The One Way Ticket Show

Steven Shalowitz
  • 4.9 (175)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL

Steven Shalowitz interviews celebrities and influencers on where they'd go if given a one way ticket - no coming back! Destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or a state of mind. Some of his guests have included: Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; CNN's Richard Quest and Bill Weir; Journalist-Humorist-Actor Mo Rocca of CBS Sunday Morning & The Cooking Channel's "My Grandmother's Ravioli"; Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr.; Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Jose Ramos-Horta; Photographers Ben Lowy, Javier Gomez, Melanie Dunea, Wyatt Gallery, Sculptor Boaz Vaadia, Business Gurus Lester Underman and Philip Kotler, and more . . .

  1. 20H AGO

    The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict - Yardena Schwartz

    On August 24, 1929, 3000 Muslim men armed with swords, axes and daggers, marched through the ancient Jewish quarter of Hebron (the second holiest city in Judaism), and massacred every Jew they could find. In just a few hours, 67 unarmed Jewish men, women and children were dead. Families were burnt alive. Infants were slaughtered in their mother's arms. Children watched as their parents were butchered by their neighbors. Women and teenage girls were raped. Men were castrated.  This horrific pogrom was incited by a disinformation campaign spearheaded by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini. Years later, he fled Palestine as a wanted man by the British and moved to Berlin where he lived from 1941 – 1945, met with Hitler and other SS officials, and became Head of the Arab Bureau of the Nazi's Ministry of Propaganda. For that, and his other activities, after the war, he was placed on the UN's List of Nazi War Criminals. He fled to Cairo then Beirut where he lived an open life. Haj Amin al-Husseini was never brought to trial. His cousin was Yasser Arafat whom he took on as his protégé. In her important book, Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict, award-winning journalist and author, Yardena Schwartz points out that we can't understand the Arab-Israeli conflict today without understanding what happened during that massacre in Hebron, two decades before the establishment of the State of Israel.  Yardena is our latest guest on The One Way Ticket Show where we focus on the book, highlighting a number of inconvenient truths many academics and journalists avoid.  Yardena weaves the thread that runs from 1929 through to the present time, including Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. She points out how the West has difficulty understanding how religion in the Middle East continues to fuel violence.  As for Yardena's one way ticket destination of choice? She selected British Mandate Palestine where she would work as a journalist, bringing stories of the region to the world. This episode fills in many historical gaps and offers insights which may surprise you. I hope you tune in and share. I also hope you add the book to your reading list. Yardena is an award-winning journalist and Emmy-nominated producer who was based in Israel for a decade until 2023. Her reporting from four continents has appeared in dozens of publications, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Review of Books, The Economist, TIME, National Geographic, and Foreign Policy. Yardena previously worked at NBC News and MSNBC. Yardena graduated with honors from Columbia Journalism School in 2011, received an Emmy nomination for her work at MSNBC in 2013, and the RNA award for excellence in magazine reporting in 2016. She now lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband and children. For more on Yardena, visit: https://www.yardenaschwartz.com/

    1h 7m

  2. FEB 3

    Negotiating with Terrorists - Ory Slonim the "Knocker on the Door"

    On this episode, we welcome Ory Slonim back to the program.  Ory is one of Israel's most distinguished lawyers. This year, 2026, he's marking 40 years since Israeli President Chaim Herzog tasked him with the role as Consultant to the Minister of Defense for Captives and MIAs -- a position he referred to as "The Knocker on Doors". Ory's book about his work is title "A Knock at the Door" and is available wherever you like to buy your books. He was our guest on episode 293 on September 26, 2023 where he shared his one way ticket destination which was: "To a future in a place where all soldiers, POWs & MIAs will be back home and where children in need will be okay". In this conversation, Ory offers: How he came to be the knocker on the door; how he approached negotiating with terrorists; his role in working with the families of hostages held in Gaza after Hamas' October 7th, 2023 attack on Israel; the role "uncertainty" plays in the lives of those held captive and their loved ones; the important life lesson his grandfather taught him about who wins a match between a prize fighter or a boy with a broken bottle; the significance of giving back, and more. For Ory's full bio, click here.

    40 min

  3. 08/20/2025

    Inspiring Quadruple Amputee – Tom Nash

    Quadruple amputee, Tom Nash, is one of the funniest and most inspirational people we've met. So it was an absolute delight to welcome him as our guest on this episode of The One Way Ticket Show. In our conversation, Tom shares how he lost all four of his limbs after a devastating brush with a deadly disease over twenty years ago. Coming as close to death as one ever can, he spent over 18 months in hospital, surviving a coma, life support and having to re-learn to walk using prosthetics. He then had to learn to navigate life with prosthetic hooks for hands. None of that stopped Tom.  He launched a career as a musical artist, first as a guitarist in a band, later as a nightclub DJ. Tom subsequently went on to enjoy remarkable success in the music industry, starting his own nightclub brand in 2006, curating music as DJ Hookie and producing numerous records.  He has since gone on to become one of the most in-demand DJs in his native Australia, playing sell-out shows across various countries and playing host to some of Australia's biggest music festivals. He is the co-owner of a successful Entertainment company, and a platinum-producing record label. The nightclub brand he started became the longest running weekly club brand in Australia.  Tom is now a Global Keynote Speaker, inspiring audiences with thought-provoking takes on Antifragility — moving beyond resilience — and how embracing challenges can turn adversity into advantage. He has graced the stages of some of the world's largest conferences and festivals including TED and SXSW. Tom's unique talent for captivating people with his personal story, his dark sense of humor and his incredible wit are distilled into grounded philosophies for life from which everyone can draw wisdom. Tom's unapologetic attitude towards dealing with adversity renders him deserving of the platform he so eloquently uses, speaking openly with sincerity and candor to a full gamut of audiences.  Tom's latest book 'Hook, Line & Sinner' was published through Penguin Random House in 2023, and his TEDx talk has amassed over two and a half million views on TED.com.  You can also catch Tom on his fabulous YouTube show, 'Last Meal with Tom Nash'.  Apart from sharing his remarkable journey and offering insight into thriving amidst adversity, Tom shares his one way ticket to the year 3333. In addition to being a fan of symmetry (which played into the year he selected), Tom would like to venture into the future (with his partner Lauren and his Italian Greyhound), to see how much we would have explored space by then, how we harvest energy, medical advances achieved, to meet the person in 3333 who's at the forefront of technological innovation, and more. Tom takes us on a wild ride, so fasten your seat belts! LINKS:     www.tomnash.com go.ted.com/tomnash instagram.com/djhookie x.com/djhookie https://www.youtube.com/@lastmealtomnash

    54 min

  4. 08/06/2025

    Douglas Murray on Democracies, Death Cults & Elizabethan England

    Douglas Murray is a journalist and bestselling author of 8 books, including: On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization (2025); The War on the West (2022); The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity(2019); and The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam (2018). He has been a contributor to The Spectator since 2000 and associate editor since 2012. He is a columnist at the New York Post and regularly writes for the Telegraph and the Sun.  Mr. Murray is also a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor of City Journal.  On this episode of The One Way Ticket Show, we begin the conversation with Mr. Murray sharing his one way ticket back in time to Elizabethan England which he describes as the greatest period of the flowering of the English language. There, he would meet Shakespeare, attend performances at the Globe Theatre, and marvel at the Court of Queen Elizabeth I.  We then delve into his latest book, On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization and cover topics and thoughts, including: Vasily Grossman's quote from his book, Life and Fate: "Tell me what you accuse the Jews of, I'll tell you what you're guilty of" How many in the West don't understand that for Hamas and people like Sinwar, their war against Israel is a religiously motivated jihad           It's a myth that all people – everywhere – want the same thing          The extent to which and the consequences of populations being misled in closed societies           Divorcing a performer's politics from their performance (and how it would be wonderful if actors just "shut up" about politics in the first place!)           The strange landscape that is the (news) media today           His break mechanism of: "Never forget how much damage can be done by willful optimism" Why he never talks about his next book project And much more . . . LINKS: https://douglasmurray.net/ Douglas Murray on: X: https://x.com/DouglasKMurray Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/douglaskmurray/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasKMurrayOfficial Books: On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization The War on the West  The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam

    54 min

  5. 04/08/2025

    Assita Kanko - Member of European Parliament

    I've been following, Assita Kanko, Member of European Parliament on social media for quite some time, so it was a true thrill to welcome her into the studio as our latest guest on The One Way Ticket Show.  Ms. Kanko was born on July 14, 1980, in Godyr, Burkina Faso. She grew up in a society where women's rights were severely restricted and was subjected to female genital mutilation as a child. At a young age, she began writing about human rights and women's rights. In 2001, she moved to Belgium, where she eventually became a naturalized citizen. She studied journalism and political science and became a well-known voice in public debate, working as an author, opinion maker, and human rights activist. Since 2019, Ms. Kanko has been a Member of the European Parliament for the N-VA party, affiliated with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group. Within the Parliament, she serves on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), where she focuses on issues such as migration, security, women's rights, and the fight against human trafficking. She is a vocal advocate for a controlled migration policy and the protection of Europe's external borders. Ms. Kanko also champions women's empowerment, equal opportunities, and the defense of European values. In our conversation, Ms. Kanko shares her journey from being a journalism student and activist in her native Burkina Faso, to being a powerful voice in Brussels. Plus, she covers: The stigma attached to being a conservative black woman How it angers her that we still need to discuss protecting women against radical Islam  Why the rape of Israeli women on October 7th demonstrates that rape as a weapon of war is not treated the same everywhere (and her relentless fight against those who act as if the rapes and mutilations never took place) Why UN Women and UNRWA need to be dissolved such that their funding can go to better use Why the most important issue nobody is talking about today is Russia and China's involvement in the Sahel region  Why Europe needs to invest in its industries and defense The one thing every visitor should do when traveling to Belgium. As for her "one way ticket" destination of choice? It's to New York City, sometime in the not too distant future, where she'll bring her grandmother, mother and daughter with her. This is a fascinating conversation that I know you'll enjoy. You can follow Ms. Kanko on:  Instagram: @assita_kanko X: @Assita_Kanko Facebook: KankoAssita https://www.assita-kanko.be/

    36 min

  6. 03/25/2025

    Joshua Hammer – Journalist & Author

    On this episode, we welcome back to the program, journalist and author, Joshua Hammer who was our guest back on episode 112 in September 2016.  Joshua's career has included serving as Newsweek Bureau Chief in, Nairobi, Buenos Aires, LA, Berlin, Jerusalem and Cape Town.  His work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, National Geographic and the Smithsonian just to name a few publications. He is a New York Times bestselling author of six books, including The Falcon Thief and The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu (which we talked about in our last conversation). Joshua's just released and latest book is: The Mesopotamian Riddle: An Archaeologist, a Soldier, a Clergyman, and the Race to Decipher the World's Oldest Writing, published by Simon & Schuster. In the course of the conversation we dive deep into this fascinating book – everything from the Royal Asiatic Society's 1857 Great Cuneiform Challenge and the gentlemen who took part in it, to the difficulty of the digs in the Near East, to the "Assyrian Fever" (as Joshua calls it) that swept London in 1851- 1852, to the origins of the British Museum, to the topic of cultural appropriation of a country or people's national patrimony, and more. In keeping with the theme of the show, should he take a one way ticket back in time, Joshua shared what he would tell scholars and archeologists in the mid 19th century about how their work resonates today.   As for Joshua's own one way ticket destination, it's still to Manhattan in 1967. Do check out Joshua's other books: Chosen by God: A Brother's Journey; A Season in Bethlehem: Unholy War in a Sacred Place; and Yokohama Burning: The Deadly 1923 Earthquake and Fire that Helped Forge the Path to World War II.

    59 min

  7. 02/11/2025

    Alberto Nicheli – Founder, TransAfrica

    Alberto Nicheli is the Founder of the travel operator, TransAfrica. For the last 40 years, Alberto, who was born in Italy, has made the West African nation of Togo his home. He knows Africa intimately, having done his first Trans-Sahara expedition in 1972 and having developed an expertise on West African tribes and art. Over the decades, he's shared his knowledge with authors and filmmakers who want to better understand that part of the world. Our conversation with Alberto took place in a very lively New York City restaurant while he was in town for the Travel & Adventure Show. In our chat we cover everything from voodoo to photography to TransAfrica's 55 day Great Expedition, to tribal Africa, to some unexpected destinations to visit in West Africa (including Liberia and Ivory Coast), to my upcoming trip to Guinea Bissau with TransAfrica, and a whole lot more.  We begin with Alberto sharing his one way ticket to scouting in West Africa. He features how scouting is an "artistic way of doing things", how he breaks the ice when approaching a village for the first time, and how for him "adventure is culture". Plus, Alberto offers why he never scouts without a corkscrew! For information on TransAfrica's fascinating journeys, visit: https://transafrica.biz/en/

    50 min

  8. 01/22/2025

    Madison Cox - Garden Designer

    Our latest guest on The One Way Ticket Show is world-renowned Garden Designer, Madison Cox. The interview was conducted in September 2024 in the Willis Pavilion, beside the house today known as Villa Oasis which was built by French Orientalist painter, Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s, and later owned by Yves Saint Laurent & Pierre Bergé. Adjacent to the home is the famed Majorelle Garden. Madison was born September 23, 1958, in Bellingham, Washington, and raised in San Francisco and Marin County, California.  As a garden designer and author of books about gardens, he has traveled extensively across the United States and Europe as well as to Japan, China, Russia, India, North Africa, and Australia.  Madison's passion for garden design has also extended to lecturing, leading garden tours in France and Italy, and book publications.  He has lectured across the United States and Canada: at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as at the Portland Garden Club and the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. Madison Cox is the author of Private Gardens of Paris (Harmony Books, 1989), co-author of Gardens of the World (Macmillan, 1991), and with photographer Erica Lennard, of Artists' Gardens: from Claude Monet to Jennifer Bartlett (Abrams, 1993), and Majorelle: A Moroccan Oasis (Vendome Press, 1999). Cox wrote the preface for The Gardener's Garden (Phaidon, 2014). He was the first American to design a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in London in 1997, and won a Silver-Gilt Medal.  Madison is a member of the following institutions:  - President, Fondation Pierre Berge – Yves Saint Laurent, Paris, France - President, Foundation Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech, Morocco - Co-Chairman of the American Schools of Tangier and Marrakech in Morocco - Advisory Board Member, The Aangan Trust, Mumbai, India - Patron, American Friends of Blérancourt, France - Board of Directors TALIM (The American Legation in Morocco)  In our conversation, Madison shares his one way ticket destination of choice is to Morocco. His first visit to the country was in 1979.  While he was a student in Paris, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé invited him as part of a small group down to Marrakech for a long weekend. During our sit-down, Madison covers: - The difference between Marrakech in the 1970s and today - The nostalgia for Tangier (where Madison has a home) - The rich backstory behind Villa Oasis and the Majorelle Garden - Yves Saint Laurent's love for Morocco (he first visited in 1966) and how the country significantly impacted his work - The Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts which is housed in the former painting studio of Jacques Majorelle, in the garden - The Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech - How Morocco has impacted his own approach to designing gardens. Plus, J. Paul Getty, Edith Wharton, Winston Churchill, FDR, and the photographer Horst, all make appearances in the interview.

    1h 4m
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4.9
out of 5
175 Ratings

About

Steven Shalowitz interviews celebrities and influencers on where they'd go if given a one way ticket - no coming back! Destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or a state of mind. Some of his guests have included: Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; CNN's Richard Quest and Bill Weir; Journalist-Humorist-Actor Mo Rocca of CBS Sunday Morning & The Cooking Channel's "My Grandmother's Ravioli"; Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr.; Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Jose Ramos-Horta; Photographers Ben Lowy, Javier Gomez, Melanie Dunea, Wyatt Gallery, Sculptor Boaz Vaadia, Business Gurus Lester Underman and Philip Kotler, and more . . .

Information

  • Creator
    Steven Shalowitz
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (c) Steven Shalowitz 2012
  • Show Website
    The One Way Ticket Show

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