Ira’s Everything Bagel | US Arts and Culture Podcasts

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This week on "Ira’s Everything Bagel," Ira sits down with Nancy Shear, author of the memoir, “I Knew a Man Who Knew Brahms.” Nancy shares how a single free ticket to the Philadelphia Orchestra at age 15 changed the course of her life, igniting a lifelong passion for classical music. From an initial orchestra performance to being swept up by the magnetic influence of conductor Leopold Stokowski—whose vision, charisma, and flair for bringing composers to life shaped her journey—Nancy takes us inside the world of music with fresh insight and contagious enthusiasm.
In this conversation, Nancy reflects on her decades-long love affair with classical music: the thrill of hearing an orchestra tune before the first note, the joy of spreading the word as an evangelist for the art form, and the painstaking, ten-year process of writing her book. Along the way, she reveals what she hopes readers will take from her story, why the title of her memoir is so personal, and how the power of music has been the defining influence in her life.
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Noshing With Samuel Garza Bernstein – August 14, 2025

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This week on "Ira’s Everything Bagel," Ira sits down with Samuel Garza Bernstein, author of "Cesar Romero: The Joker Is Wild." Samuel shares the story behind Romero’s unforget-table Joker laugh—and how Cesar graciously performed it for fans everywhere, from busy airports to city streets. Drawing on his own show business background, Samuel reveals how his agent nudged him toward writing the book, leading to a deep dive into the USC cinema library’s treasure trove of Romero’s early life.

From suave leading man to versatile Latino character actor, Romero brought humanity to every role—whether sharing the screen with Shirley Temple, playing his most dramatic characters, or stealing scenes as Batman’s maniacal nemesis, leaving “no prisoners.” Samuel recounts Romero’s love of dancing, his reinvention over decades in Hollywood, the surprising truths he uncovered, and the way Cesar supported his once-wealthy family through his success. It’s a portrait of a man who took his craft seriously, lived life with flair, and left an indelible mark on Hollywood history.
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Noshing With Shane H. Tepper – August 7, 2025

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira serves up a thought-provoking conversation with Shane H. Tepper — creative director, content strategist, and a pioneering voice in the emerging world of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Tepper is also the author of "Dwelling in a Place of Yes: The Surprising Psychology Behind Fear, Opportunity, and Smarter Choices."

In this fascinating episode, Shane unpacks how GEO is rapidly redefining online discov-ery — not by chasing keywords like traditional SEO, but by aligning with human intent, conceptual language, and the way large language models (LLMs) actually think. He dives into the seismic shift from broad searches to specific, purpose-driven queries, and why GEO is engineered for people, not just algorithms.

Shane also explores how artificial intelligence models self-train on the vast tapestry of in-ternet content, and how this has changed everything from brand discovery to content strategy. He reveals how his own existential crisis led him into the world of AI — what he calls “joining the machines” — and how business owners must approach AI adoption strategically rather than reactively.
From the fast-moving “turnover effect” in AI-driven information, to the clash between knowledge models and commerce models, Shane offers a behind-the-scenes look at the future of digital visibility. He also shares why he wrote his book, how he used AI as a writing partner (without losing his human voice), and what it means to be a “ruthless editor” in the age of machines.

This is an episode for anyone curious about the intersection of technology, psychology, and the future of how we search, discover, and decide.
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Noshing With Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke – July 31, 2025

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke, retired military officer and author of "Vital Mission," the latest installment in the gripping "Jake Fortina Series: A Love Story." Drawing on decades of experience in international affairs, counterterrorism, and military leadership, Rick shares what inspired him to leave his high-stakes career behind to tell the untold stories—those of behind-the-scenes missions and the families who serve silently alongside the soldiers.

In this episode, Rick reveals how Jake Fortina, his title character, is two-thirds based on his own life—and one-third pure “Hollywood.” He opens up about how a close friend also helped shape Jake’s identity, and how military discipline gave him the structure to write compelling thrillers grounded in reality.

Rick explains how his novels, vetted for classified content, evolved from a single story into a full-blown series packed with danger, heart, and political intrigue. Vital Mission tackles one of today’s darkest topics—children taken from Ukraine and relocated to Russia—and weaves it into a high-stakes global thriller featuring espionage, betrayal, and a standout subplot involving a Russian female army medic.

Get ready for a conversation about what it means to write fiction with a purpose, create characters who feel like flesh and blood, and channel real-life experience into page-turning storytelling.

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