Ira’s Everything Bagel | US Arts and Culture Podcasts

This week on “Ira's Everything Bagel,” Ira talks with Sharon Virts, author of "Bargains of Fate," part of her acclaimed “Fields of Honor series.” Sharon shares her unexpected journey from entrepreneur to historical novelist, revealing how selling her business and moving into a historic, reportedly haunted home inspired her passion for writing.
She discusses the extensive research behind her novels, how she blends historical fact with compelling fiction, and why "Bargains of Fate" explores the lasting consequences of our choices. Sharon also offers a fascinating look at her unique writing process—from writing the final chapter first to creating richly developed, character-driven stories that bring America's overlooked post-Founding era vividly to life.
Beyond the familiar stories of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, Sharon's “Fields of Honor” series shines a light on the generations who inherited the enormous responsibility of shaping a young nation. Through richly layered historical fiction, immersive storytelling, and painstaking research, she brings this overlooked chapter of American history vividly to life.
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JACK COLE: HOLLYWOOD'S FORGOTTEN CHOREOGRAPHY GENIUS

(Photo by Dana Ross)
This week on “Ira's Everything Bagel,” I sit down with dance critic and author Debra Levine to explore the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Jack Cole, the groundbreak-ing choreographer widely regarded as the father of theatrical jazz dance. Her acclaimed book, "Jazzed: Jack Cole and Twentieth-Century American Dance," uncovers the fascinating story of the visionary whose influence transformed Broadway, Hollywood, and generations of performers.
Debra shares her own unexpected journey from modern dancer to business executive, and ultimately to becoming one of America's leading dance writers. She reveals how filmmaker Kenneth Anger inspired her to tell Cole's story, why “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” re-mains his masterpiece, and how Cole's brilliance often went unrecognized despite shaping some of Hollywood's most memorable dance sequences.
We also discuss Cole's larger-than-life personality, his relationships with studio moguls and stars like Rita Hayworth, his surprising connections to organized crime, why choreographers rarely receive the recognition they deserve, and the unexpected place where Debra uncovered much of her research. It's a captivating look at an artistic pioneer whose impact on American entertainment continues to resonate today.
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WHEN MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS MEET THE BLACK MARKET: ANDERSON BOYD ON THE LEASE OF NATURE AND THE FUTURE OF ORGAN TRANSPLANTS

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira sits down with award-winning writer, direc-tor, producer, and editor Anderson "Drew" Boyd, author of the riveting new techno-thriller "The Lease of Nature."
What happens when one of medicine's greatest breakthroughs becomes the world's most dangerous commodity? Anderson's gripping novel imagines a near future in which 3-D printed human hearts revolutionize transplant medicine—only to collide with the brutal realities of the international black-market organ trade. The result is a suspenseful story that feels less like science fiction and more like tomorrow's headlines.
In this fascinating conversation, Anderson reveals why he chose the book's memorable epitaph, the inspiration behind writing The Lease of Nature, and how his lifelong passion for storytelling led him into the creative arts. He discusses his early experiences in filmmaking, why he enjoys working in both fiction and nonfiction, and the unique satisfaction he finds in the editing process.
Anderson also shares how the story began as a screenplay before evolving into a richly layered novel, allowing him to expand the characters, world-building, and moral complex-ity. He explains the real-world research behind the "red market" for human organs, why advances in biotechnology make his story increasingly plausible, and how today's medical innovations could shape tomorrow's ethical dilemmas.
The conversation also explores his writing process—from outlining and drafting to the lessons he learned after prematurely sharing what he jokingly calls his "vomit draft." Anderson explains why he often writes longhand as well as using a computer, how he de-veloped the novel's intriguing title, and why editing remains one of his favorite creative pursuits.
If you're fascinated by medical innovation, ethical dilemmas, crime thrillers, filmmaking, or the creative process behind writing compelling fiction, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
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How Animals Are Thriving in Our Cities: Dan Werb on Our Wild Familiars and the Hidden Urban Wild

This week on “Ira's Everything Bagel,” Ira welcomes award-winning writer and social epidemiologist Dan Werb, author of "Our Wild Familiars: How Animals Are Adapting to Cities and Reshaping the Natural World," for a captivating conversation about the surprising ways wildlife has learned to thrive alongside us.
Dan explains what first sparked his fascination with urban wildlife and why so many people have become disconnected from nature—even as the natural world surrounds them every day. He discusses how the pandemic changed our relationship with the outdoors and offers practical insights into reconnecting with the ecosystems we often overlook.
The conversation explores the remarkable world of synanthropes—animals that have adapted to living with humans—including pigeons, raccoons, bats, rats, and even coyotes. Dan shares how he researched the book through interviews, extensive fieldwork, and an extraordinary review of 599 peer-reviewed scientific studies, revealing how bold, adaptable species are leading a new wave of urban evolution.
Ira and Dan also discuss why cities are becoming biodiversity hotspots, how animals learn from one another, why fear of new environments diminishes in urban settings, and what these resilient creatures can teach us about adaptation, community, and our own place within nature.
If you've ever wondered who's really sharing your neighborhood, this fascinating episode will forever change the way you see the city around you.
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