Ira's Everything Bagel

Ira David Sternberg
  • 5.0 (2)
  • ARTS

Discover Ira’s Everything Bagel, a blend of US arts and culture. Schmeared with podcasts rich in ideas worth spreading, as well as captivating stories.

  1. 3D AGO

    From National Security Insider to Thriller Author: Chad Boudreaux on Writing 'Mob Justice'

    On this episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with thriller author and national security insider Chad Boudreaux, whose latest novel, Mob Justice, pulls readers deep into the evolving world of organized crime. Watch Full Podcast Video Chad discusses how he manages to write gripping thrillers despite a demanding career, and how his first novel, Scavenger Hunt, launched a series that blends authentic national security insights with fast-paced storytelling. Although Mob Justice is a sequel, Chad explains why it works perfectly as a stand-alone novel. The conversation explores how the modern mob has evolved from the days of Al Capone into something far more sophisticated—more corporate, more strategic, and still very dangerous. One of the novel’s central themes is the tension between the old-school mob culture and a new generation that operates more like savvy business executives than street-level gangsters. Chad also reveals how his characters developed while writing. His protagonist, Blake Hudson—a lawyer working for the United States Department of Justice—is suddenly thrust into the dangerous world of organized crime. Meanwhile, Enzo Renzi emerges as a complex mob insider with an Ivy League intellect and a conscience buried beneath loyalty to the organization. The episode also explores how the legendary “The Godfather” series influenced real-life gangsters, the surprising ways characters can sometimes take control of a story, and the delicate balance between real-life legal insight and editorial storytelling demands. Chad’s path to writing thrillers is anything but conventional. Those experiences profoundly shaped his worldview—and now fuel the authenticity of his thrillers. In this engaging conversation, he shares how real-world security challenges, moral dilemmas, and the idea of protagonists who are always “honest and brave” influence the stories he tells. The result is fiction that feels startlingly real—and a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how power, loyalty, and justice collide in both government and the underworld. ABOUT CHAD: Chad Boudreaux, a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, is a Washington insider hired by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) the night before the September 11, 2001, attacks—launching him immediately into Counterterrorism work that earned him high accolades at an early age. His success at the DOJ carried him to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where his role as deputy chief of staff allowed him to work directly with the head of DHS, advising on significant policy, operational, and legal issues facing the department. He is currently the chief legal officer of a publicly traded, Fortune 300 company and America’s largest military shipbuilder. Boudreaux leverages his unique, high-level experience in global security matters and his extensive legal expertise to craft breathtaking, insider stories of mystery and intrigue that are ripped from today’s headlines and sure to shock his readers. This is his third novel following, Scavenger Hunt and Homecoming Queen. He lives in Virginia. Chad Boudreaux    Website Chad Boudreaux    Facebook Chad Boudreaux    Instagram Chad Boudreaux    YouTube Watch the full Podcast Video iframe class="video" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9oowXLCwTs8?si=rH3E6ZLchIcaRsoJ" title=" title="YouTube video player" title=" title="YouTube video player" title="YouTube video player

    28 min

  2. MAR 26

    Against the Clock: How Ordinary People Pulled Off an Impossible Rescue

    Kevin Hazzard, author,  No One’s Coming: The Rogue Heroes Our Government Turns to When There’s Nowhere Else to Turn What happens when a deadly virus meets a ticking clock—and no clear plan? Watch Full Podcast Video This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with author and former paramedic Kevin Hazzard to unpack the gripping true story behind No One’s Coming: The Rogue Heroes Our Government Turns to When There’s Nowhere Else to Turn. At the center: the 2014 Ebola outbreak, one of the most terrifying public health crises in modern history, and a daring rescue mission that pushed the limits of science, aviation, and human courage. Kevin shares why his fascination with high-risk, high-stakes situations drew him to this story—and how a small, unconventional company called Phoenix Air became the world’s last line of defense. From the development of groundbreaking containment technology to the intense opposition surrounding the mission, this episode explores the razor-thin line between saving lives and risking a wider outbreak. You’ll hear how fear and hysteria spread just as quickly as the virus itself, why even U.S. states like Maine reacted with alarm, and how a robust public health infrastructure ultimately played a critical role. At its core, this is a story about ordinary people stepping up in extraordinary circumstances—facing danger head-on when the world needed them most. ABOUT KEVIN: Kevin Hazzard is a journalist, TV writer, and former paramedic. He is the author of American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America’s First Paramedics (Hachette Books 2022). His first book, A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic’s Wild Ride to the Edge and Back, was published by Scribner in 2016. He now writes for film/TV, with work produced by Hulu, CBS, ABC and Universal. His freelance journalism has been published at 99% Invisible, the Atavist, Men’s Journal, Creative Loafing, Atlanta Magazine, and elsewhere. He is also a sought-after voice on emergency medicine. He lives in Atlanta. Kevin Hazzard          Website Kevin Hazzard          Instagram Watch the full Podcast Video iframe class="video" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cfPjMzZNhKo?si=B3uP1ajEiZpY9E_N" title=" title="YouTube video player" title=" title="YouTube video player" title="YouTube video player

    28 min

  3. MAR 19

    75 First Dates Later: Finding Love Through Poetry

    Noshing With Zack Rogow, Author, The Kama Sutra for Senior Citizens and Other Poems on Aging This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with poet, playwright, and educator Zack Rogow, author of The Kama Sutra for Senior Citizens and Other Poems on Aging—a candid, funny, and deeply human exploration of love and intimacy later in life. Watch Full Podcast Video Zack opens up about an unexpected chapter: being single at 66—and what came next. From revisiting The Kama Sutra with fresh eyes to embarking on 75 first dates, he shares how connection, vulnerability, and even physical pleasure remain essential at any age. The conversation dives into the emotional core of his work—why intimacy is really about connection, not just chemistry—and how readers have embraced his poems as nothing short of “Viagra for the soul.” Zack also pulls back the curtain on his creative process, describing poetry as “waiting for lightning to strike,” and reflects on the eight-year journey to complete this book. Along the way, he talks about finding love again, taking leaps of faith, and why his partner—now his toughest critic—keeps him honest. It’s a warm, witty, and wise conversation about aging, art, and the enduring depth of human feeling. As Zack says, poetry reminds us just how much we’re capable of. ABOUT ZACK: Zack Rogow is the author, editor or translator of more than 20 books and plays. Nominated three times for the Pushcart Prize for Poetry, his previous nine collections of poetry include “Irreverent Litanies, “Talking with the Radio: poems inspired by jazz and popular music,” and “The Number Before Infinity.” His memoir, Hugging My Father’s Ghost, was released in 2024. Zack’s co-authored play, “Colette Uncensored,” had its first staged reading at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and later ran in London, Indonesia, Catalonia, San Francisco, and Portland. His blog, “Advice for Writers,” features more than 300 posts. He has received the PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize, the Northern California Book Reviewers Award in Translation, and the Celestine Award for Poetry. He also edited the anthology The Face of Poetry (University of California Press). Zack Rogow               Website Zack Rogow               X Zack Rogow               LinkedIn                     Watch the full Podcast Video iframe class="video" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CsCsJDUtb-Y?si=eLqawKvQI3u9mng0" title=" title="YouTube video player" title=" title="YouTube video player" title="YouTube video player

    27 min

  4. MAR 5

    Noshing With Jeffrey Weiss – March 5, 2026

    Author, Racing Against Time: On Ironman, Ultramarathons, and the Quest for Transformation in Mid-Life What if “later” suddenly became “now”? Watch Full Podcast Video On this episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with Jeffrey Weiss, author of Racing Against Time: On Ironman, Ultramarathons, and the Quest for Transformation in Mid-Life, for a powerful conversation about aging, endurance, and the courage to reinvent yourself. Jeffrey didn’t begin his athletic journey as a lifelong competitor. He ran his first 10K at 48. What started as a simple health goal turned into marathons, two finishes at Ironman Arizona, and a 72-mile ultramarathon — all after most people start talking about slowing down. In this personal conversation, Jeffrey shares: How his father’s passing shifted his mindset from “someday” to “now” The Vince Lombardi quote that fuels his discipline Why it’s a marathon, not a sprint — in sports and in life The truth about willpower (it only lasts about a month) Why “baby steps” matter more than heroic bursts of motivation How to fight the resistance of the mind Why exercise creates optimism — not just muscle The question he keeps asking himself: “Why am I doing this?” How endurance keeps him energized and relevant in the workforce And what kind of life he wants to be living at this age This isn’t just about racing. It’s about choosing your path. Taking ownership of your health. And deciding — intentionally — how you want to live the years ahead. Because maybe the real race isn’t against other competitors. Maybe it’s against time. ABOUT JEFFREY: Jeffrey Weiss is a successful business executive, an accomplished author of three books, and a two-time Ironman and an ultramarathoner. Racing Against Time: On Ironman, Ultramarathons, and the Quest for Transformation in Mid-Lifetells of his midlife adventures in extreme sports, including finishes at Ironman Arizona (twice) and the 72-mile ultramarathon Midnight Express between the ages of 57 and 61.  He is also the co-author of I Am My Brother’s Keeper which chronicles the American and Canadian volunteers who served in all branches of the Israel Defense Forces during the 1948 War of Independence, and Fighting Back: Stan Andrews and the Birth of the Israeli Air Force Jeffrey is featured in Nancy Spielberg’s acclaimed 2014 documentary “Above and Beyond” (available on Amazon Prime), which tells the story of American pilots in Israel’s founding air force and earned 22 film festival awards. He also appears in the 2000 documentary “Israel’s Forgotten Heroes,” narrated by Hal Linden. Fluent in Hebrew, Jeffrey completed a year of law school at Bar Ilan University and holds a law degree along with master’s degrees in International Law (Georgetown University Law Center) and Biotechnology (Johns Hopkins University). In addition to his academic and writing accomplishments, Jeffrey is an experienced entrepreneur, having served for more than a decade as a C-suite executive at a startup that was recently acquired for $3 billion. Jeffrey lives in Tel Aviv, where in 2024 he founded Stickers of Meaning, a project that preserves and educates about the memorial stickers that have appeared throughout Israel since October 7, 2023—honoring the fallen and inspiring the living with messages of love, purpose, daring, and joy. Jeffrey Weiss              Website Jeffrey Weiss              Facebook Jeffrey Weiss              Instagram Jeffrey Weiss              LinkedIn Watch the full Podcast Video iframe class="video" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LQ515_f1awY?si=sOxnSBEH6jel-fm6" title=" title="YouTube video player" title=" title="YouTube video player" title="YouTube video player

    28 min

  5. FEB 26

    Noshing With Aaron Poochigian – February 26, 2026

    Translator, Meditations By Marcus Aurelius This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with acclaimed poet and translator Aaron Poochigian, whose bold new translation of “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius reintroduces one of history’s most influential works for the 21st century. Watch Full Podcast Video Why translate a classic that’s already been translated countless times? For Aaron, the answer is deeply personal. After revisiting “Meditations” in the wake of COVID and his own life challenges, he returned to the original Greek text—and found something startlingly alive. He wasn’t interested in a polite, distant rendering. He wanted to restore the bright colors of Marcus’s language. To make it intimate. Immediate. Emotionally charged and lucid. Aaron describes the experience as so personal that he sometimes felt like Marcus’s shrink—because “Meditations” was never meant for publication. The Roman emperor wrote it for himself, assuming no one would ever read it. That raw honesty, Aaron argues, is exactly why it still resonates today—from CEOs navigating high-stakes decisions to anyone wrestling with regret, distraction, or the relentless pace of technology. In this thoughtful and revealing conversation, Aaron and Ira explore the myths about Stoicism, the idea of “divine rationality,” Marcus’s influence on modern cognitive therapy, and why happiness, in Marcus’s view, comes from living in accordance with nature. They also examine why this ancient voice feels especially urgent in a hyper-digital world that constantly pulls us away from the present moment. Aaron’s goal? Not just to have readers understand Marcus Aurelius—but to feel him. Aaron Poochigian is a poet, classics scholar, and translator who lives and writes in New York City. His work has appeared in such newspapers and journals as The Financial Times, The New York Review of Books, and Poetry Magazine. He’s the author of Four Walks in Central Park: A Poetic Guide to the Park, and his translations include Stung with Love (Penguin UK). His new translation is Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations Aaron Poochigian       Website Aaron Poochigian       Facebook Aaron Poochigian       Instagram Aaron Poochigian       X Watch the full Podcast Video iframe class="video" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6-yyv5bZ9zI?si=keCSLOGvc-pdTWB6" title=" title="YouTube video player" title=" title="YouTube video player" title="YouTube video player

    28 min

  6. FEB 19

    Noshing With Monte Schulz – February 19, 2026

    Author, Undercity What does it mean to grow up as the son of one of the most beloved cartoonists in history — and then find your own creative voice? Watch Full Podcast Video This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with Monte Schulz, author of the genre-blending fantasy/sci-fi thriller Undercity. The son of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, Monte shares an intimate look at his upbringing, his artistic evolution, and the lessons in storytelling that shaped him. Monte reflects on coming of age just as his father’s fame exploded — and how Charles Schulz recognized in his teenage son an ear for lyrical language. Encouraged to read deeply and widely, Monte’s creative path shifted from music to poetry, and ultimately to prose. Inspired early on by science fiction and history, raised on a sprawling 20-acre property that instilled in him a love of rural landscapes, Monte says he eventually “bloomed outward” as a writer. He discusses how popular novels taught him pacing and storytelling momentum, while literary writers shaped his command of language. The poetry of Carl Sandburg continues to inspire him — “When I read Sandburg, it reminds me why I write,” Monte says. “Literature is endless. It doesn’t die.” Monte also opens up about wanting to write about war, his writing technique, and the memorable advice his father gave him about overcoming writer’s block. This is a thoughtful, revealing conversation about creativity, legacy, and why great literature — like great storytelling — never fades. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video) ABOUT MONTE: Monte Schulz received his M.A. in American Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara. He published his first novel, Down by the River, in 1990, and spent the next twelve years writing a novel about the Jazz Age. His most recent novel, award winning Metropolis, was published in 2022. His father is the late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. He lives in Santa Barbara, California. Monte Schulz    Website Watch the full Podcast Video iframe class="video" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/znRugroIK4A?si=Ectizx1BvnZT16Pv" title=" title="YouTube video player" title=" title="YouTube video player" title="YouTube video player

    28 min

  7. FEB 12

    Noshing With Peter H. Bailey – February 12, 2026

    Author, The Epic of You This week, Ira spoke with Peter H. Bailey, author of The Epic of You. In this episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” It’s not if life will disrupt your plans—it’s when. Careers stall. Relationships shift. That little voice wakes you up at 5 a.m. and starts whispering doubt. And suddenly, you’re wondering whether you’re falling behind. Watch Full Podcast Video This week on Ira’s “Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with Peter H. Bailey, author of The Epic of You, for a powerful conversation about reframing crisis, silencing the “disease of comparison,” and discovering the hero inside ordinary life. Peter draws on a 45-year career in leadership and coaching—and the timeless wisdom of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey—to explain why being heroic doesn’t mean climbing a mountain. It means staying with your challenges long enough to uncover the gift at the end. Every culture tells a version of the same story: someone leaves the village and returns transformed—or a stranger arrives and changes everything. Peter believes that story is a map for your life—past, present, and future. The “call to adventure” isn’t about drama. It’s about growth. And often, the hardest seasons produce the greatest expansion. When Peter couldn’t find a book to guide him through his own turning points, he wrote one. The Epic of You is both a personal processing tool and a leadership framework built on one simple formula: Experience + Reflection = Real Education. In this thoughtful and energizing episode, Peter shares why curiosity matters, why comparison shrinks your future, and why the word “epic” belongs to all of us. Because the chaos we fear may just be the doorway to the life we’re meant to live. ABOUT PETER: Peter H. Bailey is an author, global facilitator, and leadership strategist whose four decades of workhave taken him to more than 50 countries. As President of The Prouty Project, a leadingstrategic planning and leadership developmentfirm, he has guided executives and teams through organizational transformation with a rare blend ofinsight, empathy, and hands-on learning expertise. A TEDx speaker on “Developing Your Heroic Journey Mindset” and award-winning global educator, Peter has delivered leadership programs worldwide and previously ran a corporate training adventure center in Indonesia. He holds a Master’s in Experiential Education, serves on the Board of Voyageur Outward Bound School, and writes regularly on human performance and personal transformation. Fluent in Indonesian and conversational in German, Peter brings deep cultural awareness shaped by extensive travel, including multi-month overland expeditions across Asia, Europe, and Africa. His personal pursuits are as wide-ranging as his professional work—rock climbing, sailing, scuba diving, dog-sledding and fly-fishing. His attempt to learn the instruments of cultures around the world prompted him to learn the didgeridoo from Australia, playing the chanter from Scotland, and the low whistle from his time in Ireland are examples of his curiosity and love for life! Peter H. Bailey     Website Watch the full Podcast Video iframe class="video" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oPfM-JqATBQ?si=MStDu8f_NwuOD48z" title=" title="YouTube video player" title=" title="YouTube video player" title="YouTube video player

    28 min

  8. FEB 5

    Noshing With Elizabeth Chamblee Burch – February 5, 2026

    Author, The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America’s Lawsuit Factory In this eye-opening episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Ira sits down with Elizabeth Chamblee Burch, author of The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America’s Lawsuit Factory, to expose a hidden industry operating in plain sight. Watch Full Podcast Video Elizabeth takes listeners inside the shadowy world of mass tort litigation—where legal cases are bought and sold like baseball cards, kickback provisions are quietly skirted, and enforcement of existing laws often falls through the cracks. Her investigation began with what she thought was routine research, but everything changed after attending a conference in Las Vegas—followed by a chilling call from a whistleblower who had been there too. At the center of The Pain Brokers are three women whose lives were upended by the system, including patients harmed by pelvic mesh surgeries. Elizabeth explains how failures in regulation—by both the legal and medical professions—allow abuses to continue, and why so much of the problem isn’t the absence of laws, but the lack of enforcement. This conversation is also a call to action. From educating yourself before consenting to surgery, to becoming your own best advocate, to understanding how loopholes could be closed, this episode arms listeners with the knowledge they need to protect themselves—and demand accountability. If you care about patient safety, justice, and how profit can quietly distort both, this is an episode you won’t forget. Elizabeth Chamblee Burch is the Fuller E. Callaway Chair of Law at the University of Georgia. Her groundbreaking work on mass torts and class actions won the American Law Institute’s Early Career Scholars Medal in 2015, the Fred C. Zacharias Memorial Prize for Professional Responsibility Scholarship in 2016, and the Mangano Dispute Resolution Advancement Award in 2019. The author of two academic books, she has published more than 40 articles and essays in legal journals and is a frequent commentator on NPR and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Economist, and USA Today. In addition to her law degree, she holds an MFA in narrative nonfiction. She lives in Athens, Georgia.  Elizabeth Chamblee Burch     Website Elizabeth Chamblee Burch     Facebook Elizabeth Chamblee Burch     Instagram Elizabeth Chamblee Burch     LinkedIn Elizabeth Chamblee Burch     X Watch the full Podcast Video iframe class="video" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nmFwib8Mexk?si=12FCYRW6I7WmsUx6" title=" title="YouTube video player" title=" title="YouTube video player" title="YouTube video player

    27 min
See All (200)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Discover Ira’s Everything Bagel, a blend of US arts and culture. Schmeared with podcasts rich in ideas worth spreading, as well as captivating stories.

Information

  • Creator
    Ira David Sternberg
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Copyright
    © COPYRIGHT 2012-2024 IDS CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Show Website
    Ira's Everything Bagel