Eyewitness History

Parthenon

What was it like to hear about the JFK assassination? Or America’s triumph over Hitler? Or seeing Queen at Live-Aid? Our past is a collection of stories that bring us to now. Welcome to the Eyewitness History podcast, where we view history through the eyes of the people that watched the events that shaped our world. If you have a story from history that you would like to share, I would love to hear it! Please reach out to me using my Contact form at https://www.jeremystalnecker.com

  1. Chuck Barry's Longtime Pianist Discusses Meeting with Klansman, Risking His Life, and How He Convinced Hundreds To Leave Hatred Behind

    hace 4 días

    Chuck Barry's Longtime Pianist Discusses Meeting with Klansman, Risking His Life, and How He Convinced Hundreds To Leave Hatred Behind

    In this episode of Eyewitness History, I speak with Daryl Davis, an American R&B and blues musician, author, and race-relations activist whose life has uniquely bridged the worlds of music and social change. Davis is widely known for an unconventional and controversial approach to combating racism: engaging directly with members of the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups through sustained personal dialogue. Over decades of outreach, he has persuaded dozens of Klansmen to renounce their affiliation, and he has documented these encounters in his book Klan-Destine Relationships: A Black Man’s Odyssey in the Ku Klux Klan as well as in the documentary Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America (2016). Before his activism gained national attention, Davis established himself as a respected professional musician. A gifted boogie-woogie and blues pianist and vocalist, he studied at Howard University and went on to perform with some of the most iconic figures in American music, including Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Bo Diddley. His playing style reflects deep roots in traditional blues and early rock-and-roll piano, and he has been recognized within the Washington-area and national blues community for both his technical skill and stage presence.  His work is grounded in a belief in communication as a tool for dismantling prejudice, summed up in his view that dialogue, not avoidance, is the most effective response to ignorance and hate. Here, Davis reflects on his unusual journey, the philosophy behind his outreach to the Klan, and the ways music, conversation, and personal encounter have shaped his understanding of human change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 h 24 min
  2. Betrayal, Family, and the Search for Belonging

    5 feb

    Betrayal, Family, and the Search for Belonging

    In this episode of Eyewitness History, we speak with Jo-Anne Berelowitz, author and art historian, about her captivating auto-fiction memoir Somewhere I Belong. Born in Durban, South Africa, Jo-Anne shares her journey through betrayal, family secrets, and the search for home, tracing her story from her father’s warnings of revolution to uncovering her Jewish grandparents’ history in Lithuania and Russia. Jo-Anne discusses how identity, displacement, and resilience shaped her life, her career in art history, and ultimately her path to self-discovery. Her story is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the universal quest to find where one truly belongs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    27 min
  3. RE-AIR: Pat Boone Discusses Fame, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Opening For Him

    19/11/2025

    RE-AIR: Pat Boone Discusses Fame, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Opening For Him

    Our guest today is none other than the incomparable Pat Boone.With a decades-long career, Pat has graced stages, screens, and airwaves with his golden voice and timeless charisma. From chart-topping hits to silver-screen successes, he's a multifaceted talent who has stood the test of time.We discuss his career, fame, and why he said no to making a movie with Marilyn Monroe!Now, I give you Pat Boone! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min
  4. Final Destination’s Mastermind on Crafting Fear and Writing Death

    04/11/2025

    Final Destination’s Mastermind on Crafting Fear and Writing Death

    On this episode of Eyewitness History, we sit down with Jeffrey Riddick, the screenwriter and producer behind the iconic Final Destination franchise. Riddick shares his journey from aspiring writer to Hollywood powerhouse, revealing the inspirations, challenges, and creative processes that brought one of modern horror’s most enduring series to life. We dive into: The genesis of Final Destination and how Riddick transformed a simple idea into a cinematic phenomenon. Stories from the set and behind-the-scenes insights that fans have never heard. The challenges of writing suspense, fear, and death in a way that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Jeffrey’s advice for aspiring filmmakers, screenwriters, and anyone chasing creative dreams. How horror reflects society’s fears and why it resonates with audiences worldwide. Whether you’re a diehard Final Destination fan, a lover of film history, or curious about the craft of screenwriting, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the mind of one of Hollywood’s most influential horror storytellers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 h
  5. Controversial Historian’s Grandson Shares Family and Publishing Perspective

    25/09/2025

    Controversial Historian’s Grandson Shares Family and Publishing Perspective

    In this episode of Eyewitness History, I speak with Adam Irving, grandson of historian David Irving and head of Irving Books, the publisher managing his grandfather’s works. We discuss David Irving’s career as an author, his legacy in historical debate, and what it means for Adam to balance family ties with the responsibilities of running a publishing house. Disclaimer: David Irving remains a deeply controversial figure. This conversation is presented for its historical and family perspective and should not be taken as an endorsement of his views. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    55 min
  6. Behind the Laughs of "Airplane!" with Lorna Lembeck

    16/09/2025

    Behind the Laughs of "Airplane!" with Lorna Lembeck

    In this episode of Eyewitness History, Josh Cohen welcomes actress Lorna Lembeck, who played Randy in the legendary comedy Airplane!. Lorna shares her memories from the set, what it was like to be part of a film that redefined parody, and why the movie continues to resonate with audiences more than forty years later. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1 h 3 min
  7. I've Written a Book!

    28/08/2025

    I've Written a Book!

    In this special episode of Eyewitness History, Josh Cohen shares the story behind his new book, William F. Buckley Jr.'s Guide to Friendship in a Polarized Era. He explores how Buckley built lasting friendships across deep political divides and why his example of decency, humor, and faith matters in today’s polarized world. Pre-order now - https://www.amazon.com/William-Buckley-Guide-Friendship-Polarized/dp/1956454926 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min
  8. Eyewitness to India: Art, Culture, and a Life Transformed

    28/08/2025

    Eyewitness to India: Art, Culture, and a Life Transformed

    In this episode of Eyewitness History, Josh Cohen speaks with Dr. Stephen P. Huyler — art historian, cultural anthropologist, photographer, and author of the new memoir Transformed by India: A Life. For more than five decades, Huyler has traveled across nearly every corner of India, documenting its crafts, rituals, and people while forging lifelong bonds with the communities he encountered. In this conversation, Huyler reflects on his remarkable journey — from pedaling a rickshaw into India on his twentieth birthday, to curating major exhibitions around the world, to writing a memoir with a foreword by the Dalai Lama and a preface by Dr. Shashi Tharoor. Together, we explore how India transformed his life, the lessons he learned along the way, and what his story can teach us about culture, connection, and humanity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
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What was it like to hear about the JFK assassination? Or America’s triumph over Hitler? Or seeing Queen at Live-Aid? Our past is a collection of stories that bring us to now. Welcome to the Eyewitness History podcast, where we view history through the eyes of the people that watched the events that shaped our world. If you have a story from history that you would like to share, I would love to hear it! Please reach out to me using my Contact form at https://www.jeremystalnecker.com

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