Ira’s Everything Bagel | US Arts and Culture Podcasts

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with acclaimed film historian, biographer, and screenwriter Joseph McBride, co-author (with Danny Peary) of the new memoir "I Loved Movies, But…"
In this wide-ranging conversation, Joe shares how the book emerged from a long-running series of interviews, why he brought in his old friend and prolific writer Danny Peary, and how his four overlapping careers—journalist, author, screenwriter, and film professor—shaped his life and work.
Joe also opens up about his formative years, the challenges of childhood, and the difficulties of navigating Hollywood as a screenwriter. He reflects on the personal insights gained while writing the book, including seeing his life in a new perspective and discussing being on the autism spectrum.
He talks about meeting Orson Welles (as the legendary director learned Joe wrote notes on his own wrist!), encountering his three favorite directors on his very first trip to Hollywood, and the guiding forces behind his career: “a rage for truth,” his volunteer work for John F. Kennedy, and his commitment to understanding the people who shaped American culture.
Joe also reveals the three professional achievements he’s most proud of—his Frank Capra biography, his book on Kennedy, and his critical studies of film directors—along with a few “stupid mistakes” he made along the way. And yes, he shares what Orson Welles really thought of actors.
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Noshing With Dr. James R. Gregory – November 20, 2025

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira speaks with Dr. James R. Gregory, longtime branding executive turned full-time fiction writer and author of the gripping new psychological thriller "Ghost Town."

James shares the story behind his remarkable career shift and his prolific creative output—often sparked by “concepts and seeds of ideas that percolate over a lifetime,” then written, as he puts it, “at the speed they want to be told.” He reflects on his memoir "Small Fortunes," his ambitious Covid-era project "Columbia: The Street," and the wide range of books that led him to fiction.

In this episode, James opens up about the childhood spark that inspired Ghost Town, the emotional connection he forms with his characters, and his commitment to uplifting stories filled with tension, humanity, and heart.

Set in the backwoods of western Pennsylvania and infused with historical touchpoints like the Johnstown Flood, Ghost Town delivers a haunting tale of Sulphur Creek’s last man standing—and the powerful tycoon who destroyed everything he ever loved.

A conversation about reinvention, creativity, and the stories that stay with us.

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Noshing With Chris Entwisle and Mark Havens – November 13, 2025

This week on "Ira’s Everything Bagel," Ira talks with Chris Entwisle and Mark Havens, longtime friends, designers, and authors of "WAIL: The Visual Language of Prestige Records"—a new book that celebrates the look, feel, and soul of one of jazz’s most influential labels.

Chris and Mark share the story of how their curiosity about Rudy Van Gelder’s legend-ary Hackensack studio led them down a musical rabbit hole—uncovering the artistry behind Prestige Records from 1949 to 1960. Along the way, they tracked down elusive first-edition album covers, connected with people who helped shape the label, and discovered how visual design and music fused into one bold creative movement.

They also reflect on the magic of Prestige founder Bob Weinstock’s informal recording sessions, the artists who designed covers with the same improvisational spirit as the mu-sicians inside, and why the label’s visual identity remains a touchstone for jazz lovers and designers alike.
It’s a conversation that celebrates not just the sound of jazz—but the look of it.

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Noshing With Traci Hunter Abramson – October 30, 2025

This week on "Ira’s Everything Bagel," Ira sits down with bestselling author and former CIA officer Traci Hunter Abramson, whose latest thriller, "Victim #8"(A Luke Steele Novel), dives deep into the world of high-stakes intrigue.
Traci shares how she dreamed up her action-driven hero, Luke Steele—a military aide to the president—and his sharp FBI analyst counterpart. She also reveals her unusual writing habits (yes, she actually writes on a treadmill), why her characters sometimes wake her at 4 a.m., and how she manages to complete three to four novels a year.
From a childhood spent creating stories in bed to a career in intelligence that gave her a real-world foundation for fiction, Traci’s journey is as fascinating as her plots. She opens up about her lifelong secrecy agreement with the CIA, her early journaling habit, her ability to multitask at a professional level, and what it’s like to be both a writer and an extrovert.
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