Podcasts about Prohibition

Al Capone's Beer Wars: A Complete History of Organized Crime in Chicago during Prohibition- John BinderAlthough much has been written about Al Capone, there has not been--until now--a complete history of organized crime in Chicago during Prohibition. This exhaustively researched book covers the entire period from 1920 to 1933. Author John J. Binder, a recognized authority on the history of organized crime in Chicago, discusses all the important bootlegging gangs in the city and the suburbs and also examines the other major rackets, such as prostitution, gambling, labor and business racketeering, and narcotics.A major focus is how the Capone gang -- one of twelve major bootlegging mobs in Chicago at the start of Prohibition--gained a virtual monopoly over organized crime in northern Illinois and beyond. Binder also describes the fight by federal and local authorities, as well as citizens' groups, against organized crime. In the process, he refutes numerous myths and misconceptions related to the Capone gang, other criminal groups, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, and gangland killings.What emerges is a big picture of how Chicago's underworld evolved during this period. This broad perspective goes well beyond Capone and specific acts of violence and brings to light what was happening elsewhere in Chicagoland and after Capone went to jail.Based on 25 years of research and using many previously unexplored sources, this fascinating account of a bloody and colorful era in Chicago history will become the definitive work on the subject.https://amzn.to/4oQJu58Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Last week everyone got liquored up, now it's time to put a stop to that. Donate to the podcast through PayPal eloftmpodcast@gmail.com Or subscribe to my comic strip at patreon.com/LNTCS

Charlie Kirk's murder; Did Israel do it? :: Collapse of empires :: Political violence :: Peter Schiff laughed at but he predicted 2008 recession :: Rage bait :: Voting in New Mexico is on the honor system :: Firing over opinions :: Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons :: Self defense nukes? :: Jason Osbourne calls for turning up the temperature :: Live Free in New Hampshire Magazine :: Did the shooter have a tranny boyfriend? :: Man arrested for clapping :: Man waterboarded on CIA black sites can't sue :: 2025-09-13 Hosts: Bonnie, Angelo, Riley

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! The Ma Barker House stands as one of America's darkest historic landmarks. Born out of the blood and chaos of the Depression and Prohibition era, the home is tied forever to the infamous Barker family—criminals who left a trail of fear, violence, and trauma across the country. The Barkers weren't petty thieves. They were a notorious gang responsible for bank robberies, kidnappings, and brutal crimes that shook law enforcement to its core. Their reign of terror spread across state lines, creating a criminal empire that refused to be stopped—until the FBI closed in. What happened next was nothing short of carnage. The Barker gang's final stand inside the quiet lakeside home in Florida turned into the largest FBI shootout in American history, a bloody standoff that remains unrivaled to this day. Bullets tore through the house, ending lives and cementing the Ma Barker home as both a crime scene and a legend. But the story doesn't end with the gunfire. Many believe the spirits of the Barkers never left. Visitors and paranormal investigators alike report strange activity—unexplained voices, ghostly apparitions, and the feeling that the infamous family still resides inside their old home. So what exactly happened within those walls? What is the true story of the Ma Barker House, and why do so many believe it remains haunted today? In this chilling conversation, we speak with Kristy Summer of SoulSistersParanormal.com to uncover the dark history, the shootout that shocked the nation, and the paranormal mysteries that still linger nearly a century later. #TrueGhostStory #Unexplained Voices #MaBarkerHouse #Hauntings #HauntedHouse #BarkerGang #ParanormalActivity #HauntedHistory #CrimeAndHaunting #TheGraveTalks #Apparitions #ParanormalInvestigations Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! The Ma Barker House stands as one of America's darkest historic landmarks. Born out of the blood and chaos of the Depression and Prohibition era, the home is tied forever to the infamous Barker family—criminals who left a trail of fear, violence, and trauma across the country. The Barkers weren't petty thieves. They were a notorious gang responsible for bank robberies, kidnappings, and brutal crimes that shook law enforcement to its core. Their reign of terror spread across state lines, creating a criminal empire that refused to be stopped—until the FBI closed in. What happened next was nothing short of carnage. The Barker gang's final stand inside the quiet lakeside home in Florida turned into the largest FBI shootout in American history, a bloody standoff that remains unrivaled to this day. Bullets tore through the house, ending lives and cementing the Ma Barker home as both a crime scene and a legend. But the story doesn't end with the gunfire. Many believe the spirits of the Barkers never left. Visitors and paranormal investigators alike report strange activity—unexplained voices, ghostly apparitions, and the feeling that the infamous family still resides inside their old home. So what exactly happened within those walls? What is the true story of the Ma Barker House, and why do so many believe it remains haunted today? In this chilling conversation, we speak with Kristy Summer of SoulSistersParanormal.com to uncover the dark history, the shootout that shocked the nation, and the paranormal mysteries that still linger nearly a century later. This is Part Two of our conversation. #TrueGhostStory #Unexplained Voices #MaBarkerHouse #Hauntings #HauntedHouse #BarkerGang #ParanormalActivity #HauntedHistory #CrimeAndHaunting #TheGraveTalks #Apparitions #ParanormalInvestigations Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comJill is a writer and scholar. She's a professor of American history at Harvard, a professor of law at Harvard Law, and a staff writer at The New Yorker. She's also the host of the podcast “X-Man: The Elon Musk Origin Story.” Her many books include These Truths: A History of the United States (which I reviewed for the NYT in 2017) and her new one, We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution — out in a few days; pre-order now.For two clips of our convo — on FDR's efforts to bypass the Constitution, and the worst amendment we've had — head to our YouTube page.Other topics: raised by public school teachers near Worcester; dad a WWII vet; her struggles with Catholicism as a teen (and my fundamentalism then); joining ROTC; the origins of the Constitution; the Enlightenment; Locke; Montesquieu; the lame Articles of Confederation; the 1776 declaration; Paine's Common Sense; Madison; Jefferson; Hamilton; Adams; New England town meetings; state constitutional conventions; little known conventions by women and blacks; the big convention in Philly and its secrecy; the slave trade; the Three-Fifths Clause; amendment provisions; worries over mob rule; the Electoral College; jury duty; property requirements for voting; the Jacksonian Era; Tocqueville; the Civil War; Woodrow Wilson; the direct election of senators; James Montgomery Beck (“Mr Constitution”); FDR's court-packing plan; Eleanor's activism; Prohibition and its repeal; the Warren Court; Scalia; executive orders under Trump; and gauging the intent of the Founders.Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy. Coming up: John Ellis on Trump's mental health, Michael Wolff on Epstein, Karen Hao on artificial intelligence, Katie Herzog on drinking your way sober, Michel Paradis on Eisenhower, Charles Murray on religion, David Ignatius on the Trump effect globally, and Arthur Brooks on the science of happiness. As always, please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

Official Emailtalkinwithtopher@gmail.comThe Mail Box Guys⁠⁠⁠⁠(facebook) https://www.facebook.com/share/1C6cbtm8eA/⁠⁠⁠⁠(instagram) https://www.instagram.com/the_mailbox_guys/?hl=enCryptid and Kin(instagram) https://www.instagram.com/cryptidandkin/?hl=en=Topher's Social Media(linktr.ee) ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/talkinwithtopher⁠⁠(instagram) ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/talkinwithtopher/?hl=en⁠⁠(twitter) ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/_conderman⁠⁠(snap chat) ⁠⁠https://www.snapchat.com/add/cconderman?share_id=HiV14moKPns&locale=en-US⁠⁠(tik tok) ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@talkinwithtopher?lang=en⁠⁠(Facebook) ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/christopher.conderman⁠⁠Time Stamps(00:00:00) Start(00:01:57) Never Forget there were No Planes(00:10:54) Reacting to Comments(00:17:22) China Purchasing Water Supply in Nashua NH(00:22:17) Tik Tok Mom Triple Homicide(00:28:31) Shrimp Recall for radio active contamination(00:35:25) The Price of Utopia(00:43:59) Only 10 Company's Control Everything We Consume(00:48:40) The Real Reason Behind Prohibition(00:53:06) Rabbits w/Tentacles(00:58:25) R.F.K. Attacks Fauci(01:00:59) This is Why Plane Tickets Cost so Much(01:04:08) Moon Glitched(01:08:23) 1848 First Photo of Tree of Knowledge(01:12:46) 5 Fun Facts about Jewish Epstein(01:16:11) Numbered Mosquito(01:20:34) Brittney Griner gets Banned for Life for being Male(01:24:07) Yeti Body found near Tibet and China BoarderEpisode Linkshttps://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=593308130380651&rdid=jign3RNAXJ4P7Iq4https://www.instagram.com/p/DMQb3NpunyS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkhttps://www.wmur.com/article/madbury-new-hampshire-murder-suicide-mental-health/65870798https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/health/radioactive-frozen-shrimp-fda-second-recall/6373937/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/recall-alert/fda-warns-public-not-to-eat-possible-radioactive-shrimp-sold-at-walmart/6370906/https://www.the-sun.com/news/14980179/glimpse-inside-new-400b-us-city-telosa-marc-lore/https://www.instagram.com/p/DLktLKHt71g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkhttps://www.facebook.com/share/r/19j8yt5oLC/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O8AEQY_qeshttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DImB8YpMicf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DIywUhFp9-T/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkhttps://x.com/MattWallace888/status/1952613173862793613https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19SS84djZY/https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CThoTXjKy/https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16q2ymKjav/https://youtu.be/FuCfizJxIZs?si=itJoWRtAT0r6v3_Uhttps://youtube.com/shorts/We59fTTTwHE?si=lJ6eFl4X8Hb1qpndhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ95ADByxNN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Author, comedian, and economic commentator Dominic Frisby joins The Winston Marshall Show for a sweeping conversation on money, empire, and the collapse of the postwar consensus.Frisby, whose viral songs made him an unlikely folk hero, turns here to the themes of his new book The Secret History of Gold. He explains why money is the “blood of society,” how Nixon's 1971 decision to abandon the gold standard set the stage for endless inflation, and why fiat money is driving inequality, debt, and the anger fuelling populist revolts from Trump's Rust Belt to Javier Milei in ArgentinaThey trace the story back to Bretton Woods, Roosevelt's gold confiscation, and the technocrats who used paper money to expand the modern state. Frisby warns that today's bloated governments, trapped in debt and endless money-printing. But can gold or Bitcoin restore trust and prosperity?All this—the golden age of Britain, the fiat fraud of the 20th century, Javier Milei's revolution, and why fixing money is the key to fixing the West…-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------To see more exclusive content and interviews consider subscribing to my substack here: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Substack: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/X: https://twitter.com/mrwinmarshallInsta: https://www.instagram.com/winstonmarshallLinktree: https://linktr.ee/winstonmarshall----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters 0:00 Dominic Frisbee's Introduction and Background 3:12 The Role of Money in Society7:12 Historical Context of Money Systems 11:59 The Impact of the New Deal and World Wars 16:10 The Role of Austrian Economists and Neoliberalism 29:03 The Globalisation Debate35:41 The Success of Javier Milei in Argentina44:20 The Role of Cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin1:01:14 The Success of Trump's Tariffs 1:06:54 Lincoln's Revenue Protection and the American Civil War 1:10:28 The Role of Prohibition and Income Tax 1:13:41 Critique of Income Tax and Wealth Inequality1:19:52 The Pursuit of Wealth and Higher Goals1:20:42 Conclusion and Future Discussion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hebrew shi'ur.Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Ono, a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel, founder and chairman of the Halikhot Am Yisrael organisation, and president of the Maimonides Heritage Centre. He holds a doctorate in law from Tel Aviv University and lectures in Jewish law at Bar-Ilan University. He studied under Rabbi Yosef Qafih זצ"ל and is considered one of his prominent students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What did it take for beer to rebound after Prohibition? Joel continues post-prohibition history with the transformative role of marketing, the resurgence of home brewing, and how the brewing industry adapted technological advances. Perpetual stew, the evolution of beer cans, and even contemplate a hypothetical modern-day shutdown.PATREONSupport the show! Get episodes one week early and exclusive beer releases! patreon.com/respectingthebeerpodcastFACEBOOK GROUPGot a question about beer or just want to get social? Join the RtB Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/respectingthebeerEMAILGot a question? Email us at respectingthebeer@gmail.com--TIMELINE00:00 The Power of Marketing in the Beer Industry01:20 The Rise and Fall of Breweries Post-193302:13 Home Brewing Through the Decades03:11 Supply Chain Challenges in Brewing11:06 The Evolution of Beer Packaging15:16 Adapting to COVID-19: A New Era for Breweries16:03 Pivoting in a Crisis16:54 A 547 Mustard?20:15 The Romance of Wine vs. Beer21:47 Prohibition's Impact on Beer Replication23:31 The Role of Hops in Beer Production25:08 Canadian Beer History and Cultural References26:22 Psychological and Economic Shifts Post-Prohibition27:40 The Three-Tier System in Alcohol Distribution28:53 Support us on Patreon!--CREDITSHosts:Bobby FleshmanAllison FleshmanJoel HermansenGary ArdntMusic by Sarah Lynn HussRecorded & Produced by David KalsowBrought to you by McFleshman's Brewing Co

A version of this essay was published by firstpost.com at https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/what-fuels-anti-india-hate-in-the-west-13932053.htmlI am personally very pro-America, yet I too have been baffled by the noises emanating from the Trump administration regarding India, particularly from one aide. Peter Navarro, apparently some trade muckity-muck, has had a field day accusing India of various sins. Apart from the entertainment value, this leads to a serious question: Why? And why now?There is reason to believe, by connecting the dots, that there is indeed a method behind this madness. It is not a pure random walk: there is a plan, and there are good reasons why the vicious attack on India has been launched at this time and in this manner. Of course, this is based on open source and circumstantial evidence: I have no inside information whatsoever.In this context, consider what is arguably the greatest political thriller of all time: "Z" (1969) by Costa-Gavras. It is based on a real-life political murder in Greece, where a popular left-leaning candidate for President was covertly assassinated by the ruling military junta.The way the plot unravels is when the investigating magistrate, masterfully played by Jean-Louis Trintignant, notices a curious phenomenon: the use of a single phrase "lithe and fierce like a tiger", used verbatim by several eye-witnesses. He realizes that there was a criminal conspiracy to get rid of the inconvenient candidate, with plausible deniability. Words and phrases have subtle meanings, and they reveal a great deal.Thus, let me bring to your notice the following tweets:* “India could end the Ukraine war tomorrow: Modi needs to pick a side” (August 5)* “Europeans love to whinge about Trump and to claim he is soft on Russia. But after 3 years it is Donald J Trump who has finally made India pay a price for enabling Putin's butchery.” (August 6)* Speaker: “[the American taxpayer] gotta fund Modi's war”. TV Anchor (confused): “You mean Putin's war?”. Speaker: “No, I mean Modi's war”. (August 28)Do you, gentle reader, notice a pattern?Now let me tell you who the authors of these posts are. The first quoted an article by an officer in the British Special Forces, which means their covert, cloak-and-dagger military people.The second was by Boris Johnson, former British Prime Minister. Johnson, incidentally, has been accused of single-handedly spiking ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, when there was a possibility that the whole sorry spectacle of the war could have been settled/brought to a close.The third is by the aforementioned Peter Navarro on an American TV channel, Bloomberg Television.I don't know about you, but it seems to me that these three statements are lineal descendants of each other, one leading seamlessly to the next.This is how narratives are built, one brick in the wall after another. In reality, India has not contravened any sanctions in buying oil from Russia, and in fact has helped maintain a cap on oil prices, which were rising because of the Ukraine-Russia war. But then who needs truth if narrative will suffice?My hypothesis is that the anti-India narrative – as seen above – has been created by the British Deep State, otherwise known as Whitehall. First from the spooks, then from the former Prime Minister, and then virally transmitted to the American Deep State. It is my general belief that the British are behind much mischief (sort of the last gasp of Empire) and have been leading the Americans by the nose, master-blaster style.Britain has never tasted defeat at the hands of Russia; while France (Napoleon) and Germany (Hitler) have. Plus the US Military Industrial Complex makes a lot of money from war.A malignant British meme, intended to hurt Russia, is now turned on to India, which is, for all intents and purposes, an innocent bystander. Britain has had a thing about both Russia (“The Great Game”) and now India, and it was precisely why it created ‘imperial fortress' Pakistan, with which to trouble, and if possible, hurt both.Then there was the second set of tweets that took things one step further. Navarro, all warmed up, blamed “Brahmins” for “profiteering by buying Russian oil at the cost of the Indian people” in a broadcast on September 1. Why he would be bothered about the “Indian people” is a good question. But what was far more interesting, indeed hilarious, was the near-simultaneous, and absurdly wrong, set of tweets by a whole group of INDI Alliance mavens.They ‘explained', in almost identical words, that what Navarro meant was not “Brahmins”, but “Boston Brahmins”, a term coined in 1860 by Oliver Wendell Holmes, a doctor/essayist, to refer to traditional US East Coast elites, generally WASPs (White Anglo Saxon Protestants) who dominate the corridors of power in the US. Many claim to be descended from the original Pilgrims, Puritan extremists from Britain, who arrived in Plymouth on the Mayflower in 1620.They go to private (‘prep') schools like Philips Exeter Academy, then Harvard or Yale, then Goldman Sachs, then Harvard Business School, and generally end up running the country as a hereditary, endogamous caste. It is very difficult for outsiders to marry into or enter this circle, although money helps. For example the Irish Catholic Kennedy clan is part of this caste because they made big bucks (partly by smuggling liquor during the Prohibition era), even though the Irish are generally looked down upon.I have long claimed that America is full of castes like this, which include the investment-banker caste, the lawyer caste, the doctor caste: all go to the same schools, the same colleges, marry each other, etc. In fact they do form the kind of exclusionary group that the western narrative imputes to India jati-varna. Anyway that's a long story, and that's not the point: it is the tweets by, for example, Karti Chidambaram, Sagarika Ghose, Saket Gokhale, et al.They were so ‘spontaneous', so near-identical, and so outright idiotic that it is impossible that they came from anything other than a ‘toolkit' supplied by the usual suspects: the regime-change specialists. And their claim was not even accurate: Navarro was indeed targeting Hindus and Brahmins, as is evident from the following tweet. There is no earthly reason for him to choose this image of Modi, other than that he was coached into doing so.So we go back to the original question: why? Who hates Hindus so much?There are a number of other incidents where Indians (in particular Hindus) have been targeted in various countries: Ireland recently; Australia some time ago and again now, see below an anti-immigration (particularly anti-Indian) rally on August 31st; Canada with its Khalistanis running amok (lest we forget, 40 years ago, they downed Air India Kanishka).Let us note the curious coincidence that these are all countries where the British have influence: Canada and Australia are in effect their vassals. Ireland is not, and I suspect the British are hated there, but somehow in the last few weeks, this British prejudice has spilled over with “Irish teenagers” physically attacking Indians (including women and children). I wonder if the “Irish teenagers” are really British agents provocateurs.So let's put two and two together: who hates Indians, Hindus and Brahmins? Why, Pakistanis, of course. And they have been burned a little by Operation Sindoor. Pahalgam didn't quite turn out the way they thought it would, considering it was scheduled during the India visit of J D Vance accompanied by his Indian/Hindu-origin wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance. That might explain why there's a sudden explosion of social-media hatred by ISI and CCP bots against Indians.Pahalgam was Phase 2 of the regime-change operation. By so visibly targeting and murdering Hindus in Pahalgam, the Pakistanis calculated they could induce massive rioting by Hindus against Muslims, which would be an excuse for “the rules-based liberal international order” to step in, exile Modi, and um… restore order, as in Bangladesh. The usual playbook.Alas, “the best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley”, and Pakistan got a whipping instead, and some of their (US or China-supplied?) nuclear assets apparently went up in smoke. But make no mistake, the regime-change gang will redouble its efforts.Phase 1 had been the 2024 elections where there were surprising losses by the BJP. Phase 3 is the ‘vote-chori' wailing by the INDI Alliance: odd, considering nobody knows which passport(s) Rahul Gandhi holds. Phase 4 is the ongoing ‘Project 37' in which renegade BJP MPs are supposed to bring down the central government.Pakistan, and its various arms, including the Khalistan project, participate with great enthusiasm in these various phases. And for all intents and purposes, the UK has now become a Pakistani colony. Recursive master-blaster, as I conjectured: Pakistani-Britons control Whitehall, Whitehall controls the US Deep State. Here's Britain's new Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, in the words of a suddenly-awake Briton on September 6th.An Emirati strategist, Amjad Taha, asked a valid question: why is there more terrorism in the UK than in the Middle East?Wait, there's more. Here's a loudmouth Austrian who wants to dismantle India, long a Pakistani dream. And the map is by some Jafri, which sounds like a Pakistani surname. The Austrian also wants Rahul Gandhi to be the next Prime Minister.Pakistan is itself unraveling, as can be seen in Balochistan which is in open rebellion. Their Khalistani dream is new, but Kerala and the Northeast as Islamist entities were standard memes even from Chaudhury Rehmat Ali who dreamt up Pakistan in the first place in the 1930s.Pakistan just got a boost, however, with OSINT identifying a US C-17 (a giant military cargo plane) arriving to resupply Nur Khan Airbase. This raises the question again: were US personnel and assets decimated there by Indian missiles during Operation Sindoor? Is that why the US got so upset? Did Trump read the riot act to Modi, which led to the ‘ceasefire'? Now did they replenish the F-16s etc that were blown up? See, no Pakistani losses!I imagine this goes well with the newly announced “US Department of War”. I only hope the war target here is China, not India.Speaking of US internal politics, it was utterly laughable to see Jake Sullivan, President Biden's NSA, coming to the defense of India in Foreign Affairs. He directly engineered the vicious regime change in Bangladesh, but now he's full of solicitous concern! Nice little U-turn!From a global perspective, I believe that both China and the US are intent on knee-capping India. That is the logical response from an incumbent power when there is a rising insurgent power: the Thucydides Trap idea. It is a back-handed compliment to India that it is in splendid isolation, and has to pretend to rush into the arms of China because of Trump's withering assault.India will survive the hate; but Indian-Americans may find themselves in some jeopardy as the MAGA types are now focusing their ire on them.It is, as I said, the Abhimanyu Syndrome: India is completely alone (the RIC lovefest is just marketing). That is the bad news, and also the good news. If everyone (the US Deep State, Whitehall, CCP, ISI, Soros) is against India, it means India matters. Someone said India is the ultimate swing state. No: India is the incipient superpower, the only one that can make it a G3 rather than a G2. Naturally, the G2 is not very happy to let one more into their cozy club.1910 words, 7 Sept 2025 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

On this Bourbon Brief, we take a unique look into prohibition from the angle of medicinal licenses.  So… sit back, grab a pour, kick up your feet, and enjoy this episode of…  The Bourbon Hunters. Have you thought about supporting our podcast?  Head on over to our website at https://www.bourbonhunters.com  where you can, by purchasing Bourbon Hunters products, and sign up for our Patreon, which includes exclusive access to single barrel announcements from our Private Single Barrel Club. --Tags-- #punkrockandcocktails #thebourbonenthusiast #bourbonhunters #bourbonlover #breakingbourbon #bourbondrinkers #bourbonporn #kentuckystraightbourbon #kentuckybourbon #thebourbonalliance #bourbon #bourbonlife #bourbonlifestyle #bourbonenthusiast #bourbonwhiskey  #bourboncountry #deckpour #bourbongram #instabourbon #yourbourbonyourway #yourbourbonroad #blantons #pappyvanwinkle #vodkasucks #bourbonpodcast #columbuspodcast #bourbonneat #smokewagonbourbon #woodinvillewhiskey   -- Tags -- the bourbon enthusiast  bourbon hunters  bourbon lover  breaking bourbon  bourbon drinkers  bourbon porn  kentucky straight bourbon  kentucky bourbon  the bourbon alliance  bourbon  bourbon life  bourbon lifestyle  bourbon enthusiast

LATE ONE SPRING evening in 1917, a man named A.L. Sauvie was trying to sleep, and not having much success. The problem was his downstairs neighbor, who had gotten roaring drunk and was now verbally abusing, and physically beating, his wife. Complicating the situation even further was the fact that the downstairs neighbor was Sauvie's landlord. He was renting an upstairs room in the Clackamas Tavern, just outside Oregon City. The Clackamas claimed to specialize in chicken dinners, but its real claim to secretive fame was as a speakeasy. Prohibition had started early in Oregon. Also, the wife-beating owner of the Clackamas was about as close to royalty as old Portland's liquor industry had. His name was August Erickson — the former owner of the legendary Erickson's Saloon, on Burnside downtown. (Portland, Multnomah and Clackamas county; 1880s, 1890s, 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2506b.august-erickson-cautionary-tale-701.520.html)

Episode 2 provides a brief overview of what my book is about and my goal in writing it. To sum it up quickly, let me say that I have been fortunate to have had many unique and challenging experiences in my 46-year wine career, and I want to share these with anyone who is interested and curious about what really happens behind the scenes in the wine industry from growing grapes, producing wine and then the obstacles that wine producers face in marketing, selling and the distribution of their wine through the bryzanine archacia distribution system that was set up in the aftermath of the repeal of Prohibition.The Wine Industry is a patchwork of laws that make it like selling wine in 50 different countries. There is nothing uniform about it. You will be left shaking your head once you have read my book and question why anyone would want to be in this industry. Unless of course you are one of the protected class, read Liquor & Wine Distributor.Thanks for being a listener to the Fine Wine Confidential Podcast. For more information go to www.finewineconfidential.com

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks the growing unease in the GOP over RFK Jr.'s influence and Florida's decision to drop school vaccine mandates, raising the question of how the once-fringe anti-vax movement went mainstream. Drawing historical parallels to the prohibition era, he examines how framing the issue as “personal freedom” and missteps like the COVID mandate fueled a cultural backlash that could take decades to undo, threatening long-term public health. The conversation then shifts to politics, with Trump maneuvering to dominate the NYC mayoral race—pressuring rivals, exploiting ranked-choice voting debates, and turning contests in New York and California into referendums on his influence, just as Democrats look to tie special elections back to Trump himself.Then, Chuck is joined by Punchbowl News co-founders Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer to unpack the turmoil gripping Capitol Hill in the Trump 2.0 era. With Congress ceding power and lawmakers increasingly preoccupied with their own reelection campaigns, the leadership is under fire as redistricting battles in states like California and Texas threaten to tip the House majority. Democrats' gamble on independent redistricting may backfire, institutionalists in the GOP have all but vanished, and even the Senate is starting to resemble the fractious House of a decade ago. The conversation also dives into whether John Cornyn can outmaneuver Ken Paxton, how redistricting uncertainty could push members into statewide races, and the looming prospect of a government shutdown with healthcare concessions as Democrats' strongest bargaining chip.Beyond the legislative fights, the episode explores high-stakes questions over tariffs, the White House's pressure campaign against releasing Epstein files, and GOP senators' unwillingness to challenge RFK Jr. 's controversial moves at HHS. With potential Senate retirements on the horizon and California's referendum putting Democrats in survival mode, Sherman and Palmer argue that members of Congress are increasingly acting less like lawmakers and more like elected pundits. As Punchbowl becomes the “local paper” of Capitol Hill, this episode maps the fault lines shaping both parties—and the country's future.Finally, he answers listeners' questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.Timeline:(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Introduction02:30 Alarm over RFK growing in GOP congress, but don't expect action03:15 Florida dropping the vaccine mandate for kids in schools06:30 How did the kooky anti-vax movement go mainstream?07:00 Anti-vaxx movement has historical parallel in prohibition movement08:30 Anti-alcohol movement seized on a particular moment in time09:15 Anti-vaxx movement has been framed as a personal freedom issue10:15 Biggest mistake by public health officials was the Covid vaccine mandate11:30 Prohibition created crime & deaths from bootlegged alcohol14:00 Officials know potential harm, and made the decision anyway15:30 Older generation has memories of deaths from these diseases16:45 It could take decades to reverse the damage to public health18:30 Pro vaccine messaging needs to not be political20:00 Trump trying to clear field in NYC mayoral to beat Mamdani21:00 NYC voters should get ranked choice voting in general election22:45 If Trump gets Adams to drop out, race will become all about Trump24:00 NYC mayoral and CA redistricting could become Trump referendums26:00 Democrats are making special elections all about Trump29:15 Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer join the Chuck ToddCast 31:15 Congress has ceded their power in Trump 2.0 33:00 After Labor Day, lawmakers worry about reelection campaign 34:00 Leadership is taking flak from members over redistricting 34:45 California or Texas redistricting could swing majority 35:30 Redistricting creating massive uncertainty for lawmakers 37:00 Democrats backed independent redistricting and it hurt them 37:45 Are there any institutionalists left in the GOP? 39:00 The Senate is starting to behave like the House 10 years ago 40:45 Redistricting could cause members to run for statewide office 42:45 Is John Cornyn playing for time to prove he can beat Ken Paxton? 44:00 Cornyn closing gap with Paxton, but still well behind 46:15 Democrats have no incentive to cut deal, avoid government shutdown 47:30 White House and Congress have different targets for CR 48:30 Hidden perils for Dems if they shut down government 50:15 Healthcare is the best concession Democrats can extract 52:00 If Democrats shut down the government, how do they get out of it? 53:00 Trump will make a shutdown painful for Democrats 53:45 Dems in the minority have never caused a shutdown 55:45 If Newsom loses the referendum, how will it affect congress? 57:15 Polling shows referendum barely above 50% 58:30 California's system has been good to Republicans 59:30 If Newsom loses, the party goes into survival mode 1:02:45 If courts stop tariffs, would Congress vote authority to Trump? 1:04:45 House might capitulate on tariffs, the senate won't 1:06:00 Any chance Schumer and Jeffries meet with Trump? 1:07:45 Trump likely has the votes to prevent Epstein release 1:09:15 Epstein files caused rules committee to freeze congress 1:10:30 White House is pressuring/whipping members against file release 1:12:30 Where are GOP senators on RFK Jr's actions at HHS? 1:13:45 GOP senators are afraid to exercise any leverage 1:15:00 Is Russia/Putin the only line that would divide Republicans? 1:16:15 Will there be any more GOP senate retirements? 1:18:15 Plans for Punchbowl news? 1:20:45 Members of congress have become elected Trump pundits on TV 1:23:00 Punchbowl has become the local paper for capitol hill1:25:00 Ask Chuck 1:25:30 Are Dems just living in "the world as it is" when it comes to redistricting? 1:31:15 Are Trump's attacks on mail-in voting an effort to contest 2026 results? 1:35:45 Is there a line where Democrats fighting will be the "wrong" move? 1:41:45 Why is Lisa Cook being targeted for mortgage fraud when Trump did it? 1:47:30 How long would it take the DNC to find viable candidates in light red districts? 1:51:00 Could Texas/CA gerrymander backfire and put more safe seats in play?

On this episode of the Chuck ToddCast, Chuck unpacks the growing unease in the GOP over RFK Jr.'s influence and Florida's decision to drop school vaccine mandates, raising the question of how the once-fringe anti-vax movement went mainstream. Drawing historical parallels to the prohibition era, he examines how framing the issue as “personal freedom” and missteps like the COVID mandate fueled a cultural backlash that could take decades to undo, threatening long-term public health. The conversation then shifts to politics, with Trump maneuvering to dominate the NYC mayoral race—pressuring rivals, exploiting ranked-choice voting debates, and turning contests in New York and California into referendums on his influence, just as Democrats look to tie special elections back to Trump himself.Finally, he answers listeners' questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment.Timeline:00:00 Introduction02:30 Alarm over RFK growing in GOP congress, but don't expect action03:15 Florida dropping the vaccine mandate for kids in schools06:30 How did the kooky anti-vax movement go mainstream?07:00 Anti-vaxx movement has historical parallel in prohibition movement08:30 Anti-alcohol movement seized on a particular moment in time09:15 Anti-vaxx movement has been framed as a personal freedom issue10:15 Biggest mistake by public health officials was the Covid vaccine mandate11:30 Prohibition created crime & deaths from bootlegged alcohol14:00 Officials know potential harm, and made the decision anyway15:30 Older generation has memories of deaths from these diseases16:45 It could take decades to reverse the damage to public health18:30 Pro vaccine messaging needs to not be political20:00 Trump trying to clear field in NYC mayoral to beat Mamdani21:00 NYC voters should get ranked choice voting in general election22:45 If Trump gets Adams to drop out, race will become all about Trump24:00 NYC mayoral and CA redistricting could become Trump referendums26:00 Democrats are making special elections all about Trump27:15 Ask Chuck 27:45 Are Dems just living in "the world as it is" when it comes to redistricting? 33:30 Are Trump's attacks on mail-in voting an effort to contest 2026 results? 38:00 Is there a line where Democrats fighting will be the "wrong" move? 44:00 Why is Lisa Cook being targeted for mortgage fraud when Trump did it? 49:45 How long would it take the DNC to find viable candidates in light red districts? 53:15 Could Texas/CA gerrymander backfire and put more safe seats in play

Exploring Israeli Wines: History, Innovation, and Unique Flavors with the Israeli Wine Producers Association Iwpa.com About the Guest(s): Josh Greenstein is the Executive Vice President of the Israeli Wine Producers Association (IWPA), which represents over 40 wineries from Israel, ranging from boutique operations to large-scale producers. His passion for wine runs deep, ingrained over five generations in the industry. Josh's family background includes ties to wine production going back to the Prohibition era, with his father working in the market for 47 years. Josh founded the IWPA to promote positive aspects of Israel through its burgeoning wine industry, advocating for the recognition of Israel as a world-class wine region. Episode Summary: Join Chris Voss on this episode of The Chris Voss Show as he delves into the dynamic world of Israeli wines with Josh Greenstein, the Executive Vice President of the Israeli Wine Producers Association. With over 5,000 years of wine-making heritage, Israel is carving out a name for itself on the global stage as a region worthy of oenophile exploration. Josh shares the fascinating story of how Israeli wines have emerged from a historical context powered by ancient viticultural techniques and modern innovations. In this enthralling conversation, Voss and Greenstein unravel the uniqueness of Israeli wines, exploring the diverse microclimates and soil types that lend to the country's distinctive terroirs. They dive into the significance of kosher wines, the contributions of the storied Rothschild family, and the innovative spirit enveloping Israeli winemakers. Josh emphasizes the value of trials in vineyards that harken back to Biblical times while advocating for greater awareness and presence of Israeli wines in global markets, especially in the United States. For anyone intrigued by the intersection of tradition, technology, and taste, this episode is a must-listen. Key Takeaways: Israeli Wine Heritage: Israel boasts a winemaking history that spans over 5,000 years, incorporating ancient techniques with modern innovations. Innovative Viticulture: Israeli winemakers utilize advanced technology, such as drip irrigation and enhanced grape stress management, leading to high-quality wine production. Unique Terroir: Israel's diverse microclimates and soil types contribute to distinctive flavors and enable the growth of a variety of grape types, including varieties unique to the region. Kosher Wines: All the wines represented by the IWPA are kosher, although kosher certification is more about cleanliness and ethical processing rather than quality differentiation. Market Penetration: While Israeli wines are available across the U.S., increasing awareness and consumer interest is key to their expansion in international markets. Notable Quotes: "Israel has been making wine for about 5,000 years… finally got recognized for being good at it." – Josh Greenstein "CAB is still king, but we're seeing more wineries producing fun, lighter bodied wines like roses and whites." – Josh Greenstein "You know, wine is historical, wine is fun, wine is friendly… an amazing thing." – Josh Greenstein "People have the ability to go search it up themselves. Customers are very educated these days." – Josh Greenstein "Drip irrigation, which was invented in Israel… really changed the farming world." – Josh Greenstein Resources: Israeli Wine Producers Association (IWPA): Follow the IWPA on Instagram at @IsraeliWine Josh Greenstein: Connect with Josh on Instagram at @JAGWines Learn About Israeli Wines: Additional details can be found by visiting Goodreads for Chris Voss goodreads.com/chrisvoss Connect with Chris Voss: Follow on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/chrisvoss Discover the intricate flavors of Israeli wines and delve into the historical and cultural narratives that shape them. Listen to the full episode for an insightful journey through Israel's rich winemaking tradition and st...

Actor and comedian Baron Vaughn is familiar to audiences for his work on Grace & Frankie, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and The New Negroes with friend of the show Open Mike Eagle. He's familiar to his family for watching a whole lot of those multi-episode, sepia photograph-intensive, history rich documentaries by Ken Burns on subjects like baseball, the Civil War, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Doritos, although we made that last one up. Baron tells us all about his favorite Burns works and why he actually hasn't made his way all the way through most of them because, yeah you guessed it, he dozes off after a while. You'll doze off as Baron shares his Burnsian adoration as well as his passionate interest in the history of comedy.Find out where Anxiety Club is playing near you by visiting www.AnxietyClubMovie.com.Hey Sleepy Heads, is there anyone whose voice you'd like to drift off to, or do you have suggestions on things we could do to aid your slumber?Email us at: sleepwithcelebs@maximumfun.org.Follow the Show on:Instagram @sleepwcelebsBluesky @sleepwithcelebsTikTok @SleepWithCelebsJohn is on Bluesky @JohnMoeJohn's acclaimed, best-selling memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is now available in paperback.

Send us a textOn this episode of The Fixate & Binge Podcast, host Joseph Curdy sits down with novelist J.L. Flannery, whose debut novel 'Trouble in Atlantic City' plunges readers into the grit, glamour, and danger of 1927 Atlantic City -- at the height of Prohibition. Drawing inspiration from meticulous research and HBO's BOARDWALK EMPIRE, Flannery blends history and fiction to bring bootleggers, speakeasies, and political corruption to life on the page. We dive into the painstaking research behind the novel, Flannery's fascination with America' Prohibition era (from across the pond in England), and the timeless allure of Atlantic City's underworld. Along the way, we explore the blurred lines between history and imagination, the tremendous influence of Boardwalk Empire on Flannery's novel and the ingenious way readers are presented with two competing narratives on the truth.Joe also shares his Letterboxd review for SOVEREIGN -- which must be seen!Thank you for listening! You can find and follow us with the links below!Read our Letterboxd reviews at:https://letterboxd.com/fixateandbinge/Follow us on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/fixateandbingepodcast/?hl=msFollow us on TikTok at:https://www.tiktok.com/@fixateandbingepodcast

Folks, Prohibition sucked. And here in Oregon, we had it worse than most, cutting off our own booze supply in 1916 -- four years before the rest of the country. When the 18th Amendment was finally repealed in all states in 1933, Oregonians had not legally been in a bar for EIGHTEEN GODFORSAKEN YEARS! It was during that time (1923) that a neighborhood grocery store was built on the corner of N Catlin and Willamette that later became the delightfully punny Your Inn Tavern (7004 N Catlin Ave.). So is this intimate, wooden, rollicking, survivor of a bar really 102 years old? Could it have been a 1923 speakeasy easily transformable into "the best damn grocery store in town" with the pull of a lever? Well...no. But that didn't stop the HBTG boys from joyously crossing the St. Johns Bridge to make their first visit and some new friends at this verifiably great and memorable old Portland bar. Bar visit and episode recording: Thursday, August 28, 2025 HBTG theme song: "Frozen Egg" by Lame Drivers Interlude music: "Right Track" by Lame Drivers

In this episode of the Northwoods Church Matters podcast, Matt sits down with Carey and Ivan for a candid conversation about alcohol. From the church's historical stance on drinking—spanning John Wesley, the Temperance Movement, and Prohibition—to the biblical passages that warn against drunkenness while also portraying wine as a good gift, the crew explores both sides of the debate. They discuss practical questions every Christian faces: Where is the line between moderation and excess? How do we know when alcohol has become an idol? What wisdom does Scripture offer for navigating gray areas? Whether you've wrestled with alcohol yourself or simply want to understand the church's complicated history with it, this episode invites you to look beyond what is merely lawful and consider what is truly wise, helpful, and honoring to God.

What happened to the beer industry after Prohibition ended? Joel leads the gang through the fascinating journey of American brewing, exploring its struggles, innovations, and resurgence.PATREONSupport the show! Get episodes one week early and exclusive beer releases! patreon.com/respectingthebeerpodcastFACEBOOK GROUPGot a question about beer or just want to get social? Join the RtB Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/respectingthebeerEMAILGot a question? Email us at respectingthebeer@gmail.com--TIMELINE00:00 Welcome!01:16 Prohibition Ends: A New Era for Beer01:38 Exploring the Prohibition Room04:41 The Temperance Movement and Prohibition08:25 Post-Prohibition Challenges and Changes13:12 The Role of Politics in Ending Prohibition15:04 Low ABV Beer17:35 The Mystique of Spotted Cow Beer19:27 Prohibition and the New Deal20:35 Rebooting Breweries Post-Prohibition23:48 The Economic Impact of the Cullen Harrison Act25:57 Consolidation and Technological Advances in the Beer Industry27:04 Support us on Patreon!--CREDITSHosts:Bobby FleshmanAllison FleshmanJoel HermansenGary ArdntMusic by Sarah Lynn HussRecorded & Produced by David KalsowBrought to you by McFleshman's Brewing Co

Governments at the local, state, and federal level have been taking actions that raise taxes and take more money from the citizens. We talk about some of the items going on that are raising property taxes as well as the inflation bracket creep that is pushing people into higher tax brackets. We also talk about Prohibition, the confiscation of gold, and the confiscation of Jewish assets by the Nazi's. While history doesn't always perfectly repeat, there are too many similarities between the past and today. Learn about history, so you can protect yourself and your family! Sponsors: American Gold Exchange Our dealer for precious metals & the exclusive dealer of Real Power Family silver rounds (which we finally got in!!!). Get your first, or next bullion order from American Gold Exchange like we do. Tell them the Real Power Family sent you! Click on this link to get a FREE Starters Guide. Abolish Property Taxes in Ohio: https://reformpropertytax.com/ Our Links: www.RealPowerFamily.com Info@ClearSkyTrainer.com 833-Be-Do-Have (833-233-6428)

Islam's complex relationship with arts and culture across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia presents special paradoxes and intrigue in the realm of music. Islam has been used both to nurture and curtail musical expression. This program delves into the historic roots of this debate, all the way back to Baghdad in the early centuries of Islam. Case studies highlight sublime and ecstatic music from Iraq, Iran, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Pakistan and more. Author and Middle East specialist Joseph Braude discusses the history and issues with two Islamic scholars. (originally aired 2008) Produced by Banning Eyre APWW #561

State Sen. Erin Murphy, Sen. Majority Leader joins Jason DeRusha on the porch of the WCCO Radio Booth at the Minnesota State Fair. She's been fielding calls from many people from out of state asking “what is going on in Minnesota”. She and Jason explore the question everyone is asking… what can we do? How can we help?

Nous sommes le 16 janvier 1920. Il est minuit aux Etats-Unis d'Amérique du Nord lorsque entre en vigueur le 18e amendement de la Constitution. Un amendement qui interdit la production, la vente et le transport d'alcool. Censée être définitive, cette « noble expérience », comme on la qualifie, va rapidement révéler ses paradoxes. Si elle réduit, en effet, la consommation et les pathologies associées à la consommation excessive d'alcool, elle engendre aussi une criminalité organisée florissante incarnée par des figures comme Al Capone. Une criminalité qui transforme le trafic d'alcool en une véritable économie souterraine et entraîne une corruption généralisée. Face au mépris de la loi, des mouvements d'opposition critiquent l'intrusion fédérale et ses conséquences sociales. La Grande Dépression de 1929 servira de catalyseur pour renverser l'opinion publique, jusque-là favorable à cette prohibition. Treize ans après son entrée en vigueur, le 18e amendement est abrogé par le 21e. Quels étaient les enjeux économiques et politiques de la Prohibition ? De quelle manière s'inscrit-elle dans les luttes pour les droits des femmes, celles des abolitionnistes et dans les actions des ouvriers d'un pays en pleine expansion industrielle ? Avec nous : Annick Foucrier, professeure émérite à l'Université Paris 1 – Panthéon-Sorbonne. « La Prohibition – Interdire pour une Amérique meilleure ? » Editions Armand Collin Sujets traités : Alcool, prohibition, USA, Al Capone, criminalité, dépression Merci pour votre écoute Un Jour dans l'Histoire, c'est également en direct tous les jours de la semaine de 13h15 à 14h30 sur www.rtbf.be/lapremiere Retrouvez tous les épisodes d'Un Jour dans l'Histoire sur notre plateforme Auvio.be :https://auvio.rtbf.be/emission/5936 Intéressés par l'histoire ? Vous pourriez également aimer nos autres podcasts : L'Histoire Continue: https://audmns.com/kSbpELwL'heure H : https://audmns.com/YagLLiKEt sa version à écouter en famille : La Mini Heure H https://audmns.com/YagLLiKAinsi que nos séries historiques :Chili, le Pays de mes Histoires : https://audmns.com/XHbnevhD-Day : https://audmns.com/JWRdPYIJoséphine Baker : https://audmns.com/wCfhoEwLa folle histoire de l'aviation : https://audmns.com/xAWjyWCLes Jeux Olympiques, l'étonnant miroir de notre Histoire : https://audmns.com/ZEIihzZMarguerite, la Voix d'une Résistante : https://audmns.com/zFDehnENapoléon, le crépuscule de l'Aigle : https://audmns.com/DcdnIUnUn Jour dans le Sport : https://audmns.com/xXlkHMHSous le sable des Pyramides : https://audmns.com/rXfVppvN'oubliez pas de vous y abonner pour ne rien manquer.Et si vous avez apprécié ce podcast, n'hésitez pas à nous donner des étoiles ou des commentaires, cela nous aide à le faire connaître plus largement. Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

In this episode of the podcast, I'm joined by author Ron K. Fried for a deep dive into one of the most compelling figures in organized crime history: Frank Costello, the mob boss who rose to power during Prohibition and later became known as the “Prime Minister of the Underworld.” We discuss Ron's novel Frank Costello: A Novel—a carefully researched work of historical fiction that vividly brings Costello's complex character to life. Together, we explore the real-life events behind the book and how Ron approached writing about a man who straddled the worlds of organized crime and political power.We start with Costello's early years—his immigration from Sicily, his upbringing in East Harlem, and how he gravitated toward petty crime and gang life. In this environment, he met future legends like Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, and Vito Genovese—key figures in the creation of a national crime syndicate.During Prohibition, Costello built his fortune and reputation through bootlegging, running extensive liquor operations, and leveraging alliances that would shape the mob's future. We discuss the bloody 1931 power shift following the assassinations of Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano, which led to the formation of the Five Families. As Luciano's trusted associate, Costello rose in the ranks of what would become the Genovese Crime Family.We explore the mid-1930s transition period when Luciano was imprisoned and Genovese fled to Italy to avoid a murder charge. This opened the door for Costello to become acting boss, a position he would hold for nearly 20 years. During this time, he built a reputation as a refined, politically connected mobster who favored influence over brute force—garnering real sway in political and judicial circles.We delve into Costello's political entanglements, including the wiretap involving Judge Thomas Aurelio, in which Costello was caught influencing judicial appointments. We also examine his ties to New York Mayor William O'Dwyer and his suspected involvement in the mysterious death of Abe Reles, a Murder, Inc. informant who “fell” from a window while under police protection.One major focus is Costello's appearance at the 1951 Kefauver Committee hearings, a turning point in his career. His decision to only allow his hands to be filmed became a media sensation and diminished his power and mystique. The public scrutiny weakened his position and empowered rivals—most notably, Vito Genovese, who sought to reclaim the top spot in the family.We look at the 1957 assassination attempt on Costello, carried out by Vincent “The Chin” Gigante on Genovese's orders. Though Costello survived, he chose to step down. We also discuss the murder of Albert Anastasia later that year, and the theory that Costello may have had a hand in framing Genovese, leading to his 1959 conviction on narcotics charges.From there, we examine Costello's final years, during which he remained influential behind the scenes but largely retired from active leadership. We reflect on his complex legacy: a ruthless gangster who carefully curated an image of legitimacy and respectability. Ron shares how he explored that duality in his novel—bringing humanity to a man who lived in both the criminal underworld and the corridors of political power.We also discuss mob portrayals in film and television, and look ahead to the upcoming 2025 gangster film Alto Knights, a much-anticipated movie featuring dramatizations of several key historical figures we covered. Our conversation touches on why the Mafia continues to fascinate the public and how Frank Costello's story stands apart as one of strategy, survival, and power.

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In this episode of Kentucky History & Haunts, we head back to August 1925—a month of sensational scandals and small-town crime sprees that made big headlines.First, you'll hear the wild tale of Lucy Wagner McMills, a young woman accused of kidnapping her husband and tricking him into marriage after a whirlwind romance. Newspapers from Kentucky to New York branded her a “Modern Cavewoman,” while her groom swore he'd been too drunk to know he was saying “I do.”Then, we dive into the chaotic, decades-long saga of the Alford family of Winchester, known as “the Bootleg Syndicate” during Prohibition. From barn raids to shootouts, jailbreaks to safe-cracking, the Alfords' rap sheets stretched across generations. George Alford was dubbed the Bootleg King of the Bluegrass, while his children—including Virgil, Tommy, and Woodrow—made headlines for everything from moonshining to armed robbery.This episode has it all: star-crossed lovers, outlaw families, jailbreaks, scandals, and tragedy.

[01:02:09] Conservatives Back Martial LawOpening monologue criticizes conservatives for supporting Trump's talk of deploying troops in U.S. cities, linking it to the Pentagon's long-term planning for urban control. [01:05:31] Prohibition, Cartels & TerrorComparison of alcohol prohibition to the drug war; warns that attacking Mexican cartels militarily could spark terrorism inside American cities and provide cover for martial law. [01:12:29] Election Rigging & GerrymanderingDiscussion of how both parties manipulate elections through gerrymandering and voting controls; frames Trump as a Pentagon puppet in a larger plan of urban militarization. [01:20:48] Conservatives Cheer MilitarizationChicago carjacking victim opposed National Guard deployment; conservatives attacked her online, showing how Trump has shifted the right to embrace authoritarian solutions. [01:29:46] Normalizing Martial LawAnalysis of how deploying troops in D.C. and other cities is “predictive programming” to normalize military presence and condition officials and citizens for broader martial law. [01:45:21] Democrats Only OppositionClosing reflections argue conservatives have abandoned constitutional limits, leaving only Democrats to oppose Trump's martial law plans—though they oppose for the wrong reasons, focusing only on partisan power. [02:19:39] Texas “Big Beautiful Map” & Election RiggingDiscussion of Texas Senate passing a gerrymandered redistricting bill, Trump pushing to ban mail-in ballots and voting machines, and how both parties manipulate elections. [02:32:18] CDC Launches Vaccine Injury ReviewCriticism of the CDC forming a group to investigate COVID vaccine injuries, framed as a whitewash to protect Trump's Operation Warp Speed and Big Pharma. [02:36:04] Genetic Code Injections & Aluminum RisksSegment highlights concerns over mRNA shots replicating uncontrollably and reviews studies linking aluminum adjuvants to asthma, autism, and SIDS. [02:43:09] Hypervaccination Horror StoriesPersonal accounts of children permanently damaged after “catch-up” vaccine schedules in custody battles; broader attack on CDC and medical industry dishonesty. [02:49:41] Bioweapon Narrative & Military OperationDiscussion frames COVID vaccination as a Pentagon/DARPA military operation, not medicine, with secrecy and top-secret clearances tied to bio-surveillance. [03:08:15] Bayer, Monsanto & Legal ImmunityDeep dive into Monsanto's history with Agent Orange, PCBs, Roundup, GMOs, and Bayer's Nazi past; warnings that Trump and RFK Jr. are paving the way for legal immunity for “Big Pest.” [03:30:29] Greenland Child Seizures & Parenting TestsCase of a Greenlandic mother losing her baby under “parenting competence tests,” framed as government overreach tied to globalist family-erasure agendas. [03:35:02] Miraculous Cardiac RecoveryTeen athlete suffers sudden cardiac arrest and survives after 30 minutes without a heartbeat, presented as both a vaccine injury suspicion and a story of prayer and divine healing. [03:38:13] Legacy of James DobsonReflection on the life and influence of James Dobson—praised for defending families but criticized for Zionism and naïve trust in government institutions. Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHTFind out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

[01:02:09] Conservatives Back Martial LawOpening monologue criticizes conservatives for supporting Trump's talk of deploying troops in U.S. cities, linking it to the Pentagon's long-term planning for urban control. [01:05:31] Prohibition, Cartels & TerrorComparison of alcohol prohibition to the drug war; warns that attacking Mexican cartels militarily could spark terrorism inside American cities and provide cover for martial law. [01:12:29] Election Rigging & GerrymanderingDiscussion of how both parties manipulate elections through gerrymandering and voting controls; frames Trump as a Pentagon puppet in a larger plan of urban militarization. [01:20:48] Conservatives Cheer MilitarizationChicago carjacking victim opposed National Guard deployment; conservatives attacked her online, showing how Trump has shifted the right to embrace authoritarian solutions. [01:29:46] Normalizing Martial LawAnalysis of how deploying troops in D.C. and other cities is “predictive programming” to normalize military presence and condition officials and citizens for broader martial law. [01:45:21] Democrats Only OppositionClosing reflections argue conservatives have abandoned constitutional limits, leaving only Democrats to oppose Trump's martial law plans—though they oppose for the wrong reasons, focusing only on partisan power. [02:19:39] Texas “Big Beautiful Map” & Election RiggingDiscussion of Texas Senate passing a gerrymandered redistricting bill, Trump pushing to ban mail-in ballots and voting machines, and how both parties manipulate elections. [02:32:18] CDC Launches Vaccine Injury ReviewCriticism of the CDC forming a group to investigate COVID vaccine injuries, framed as a whitewash to protect Trump's Operation Warp Speed and Big Pharma. [02:36:04] Genetic Code Injections & Aluminum RisksSegment highlights concerns over mRNA shots replicating uncontrollably and reviews studies linking aluminum adjuvants to asthma, autism, and SIDS. [02:43:09] Hypervaccination Horror StoriesPersonal accounts of children permanently damaged after “catch-up” vaccine schedules in custody battles; broader attack on CDC and medical industry dishonesty. [02:49:41] Bioweapon Narrative & Military OperationDiscussion frames COVID vaccination as a Pentagon/DARPA military operation, not medicine, with secrecy and top-secret clearances tied to bio-surveillance. [03:08:15] Bayer, Monsanto & Legal ImmunityDeep dive into Monsanto's history with Agent Orange, PCBs, Roundup, GMOs, and Bayer's Nazi past; warnings that Trump and RFK Jr. are paving the way for legal immunity for “Big Pest.” [03:30:29] Greenland Child Seizures & Parenting TestsCase of a Greenlandic mother losing her baby under “parenting competence tests,” framed as government overreach tied to globalist family-erasure agendas. [03:35:02] Miraculous Cardiac RecoveryTeen athlete suffers sudden cardiac arrest and survives after 30 minutes without a heartbeat, presented as both a vaccine injury suspicion and a story of prayer and divine healing. [03:38:13] Legacy of James DobsonReflection on the life and influence of James Dobson—praised for defending families but criticized for Zionism and naïve trust in government institutions. Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silverFor 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHTFind out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

Pharmacist Dr Rhys Ponton on how to reduce harm from recreational drugs. 

Al Capone's Beer Wars: A Complete History of Organized Crime in Chicago during Prohibition- John BinderAlthough much has been written about Al Capone, there has not been--until now--a complete history of organized crime in Chicago during Prohibition. This exhaustively researched book covers the entire period from 1920 to 1933. Author John J. Binder, a recognized authority on the history of organized crime in Chicago, discusses all the important bootlegging gangs in the city and the suburbs and also examines the other major rackets, such as prostitution, gambling, labor and business racketeering, and narcotics.A major focus is how the Capone gang -- one of twelve major bootlegging mobs in Chicago at the start of Prohibition--gained a virtual monopoly over organized crime in northern Illinois and beyond. Binder also describes the fight by federal and local authorities, as well as citizens' groups, against organized crime. In the process, he refutes numerous myths and misconceptions related to the Capone gang, other criminal groups, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, and gangland killings.What emerges is a big picture of how Chicago's underworld evolved during this period. This broad perspective goes well beyond Capone and specific acts of violence and brings to light what was happening elsewhere in Chicagoland and after Capone went to jail.Based on 25 years of research and using many previously unexplored sources, this fascinating account of a bloody and colorful era in Chicago history will become the definitive work on the subject.https://amzn.to/4oQJu58Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Prohibition and the rise of the Real McCoy. Patreon Surfside Sips

Whiskeys: Stranahan's Blue Peak Solera Cask Finished American Single Malt • Stranahan's Diamond Peak 2024 Rum Cask Finished American Single Malt • Stranahan's Snowflake 2024 Redcloud Peak Wine & Whiskey Finished American Single Malt Tangents: Gabe, Andy, and Drew join us on this ascent into American Single Malts from the Colorado Rockies! • The surprising history of Stranahan's • Ed gets mad at his Prohibition-era relatives • #sadsapling • Define “pants” • Butt cheek pancakes! • Blue Peak is the infinity barrel of American Single Malts • Scott overexplains a banana tasting note • Gabe goes a-grazin' • Diamond Peak is a problem waiting to happen • Sun's out, rum's out • Sling Blade love dem taters mmm-hmm • Send that to a WNBA Game • Narrator voice: Ed was, in fact, not locked in • Top 10 Fun Facts about Colorado! • Are there Gators in them thar mountains? • Prairie dogs file complaints about green dildos • #peepsrights • Miners (minors?) kept Colorado slave free • Andy curb your Drew! • Goobers is a candy AND an insult • Apparently, “Ed Sneezing” is a tasting note now • Ed and Scott got roofied at a mezcal bar • Andy got fouled by Ed (but still made the layup) • American Single Malts are great for any time of day Music Credits: Whiskey on the Mississippi, Southern Gothic, Cantina Blues, Fireflies and Stardust, and Boogie Party by Kevin MacLeod from https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

The president also called for changing how ballots are tallied in elections. We unpack the president's claims, and discuss how presidential power is limited when it comes to election administration. This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and voting correspondents Ashley Lopez & Miles Parks. This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics. For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR's Pod Club newsletter at npr.org/podclub.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Treatment for transgender kids is a topic as fluid as the gender identity of Gen Z. Adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Miriam Grossman describes the rarely-publicized risks of sex identity changes--medical and psychological--and ways that parents should respond to their trans kids. Warning: some graphic, but professional, discussion of this sensitive topic.News update: Since our interview, the U.S. v. Skrmetti case referenced in our show was decided. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld, by a vote of 6 to 3, a state ban on certain pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for transgender minors. The Tennessee law in question was Prohibition on Medical Procedures Performed on Minors Related to Sexual Identity, Senate Bill 1 (SB1).Additional Resources: MiriamGrossmanmd.comDonoharm.orgTradition or Transition? Episode 39, Conversation Balloons Podcast, https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WIX9f5i5wdAbanECrQ5D6Books by Dr. Miriam Grossman:Lost in Trans Nation: A Child Psychiatrists' Guide Out of the MadnessYou're Teaching My Child What? A Physician Exposes the Lies of Sex Education and How They Harm Your Children

Send us a textOriginally drafted in 1939, the Prohibition-era gangster novel The Girl by Meridel Le Sueur remained unpublished for nearly 40 years. Le Sueur used the intervening decades to transform her work into a powerful narrative, focusing on the lives of marginalized women in Depression-era America. Joining us is Dr. Rosemary Hennessy, a Professor of English at Rice University, whose most recent book, In the Company of Radical Women Writers, rediscovers the political commitments and passionate advocacy of seven writers, including Le Sueur. Mentioned in this episode:Meridel Le SueurThe Girl by Meridel Le Sueur“Women on the Breadlines” by Meridel Le Sueur“The Dread Road” by Meridel Le Seur“Annunciation” by Meridel Le Sueur“Women Know a Lot of Things” by Meridel Le SueurThe Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckWomen Talking novel by Miriam ToewsWomen Talking film by Sarah PolleyKansas City by Robert AltmanBadlands by Terrance Malick“Getaway Car” by Taylor Swift“My People are My Home” film by Meridel Le SueurLost Ladies of Lit episode No. 106 on Dirty Helen Cromwell's Good Time Party GirlJohn Crawford and West End PressWorkers AllianceSupport the showFor episodes and show notes, visit: LostLadiesofLit.comSubscribe to our substack newsletter. Follow us on instagram @lostladiesoflit. Email us: Contact — Lost Ladies of Lit Podcast

What did it take to write this riveting novel? In this episode, we dive into Rick Skwiot's gripping new historical novel, The Bootlegger's Bride—a haunting tale of vengeance, identity, and survival set against the backdrop of Prohibition-era St. Louis and post-WWII America. When two bodies surface through Long Lake's frozen silence—one suicide, one murder—twelve-year-old A.J. Nowak is thrust into a decades-long mystery rooted in his family's dark legacy.Whether you're drawn to historical fiction, psychological drama, or tales of redemption, this episode peels back the layers of a Midwest gone by—where honor and heartbreak collide. Learn more about Rick Skwiot and his work at: www.rickskwiot.comvisist: www.chuckschathub.comRead a sample: https://amzn.to/4luGKHD00:00 Pet PSA00:05 Author Background and Writing Journey01:29 Exploring 'The Bootlegger's Bride'03:43 Understanding Historical Fiction04:57 Research and Personal Stories06:33 Writing Style and Structure09:37 Setting and Character Development11:11 The Impact of AI on Writing12:34 Book Promotion and Availability14:30 Cover Design and Its Significance15:01 Emotional Depth and Reader Experience17:22 Character Perspectives and Plot Dynamics18:34 Conclusion and Future Works

What do Oshkosh's craft beer scene, Prohibition-era speakeasies, and historic bars have in common? Oshkosh Beer Blog author Lee Reiherzer unwinds the rich tapestry of Oshkosh's brewing history, from the architecture of stunning taverns to the tales of local wildcat breweries. Discover what makes this small Wisconsin city a significant piece of beer heritage!Subscribe to Lee's blog for even more Oshkosh beer details: https://oshkoshbeer.blogspot.com/PATREONSupport the show! Get episodes one week early and exclusive beer releases! patreon.com/respectingthebeerpodcastFACEBOOK GROUPGot a question about beer or just want to get social? Join the RtB Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/respectingthebeerEMAILGot a question? Email us at respectingthebeer@gmail.com--TIMELINE00:00 Welcome!00:18 Lee Reiherzer of Oshkosh Beer Blog02:55 Historical Bars and Woodwork05:44 Prohibition Era in Oshkosh08:04 Chief Oshkosh and Local Breweries16:30 Tied Houses and Brewery Ownership18:50 Oshkosh During Prohibition23:27 The Decline of Oshkosh Breweries24:31 The Impact of National Brands26:45 Surviving Local Breweries28:05 The Craft Beer Resurgence30:44 Exploring Oshkosh's Craft Beer Scene32:55 Historical Taverns and Bars34:46 People's Brewing Company and Black Ownership--CREDITSHosts:Bobby FleshmanAllison FleshmanJoel HermansenGary ArdntMusic by Sarah Lynn HussRecorded & Produced by David KalsowBrought to you by McFleshman's Brewing Co

1 Corinthians: Chapter 14 ContinuedPodcast from Nfluence Church | Granger, IndianaFeaturing: Pastor Lucas MilesEpisode Summary:In this message, Pastor Lucas Miles tackles one of the most debated passages in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 14 and its teaching on women's roles in the church. With prayerful insight and biblical depth, Pastor Lucas walks through the historical and cultural context, highlights multiple interpretations of the text, and addresses common misunderstandings surrounding Paul's words.From literalist readings to cultural considerations, from the nature of disruptive speech to the interpolation theory, Pastor Lucas carefully weighs each view against Scripture. His goal: to provide a balanced, Christ-centered perspective that affirms the value and participation of women in the body of Christ.This sermon challenges restrictive interpretations while pointing believers back to the heart of God for unity, clarity, and freedom in worship.02:08 Reading and Initial Thoughts on the Text07:42 Literal Interpretation and Its Issues14:56 Disruptive Speech and Cultural Context20:42 Prohibition on Discerning Prophecies27:49 Alternative Views and Conclusion29:36 Early Church Writings and New Testament Consistency30:38 Questioning Biblical Passages and Their Origins31:35 The Infallibility and Translation of the Bible34:33 Debating Women's Roles in the Church41:34 Interpolation Theory and Its Implications

1 Corinthians: Chapter 14 ContinuedPodcast from Nfluence Church | Granger, IndianaFeaturing: Pastor Lucas MilesEpisode Summary:In this message, Pastor Lucas Miles tackles one of the most debated passages in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 14 and its teaching on women's roles in the church. With prayerful insight and biblical depth, Pastor Lucas walks through the historical and cultural context, highlights multiple interpretations of the text, and addresses common misunderstandings surrounding Paul's words.From literalist readings to cultural considerations, from the nature of disruptive speech to the interpolation theory, Pastor Lucas carefully weighs each view against Scripture. His goal: to provide a balanced, Christ-centered perspective that affirms the value and participation of women in the body of Christ.This sermon challenges restrictive interpretations while pointing believers back to the heart of God for unity, clarity, and freedom in worship.02:08 Reading and Initial Thoughts on the Text07:42 Literal Interpretation and Its Issues14:56 Disruptive Speech and Cultural Context20:42 Prohibition on Discerning Prophecies27:49 Alternative Views and Conclusion29:36 Early Church Writings and New Testament Consistency30:38 Questioning Biblical Passages and Their Origins31:35 The Infallibility and Translation of the Bible34:33 Debating Women's Roles in the Church41:34 Interpolation Theory and Its Implications

It's Throwback Thursday, we talk drinking in America, and more!

It's Throwback Thursday, we talk drinking in America, and more!

On this episode, Tony Brueski digs into the chilling legend of the "Blue Lady" at the Moss Beach Distillery. This historic location, steeped in Prohibition-era intrigue, is rumored to house the restless spirit of a woman who met a tragic fate in the 1930s. As Tony explores the eerie tales and strange happenings that have plagued the establishment for decades, he takes a closer look at the real people behind the stories and the most compelling paranormal investigations to date. Is this ghostly apparition simply the product of imagination, or is there something more? As Tony delves deeper into the mysteries of the Moss Beach Distillery, he uncovers a series of unexplained events that have puzzled locals, visitors, and paranormal experts alike. With numerous eyewitness accounts and theories ranging from residual hauntings to intelligent entities, the legend of the Blue Lady continues to thrive. 

Join Al Zambone and guest John Shelton Reed (author of The Ramos Gin Fizz, for the LSU Press series on iconic New Orleans cocktails) for a deep dive into the history, culture, and legend of the Ramos Gin Fizz—a cocktail that's as much a symbol of New Orleans as it is a drink. From its 19th-century origins and the city's cosmopolitan mix, to Prohibition, Huey Long, and the modern cocktail renaissance, this episode explores how a single drink can carry the weight of place and time.00:00 — Podcast intro00:23 — Welcome and guest introduction02:35 — The Ramos Gin Fizz: A New Orleans Legend (episode setup)02:35 — Origins and pronunciation of “Ramos”05:56 — Carl Ramos's biography and 19th-century mobility05:56 — New Orleans in the late 19th century05:56 — Cosmopolitan city, Caribbean and European connections08:56 — Cultural divisions in New Orleans10:55 — German immigration and Civil War era11:06 — Rise of celebrity bartenders and cocktail culture13:18 — New Orleans' iconic cocktails16:22 — The Ramos Gin Fizz recipe and its components17:45 — Al's first attempt at the drink19:30 — The “shaker boys” and the three-minute shake21:00 — Flavor profile and chemistry29:29 — Fame, Prohibition, and Huey Long38:23 — Southern soft drinks and temperance44:48 — Where to find the perfect Ramos Gin Fizz today46:46 — Closing thoughts and thanksFor Further Investigation John Shelton Reed, Dixie Bohemia: A French Quarter Circle in the 1920s"How the South Cornered the Soda Market"The Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt HotelRevel Cafe and Bar– where Chris McMillian spells it "Ramos Gin Phizz", which just makes everything a little more confusing than it already was

On this episode, Tony Brueski digs into the chilling legend of the "Blue Lady" at the Moss Beach Distillery. This historic location, steeped in Prohibition-era intrigue, is rumored to house the restless spirit of a woman who met a tragic fate in the 1930s. As Tony explores the eerie tales and strange happenings that have plagued the establishment for decades, he takes a closer look at the real people behind the stories and the most compelling paranormal investigations to date. Is this ghostly apparition simply the product of imagination, or is there something more? As Tony delves deeper into the mysteries of the Moss Beach Distillery, he uncovers a series of unexplained events that have puzzled locals, visitors, and paranormal experts alike. With numerous eyewitness accounts and theories ranging from residual hauntings to intelligent entities, the legend of the Blue Lady continues to thrive. 

The ultimate bar crawl of Old New York continues through a survey of classic bars and taverns that trace their origins from the 1850s through the 1880s.And this time we're recording within two of America's most famous establishments, joined by the people who know that history the best.In Part One, we introduced you to the origin story of New York City tavern life in the Dutch and colonial periods, and we ventured into Fraunces Tavern to witness the creation of the United States itself. Then we headed out to Queens and to Neir's Tavern, which quenched the thirsts of horse-racing fans in the early 19th century -- and reinvented itself in the 20th century thanks to Mae West and Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas.For part two, we fill out our list of the most historic bars and taverns still serving customers in the 21st century -- from SoHo to Williamsburg, from Midtown Manhattan to Red Hook, Brooklyn.But we center our adventure within two classic Manhattan bars, which wear their histories proudly upon the walls:-- McSorley's Old Ale House is the most famous Irish saloon in New York City (and dare we even say, the whole country?), and its stacked, cluttered walls -- every strange piece tells a story -- welcome you inside to become a part of its history.  Historian Will Wander and long-time bartender Shane Buggy provide a most intoxicating tour of the joint.-- Pete's Tavern has become famous as one of America's most enduring literary bars thanks to its long-time association with O. Henry. But there are so many more secrets awaiting you -- from its association with Tammany Hall to its curious transformation into a "flower shop" during Prohibition.  General manager Gary Egan and owner Steve Troy reveal many surprising twists in Pete's own history.This episode was edited and produced by Kieran Gannon. Visit the website for more images of the famous bars mentioned in this week's show.

How dare you? That's the first question KJ asked Ally Carter, whose name is “synonymous with hilarious action and heart-pounding romance” (TRUE). Is KJ outraged? Hell no. It's a legit question. Ally's books are so so much fun, with wild action scenes befitting a Bond movie (or a Jason Bourne, OBVIOUSLY) and plots that trot the globe while dancing backwards in high heels and KJ really wants to know—how did Ally give herself permission to just go there? To write the dreamy, wild, sure it could happen but also we don't even care because we're so in it story that scares many of us (especially ex-journo KJ, who wastes far far too much time on such non dramatic questions as “but how would someone with that job pay for health insurance? and “technically, how much snow could that unit make in one night?). Also asked: how did you learn to write action so well? Do you take all kinds of crazy self defense classes? Or dissect movie fight scenes in slo-mo? Are you fun to watch a spy movie with, or terrible?I would have asked her if she used to BE a spy…but then she would have had to kill me.LINKSNational Spy MuseumThe Blonde Who Came In from the ColdThe Most Wonderful Crime of the YearThe Blonde IdentityAlly CarterAlly's rec: Netflix: The ResidenceInstagram @theallycarter The newsletterHey everyone, it's Jenny Nash. This episode happens to feature an Author Accelerator book coach. Author Accelerator is the company I founded more than 10 years ago to lead the emerging book coaching industry. If you've been curious about what it takes to become a successful book coach, which is to say, someone who makes money, meaning, and joy out of serving writers, I've just created a bunch of great content to help you learn more. You can access it all by going to bookcoaches.com/waitlist. We'll be enrolling a new cohort of students in our certification program in October, so now's a perfect time to learn more and start making plans for a whole new career.Transcript below!EPISODE 460 - TRANSCRIPTJennie NashHey everyone, it's Jennie Nash, founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, the company I started more than 10 years ago to lead the emerging book coaching industry. In October, we'll be enrolling a new cohort of certification students who will be going through programs in either fiction, nonfiction, or memoir, and learning the editorial, emotional and entrepreneurial skills that you need to be a successful book coach. If you've been curious about book coaching and thinking that it might be something you want to do for your next career move, I'd love to teach you more about it, you can go to bookcoaches.com/waitlist to check out a free training I have—that's bookcoaches.com/waitlist. The training is all about how to make money, meaning and joy out of serving writers. Fall is always a great time to start something new. So if you're feeling called to do this, go check out our training and see if this might be right for you. We'd love to have you join us.Multiple SpeakersIs it recording? Now it's recording. Yay! Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. Try to remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay. Now, one, two, three.KJ Dell'AntoniaHey, I'm KJ Dell'Antonia, and this is Hashtag AmWriting the weekly podcast about writing all the things—short things, long things, pitches, proposals, fiction, nonfiction. We're the podcast about getting things done. And I'm going to be solo this week because I am interviewing, and I'm so excited to interview one Ally Carter, whose name, I'm stealing this from her bio, because it was such a great line—is synonymous with hilarious action and heart-pounding romance. And as someone who's read much of it, I can vouch kids. So Ally's most recent big book that you've probably seen around was The Blonde Identity . Her current book that you're going to want to go straight out and grab is The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold, and her other book that she wrote just for me—because it was like exactly what I needed in a book in that moment and I really appreciate it. I'm glad other people got to read it, but it was really, for me— The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year those are her adult books. She's got a ton of young-adult books, also with heart pounding action and hilarious...wait, heart-pounding romance, hilarious action. I feel those are exchangeable. And even some middle grade if you've got some kids who might be reading in those lines. So Ally does all the things, and we're going to find out how, and immediately be able to do it ourselves. Ha! Ally, thanks for coming.Ally CarterThank you so much for having me, KJ. I appreciate it.KJ Dell'AntoniaWe are super excited.Ally CarterI also wrote The Most Wonderful Crime [The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year] just for me, because it's— that's like, I love a mystery, and I pick them up, and I'm like, this would be great. Where's the romance? And then I love a romance, and I pick it up, and I'm like, where's the mystery? And so that's, that's how Most Wonderful Crime [The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year ] came to be. It is two great genres better together.KJ Dell'AntoniaAlso, it's writers in a—like writers in a mansion, with secrets and surprise identities, and things people can do that no one knows they can do, which is my jam. Yeah, really enjoyed it.Ally CarterThank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaThank you for that. Not that I didn't I love The Blonde Identity. My daughter has it right now, and she's super excited, because I can give her The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold, early, because I might have gotten an early copy. So she'll be reading that on the beach next week after she finishes the first one.Ally CarterThat is some good cool mom points right there.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell, it is, yeah, and they're rare. But that is a great thing about your—I mean, my daughters are 21 and 19, so they're older, but I would have given the blonde books and The Most Wonderful Crime to, you know, a 16... ?... like, they're not—not that I don't actually give some pretty steamy stuff to my kids, but if you're not somebody who does that, they're steamy, but they're not—anyway...Ally CarterYeah, there are books that, like, grandma and mom and daughter can all read togetherKJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, I was just going to say I would give them to my mom too. Yeah. I mean, they're just super fun. Because sometimes the better test is not “Would I give it to my daughter?” It's “Would I give it to my mom?”Ally CarterYou're exactly right. Agreed, agreed.KJ Dell'AntoniaSo my first question is this: how dare you?! Okay, and now you're like, wait, what?! No, seriously, like, your books are—the plots are so out there, and glorious, and outrageous, and the action scenes are wild, and they're sort of everything you fantasize about in a spy romance novel. And as a former journalist, I spend a lot of time sitting around staring at my plot thinking things like, yes, but how would this person have health insurance? And I feel like you've transcended that. So can you talk to me and all of us about how you've, you know, embraced this world of the wild, glorious, fun, and outrageous in your plotting?Ally CarterYou know, that's a—thank you. First of all, that's a lovely compliment. I really credit it toward, you know, how most things are in my life and my career—it was total accident and sheer dumb luck. So 20 years ago—I realized not long ago—like, literally 20 years ago this spring, I saw it. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. And I was, you know, big dumb kid, didn't know what I was doing, sheer dumb luck, had this amazing idea. And most of all, I had an amazing idea at a time when the YA [young adult] genre was just expanding exponentially—like the shelves of shelf space at Barnes and Noble was getting bigger and bigger and bigger. And so it was a big tent, and there was room for everybody. And so I was lucky in that I got in there. I was especially lucky because I had a brilliant editor named Donna Bray. And Donna could see, like the shift coming—like, she could see Twilight and the, like, the move to paranormal, and the move to, you know, moving away from contemporary fiction to genre fiction. And she was like, we have to get this out fast. And so we crashed it. And so I sold it in, like, April or May of 2005, and then I had to go to copy editing in October, and I had—I had 32 pages.KJ Dell'AntoniaSorry, (laughing)Ally CarterAnd a day job!KJ Dell'AntoniaOh, my goodness!Ally CarterSo I had the summer of absolute deadline. I would come home from my day job, I would eat a fast dinner, and I would write till midnight. But this was also back, like, before we really had smartphones in our pockets all the time—definitely pre, like, social media—and so that's what you did. And I'm like, man, if I did that every day, think about how much writing I would get done today.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterBut because I was so fast, the turnaround there was so fast, I didn't have time to, like, go down a rabbit hole of, well, exactly what type of nylon cord would they use to rappel into such and such—you know, I just got—I made it up, and I got away with it. And so I realized that, you know, I would—I did do a lot of research on actual tradecraft.KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Ally CarterSo the things like the girl—there's a scene where the girls have to go through the boy's garbage. And there's this—you know, there are scenes where they're, you know, planting bugs and those types of things. Those—I watched documentaries, I read a lot of, like, actual decommissioned, sort of old CIA handbooks and things.. The International Spy Museum has a wonderful reference section, and you can actually order...KJ Dell'AntoniaOh, that's cool.Ally CarterOld, like, World War Two training manuals and things. It's really greatKJ Dell'AntoniaI did not know that.Ally CarterSo I did do that. What I did not do was I didn't worry about, like, the brand name of what you might call it. So as a general rule, I tell my readers, like, the more specific something is in the book, the more likely it is I made it up. So when I'm like, well, then she did the one death ski maneuver—and, like, I don't know what the one death ski maneuver is, but they don't either—I made it up. But the actual sort of bones of what the school would teach and how they would teach, it was very accurate.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell, it must have come in handy because you have another school in the current book.Ally CarterYeah. And it's—it was a little harder, because it is, you know, it's not for kids, and so it has to have a little bit more of an air of sophistication. And I wanted to base it off of the actual CIA training facility, “The Farm,” which is at Camp Peary—which is in the book, what I couldn't figure out were things like, do they sleep in apartments? Do they have a dorm? Is there a are there barracks? Are there, you know, is there, like, a big cafeteria? Are they?KJ Dell'AntoniaVery few people will know what's real, and they can't tell you, right?Ally CarterThey can't tell me. And so I actually, when I was on tour for The Blonde Identity, I was in D.C., and I did a wonderful event, had hundreds of readers there, and they were like my Gallagher Girls who had grown up and now they all are spies. I mean, they like, literally work for the CIA. They're literally with, you know, "I'm with Homeland Security." You know, several of them were like, I can't actually tell you where I work, but you were very popular there and so, and I actually did a like, show of hands, like, if you can say so, how many of you have been to The Farm and, like, multiple hands went up.KJ Dell'AntoniaOh, wow!Ally CarterAnd I'm like we're talking when this is finished. So I got a little bit, but not very much, you know. And I guess the thing also with “The Farm” is, you know, they bring in, like, their actual undercover operatives to train there, but there are a lot of different groups that also use that facility. So, for example, I think I'm not dreaming this. I think this is true. Like, if you are an ambassador or an ambassador's family, and you and you are going, maybe not like the ambassador to London, but if you're going to, like, you know, someplace that could be a little bit dangerous, they'll send you there for, like, evasive driving training and things like that. So you get a little bit of training. So it's not just spies who train at Camp Peary, it's multiple groups.KJ Dell'AntoniaI have a new life goal now, which is to never need evasive driving training.Ally CarterRight?! And see, I kind of want to learn how to do it. I don't want to need it…KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah no, no but no, it's not to need it. I don't want to need it.Ally CarterI want to know how to do it.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah. Well, yeah, you could, you could use it. Yeah, I just—it. I miss—your books inspire the writer in me to remember, like you said, that very few people care what brand of nylon rope you would use to repel, and from there, it's a pretty short step to, you know, whether or not you can really stop a cable car halfway.Ally CarterYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, we're and we're not going to but.. It's just...Ally CarterAnd the way I see it is, if you are the person who knows what brand of rope it is... even if i get the rope right, i could get everything else wrong.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou're either not reading this, or you don't care.Ally CarterYeah. There... This is, this is not for them, probably.KJ Dell'AntoniaOr if it is, it they've they're there, like...Ally CarterThey're there.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat's fine.Ally CarterYou either buying in or you're out. And that's fine. And I—and nothing but respect to the people who do know that? Because now, I grew up on a farm, and so I can't read, like, cowboy books, because I'm like, oh gosh, geez Louise, of course, your barn burned down. You put that hay in there way too soon—you are you really baling green hay?KJ Dell'AntoniaThey're literally haying in my field right now.Ally CarterRight. You know, I'm like, seriously, seriously. This is, you know, you're, you're, you're not. You didn't do a semen test on your bull? Like—you know?"KJ Dell'Antonia"You are not milking that cow. I know how you're supposed to hold your hands."Ally CarterExactly!KJ Dell'AntoniaSee I did.Ally CarterYeah, I'm, I'm not, I'm not here for and so I'm, like, this is the same thing. Like spies have no reason be reading me. I have no reason reading the things that I do know about. Because it's, you know, it's, it's just, you're also, it's not exciting to me. And so I'm sure most spies, you know, there's a line in...KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah it's not a fantasy.Ally CarterYeah, so…KJ Dell'AntoniaIt can't be a fantasy, because you're too stuck on, you know, the...Ally CarterExactly, and so...KJ Dell'AntoniaThe reality that our hay baling chute is broken, and therefore we will need multiple people tomorrow to go around and pick up each individual bale…Ally CarterYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd put it on a flatbed truck, and drive to the barn, and take each individual bale off the flatbed truck, and then stack them in the barn. Y'all are missing my arm gestures, but Ally knows of which I speak.Ally CarterI know, I know those gestures. You got to buck it up with your knee. It's a whole—it's—it is not easy work. It is very hard work. And so…KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, I'm hoping not to go out there, but I know I will.Ally CarterOh no, you don't want to do that, and you will itch for days.KJ Dell'AntoniaI've done it. I've done it for years and I know I'm going to end up there. It's my birthday tomorrow too.Ally CarterOh no, that's not the…Yeah, so it's the reality. I think it's very easy—also, when reading, as a reader—I hate it when it's very clear that an author has done a ton of research and they're not going to let it go to waste. Yeah. And so there's like, you know, they'll introduce the thing, and then they'll have, like, a paragraph explaining all of the things that they have learned. I'm like, this serves no purpose whatsoever.KJ Dell'AntoniaI also thank my editor for my leaving out the entire history of Prohibition-era alcohol rules between Kansas and Missouri in The Chicken Sisters.Ally CarterYep. See, if you, if you want to write that, the nonfiction is right there, you can— you've got it. So I like to do enough research to inform the story. And, you know, there are definitely things, you know, scenes and lines and wonderful things that have come from the research. But I never do research just so I know, like, what kind of rope it is.KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Ally CarterI—you know, that's that I think then, then, then also, are you doing research, or are you procrastinating?KJ Dell'AntoniaWell...Ally CarterBecause I think most people are just procrastinating.KJ Dell'AntoniaWe all know the answer to that. So how about the action scenes? You write such great action scenes, but I am also not a reader who's like picturing, well, clearly at this point, he's upside down and her hand. You know, that's not how I read anything. I just kind of go (shwoop) through that. So how do you handle writing them? Are you like slowing down action films so you can dissect the movies?Ally CarterNo, I really don't like writing action scenes. They are hard, and it feels like I've done everything, like they're okay. Well, hey, here we are. We're doing that again, but there. They are. They come with the job. And so I think most of all, you just have to remember, sort of the blocking of it. Like, okay, who is where? The other hard thing that that comes and, you know, movies have it so much easier. Like, you don't need a name for the for the six bad guys, that black Willow...KJ Dell'AntoniaRight,, the one on the right, and the one behind... Yeah, yeah, no.Ally CarterAnd so I'm like, Okay, but how is the reader keeping these different so, you know, like, well, one of them has a has glasses, and the other one has a goatee. Okay, well, then from that point forward, I the author just call them glasses...KJ Dell'AntoniaGlasses and goatee. Right.Ally CarterAnd so you have to remember, like, okay, glasses is down. Goatees still at large, you know, or whatever.KJ Dell'AntoniaIs there a special copy editor for that?Ally CarterThey're not special, but that is definitely can fall into a copy editor's purview, especially things like during that fight sequence. Okay, well, it was 100 pages ago, but it was also yesterday that your heroine got shocked. Is she really fighting at full strength? Oh, ouch, you know. So that type of thing, because, again, reader wise, that's, that was, I've, that was the midpoint. I'm to the climax now. But timeline wise, no, that was yesterday.KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Ally CarterAnd so the...KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd probably with some readers, reader wise, that was an hour ago.Ally CarterYeah! So...KJ Dell'AntoniaI mean you know, we're eating this up.Ally CarterExactly.KJ Dell'AntoniaSo much faster to read than to write.Ally CarterSo you have to think about those types of things. Like I wrote that two months ago, but nope, it's still right there.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterSo that's the kind of thing that, you know, again, you can't really worry about in a first draft. Like, let that. That's future-use problem.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah. Now, in contrast to, you know, the wild plotting and the crazy, enjoyable, delicious action, your people feel, you know super, super real. They have, ah, big reasons for being the way that they are, but the feelings feel real. I think that is an amazing um, contrast. Do you start with the, do you start with, like, you know, the person's flaw, or what it would there's some term of art for this which I have forgotten. Or do you start with, I need a person who, or does it vary book by book?Ally CarterThank you. I, you know, it's I spend a lot of time with that.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat's why they work.Ally CarterThank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaNo, seriously, no one. I mean, The Blonde Identity would maybe be fun if it wasn't also, like, you really want her to figure out who she is, and you really want to know why is this happening, and what is up with and like, you want all that for the character you believe in, in her.Ally CarterAnd that's always I find as much about tone as anything, this particular sub- genre, it can go wacky or kooky really fast, like it's very easy. You know, I like to say that spy movies exist on a spectrum that range from get smart to Zero Dark Thirty.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterAnything along that spectrum is a spy movie. But those could not be more different. And so are we? Are we doing like James Bond, like he's cool and suave, but he also has gadgets, or are we doing like he's, you know, kind of bumbling with gadgets? Or are we doing it's very realistic?KJ Dell'AntoniaWell are we doing Roger Moore James Bond, or are we doing … um…guy who now models for…Ally CarterDaniel Craig?KJ Dell'AntoniaThank you—oy vey—Daniel Craig, which are very different. James Bonds really…Ally CarterVery different James Bonds, because I've heard people the James Bond people talk about the Daniel Craig, James Bond doesn't exist without Jason Bourne.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterThat's who they looked at and so all of these things, you know. And so when I'm trying to figure it out, and I think that's one of the hardest things about genre bending romance, whether you're bending fantasy and romance or horror and romance, or romance and mystery or romance and action, or whatever, you could only really write in the Venn diagram space, where there's overlap. And so I couldn't, you know, the realistic version of this is not something where people are falling in love, like it's, you know, it's too dark. And it's definitely not a comedy, definitely not a comedy. So you're, you have to find the place where, no, they're in real, actual peril. This is really terrible. This is... they really might dieKJ Dell'AntoniaAnd they understand that.Ally CarterAnd they understand that they get that and also, but they still have time to, you know, okay, well, now I'm going to, you know, now we're going to slow dance, you know, you still have to find those times. And the other thing is, you know, you have to figure out just where on the spectrum you want to be and lean into that. Like, if you want to write, like, the kooky, sort of Agent Cody Banks of it all, then you have to do that. But then you have to realize the other parts of the spy kind of world that you can't touch. And so it's—you're just—you're always threading needles. It's, it is a, it is a task of, of absolutely threading needles all the time.KJ Dell'AntoniaI think that, yeah, when it comes to tone, where on the spectrum do you want to be, is like, like maybe one of the greatest questions that I have heard. And it's just one that, you know, I think we all wrestle with.Ally CarterWell, and I've had people that really don't—people who should get it—who don't get it. So, you know, I was in a meeting one time with some Hollywood producers who were looking at some of my stuff, and I said, “Well, tonally, where do you want it to be?” And they were like, “What do you mean?” I said, “Well, do you want it to be like, you know, Mr. and Mrs. Smith or Bourne Identity?” And they said, “Well, those are the same thing.” And I was like…KJ Dell'AntoniaNo, no, no, no!Ally Carter“This meeting is over. Thank you very much”.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterIt's... I don't understand how people don't get that, but to me, I spend 90% of my time worried about it. Oh, I remember now what I was going to say earlier. I got my start—and I'm never going to be, like, a full-time or big-time of this—but I've done some screenwriting. . And so there's a screenwriting podcast [Scriptnotes] by two guys who are very big, very dominant—dominant—screenwriter. One of them did, like, the Charlie's Angels movies and the Aladdin remake and all those. The other one does The Last of Us and a bunch of big, like, HBO shows. And, um, they always talk about "the Want song". So in every Disney musical, the first—the first song—sets up the world. It's "Belle," you know, like, you know, wandering through town. The second song is the "whatever she wants." And so, you know Moana, you know, "See the line where the sky and the sea meet, it calls me"—like, Moana wants to travel. She wants adventure. And so I spend a lot of time, when I'm setting up these characters, thinking about what their "Want song" would be. And so, like, for The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, her "Want song" is, "I want to be Eleanor."KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Ally CarterYou know she wants to be Eleanor Ashley [from The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year], who is my, like, fake off-brand Agatha Christie, and so that's, that's what you have to think about a lot like, you know, what Alex [from The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold] wants is to sort of be free like she wants, she wants to be enough. She wants to pay her—you know? She has paid her debt for—you know, sort of having been born strong and healthy, where her identical twin has been born very, very sick. And so she, she wants—and she wants to never lay eyes on Michael Kingsley [also from The Blonde Who Came in from the Cold], ever again, who was her, you know, on again, off again, partner, slash love interest. And so that's—you know, that I always start with that, what is their wound? What is the thing that hurt them in the past that they're trying to get over? And what is their want?KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterAnd almost always, what would they realize over the course of the book is that the thing that they want is not the thing that they need.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Ally CarterAnd so that's, that's an Ally Carter book. That's an Ally Carter character progress.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat's it. Now everyone can do it.Ally CarterYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah. Oh, but if it were that easy, everyone would do it, right? Um, no, this... this is amazing and delightful. I hope really helpful for people. I got distracted by taking some notes on what you just said. So, people—for me, for the Post-its on my computer, as well as, oh my gosh, so many Post-its, so many Post-its—let's talk just a little bit about the difference between YA [young adult] and adult when you're—fundamentally—I mean, some people sort of switch genres entirely. You were writing very similarly toned books for different audiences. How? How do you think of that evolution?Ally CarterThat's—in a way—yes, I did switch audiences. In another way, they're the exact same readers. And so that's—that's an interesting and weird thing about YA is, about every three years, you have to make all new readers because they have grown up and they've aged out of you. And even if they haven't aged out of you, they have what I call "cooled out of you."KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, yeah.Ally CarterAnd they're like, I liked those books when I was a little kid, and so current me can't possibly like those books, because those are little kid books. And so I was on the phone during the pandemic with my friend Rachel Hawkins and Rachel had written YA for a long time, and then she switched to adult. And I was talking about... do I...? What do I...? I need to sell something. Do I sell another middle grade? Do I sell a YA [young adult]? Like, what do I sell? And she says, you sell an adult. You sell an adult book that appeals to your Gallagher Girl readers. And I, I said, oh, Rachel, I've spent, you know, 15 years building a career in YA, I've got, you know... And she said, your readers aren't there anymore. They are the girls who read you when they were 12, ten years ago, and are 22 now. And I'm like, oh, that's right, they are. They've grown up. And so I—and I had the idea for “the spy twins” and had tried to do it as YA, and then at one point I even tried to do it as middle grade, and I could never make it work. And the problem wasn't, one of the twins wakes up with amnesia and somebody's trying to kill her—that I could pull off. The problem was, how and why is her identical twin on the run? And what does she have? And, like, you know, she...KJ Dell'AntoniaShe needs a longer history than you can have as a teenager.Ally CarterYeah, exactly. Like, is she actually working for the CIA, like, because then again, we get into Agent Cody Banks territory, then it's, you know, well, we've got a super-secret branch of the CIA who recruits kids. I'm like, no, you don't that's stupid. Like so...KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd she's been there since she was 10, and now she's on the lam.Ally CarterExactly.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou know, and then at age 12, she went rogue.Ally CarterYeah. And then you've got, like, well, no, you know, it's a Parent Trap situation, and one of them was raised by a spy and one of them was raised by ordinary people. I'm like, oh, maybe... I don't know, but, you know, I just couldn't quite make it work. And so I was talking to Rachel, and I said, what am I supposed to do? Just dust off that old spy twin idea, except now, instead of a super-secret organization, she's just on the run from the CIA? And then I was like, wait a second.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell yes!Ally CarterIf she's 30... she can—so every single problem and logic challenge that I had with that premise went away once those characters became 30. And so I just—and it was the easiest writing I've ever done. I feel almost guilty about how easy that book was to write; because I'd been, I'd been working at it and hammering at that idea for so long. And so it was almost like, instead of starting it at the beginning, I started it at the end of the writing process, where you have that one, like, little linchpin thing that you think, oh, but what if I do this? And then the whole plot just...KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Ally CarterSo I started it there. I started at the...KJ Dell'AntoniaWow!Ally CarterDomino moment. And I'm spoiled, because it'll never be that easy again. But that's, that's how the transition went. And, you know, it's been great because my readers, they're so excited to see me. It's like, they're, I hear from readers all the time, they're like, you know, it feels like you wrote this just for me. I grew up with you, and now you're writing books for me again, and that has been very full circle and very, very fulfilling.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat, that's great. Well, you're writing them for me too. So, love that, and I think for a lot of our listeners—who I really think are going to enjoy this episode.Ally CarterThank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaSo before I let you go, can I ask you what you have read and loved lately?Ally CarterOh, sweet mercy. I have been so underwater, on a—on a book, and it's been the kind of—it's been the kind of deadline and the kind of book... You know how the old adage is so true that you never learn how to write a book—you just learn how to write the book you're writing right now. And so this one has just... and when I get that way, I don't enjoy reading because my inner critic can't turn off. But I will share a show that I loved, and I—they just announced that they're not doing a season two, and I'm heartbroken over it. And that is, on Netflix, there's a Shonda Rhimes show called The Residence, and it's a murder mystery set at the White House. You know, somebody drops dead during a state dinner. And it's got kind of a kooky detective and a wonderful, colorful cast, and it's very, very funny, but it also—it threads that tonal needle, where, like, no, no, there was a murder. This is still serious, but, oh, by the way, I'm going to go look at the body, but first I saw a bird I want to check out, you know. And so it's just—tonally and voice-wise—it does really amazing things. And so if any of your listeners are looking for a really great, like, eight-episode series, it's great. I could not recommend it more—The Residence on Netflix.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat sounds super fun. Well, I am in the midst of The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold. So, you know, I don't normally recommend a book until I know if the writer is going to stick a landing. But I feel quite confident in this one, and have enjoyed—as you can obviously hear from the podcast—the rest of Ally's work. So I am going to just push all of you listeners to, you know, head out there, grab the new one, grab the old one, and have a good time with them.Ally CarterAww, thank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou're welcome. Thanks so much for being here. Oh, should people follow you on social media? Do you do anything fun? Are you...?Ally CarterI do nothing fun. I'm not fun at all. I'm mostly on Instagram; I guess at this point I'm the Ally Carter over there. I have a couple of kind of defunct Facebook pages that I update occasionally. I just updated it for the first time, evidently, in two years. So that was fun. I'm on Threads very seldom. I used to be on Twitter and I still have that account I don't update it very often. Um, but yeah—and of course, my newsletter, like the newsletter is—I think we need to come back. We all need to get back to the newsletter, because it will deliver the news directly to your inbox. And so if you want to make sure you don't miss any like, you know, tour events, which, by the way, I'm coming to Boston on tour in a couple of weeks. So looking forward to that a lot. I think its Lovestruck Books? Is that Boston?KJ Dell'AntoniaProbably yeah.Ally CarterYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat's the new romance bookstore there. I've been with Sarina a couple of times, and yeah, it's a great—it is a beautiful store. Like, every detail. Their bathrooms are phenomenal. That's how wonderful this store is. So, very cool. All right, I will link up the newsletter in the show notes, and yeah, about, you know, once every week, I decide to just cancel all the rest of my social media and only do my AmReading email. And then I imagine what my agent would say. And yeah, I don't do it, but...Ally CarterIt's, you know, and I feel like I'm such a broken record, like, oh, you know, go buy my book. Oh, go, you know, I'm going to be here on tour. Oh, this is how you get signed books. But—and I just say over and over and over again—and then inevitably, and this really happened to me one time, I was sitting at the LAX Airport waiting on a flight home, and I got an irate message from a reader that I never come to LA. And I was like, I did an event here last night—like, I was at the Barnes and Noble at The Grove or wherever—last night. And so we said, we—it feels like we are just beating a dead horse letting people know about these things, but it's so easy for things to get lost. And so...KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah! Jess tells the story—that's one of my other co-hosts—about, you know, someone who had come up to her, really one of her biggest fans, “Good new book.” And, “I get your idea, I love this, and I love that you wrote, like, knew a lot.” And then she said, “Oh, well, did you enjoy my latest book?” And they're like, “You have a new book?!”Ally CarterIt happens every time. And so, you know, it's—it's just part of the business at this point.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou've got to do it—it's just part of the business. All right. Well, thank you again...Ally CarterThank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd as always, listeners until next week keep your butt in the chair and your head in the game.Jess LaheyThe Hashtag AmWriting Podcast is produced by Andrew Perella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. 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Here's one fun question to ask at a dinner party: What is your favorite conspiracy theory? There's the idea that the CIA killed John F. Kennedy. The moon landing was fake, and 9/11 was an inside job. Covid was designed by the Gates Foundation to control the world—and the Covid vaccine had a microchip. There's the deep state. Chemtrails. QAnon. The Illuminati. Reptilian overlords. Pizzagate—which says that high-ranking Democrats were running a child sex-trafficking ring out of a D.C. pizzeria. That one, Pizzagate, is rivaled only by the idea that there is a group of Satan-worshipping globalists and Hollywood celebrities who traffic children in order to harvest adrenochrome, a chemical which, in this scenario, is extracted from their blood. Why? It's obvious: They inject it in order to stay young. It's easy to joke about these theories. It's much harder to reckon with the fact that many Americans believe them sincerely—and their justification is grounded in the fact that some conspiracy theories turn out to not be theories, but fact. The government was poisoning alcohol during Prohibition. The FBI was illegally spying on civil-rights activists like MLK. The U.S. government did let some few hundred black men with syphilis go untreated to study the effects. And Covid likely came from a lab in Wuhan, China.  The question is how to tolerate and even encourage healthy speculation and investigation? How do we allow for skepticism of received wisdom, which may actually be wrong, without it leading to reptilian Jewish overlords?  In the past few weeks, the speculation surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's life and death is a perfect example of this conundrum. It's a story filled with smoke and unanswered questions: How did Epstein get so rich in the first place? Was his wealth connected to his crimes? Was he acting alone? Was there a client list—and if so, who was on it? Why did he get such a sweetheart deal? And on and on. And then things get more far-fetched: Was Epstein's suicide faked? Who could have killed him? Was he connected to foreign intelligence? And my favorite: Was he running a Jewish cabal? To help us understand why conspiracy theories are so compelling—and how we might better engage with those who believe them—is Ross Douthat. Ross Douthat is an opinion columnist at The New York Times and host of the Interesting Times podcast. He has been covering conspiratorial thinking—how to understand it, and what to do about it—for years. In 2020, he wrote: “It's a mistake to believe most conspiracy theories, but it's also a mistake to assume that they bear no relation to reality. Some are just insane emanations or deliberate misinformation. But others exaggerate and misread important trends rather than denying them, or offer implausible explanations for mysteries that nonetheless linger unexplained.” Which we thought perfectly encapsulated the conundrum of handling conspiracy theories today. So today on Honestly, Bari asks Ross: What is the state of conspiracy theories in America? How do we dispel conspiracy theories that are clearly false—without relying on establishment sources the public no longer trusts? And what are the consequences when these theories go unchecked? Go to groundnews.com/Honestly to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock world-wide perspectives on today's biggest news stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices