This Week in America with Ric Bratton

Ric Bratton

This Week in America with Ric Bratton is one of America's longest-running and most respected interview programs, featuring engaging conversations with bestselling authors, thought leaders, business experts, health professionals, entertainers, and innovators from around the world. Hosted by veteran broadcaster Ric Bratton, each episode delivers practical advice, inspiring stories, expert insights, and thought-provoking discussions on topics that matter most—including health, wellness, personal development, parenting, finance, business, history, technology, current events, and culture. With more than 20,000 interviews conducted over a distinguished broadcasting career spanning six decades, Ric has earned a reputation for asking meaningful questions that uncover the stories, strategies, and life lessons behind every guest's success. His interview style has led legendary journalist Peter Jennings to describe him as "an author's best friend." Whether you're looking for inspiration, expert guidance, or simply a fascinating conversation, This Week in America brings you trusted voices, fresh perspectives, and compelling stories every week. New episodes released regularly. Subscribe and discover why listeners across America turn to This Week in America for conversations that inform, inspire, and entertain.

  1. 4d ago

    THE LAST TRIAL by Scott Turow

    THE LAST TRIAL by Scott Turow Two formidable men collide in this "first-class legal thriller" from New York Times bestselling author Scott Turow: a "brilliant courtroom chess match" about a celebrated criminal defense lawyer and the prosecution of his lifelong friend -- a doctor accused of murder (David Baldacci). At eighty-five years old, Alejandro "Sandy" Stern, a brilliant defense lawyer with his health failing but spirit intact, is on the brink of retirement. But when his old friend Dr. Kiril Pafko, a former Nobel Prize winner in Medicine, is faced with charges of insider trading, fraud, and murder, his entire life's work is put in jeopardy, and Stern decides to take on one last trial. In a case that will be the defining coda to both men's accomplished lives, Stern probes beneath the surface of his friend's dazzling veneer as a distinguished cancer researcher. As the trial progresses, he will question everything he thought he knew about his friend. Despite Pafko's many failings, is he innocent of the terrible charges laid against him? How far will Stern go to save his friend, and -- no matter the trial's outcome -- will he ever know the truth? Stern's duty to defend his client and his belief in the power of the judicial system both face a final, terrible test in the courtroom, where the evidence and reality are sometimes worlds apart. Full of the deep insights into the spaces where the fragility of human nature and the justice system collide, Scott Turow's The Last Trial is a masterful legal thriller that unfolds in page-turning suspense -- and questions how we measure a life. Scott Turow is the author of many bestselling works of fiction, including Testimony, Identical, Innocent, Presumed Innocent, and The Burden of Proof, and two nonfiction books, including One L, about his experience as a law student. His books have been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, and have been adapted into movies and television projects. He has frequently contributed essays and op-ed pieces to publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic. www.ScottTurow.com https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538748134?tag=hacboogrosit-20 http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/sturow.mp3

    24 min
  2. 4d ago

    Magic: The Life of Earvin “Magic” Johnson by Roland Lazenby

    Magic: The Life of Earvin “Magic” Johnson by Roland LazenbyThe definitive biography of the basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, from the highly respected, career sportswriter and author of Michael Jordan: The Life.Magic Johnson is one of the most beloved, and at times controversial, athletes in history. His iconic smile lifted the dowdy sport of American professional basketball from a second-tier sport with low ratings into the global spotlight―a transformation driven by Magic’s ability to eviscerate opponents with a playing style that featured his grand sense of fun. He was a master entertainer who directed the Los Angeles “Showtime” Lakers to the heights of both glory and epic excess, all of it driven by his mind-blowing no-look passes and personal charm.Then, in 1991, at the height of his charismatic power, Johnson shocked the world with a startling cautionary tale about sexually transmitted disease that pushed public awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Then out came his confession of unprotected sex with hundreds of women each year, followed by his retirement, an attempted return, and a proper farewell on the iconic 1992 Olympic Dream Team.Longtime biographer Roland Lazenby spent years tracking the unlikely ascension of Johnson―an immensely popular public figure who was instantly scandalized but who then turned to his legendary will to rise again as a successful entrepreneur with another level of hard-won success. In Lazenby’s portrayal, Johnson’s tale becomes bigger than that of one man. It is a generational saga spanning parts of three centuries that reveals a great deal, not just about his unique basketball journey but about America itself.Through hundreds of interviews with Johnson’s coaches, representatives past and present, teammates, opponents, friends, and loved ones, as well as key conversations with Johnson himself over the years, Lazenby has produced the first truly definitive study, both dark and light, of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr.―the revolutionary player, the icon, the man. https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Life-Earvin-Johnson/dp/1250248035 http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/rlmagic2023.mp3

    24 min
  3. 4d ago

    The House of Wolves: Murder Runs in the Family by James Patterson and Mike Lupica

    The House of Wolves: Murder Runs in the Family by James Patterson and Mike Lupica James Patterson and Mike Lupica are the thriller dream team! Jenny Wolf’s murdered father leaves her in charge of a billion-dollar empire—and a family more ruthless than Succession's Roys and Yellowstone’s Duttons. The Wolfs, the most powerful family in California, have a new head–thirty-six-year-old former high school teacher Jenny Wolf. That means Jenny now runs the prestigious San Francisco Tribune.She also controls the legendary pro football team, the Wolves.And she has a murdered father to avenge—if she can survive the killers all around her.An unforgettable family drama by two writers at the top of their craft. James Patterson is the world’s bestselling author. The creator of Alex Cross, he has produced more enduring fictional heroes than any other novelist alive. He lives in Florida with his family.   Mike Lupica is a veteran sports columnist—spending most of his career with the New York Daily News—who is now a member of the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame. For three decades, he was a panelist on ESPN’s The Sports Reporters. As a novelist, he has written seventeen New York Times bestsellers, the most recent of which was The Horsewoman, his first collaboration with James Patterson. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316404292?tag=hacboogrosit-20 https://www.jamespatterson.com/titles/james-patterson/the-house-of-wolves/9780316404297/ http://www.mikelupicabooks.com/ http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/11123wolves.mp3

    12 min
  4. 4d ago

    The 6 Leadership Principles That Turn Challenges Into Opportunities

    The Alchemist’s Way by Paul Boerger Leadership doesn’t begin with authority—it begins with transformation. Leadership, especially in its raw and unpolished form, can feel like standing in the eye of a storm. Tight deadlines, competing priorities, self-doubt, and complex human dynamics often leave even capable leaders feeling overwhelmed and unsure of their next move. Veteran technology leader Paul Boerger presents a practical, experience-driven framework for turning chaos into clarity, pressure into purpose, and adversity into growth. Drawing from ancient alchemical principles and decades of real-world leadership experience, this book offers a clear path for personal transformation and effective leadership at every stage. You’ll discover six core tenets that help you set compelling goals, build belief, develop strong character, create sustainable habits, lead with vitality, and serve others with intention. Along the way, Boerger blends personal stories, actionable insights, and mindset shifts that move leadership from theory into daily practice. This book is not about quick fixes or surface-level motivation. It is about leading yourself first—developing resilience, confidence, and purpose—so you can lead others with clarity and heart. If you are ready to transform challenges into opportunity and step into purposeful, grounded leadership, The Alchemist’s Way will guide your journey. Paul Boerger, is a leadership author, technology executive, and lifelong student of personal transformation. With more than three decades of experience leading teams through innovation, disruption, and high-pressure environments, Paul brings a grounded, real-world perspective to leadership and personal growth. As a senior leader in the technology sector, Paul has spent his career navigating complex challenges—tight deadlines, evolving markets, and the human dynamics that define successful organizations. These experiences shaped his belief that effective leadership begins from within. Skills, strategies, and systems matter, but mindset, character, and purpose ultimately determine impact. In The Alchemist’s Way, Paul blends ancient alchemical principles with modern leadership practices to offer a practical framework for transformation. His work focuses on helping individuals build resilience, develop confidence, clarify goals, and lead with integrity—especially during times of uncertainty and change. Rather than quick fixes or surface-level motivation, Paul emphasizes sustainable habits, belief-driven action, and service-oriented leadership. Paul writes for professionals, leaders, and seekers who want to grow personally while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. His approach resonates with readers looking to align inner development with outward results—at work, at home, and in their communities. When he is not writing or leading teams, Paul enjoys mentoring emerging leaders and exploring the timeless principles that turn challenge into opportunity and purpose into action. AMAZON https://thealchemistswaybook.com/ https://paul-boerger.com/ https://foxpressmedia.com/ http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/6426fpr.mp3

    33 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

This Week in America with Ric Bratton is one of America's longest-running and most respected interview programs, featuring engaging conversations with bestselling authors, thought leaders, business experts, health professionals, entertainers, and innovators from around the world. Hosted by veteran broadcaster Ric Bratton, each episode delivers practical advice, inspiring stories, expert insights, and thought-provoking discussions on topics that matter most—including health, wellness, personal development, parenting, finance, business, history, technology, current events, and culture. With more than 20,000 interviews conducted over a distinguished broadcasting career spanning six decades, Ric has earned a reputation for asking meaningful questions that uncover the stories, strategies, and life lessons behind every guest's success. His interview style has led legendary journalist Peter Jennings to describe him as "an author's best friend." Whether you're looking for inspiration, expert guidance, or simply a fascinating conversation, This Week in America brings you trusted voices, fresh perspectives, and compelling stories every week. New episodes released regularly. Subscribe and discover why listeners across America turn to This Week in America for conversations that inform, inspire, and entertain.