Thecuriousmanspodcast Matt Crawford

Matt Crawford speaks with professor and author Dr. Susan Carruthers about her book, Dear John. Are Dear John letters a betrayal of love and country? What type of person would send such a letter to a service member serving overseas risking their lives? Dr. Carruthers and I discuss that and so much more regarding this complex and nuanced issue. From the evolution of spousal communication to the military's changing policy on relationships and marriage in general, this is a book that looks at the administrative and psychological aspects of it all.

In this episode I speak with author Brooklyn Raney about her book, One Trusted Adult. Raney is an experienced teacher, coach, administrator, director of Girl's leadership Camp, co-founder of Generation Change and founder and lead trainer of the organization One Trusted Adult. All her work has been in the service of youth and how to guide adults in building strong connections with them. Whether you are a parent, coach, neighbor, aunt or uncle there is something for us all to take away from this book. I found so many useful lessons, I am glad I read it, and that I got to speak with Raney in such depth.

I speak with author Devi Lockwood about her book 1001 Voices on Climate Change. Lockwood traveled the world for over five years, covering twenty countries across six continents, to record first person accounts of climate change. Achieved mostly on a bike and carrying a sign that read, "Tell me a story about climate change." Lockwood is the Scheherazade of climate change impact, and you will find it hard to put down this book while reading through the "sticky stories" she has cultivated. Can't recommend this book enough!

In this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Wesley Morgan about his book, The Hardest Place. This is an exhaustively researched and compellingly written account of the American war experience in the Pech Valley. A microcosm of the war itself, Morgan fuses reporting embed trips, hundreds of interviews from the American and Afghan perspective to detail The Pech Valley experience. This is a complex topic with a lot of moving parts, but Morgan's accounting and writing style makes it easy to digest and impossible to put down.

In this interview Matt Crawford speaks with author Wendy Syfret about her book, The Sunny Nihilist. Wendy and I delve into what Nihilism really is and how we can separate and understand the difference between, meaning, purpose and value. A deep thinking and contemplative read, this is one that will have you questioning the social constructs around you and who is really deciding what is and is not important. This book needs to be read.

In this episode Matt Crawford speaks with author Ravi Shankar about his book Correctional. Ravi Shankar details his harrowing experiences with the law in this brutally honest and vulnerable memoir. Incarcerated once innocently, and then again justly as his promotion to full professor was finalized. Shankar details his time in Hartford Correctional Center with us and those he shared time with. A story about the criminal justice system, mental health and self-journey. A book that all can relate to in some way, this is a powerful read.