Billy Dees Podcast

Perfect Media Productions, LLC
  • 4.9 (45)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Semiweekly

The Billy Dees Podcast delivers compelling conversations that go beyond the trending topics. Each episode features engaging interviews with authors, media professionals, filmmakers, television personalities, political figures, and advocates making a difference across a variety of meaningful causes. In addition to in-depth interviews, the podcast offers thoughtful commentary on current events, news, and politics. Rather than relying on outrage or partisan talking points, host Billy Dees emphasizes respectful dialogue, diverse viewpoints, and insightful analysis. A touch of humor—and the occasional dose of well-placed sarcasm—helps keep every episode informative and entertaining.Produced with broadcast-quality audio and a commitment to substantive conversation, The Billy Dees Podcast reflects more than a decade of podcasting experience. Every episode is crafted to inform, challenge perspectives, and spark meaningful discussion. Produced by Perfect Media Productions, LLC in Ohio, USA, the show also utilizes the PodMatch booking service to connect with exceptional guests from around the world. #books #commentary #media #film #television #politics #news #business #radio 

  1. 3d ago

    Keith Barton on Military Experience, Family Court Reform, and Making Government Work

    What happens when a 20-year Marine Corps veteran brings military leadership and logistics experience into a discussion about government, family law, and public policy? On this episode of The Billy Dees Podcast, Billy Dees sits down with Keith Barton, a former military aviator, author, congressional candidate, and advocate for family court reform, for a wide-ranging conversation about the systems that shape American life—and how they might work better. Barton discusses his military background, his experience in logistics, and how those experiences influenced his approach to problem-solving. A major focus of the conversation is his proposed American Lean Act, which applies Lean Six Sigma principles to government operations with the goal of reducing waste, improving efficiency, and finding practical ways to lower costs. The conversation also explores family court reform, an issue Barton says became personal after he successfully challenged his own custody case through a Florida appellate court. He shares his perspective on shared parenting, transparency, and the need for systems that better serve children and families. Billy and Keith also discuss healthcare costs, government spending, money in politics, congressional term limits, and the challenges of translating policy ideas into practical solutions. Along the way, Barton talks about his work as an author, including children's STEM books, military-themed fiction, and science-fiction thrillers. Barton is running for Congress in Texas in 2028, and the discussion offers listeners an opportunity to hear about his background, priorities, and proposed reforms directly from him. As always, The Billy Dees Podcast brings together different perspectives in a substantive conversation about current events, public policy, and the ideas shaping our future—without turning the discussion into a shouting match. Learn more about Keith Barton, his proposals, and his books: https://bartonfortexas.com/ Follow Billy Dees on X for updates about the program https://x.com/BillyDees

    Keith Barton on Military Experience, Family Court Reform, and Making Government Work

  2. Oct 10

    Grief, Creativity, and the Human Connection - Richard Ballo

    Author Richard Ballo joins Billy Dees for a thoughtful conversation about grief, healing, writing, and the importance of human connection. A published writer since 1972, Ballo shares how losing his first wife to cancer led to his award-winning book Life Without Lisa and shaped his understanding of the long, complicated process of bereavement. He discusses why grief doesn't follow a convenient timeline, how emotional triggers can bring back painful memories, and how it's possible to honor the past while embracing life again. The conversation also explores Ballo's unexpected journey into children's literature, including his Martin the Mouse series, which encourages young readers to think creatively and solve problems. Billy and Richard discuss the importance of parents reading with their children, the growing influence of screens on childhood, and whether technology is replacing valuable opportunities for real human interaction. The discussion turns to artificial intelligence and its expanding role in writing, education, and everyday life. Ballo explains how he has experimented with AI as a writing tool while continuing to rely on his own creativity, revision process, and human editors. Together, Billy and Richard consider what technology can contribute to creative work—and what might be lost when human experience and connection take a back seat. From personal loss and second chances to children's books and the future of creativity, this episode explores the experiences that shape us and the relationships that make life meaningful. Learn more about Richard Ballo and his books at RichardBallo.com and TolmanPress.com. Follow Billy Dees on X @BillyDees

    Grief, Creativity, and the Human Connection - Richard Ballo

  3. Oct 5

    When the Internet Becomes the Jury - Cornell, the Death Penalty, the Military, France & Immigration

    In this wide-ranging commentary episode of The Billy Dees Podcast, Billy Dees takes a look back at several of the stories and controversies that dominated the news over the past week—and, as usual, doesn't approach them from a neatly packaged ideological perspective. The episode begins with the disturbing allegations surrounding a 2024 incident at Cornell University involving a young woman identified publicly as “Jane Doe” and several male students. Billy examines the limited information currently available, the original police report, the decision not to pursue criminal charges at the time, and the more recent civil lawsuit that has brought the allegations back into the spotlight. But Billy's focus isn't simply on deciding who is guilty or innocent from behind a microphone. He questions what happens when complicated allegations are turned into a social-media trial before an independent investigation has established the facts. With the names and identities of those involved circulating online, both the alleged perpetrators and the alleged victim have faced intense public harassment and doxxing. Billy argues for allowing the investigative and legal processes to play out rather than allowing the internet to become judge, jury, and executioner. At the same time, he discusses the dangers of reckless behavior, substance abuse, and putting yourself into situations where the ability to determine exactly what happened afterward becomes extraordinarily difficult. His point is not that reckless behavior excuses a crime—it doesn't—but that personal responsibility and calculated risk still matter. The discussion then turns to the controversial case of Christa Pike and the murder of Colleen Slemmer, leading into a much broader examination of the death penalty. Billy discusses Pike's horrific crime, the decades-long delay surrounding her execution, and the failed lethal-injection procedure that has once again raised uncomfortable questions about how the United States carries out capital punishment.  Billy also explores the uncomfortable human element surrounding executions. Even when someone has committed an extraordinarily brutal crime, those who have spent years interacting with a death-row inmate can still recognize the person as a human being. Billy understands that reaction while maintaining that his first concern remains the victim and the crime committed against that victim. That leads to a larger criticism of the American justice system: have we become so focused on the rights and circumstances of the accused that we sometimes lose sight of the victims? Billy also questions whether the death penalty can function as an effective deterrent when decades can pass between a conviction and an execution. From there, the conversation shifts to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his controversial comments about the role and culture of the U.S. military. Billy considers Hegseth's argument that the military should focus on its fundamental purpose as a fighting force rather than becoming an arena for social and political battles. Billy acknowledges that Hegseth's rhetoric is deliberately provocative and questions whether someone in his position should be intentionally trying to provoke political reactions. At the same time, he considers the underlying argument about military readiness, morale, discipline, and the danger of allowing political considerations to interfere with the basic purpose of a military organization. The episode then moves across the Atlantic to France, where demonstrations over education cuts have escalated into violent unrest. Billy questions the increasingly blurred line between legitimate protest and outright violence, particularly when public property is destroyed and emergency personnel are attacked. That discussion naturally leads into one of the most contentious subjects in Western politics: immigration and border security. Billy makes a distinction between immigration itself and uncontrolled immigration. Drawing from his own family's history and his conversations with people from around the world through podcasting, he discusses the traditional idea of immigration as an opportunity to build a better life while embracing the country and culture that made that opportunity possible. He argues that wanting secure borders does not automatically mean opposing immigration, and questions why discussions about border security so quickly become accusations about racism or hatred. He also examines what he sees as a growing culture of entitlement—both in the United States and throughout parts of Europe—and asks what happens to a society when expectations begin to replace responsibility, work, and personal accountability. Throughout the episode, Billy returns to a theme that runs through much of his commentary: the truth is often more complicated than the extremes presented by social media and partisan politics. Whether discussing a controversial college case, a death-row inmate, military policy, protests in Europe, immigration, or the changing culture of the West, Billy's approach is to question the assumptions, challenge both sides when necessary, and look for the part of the story that tends to get lost when everyone is busy choosing a team. It's a candid, sometimes blunt, and occasionally sarcastic look at a week filled with difficult questions—and an argument for slowing down long enough to consider them before reaching for the next outrage. The Billy Dees Podcast blends current events, commentary, interviews, and diverse perspectives without paywalls. Subscribe free wherever you listen to podcasts.

    When the Internet Becomes the Jury - Cornell, the Death Penalty, the Military, France & Immigration

  4. Oct 5

    The Lindsay Clancy Trial- When Evidence Gets Lost in the Narrative

    This podcast was originally planned to cover several topics in detail and only mention the Lindsay Clancy trial as a decision is pending whether to move forward with a new trial. Billy and Cynthia begin talking about artificial intelligence, the rapid expansion of data centers, the strain they may place on power grids, and the larger implications of the AI arms race. Cynthia explains her work with the SoulTech Foundation and her concerns about human flourishing in an increasingly AI-driven world. The Lindsay Clancy trial becomes the unexpected starting point for a wide-ranging and, at times, somewhat heated conversation between Billy Dees and returning guest Cynthia Elliott. Cynthia has closely followed the Clancy case and argues that the investigation, evidence, and media coverage raise serious questions. Billy approaches the case from a different perspective, emphasizing the rights of the victims, the burden of proof, reasonable doubt, and the danger of allowing intuition or public sentiment to substitute for evidence. The conversation also examines the controversial role of the jury, the conduct of jurors and attorneys, the influence of social media and true-crime culture, and why disagreement over a case can become so vicious. As always, Billy and Cynthia don't agree on everything—and that's precisely what makes the conversation interesting. They challenge each other's assumptions, argue their respective positions, and manage to keep the discussion civil even when the subject matter gets contentious. It's a conversation about crime, evidence, media, technology, AI, and the increasingly difficult question of how we separate facts from narratives in an age when everyone seems to have a version of the truth. You can follow Cynthia Elliott on X https://x.com/CynthiaLElliott Billy Dees on X https://x.com/BillyDees

    The Lindsay Clancy Trial- When Evidence Gets Lost in the Narrative

  5. Oct 3

    A Mid-Air Attack, Cornell's Frat House Lawsuit, and the White House Press Ban

    This episode is a simulcast with the Shades of Jade Podcast. The host Sam is joined by fundraiser Jeff Kruszyna (JMK Victory) and Billy Dees Podcast host, Billy Dees. They open with breaking news of an alleged mid-air attack on a flight bound for Israel—the first officer reportedly stabbed the pilot before passengers subdued him and the plane diverted to Saudi Arabia—then talk about post-9/11 unease, flying into D.C., and whether U.S. leadership still feels as competent as it once did. Billy walks through the developing Cornell frat-house case: a 2024 campus-police report versus a much longer civil lawsuit, a prosecutor taking a second look, and how hard those nights are to reconstruct. The conversation turns to jury intimidation, the idea of professional juries, true-crime documentaries and “just asking questions” media, and whether keeping CNN, Politico, and MS NOW out of the White House briefing room is a First Amendment issue. Shades of Jade Info: To find all of Samantha’s deals, visit: ⁠https://mydeals.page/7fu7⁠ X: @ShadesofJadePod Jeff Kruszyna’s Info: https://getjeffk.com⁠ X: @Kruszyna Billy Dees’ Info: https://linktr.ee/BillyDees X: @BillyDees

    A Mid-Air Attack, Cornell's Frat House Lawsuit, and the White House Press Ban

  6. Oct 2

    What If History Took a Different Turn? A Conversation with Author Jon A. Gegenheimer

    What if a golf match between Winston Churchill and Adolf Hitler had actually taken place? In this episode of the Billy Dees Podcast, Bill talks with Jon A. Gegenheimer, a longtime attorney, elected court official, and author whose books blend history, law, morality, and fiction. Gegenheimer explains the unusual genre of historical and alternative fiction and discusses his latest book, Churchill vs. Hitler: The Untold Golf Match That Changed History—a story built around a fictional meeting between Churchill and Hitler shortly before the outbreak of World War II. The conversation explores how real historical figures and events can provide the foundation for stories that ask one of history's most intriguing questions: What if? Bill and Jon also discuss The Griffin Murders, Jon's legal career, Hurricane Katrina and how it helped inspire him to become a novelist, the role of moral dilemmas in storytelling, and why fiction can do more than entertain—it can challenge us to think. The conversation eventually turns to leadership, history, objective morality, the consequences of our choices, and the importance of being able to disagree without demonizing one another. It's a wide-ranging conversation about history, storytelling, law, human nature, and the sometimes surprising connections between the past and the world we're living in today. Where history meets imagination—and the question isn't just what happened, but what might have happened. For more about Jon A. Gegenheimer, please visit: https://jongegenheimer.com/

    What If History Took a Different Turn? A Conversation with Author Jon A. Gegenheimer

  7. Oct 2

    Colorado, Decarbonization, and a Different Way of Thinking - Christian Komor

    What happens when you look at decarbonization not simply as a cost, but as an industry? That’s one of the questions at the center of this conversation between Billy Dees and Dr. Christian Komor, a former White House Earth Systems Science Advisor, clinical psychologist, author, and 2026 write-in candidate for Governor of Colorado. Christian brings an unusually broad professional background to the discussion. He wrote his first op-ed about concrete and carbon pollution in 1976 and went on to spend four decades working in healthcare, managing complex organizations and budgets, building teams, and designing and overseeing a large multidisciplinary healthcare facility. He also spent five years creating and operating programs for the Michigan Department of Corrections. His experience extends well beyond healthcare. Christian attained the rank of Captain while serving as a search-and-rescue ground team operator with several sheriff’s departments and with the U.S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol. In this episode, Billy and Christian discuss Colorado, his background, and his approach to decarbonization—including his view that it can be developed as an industry rather than treated solely as a cost. The conversation also provides an opportunity to hear directly from a write-in candidate about the ideas and priorities he says he would bring to the governor’s office. No shouting. No campaign-slogan ping-pong. Just a conversation about Colorado, economics, the environment, and what happens when someone proposes looking at a familiar problem from a different angle. To learn more about Christian Komor and his campaign, visit k4gov.com.

    Colorado, Decarbonization, and a Different Way of Thinking - Christian Komor

  8. Sep 26

    When Compassion Goes Completely Off the Rails

    What happens when compassion becomes so distorted that we start feeling more sympathy for the person who caused the harm than for the person who suffered it? In this commentary, Billy Dees takes a hard look at what he calls “false compassion”—and how our desire to understand people can sometimes cross the line into excusing behavior that should never be excused. Using the Lindsay Clancy case as a starting point, Billy examines the complicated intersection of mental health, criminal responsibility, victims' rights, and the public reaction surrounding a deeply disturbing case. The conversation then expands into allegations of sexual assault involving university students, questions about institutional accountability, and a broader critique of how higher education handles uncomfortable issues. Billy also takes aim at the increasingly strange cultural battles surrounding celebrity, ideology, and social media, including a discussion of actress Sydney Sweeney and the question of how society decides who deserves our outrage—and who deserves our sympathy. The episode isn't about defending a political party or attacking one particular group. It's about asking uncomfortable questions: Can compassion become counterproductive? Have we lost our sense of proportionality? And what happens when ideology begins to matter more than the victims themselves? As Billy puts it, understanding someone's circumstances doesn't necessarily mean eliminating accountability. Content Note: Seven fraternity members face lawsuit over alleged assault at Cornell. This is a developing story and is currently (Sept. 26, 2026) trending as The Cornell Seven. For more information visit People https://people.com/cornell-student-alleges-frat-members-gang-raped-her-2-expelled-others-wrote-essays-lawsuit-12141236

    When Compassion Goes Completely Off the Rails
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About

The Billy Dees Podcast delivers compelling conversations that go beyond the trending topics. Each episode features engaging interviews with authors, media professionals, filmmakers, television personalities, political figures, and advocates making a difference across a variety of meaningful causes. In addition to in-depth interviews, the podcast offers thoughtful commentary on current events, news, and politics. Rather than relying on outrage or partisan talking points, host Billy Dees emphasizes respectful dialogue, diverse viewpoints, and insightful analysis. A touch of humor—and the occasional dose of well-placed sarcasm—helps keep every episode informative and entertaining.Produced with broadcast-quality audio and a commitment to substantive conversation, The Billy Dees Podcast reflects more than a decade of podcasting experience. Every episode is crafted to inform, challenge perspectives, and spark meaningful discussion. Produced by Perfect Media Productions, LLC in Ohio, USA, the show also utilizes the PodMatch booking service to connect with exceptional guests from around the world. #books #commentary #media #film #television #politics #news #business #radio 

Information

  • Creator
    Perfect Media Productions, LLC
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    394
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Perfect Media Productions, LLC
  • Show Website
    Billy Dees Podcast