ronk, Joni Mitchell, Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, The Blues Project, Bob Lind, and a little less about many others, including Hegel and his spirit of an age. Relevant links: Get a copy of Talkin' Greenwich Village My review of Talkin' Greenwich Village Catch David Browne at Big Red Books in Nyack, NY, March 6 Catch me at Big Red Books, Nyack, NY, February 23, doing a dramatic...2025-02-031h 01
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Jared Moshe about AporiaWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 403, in which I interview Jared Moshe about his movie Aporia, a time-travel movie on Hulu that explores, in a way I've never seen before, the wrenching ethical dilemmas that arise when you try to change the past. Relevant links: my written review of Aporia Aporia on Hulu more about Jared Moshe here my best-known time travel novel my best-known alternate history novel 2024-12-2327 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Dan Abella about The Psychedelic Film and Music Festival, NYC, 14 Dec 2024Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 401, in which I interview Dan Abella about The Psychedelic Film and Music Festival, NYC, 14 Dec 2024. (Kendall Brown, Operations Manager for the Festival, joins us in the interview.) Relevant links: The Psychedelic Film and Music Festival written interview with me by Evan Levine, in which I discuss Hegel's "spirit of an age" (see 10th question in the interview) Dan Abella's play, "Timothy X’s Journey from PTSD to Wholeness," to be performed live at the Festival [scroll down] McLuhan in an Age of Social Media Lioness (streaming on Paramount+) 2024-12-0739 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Andrew Hoskins about AI and the End of the Human PastWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 398, in which I interview Andrew Hoskins about the new book he is writing, The Deadbot Society: AI and the End of the Human Past. Relevant links: "AI and Memory" an article by Andrew Hoskins the AI-created video I mentioned in our conversation more about McLuhan in an Age of Social Media 2024-11-021h 06
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Gerrit Van Woudenberg about his new movie Quantum SuicideWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 397, in which I interview Gerrit Van Houtenberg about his new multiple universe feature film, Quantum Suicide, debuting on Amazon Prime Video on October 18. Relevant links: my review of Quantum Suicide The Chronology Protection Case movie on Amazon Prime Video The Chronology Protection Case novelette 2024-10-1652 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Bob Hutchins: An Optimistic Discussion of AIWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 396, in which I interview Bob Hutchins about AI. My guess is you'll find this discussion much more optimistic about AI than what you'll usually hear. Discussed or mentioned in this interview: "On Behalf of Humanity: The Technological Edge" my 1996 article The Media Ecology Association New Explorations: Studies in Culture and Communication my review of Confronting the Presidents 2024-10-071h 11
Light On Light ThroughPatrick Rands interviews Paul Levinson about It's Real Life on WZBC RadioWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 395, in which Patrick Rands interviews me about It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles on his WZBC Radio program Abstract Terrain. more about It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles here say hello at the Meet and Greet at Big Red Books, 120 Main Street, Nyack, NY, Sunday, October 6, 12noon-2pm It's Real Life radioplay on Killerwatt Radio Anne Reburn's cover of Real Love my interview with Anne Reburn Yoko Ono's Cambridge 1969 2024-10-0358 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Dan Abella about The New York Science Fiction Film FestivalWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 394, in which I interview Dan Abella about The New York Science Fiction Film Festival, to take place Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Stuart Cinema and Cafe, 79 West Street in Brooklyn, NY. more details here my review of Gerrit Van Woudenberg's Quantum Suicide my in-depth interview with Rufus Sewell about The Man in the High Castle Among the science fiction filmmakers we discuss: Gerrit Van Woudenberg, Jay Kensinger, Frank Spotnitz, M. Night Shyamalan, Francis Ford Coppola Among the science fiction authors we discuss: Philip K. Dick, Sam Delany, Robert Harris...2024-09-1054 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Mark Dawidziak about Edgar Allan PoeWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 386, in which I talk to Mark Dawidziak about his latest book A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe, and another iconic author Mark has written about, Mark Twain. more about A Mystery of Mysteries watch a video of this interiew written review of The Pale Blue Eye more about It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles 2024-05-151h 11
Light On Light ThroughBook Launch and Reading of It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles novel at The PlayersWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 379, in which I take you into the Book Launch and reading I did of It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles, my new novel, based on the award-winning short story of the same name, in the historic Players Club in New York City on March 27, 2024. "Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history."...2024-03-301h 11
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Dan Abella about The Mind Revolution ExperienceWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 376, in which I interview Dan Abella in George's Cafe in Manhattan about The Mind Revolution Experience (March 14, 7-9pm at The Producer's Club, 358 W. 44th Street, NYC) and the upcoming Philip K. Dick Film Festival (April 4-7, Musuem of the Moving Image, and other places in NYC). more about The Mind Revolution Experience here more about the PKD Film Festival here more about my novel, It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles -- that I'll be doing a reading from at the PKD Film Festival -- here 2024-03-0549 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Richard Sparks about New Rock, New RoleWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 375, in which I interview Richard Sparks about his new novel, New Rock, New Role, as well as the joys and woes, the trials and tribulations and triumphs of the writerly life. More about New Rock, New Role 2024-02-2854 min
Light On Light ThroughTetrads for History and Alternate HistoryWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 368, which I devote to consideration of tetrads for history and alternate history. Don't know what tetrads are? They're explained in the first few minutes of the podcast. Read about Tetrads for History and Alternate History here. Further reading on Tetrads: Laws of the Media (by Marshall McLuhan, with Preface by Paul Levinson); Tetrad Wheels of Cultural Evolution (Paul Levinson); Tetrad on the Selfie (Paul Levinson); Tetrads and Chiasmus: A Reclamation of the Tetrad Wheel (Matthew S. Lindia & Paul Levinson), Further reading, listening to, viewing Alternate History: A Fiction Wri...2024-01-0916 min
Light On Light ThroughFoundation 2nd Season: Cora Buhlert, Joel McKinnon, and Paul Levinson discussWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 361, in which Cora Buhlert, Joel McKinnon, and I talk about the second season of Foundation on Apple TV+. Relevant links: our discussion of the first season of Foundation my reviews of the 2nd season of Foundation (with links to reviews of the 1st) Cora Buhlert's reviews of the 2nd season of Foundation Joel McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast 2023-11-211h 39
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Jack Dann about Alternate HistoryWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 359, in which I interview Jack Dann about his book The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History and other things science fictional. Relevant links: Jack Dann's first publication, his 1974 Wandering Stars anthology How Paul Levinson discovered Wandering Stars back in 1974 Jack Dann's The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History Paul Levinson's review of The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History Paul Levinson's alternate history story about The Beatles, "It's Real Life" Paul Levinson's reaction to The Beatles' "Now and Then" Chuck Todd interviews Paul Levinson about alternate histories 2023-11-0756 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Chris Cosmain about his Time Travel Novel 'Novikov Windows'Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 356, in which I interview Chris Cosmain about his novel Novikov Windows and time travel. We also discuss how to succeed as a science fiction author. read my review of Novikov Windows buy the novel Chris Cosmain's web page read Paul Levinson's The Chronology Protection Case novelette watch The Chronology Protection Case movie video interview with director Jay Kensinger about The Chronology Protection Case movie "It's Real Life", Paul Levinson's alternate history story about The Beatles, discussed at the end of the podcast, read it here for free 2023-10-1755 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Dan Abella about his upcoming Psychedelic FestivalWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 355, in which I interview Dan Abella about the upcoming Psychedelic Film and Music Festival he is organizing. The Festival will take place October 20-22, 2023 in New York City, and there will both live and remote events and access. Among the topics we discuss: Hegel's spirit of an age ... Impressionism ... Matthew Modine ... Dennis McKenna ... Les Bicyclettes de Belsize ... Lewis Carroll ... John Lennon ... popular culture labels ... Philip K. Dick ... psychedelics and science fiction ... reading backwards ... Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy ... The Man Who Fell to Earth and its sequel ... Strawberry Alarm Clock ... The M...2023-09-2937 min
Light On Light ThroughRoundtable Discussion of Star Trek: Picard 3Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 354, in which I join Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York), Marybeth Ritkouski, and Michael Rizzo, in a 2-hour in-depth, fun discussion of Star Trek: Picard Season 3. Links to what is discussed in the podcast: my written reviews (w/spoilers) of Picard 3 more (tc, links to reviews) about Robots Through the Ages video of Paul Levinson reading from an early version of "Robinson Calculator" "It's Real Life" story and radio play 2023-06-101h 53
Light On Light ThroughRobots Through the Ages, AI, and Chat GPTWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 353, in which Captain Phil and I discuss the new anthology Robots Through the Ages -- with stories by Ambrose Bierce, Philip K. Dick, and other titans, as well as relative newbies like me -- and AI and Chat GPT. Links to what is discussed in the podcast: more (tc, links to reviews) about Robots Through the Ages video of Paul Levinson reading from an early version of "Robinson Calculator" "The Civil Rights of Robots" "It's Real Life" story and radio play "Welcome Up" (words & music by Paul Levinson) "Welcome Up"...2023-06-0348 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Spencer HannabussWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 352, in which I interview Spencer Hannabuss, who sang "If I Traveled to the Past" at the end of the It's Real Life radio play adapted from my alternate history story about The Beatles, streaming on Killerwatt Radio. We also discuss our views of The Beatles and their preeminent role in popular culture. The interview concludes with a mini-concert of three songs by Spencer Hannabuss. Links: It's Real Life radioplay the original "It's Real Life" short story video of this interview with Spencer Hannabuss Spencer Hannabuss and The 286 Bandcamp page orig...2023-05-151h 00
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson interviews Anne ReburnWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 350, in which I interview YouTube star cover artist Anne Reburn, who did the cover of John Lennon/The Beatles' "Real Love" in the It's Real Life radio play adapted from my short alternate history about The Beatles, streaming on Killerwatt Radio. The interview concludes with a mini-concert of three songs by Anne Reburn. Links: It's Real Life radioplay the original "It's Real Life" short story video of this interview with Anne Reburn video of Anne Reburn's cover of "Real Love" Anne Reburn's covers and original music on YouTube "Unbelievable (In...2023-03-3153 min
Light On Light ThroughReview of The Mosquito Coast 2.8: Hari Seldon in MexicoWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 346, in which I explore the connection between The Mosquito Coast 2.8 (on Apple TV+) and Hari Seldon of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. Further reading: Written blog post of this exploration Paul Krugman's disappointment with Apple TV+ adaptation of Foundation. Importance of Foundation trilogy in Paul Krugman's Nobel laureate work in economics Further listening: Cora Buhlert, Joel McKinnon, and Paul Levinson discuss season 1 of Foundation series on Apple TV+ Paul Levinson reviews season 1 of The Mosquito Coast 2022-12-2310 min
Light On Light ThroughRoundtable Discussion of Star Trek: Strange New WorldsWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 340, in which I join Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York) and Marybeth Ritkouski, Michael Rizzo, Roy Bjellquist, and Colleen Bement in a 2-hour in-depth, fun discussion of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. More about the discussants: Marybeth Ritkouski, Michael Rizzo, Roy Bjellquist, Colleen Bement Boarding the Enterprise (edited by David Gerrold and Robert J. Sawyer), anthology with essay "How Star Trek Liberated Television" by Paul Levinson, which discusses the Star Trek syndication impact Fringe Science: Parallel Universes, White Tulips, and Mad Scientists (edited by Ke...2022-10-011h 55
Light On Light ThroughCaptain Phil interviews Paul Levinson about the Rise of Fascism and other Current DangersWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 339, in which Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York) interviews me about the rise of fascism in the United States and other current dangers. 2022-09-261h 47
Light On Light ThroughReview of The Orville season 3 finaleWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 336, in which I review episode 3.10 of The Orville on Hulu Blog post written review of this episode Podcast reviews of The Orville third season: 3.1... 3.2 ... 3.3... 3.4... 3.5... 3.6... 3.7-3.8... 3.9 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek and The Orville on McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast. First chapter of It's Real Life novel, mentioned at the end of the podcast2022-08-0508 min
Light On Light ThroughReview of The Orville 3.9Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 335, in which I review episode 3.9 of The Orville on Hulu Blog post written review of this episode Podcast reviews of The Orville third season: 3.1... 3.2 ... 3.3... 3.4... 3.5... 3.6... 3.7-3.8 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek and The Orville on McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast.2022-07-3007 minLight On Light ThroughReview of The Orville 3.7 - 3.8Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 333, in which I review episodes 3.7 and 3.8 of The Orville on Hulu Blog post written reviews of these episodes: 3.7 and 3.8 Podcast reviews of The Orville third season: 3.1... 3.2 ... 3.3... 3.4... 3.5... 3.6 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek and The Orville on McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast. First chapter of my just finished novel -- mentioned in the podcast -- alternate history about The Beatles: It's Real Life2022-07-2410 minLight On Light ThroughReview of The Orville 3.6Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 332, in which I review episode 3.6 of The Orville on Hulu Blog post written review of this episode Podcast reviews of The Orville third season: 3.1... 3.2 ... 3.3... 3.4... 3.5 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek and The Orville on McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast. First chapter of my novel in progress, alternate history about The Beatles: It's Real Life2022-07-1306 minLight On Light ThroughReview of The Orville 3.5Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 331, in which I review episode 3.5 of The Orville on Hulu Blog post written review of this episode Podcast reviews of The Orville third season: 3.1... 3.2 ... 3.3... 3.4 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek and The Orville on McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast.2022-07-0505 min
Light On Light ThroughReview of For All Mankind 3.3-3.4Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 328, in which I review For All Mankind 3.3-3.4 on Apple TV+. Blog post review of these episodes: 3.3 - 3.4 Podcast reviews of prior episodes and seasons: 3.1 3.2 ... Season 2 ... Season 1 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Orville, Isaac Asimov, much more on his Seldon Crisis podcast *** Note added 27 October 2023: Check out my review of Jack Dann's new book, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History2022-07-0207 minLight On Light ThroughReview of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 1.9Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 327, in which I review the ninth episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+ written blog post review of this episode Podcast reviews of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 1.1-2 ... 1.3... 1.4... 1.5... 1.6... 1.7... 1.8 Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Orville, Isaac Asimov, much more on his Seldon Crisis podcast2022-07-0108 min
Light On Light ThroughCaptain Phil interviews Paul Levinson about the House Jan 6 HearingsWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 317, in which Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York) interviews me about the January 6 House Committee Hearings. (This interview was conducted the Sunday after the first hearing on June 9, 2022, but we discussed issues pertaining to the continuing hearings. We talk for the first 13 minutes about science fiction on television -- one of our usual topics of discussion -- and then begin to discuss the House Committee Hearings). 2022-06-151h 01
Light On Light ThroughReview of The Time Traveler's Wife 1.4Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 310, in which I review the fourth episode of The Time Traveler's Wife on HBO. written blog post review of this episode Podcast reviews of The Time Traveler's Wife 1.1... 1.2... 1.3 Further reading: Lying by Sissela Bok "Why Time Travel Is So Enjoyable" by Paul Levinson 2022-06-0707 min
Light On Light ThroughCaptain Phil interviews Paul Levinson about what must be done about the slaughter of children in America by AR15sWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 307, in which Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York) interviews me about what must be done to stop the continuing slaughter of children in America by weapons designed for war. The interview begins with 15 minutes of a much lighter discussion about The Beatles and science fiction, and then proceeds to 90 minutes about what must be done about guns. 2022-06-021h 48
Light On Light ThroughReview of The Man Who Fell to Earth 1.4Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 299, in which I review the fourth episode of The Man Who Fell to Earth on Showtime. Written blog post review of this episode of The Man Who Fell to Earth. podcast reviews of The Man Who Fell to Earth 1.1 ... 1.2... 1.3 Paul Levinson interviewed on WNBC-TV about David Bowie in 2016 2022-05-1606 min
Light On Light ThroughStar Trek: Picard Season Two: A Roundtable DiscussionWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 298, in which Captain Phil, MaryBeth Ritkouski, Michael Rizzo, and I discuss Star Trek: Picard Season 2 on Paramount+ and much more about Star Trek: TOS, Star Trek: TNG, and all things Star Trek and related. More about Mary Beth Ritkouski and Michael Rizzo at SciFi Distilled More about Captain Phil at Captain Phil's Planet Boarding the Enterprise (edited by David Gerrold and Robert J. Sawyer), anthology with essay "How Star Trek Liberated Television" by Paul Levinson, which discusses the Star Trek syndication impact Fringe Science...2022-05-141h 23
Light On Light ThroughAgnieszka Stecko-Żukowska speaks to Paul Levinson about the impact on Poland of the Russian invasion of UkraineWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 296, in which I interview Polish social media researcher Agnieszka Stecko-Żukowska about the impact on the Russian invasion of Ukraine on her family, her studies, and her country. Video of this interview is here. Previous interviews about the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: with Polish poet and member of the bank Trupa Trupa, Grzegorz Kwiatkowski with Ukrainian writer Katia Iakovlenko 2022-05-1253 minLight On Light ThroughReview of The Man Who Fell to Earth 1.2Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 293, in which I review the second episode of The Man Who Fell to Earth on Showtime. Written blog post review of this episode of The Man Who Fell to Earth. podcast review of The Man Who Fell to Earth 1.1 Paul Levinson interviewed on WNBC-TV about David Bowie in 2016 -- video2022-05-0407 min
Light On Light ThroughCaptain Phil interviews Paul Levinson about Elon Musk's Purchase of Twitter and the Russian Invasion of UkraineWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 289, in which Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York) interviews me about Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. mentioned in this interview: my brief essay Hitler, Trump, Putin alternate Beatles story It's Real Life Bob Mann's Hot Media podcast Frank LoBuono's Being Frank podcast 2022-04-291h 03
Light On Light ThroughKatia Iakovlenko speaks to Paul Levinson about getting Ukrainian voices out to the worldWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 287, in which I interview Ukrainian scholar and writer Katia Iakovlenko about getting Ukrainian voices out to the world via art and writing, in this time of the Russian invasion. Watch video of this interview. mentioned in the interview: "It's Time for Ukraine to Speak" recent essay by Katia Iakovlenko "warнякання" music by Антон Слєпаков / Андрiй Соколов Ukrainian artist/painter Horska Alla (1929-1970) "Pleasures of the Harbor" LP by Phil Ochs (1967) interview about Russian invasion of Ukraine with Polish poet and musician Grzegorz Kwiatkowski Katia Iakovlenko's Twitter 2022-04-2750 min
Light On Light ThroughInterview with Joel McKinnon about Uncanny Similarity of Working for Apple and Working for LumonWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 284, in which I interview Joel McKinnon about the uncanny similarity he noticed in working for Apple and working for Lumon (as depicted in Severance on Apple TV+). video of this interview podcast reviews of Severance: 1.1-1.2... 1.3... 1.4... 1.5 ...1.6... 1.7... 1.8... 1.9 audio podcast interview of Cora Buhlert and Joel McKinnon about first season of Foundation on Apple TV+ Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek, Foundation, and Isaac Asimov on the Seldon Crisis podcast.2022-04-2352 min
Light On Light ThroughReview of Slow Horses 1.1-2Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 274, in which I review the first two episodes of Slow Horses on Apple TV+ Written blog post review of these first two episodes of Slow Horses Listen to "Looking for Sunsets (In the Early Morning" (lyrics by Paul Levinson, music by Ed Fox)2022-04-0406 min
Light On Light ThroughChristine Feldman-Barrett interviewed by Paul Levinson about A Women's History of the BeatlesWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 262, in which I interview Dr. Christine Feldman-Barrett about her book, A Women's History of the Beatles. Buy the book here Watch video of this interview My reviews of Peter Jackson's The Beatles: Get Back "It's Real Life" -- free, alternate history short story about The Beatles my very first published article (in 1971): "A Vote for McCartney" 2022-03-1646 min
Light On Light ThroughGrzegorz Kwiatkowski Interviewed by Paul Levinson about Russian Invasion of UkraineWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 253, in which I interview Polish poet and Trupa Trupa band member Grzegorz Kwiatkowski about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the role of music and beauty in the struggle for freedom. video of this interview my thoughts on the nearly impossible moral dilemma we now face in Ukraine my review of Crops, Kwiatkowski's book of poetry about the Holocaust Rolling Stone review of Trupa Trupa's new album B Flat A 2022-03-011h 09
Light On Light ThroughArne Berggren and Kristine Berg Interviewed by Paul Levinson about Nordic NoirWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 239, in which I interview Arne Berggren and Kristine Berg about their two television series, Outlier and Catch and Release, and Nordic Noir filmmaking. Written blog post reviews of Outlier and Catch and Release more about The Silk Code addeded 7 April 2024: my written review of Berg & Berggren's Fatal Crossing 2022-01-2537 min
Light On Light ThroughRufus Sewell interviewed by Paul Levinson about The Man in the High CastleWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 224, in which I interview Rufus Sewell about his role in The Man in the High Castle and much more, including his work in Victoria, Old, and other TV series and movies. Transcript of interview (plus reviews of the series): Kindle, paperback See the video of this interview. 2021-12-091h 30
Light On Light ThroughThe Theater of the Mind: Paul Levinson interviews Dan Abella about his New BookWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 223, in which I interview Dan Abella about his new book, The Theater of the Mind. Among the topics we discuss: Marshall McLuhan, Julian Jaynes, Gestalt psychology, ideas for inventions and music in dreams, the power of the spoken word and the acoustic, the history of motion pictures, the essence of "poetic faith," how art reduces stress, and much more. More about The Theater of the Mind here and here. Publications and Music mentioned in the interview: The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the...2021-12-0854 min
Light On Light ThroughPage to Screen: Dune, Foundation, The Man in the High Castle, The End of EternityWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 222, in which I share the talk I gave yesterday in Krakow, Poland via Zoom at PhilosophyCon about the aesthetics and philosophy of assessing the screen adaptations of the science fiction classics Dune (1984, 2021), Foundation (2021), The Man in the High Castle (2015-2019), and The End of Eternity (1987). Thanks to Michal Tadeusz Norworyta for moderating. Q & A at conclusion. Relevant videos: The complete PhilosophyCon panel Cora Buhlert, Joel McKinnon, and Paul Levinson discuss the first season of Foundation (also available in audio podcast) Paul Levinson interviews Rufus Sewell a...2021-12-0544 min
Light On Light ThroughFoundation 1st Season: Cora Buhlert, Joel McKinnon, and Paul Levinson discussWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 215, in which Cora Buhlert, Joel McKinnon, and I talk about the first season of Foundation on Apple TV+. Cora's reviews of the first season of Foundation are here ... also check out Joel McKinnon's Seldon Crisis podcast and his What I Like about the Show on Reddit Talk to us on Twitter: @CoraBuhlert @JoelGMcKinnon @PaulLev Enjoy the video of this podcast episode. Joel McKinnon interviews Paul Levinson about Star Trek, Foundation, and Isaac Asimov on the Seldon Crisis podcast. Paul Levinson and Joel McKinnon...2021-11-241h 07Light On Light ThroughReview of Foundation 1.7Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 202, in which I review the seventh episode of Foundation, just up today on Apple TV+ earlier podcasts about Foundation: October 22, 2021 Review of Foundation 1.6 ... October 15, 2021: Review of Foundation 1.5 ... October 8, 2021: Review of Foundation 1.4 ... October 1, 2021: Review of Foundation 1.3 ... September 24, 2021: Review of Foundation 1.1-2 .... July 17, 2021: Thinking about Asimov's Foundation Series on AppleTV+ ... March 12, 2009: Asimov's Foundation and Herbert's Dune Trilogies as Sources of Philosophy written blog post review of Foundation 1.7 postcard from Isaac Asimov to me in 1979 about the Foundation trilogy And, here is where you can listen to Robin Shannon's show on WFUV Radio, Fordham Convers...2021-10-3012 min
Light On Light ThroughFoundation, COVID, AfghanistanWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 188, in which Captain Phil on WUSB-FM Radio (Stony Brook, New York) interviews me about the Foundation series, how it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the news that just broke this morning about the bombings in Afghanistan. (Note: recorded before the news of the US casualties.) Further: Thinking about Asimov's Foundation on Apple TV+ "Rage of the Responsible" (Paul Krugman) Paul Levinson Talks to Rufus about The Man in the High Castle: Deconstructing the TV Series 2021-08-2659 min
Light On Light ThroughTwitter Ban of Trump Was Right, Even Though It Violates the Spirit of the First AmendmentWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 165, in which Brian Standing on WORT-FM Radio (Madison, Wisconsin) interviews me about why I think Twitter's banning of Donald Trump was the right thing to do, even though that violates what I call the "spirit of the First Amendment". We also discuss why I think government should keep its hands off social media. Further reading: I'm A First Amendment Scholar, and I Think Big Tech Should Be Left Alone Paul Levinson On the Power of Power and Advertisers Over Media 2021-01-2625 min
Light On Light ThroughCaptain Phil interviews Paul Levinson about Democratic National ConventionWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 142, in which the inimitable Captain Phil (on WUSB Radio) interviews me again, this time about the 2020 Democratic National Convention, conducted virtually, which concluded last week. Special treat: Phil plays "Samantha" from my new album, Welcome Up: Songs of Space and Time, right before the interview. Further listening: 1. Four nightly assessments of the Democratic National Convention: Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day One Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Two Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Three Podcast take on 2020 Democratic National Convention, Day Four 2020-08-2650 min
Light On Light ThroughThe Problem of Police AuthorityWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 127, in which I talk about the problem of police authority, which has afflicted African-Americans for decades to the point of innocent people being shot to death and choked to death, and everyone else who challenges police authority in the slightest being assaulted and brutalized in usually less grievous ways. I relate this to being victimized myself, a 12-year old white boy, in the Bronx in 1959. Read more about this: The Problem of Police Authority (Paul Levinson, June 2020) Videos: Paul Levinson talks about Black Lives Matter and Videos (2 July 2020) ... Pau...2020-07-0412 min
Light On Light ThroughPolitics and Media in HistoryWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 126, in which I share an online lecture I gave a few days ago about Politics and Media in History. I touch on such topics as literacy and democracy in Ancient Athens, how the printing press revolutionized the world, the four "radio heads" of the 1930s-1940s (FDR, Churchill, Hitler, and Stalin), television Presidents of the United States from JFK through Obama, and the role of Twitter in our current age. Further reading: The Soft Edge: A Natural Future and History of the Information Revolution (Paul Levinson, Routledge: 1997) 2020-07-041h 08
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson virtual concert at HELIOsphereWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 124, in which I present the audio of the entire 1-hour virtual concert I did via Zoom at HELIOsphere: Beyond the Corona on the afternoon of April 4, 2004. (You can get the video + audio of my concert here.) I sing songs from Welcome Up: Songs of Space and Time (Old Bear Records, Light In the Attic Records) and from Twice Upon A Rhyme (HappySad Records, Beatball Records, Vivid Records, Whiplash Records), and several new songs not yet on any album. Set list: "Cloudy Sunday" from Welcome Up (words b...2020-04-101h 04
Light On Light ThroughCaptain Phil interviews Paul Levinson about his New Album 'Welcome Up', and TrumpWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 123, in which the inimitable Captain Phil (on WUSB Radio) again interviews me about my new music, latest science fiction, and Donald Trump. But this time, there's my brand new album of science fiction related songs, Welcome Up: Songs of Space and Time (now releasing by Old Bear Records), to talk about. And we're right in the middle of the impeachment trial of Donald Trump (author Bill McNulty joins us for the first part of this discussion). Phil also plays, at the start and end of the episode, two songs from Welcome Up....2020-01-3151 min
Light On Light ThroughPatrick Rands Debuts Welcome Up in BostonWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 122, in which I play the entire interview, along with all of my music, which Patrick Rands did with me the other day (January 21, 2020) on his show Abstract Terrain on WZBC Radio out of Boston (Newton, MA, to be more exact). You may recall that Patrick interviewed me in 2005 about Twice Upon A Rhyme and all the other music I had out in various corners of the world back then. That interview became episode 79 on Light On Light Through in 2010. The new interview spotlights my new album Welcome Up: Songs of Space and Tim...2020-01-231h 29
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson reads in 1999 from The Silk CodeWelcome to Episode 118 of Llght On Light Through, a special podcast of a reading I did of The Silk Code in May 1999 for the legendary Seeing Eye Theatre, months before the novel was published by Tor Books. The reading took place in a hotel in Pittsburgh, PA, where the Science Fiction Writers of America's yearly Nebula convention was being held (I was President of SFWA back then) and is from the beginning of the third section of The Silk Code, "The Subatomic Symptom". The novel would go on to win the Locus Award for Best First Science Fiction novel of 19...2019-10-1417 min
Light On Light ThroughLevinson on Music, Science Fiction, and TrumpWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 117, in which the notorious Captain Phil (on WUSB Radio) interviews me about my new music, latest science fiction, and Donald Trump's current assaults on democracy. Phil also plays, at the start of the episode, two rough mixes from my forthcoming Welcome Up album of science fiction songs, to be released by Old Bear Records this Fall: "Alpha Centauri" and "Samantha". We discuss such topics as the return of Jeff Lynne and the re-launch of Amazing Stories, in which several of my new science fiction stories have appeared. I always have a good time t...2019-08-061h 48
Light On Light ThroughCaptain Phil Interviews Paul Levinson 2Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 111, in which Captain Phil interviews me for a second time -- this time about Aretha Franklin, my novel Borrowed Tides, Mars, Carl Sagan, David Kyle, and sundry things. Captain Phil is the stage name of Phil Merkel, who was filling in for the regular host of "Progressive Solutions," a radio show on WUSB Radio out of Stony Brook University. 2018-08-2344 min
Light On Light ThroughCaptain Phil Interviews Paul LevinsonWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 110, in which Captain Phil interviews me about my music, science fiction, political views, and everything including the kitchen sink. Captain Phil is the stage name of Phil Merkel, who was filling in for the regular host of "Progressive Solutions," a radio show on WUSB Radio out of Stony Brook University. Here are links relating to Justin Hayward and The Blue Dahlia, whom I talk about in my intro to this episode, right before the actual interview begins. 1. My review of Justin Hayward in Tarrytown, NY, 12 August 2018....2018-08-161h 00
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson reads from Robinson CalculatorWelcome to Episode 108 of Llght On Light Through, in which I read a new work-in-progress, "Robinson Calculator," on Hour of the Wolf on WBAI-FM Radio on November 16, 2017 at 2 o'clock in the morning. I read about 1000 words of the story. "Robinson Calculator" was published in 2019 -- you can read the intro over here.2017-12-0714 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson reads from Marilyn & MonetIt all started in the hot summer of 1960, when Marilyn Monroe walked off the set of The Misfits and began to hear a haunting song in her head, "Candle in the Wind," which wouldn't be written until 1973 ... Welcome to Episode 106 of Llght On Light Through, a reading I did of a brand new novelette, "Marilyn and Monet," at Readercon 28 in Quincy, MA on July 15, 2017. I read about 3300 words or about a third of the 10,000 word story. (You can read the complete story here.) Thanks Phil Merkel for recording this reading. (The voices you occasionally hear in the back...2017-07-2829 min
Light On Light ThroughA Conversation with Linda Kaplan ThalerWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 103, in which I interview Linda Kaplan Thaler. Linda and I wrote a bunch of songs in the late 1960s, including "Not Yet Ready to Say Goodbye," which appears on my 1972 Twice Upon a Rhyme album, mentioned from time to time on this podcast. Linda went on to write the world-famous, iconic "Toys R Us" jingle in 1983 ("I Don't Wanna Grow Up, I'm a Toys R US Kid"), mastermind the Aflac Duck campaign nearly two decades later, and work on the political campaigns of both Bill and Hillary Clinton. She has also co-written four boo...2015-09-1652 min
Light On Light ThroughThree Time Travel MoviesWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 96, in which I review three recent, under-the radar, off-the-beaten track time travel movies: Dimensions, I'll Follow You Down, and 95ers: Time Runners.
If you know of other time travel movies which you think I might enjoy and want to review, just list them here in the Comments section (right below this post).
Here are my written reviews of these movies -
Dimensions
I'll Follow You Down
95ers: Time Runners
Hey, if you enjoy these sorts of small-scale time travel movies, check out The Chronology Protection Case, avail...2014-12-0719 minLight On Light ThroughOutlander: First Half SeasonWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 95, in which I review several pivotal episodes of Outlander, one of my favorite new television series, debuting in the Fall of 2014.
Links to my written reviews of these episodes -
Outlander 1.1-3: The Hope of Time Travel
Outlander 1.6: Outstanding
Outlander 1.7: Tender Intertemporal Polygamy
Outlander 1.8: The Other Side
and more time travel in Loose Ends, Hugo-nominated novella - "Paul Levinson has taken the brilliant step of combining the emotional impact of two tragic American events ... But Levinson does much more. He creates a lov...2014-12-0318 minLight On Light ThroughScience Fiction and MusicWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 89, which contains Patrick Rands and Carl Thien's recent "spotlight" on my science fiction and music, broadcast a few days ago on Patrick's WZBC Radio show. Patrick decided to do this segment after hearing Sundial Symphony's new recording of my "Looking for Sunsets (in the Early Morning)". He put together a wild, cool set of my music over the years, and began by inviting Carl to talk about my science fiction.
The playlist follows. More about Sundial Symphony - consisting of Don Frankel (who played keyboard on the 1972 recording of L...2013-11-0828 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson reads from Unburning Alexandria Welcome to Episode 88 of Llght On Light Through. I've just finished writing the concluding chapter of Unburning Alexandria - sequel to The Plot to Save Socrates - which will be published on Kindle, iTunes, etc as an ebook by JoSara MeDia in a few days. As a little appetizer, I thought you might enjoy this brief reading I did from Unburning Alexandria at Robin's Books (the famous book store which closed in 2012) in Philadelphia, as part of Oz Fontecchio's Philadelphia Fantastic series. The reading comes from the beginning of the novel, which was published in November 2008 in Analog Magazine a...2013-04-2026 min
Light On Light ThroughKojo Nnamdi's NPR Interview with Paul Levinson about New New MediaWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 82 - Kojo Nnamdi's complete National Public Radio (NPR) Septemeber 2009 interview with me about New New Media. This is one of best interviews I've ever been treated to on the subject. We cover all the usual bases, from Twitter to YouTube, but with historical context and live questions via email, Twitter, and phone.
Helpful links -
What's Newer than New New Media - everything that's happened since Sept 2009
Mark Molaro's video interview with me on The Alcove
my home page: http://paullevinson.info
more blogs: http://Inf...2010-11-2151 min
Light On Light ThroughThe Chronology Protection CaseWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 80, in which you will hear the complete, uncut radio play of "The Chronology Protection Case," recorded before a live audience at the Mark Goodson Theater in the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City in September 2002. The radio play is based on my novelette, "The Chronology Protection Case," published in Analog Magazine 1995. The novelette was nominated for the Nebula Award by the Science Fiction Writers of America, was reprinted six times, and led to two other novelettes with the lead character - Dr. Phil D'Amato - and three novels, including The S...2010-10-0343 min
Light On Light ThroughPaul Levinson Talks about His MusicWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 79, in which you will hear the complete 65-minute interview Patrick Rands did with me about my music, in June 2006. I drove up to WZBC Radio studios outside of Boston on a beautiful early summer afternoon for the interview by Partick Rands on his "Test Patterns" radio show on WZBC (Boston College) Radio. With my 1972 LP, Twice Upon a Rhyme, re-issued in mini-CD by Big Pink/Beatball Records in December 2008, and to be re-issued in a vinyl re-pressing by Whiplash/Sound of Salvation Records in November 2010, I thought this interview, in which Patrick pla...2010-09-251h 13Light On Light ThroughRob Sawyer Talks About FlashForward!Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 66: Robert J. Sawyer Talks About FlashForward .... With less than a week to go until the premiere of FlashForward on ABC Television on September 24, 2009, 8 pm Eastern time - based on Rob Sawyer's novel of the very same name - I was delighted to catch Rob on the phone in Toronto for this sage, penetrating interview in which Rob reveals what it feels like to be on the verge of having his novel seen on screens around the world in this ABC series. Rob takes us through the steps of moving from novel to sc...2009-09-1945 minLight On Light ThroughAn Introduction to New New MediaWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 65: An Introduction to New New Media ... with the publication of my latest book, New New Media, just weeks away (Penguin Academics will be publishing the book on 4 September 2009), I thought I would share with you the interview Dr. Howard Gluss did with me on his KFNX Radio show on June 12, 2009. It provides a 20-minute introduction to the way that Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and what I call "new new media" are changing all of us from consumers into producers, and in the process revolutionizing all aspects of our lives, from the way we wat...2009-08-0934 minLight On Light ThroughMoon 40Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 64: Moon 40 ... in which I reflect on watching our species land on the Moon 40 years ago, regret that we have not gone much further, and offer some reasons why we must. They are more than scientific and economic, though outer space will give us much data and access to vast resources of energy. But the deepest reasons are closer to spiritual - we will never understand who we really are, what we are doing here in this cosmos, from down on here on Planet Earth. The universe beyond is, after all, part of our...2009-07-2012 minLight On Light ThroughConversation with Greenburgh NY Town Supervisor Paul Feiner about Blogging, Obama, and Caroline KennedyWelcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 58: A Conversation with Paul J. Feiner, Town Supervisor of Greenburgh, NY, about Blogging, Obama, and Caroline Kennedy. Paul Feiner has been Town Supervisor - a two-year elected office - since 1991. He has a weekly radio show, The Greenburgh Report, on WVOX Radio in New Rochelle, NY. He also maintains a blog, and has trail blazed new media in our Westchester County town, including the introduction of competition in cable television providers. I was a guest on his radio show on January 9, 2009, and this episode of Light On Light Through is excerpted from our c...2009-01-1752 minLight On Light ThroughThe Sloan Ranger Interviews Paul Levinson about Media Misreporting of Ron PaulWelcome to Episode 42 of Light On Light Through in which I replay the Sloan Ranger's 20-minute interview with me on WGNU Radio this past Tuesday, about the media's misreporting of Ron Paul's 2008 election campaign. I discussed four examples of ABC's misreporting (and worse) with Lloyd Sloan - aka the Sloan Ranger - and he had an example or two from other media. We discussed the problem of media bias in general - easy to find, it's pervasive - and I even offered my view that the FCC, in daily violating the First Amendment to our Constitution, is treasonous.
A f...2007-08-2429 minLight On Light ThroughThe Media Disenfranchising of Ron Paul
Welcome to Episode 40 of Light On Light Through in which we focus on a very unwelcome development: the media disenfranchising of Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul. I admire his unflinching support of the Constitution (including the First Amendment), do not agree with every one of his positions, but whether we agree with any candidate's positions or not, we should be alarmed when a major news network such as ABC forgets to mention that a candidate, in this case Ron Paul, came in first in its poll, gives the impression that Ron Paul had fewer supporters at a ra...2007-08-1218 minLight On Light ThroughHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: The View from New YorkWelcome to this special Episode 39 of Light On Light Through - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: The View from New York ... from the moment I left the bookstore a few minutes after midnight on Saturday I knew this was something as special as everyone had anticipated ... kids were sitting in front of the bookstore, delving into their copies (tell that to the myopic New York Times and all the other self-appointed experts who think literacy is waning) ... In this podcast, I give my first reactions to this extraordinary finale to an extraordinary series ... and to sum up those r...2007-07-2615 minLight On Light ThroughMy Sweet Prius: Part IIWith gas at the pump going for over $3.00 a gallon here in the New York City area, I thought it would be a good time to revisit me and my Prius, which was the subject of the very first episode of Light On Light Through back in October... Welcome to Episode 32 of Light On Light Through ... My Sweet Prius, Part II ... in a nutshell: I'm delighted with the mileage - about 40 mpg - even though it's less than the 60 mpg advertised, I'm really enjoying getting podcasts through my Bluetooth connection and listening with the windows rolled down, and it's...2007-04-2920 minLight On Light ThroughCops Cracking Down On Journalists - Again!Cops Cracking Down on Journalists ... Again! Welcome to Episode 27 of Light On Light Through ... While Josh Wolf sits in prison in California, New York City police are pursuing their own war against journalists ... arresting two Columbia University journalism students this past Thursday for videotaping police cars from a public sidewalk ... I call upon Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly to see that justice is served ... bring these cops to justice!
Plus flashes ... media drop the ball on John Edwards reporting ... Al Gore never claimed he invented the Internet...
Helpful links:
Columbia Univ students thrown in...2007-03-2521 minLight On Light ThroughThe Four PhilsWelcome to The Four Phils... Episode 26 of Light On Light Through ... in which I interview actor and screenwriter Mark Shanahan about how he came to write and star in the Edgar-award nominated radioplay of The Chronology Protection Case based on my novelette of the same name ... my fictional NYPD forensic detective Dr. Phil D'Amato is the hero of this story ... and Mark and I talk about his and other renditions of Phil ... a rare, behind-the-scenes interview about the making of a radioplay...
Plus flashes ... update on Josh Wolf, the imprisoned journalist ... my modest proposal for this political sea...2007-03-1827 minLight On Light ThroughFree Josh WolfFree Josh Wolf ... Episode 25 of Light On Light Through ... there's not much light in the California prison that holds Josh Wolf ... his crime? refusing to turn over videotapes of a violent demonstration that he was using to make a documentary ... Josh Wolf, 24, another victim of Congress's refusal to enact a Federal shield law to protect journalists who do the people of America's work ... details in this special episode
Plus flashes ... Connecticut foolishly cracks down on MySpace ... Wikipedia violates its own ideals and cracks down on pretender professor ... and, yes, Daylight Savings Time is here and I love i...2007-03-1124 minLight On Light ThroughGore Back On Center StageWelcome to Episode 24 of Light On Light Through ... Gore Back On Center Stage ... he won the popular vote for President of the United States in 2000 ... he was nominated last month for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in alerting the world to the dangers of global warming ... and his movie An Inconvenient Truth won the Oscar last week for best documentary ... we examine the contributions of Al Gore and look at what may be next for him...
Plus flashes ... the RIAA on the warpath again ... study finds college students are narcissistic - is that so bad?2007-03-0423 minLight On Light ThroughDummy in the HOV LaneWelcome to Dummy in the HOV Lane ... Episode 23 of Light On Light Through ... in which we semi-seriously consider the case of man who was pulled over on Long Island, NY for driving with a dummy passenger in the HOV lane ... why would a sleeping person, a quiet person, a dullard-type dummy be ok, but not this life-like dummy? How about a dog, a chimp, or a snake plant?
Plus flashes ... lowly bacteria to the rescue again - they can make buildings more earthquake resistant ... Lost sinks further downhill ...Battlestar Galactica is diving ... and what's wrong with those Ac...2007-02-2519 minLight On Light ThroughLost: Anatomy of a LossWelcome to Episode 22 of Light On Light Through ... Lost: Anatomy of a Loss ... in which we look at what went wrong with this tv series which galvanized audiences with its experimental story telling and viral marketing the first season, put people to sleep or got them frustrated in the second season, and now, despite a good resumption this February, is struggling to stay afloat...
Plus flashes ... actually, just one big, bad one this episode ... the FCC's at it again with a report circulating in Congress that calls for extension of government regulation of television programming ...
...2007-02-1825 minLight On Light ThroughHow To Research Ancient History for Science FictionWelcome to Episode 21 of Light On Light Through - How To Research Ancient History for Science Fiction ... I gave a talk on this topic to the Science Fiction Society of Northern New Jersey at the Garden State Plaza Borders Bookstore this evening ... but for all the people in the world who couldn't attend, my two secret ingredients are old Encyclopedia Britannicas (1955 or earlier) and new sources on the Web (quadruple corroborated)...
Plus flashes ... Hank and Jack Bauer ... MSNBC Countdown Board goes ballistic over my critique of Keith Olbermann (because of his attack on 24) ... Lost's recovering ... and iTunes...2007-02-1129 minLight On Light ThroughBlockbuster, Netflix, the Web: The Future of Watching Movies out of TheatersWelcome to Episode 20 of Light Light Through - Blockbuster, Netflix, the Web: The Future of Watching Movies out of Theaters. It all began with Edison's kinetoscope, which gave movie-viewers a one-on-one experience. Now, after a century of theater going, more and more people are watching movies on their own devices. But not all of them are equal. Blockbuster, which has dominated this market, still makes you go out in the rain to return a movie. Netflix is better, but still leaves you hostage to the mailman. That leaves the Web - and nothing succeeds like delivery of movies at the sp...2007-02-0423 minLight On Light ThroughKeith Olbermann, Jack Bauer, and Samuel Taylor ColeridgeWelcome to Episode 18 of Light On Light Through - Keith Olbermann, Jack Bauer, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge ... What do these three have in common? Well, last Tuesday evening, Olbermann delivered a diatribe about 24 and Jack Bauer, as perhaps deliberate tools of the Bush administration to frighten the American people about terrorism, and thereby shore up support for its policies. I say Olbermann misunderstands how people enjoy fiction, and recommend to him and his producers an acquaintance with Coleridge's "willing suspension of disbelief". I also recommend Thomas Jefferson, for his confidence in human rationality and his distrust of anything that sma...2007-01-2126 minLight On Light ThroughdiGGin' Round: Further Adventures in Gate OpeningWelcome to Episode 16 of Light On Light Through: diGGin' Round: Further Adventures in Gate-Opening, in which I take a look at Digg, the fabulously popular online news system, in which readers not editors choose what is on the front page. Like Wikipedia, Digg (for the most part) is run by its users. Like Wiki, Digg suffers from vandals on the one hand and zealots who bury stories too quickly on the other. But at least Digg and Wikipedia are honest and open about how their articles are chosen - unlike the New York Times, for example, which says it pub...2007-01-0719 minLight On Light ThroughTrader Joe's and Mo'Happy holidays! Episode 14 of Light On Light Through is mostly about food ... in particular the revolution in convenience and delicious eating being brought about by places like Trader Joe's ... I talk not only about the great food you can get there, but about hearing Wolfman Jack on the radio while I was shopping at Trader Joe's ...
Also in this episode ... the Mo' or more is about YouTube again ... Time Magazine picked everyone as its "person of the year," in large part because YouTube has made video producers of us all ... just as I was talking about in...2006-12-2426 minLight On Light ThroughThe Goldplated Globes: What They Missed On TelevisionI'm talking about the Golden Globe Awards, of course, and I call them "The Gold Plated Globes" in this Episode - lucky #13 - of Light On Light Through because of what they missed on television in their nominations for 2006, announced a few days ago. These would be, most outrageously, Kidnapped, Battlestar Galactica, and The Wire. They did get a few things right - that's why I call them goldplated, rather than silverplated, or no-plated - and among the accomplisments well recognized are Michael C. Hall's performance in Dexter, Michael Ealy in Sleeper Cell, Bill Paxton in Big Love - whi...2006-12-1721 minLight On Light ThroughTime Travel in Fiction and FactTime for something a bit different ...Episode 8 of Light On Light Through -- Time Travel in Fiction and Fact ... a jam-packed 30-minute show ... with
a special clip from my Edgar-nominated radioplay, The Chronology Protection Case
a special give-away to the first 25 people who send e-mail or voice-mail - I'll reply with an MP3 of the full 38-minute radioplay of The Chronology Protection Case, performed by Mark Shanahan and a professional cast (but you have to answer a question I ask on the podcast)
e-mail about time travel from Sylvia Engdahl, who wrote Enchantress from the Stars and other gre...2006-11-1829 min