Eyewitness History

In this episode, I sit down with Jody Gelb, an accomplished actor and author whose forty-year career on stage and screen includes roles in Tony Award-winning Broadway productions like The Who’s Tommy, Titanic, Big River, and Wicked. You may also recognize her from guest appearances in hit television shows like Law & Order and Dr. Death. Beyond her impressive acting career, Jody Gelb is the author of the profoundly moving memoir She May Be Lying Down but She May Be Very Happy. In this poetic and emotionally rich book, Gelb reflects on the life of her daughter, exploring the complex experiences of love, loss, and resilience that come with raising a child with profound disabilities. Her writing has earned praise from luminaries like Elizabeth Gilbert, who called the book “a stunning work of art, of truth, and of love.” Check out her website: https://www.jodygelb.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josh Cohen returns to man the helm of Eyewitness History!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In todays episode we talk to Jay Brown who is a member of the living history group Capital Wing. We discuss not only our Military flying heritage, but the efforts being made to preserve that part of our history. If you are interested in flying, World War II, or the preservation of stories from the past, this one is for you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Eyewitness History I have the privilege of sharing an interview with Comedian, Writer, Director, Producer and the creator of my favorite Sitcom, Brent Butt! In addition to creating "Corner Gas" which is the number one Canadian Sitcom in history, he continues to produce content that has uncharacteristic staying power and an international audience. This has uniquely positioned him to understand the role of entertainment in culture as well as the responsibility (and whether or not there really is one) for those who have large platforms. This was a great conversation that entertains and informs while motivating you to stream another episode of "Corner Gas." For more information about Brent visit: www.brentbutt.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we talk about a movie as a "Cult Classic", what exactly does that mean? And,  how do movies shape the culture in which we live? In todays episode of Eyewitness History, I have the privilege of speaking with Producer and Editor Jeremy Coon who was one of the major influences in the movie Napoleon Dynamite. We talk about how the movie was made, and what causes a rare few movies to transcend generations and become a Cult Classic. To learn more about Jeremy Coon visit: https://september.club/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does the most dangerous country in the world become one of the safest? How can a country that has endured civil war, extreme poverty, and mass exodus of it's citizens become a model for other broken nations around the world? How can a President who barely qualified to run for his first term win his second with over 85% of the vote? These are the questions we ask and hope to answer on todays episode of Eyewitness History!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As scientists, politicians, and journalists look back and try to understand the real impact of Covid on our society, one group that has not gotten much attention is that group of young people who were going to college as the world grappled with exactly how we should handle this crisis. After spending years preparing for an education that would set them up for a career, many college students found themselves uncertain about their education let alone their future. How did they navigate these times and what impact did all of this have on not only education but how they would work "post covid?" Today, I have the privilege of interviewing my daughter Maggie who was a college student during the Covid years and now works in an environment that reflects how the pandemic changed the way we learn and communicate. There are so many lessons to be learned as we reflect on these years and I hope that by having conversations like this one we can learn and better understand how to move forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was it like to be a part of one of the first teams to respond to the Los Angeles riots in 1992? When everything had finally ended the riots saw innocent people injured, a number killed, and over One Billion Dollars of property damage. What was it like to be one of the many responsible with bringing law and order back to such a chaotic scene?  My Guest today is retired Los Angeles County Sheriffs Deputy Danny Coon. With more than 31 years working in the county of Los Angeles Danny saw quite a few things happen. Working the riots, though, where the highlight of his career. As he explains why the riots happened and how various agencies responded, Danny goes into detail about what it takes to end an event that brought a city and region to a standstill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For those that watched the non-stop news footage of the first Gulf War (1991), it is easy to think that this was a war fought entirely from the air. In fact, this is considered to be one of the most successful uses of military aircraft in history. But what about the warriors on the ground? What was it like to cross the open desert on foot and engage with a dug in enemy?  My guest today is retired Marine Corps Lt. Col, John Foldberg. John had a long and distinguished career in the Marine Corps that included leading a Marine infantry company to a an engagement with the Iraqi Army as Desert Storm was just beginning. This story brings out the human side of a major military operation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was it like to be a first responder at the World Trade Center following the events of 9/11? Most of us remember where we were when we first heard about the planes crashing into those buildings, but we may not know the stories of the men and women who rushed in to help. My guest today is one of the men who responded to rescue the survivors trapped under those collapsed buildings. Dusty Shellhammer is a lifelong first responder and was a member of the National Crisis Response team called into action on 9/11. This incredible story reminds us of the courage, dedication, and unity of all who stepped up to help during one of our nations greatest tragedies.    Hear More 9/11 Stories:  World Trade Center Survivor Brian Branco: Apple Podcasts / Spotify Survivor & Activist Anne-Marie Principe: Apple Podcasts / Spotify Firefighter Michael O'Connell: Apple Podcasts / Spotify Police Officer Tom Wilson: Apple Podcasts / Spotify See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.