Grey Matter with Michael Krasny

Michael Krasny began this episode with author, hotelier and long-time wisdom seeker Chip Conley, who was in Baja, talking about the terrible fires in Los Angeles and what if any lessons can be learned from them. They spoke of wisdom seeking and Conley of the metaphor for our lives of a rental car as well as his ongoing struggle with cancer, which he calls his teacher. Krasny brought up wrong headed views of cancer that place too much blame on the individual self and they spoke of environmental and so-called lifestyle effects tied to it and then proceeded to discuss identity and what Conley, a gay man, has called "identity cleansing." The two also discussed Conley's history as a hotelier and his philosophy of hospitality, including how to deal with so-called "A-holes," as well as Conley's thoughts about seeking and finding joy. A good deal of this rich and highly illuminating conversation included talk of aging and shifting views of longevity, as well as ritual and the changing nature of the workplace and the role AI is likely to play in our future. The role and importance of mentorship also came up as did the significance of love. Conley spoke of his years of leadership at Airbnb, what he means by being a super host and what he calls karmic capitalism and the importance of imprint in memory.

The episode with two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times op-ed columnist Nick Kristof focused on his recent inspirational and hope-filled book, "Chasing Hope." The conversation began with Kristof speaking to Michael Krasny about the effects on him and the moral challenges he faced covering Tiananmen Square, as well as the lessons he gleaned from his early reporter's work in Cambodia and the U.S. He opined on the fight for democracy and weighed the effect on him of the oppression and suffering of children.Krasny then brought up the role and impact of Kristof's parents, and Kristof spoke of compassion fatigue and what he believes needs to be done. He emphasized the need for more stories that call attention to humanitarian crises and the public good. The two then spoke of journalism as an act of hope and discussed contrasts between former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and President-elect Donald Trump, as well as Kristof's past decision to run for Governor of Oregon.When Krasny asked Kristof about his views on race versus class and New York Times coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Kristof spoke about rising anti-Semitism, the meaning of the word genocide, and his feelings of frustration at the slow pace of change despite remarkable progress on many fronts. The conversation turned to journalistic ethics, human rights, and Kristof's wife Sheryl's Chinese ancestry.Kristof also addressed the concept of "white saviors" and answered a listener's question about the effect of Artificial Intelligence. The two then returned to further consideration of journalistic ethics, Janet Malcolm, journalists as storytellers, Tiananmen Square, and Gaza. Kristof spoke of making the ineffable effable and of David Brooks' dichotomy of a resume versus a eulogy. It was a brilliant and enlightening conversation with one of America's leading journalists.

The episode with Professor and Middle East expert Stephen Zunes began with Professor Michael Krasny asking about the victory of HTS over Assad in Syria and the poison weapons that remain there, as well as what to expect of the new government and its effect on ISIS, the Kurds, and migration.Krasny spoke of the profound enmity and divisions, and he and Zunes discussed prospects for democracy and the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Talk of Iran's role, the Houthis and Yemen, secularism, and the Sunni/Shia divide followed, as did discussion of Saudi Arabia rebranding itself, rising anti-Semitism, and "intifada" and "jihad" as triggering words. A listener posed questions about Egypt refusing to open its borders to Palestinians.Krasny then brought up the question of possible paths to peace and how best to determine bad actors from good ones in the region, as well as the likely effects of ongoing turmoil there and the effect of change in Syria on Russia's Putin and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The episode concluded with a listener's question about if and when Jewish Americans will be permitted to visit Syria.

Mother Jones magazine co-founder, author, and journalist Adam Hochschild joined Michael Krasny for a rich and varied conversation focused on Russia's war with Ukraine. A long-time dove and opponent of U.S. and other nations' wars, Hochschild described himself as an anti-Russia hawk.The two discussed Vladimir Putin's brutality and lack of human empathy, with Krasny referencing the pro-Russia views of the late left-leaning Princeton professor Stephen Cohen. They explored Putin's obsession with restoring Russia to its former Soviet-era strength.The dialogue shifted to the appointments by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump of Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and worries and fears over the future of the environment. Hochschild also criticized "the kissing of Trump's ring" by major business and Silicon Valley figures. Despite these concerns, he voiced hope for ongoing divisions within the GOP and shared his perspective on the Democratic Party.The conversation also delved into Hochschild's highly praised book, American Midnight, which examines the period from 1917 to 1921. The two noted chilling parallels between that era and the present day.The conversation concluded with an assessment of today's Africa and the changing face of Europe with Krasny bringing in questions anchored in pessimism, while Hochschild, despite his ongoing worries, expressed a sanguine point of view.

Cory Doctorow, a best-selling Canadian-British author and technology advocate, shares his journey through creative writing and tech-savvy storytelling. He discusses his identity struggles navigating citizenship, his disdain for traditional education, and the importance of discipline in writing. Doctorow critiques emerging technologies like AI and blockchain, arguing they often reinforce existing power structures. With topics ranging from copyright reforms to the intricacies of user autonomy versus corporate control, his insights reflect a blend of fiction, activism, and social justice.

This episode with Jungian psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and author Dr. Thomas Singer, one of the contributors to "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump," began with a discussion of President-elect Donald Trump's present mental state and what appears to have shifted from the first time he was elected to the nation's highest office. Dr. Singer spoke with Michael Krasny about the shadow self and the notion of Trump invading individual psyches of both followers and detractors and being drawn to selecting sexually transgressive individuals for presidential appointments, as well as the relevance of cultural complexes. From there, the two spoke of Elon Musk and his relationship with Trump and various uses of technology for political advantages and media fragmentation. A wide-ranging discussion followed on Jungian concepts and what Tom Singer characterized as the "highly charged" relationship of Jung and Freud and an incident which occurred at Clark University in 1907. The episode concluded with a discussion of modern technology's manipulation of archetypes, fear of what Dr. Singer called "the great unknown of AI," the role of rituals and cultural identity, trigger words and their effects, as well as a consideration of the efficacy of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis and the importance of transference. All of this expansive intellectual range of interconnected topics could be classified as what Dr. Singer called, in a book based on his podcast, a sterling example of circumambulation.

The latest episode of Grey Matter with Michael Krasny featured best-selling crime and detective novelist Michael Connelly, creator of Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller, and author of his 39th novel, "The Waiting." The conversation began with Krasny asking Connelly how he decides which character to feature, since "The Waiting" stars Renée Ballard, though Bosch plays a major role. Connelly discussed the important advisory role of Ballard's prototype, Mitzi Roberts, the recently retired head of the Los Angeles cold case unit. He explained how the journalist in him uses real and current events as undergirdings to his fiction. Connelly explored several real cases that influenced his latest novel, including two "pillowcase rapist" cases and the unsolved Black Dahlia murder. He also discussed the similarities between Miami and Los Angeles as destination cities, his role as executive producer in TV and movies, and his female characters, including Maddie Bosch. He shared his emotional connection to his characters and how he feels when they die or are killed, his literary and maternal influence, and what drew him to hard-boiled fiction. The discussion then turned to why jazz is central to the Bosch novels and the challenges Connelly faces when writing about music. They explored how Bosch and Haller became half-brothers, the origin of Haller's Lincoln, and the important role new technologies play in many of Connelly's novels. The conversation concluded with insights into his writing style, work habits, advice for aspiring writers, and details about his current work in progress.

Our third of four Bill Lane Center for the American West podcasts featured Stanford's Alex Nemerov in conversation with Michael Krasny. The discussion began with what makes Western art distinctive and what captured Alex's imagination. Michael then explored Alex's approach to curating art exhibitions and discussed the influences of Alex's father, celebrated poet Howard Nemerov, and his aunt, iconic pioneer photographer Diane Arbus. This led to a discussion of Susan Sontag's book on photography and photography's status as fine art. The conversation then broadened to explore various themes: women artists, Jasper Johns, the universal and spiritual elements in art, solipsism, art for the marketplace versus art for art's sake, and socially purposeful versus aesthetic art. Alex shared both personal and professional perspectives on art's power-from its inward transformative and transfiguring effects to its broader meaning and potential as a world-changing agent. The interview concluded with a discussion of kindness, and Alex revealed what he considers the greatest work in American art.

In a thought-provoking interview, Michael Krasny speaks with Richard Reeves, founder of the American Institute for Boys and Men, about the mounting challenges facing boys and men in contemporary society. Reeves, drawing from his experience at the Brookings Institution, outlines how girls have significantly surpassed boys in educational achievement, from high school through college, attributing this partly to differences in executive functioning, developmental timelines, and brain maturation. He highlights a growing crisis among young men, marked by increasing rates of mental health issues, isolation, and a lack of purpose as traditional male roles evolve. The conversation explores how societal shifts in work expectations and the erosion of traditional provider roles have impacted young men's sense of identity and motivation. Reeves advocates for systemic changes to support both genders equally, while criticizing divisive terminology like "toxic masculinity" that he believes can alienate men and push them toward more extreme viewpoints. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes the importance of addressing these challenges while maintaining a balanced approach that avoids pitting genders against each other.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Michael Krasny, NPR Senior Editor and Correspondent Ron Elving provided insightful political analysis of the upcoming elections. The discussion began with an examination of polling efficacy and the impact of absentee ballots before delving into the roles of race and gender in the presidential race.The conversation explored campaign tactics, including discussions of Trump being labeled a fascist and his characterization of the U.S. as a "garbage can." Elving and Krasny also addressed concerns about foreign interference and controversial NFL advertisements targeting Harris on gender issues.Notable topics included the surprising absence of climate change as a major campaign issue, the continuing impact of the Dobbs decision, and the GOP's strategy of shifting abortion rights to state control.The dialogue also covered economic concerns and inflation's influence on voters. The episode concluded with a comprehensive analysis of Trump's legal challenges, key legislative races, campaign finance, and the influence of celebrity endorsements on voters. A great overview!