Ira’s Everything Bagel | US Arts and Culture Podcasts

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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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CAN THE WORLD’S BIGGEST PROBLEMS BE SOLVED TOGETHER? FONS BURGER THINKS SO

What if climate change, economic inequality, migration, food insecurity, political division, and declining trust aren't separate crises—but different symptoms of the same underlying challenge?
On this episode of “Ira's Everything Bagel,” I sit down with journalist, author, publisher, activist, and entrepreneur Fons Burger, author of "The Only Possible Solution: How to Shape the Future for Our Next Generations." Drawing on years of research and conversations with leading thinkers from around the world, Fons presents an ambitious—but surprisingly practical—vision for creating a more sustainable, equitable, and hopeful future.
During our conversation, Fons explains how he came to believe that every major problem has a solution if we're willing to think differently—and think together. He discusses why today's biggest global challenges are deeply interconnected, why long-term thinking is essential, and why solving migration begins by improving economic opportunity in the countries people are leaving.
We also explore why his book is intentionally journalistic rather than political or scientific, how he selected the experts whose ideas shaped his work, and why optimism and prag-matism—not fear—are the keys to meaningful progress. Fons shares his thoughts on global governance, why preserving local cultures and national identities remains important, the fascinating experts who most influenced his thinking, what's still on his per-sonal bucket list, and why he believes the future can be far brighter than many imagine.
If you've ever wondered whether humanity can overcome its greatest challenges—or whether we're asking the wrong questions altogether—this thought-provoking conversation offers fresh perspectives and unexpected hope.
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