Best Steven Goldman Podcasts (2025)

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Infinite Inning Reissue 7 (023) The Red Sox vs. Niccolo Machiavelli, the Mets vs. Vietnam, A’s Fans vs. the President 37:26

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3d ago37:26

37:26

In new remarks for this week’s baseball, history, and politics reissue, notes from the 1500s on kings and princes vs. the mob and what that might tell us about the Rafael Devers trade. Then we revisit two acts of resistance: Tom Seaver and John Lennon have an indirect team-up to remind us of our own power, and the wrong president shows up at the Wo…

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Infinite Inning 335: The Yankees-Iran Nuclear Arms Agreement 51:18

6d ago51:18

51:18

A 1980s designated hitter is traded to the National League, a fish-needs-a-bicycle baseball moment reminiscent of recent US diplomacy, and a 20-game winner who pitched as Theodore Roosevelt charged up San Juan Hill throws it all away in favor of good diction. The Infinite Inning is a journey to the past to understand the present using baseball as o…

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Infinite Inning Reissue 6 (064): The Dodgers Say No to America First 1:00:47

10d ago1:00:47

1:00:47

In new remarks for this week’s baseball and history reprise, we argue about bunts, kites, and kings—why would anyone wish for any of them? Kites are okay, of course, but the other two are problematic. We then revisit the Brooklyn Dodgers with Jackie Robinson asked to comment on a fallen Hall of Famer who had once been his teammate, then jump back t…

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Infinite Inning 334: The Cleveland Indians (and Other Parties) Send Mixed Messages 39:14

14d ago39:14

39:14

There are very few general managers in the Hall of Fame, but that doesn’t mean your local team executive doesn’t know what he’s doing—it’s just that there are only so many obvious choices to make in any baseball season whether your name sounds something like “Ranch Bickey” or “Cryin’ Rashman.” Then, following a quick stop with Babe Ruth and a close…

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Infinite Inning Reissue 5 (173): Lou Gehrig Dreams of Smiting Nazis for the Yankees 1:15:26

17d ago1:15:26

1:15:26

In early February 2021 it seemed as if the danger of internally-inflicted fascism might be over, and so we looked at an occasion when Lou Gehrig was confronted with the same kind of movement and had a visceral reaction. Plus a lighter tale of a semi-pro pitcher who injured himself in an unusual way. We also revisit some of Twins executive Kevin Gol…

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Infinite Inning 333: Leadership, Dodgers Style 52:09

21d ago52:09

52:09

We take another trip around a past sun with the Brooklyn Dodgers, wondering about the origins of Uncle Robbie’s pronounced facial scar and then question a couple of old stories involving his lack of education: Were umpires really policing his spelling? Then, after a brief pause to ponder the nature of unrequited love, we rejoin the pennant-winning …

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Infinite Inning Reissue 4 (044): Cookie Says Just the Tip 41:27

24d ago41:27

41:27

We return to the program’s first year for two of our more fun baseball profiles, both featuring Brooklyn Dodgers—one from the 19th century, one from the 1940s, and both a little uncomfortable. In a new introduction, we explore different modes of parenting and a form of relationship for which we lack the right word. The Infinite Inning is a journey …

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(35) Yoetzet Halacha and Community Scholar – Ruthie Braffman Shulman 20:35

24d ago20:35

20:35

Ruthie Braffman Shulman is passionate about the importance of women’s roles in Torah Leadership positions, and she currently serves as the Director of Women's Torah Leadership at Micah Philanthropies, where she develops and supports women in Torah leadership positions at shuls. Simultaneously, she is the Yoetzet Halacha and community scholar at You…

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Infinite Inning 332: Women at the Park and Dictators in the Dugout 1:06:45

27d ago1:06:45

1:06:45

Infinite Inning 332: Women at the Park and Dictators in the Dugout The Chicago Cubs push hard on Ladies Day promotions, but a few object claiming that women don’t know the game of baseball Then baseball managers as autocrats compared to the real thing, and why confusing one for the other is a very dangerous idea, featuring Ossie Vitt and the Crybab…

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Crime and Baseball with Mark Stevens 44:26

1M ago44:26

44:26

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Mark Stevens, author of several crime novels, including Trapline. His new novel No Lie Lasts Forever involves a reporter investigating a cold-case serial killer who may have returned. 00.00 Opening Thoughts Jesse has returne…

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Infinite Inning Reissue 3 (013): Derek Jeter, Joe Biden, and the Dumbest Conspiracy 37:21

1M ago37:21

37:21

Before we revisit episode 13 and it’s discussion of the O’Connell-Dolan scandal, starring a player and a coach lately sprung off the banned list by Rob Manfred, we have a new introduction discussing Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis, the death of Franklin Roosevelt, Derek Jeter’s refusal to move off of shortstop, and we give one more encore to the most …

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(34) “In-Town” vs. “Out-of-Town” Living … with Rabbi Dr. Noam Weinberg 30:08

1M ago30:08

30:08

Rabbi Weinberg is a distinguished Jewish educator, relationship coach, and speaker, renowned for his expertise in fostering healthy relationships and guiding personal development. He received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University, he holds a master's degrees in marriage and family therapy, secondary education, and school administration;…

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Infinite Inning 331: Runners Down in the Lanes 58:48

1M ago58:48

58:48

The secret to managers’ success is revealed and dispensed with, in a hypothetical version of 1976, George Steinbrenner gifts Reggie Jackson with a plane, Hal Chase isn’t off the list because he was never on the list, a pre-Orioles pitcher becomes ill indeed, and baserunners are obstructed in 1928 and 2025, with differing outcomes suggesting the way…

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Infinite Inning Reissue 2 (006): Go Home, Snooks! 31:34

1M ago31:34

31:34

In this return to one of this baseball podcast’s earliest episodes, we discover two utility infielders, the Yankees’ Wayne Tolleson and, well, nobody’s Snooks Dowd (he was a Tigers, A’s, and Dodgers reject) who weren’t where they were supposed to be—or maybe they were exactly where they were supposed to be, but those in authority had a different op…

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Infinite Inning 330: The Great Boston Red Sox Depression 55:27

1M ago55:27

55:27

A pope who supposedly wanted baseball but caved to the Nazis instead, an amateur pitcher who cost a team a pennant, the Perdicaris incident, a Pirates manager is fired and the way his predecessor resigned, and the 2025 Colorado Rockies versus the 1932 Boston Red Sox and both in the hands of the President of the United States. The Infinite Inning is…

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Infinite Inning Reissue 1 (146): The Rulebreakers & The .399 Loser 1:07:44

1M ago1:07:44

1:07:44

For the show’s first reissue, we return to an episode from almost precisely five years ago which compares players who wouldn’t follow rules and inspired their clubs not to follow rules back, a subject framed by our once and possibly future public health crisis. We then turn to one of the great baseball stories, the misbegotten career of Don Padgett…

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(33) The Evolution of Orthodoxy… With Rabbi Dr. Zev Eleff 28:03

1M ago28:03

28:03

In this episode, our wide-ranging discussion covers the size of the Orthodox and Modern Orthodox community, how and why the Orthodox have become a minority, the cost and standards of living of Orthodoxy, some under-valued benefits, and even some sport trivia! Our guest, Rabbi Zev Eleff received his Ph.D. from Brandeis University and M.A. from Teach…

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Infinite Inning: 328 Some of Us Just Have a Type 1:03:46

2M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

We consider the legacy of the great Venezuelan players who have graced the game going back to Alex Carrasquel in 1939, constructing an all-star team of players from that beleaguered nation. What can any one of them tell us about Venezuelans as a whole? Hint: it’s the same thing that a highway serial killer can tell us about your best friend’s gramm…

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Kaira Rouda Keeps You in Suspense! 45:09

2M ago45:09

45:09

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Kaira Rouda, the author of many bestselling novels of domestic suspense, translated into more than a dozen languages. Her new novel is Jill is Not Happy. Openting Thoughts NaNoWriMo has shut down—but don't let that stop you …

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Infinite Inning 327: Moon, Sheriff, Dutch, and the Mighty Quinn 53:52

2M ago53:52

53:52

We begin with two players who would have been crowded off of modern rosters, and also couldn’t have made the 1970s Oakland A’s due to the owner’s insistence on carrying two pinch-runners at once. Then we travel to Philadelphia and visit two pitchers seemingly on parallel tracks, one who might pitch forever as the other confronts a life-threatening …

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Infinite Inning 326: The Cult of Pennant Park 47:23

2M ago47:23

47:23

We visit the high-flying world of Florida real estate speculation 100 years ago with the volatile manager of the New York Giants John J. McGraw. When the bubble burst, would it be a case of murder? The Infinite Inning is a journey to the past to understand the present using baseball as our time machine. America's brighter mirror, baseball reflects,…

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Writing for TV and Books with Matt Goldman 47:45

2M ago47:45

47:45

Errata: William acknowledges that the fifth book in the Douglas Adams Hitchhiker series is "Mostly Harmless," not "Mostly Serious" although he thinks both equally inaccurate. The Faulkner quote he butchers is "The past is never dead. It's not even past." The title of the Barry Friedman series we didn't say aloud is Jack Sh*t 1 & 2, lovely vignettes…

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Infinite Inning 325: No Dead Man Should Have a Watch This Nice 46:57

2M ago46:57

46:57

We examine the Los Angeles Angels’ hot start in light of the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers’ hot start and what happened afterwards, and stumble across a writer saying inappropriate things about Spike Owen and Teddy Higuera. Then we talk about the tragic loss of Octavio Dotel, “The Pitt,” and Philadelphia’s 1903 “Black Saturday.” Trigger Warning: There’s n…

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Infinite Inning 324: The Way We Live Now (Again) 46:10

3M ago46:10

46:10

Infinite Inning 324: The Way We Live Now (Again) In a largely improvised episode we reexperience current events through the lens of Joe DiMaggio’s 1941 hitting streak, counting the days while the war stays away, while once again a government effort requires us to rally ‘round Jackie Robinson—and Abraham Lincoln too, and we do so while checking in o…

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(32) A Peek Into the Hasidic World … with Frieda Vizel 25:15

3M ago25:15

25:15

Frieda Vizel was raised in the Satmar Hasidic community. At age 25, she left that community and pursued higher education, culminating in a master’s degree at Sarah Lawrence College. Since 2013, she has been offering walking tours of Hasidic Williamsburg. Her tours provide insights into the community's traditions and daily life, and are noted for th…

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Infinite Inning 323: I Fought the Law 44:17

3M ago44:17

44:17

We debate whether a victim of the First World War and the 1918 influenza pandemic was the heretofore unidentifiable Greatest Lost Prospect, we make a quick stop to compare takes on the 1915 World Series to Social Darwinism, and rediscover a dirty owners’ trick after a pitcher gathers up all his many girlfriends and drives into a wall. The Infinite …

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Gothic Horror with Emily Carpenter 39:19

3M ago39:19

39:19

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Emily Carpenter, a former actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant. She is also the author of the bestselling novels Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and The Weight of Lies. Her new novel is cal…

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(31) Orthodox Divorces: Why? Why? Why? … with Betzalel Rothstein 32:01

3M ago32:01

32:01

Betzalel Rothstein is a Certified Divorce Coach and Mediator who is highly regarded and has been involved in hundreds of divorce cases over the past 10 years either as Mediator, Coach, Parenting Coordinator or Consultant. He has extensive experience in dealing with difficult topics such as parental alienation, blended families, relocation, and what…

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Infinite Inning 322: Hollywood Crossed with Uz 1:05:04

3M ago1:05:04

1:05:04

A pitcher reaching a breaking point with his creator sends us scurrying back to the Old Testament for guidance, and then we unpack the stories behind Steve’s Baseball Prospectus column this week, a reaction to the Department of Defense labeling Jackie Robinson as “deisports.” Should you wish to read the column, it’s available free (no paywall) at B…

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Infinite Inning 321: Man's Life's a Gamble 56:19

3M ago56:19

56:19

Casey Stengel (our mascot, hero, and deity) steals a couple of uniforms and feels bad about it, and then a successful manager of the Red Sox is fired under dubious circumstances, and then virtually everyone in the story catches tuberculosis. Trigger Warning: There are a couple of fleeting mentions of self-harm in the second act of the show. The Inf…

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Magic and Horror with Cynthia Pelayo 42:57

3M ago42:57

42:57

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Cynthia Pelayo, the author of a new novel, Vanishing Daughters. She is the Bram Stoker Award–winning author of Forgotten Sisters and other genre-blending novels that incorporate fairy tales, mystery, and horror elements. Esq…

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(30) Rabbi Steven Gotlib: A Thoughtful and Bold Voice for Our Complicated Times 29:47

3M ago29:47

29:47

In this episode, we have a wide-ranging discussion, touching on such topics as: • Significant differences between US and Canadian Jewry/Orthodoxy • Interactions and public conversations across among various denominations • The evolving role of women in Modern Orthodoxy • Has politics become a “Jewish issue” (and/or divisive), including attitudes to…

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Infinite Inning 320: The Fatal Bellow of the Man They Called Horse 55:14

3M ago55:14

55:14

A sportswriter faces his own irrelevance on the morning after Pearl Harbor and finds a way back to baseball, and then a pitcher loses it and reignites a brawl that had already ended—featuring more future Hall of Famers than wound up in the Hall of Fame. Yes, it all makes sense in the end. The Infinite Inning is a journey to the past to understand t…

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Infinite Inning 319: Songs of Innocence and Experience 52:15

4M ago52:15

52:15

The way we live today prompts a tale of two future Hall of Famers inflicting pain on one another, yet another Hall of Famer, Phil Rizzuto, suffers pain and the host does too, and finally a story of a catcher who decided to engage with a world of corruption and paid a high price. The Infinite Inning is a journey to the past to understand the present…

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Dancing to Writing Success with Lynette Bennett 49:25

4M ago49:25

49:25

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Lynette Bennett, star of stage and screen, who has written her first memoir, Broadway Dreamer. 0:00 Opening Thoughts The Oscars are only two DAYS away (my bad) and we ponder why so many Best Film nominess are based on books.…

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Write a Book in Three Months with Betsey Kulakowski 32:50

4M ago32:50

32:50

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Betsey Kulakowski, the author of the Veritas Codex series books—mostly recently, The King's Ransom (Book 7). Opening Thoughts Authors Acting Awful News 1) TikTok/BookTok Survives to Sell Books Another Day! 2) Circana Booksca…

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(29) Aliza Bulow: Empowering Orthodox Jewish Women & Strengthening Our Homes 29:38

4M ago29:38

29:38

Aliza Bulow is an author, educator and mentor to Jewish women around the world, who founded CORE, an organization that empowers and connects Orthdox Jewish women. Core connects, develops and sustains women who engage in klal (the collective community) work. Core supports women in three main ways: 1) MMC (Mashpia-Mentor-Counselor) Program: Core offe…

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Infinite Inning 318: A Murder in Albany and Other Tales 53:47

4M ago53:47

53:47

A minor leaguer gets involved with the wrong woman, but who does she get involved with in the aftermath? And why did the pitcher throw the inkstand? Tigger Warning: There is one mild cussword early on, but one supposes there are a few adult matters related to sexuality that come up in passing. You might want to say “La la la” over that if the kids …

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Infinite Inning 317: You Can’t Be There If You’re Already Here 44:36

4M ago44:36

44:36

Infinite Inning 317: You Can’t Be There If You’re Already Here The show must go on, and so we begin with Dodgers Hall of Fame manager Walt Alston, the overreach of the man he replaced, Chuck Dressen (and Mrs. Dressen too) and what Walt did to make ends meet, then pause for some ruminations on The Way We Live Now, then visit Opening Day at Yankee St…

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Infinite Inning 316: Duck, You Roly-Poly Right-Hander 48:22

4M ago48:22

48:22

We begin once more with nice guys who finish last, but we confront the possibility that the qualifier was overstated, segue into the “Window Breakers” Giants of the late 1940s, Octavius Catto and Tommy Henrich, two pitchers who had more than their share of freak injuries, and so much more. Plus some more thoughts on the future of the show. The Infi…

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(28) Moish’s Believe It or Not! Bet you didn’t know that about Orthodoxy ... 28:21

5M ago28:21

28:21

In this episode we present some surprising facts about Modern Orthodoxy and the Orthodox community as a whole, based upon Nishma Research surveys between 2016 and 2024. We explore the size and growth of the community, religious beliefs and practices, political views, the finances of living an Orthodox Jewish life, the role of women in Modern Orthod…

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Infinite Inning 315: Go to College as Stan Musial Did Not 54:12

5M ago54:12

54:12

An embarrassing moment for Johnny Evers as he makes the reacquaintance of a pitcher he dismissed, and a certain town in Pennsylvania suffers a man-made disaster—but which Hall of Famers family lived there? And some questions about the show's next direction. Trigger Warning: This episode contains one solitary cussword at the end of the episode. Save…

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Publish Smart with Amy M Le 38:21

5M ago38:21

38:21

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Amy M Le, the award-winning author of the Snow trilogy and founder of Quill Hawk Publishing. 0:00 Opening Thoughts What are you reading right now? The hosts share their current obsessions. 3:00 News 1) Harper Collins Makes D…

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Infinite Inning 314: Run or Maybe Lie Down 40:06

5M ago40:06

40:06

Four quick tales: Leo Durocher excoriates a baserunner and gives us some quality advice, a college player dies on the field, a player is signed by the Yankees under false pretenses, and a minor league Baltimore Oriole goes into the stands. The Infinite Inning is a journey to the past to understand the present using baseball as our time machine. Ame…

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Infinite Inning 313: No-So-Yo Hank 32:33

5M ago32:33

32:33

We begin the new year with two tales of pitchers who could have used a break, one an ancient Cubbie into self-deprecation, another a war-era Cardinal in need of appreciation—from Branch Rickey. pistol_riccochet.ogg by Diboz The Infinite Inning is a journey to the past to understand the present using baseball as our time machine. America's brighter …

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Barry Friedman Goes to Portugal—and Writes 55:14

5M ago55:14

55:14

Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview Barry Friedman. Barry has been a prominent professional standup comic for decades, but in recent years, he’s started writing. He’s got six books published to date, including his warm and witty series about his father (Jack S…

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(27) Haredi Expert, Researcher and Founder of Mispar.com, Dina Goldman 25:40

5M ago25:40

25:40

Dina Goldman is at the frontier of researching and understanding the Chasidish and Yeshivish communities. She has spent over a decade working in marketing and advertising within the Orthodox Jewish community. Seeing how many businesses really lack solid information that they need, she founded Mispar – The Jewish Community, a Story of Numbers, a com…

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(26) The First-Ever Community Middot Report Card 37:09

6M ago37:09

37:09

Middot (and we’re talking mainly about interpersonal behaviors) are so important, especially in these stressful days. So we are pleased to present this as a dual-platform episode, being released on both Orthonomics and The Franciska Show … both covering important issues in the Orthodox Jewish world, and both available at all podcast platforms. Much…

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Infinite Inning 312: A Christman Story for a Christmas Mini-Sode 27:46

6M ago27:46

27:46

A half-length Casey Stengel-centric episode as we all get ready for the big holiday with all its joy and peppermint bark. Includes way too much about pinch-hitting during the Truman administration, if that’s your kind of thing. The Infinite Inning is a journey to the past to understand the present using baseball as our time machine. America's brigh…

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DC Frost Nipping at Your Nose 38:06

6M ago38:06

38:06

Happy holidays! This is our last episode for 2024, but we will be back in January with more news and interviews! Bestselling authors William and Lara Bernhardt discuss the latest news from the book world, offer writing tips, and interview DC Frost. (0:00) Opening Thoughts Lara and Jesse make New Years resolutions. (3:26) News 1) Taylor Swift Self-P…