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.

ORSON WELLES REVISITED: JOSEPH McBRIDE ON THE LEGEND, THE MYTHS AND THE MOVIES

What happens when you spend decades studying one of the most fascinating—and mis-understood—figures in film history?
This week on “Ira’s Everything Bagel,” I talk with acclaimed author Joseph McBride, whose newly revised and expanded third edition of "Orson Welles" takes another penetrating look at the legendary filmmaker, actor and visionary.
The original edition of "Orson Welles" was published in 1972, followed by a revised edition in 1996. Now, Joseph has returned to Welles’ work once again, reevaluating every film and uncovering new material—including surprising discoveries in the RKO files.
Joe also shares the story of how he first met Welles, his experience participating in Welles’ unfinished film “The Other Side of the Wind,” and the last time he saw the leg-endary director. We talk about Welles’ unfinished projects, his boundless confidence, his belief in both highbrow and lowbrow art—and why he famously had little use for the middlebrow.
But this isn't simply another biography of Orson Welles. Joseph describes Orson Welles as a critical study, one designed in part to challenge and dispel some of the myths that have surrounded Welles for decades.
And perhaps most remarkably, Welles’ career continues to grow in reputation and fascination—even though he died in 1985.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Read More

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.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Read More

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.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Read More

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.
(Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Read More