Salena Zito, columnist for The Washington Examiner, discusses why Lincoln’s Gettysburg address still resonates today, the 'dust up' in the Middle East, our current age of disruption, and why people are searching for something bigger than themselves. Plus, a surprise Christmas present, the sentimental train set, and the importance of sports teams in providing a sense of identity and unity for communities.

Tongue twisters, laundry mishaps, Betty the book-club-lady, the Klausmeyer I-told-you-so protocol, steel drums, bad videography, hot cross buns, cannibal hamsters, camping in July, rogue waves, and just a touch of Thanksgiving—It’s coffee with mom.

The six-time New York Times best-selling author and prolific FNC host drops by to discuss what made President Theodore Roosevelt and civil rights pioneer Booker T. Washington so great and the role Mike played in Brian writing his newest book Teddy and Booker T.   Discussed in this episode:  Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington Arthur Lih of LifeVac.net The River of Doubt by Candice Millard

60 years after that horrible day in November when our 35th president was gunned down in Dallas, one of only two secret service agents from that detail still alive today gives his reflections and first-hand account and explains the difference between facts and theories.   Clint Hill is joined by his wife and co-author Lisa McCubbin Hill to discuss the day America lost its innocence, a secret service reunion 60 years in the making, and the 60th anniversary commemorative edition of their book Five Days in November.

A pregnant gospel singer reluctantly goes to the studio while pregnant. She delivers a powerful performance despite personal tragedy. Reflection on the impact of Mary Clayton's vocals in 'Gimme Shelter'. Sponsored by American Giant.

Guest Travis Mills, a quadruple amputee and former 82nd Airborne Staff Sergeant, discusses meeting Mike, angering Bill Nye, and his book Bounce Back. They also cover mental health struggles, self-help books, and the importance of giving back through charity work.

The Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, podcaster, and Presidential Fellow at Chapman University talks about why we believe weird things, how our brains seek patterns to stay safe, the state of science and journalism, intellectual humility vs. certainty, the surprising rise of antisemitism, and his book Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational.

Peggy chides her eldest for spending too much time in the sun, then they discuss book clubs and pool sharks, Peggy’s latest borderline inappropriate post, Mike eating dates, geoducks and horses, Picasso vs Cezanne, a briss gone wrong, used condoms in an elevator shaft, a little paregoric on the gums, how Peggy discovered Mike was circumcised, and a tease about her espionage court case. In other words, another Coffee with Mom!

The Olympic gold medalist and four-time national and world ice skating champion is the most upbeat and cheerful human ever, and he shares his amazing journey from a sickly, smaller-than-average kid to an Olympic champion, what it’s like to survive two forms of cancer, and why he claims the brain tumor he was born with was the greatest thing that ever happened to him.

In this episode, Mike and Chuck answer listener questions, share stories about Mike's trip to Italy and the Rowe family reunion, discuss embarrassing moments, revisit their teenage performance at the Lyric Opera House, and talk about the future of the podcast.