A Rebel Without Applause: The Bill Kalmenson Podcast

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I'm an “abstract and brief chronicler” of that cockeyed caravan called life. Exploring the netherworld of my brain and hopefully shed a little light into yours. Minor musings on everything and nothing, where accomplishment prevails over celebrity, insight over bombast and… where conventional wisdom is not wisdom.

Bill Kalmenson


    • May 23, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 151 EPISODES

    4.9 from 49 ratings Listeners of A Rebel Without Applause: The Bill Kalmenson Podcast that love the show mention: applause, rebel, bill, great music, i'm looking forward, blah, political, witty, brilliant, attention, creative, commentary, intelligent, beginning, lots, fresh, perspective, world, topics, informative.


    Ivy Insights

    The A Rebel Without Applause: The Bill Kalmenson Podcast is an absolute gem of a podcast that never fails to entertain and enlighten. With sharp wit and sly charm, Bill covers a myriad of timely topics, accompanied by cool jazz music, creating a listening experience that is both enjoyable and thought-provoking. From current events to music and art, Bill provides his own interesting thoughts on a range of subjects, drawing connections between history and the present day. His skilled wordplay keeps listeners engaged, and his ability to play the clarinet adds an extra layer of talent to the show.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is Bill's refreshing perspective on current events. Unlike many other political rants out there, Bill offers unique insights that are both informed and intelligent. He delves into various topics with depth and accuracy, providing listeners with a fresh take on what's happening in the world. Moreover, his charmingly satirical touch adds humor to his commentary, making it even more enjoyable.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is the inclusion of a jazz history lesson at the beginning. This not only adds variety to the show but also showcases Bill's love for music and his ability as a clarinet player. It sets the tone for the rest of the episode and adds an extra layer of entertainment value.

    While it's challenging to find any major flaws in this podcast, one minor downside could be that not every listener may agree with everything Bill says. However, this should not deter anyone from giving it a listen as disagreement can often lead to interesting discussions and further exploration of different perspectives.

    In conclusion, The A Rebel Without Applause: The Bill Kalmenson Podcast is an incredibly witty and intelligent podcast that provides listeners with engaging content on a wide range of topics. It manages to entertain while also offering insightful commentary on current events, music, art, and more. Whether you're looking for something entertaining during a long commute or simply want to expand your knowledge and perspective, this podcast is a must-listen. Bill's talent as a podcaster, musician, and thinker shines through in every episode, making it a truly enjoyable experience.



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    Latest episodes from A Rebel Without Applause: The Bill Kalmenson Podcast

    My Golden Hour with LaLa Literary Lion, Matthew Specktor

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 46:11


    Matthew reflects on his moving self portrait of an artist and the city he loves, "The Golden Hour, A Story of Family and Power in Hollywood." https://youtu.be/KCIJ7UVPFms

    From LaLa Mayor to Next Cali Governor? My Chat with Antonio Villaraigosa

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 41:42


    Former Mayor, Councilman, Speaker, Assemblyman and "Proven Problem Solver" Antonio V. makes his case to become the next CA Governor. https://youtu.be/WTsgT6z9xwQ?si=Z73fqVGXN9COwXBn

    A Papal Appreciation with Father John Dear

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2025 54:06


    Arrested 85 times in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, Fr. John reflects on the life  of Pope Francis who he calls “the most radical, most progressive Pope in history, and therefore, the greatest Pope in history, hands down."

    Our Next Cali Governor? Meet Betty Yee

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 59:15


    Former State Controller and current CA Dem Party Vice Chair, Betty Yee makes her case for the statehouse.

    My Favorite Mugwump with Noah Millman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 63:01


    He's a man to match the moment.  My super cool convo w/ big time braniac, political columnist, screenwriter and director, Noah Millman

    millman mugwump
    Light into Sound with LA Jazz Giant, Dwight Trible

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2025 56:32


    Vocal Artist and Artistic Director of the iconic World Stage, Dwight reflects on his life and creative times in his beloved South Central "Stomping Grounds,"   Dig it Daddyo! https://youtu.be/x71NEBDE-bk

    Tectonic Shifts with William deBuys

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2024 44:54


    Charting the hopeful way forward with Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Author and Conservationist William deBuys    https://youtu.be/JrR0vPlBB24

    The River That Runs Through Us

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 40:24


    Veteran Colorado River Guide and ace raconteur Kevin Greif reflects on the turbulent life and distant times that make the Canyon Grand.    https://youtu.be/yiIIZwIQlY0

    Satyagraha in America:: James Lawson Remembered

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 47:49


    South Asian Scholar, Prof. Vinay Lal and myself take a look back at the life and turbulent times of the late great social justice icon, Rev. James Lawson.

    Israel and Palestine: A Fresh Way Forward?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2024 41:26


    Daniel Bral, activist, writer and political prospect offers a hopeful path to Restorative Justice and Reconciliation.

    Reconstruction Revisited with Historian Manisha Sinha

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 49:13


    Manisha and myself deep dive into that most triumphant and tragic chapter of the American story when the struggle for multi racial democracy was in the balance.  

    The Fog of War, Politics and Nationalism with M.I.T. Prof. Barry Posen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 52:28


    Military Strategist and Foreign Policy guru Dr. Barry Posen takes a fresh look at old problems in Israel, Iran, Russia and beyond.

    What Iranians Want with Arash Azizi

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 34:31


    Iranian Expat, Historian and Filmmaker Arash Azizi deep dives into the current state of unrest inside the Islamic Republic that is his homeland.  

    John Lewis and the Community He Loved

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 56:49


    A deep dive with Historian David Greenberg into the audacious life and turbulent times of Freedom Rider turned Congressman, John Lewis.  

    A Rabbi in Residence, Beau Shapiro

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2024 40:36


    From his new gig at LA's Skirball Cultural Center, Rabbi Beau Shapiro shares his journey into Judaism, with insights into Israel, and Palestine.

    Ballots Not Bullets, The Case for Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment with Mark Graber

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 47:27


    Ratified in 1868 Section 3 of the 14th Amendment may be the last guardrail to preserve Democracy.  Constitutional Scholar Mark Graber explains.

    Not Forgotten in the Land of Cotton, Bob Zellner, A White Southerner in the Freedom Struggle

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 52:23


    They invented a decade and transformed a Nation.  Bob recounts how, In a country drenched in violence he and his SNCC brothers and sisters, proved that Nonviolence could prevail.  

    Wild New World with Dan Flores

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 49:46


    From the Pleistocene to the Present, historian Dan Flores shares insights from his terrific new book, "Wild New World, The Epic Story of Animals and People in America."

    The Warner Brothers, The Name on the Water Tower

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2023 59:14


    Pop Culture Historian Chris Yogerst joins me to explore the life and turbulent times of maverick movie moguls, Jack, Harry, Albert, Sam and my grandfather, Ben.  

    Romancing My Kidney Stone With Dr. David Kuppermann

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2023 39:37


    My journey to hell and back with Urology ace, Dr. David Kuppermann.

    Hollywood His Way with Ace Screenwriter Dale Launer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023 61:19


    The author of 80's & 90's mega hits, "My Cousin Vinnie," "Ruthless People," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," and "Love Potion #9" recounts his adventures in the screen trade.

    Reconstructing SCOTUS with Kermit Roosevelt III

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 45:26


    Legal Scholar, Historian, Novelist and Teddy's Gr Gr Grandson, Kermit Roosevelt III breaks down our current (not so) Supreme Court.

    Kassia Meador - Surf Sister of the Soul

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2023 54:12


    Riding the Wave and Finding the Flow with Athlete, Activist, Influencer and Entrepreneur, Kassia Meador.

    Covid Silver Linings with Michael Specter

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 42:51


    Award winning journalist, author and visionary, Michael Specter peers over the horizon and beyond as we discuss his new audio book, "Higher Animals."

    covid-19 silver linings michael specter
    From Russia with Rhythm!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2023 31:05


    A cool chat with Jazzer, Refusnik and Conscientious Objector Stepan Vasilyev recently arrived from St. Petersburg to LaLa Land.

    Kicking' it with Kyle Marvin, Writer and Director of "80 For Brady"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2023 40:35


    What's it like to direct 4 LEGENDS, THE GOAT and YOURS TRULY?   Writer/Director Kyle Marvin explains it all to you.

    Comedy, Courage and Chutzpah with Mark Schiff

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2023 47:23


    Ace stand up and author Mark Schiff offers a fresh helping of chicken soup for the soul as we discuss his new book, "Why Not?"

    Sitting Bull and His Spirit World

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2023 44:22


    Ernie La Pointe channels the wisdom of his Great Grandfather, legendary Lakota Chief, Tatanke Iyotake a.k.a. Sitting Bull and shares eternal truths for our times.

    Misadventures in the Screen Trade with Jeff Kanew

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2023 53:41


    Director Jeff Kanew (Revenge of the Nerds, Tough Guys, Troop Beverly Hills) reflects on bridges burned, fences mended and lessons learned in the Hollywood trenches.    

    Tommy Chong and the Cosmic Giggle

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 46:00


    Dig it Daddy-yo!  Comic Icon, Cross Cultural Avatar and Pied Piper of all things Cannibis Tommy Chong explains it all to me, you and whomever.

    Cretaceous Creations with Walter Stein

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2022 47:21


    Apex fossil predator/paleontologist, Walter Stein skips the light fantastic 67 million years back in time to visit T Rex, Triceratops and all their Hell Creek friends.   paleoadventures.com

    Not Quiet on the Eastern Front

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2022 31:07


    Back again from the killing fields of Eastern Ukraine, aide worker extraordinaire, Dr. Alison Thompson shares her words-eye view of the situation outside Kherson.  www.thirdwavevolunteers.com  

    Love and Mercy in the Killing Fields with Dr. Alison Thompson

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2022 47:43


    Founder of Third Wave Volunteers, Dr. Alison Thompson returns and reports from her latest mission in Eastern Ukraine.   www.thirdwavevolunteers.com

    The Jurassic Generation with Steve Brusatte

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2022 42:47


    Apex Fossil Predator and Dino advisor to The Jurassic Park movies, Professor Steve Brusatte breaks down the greatest story never told.   

    Reconstructing the American Story with Kermit Roosevelt III

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 59:15


    A Constitutional Scholar and Novelist, Teddy Roosevelt's Great Great Grandson offers a fresh vision of what made America Great and what did not.

    Daphne, A Model For This Moment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 29:53


    From Nigeria, by way of Russia to Ukraine Daphne Chirodozie Duruoha shares her most improbable journey. IG: daphne_duruoha

    Kira from Kharkiv

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2022 19:15


    In the shadow of Russian Artillery, Photographer, Artist and Defender of Freedom, Kira Kuznetsova shares her version of "Ukranian Soul." Check out Kira's stunning photos at https://instagram.com/kira._.kuznetsova?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y

    Frederick Douglass, A Most Spectacular Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2022 56:27


    Kenneth B. Morris Jr. reflects on the life and incredible times of his Great, Great, Great Grandfather Frederick Douglass and his Great, Great Grandfather Booker T. Washington. The work continues at the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives.  www.fdfi.org   

    A Ukraine Story with Freedom Fighter, Andriana Zmysla

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 29:44


    Media Liaison, Interpreter, and fierce advocate for her nation's sovereignty, Andriana Zmysla offers insights from Lviv.

    A Ukraine story with Soul-Spirit-Survivor, Daryna Sychevska

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022 50:11


    From her family farm outside of Kyiv to Hindu Monastery near Vienna, "Darya" reflects on life, love and the meaning of her moment.

    From the Ukraine Polish Border with Journalist Hugh Bohane

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2022 22:01


    Hugh Bohane offers his words-eye view of the mass "Exodus" from the Polish side of the Ukraine border. caritas.org

    Ukraine and the Nonviolent Alternative with Fr. John Dear

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 55:57


    What would Gandhi do?  Nobel Peace Prize nominee and anti nuclear activist, Father John Dear reflects on the current catastrophe. beatitudescenter.org 

    Ep #2 "From Russia With No Love"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2022 41:37


    On the ground in Kyiv, journalist and raconteur Hugh Bohane reports and reflects on Day One of Putin's War on the Ukraine

    Joe Rogan and Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 14:09


    My minor meditation on the blessings of obscurity and the foibles of the fame game. Subscribe to my vibe!  

    Ep #18 "Trauma and Memory with the Real Lioness, Sue Brierley"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 59:23


    As played by Nicole Kidman in the Oscar nominated international hit, "Lion," Sue Brierley reflects on the movie, motherhood and her new memoir, "Lioness."   

    Ep #17 "Mind, Body and Soul with Dr. David Schechter"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2021 49:31


    Virus wise, Vaxx wise and Mind/Body wise, Physician, Author and modern day Maimonides, Dr. Dave breaks it down for you. www.MindBodyMedicine.com http://www.schechtermd.com/ http://www.mindbodymedicine.com/online-course

    Ep #16 "Airlift Afghanistan"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2021 50:09


    Pilot, Politician and Son of the South, Ed C. Sutton reflects on his final moments of a 20 year war.  

    Ep# 15 "Freedom Ride Forever, Carol Ruth Silver Remembers"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2021 67:09


    From Nice Jewish girl, to Freedom Rider to S.F. Supervisor and beyond,  Carol Ruth Silver reflects on life as an "Up-Stander."

    Ep #14 "Freedom Ride Forever: Claude Liggins Remembers"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2021 59:41


    Peace was their dream, Justice their Pursuit and the Soul-Force their weapon.    Freedom Rider Claude Albert Liggins reflects on a life that mattered.

    Ep #13 Firebombs and Freedom Riders, Janie Forsyth McKinney Remembers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 45:57


    On Mother's Day, May 14, 1961 fate and circumstance arrived at the doorstep of 12 year old Janie Forsyth.   Sixty years later Janie revisits the day that changed her and America.

    Ep #12 Good Vibrations, Surf Sounds and California Dreamin'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2021 56:05


    Kickin' it with rock 'n roll raconteur Joel Selvin about Electric Guitars, Fast Cars, and the Myth of the California Paradise.  It's all goin' down in his latest book, "Hollywood Eden." k

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