Podcasts about Personal History

Today's Song of the Day is “Bitter Ender” from Mary Chapin Carpenter's album Personal History, out now.Mary Chapin Carpenter will be performing with Brandy Clark at the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, October 11.

WHEN THE TIME ARRIVED for my reading, I thought of saying something sentimental about the comforts of friends and family, but the crowd had become boisterous to the point of riot, so, instead, I took a deep breath and delivered episode forty-seven of Dead Air, “Still No News from Outer Space,” without a pause. Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

When Katharine Graham took over the Washington Post in 1963, she was a shy socialite who'd never run anything. By retirement, she'd taken down a president, ended the most violent strike in a generation, and built one of the best-performing companies in American history. Graham had no training, no experience, not even confidence. Just a newspaper bleeding money and a government that expected her to fall in line. When her editors brought her stolen classified documents, her lawyers begged her not to publish. They said it would destroy the company. She published them anyway. Nixon came after her, attacking her with the full force of the executive. Then Watergate. For nearly a year she was ridiculed and isolated while pursuing the story that would eventually bring down the president.  Graham proved that you can grow into a job that initially seems impossible and no amount of training can substitute for having the right values and the courage to act on them. Approximate timestamps: Subject to variation due to dynamically inserted ads:   (02:19) The Making of an Unlikely Heiress (10:15) The Education of a Publisher's Wife   (22:16) Learning to Lead (30:46) Becoming a Media Titan   (44:12) Legacy   (47:59) Reflections + Lessons This episode is for informational purposes only and is full of practical lessons I learned reading her memoir, Personal History and watching Becoming Katharine Graham. Check out highlights from this book in our repository, and find key lessons from Graham here: ⁠⁠https://fs.blog/knowledge-project-podcast/outliers-katharine-graham/ Thanks to ReMarkable for sponsoring this episode. Get your paper tablet at reMarkable.com today Upgrade—If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of all episodes, join our membership: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get your own private feed. Newsletter—The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it's completely free. Learn more and sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fs.blog/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on X at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠x.com/ShaneAParrish Check out our website for all stock video and photo credits. Episode photo sourced from: iwmf.org/community/katharine-graham/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MY FRIENDS DID SHOW UP, and Albertine's mother, all of her siblings, all of her aunts and uncles, and most of her cousins, so all the tents were full. I wished that Albertine's father could have been there, but wishing couldn't make it so, since he was among the dead, . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

"Songwriting is about being awake to something you've never thought of or a way of thinking about something you've never experienced before," Mary Chapin Carpenter says on the pod. The five-time GRAMMY winner has a poet's way of thinking about songwriting. And on those rare occasions when she's stuck, she goes songwalking.I've always been a fan of Carpenter's music, but when she mentioned David Grann and S.A. Cosby as two of her favorite writers, I swooned.Carpenter's new album, her 17th, is Personal History. 

IN BED, Albertine rolled over onto me and made love to me slowly and thoroughly. She was so tender and affectionate that I began to suspect that she was administering delight as a preventive analgesic against some disappointment. Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

THE AUDIENCE THAT NIGHT for my reading of episode forty-six of Dead Air, “Suspicions Confirmed,” was a good one, a Friday crowd, but, looking out at them and beginning to read, I savored the pleasant expectation that Saturday's turnout would be even better.BECAUSE I was attracted to Mrs. Jerrold, but she was attracted to Mr. Yummy, I was frustrated and jealous, jealous enough to build an electronic eavesdropping device and install it in Mrs. Jerrold's bedroom. I set up a secret listening post in a cave in my back yard, and I spent every spare hour in that cave, with my radio tuned to the eavesdropper in Mrs. Jerrold's bedroom, waiting to hear the details of her tumbles with Mr. Yummy, so that I would know just what I was missing, but hour after hour I heard nothing. My parents began to wonder what I was doing during these absences, and I had begun to wonder myself. To camouflage my real occupation, spy, I offered them a cover that was nearly the truth. I interrupted myself to say, “I have since learned, by the way, largely from this experience, that a cover that is nearly the truth is the best sort of cover to use. Convincing people that you are someone they already think you are is far easier than starting from scratch and convincing them that you are what you wish you were, what you want to be, or what you have been struggling all your life to become. In my case, I have put so much effort into disguising myself as a country bumpkin, assistant innkeeper at a small hotel on a small island, have done the job so thoroughly and so well, that I'm convinced that that is what I have become at last, just at the time when I have sold the job out from under myself.” “Peter,” my father said at dinner one evening, in a casual tone meant to catch me off guard, “what are you doing with yourself these days?” “Me?” “No. The man in the moon.” “Well,” I said, “that old man in the moon, he's just sitting there, watching us down here, spying on us while we do the crazy things we do, shaking his head, smiling that enigmatic smile.” “Don't get smart with me, Peter.” “But — I thought that was the point of my going to school, so that I'd — ” In a clipped, no-nonsense tone, he said, “I want to know what you've been doing and where you've been going every afternoon, young man. You've got your mother worried to death.” My mother pushed her plate away from her, lit a cigarette, and took a swallow of wine. She did look worried. “I've been in my cave,” I said. “Your cave?” said my father, as if this were the last thing he had expected to hear. “Yeah,” I said. “Raskol and Marvin and Matthew and Spike and I dug a cave in the back yard, and I've got a radio transmitter out there, and I'm going to go on the air tomorrow.” “Don't mock me, young man,” said my father, reddening, clenching his fists. Turning to my mother, I said, “You'll be able to listen to me on the kitchen radio, and then you'll know where I am.” “Listen, Peter — ” my father began, raising a finger to tick off the first of the points he planned to make. “Come on out in the back,” I said, cutting him off, “and I'll show you.” They followed close behind me, though I set a sprightly pace. Suddenly, having been forced to tear away the camouflage and reveal what lay beneath it, I found that I was eager to do so, eager to show them my handiwork, and I was growing more eager with every step. I knew what responses to expect; that is to say, I had imagined their responses and I'd come to believe what I had imagined. Previously, the supposed certainty of those expectations had kept me from showing the cave to my parents, but now I found that I wanted to check my assumptions. I imagined that my mother would be amazed by what I'd done and proud of the skill I displayed in doing it, that she would understand the effort that had gone into the work, and that she would find in it evidence that I was going to amount to something someday. My father would be annoyed that I had been so presumptuous as to tunnel through a section of his back yard without his permission, would interpret my tunneling as a metaphor for my undermining his authority, would wonder why I couldn't put this kind of effort into mowing the lawn, and would find in what I'd done evidence that I was never going to amount to anything. We stopped at the place where my landscaping camouflaged the entrance to the cave, and my mother said, “Oh, this is that spot I was telling you about, Bert! Isn't it perfect? Those birches, that clump of wildflowers, the mossy hill, the stump — ”On that cue, I flipped the stump back on its hinges to reveal the entrance to the tunnel that led to the cave. My mother was amazed. My father was annoyed. How satisfyingly predictable they were — people you could count on! I was glad to see my beliefs, my expectations, confirmed. It made me think that I had become the kind of savvy guy who really knows what's going on.[to be continued]Subscribe to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter LeroyShare The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter LeroyWatch Well, What Now? This series of short videos continues The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy in the present.Have you missed an episode or two or several?* You can begin reading at the beginning or you can catch up by visiting the archive or consulting the index to the Topical Guide. The Substack serialization of Little Follies begins here; Herb 'n' Lorna begins here; Reservations Recommended begins here; Where Do You Stop? begins here; What a Piece of Work I Am begins here; At Home with the Glynns begins here; Leaving Small's Hotel begins here.* You can listen to the episodes on the Personal History podcast. Begin at the beginning or scroll through the episodes to find what you've missed. The Substack podcast reading of Little Follies begins here; Herb 'n' Lorna begins here; Reservations Recommended begins here; Where Do You Stop? begins here; What a Piece of Work I Am begins here; At Home with the Glynns begins here; Leaving Small's Hotel begins here.* You can listen to “My Mother Takes a Tumble” and “Do Clams Bite?” complete and uninterrupted as audiobooks through YouTube.* You can ensure that you never miss a future issue by getting a free subscription. (You can help support the work by choosing a paid subscription instead.)* At Apple Books you can download free eBooks of Little Follies, Herb 'n' Lorna, Reservations Recommended, Where Do You Stop?, What a Piece of Work I Am, and At Home with the Glynns.* You can buy hardcover and paperback editions of all the books at Lulu.* You'll find overviews of the entire work in An Introduction to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy (a pdf document), The Origin Story (here on substack), Between the Lines (a video, here on Substack), and at Encyclopedia.com.The serialization of The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy is supported by its readers. I sometimes earn affiliate fees when you click through the affiliate links in a post. EKThe illustration in the banner that opens each episode is from an illustration by Stewart Rouse that first appeared on the cover of the August 1931 issue of Modern Mechanics and Inventions.www.erickraft.comwww.babbingtonpress.com Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

Chapter 46October 25Suspicions Confirmed Chance, my friend and master, will surely deign to send again, to help me, the familiar devils of his unruly kingdom! I have no faith, except in him — and in myself. Particularly in him, for, when I sink, he fishes me up again, and grips and shakes me like a rescuing dog . . . So that every time I sink, I do not expect a final catastrophe, but only some adventure, some trivial, commonplace miracle which, like a sparkling link, may close up again the necklace of my days. Renée Néré, in Colette's La VagabondeYOU MAY SUSPECT that you have no real friends, and yet when you die, if you could somehow arrange to attend your own wake — disguised, perhaps, as a shadow in a corner or a mist drifting in through an open window — you might be surprised and delighted to see how many people show up. Of course, it is equally likely — at least equally likely, probably more likely — that your suspicions would be confirmed, and that the room where your corpse lay a-moldering would be empty except for a melancholy shade or a dispirited fog, so it's best not to leave such matters to chance. Make arrangements now for an open bar, hot hors d'oeuvres, and a jazz band. That'll bring them in. I was thinking along those lines, and consequently sinking into self-pity, when I happened to bump into Lou at the coffee urn, where I thought I would probably find him at that time of the morning. “You know, Lou,” I said, in a casual tone meant to catch him off guard, “I've been thinking.” “Uh-oh,” he said. “I've been thinking that we ought to celebrate your acquisition.” “Great idea.” “I was figuring that Small's Affairs could handle the catering, and Nancy and Elaine could take care of promotion and public relations.” “Sure. Sounds fine.” “Tony T could put the whole fleet of runabouts into service, perhaps decorate them a bit.” “Decorate?” “I was thinking of a special pennant of some kind.” “A pennant?” “Something like — oh — how about, ‘Happy Birthday Peter'?” “What?” “Only kidding.” “Uh-huh.” “If we all pitch in, we could erect enough tents by tomorrow, I think.” “Tents?” “Well, my guess is that if we turn Artie loose with a list of my closest friends we'll have an invasion on our hands by tomorrow morning — if he remembers to mention the open bar, the free food, and the jazz band.” “Jazz band?” “Loretta can make it happen. I'm sure she can.” He looked at me for a minute, then asked; “Is it okay if some of the pennants say ‘Good Luck Lou'?” “Of course,” I said. “We'd better get Cutie working on those.” “Right,” I said. “No time to lose.”[to be continued]Subscribe to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter LeroyShare The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter LeroyWatch Well, What Now? This series of short videos continues The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy in the present.Have you missed an episode or two or several?* You can begin reading at the beginning or you can catch up by visiting the archive or consulting the index to the Topical Guide. The Substack serialization of Little Follies begins here; Herb 'n' Lorna begins here; Reservations Recommended begins here; Where Do You Stop? begins here; What a Piece of Work I Am begins here; At Home with the Glynns begins here; Leaving Small's Hotel begins here.* You can listen to the episodes on the Personal History podcast. Begin at the beginning or scroll through the episodes to find what you've missed. The Substack podcast reading of Little Follies begins here; Herb 'n' Lorna begins here; Reservations Recommended begins here; Where Do You Stop? begins here; What a Piece of Work I Am begins here; At Home with the Glynns begins here; Leaving Small's Hotel begins here.* You can listen to “My Mother Takes a Tumble” and “Do Clams Bite?” complete and uninterrupted as audiobooks through YouTube.* You can ensure that you never miss a future issue by getting a free subscription. (You can help support the work by choosing a paid subscription instead.)* At Apple Books you can download free eBooks of Little Follies, Herb 'n' Lorna, Reservations Recommended, Where Do You Stop?, What a Piece of Work I Am, and At Home with the Glynns.* You can buy hardcover and paperback editions of all the books at Lulu.* You'll find overviews of the entire work in An Introduction to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy (a pdf document), The Origin Story (here on substack), Between the Lines (a video, here on Substack), and at Encyclopedia.com.The serialization of The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy is supported by its readers. I sometimes earn affiliate fees when you click through the affiliate links in a post. EKThe illustration in the banner that opens each episode is from an illustration by Stewart Rouse that first appeared on the cover of the August 1931 issue of Modern Mechanics and Inventions.www.erickraft.comwww.babbingtonpress.com Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

“LOU,” I said to Lou, at the bar, where he was pouring free drinks for everyone, “I want to tell you a story.” “Isn't that what you've been doing?” he asked. “All my life,” I said, “but this is a story with a message.” . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

Caroline and Liz are joined by esteemed Utah-based designer Caitlin Creer, who shares details of her debut book, 'An Intentional Home: Creating Spaces for Living Beautifully,' Caitlin shares her design journey, the influence of her travels, and the art of balancing form and function in home decor. The conversation delves into Caitlin's approach to discovering clients' unique styles, the importance of reflection in design, and how childhood memories shape living spaces. Caitlin provides practical advice on using color, layering textures, and blending personal touches to create authentic homes. Wrapping up, Caitlin discusses upcoming design trends and practical tips for making homes both aesthetically pleasing and functional. What You'll Hear on This Episode: 00:00 Introduction to Ballard Designs Podcast 00:33 Meet Designer Caitlin Creer 00:53 Caitlin's Journey and New Book 01:41 Design Philosophy and Book Insights 02:38 Creating Personalized Spaces 03:50 Reflecting on Personal Style 06:09 Incorporating Client's Personal History 13:45 Balancing Form and Function 15:21 Designing Functional Family Homes 25:30 Making Large Spaces Feel Cozy 26:28 Designing with Layers: Floors, Walls, and Ceilings 26:59 Choosing the Star of the Room 27:26 Incorporating Texture and Color 28:24 The Recipe Analogy in Home Design 29:23 The Importance of Finishing Touches 31:05 Trends in Color and Design for 2025 33:37 Using Color in Children's Spaces 36:31 Creating a Cohesive Color Palette 39:25 Inspiration from Travel and Nature 41:05 Ralph Lauren's Influence on Design Also Mentioned: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ballarddesigns.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Shop Now ⁠caitlincreerinteriors.com | Designer Website @caitlincreerinteriors | Designer IG Please send in your decorating dilemmas + pictures so we can answer them on an upcoming episode (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@ballarddesigns.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) . And, of course, please subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already in Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss a new episode. Happy Decorating! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ALBERTINE sat on a stool at the bar for my reading of episode forty-five of Dead Air, “Project Number 102: Electronic Eavesdropper.” She was drinking champagne and beaming, glowing with the relief that had come with the news that in a few days she would be free. Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

We sat there for a while in silence. I was trying to think of the right words with which to begin to broach the subject of his buying the hotel as a way out of the world he had come to hate, as a cave in which to hide from it. . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

As we reached Episode 30 of the CWP, James and I had a terrifically enjoyable chat with Andrew Dobson.   Andrew is one of Canadian wargaming's rising stars, and is the proprietor of Dobbies Hobbies, a 3D printing factory licensed to produce a wide variety of models from a wide range of suppliers. We love Andrew's energy and his enthusiasm for the potential of 3D printing.  Andrew also has an interest in Canadian military history, which explains our final march past.    This interview was recorded in June, and we're sorry that it's taken a long time to get it to your ears.  Andrew, we would have loved to go with your Sabbaton choice, Cliffs of Gallipoli, but we were worried about the copyright implications, so there's a link below. Dobbie's Hobbies website: https://www.dobbieshobbies.net/ Andrew's Three Book Choices: William Trotter, Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finish War of 1939-1940, https://www.amazon.ca/Frozen-Hell-Russo-Finnish-Winter-1939-1940/dp/1565122496 JL McWilliams and.R James Steele, The Suicide Battalion: One Remarkable Battalion's Journey Through the First World War, https://www.amazon.ca/Suicide-Battalion-J-L-McWilliams/dp/1913518175/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?crid=JHYMT1HZHHNF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9NJfn0CyxqRrk5Dyvxrv993CoyTNQEl8VzcieBgLF4mJaYaijN5E043FFjWgxCHYuNnPA02EQMfOs2q5I-7ScA.89IiEKah1I-48QCG1b-JGcB9dP3fzy_X7K_15cg7e6I&dib_tag=se&keywords=suicide+battalion+CEF&qid=1752762024&s=books&sprefix=suicide+battalion+cef%2Cstripbooks%2C67&sr=1-1-fkmr1  Nicholas Jellicoe, Jutland: The Unfinished Battle, A Personal History of a Naval Controversy. https://www.amazon.ca/Jutland-Unfinished-Personal-History-Controversy/dp/1848323212 Our march out, Punjab, Quick March of the Saskatchewan Dragons: https://youtu.be/ImnfYl35A_o?si=R7pSyNmLa9w8bl55 Sabbaton, Cliffs of Gallipoli: https://youtu.be/PvoYEtyQ9A8?si=NoWuBj3GtwYoPSiC  

THUNDERING WINDS pummeled the hotel all night, drafts blowing through the windows and under the doors, but by morning, everything was still, and a heavy fog filled the unmoving air. . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

BALDY THE DUMMY was miserable throughout his program that night. His wisecracking style was gone. He didn't even tease Bob as he ordinarily did. He was bitter and snappish. When he got to the end of the show and turned to the news, the Catalog of Human Misery, I had to turn the volume up to hear him. . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

WHEN I WAS A BOY, not yet a teenager, I found myself engaged in several projects that seemed to ask more and more of me — improvements, embellishments, and enlargements that kept me very busy for a boy of my age at that time. . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

DICK AND JANE returned, as they had said they would, and Albertine gave them their old room, as she had said she would, but it wasn't the same as it had been when they left it, because during their absence Alice had redecorated it . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

WHEN I FINISHED, I said, “I would like to say a little something about getting caught up in one's own work, something I sometimes call the art of self-deception. . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

MY AUDIENCE for “Refinements and Improvements,” episode forty-three of Dead Air, consisted of the remaining inmates — Lou, Elaine, Clark and Alice, Artie and Nancy, Louise and Miranda, Tony T and Cutie, Loretta, Theodore and Carolina, Mark, Margot, Martha, Martha and Edward, Margot and Daniel, and five lingering dinner guests. Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

ONE STEP FORWARD, one step back. With two clients for Memoirs While You Wait, I spent hours planning how to deal with the crush of new clients that was clearly on its way, or would be on its way just as soon as Manuel and Porky did their word-of-mouth work. . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

IN BED, Albertine asked, “Do you know where the word camouflage comes from, my sweet?” I said, “No, ma petite. I confess that I do not, but I imagine that you are going to tell me that it comes from the name of one of your countrymen, a Capitaine Camouffe who dressed in leafy green and woodsy brown so that he could hide in the trees and bushes when Napoleon was looking for volunteers to lead the Russian campaign.” . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

THE FISH had begun to smell by the time I read episode forty-two of Dead Air, “Playing to the House.” The odor hadn't penetrated the hotel yet, but I knew from experience that it would the next day. . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

Four programmers on their online video that showcases the stories Britain tells about itself through the internet. From vlogs to memes to uncategorisable curiosities, these videos might not have initially been intended as ‘cinema', but what is cinema if not images and narratives that are so iconic that they stick in our heads?

THE LAST GROUP of potential buyers for the hotel arrived early in the morning. (I call them the last group of potential buyers because two days later I persuaded Lou to buy the place.) Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

Peter has made a start on Kap'n Klam: The Memoirs of Porky White, Nonpareil American Restaurateur, Entrepreneur, and Raconteur, As Told to Peter Leroy. So far he has only two episodes. The second episode was an attempt to get some of Porky's wit and wisdom into the book. Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

I MADE A START on Kap'n Klam: The Memoirs of Porky White, Nonpareil American Restaurateur, Entrepreneur, and Raconteur, As Told to Peter Leroy that very night. . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

JUST BEFORE I began reading “The Art of Obvious Subtlety,” episode forty-one of Dead Air, a guest arrived from out of the past. He slipped into the back of the room — as well as a big man with a face familiar to millions can slip into a room — and settled himself into a wing chair. He gave me a wave, and I returned it, and then I read. Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

I BEGAN THE DAY in my cave, at my computer, working on the forty-first episode of Dead Air, but when I took a break to get a second cup of coffee from the kitchen, . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

AFTER THE READING, I delivered an advertisement for myself. “I've been in the memoir racket for as long as I can remember,” I said, . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

Timothy Garton Ash has chronicled some of the biggest moments in European history for over 40 years. In his new book, Homelands: A Personal History of Europe, he offers a history of postwar Europe, told through personal memoir. He talks to Paul about the future of Europe, the war in Ukraine, advising George W. Bush on how to think about the European Union, having Victor Orbán as a student, and why these days, his main concern is about the United States. This episode was recorded at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. It originally aired on October 11th, 2023

THAT NIGHT, I read episode forty of Dead Air, “Hardly Working.” . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

WITH THE GENERATORS supplying the power, I was able to get Memoirs While You Wait off the ground. I printed a stack of flyers on my Little Giant LG-6000 laser printer and wrote an advertisement for the classified sections of popular magazines that I thought were likely to reach the segments of the population most likely to yield clients: . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

I HELD MY HANDS UP to forestall the applause that would probably otherwise have drowned me out and said, “You may be asking yourself, ‘What on earth made those kids think that they could dig a cave?' . . . Get full access to The Personal History, Adventures, Experiences & Observations of Peter Leroy at peterleroy.substack.com/subscribe

“I really loved it,” Francine Prose says of Nixon-era San Francisco in this episode of The World in Time, “but I also knew I wasn't going to live there forever. Everyone I knew was living in these group houses in Berkeley, and then in the city itself, with ten people or fifteen people. I talk about the Reno Hotel, a former nineteenth-century hotel that had been built for boxers, and the city had given it to artists and designers and said, You can live there, don't burn it down. And so they carved out these incredibly beautiful spaces for themselves. But this was before the tech revolution, when the Mission was still kind of wild and free, and it wasn't all the glass cubes and people in tech. It was a great city to live in then. There was a kind of freedom there. Certainly compared to what I'd come from. My good fortune was that I wasn't around a lot of hippies giving acid to two-year-olds. The book takes place during the Vietnam War. We went out and protested McNamara. My husband was the one who scaled the Pentagon, the walls of the Pentagon. We were very idealistic. Maybe unrealistically idealistic, but hey, I'll take it.” This week on the podcast, Donovan Hohn speaks with Francine Prose, author of 1974: A Personal History, about the San Francisco she remembers from her youth, about her relationship with Pentagon Papers whistleblower Tony Russo, about the final defeat of 1960s counterculture, and about the eerie echoes of Prose's favorite movie, Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo.

A Personal History of Regime Change, Memory, and the Myth of America the LiberatorI'm against regime change—whether it comes by bombs, drones, NGOs, IMF leverage, or the velvet glove of democracy promotion. I oppose it when it's loud and violent. I oppose it when it's sly and nudged. Be it the softish regime change of Ukraine or the hard ones in Syria (won't work), Libya (yikes), Afghanistan (nope), and Iraq (yikes!), it all feels like one coherent doctrine masquerading as a series of noble mistakes.Remember General Wesley Clark? He said there was a plan to take down seven countries in five years: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Iran. It wasn't a theory—it was a blueprint. Not for democracy, but for collapse. A strategy of managed entropy. A doctrine of rubbleization.Let me take a stand. Not a shrug. A belief.Saddam Hussein was the hero of the Iraq War. His sons were monsters, his regime brutal—but Iraq was sovereign. It had schools, water, food, borders, pride. And he held it together. With force? Sure. But what else binds together a British-imposed puzzle of tribes and sects?The West loved Saddam in the ‘80s. He was a darling of the CIA. Then we turned. We shattered his country. Turned it into a sandbox of sectarianism, contractor enrichment, and nation-building cosplay. And we call that a lesson. No—it was a murder.Same with Gaddafi. Libya had free education, clean water, infrastructure, a plan for a pan-African currency. So we blew it up. Laughed when he was dragged through the dirt. The result? Slave markets, chaos, warlords. We still call it liberation.Afghanistan? We armed the mujahideen. They were the good guys then. Then we invaded, stayed for twenty years, and left in the night. The Taliban returned before we even finished packing.Yemen. Syria. Venezuela. Cuba. We starve with sanctions, destabilize, demonize. Obedience, not order. Broken states are easier to manage than proud ones.And yes, we provoked the war in Ukraine. We pushed and prodded until Russia, who made clear Ukraine was a red line, reacted. I believe the 2014 Maidan movement was regime change theater. Ukraine isn't sovereign now—it's a proxy battlefield.But here's where belief becomes memory. I lived in Berlin once. I was 37. A 19-year-old Iranian girl was in my German class. She was luminous—black hair, brown eyes, a brilliant smile. She told me stories of rooftop sunbathing in Tehran, dodging morality police. Gave me her Yahoo email. She made Iran real.Until then, Iran to me was just “Death to America.” But she reminded me: Iran is human. Beautiful, joyous, mischief-filled, proud. The demonization is part of the war. First you make a place evil. Then you make it rubble.The devil you know is often better than the devil you invent. The Middle East doesn't need surgery. It needs distance. These are not fragile people. They endure. They adapt. They remember.Every time we try to liberate a country from itself, we make it worse. Our “liberation” is strategy. Business. Empire in a friendlier font.I'm not hedging. I believe we are often the villain. I believe memory—especially memory of joy, of that girl in Berlin—is the antidote to propaganda.This is the record. And I'm keeping it.

Imagine preserving your family's history in a way that future generations will treasure forever—this isn't just storytelling, it's legacy-building.   In this episode of the Registered Investment Advisor Podcast, Seth Greene speaks with Chance McClain, the founder of Heritage Films, who shares his unique journey from traditional graphic design to becoming a leader in preserving family legacies through high-quality documentary filmmaking. With over 800 films created, Chance's company specializes in crafting deeply personal films that go beyond ordinary storytelling to capture the essence of family history and values. Heritage Films stands apart with its commitment to cinematic excellence and its ability to make every film feel like a heart-to-heart conversation that transcends generations.   Key Takeaways: → Learn why family stories deserve to be preserved in cinematic quality. → How a traditional 2-3 day filming process results in a deeply personal documentary. → The impact of high-quality, emotionally charged documentaries on family legacies. → How Heritage Films operates remotely, offering flexibility while maintaining a personal touch. → The value of preserving family history through documentaries, not just stories.   Chance McClain is a creative powerhouse, blending a rich background in filmmaking, radio, and theater with a passion for storytelling. As the founder of Heritage Films, Chance has created more than 800 feature- length documentaries, celebrating family stories and life legacies. His work has connected generations, preserving the essence of individuals and families through visually stunning films.   Today, Chance leads his team at Heritage Films with a heartfelt commitment to authenticity, merging technical expertise with an artistic touch. Whether inspiring others to embrace their past or discussing the art of storytelling, he captivates audiences and helps them see the value in preserving their own legacies.   Connect With Chance: Website Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abraham Lincoln belongs to everybody. The women he interacted with helped forge the outstanding moral character of America's greatest president. Loving Lincoln: A Personal History of the Women Who Shaped Lincoln's Life and Legacy (Southern Illinois University Press, 2025) features thirty historical and personal essays, and within them, the stories of more than ninety women, each with their own mini biographies in an appendix. Among them are Lincoln's friends, clients, and extended family, as well as writers, artists, and--blurring the lines between history and memoir--author Stacy Lynn herself. As a professional Lincoln scholar and editor, Lynn was often frustrated that male historians often overlooked Lincoln's love for and friendship with women. Here, she posits a new paradigm--one that, instead of downplaying women, lifts up their interactions with Lincoln. Lincoln understood the importance of the women in his life, and he put women's wellbeing at the center of his personal, professional, and political ethos. He was loved by two strong pioneer mothers as well as sisters, friends, nieces, friends' daughters, and his wife. He served women clients during his long legal career. As president, he met with women, dedicating time to hear their concerns despite the burdens of office. He replied to letters women wrote him. He believed in their capabilities and revolutionized the role of women in the workforce. After Lincoln's death, women continued to shape his legacy. Mary Lincoln ensured his burial among friends, artist Vinnie Ream sculpted his statue in the US Capitol, and biographer Ida Tarbell provided a nuanced portrayal of his life. Harriet Monroe and Ruth Painter Randall further cemented his place in literature and history. Lynn presents a fresh perspective on Lincoln, connecting his story to the stories of women and showcasing his kindness, sensitivity, and moral center. She explores how women shaped Lincoln's inspirational legacy and pays homage to all the women who gave Lincoln to the world. Lynn's unique blending of history, biography, and her own story reveals the ways in which an emotional connection to the historical figures one studies opens the door to richer human and historical understanding. By inviting readers to feel the past as well as read it, Lynn demonstrates that history matters most when it engages our minds and hearts. Stacy Lynn edited Abraham Lincoln's papers for twenty-five years. She is the author or editor of four books, including Mary Lincoln: Southern Girl, Northern Woman. She is associate editor of the Jane Addams Papers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

On this month's Lecker Book Club, a regular interview series with authors writing in or adjacent to food culture, Katie Goh's Foreign Fruit. Foreign Fruit is a memoir which explores Katie's experience growing up and existing as a mixed heritage person in the north of Ireland, but also documents alongside this personal narrative a history of the orange; how the fruit moved from East to West, gaining and shedding symbolic meaning along the way. You can find the previous Lecker episode about citrus, Oranges and Lemons, linked here. Lecker is now part of Heritage Radio Network! Find out more about this independent podcast network dedicated to food, beverages and the culinary world and discover their many fantastic shows at heritageradionetwork.org. You can find a transcript for this episode at leckerpodcast.com. Foreign Fruit is out now. Find all of the Lecker Book Club reads on my Bookshop.org list. [aff link] Support Lecker by becoming a paid subscriber on Patreon, Apple Podcasts and now on Substack. Music is by Blue Dot Sessions.

Filmmaker Emilija Gašić joins VIFF's Vanguard series programmer Sonja Baksa to discuss 78 Days, a found-footage film that won the Vanguard Award at VIFF 2024. Shot on hi-8 tapes in her native Serbia, the film follows three sisters documenting their lives during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. Inspired by her own childhood memories, Gašić's decision to use analog tape lent to the "docufiction" quality of the film.In this conversation, Sonja and Emilija unpack the film's unconventional process and the Vanguard series' focus on "films that are pushing the boundaries of cinema", and how Gašić's journey from Lord of the Rings fan to NYU Tisch grad shaped her voice as a director.This episode was recorded during the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival. This podcast is brought to you by the Vancouver International Film Festival.Presented on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Gail Lukasik, exploring her life and work and the themes of her book, What They Never Told Us: True Stories of Family Secrets and Hidden Identities Revealed._____LINKShttps://www.gaillukasik.comhttps://www.lovechildrenplanet.com/events/in-conversation-with-frank-schaeffer-gail-lukasikI have had the pleasure of talking to some of the leading authors, artists, activists, and change-makers of our time on this podcast, and I want to personally thank you for subscribing, listening, and sharing 100-plus episodes over 100,000 times.Please subscribe to this Podcast, In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer, on your favorite platform, and to my Substack, It Has to Be Said. Thanks! Every subscription helps create, build, sustain and put voice to this movement for truth. Subscribe to It Has to Be Said. Support the show_____In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer is a production of the George Bailey Morality in Public Life Fellowship. It is hosted by Frank Schaeffer, author of Fall In Love, Have Children, Stay Put, Save the Planet, Be Happy. Learn more at https://www.lovechildrenplanet.comFollow Frank on Substack, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube. https://frankschaeffer.substack.comhttps://www.facebook.com/frank.schaeffer.16https://twitter.com/Frank_Schaefferhttps://www.instagram.com/frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.threads.net/@frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.tiktok.com/@frank_schaefferhttps://www.youtube.com/c/FrankSchaefferYouTube In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer Podcast

Totally Booked: LIVE! In this special episode of the podcast (in-person at the Whitby Hotel with a live audience!), Zibby chats with poet and New York Times bestselling author Jill Bialosky about her lyrical, profoundly moving new book, THE END IS THE BEGINNING. Told in reverse chronology, it traces the remarkable life of her mother, from her death during COVID back to her Depression-era childhood, exploring memory, identity, loss, and resilience. Jill opens up about losing her mother to Alzheimer's, the pain of her sister's suicide, the impact of an abusive stepfather, and the inherited strength passed through generations of women. With raw honesty, she shares how writing became a refuge—and a way to bring her mother back to life on the page.Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/4k3HrrzShare, rate, & review the podcast, and follow Zibby on Instagram @zibbyowens! Now there's more! Subscribe to Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books on Acast+ and get ad-free episodes. https://plus.acast.com/s/moms-dont-have-time-to-read-books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the most meaningful gift you could give your family wasn't something you bought, but a beautifully crafted film that captures the stories, values, and legacy of a life well-lived?   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene speaks with Chance McClain, founder of Heritage Films and creator of over 800 custom documentaries, who shares how he's helping families preserve their legacies through cinematic storytelling. What began as a favor for a friend has evolved into a powerful mission: capturing the voices, values, and life lessons of loved ones before they're lost to time. In this emotional and inspiring conversation, Chance reveals how a single interview can become a treasured family heirloom—and why every story deserves to be told like a Hollywood film.   Key Takeaways: → How one conversation launched a storytelling business that now features over 800 films. → Why filming someone's legacy isn't just about preserving memories, it's about transferring values. → What most people misunderstand about preserving family history. → The surprising impact these films have on the families who commission them. → The behind-the-scenes process that turns real lives into stunning, heirloom-quality documentaries.   Chance McClain is a creative powerhouse who blends a rich background in filmmaking, radio, and theater with a passion for storytelling. As the founder of Heritage Films, Chance has created over 800 feature-length documentaries that celebrate family stories and life legacies. His work has connected generations, preserving the essence of individuals and families through visually stunning films. Whether inspiring others to embrace their past or discussing the art of storytelling, he captivates audiences and helps them appreciate the value of preserving their legacies.   Connect With Chance: Heritage Films Instagram X Facebook LinkedIn   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jill Bialosky's new book, "The End is the Beginning," is a moving elegy, starting with her mother's end and the physical/cognitive decline that led her to a care home.Compounding her challenges of raising four daughters without a livelihood or partner, Iris's life coincided with an age of unstoppable social change and reinvention, when the roles of wife and mother she was raised to inhabit ceased to be the guarantors of stability and happiness.

Sehanine Moonbow is the Elven goddess of dreams, death, and illusions. Sehanine and her clergy shepherd and guide the Elven people both in their mortal lives and into their next. Sections: 0:00​​ Introduction 2:52 Titles 3:25 Portfolio & Domains 3:55​​ Appearance & Manifestations 8:57 Abilities 13:14 Personal History 17:10​ Personality 19:22 Personal Realms 31:34​ Symbols 32:23 Allies & Allegiances 35:29​​ Enemies 36:16​​ Central Dogma 37:03​​ Presence of the Faith in the Realms 41:07 Hierarchy & Structure of the Clergy 42:27 Orders & Priestly Bodies 45:22 Responsibilities & Duties of Followers 47:20 Rituals 1:00:24 Appearance & Dress 1:01:59​​ General Characteristics of Places of Worship 1:03:31 Specific & Known Locations of Worship 1:12:02​​ Character Options 1:14:55​​ DM Options Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/religionrealms.bsky.social Email: realmsreligion@gmail.com Invite for the podcast Discord channel: https://discord.com/invite/jHHt4qkcK3 Music: "Night Vigil" by by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #dnd #dungeonsanddragons #sehanine #dndlore #dnd5e #realmslore #ttrpg

Today on Art of the Cut we speak with Robin Peters about the film The Penguin Lesons. Robin was nominated for a BFE Cut Above Award for Best Edited Comedy Series for This Time with Alan Partridge. He's also edited the film Benjamin and the TV series One Day. He was an additional editor on The Personal History of David Copperfield.This discussion includes - among other things - the difficulties of temping music on a film with comedy and pathos, how the theme affects editing choices, and the importance of sending the audience out of the theater on the correct note.You can read along with this podcast on the Boris FX blog to see timeline screenshots, stills, exclusive images and clips and trailers:borisfx.com/blog/aotc

Three levels of understanding: Personal History, National History and Redemptive History.From the series: The Story of God(bulletin here)

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with my grandmother—my last living grandparent—to capture her incredible journey through life. From her Italian immigrant roots in coal-mining Pennsylvania to her years as a talented young musician and her marriage to my grandfather, a brilliant physicist and Holocaust survivor, this conversation uncovers a century's worth of history, resilience, and love. These are the kinds of stories that often go untold—but deserve to be remembered.Key Takeaways:Her father was one of 10 children in a coal-mining family in Pittston, PA, and the only one to attend seminary.Despite growing up in humble beginnings, many of her uncles went on to college and professional careers, breaking generational cycles.Her mother's family hailed from Naples, Italy, and she grew up immersed in Italian traditions and strong family ties.Music played a huge role in her youth—she became the pianist for her school assemblies and eventually played in the All-City Orchestra in Philadelphia.She lived through World War II and vividly recalls the day Pearl Harbor was bombed—her younger brother's birthday.She later married Opa (Laszlo), a Hungarian immigrant, physicist, and survivor of religious persecution, whose brilliance and humility left a lasting mark on the family.Personal memories, from roller-skating mishaps to Epcot visits and feeding the dogs behind Grandma's back, make this story uniquely intimate.#TheHumanExperiencePodcast Follow Along:Website: https://www.thehxpod.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehxpod/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getthehxTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehxpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thehxpod Donate to The Human Experience PodcastFollow Along on InstagramVisit The WebsiteSend me an email at TheHXPod@gmail.com

Dr. Masachs Boungou says that your personal history is not your past. It shapes who you are today and has the power to stir up a deeply moving and unshakable drive within you. Listen as Dr. Masachs shares his own personal history and how we can fulfill our true potential by embracing the history that shapes us. Subscribe for ad-free interviews and bonus episodes https://plus.acast.com/s/the-unmistakable-creative-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Bella Talks TV, Amanda Bella shares her transition back to New York from Florida, reflecting on personal changes and upcoming events. She discusses her excitement for her anniversary cruise and her evolving perspective on aging, inspired by reality TV figures. The conversation shifts to her thoughts on reality TV nostalgia, particularly her long-standing engagement with shows like Vanderpump Rules and the Real Housewives. Amanda reviews Denise Richards' new show, expressing mixed feelings about its content. She also delves into Jax's journey towards sobriety and the implications of his recent revelations. The episode concludes with a discussion on the finale of The Traitors, highlighting the dynamics of reality TV and the need for authenticity. In this episode, Bella Talks TV dives deep into the dynamics of relationships portrayed in reality TV, particularly focusing on Southern Charm and the complexities of its cast members. The conversation explores the authenticity of narratives, the impact of personal history on reality TV interactions, and the return of Gypsy Rose as a compelling figure in the genre. Additionally, Bella discusses the recent controversy surrounding Tamra's exit from Real Housewives, emphasizing the need for genuine storylines and the challenges faced by reality stars in navigating their personal lives on screen.Chapters00:00 Welcome Back to New York02:53 Embracing Change and New Beginnings06:08 Reality TV Reflections and Nostalgia08:57 Denise Richards and Her New Show11:51 Jax's Journey and Sobriety18:50 The Valley Trailer and Jax's Confession29:59 The Traitors Finale and Reflections on Reality TV39:04 Power Dynamics in Relationships42:56 Reality TV Narratives and Authenticity46:55 The Complexity of Reality TV Relationships51:43 The Impact of Personal History on Reality TV56:22 The Return of Gypsy Rose: A Reality TV Phenomenon01:08:50 Tamra's Controversial Exit from Real HousewivesSupport the showFollow me @BellaTalksTV

This week we're discussing Doja Cat and her most popular album Planet Her, released June 25, 2021. This is one of those rare weeks where the artist's history is almost more interesting than the album itself. Prepare to learn strange and shocking “facts” about Doja Cat! In this episode we discuss poor hiring choices, wild accusations, propaganda, cocaine, Freddy Kruger, Dallas Cowboys, thousand island dressing, ghosts, homicide, how to french kiss, the art of seduction and so much more! Hatepod.com | TW: @AlbumHatePod | IG: @hatePod | hatePodMail@gmail.com  Episode Outline: Top of the show "Do you hate it?" Personal History with the Album History of Artist  General Thoughts  Song by Song - What do they mean!?! How Did it Do? Reviews Post Episode "Do you hate it?"