Ira’s Everything Bagel | US Arts and Culture Podcasts

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira dives into the wild, eye-opening world of history and drugs with Sam Kelly, author of the provocative new book, "Human History on Drugs: An Utterly Scandalous but Entirely Truthful Look at History Under the Influence."
In this candid and engaging conversation, Sam shares how a childhood fascination with history evolved into a full-blown quest to uncover the untold stories behind some of hu-manity’s most transformative — and mind-altering — moments. From deep dives into dusty archives to late-night internet rabbit holes, Sam balanced digital sleuthing with old-school research to bring long-buried facts to light. He discusses the earliest and most re-cent figures he studied, and explores the complex question: Have drugs helped or hin-dered us through history? (Spoiler: it’s a mixed bag.)
The episode also touches on some riveting highlights — including the secret behind Washington’s famously unsmiling portraits, government drug testing without consent, and the common thread between the Beatles, Steve Jobs, and Pope Leo XIII. Sam argues that drugs are tools — powerful ones — and that education and awareness are essential. He also explains why he chose not to pursue a Ph.D., how writing this book broke him free from academic constraints, and why history, when told right, is anything but boring.
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Noshing With Jane Loeb Rubin – June 12, 2025

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira welcomes Jane Loeb Rubin, acclaimed author of "Over There," the powerful third book to her best-selling Gilded City series. Set during World War I, the novel sheds light on a rarely explored corner of Jewish-American history, following a family of Jewish doctors and nurses who bring compassion, courage, and medical innovation to the front lines—all while wrestling with questions of identity, dis-placement, and rising antisemitism in a still-new homeland.
In this compelling conversation, Jane shares how her diagnosis of ovarian cancer—and the revelation of a genetic defect—propelled her to begin writing later in life. She reflects on her decision to honor her great-grandmother, a German-Jewish immigrant, and how her structured, Type A personality shaped her disciplined approach to writing. Despite limited energy, she writes each morning with laser focus, showcasing with her ability to transition from a structured professional life to a creative one.
Jane also dives into the historical heart of her work, discussing her meticulous New York research and the often-overlooked fact that a high percentage of Jewish Americans—and many from other ethnic backgrounds—served valiantly in World War I. Her stories bridge history and humanity, revealing not only the heroism of those who served but also the resilience of identity in a time of profound upheaval.
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Noshing With Peter Samuelson – May 29, 2025

This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” Ira has an inspiring conversation with Peter Samuelson—philanthropist, producer, and author of "Finding Happy: A User's Guide to Your Life, with Lessons from Mine."

In this uplifting episode, Peter distills the meaning of life into a single, powerful paragraph and shares why he crafted his book with short, digestible chapters—perfect for today's fast-paced world. He opens up about his life-changing work with First Star, helping teenage foster youth build brighter, more joyful futures.

Peter explains how his passion for mentoring stems from deep personal conviction and sharp pattern recognition that helps him guide young adults through life’s turning points. Originally intended as an autobiography, his book morphed into a self-help guide for young readers—fueled by a year of 5 a.m. writing sessions and a desire to blend real-life lessons with actionable advice.
He talks candidly about the risks he took, the importance of daring yourself to experiment, and how those leaps of faith led him to joy.

Peter reflects on the groundbreaking reality that, for the first time in history, young people may possess more information than their elders—and why applying critical thinking is more important than ever.

From confronting the flaws of the foster care system and cultivating resilience, to the moment of epiphany that launched his philanthropic journey, Peter’s stories are both heartening and thought-provoking. He also shares how his background as a film producer shapes his philanthropic impact—and ultimately, what he believes is his true purpose in life.
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Noshing With Thomas J. Slater – May 22, 2025

Photo by Mary Slater
Ira dives into Hollywood history with author Thomas J. Slater, whose new book, "June Mathis: The Rise and Fall of a Silent Film Visionary"(University Press of Kentucky), sheds light on one of early cinema’s most overlooked trailblazers.
In this fascinating conversation, Thomas reveals why June Mathis—a powerhouse screenwriter and the first woman executive at MGM—captured his attention from a long list of forgotten female film pioneers. He shares how he unearthed a treasure trove of ar-chival material at USC, including scripts and personal papers, and how silent film star Colleen Moore’s 36 meticulously kept scrapbooks—stuffed with reviews, clippings, and memorabilia—provided a vivid glimpse into Mathis’s prolific career from 1921 to 1936.
Thomas was stunned by the sheer volume of work Mathis produced—she was, quite lit-erally, always writing. He discusses how her spiritual, emotionally rich storytelling brought a distinctly female voice to the silver screen—a counterbalance to the brash ex-cesses of the Jazz Age. He also explores the erasure of women like Mathis from film his-tory, describing it as a deliberate act.
The episode touches on her personal legacy as well, with insights from her grandniece Diane Mathis Madsen, who contributed family letters and rare photographs. And of course, there’s the story of how Rudolph Valentino credited Mathis with launching his career—and why the tides turned for her as studio control gave way to outside financial interests after 1920.
Discover the remarkable rise—and haunting fall—of a visionary who helped shape early Hollywood, only to be written out of its story.
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