Eyewitness History

Homer H. Hickam, Jr. was raised in Coalwood, West Virginia. He graduated from Big Creek High School in 1960 and from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in 1964 with a BS degree in Industrial Engineering. A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Hickam served as a First Lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry Division in Vietnam in 1967-1968 where he won the Army Commendation and Bronze Star medals. He served six years on active duty, leaving the service with the rank of Captain. Hickam has been a writer since 1969 after his return from Vietnam. At first, he mostly wrote about his scuba diving adventures for a variety of different magazines. Then, after diving on many of the wrecks involved, he branched off into writing about the battle against the U-boats along the American east coast during World War II. This resulted in his first book, Torpedo Junction (1989), a military history best-seller published in 1989 by the Naval Institute Press. In 1998, Delacorte Press published Hickam’s second book, Rocket Boys: A Memoir, the story of his life in the little town of Coalwood, West Virginia. It became an instant classic. Rocket Boys has since been translated into eight languages and also released as an abridged audio book and electronic book. Among it’s many honors, it was selected by the New York Times as one of its “Great Books of 1998” and was an alternate “Book-of-the-Month” selection for both the Literary Guild and Doubleday book clubs. Rocket Boys was also nominated by the National Book Critics Circle as Best Biography of 1998. In February, 1999, Universal Studios released its critically-acclaimed film October Sky, based on Rocket Boys (The title October Sky is an anagram of Rocket Boys). Delacorte subsequently released a mass market paperback of Rocket Boys, re-titled October Sky. October Sky reached the New York Times # 1 position on their best-seller list. While working on his writing career, Mr. Hickam was employed as an engineer for the U.S. Army Missile Command from 1971 to 1981 assigned to Huntsville, Alabama, and Germany. He began employment with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at Marshall Space Flight Center in 1981 as an aerospace engineer. During his NASA career, Mr. Hickam worked in spacecraft design and crew training. His specialties at NASA included training astronauts on science payloads, and extravehicular activities (EVA). He also trained astronaut crews for many Spacelab and Space Shuttle missions, including the Hubble Space Telescope deployment mission, the first two Hubble repair missions, Spacelab-J (the first Japanese astronauts), and the Solar Max repair mission. Prior to his retirement in 1998, Mr. Hickam was the Payload Training Manager for the International Space Station Program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of “The Way We Were,” this intriguing and impeccably researched book is the first ever account of the making of the classic film starring Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford, revealing the full story behind its genesis and continued controversies, its many deleted scenes, its much-anticipated but never-filmed sequel, and the real-life romance that inspired this groundbreaking love story of opposites who attract and start breaking up – even before they get married. Find out more about Robert Hofler here: https://roberthofler.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Lynn has directed 10 feature films including the cult classic Clue (he also wrote the screenplay), Nuns on the Run (also written by Mr Lynn), My Cousin Vinny, The Distinguished Gentleman, Sgt. Bilko, Greedy, Trial And Error, The Whole Nine Yards, The Fighting Temptations and Wild Target. His first produced screenplay was The internecine Project (1974) . For television, Jonathan’s writing credits include dozens of episodes of various comedy series but he is best known for the phenomenally successful, multi-award-winning BBC series Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, co- written and created with Antony Jay. His numerous awards include the BAFTA Writers Award, Writers Guild (twice), Broadcasting Press Guild (twice), NAACP Image Award, Environmental Media Award, Ace Award –Best Comedy Series on US cable, and a Special award from the Campaign For Freedom of Information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's episode is a roundup of top moments from the show, after 50+ episodes and more than a year of interviews! For full links to all episodes, see below:Columbine Principal Frank DeAngelis: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2TvqCNcWZb381MpiPqZltq?si=e0f546ca1ea84fd2Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-sprinted-towards-the-gunman-former-principal/id1617821942?i=1000564661263Queen Keyboardist Spike Edney:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hX0lefELS9facZmVX1f4U?si=bab4b1bb6d4a455cApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/queens-keyboardist-talks-about-freddie-mercury-his/id1617821942?i=10005672504569/11 FDNY Firefighter Michael O’Connell:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fEev70EVWYQgKFfdFGglN?si=2420b6a9110742edApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/former-fdny-michael-oconnell-gives-his-9-11-experience/id1617821942?i=1000569648315SNL Writer Hugh Fink: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6gD4g8ldRkZH9OZ2Ywf1Pk?si=39c73e1cc2b34e43Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legendary-snl-writer-discusses-working-with-chris/id1617821942?i=1000580777748Apple Co-Founder Ronald Wayne: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/04DRSEG0s3JUophgpsOZJL?si=b61e140f8d6f4883Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steve-jobs-told-me-that-apple-co-founder-gives-his/id1617821942?i=1000578518022Emmy-Winning Sportscaster Barry Tompkins:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4fqS5ZtE0hZYzn815DOoFe?si=231fbe648ff644c8Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/famed-boxing-announcer-gives-eyewitness-account-of/id1617821942?i=1000577782731See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sheri Fink is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated television producer and the author of the New York Times bestselling nonfiction book Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital about choices made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She is a producer of the Five Days at Memorial limited series on Apple TV+. Fink’s work has often explored the impact of crises on health care and is informed by her background as an MD and former relief worker in disaster and conflict zones (she also holds a PhD in neuroscience). Five Days at Memorial, the recipient of eight book awards, was based on an article investigating patient deaths at Memorial Medical Center. Co-published by ProPublica and the New York Times Magazine, the article won both a Pulitzer Prize and National Magazine Award. Find out more about her at http://www.sherifink.net/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bronco McKart is a former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2014 and held the WBO light middleweight title in 1996. McKart is best known for his trilogy of fights against Winky Wright.Nicknamed "Superman", McKart turned pro in 1992 and in 1996 captured the WBO Light Middleweight Title by beating Santos Cardona by TKO. He lost the title in his first defense to Winky Wright. In 2000, he would have the opportunity to avenge the loss, taking on Wright in an eliminator for IBF Light Middleweight Title. Wright won a dominant decision. In 2002 the two re-matched again, this time for Wright's IBF Light Middleweight Title. McKart was disqualified after trailing severely in the fight. In 2004 he took on WBA Light Middleweight Title holder Travis Simms, but lost a decision. In 2006 he was knocked out by the then undefeated prospect Kelly Pavlik. He fought Anthony Mundine at Palms Casino Resort on 14 July 2012. McKart retired in 2014.Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronco_McKartSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicholas Meyer is an award-winning author, screenwriter and director. His body of creative work in publishing, film and television spans more than five decades. Meyer’s most recent Sherlock Holmes novel, The Return of the Pharaoh from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D. was published by Minotaur Books in November 2021.He’s the author of seven previous novels, including The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1975), a Doyle pastiche in which Sherlock Holmes met Sigmund Freud. The novel sold more than two million copies, stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for forty weeks, and won the British Gold Dagger award from the British Crime Writers’ Association. Two years later, Meyer received an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay of the eponymous film, which starred Nicol Williamson, Robert Duvall, Alan Arkin, Vanessa Redgrave and Laurence Olivier. Meyer made his directing debut in 1979 with a film he wrote, Time After Time, starring Malcolm McDowell, Mary Steenburgen and David Warner. He went on to direct Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Other directing credits include Volunteers (Tom Hanks, 1986), The Deceivers (Pierce Brosnan, 1988), Company Business, (Gene Hackman, 1991), Star Trek VI, The Undiscovered Country (Christopher Plummer, 1992) and the HBO film, Vendetta (Christopher Walken, 1999). His screenplays include Sommersby (Richard Gere and Jody Foster, 1993) and contributions to Fatal Attraction (1987) and Dreamworks’ Prince of Egypt (1998). His other books include Target Practice, which was nominated for an Edgar Award, and three other Holmes pastiches, The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols (2019), The West End Horror (a New York Times bestseller) and The Canary Trainer; as well as Confessions of a Homing Pigeon. Meyer’s memoir, The View from the Bridge: Memories of Star Trek and a Life in Hollywood, was published in 2009.Meyer directed ABC’s The Day After (1983), which remains the single most-watched television film ever made (100 million people in one night) and was nominated for fourteen Emmys. Additional work includes a two-part miniseries, Houdini (Adrien Brody, 2014) based on his father, Bernard C. Meyer’s biography. He is the co-creator of the Netflix series Medici—Masters of Florence, starring Dustin Hoffman, and worked on STAR TREK: Discovery for CBS Access.For more information, go to his website here: https://www.nicholas-meyer.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 300 men were executed by the British Army for desertion and cowardice during the first World War. In this episode preview from Vlogging Through History, host Chris Mowery explores the process for executions and the stories of the men involved. To continue listening to Vlogging Through History, check out: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3X3USwk Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3WX5A7EParthenon: https://www.parthenonpodcast.com/vlogging-through-history Discover more episodes of Vlogging Through History: The History of the Medal of Honor: https://apple.co/3iqhU17 / https://spoti.fi/3vLt9V7The Tragic Lives of U.S. Presidents: https://apple.co/3Xa63Dm / https://spoti.fi/3VYHTdUAlvin York: An American Legend: https://apple.co/3GTHRjf / https://spoti.fi/3QpT3HcSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former FBI Special Agent, Chris Tarbell specializes in cyber investigations and incident response. As a case agent with the FBI’s preeminent cybercrime squad in New York, he led some of the most groundbreaking cybercrime investigations in the world - including the arrest and prosecutions of Anonymous and LulzSec leadership, and the founder of the notorious Silk Road underground marketplace, the latter of which resulted in the largest seizure of bitcoins to date.As a computer forensic examiner with the FBI, Chris engaged in rapid-response investigations all over the world on matters related to terrorism, botnets, and other cybercrimes. In 2009, Chris joined the FBI’s renowned cybercrime squad as a Special Agent in the New York field office. He was the lead investigator on several of the Bureau’s most complex and cutting-edge cases, including the takedown of the billion-dollar, cryptocurrency-based drug marketplace “Silk Road” and the arrest of its founder, and the investigation and arrest of the leadership of the Anonymous/LulzSec hacking crews.Find out more about Chris by visiting https://www.naxo.com/chris-tarbellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Farhood has been around the Sweet Science for 34 years, most of which have been spent as editor-in-chief of “The Ring”and “KO” magazines.Farhood works as an on-air analyst for Showtime’s “ShoBox” series, “Showtime Championship Boxing,” and the syndicated“Broadway Boxing” series. He also writes a column and features for “Boxing Monthly,” for which he serves as associate editor.“My work on ShoBox has been so much fun,” Farhood said. “I love watching prospects develop, and since its inception in 2001,the series has showcased a handful of future world champs. And besides, what else is ever going to bring me to places like Concho,Oklahoma, and Lincoln City, Oregon?”Farhood assumed command of “The Ring” in 1989, when London Publishing bought the title. “The Ring” subsequently regained much ofthe luster that was lost during the magazine’s financial struggle in the ‘80s. Farhood resigned the position in September 1997 to pursueother interests, specifically in the broadcasting industry.In 1980, Farhood launched “KO” magazine.A ringside fixture at big fights, Farhood has served as an on-air analyst for ESPN, SportsChannel, Top Rank Boxing,and "Heavyweight Explosion," and regularly contributed to the USA Network’s “Tuesday Night Fights.” He also worked for five years asCNN's boxing correspondent,and has contributed to boxing broadcasts on Fox and CBS.Source: http://www.stevefarhood.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.