Episodes
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With the news of Pete Rose, Major League Baseball's career hits leader, being posthumously removed from the league's permanent ineligibility list, Michael speaks with Keith O'Brien, author of "Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball." Charlie Hustle tells the full story of one of America’s most epic tragedies—the rise and fall of Pete Rose. Drawing on firsthand interviews with Rose himself and with his associates, as well as on investigators' reports, FBI and court records, archives, a mountain of press coverage, Keith O’Brien chronicles how Rose fell so far from being America’s “great white hope.” It is Pete Rose as we've never seen him before. Original air date 16 May 2025. The book was published on 26 March 2024.
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Michael sits down with Suzy Welch—NYU Stern professor, journalist, and best-selling author—to discuss her transformative new book :Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career." The conversation blends personal reflection with practical insight as Suzy introduces her evidence-based methodology for helping people align their values, aptitudes, and interests in pursuit of a meaningful life. From a hilarious memory of an awkward naked-photo-in-a-magazine encounter to deep discussions on loss, resilience, and self-discovery, this episode offers both laughs and life lessons. Michael even takes Suzy’s “Values Bridge” test and shares his results, making for a lively and introspective exchange that challenges listeners to reflect on their own paths. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a mid-career professional, or just seeking clarity, this episode is for anyone asking: What should I really be doing with my life? And, six words to describe your life story. What are they? Original air date 12 May 2025. The book was published on 6 May 2025.
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This conversation was recorded the morning of the start of the Conclave to replace Pope Francis.
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In this episode of The Book Club with Michael Smerconish, Michael sits down with Graydon Carter, legendary former editor of Vanity Fair, to discuss his captivating new memoir, "When The Going Was Good: An Editor’s Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines." The conversation is filled with sharp wit, rich anecdotes, and reflections on a media era defined by luxury, talent, and cultural influence—from eyebrow ladies at Condé Nast to Concorde flights, iconic writers, and unforgettable stories. Graydon opens up about what made that era "golden," his life lessons, and why gratitude and grit were at the heart of his editorial success. After the interview, stick around around as listeners weigh in with their own "rules for life," inspired by Graydon’s and Michael’s personal philosophies. Original Air Date 6 May 2025
The book was published on 25 March 2025. -
Michael welcomes Admiral William McRaven with his book "Conquering Crisis: Ten Lessons to Learn Before You Need Them." The retired Naval officer and bestselling author tells stories from his life and career that illustrate the principles of effective leadership during times of crisis. Throughout his 40-year career, Admiral McRaven has experienced every manner of calamity imaginable. From managing failed hostage rescues to responding to student unrest, McRaven has learned how to successfully navigate crises—those moments that push the limits of your experience and challenge your confidence, when leadership skills alone may not be enough. Original air date 29 April 2025. The book was published on 22 April 2025.
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From September 2007, Michael's conversation with John Mearsheimer, co-author of "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy."
"The Israel Lobby," by John J. Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen M. Walt of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, was one of the most controversial articles in recent memory. Originally published in the London Review of Books in March 2006, it provoked both howls of outrage and cheers of gratitude for challenging what had been a taboo issue in America: the impact of the Israel lobby on U.S. foreign policy. -
Michael speaks with Jeffrey Selingo, author of "Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions." The award-winning higher education journalist and New York Times bestselling author's book offers a revealing look from inside the admissions office—one that identifies surprising strategies that will aid in the college search.
Getting into a top-ranked college has never seemed more impossible, with acceptance rates at some elite universities dipping into the single digits. In this book, Selingo dispels entrenched notions of how to compete and win at the admissions game, and reveals that teenagers and parents have much to gain by broadening their notion of what qualifies as a “good college.” Original air date 12 March 2021. The book was published on 15 September 2020. -
Michael welcomes former Ohio Governor John Kasich, author of "Heaven Help Us: How Faith Communities Inspire Hope, Strengthen Neighborhoods, and Build the Future". In a time of division and cynicism, Kasich shares uplifting stories of faith communities making real change—from churches supporting immigrants to mosques building interfaith bridges. It's a powerful reminder of the hope and strength found in local action and belief. Original air date 18 April 2025. The book was published on 8 April 2025.
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Ben Sherwood's "The Survivors Club: The Secrets and Science that Could Save Your Life" was so fascinating to Michael that he had him back on for this interview, 11 years after the book was written. Each second of the day, someone in America faces a crisis, whether it's a car accident, violent crime, serious illness, or financial trouble. Given the inevitability of adversity, we all wonder: Who beats the odds and who surrenders? Why do some people bound back and others give up? How can I become the kind of person who survives and thrives?
The fascinating, hopeful answers to these questions are found in THE SURVIVORS CLUB. Mr. Sherwood is the former President of Disney-ABC Television Group and ABC News. Original air date 26 May 2020. The book was published on 26 January 2009. -
Let’s begin an implausible story with a seemingly simple yet complex question: If you were single, never married with no children or dependents, would you, if you had the opportunity, have lived “on the down low” in a secret apartment in Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia? Tom Garvey did just that - yes he LIVED there - and tells the tale in this incredible story. Original air date 19 March 2021. The book was published on 3 December 2020.
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Michael talks to Amie Parnes & Jonathan Allen about "Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House." The authors of the #1 New York Times bestseller 'Shattered' provide a revelatory, inside look at the Biden, Harris, and Trump camps during the 2024 battle for the White House, arguably the most consequential contest in American history.
The ride was so wild that it forced a sitting president to drop his re-election bid, a once and future president to survive felony convictions and a would-be assassin’s bullet, and a vice president, unexpectedly thrust into the arena, to mount an unprecedented 107-day campaign to lead the free world. 'Fight' is the backstage story of bloodsport politics in its rawest form—the clawing, backstabbing, and rabble-rousing that drove Donald Trump into the White House and Democrats into the wilderness. At every turn, the combatants went for the jugular, whether they were facing down rivals in the other party or their own. Original air date 7 April 2025. The book was published on 1 April 2025. -
Admiral James Stavridis appears on the Book Club Podcast four times. Listen to To Risk It All (Episode #116), 2054 (Episode #354), The Restless Wave (Episode #415), and The Admiral's Bookshelf (#446).
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Michael interviews New York Times bestselling author Benjamin Wallace about his new book, "The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto: A Fifteen-Year Quest to Unmask the Secret Genius Behind Crypto." Wallace delves into the enigma of Satoshi Nakamoto, the elusive creator of Bitcoin, whose identity remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of our time. Wallace traces his investigation across the globe, exploring a variety of suspects and the impact of Nakamoto’s invention—from its idealistic beginnings to its current, speculative, and often controversial role in the financial world. Original air date 2 April 2025. The book was published on 18 March 2025.
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Michael welcomes New York Times Bestselling author Michael Wolff with his book "All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America." In it, Wolff delivers a breathtaking insider account of the 2024 Trump campaign—undoubtedly the wildest, most unpredictable campaign in U.S. history, including multiple criminal trials, two assassination attempts, and a sudden switch of opponents. 'All or Nothing' takes readers on a journey accompanying Donald Trump on his return to power as only Michael Wolff, the foremost chronicler of the Trump era, can do it. Original air date 31 March 2025.
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Laura Delano is a writer, speaker, and consultant, and the founder of Inner Compass Initiative, a nonprofit organization that helps people make more informed choices about psychiatric diagnoses, drugs, and drug withdrawal. She is a leading voice in the international movement of people who’ve left behind the medicalized, professionalized mental health industry to build something different. Laura works with individuals and families around the world who are seeking guidance and support for the withdrawal journey and life post-psychiatry. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and children.
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Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret.), a leader in international business, national security, and global philanthropy, shares the books that facilitated his success. A guide to living and leading through reading, The Admiral’s Bookshelf links twenty-five essential life lessons and leadership principles to the books that best illustrate them. After speaking with him, Michael is then inspired to reveal his top 25 books as well - listen in! Original air date 26 March 2025. The book was published on 18 March 2025.
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Alex Isenstadt is a Senior Political Reporter at Axios. Previously, he was National Political reporter at Politico, where he covered Donald Trump since 2015.
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Michael talks to trial lawyer and communication expert Jefferson Fisher about his fascinating new book, "The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More." Its ties to the themes of Michael's work with The Mingle Project are intriguing. Listen to this conversation about the definitive book that will make your next conversation the one that changes everything.
No matter who you’re talking to, "The Next Conversation" gives you immediately actionable strategies and phrases that will forever change how you communicate. Fisher offers a tried-and-true framework that will show you how to transform your life and your relationships by improving your next conversation. Fisher has gained millions of followers through short, simple, practical videos teaching people how to argue less and talk more. Original air date 19 March 2025. The book was published on 18 March 2025. -
"Busted: A Tale of Corruption and Betrayal in the City of Brotherly Love" is the shocking true story of the biggest police corruption scandal in Philadelphia history, a tale of drugs, power, and abuse involving a rogue narcotics squad, a confidential informant, and two veteran journalists whose reporting drove a full-scale FBI probe, rocked the City of Brotherly Love, and earned a Pulitzer Prize. Listen to Michael's conversation with journalists Wendy Ruderman and Barbara Laker. Original air date 13 March 2014. The book was published on 11 March 2014.
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On October 3, 1993, about a hundred elite U.S. soldiers were dropped by helicopter into the teeming market in the heart of Mogadishu, Somalia. Their mission was to abduct two top lieutenants of a Somali warlord and return to base. It was supposed to take an hour. Instead, they found themselves pinned down through a long and terrible night fighting against thousands of heavily-armed Somalis. The following morning, eighteen Americans were dead and more than seventy had been badly wounded.
Drawing on interviews from both sides, army records, audiotapes, and videos (some of the material is still classified), Bowden’s minute-by-minute narrative is one of the most exciting accounts of modern combat ever writtena riveting story that captures the heroism, courage, and brutality of battle. - Show more
