Chatter on Books

Chatter rolls with David, Jamie, and Torie. They go deep on DeepSeek and AI more generally. No Super Bowl for the Commanders but all rave about rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and a remarkable season. The group goes dark on the current state of journalism (was there a golden age?) and its future. Pulitzer Prize winner and best seller several times over David Maraniss zooms in to share work on his next book about Jack Johnson, boxer and inspiration for the Great White Hope. Like much of his work, the book will examine important history through an athlete's life.

"Young people in Paris, 1948" Chatter rolls into the new year with Claude, Jamie, and Torie. David's off covering the Commanders' big win over Tampa Bay. Even without David, Claude and Jamie break down the big game (something about 4th downs). Following "Chatter on Sports," COB alum David Wright Falade zooms in to share his latest, "The New Internationals." Focused on an often over simplified chapter in history, "The New Internationals" explores the complex and intertwined lives of young people imagining a better world. David goes "Going Local" with the Twin Oaks branch of the Austin Public Library system, down the street from where he lives and a terrific community hub.

"It's a David Aldridge moment." Chatter rolls Thanksgiving week with a very special show – live and in person: Claude, David, Torie, Jamie, and Jud. They shed a tear for Ovi's injury, marvel (again) at Taylor Swift's reach, and declare their picks for the Mt. Rushmore of sports books. Award winning, hall of faming, and legacy leaving journalist David Aldridge takes the featured author chair. He shares "The Basketball 100," fascinating stories about the League's legendary figures. As Charles Barkley says, "Let the debate being."

Chatter rolls with Claude, David, Torie, and Jamie. They break down the Washington Capitals and answer listener email about favorite books beyond Chatter (who has time?). Nobody wins the pop quiz on banned books but all agree none should be (banned, that is). According to PEN America, this year over 10,000 books were banned in public schools, nearly triple the number from 2023. Author, historian, journalist, ghostwriter Tripp Whetsell zooms in to share "Norman Lear – His Life and Times." It's an intense look at the depth and breadth of one of television's most important figures.

"Power of persuasion." Chatter rolls with Claude, David, Torie, and our favorite writer/author/entrepreneur Michael Croley. Claude's going all in on the horses. Mike, David, Claude, and Torie (not her really) break down the chaos of NIL in college sports. Wright Thompson zooms in to share "The Barn," his truly groundbreaking work on the 1955 murder of Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi. Growing up 23 miles from the site of the killing, Thompson revisits the murder, the decades long cover up, and his own past.

"Read it out loud." Chatter rolls with Claude, David, Jamie, and Torie. They break down Vanderbilt over 'Bama and do emails. The perennial "what are good books about politics?" is back, of course. Jamie wins the pop quiz – guess the book by the bad NYT review. COB alum and all time favorite Lou Bayard zooms in to share his latest, "The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts." Only Lou has the guts to bring Oscar Wilde back to life and the talent to do so with empathy and insight and through the lives of Wilde's family.

"Happiness" Chatter rolls with Claude, David, Torie, and her sister from another mother Liz Clarke. Manny's rocking: check out Foxden Fairways for awesome kids' golf attire and more. Make sure you use promo code: MannyGolf15! Recovering lawyer Gayle Weiswasser joins to talk about the soon-to-be-open independent Wonderland Books in Bethesda, Maryland. Writer, reporter, and podcaster Tommy Tomlinson zooms in to share "Dogland." Think Christopher Guest's "Best in Show," but with more history, insights, and fabulous stories about man's best friends and their fascinating humans. And yes, the dogs are happy.

Chatter rolls into fall with Claude, David, Jamie, and Torie. David debriefs his epic Parisian Olympic adventures. DC Public Library Foundation head Rob Hartman shares the Library back story and teases the October 5 "Battle of the Banned" in which DC librarians battle it out for title of "Best Banned Book Display." Author Tevi Troy zooms in to share his fact filled "The Power and the Money," a meticulously researched look at how commanders in chief and corporate titans have collaborated and clashed throughout history.

Chatter rolls with Torie and Jamie. David's in Paris and Claude is golfing, so Lauren fills in with the important work. They break down the Olympics (Lauren's not a watcher), read a couple of emails and ponder the huge influence of women on all things books. COB alum and fave Erica Wright zooms in from Knoxville to share her latest, "Hollow Bones." Snakes figure prominently again, but so do orphans and psychics and reporters. Totally gripping. Erica goes local with Union Avenue Books her favorite haunt in the heart of Knoxville.

"Political horror story." Chatter rolls with Claude, David, Torie, and man about town Rodney Ferguson. They break down Wimbledon, rave about "James" by Percival Everett, and marvel at BookTok. David shares the back brief on his upcoming book "The Basketball 100," a celebration of the best players in NBA History. Award winning, best selling and all around cool guy Erik Larson zooms in to chat about "The Demon of Unrest: A saga of hubris, heartbreak, and heroism at the dawn of the civil war." With his usual meticulous research and riveting writing, Larson brings new perspective on the months between Lincoln's election and the Confederate shelling of Fort Sumter. And despite the known outcome, there's suspense too.