Joined today by New York Times bestselling author Erik Larson. Erik and I recorded at Legends in NYC and talk about the status of “Devil in the White City” being produced into a HULU original after the rights were purchased by Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese. We talk about the behind the scenes of writing a book, how he knows it’s finished, if he feels pressure or relief when the final draft is submitted and what he does with his thousands of pages of notes. Erik’s latest release, “The Splendid and The Vile” debuted during the beginning of the pandemic, and we talk about being on tour when the lockdowns began. We change course and talk about our love of tennis, the US Open and the current state of men’s and women’s tennis. Erik shares how 9/11 influenced him to write “The Splendid and The Vile”, why this book about Churchill is different than the others, and why Mary Churchill’s daughter decided to give Erik Larson the diary which was the missing piece to his book. We talk about if social media could have impacted Roosevelt and Churchill’s actions during that tumultuous time, how Londoners reacted to 57 days of bombings and how Churchill went from being compared to the Third Reich to having an 88% approval rating. From trying to get an invite to his famous marathon brunch to shows he watched during the quarantine. All this and more with one of the most popular and influential writers of our generation.   Follow Erik on twitter and his website: https://twitter.com/exlarson https://eriklarsonbooks.com/

Mike Safo

Mike Safo with Erik Larson 2

Joined today by celebrity Psychic and Medium Chris Medina. Chris talks to me about the challenges of growing up in California with a Mexican mother and an Apache Indian Father. He shares how he knew he had this special gift at the age of 4 years old and how his family not only encouraged him, but were also entertained by his talents. Chris opens up about spending time in a bubble as he battled allergies, being under 10 years old and speaking to the afterlife, and how he mentally dealt with being a medium. We hear why Chris curbed his current career, and got into the insurance business for 20 years until his guides told him it was time to be the “Howard Stern of Psychics”. Chris’ calm, no bullshit approach makes him stand out in the psychic world and makes him a favorite among celebrities. I ask the questions we always wanted to know: can you turn off hearing from the dead, what does he watch at 1am, and does he ever hold back information during a reading. Chris gives me a quick reading about my personality and is spot on! We chat about his podcast “In Your Head”. From aliens to what he thinks about virtual reading and where the psychic/medium industry will be in 5-10 years from now. All this and more with the incredibly talented Chris Medina. Follow Chris and check out his podcast using the links below: http://www.chrismedina.guide/ https://twitter.com/PsychicChrisM  

Mike Safo with Psychic/Medium Chris Medina

Joined today by author of one of the best sports books of the year, The Wax Pack, Brad Balukjian. Brad and I talk about his friendship with The Iron Sheik, why the proposed book idea didn’t happen and how their relationship is now. He shares what inspired him to grab a pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards, open and it and travel the country with the plan of interviewing the ball players. We chat about how he got started on the project, what was his goal and what he thinks of the current card market. We discuss Richie Hebner, Gary Templeton and Carlton Fisk and how he had to balance not fan-boying out and asking difficult questions. Brad tells us about visiting his favorite ball player, Don Caren, growing up and what it was like to hang out with him and have a catch with him. Brad explains why he included personal details from his life into the book such as his OCD, his relationship with his dad and past relationships. From funny stories involving Rick Sutcliffe to the tragic heartbreaking interview with Doc Gooden’s son. Brad takes the reader on a ride through their childhood using our favorite toy, Baseball cards. Follow Brad and purchase the book here. Twitter: https://twitter.com/bradbalukjian Website: https://bradbalukjian.com/ Purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZQWSFNK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Mike Safo with Brad Balukjian, author of "The Wax Pack"

Joined today by author of the incredible book “Knicks of the Nineties: Ewing, Oakley, Starks and the Brawlers that Almost Won It All”, Paul Knepper. Paul and I chat about growing up in the Big Apple, why he moved to the Lone Star State and what he misses the most about New York City. He talks about this being his first book, what made him want to tackle the subject and the difficulties of writing a sports book by juggling games, stats and stories. We touch on the cornerstone of the Franchise, Patrick Ewing, what his expectations were, why he was perfect for NYC and why he is the most underrated superstar of our generation. We talk about the importance of Pat Riley and how he changed from Hollywood to a gritty defensive minded coach. We discuss the wars with Jordan and the Bulls, the Charles Smith missed layups and how there was always “one thing” missing from that illusive championship. Paul and I talk about the importance of Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, John Starks and the other iconic Knicks of the 90’s. We talk about 1994 in NYC with the Rangers and Knicks owning the back pages and OJ owning the TV. We relieve some of the classic rivalries during that time (Heat, Pacers, Bulls). From missed opportunities with free agents to Allan Houston and Spreewell coming to the Garden join us try to capture a special decade in New York History.  Follow Paul here and purchase this tremendous book:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulieknep Book: https://theknicksofthenineties.com/ Purchase the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Knicks-Nineties-Oakley-Starks-Brawlers-ebook/dp/B08KBLCKX7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37JXHLUSHVO2Z&dchild=1&keywords=the+knicks+of+the+nineties&qid=1622393865&sprefix=knicks+of+nin%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1

Mike Safo with Paul Knepper, Author of "Knicks of the Nineties"

Joined today by former Yankee, MLB Veteran and current head coach for the Princeton Tigers baseball team, Scott Bradley. Scott and I chat about the Jersey Shore, where he grew up and his favorite beach down there. We hear about getting draft 2 times and why he didn’t sign with the Twins and decided to go to the University of North Carolina. He describes his time down at Chapel Hill with Michael Jordan, Worthy, Perkins and Dean Smith. Scott tells us about getting the call from his favorite team, the Yankees, that he was their draft pick, what NFL Legend was selected before him and why that trivia question won him a lot of beers. We chat about getting the call to go to the Bronx, where he lived while playing for the “Bronx Bombers”, and how it was entering a locker room with Yogi Berra, Donnie Baseball and other legends. He tells us about getting traded to Seattle, catching a no-hitter, and when he knew it was time to retire. Scott shares about the leaders and mangers that paved the way for him to be the head coach at Princeton, his recruiting style and how he almost landed Jack Leiter. From stories about Yankees old-timers day to what George Brett gave him after his first game. All this plus his unique answer to the “coolest person in your phone” question.  Follow Coach Scott Bradley on twitter: https://twitter.com/CoachBradley9

Mike Safo with MLB Veteran Scott Bradley

Joined today by author and legendary graphic designer, Todd Radom. Todd and I talk about growing up in NYC, what has changed the most and what food he craves now that he’s in Upstate NY. Todd talks about his obsession with logos and uniforms at a young age, and what draws him to the color schemes and intricate details. We talk about the Red Sox New Patriots day uniform, the ever changing NBA city edition jerseys and if the players actually care what their uniform looks like. We discuss his incredible new book “Fabric of the Game: The Stories Behind the NHL’s Names, Logos, and Uniforms”, what made him want to write a book like this, the difficulties of writing this book with a partner and the challenges of limiting each franchise to 4-5 pages. We touch on some legendary teams such as the Maple Leafs, Red Wings and Rangers to some obscure teams like the Quakers and the California Seals. Todd then talks about  what made him famous, and that's designing some of the most recognizable logos in the world of sports. We hear about how he designed a Super Bowl logo, the pride of creating the Brooklyn Cyclones logo and some of his other projects. Todd and I talk about the disappearing usage of ticket stubs, which sporting event he wished he could have witnessed live, and his unique brick memorabilia collection. All this and more with the Logo King Todd Radom. Follow Todd and check out his site here: Todd's site: https://www.toddradom.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToddRadom/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddradom/

Mike Safo with Todd Radom

Joined today by Barstool sports writer and host of the “Short Porch” podcast, Eric Hubbs. Eric talks about growing up down in Jersey, where he partied down the shore and what made him take his talents to Syracuse University. We chat about his time at the ‘Cuse, how he got the gig at Barstool and how he slowly became the go-to Yankees guy for the company. Hubbs and I talk about the 2021 Knicks, how much fun they are to watch, what they need to go to the next level, and why they need fans in the Garden. We slide into baseball and talk about the cheating Astros, if the fans will still be fired up over what they did and some of the most hated players from that team. We talk about the upcoming Yankees season, expectations and answer some of the following questions: Did they do enough to bolster the rotation, what will the loss of Tanaka mean? Should they have gotten a left-handed bat? Will Gary Sanchez bounce back and will we be having a parade down Broadway in November? We have some fun talking about the hype surrounding Jasson Dominguez, Hubbs hanging with Tom Brady and much more. Follow Hubbs and check out his podcast here: https://twitter.com/BarstoolHubbs https://twitter.com/Short_Porch https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-short-porch/id1349923893?mt=2

Mike Safo with Eric Hubbs, Barstool Sports

Joined today by the Boston Herald's award winning reporter and New York Times best-selling author, Dave Wedge. Dave talks about growing up in Boston, his updated and re-released Tom Brady book, (“12”), and his thoughts about watching Brady hoist the Lombardi trophy as a member of the Buccaneers. Dave shares his passion for music and the interviews he has conducted with the legends in the field, such as: Ozzy, Gene Simmions, Biggie and more. We talk about his incredible new book “The Last Days of John Lennon”, how the idea came about, how it was working with James Patterson, and the hurdles they faced in promoting the book due to the pandemic. Dave reveals the success and the shortcomings of John Lennon, how after 5 years in musical seclusion he was finally ready to take off for his second career and why his message of Peace and Love is needed more today than ever. We chat about Mark David Chapman, mental illness, gun control and how sad it is that his name is always linked with Lennon. We discuss how John Lennon would be viewed today with his outgoing expressions with various movements, will Chapman ever get paroled and how the Beatles still resonate today. All this plus we chat about Dave’s new crime podcast coming soon. Follow Dave here: https://twitter.com/DaveWedge

Mike Safo with Dave Wedge, author of "The Last Days of John Lennon"

Joined today by media personality, motivational speaker &  6-time World Powerlifter and bodybuilding champion, C.T. Fletcher. Since it is a workout show, "Big Dave" Alvarez, a World Bench-press Champion, joins me as co-host. C.T. shares his story about moving to Compton at a young age, his difficult upbringing and why he joined the Army.  C.T. speaks about his relationship with his father and how he knew he had to break the cycle and be a great father  to his children. We chat about his time serving in Germany and how he started to fall in love with martial arts, Bruce Lee and weight lifting.  He tells us about taking a job with the USPS, becoming addicted to weight lifting and juggling both schedules. C.T. and I talk about old school boxing and wrestling and we hear why C.T. didn't quit the Post Office and join a wrestling federation. The former world champion talks about competing clean and competitively in the world of bodybuilding, winning 6 world championships and not being able to find work as a trainer because he wasn't certified. C.T. now lives a healthy lifestyle, but he tells us how his obsession with eating McDonald's every day negatively affected his health, and led to open heart surgery where he flat lined 3 times. C.T. shares how he mentally dealt with not being able to power lift anymore, the lifestyle changes he made and what he's doing with his second lease on life. We chat about the mecca that is his gym, "Iron Addicts'', how it was impacted during Covid and why everyone should visit. From being an inspiration to Joe Rogan, The Rock, Stone Cold  and others to his upcoming comic book. All this and more with the iconic weightlifter. Follow C.T. on his website for merchandise and workout supplements https://ctfletcher.com/

Mike Safo with C.T. Fletcher

Joined today by investigative journalist, podcaster and best-selling author, Patrick Radden Keefe. Patrick and I talk about his long form podcast "Wind of Change" and what inspired him to do it. Known for his investigative journalism, we talk about one of his most famous pieces, "Anthony Bourdain's Moveable Feast". We hear about how he got the assignment, traveling to Vietnam with Bourdain after he ate with President Obama, what Tony was like off set, and how his tragic suicide affected the world. We transition to his underground sensation of a book "Snakehead" about Sister Ping and the Golden Venture saga from Chinatown. Patrick tells us how he gained people's trust in Chinatown and was able to write this book. We discuss one of the most celebrated books in the past 10 years, "Say Nothing" about Jean McConville's abduction and murder and "The Troubles". We chat about the Price sisters, the IRA, Gerry Adams and more. Patrick was one of the first reporters to talk about "El Chapo", he shares how he found out about him, being asked by a Cartel lawyer to write Guzman's biography. All of this and more from the Yale Law Graduate and one of the best authors in the game today. Follow Patrick here and get ready for his newest book "The Empire of Pain" coming out 04.13.2021 https://www.patrickraddenkeefe.com/ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/612861/empire-of-pain-by-patrick-radden-keefe/ https://twitter.com/praddenkeefe

Mike Safo with Patrick Radden Keefe

Joined today, calling all the way from Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, the founder and head tour guide of LetsBeFriendsAfghanistan.com, Noor. Noor and I discuss how he started giving tours of his country as a volunteer and how all the negative news and press about Afghanistan inspired him to start a tour company to show the positive side. He tells us how the beautiful pictures he posted of his country on social media really got his company started and how he grew tourism from 5-6 people in the first year to a few hundred currently. Noor talks openly and honestly about the dangers a visit to Afghanistan can bring, the safety precautions his company takes, and if there is any hope for tourism there. He shares what made him want to learn English, and how watching Spider-man 2 every day helped him learn English. We discuss the various tours his company offers, the process for Americans trying to obtain a visa and what to expect on a long tour in Afghanistan. We, of course, talk about  the fascinating sport, Buzakashi, where they use dead animals as the ball. Noor tells us about his dream to visit the United States and how even though he won a year-long study scholarship, but was denied a visa here. From helping build a school for orphans in to the non-existent nightlife and rooming in Afghanistan . Follow Noor and visit his site here: LetsBeFriendsAfghanistan.com https://www.instagram.com/letsbefriendsafghanistan/ * Sponsored by: https://levinskystopshelf.com/silk-city-hot-sauce * 

Mike Safo with Noor from LetsBeFriendsAfghanistan.com

Joined today by former MLB pitcher, Bob File. Bob and I chat about yesterday's NFL championship games and then get right into Bob's childhood growing up in Philadelphia. We hear about Bob's first love, baseball and how even though he eventually made it to the Show as a pitcher, he never threw one inning as a High School player. We hear why he choose Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science over Temple University and how him batting an unimaginable .542 in High School and throwing the second game of a double header caught the attention of the Blue Jays scouts. Bob recounts getting the call that he was drafted and why, even though he was a 19th round pick he still held out. He shares about starting off in Medicine Hat and how he shot through the minors, dominating at every level and why he was walking on the middle of a highway when he got the call he was going up to play for the Blue Jays. Bob tells us about walking into a locker room with Carlos Delgado, Roy Halladay, Homer Bush was like. He goes in depth about his legendary 4 inning performance against Jeter, Tino, O'Neill and the Yankees. In one of the funniest baseball stories I’ve heard, Bob File tells us about his homecoming game in Philadelphia, giving up his first home run and the infamous "ejection" story. We talk about Bob's 2nd year injuries, how he mentally dealt with it and when he realized there was life after baseball. Bob shares what it’s like coaching at LaSalle, rejoining the real world and if he's still a fan of the game. From Opie and Anthony stories to what's cooler being in a video game or on a baseball card. All this and much more, catch up with the the former MLB pitcher. Follow Bob on twitter:  https://twitter.com/BobFile

Mike Safo with Bob File, Former Blue Jays Pitcher

Joined today by the definitive voice of true crime, best-selling author Dr. Harold Schechter.  Harold and I chat about his recent retirement as a professor from Queens College, how he balanced writing and teaching. Also, what made him finally decide to retire. Harold tells us how he’s protecting the world as a CIA op in Call of Duty and what other video games have been consuming his time during quarantine. Despite not giving me credit for coming up with the book, Harold talks about his upcoming book “Maniac: The Bath School Disaster and the Birth of the Modern Mass Killer”. He describes how Andrew Kehoe killed 38 children and 6 adults in 1927. Harold explains why some tragedies live in American lore, while others fade away. We discuss his previous book, “Ripped from the Headlines: The Shocking True Stories Behind the Movies’ Most Memorable Crimes”. With over 40 movies to choose from we briefly chat about “Alpha Dog”, “The Hills Have Eyes”, and “Double Indemnity”. Both of us being collectors of rare newspapers, we talk about the infamous Daily News cover of Ruth Snyder being electrocuted. From serial-killer action figures to Harold’s writing routine and more. Follow Harold and purchase his books here:  https://haroldschechter.com/ https://www.amazon.com/s?k=harold+schechter&ref=nb_sb_noss    

Mike Safo with Harold Schechter 4

Joined today by Corporal Matt Bradford, USMC. Matthew and I talk about the issues of Kentucky basketball, what steps Coach Cal should take to change his recruiting and how football is really starting to emerge in the Commonwealth. Matt talks about growing up in Kentucky and Virginia and how the events of September 11th changed his entire life. We go through Matt finishing high school, going to boot camp at Parris Island and then getting stationed in Hawaii. He recounts getting the call that he is being deployed to Haditha, Iraq, what day to day activity was like being stationed overseas and changes the heroic soldiers were making there. In griping detail, Matt recalls the tragic January day when he was blown up which resulted in the loss of his legs and eyesight. He takes us through waking up after 3 weeks in a coma, finding out what happened and what steps he took next to continue to move forward. Matt discusses becoming the first ever blind, double amputee to re-enlist in the Marine Corps, returning back to Iraq and receiving the news that Bin Laden was killed. Matt shares the story about getting invited to the State of the Union by President Trump, what they talked about and how Matt broke the ice with him. We hear about Matt’s life today, how nothing has stopped him from inspiring the world, from hunting, golfing and competing in Spartan races to being a shoulder for veterans struggling mentally. From his celebrity friends to graduating blind school, and what’s next for this American Hero. Follow Matt on the following social media platforms, as well as his website and hashtag #NoLegsNoVisionNoProblem https://www.matthew-bradford.com/ https://twitter.com/bionikmatt5

Mike Safo with Corporal Matthew Bradford, USMC

Joined today by former New York Times columnist and author of “Death Sentence”, Joe Sharkey. We chat about what he misses most about living in NYC, serving in the Vietnam War and what made him take the leap into writing books. Joe talks about what fascinated him about mass murderer, John List, and how it ultimately led him to write his first book. We talk about John List’s strange upbringing, moving from city to city and job to job and the unspeakable tragedy that took place in 1971. Joe painstakingly researched these infamous murders and we talk about the meticulous planning that John List did before and after killing his wife, mother and 3 children that  caused the crime to go undetected for 28 days. Joe tells us about John assuming a new identity, Bob Clarke, moving to Denver and living a normal life for 18 years. We hear about America’s Most Wanted doing a segment on List, which led to his capture. From being in a horrific mid-air plane collision in Brazil that took the lives of 155 people to what Joe really thinks was John List’s motive. Follow Joe on his website and purchase one of his books here: https://joesharkey.com/

Mike Safo with Joe Sharkey

Just a regular New York City guy who gets to interview some pretty amazing people... A conversation/hangout podcast with friends, athletes, authors, celebrities, fighters, and the world's most fascinating people "the greatest podcast ever" - My Mom

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Mike Safo

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