Ira’s Everything Bagel | US Arts and Culture Podcasts

Johnny Carson wasn’t just the King of Late Night — he was one of the greatest talent-spotters, risk-takers, and quiet humanitarians in entertainment history. And no one has explored that truth more deeply than Mark Malkoff.

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with Mark Malkoff, author (along with David Ritz) of "Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend," to uncover the real Carson behind the curtain. What started as a podcast grew into a full-scale investigation as more and more stories poured in — from Jay Leno to Joan Rivers to people who knew Carson far from the spotlight.

Mark shares how he fell in love with Carson as a kid, watched him leave the airwaves as a teenager, and spent years digging into every corner of Carson’s life — from his mysterious New York years to his life after the historic show run. Along the way, Mark reveals why Carson was anything but cold and aloof, how he helped launch Jimmy Buffett’s career, why he kept bringing Don Rickles back even when it was risky, and how he always made his guests look brilliant.

This isn’t just a biography — it’s a celebration of a man who believed in talent, generosity, and taking chances. With stories that have never been told this way before, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who ever stayed up late to watch Johnny Carson make magic.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Noshing With Dr. David Weill – January 8, 2026

What does it mean to belong—to a family, a faith, a history?

In this episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with Dr. David Weill, author of Tell Me I Belong: A Journey Across Faiths and Generations, for a personal conversation about identity, spirituality, and the moments that force us to ask life’s hardest questions.

The son of a Jewish father who escaped Nazi Germany and a Southern Baptist mother, David grew up in New Orleans where religion was rarely discussed. Instead, medicine became his calling.

But it was inside the hospital—amid life, death, and uncertainty—where his spirituality first ignited.

After Hurricane Katrina, David began reading the Bible cover to cover… for three years. His journey took him through Catholicism, then back to Judaism—after discovering that his mother had converted before marrying his father. That revelation sent him searching through generations of family history, ultimately leading him to Germany, where his connection to Judaism and his ancestors took on new meaning.

David also opens up about the politics and pressures of hospital life that led him to step away from his role as a transplant surgeon, and how his family supported him as he searched for a spiritual home.

This is a conversation about faith found later in life, identity reclaimed, and the courage it takes to ask: Where do I truly belong?
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Noshing With Dennis R. McBride – December 18, 2025

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with Dennis R. McBride, mayor of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and author of "A City on the Edge: Pandemic, Protest, and Polarization." Drawing on his background as a journalist, lawyer, and student of history, Dennis offers a candid, unfiltered look at leading a city through one of the most turbulent periods in modern American life.

Wauwatosa endured the COVID-19 pandemic, 98 consecutive days and nights of pro-tests, and the trauma of mass shootings at the state’s busiest shopping mall—challenges that made the city a true microcosm of America. Dennis explains why he felt compelled to document these experiences, what it means to govern as a progressive but practical leader, and why he took criticism from both the left and the right.

As the city’s lowest-paid employee, Dennis describes the personal toll of leadership, the constant need for vigilance, and the lingering impact of stress that hasn’t fully faded. Yet through it all, he stayed grounded by what he calls his guiding principle: “You follow the North Star—and the North Star is the law.”
This thoughtful and timely conversation explores leadership under pressure, short-term crisis versus long-term thinking, why Wauwatosa is truly an “edge city,” and why Dennis believes the path forward requires renewed civility, participation, and dialogue. A power-ful episode about democracy, resilience, and finding common ground when it matters most.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Noshing With Thom Shubilla – December 11, 2025

This week on "Ira’s Everything Bagel," Ira sits down with Thom Shubilla, author of "King Kong Versus Godzilla: The Most Colossal Conflict the Screen Has Ever Known."
Thom shares why diving into giant monsters is the perfect antidote to today’s stresses—and why he proudly calls himself a lifelong monster-movie nerd.
In this fascinating episode, Thom explores the origins of Kong and Godzilla—created two decades apart by different studios, filmmakers, and special-effects visionaries like Willis O’Brien and Toho’s groundbreaking team. He explains how a book on this iconic show-down had somehow never been written until he took on the challenge, digging deep into the film’s backstory, its inventive marketing, and the “monster rally” tradition that shaped it.
Thom also discusses the lost opportunities for a sequel, his interview with Linda Miller of "King Kong Escapes" (made by the same director, special-effects supervisor, and studio), and what he discovered about the creative process behind these cinematic giants. And, of course, he tackles the eternal question: What was the real beef between King Kong and Godzilla?
From urban legends about alternate endings to the surprising revelations that emerged from his research, Thom brings clarity, humor, and fresh insight to two monsters who continue to dominate screens in both Japan and America. It’s a fun, rich conversation about fandom, filmmaking, and the timeless appeal of a really big fight.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)