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Catherine Nixon Cooke
San Antonio-based biographer, author of 'Dodgers to Damascus', which tells the story of David Lesch's journey from baseball to the Middle East.
Best podcasts with Catherine Nixon Cooke
Ranked by the Snipd community
Sep 12, 2025
• 52min
From Dodgers Top Draft Pick to Harvard Trained Middle Eastern Maven: Does the American Dream Still Exist?
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David Lesch, a Trinity University professor and Middle East expert, details his improbable journey from a Dodgers draft pick to a biographer of Bashar al-Assad. Alongside Catherine Nixon Cooke, his biographer, they discuss how privilege shaped his drastic pivot into diplomacy. They delve into the complexities of failure as a stepping stone and the realities of the American Dream. Insights on historical contexts and the importance of listening in geopolitical issues make this a fascinating exploration of personal reinvention amidst global challenges.
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