Thecuriousmanspodcast Matt Crawford

Matt Crawford speaks with author Celia Ryker about her book, Augusta: A Novel. Based on Ryker's own grandmother this is a story of heartache and triumph. Life was not easy in the early 20th century for a poor single mother with children, Augusta takes us back in time and shows us a true story of love, determination and inspiration. 

Matt Crawford speaks with journalist and author Azam Ahmed about his book, Fear is Just a Word: A Missing Daughter, a Violent Cartel, and a Mother's Quest for Vengeance. This is the riveting true story of Miriam Rodriquez, a mother who fought back against the drug cartels in Mexico, pursuing her own brand of justice to avenge the kidnapping and murder of her daughter. Ahmed brings us into this family's home to share in their pain and anguish as they search for their daughter's kidnappers. We often hear about these horrible acts on the news but manage to turn a blind eye, Ahmed makes it impossible in this impossible to put down read.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Dr. John Berger about his book, Solving the Climate Crisis: Frontline Reports from the Race to Save the Earth. Based on more than 6 years of research, Berger traveled the nation and abroad to interview governors, mayors, ranchers, scientists, engineers, business leaders, energy experts, and financiers as well as carbon farmers, solar and wind innovators, forest protectors, non-profit leaders, and activists. Berger then distills the information he gleaned and breaks it down in an easy to understand, exciting and hopeful format for his readers. This is the book to read if you want to understand just how many options and how close we truly are to a carbon neutral world. Please read the book, share and discuss with your family and neighbors.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Charles Crowson about his book, Jam Tomorrow? Why Time Really Matters in Economics. Most of us have a dim view of economics and its impact on our lives, we focus our energies mainly on work and providing for our families. Crowson lifts that veil and provides a new perspective of economics and its relationship to the other sciences; psychology, physics and philosophy. An accessible, enjoyable and thought provoking read; I promise this will change your view of economics and how it impacts your lives.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Fabrice Delaye about his book, The Medical Revolution of Messenger RNA. To the casual observer, it took about 10 months to develop the COVID-19 vaccine. That extraordinary success was made possible by decades of research and development in the use of messenger RNA (mRNA), the molecule that instructs cells to make a protein that stimulates production of antiviral antibodies. Fabrice bring us to back to the discovery of and evolution leading up to mRNA being used to treat this global pandemic and the scientists and companies who developed and produced it. A layperson's perspective, this book will make this subject easy to understand for all its readers.

Matt Crawford speaks with author Dr. Stephen Aronson about his book, The Search for Meaning and the Mystery of Consciousness. This book asks the important questions that will stir a most important conversation, the one inside ourselves. What is consciousness? Why do we limit the possibilities in our own minds with dogmatic ideals that we don't even subscribe to? Aronson and I ask these questions and more, I hope you will listen to this conversation, read the book and start a conversation of your own.