Ira’s Everything Bagel

Discover Ira's Everything Bagel, a blend of US arts and culture. Schmeared with podcasts rich in ideas worth spreading, as well as captivating stories.

Welcome to Ira’s Everything Bagel, your destination for US Arts and Culture Podcasts, schmeared with intriguing people who talk about their passions, pursuits, and points of view. Join Ira as he explores the rich tapestry of American arts and culture, featuring unique voices and stories.

ARE YOU LIVING YOUR LIFE—or SCROLLING THROUGH IT? HEATHER HENDERSON EXPLAINS

Technology promises to make life easier, but what happens when it starts taking over the very life it was supposed to improve?
This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” I talk with Heather Henderson, author of "Reclaim: How to Stop Scrolling Through Your Life and Start Living It," about the hidden costs of digital distraction and how we can take back control of our time, attention, and choices.
After a decade working in the tech industry, Heather began noticing a troubling contradic-tion: even the people creating technology were feeling drained and distracted by it. Draw-ing on her philosophy background at UC Santa Cruz and research that brings the issue to life through case studies, she explores how technology shapes our behavior—and how easily we can lose track of the hours we spend with our screens.
We discuss “unconscious time,” the influence of commercially driven technology, and the challenges of AI systems that increasingly tell us what we want to hear. Heather also explains why distraction is one of the five needs explored in her book, why even a healthy relationship with technology can have its pitfalls, and why she believes “presence is the new luxury.”
Most importantly, we explore a deceptively simple question: “Did I choose this, or was this chosen for me?”
Heather shares why bringing the human side of technology into her book was one of the biggest surprises of the writing process, how she made the book accessible and practical, and why reclaiming our agency may begin with something as simple as seeking more genuine human interaction.
Tune in for a thoughtful, practical conversation about technology, attention, and making more intentional choices in a world designed to keep us scrolling.
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INSIDE THE MIND OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK: NAT SEGALOFF UNCOVERS THE MAN BEHIND THE MOVIES

(Photo by J.B. Lahmani)

What did Cary Grant and James Stewart reveal about the mysterious genius of Alfred Hitchcock? On this episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” I talk with Nat Segaloff, author of "The Secret Hitchcock: How Hollywood’s Legendary Director Lived Through Cary Grant and James Stewart," published by the University Press of Kentucky.
Nat explores Hitchcock’s creative genius, his fascination with icy blondes, the influence of his wife, Alma, and how he used Grant and Stewart to express sides of himself he rarely revealed. We also discuss Hitchcock’s meticulous filmmaking, his ability to create deeply personal movies within the Hollywood studio system, and why his films remain timeless.
Discover the man behind the suspense — and the secrets hiding in plain sight in his movies.
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FROM THE LUFTHANSA HEIST TO HOLLYWOOD: EDWARD MCDONALD’S REAL-LIFE MOB STORIES

What happens when a federal prosecutor takes on the mob—and winds up playing himself in an Oscar-winning movie? Former federal strike force chief and “Goodfellas” actor Edward McDonald joins Ira to discuss his extraordinary career and his book, "Chasing Goodfellas: Lufthansa, Henry Hill, Point Shaving, and Making Movies." From the infamous Lufthansa robbery and encounters with Henry Hill and Jimmy “The Gent” Burke to the Boston College point-shaving scandal and his experience working with Martin Scor-sese, Edward shares remarkable stories that prove truth can be stranger than fiction.
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FROM ‘CATCH ME IF YOU CAN’ TO ACCOUNTABILITY: DAVID WATSON’S JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION

What happens when a troubled life of rebellion, crime, and consequences finally leads to accountability?
On this episode of “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” I talk with David Watson, author of "Forward Only: A Memoir," about an extraordinary and deeply personal journey from childhood upheaval and grief to crime, prison, self-reflection, and ultimately, redemption.
David was raised by his grandparents after his mother gave him to them to raise. He was a good kid and a good student—until the death of his grandfather when David was just 12 years old sent his life in a very different direction. What followed was decades of what David describes as a “catch me if you can” mentality. He was arrested more than 30 times, repeatedly managed to escape serious consequences, and eventually found himself facing federal charges for credit card fraud.
In 2018, David was arrested by the Secret Service and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Then, during his first year behind bars, he learned that his mother had died.
That moment—and how he initially responded to it—became part of a much larger reckoning. David began examining the choices, behaviors, and patterns that had shaped his life. He started writing down what he had done wrong and researching what it would take to become an “upstanding citizen.”
We talk about the moment when the light bulb finally came on, why he decided to write Forward Only: A Memoir, what he learned from a business management class in prison—including the true value of a dollar—and why he says, “You can’t buy time.”
David also discusses the importance of his family today and why he founded the Redemption Foundation this year to help others find a different path.
He wrote Forward Only in just six months, but he says he never wanted the book to glorify his crimes. Instead, he wanted readers to connect with the person behind the mistakes—and to understand that change is possible.
This is a raw and remarkably personal conversation about grief, rebellion, crime, prison, accountability, second chances, family, and redemption.
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