Society

1979: City of Champions

April 15, 2024 Tim 1:27:28 Comments Off

This is a Special Edition of the Shaping Opinion Podcast called “1979: City of Champions.” In this extended episode (90 minutes), we take you to when Pittsburgh became the “City of Champions,” and how its impact went well beyond the field, or just baseball or football fans. In the end, it’s about what sports can do to bolster an entire people who are going through hard times. Guests include: Kent Tekulve, Joe Gordon, Lanny Frattare, Michael MacCambridge, John Steigerwald and Walter Iooss, Jr. This is the story of Pittsburgh, City of Champions, like you’ve never heard it before.

Encore: She Spied on the Germans in WWII

April 8, 2024 Tim 0:26:43 Comments Off

Julia Parsons joins Tim to talk about her role as a code-breaker during World War II. Julia was part of a a team of Navy women stationed in Washington, D.C. during World War II who worked to decipher German submarine messages that were sent in secret code using the Enigma machine. Her work relied on the now legendary Bombe machine invented by Alan Turing. This episode was originally released on July 22, 2019.

Encore: CNN’s Aaron Brown Tells His 9/11 Story

April 1, 2024 Tim 0:49:47 Comments Off

Former CNN lead news anchor Aaron Brown joins Tim to tell his story from September 11, 2001, where he brought the event to 1.4 billion viewers around the world, live as it happened. It was Aaron Brown on that day, standing on a rooftop in New York City, bringing us one of the most historic and tragic moments of our generation in real time. This episode is part of our special series, “9/11: A Generation Removed.” This episode was originally released on September 7, 2021.

Encore: Free Speech is the Most Basic Human Right

March 25, 2024 Tim 0:51:20 Comments Off

Author and professor Eric Heinze joins Tim to talk about freedom of speech and expression at the most fundamental level. He recently wrote a book on free speech, but it’s not exactly what you might expect. He explores free speech in a larger more fundamental context than America’s First Amendment. He talks about it in the context of universal human rights. Eric tells us about the thinking behind his new book called, “The Most Human Right: Why Free Speech is Everything.” This episode was originally released May 9, 2022.

Encore: The Story of a MOTH Storyteller

March 18, 2024 Tim 0:47:15 Comments Off

Storyteller Margot Leitman joins Tim to talk about the art of storytelling, and how you can be a better storyteller. Margot is an award-winning storyteller, best-selling author, speaker and teacher and a Moth Storytelling “GrandSlam” winner. This episode was originally released January 17, 2022.

Kent Tekulve – The Closer

March 11, 2024 Tim 1:51:47 Comments Off

If you like baseball you’ll love this interview. If you like Pittsburgh sports, you’ll love this interview. Former Pittsburgh Pirate closer and World Series Champion Kent Tekulve joins Tim in this special extended episode. Kent talks baseball, Pittsburgh, how to teach kids about sports, and somewhat about life.

Encore: Secrets of a Hostage Negotiator

March 4, 2024 Tim 0:58:35 Comments Off

FBI-trained hostage negotiator Scott Tillema joins Tim to talk about how to negotiate when the stakes are high, even when lives are on the line. Scott teaches organizations how to use the power of life-saving negotiation principles to get results. This episode was first released March 14, 2022.

Encore: 7 Random People on Their View of The American Dream

February 26, 2024 Tim 0:47:47 Comments Off

In this episode we hear from seven people who talked with Tim to answer the question, “What is the American Dream?” Tim set out to get the answer to the question on the streets of his hometown, Pittsburgh. You’ll hear from Vidya, Dwayne, Chuck, Leah, Jack, Tamara and Charlie. Each person was selected randomly in “man on the street” interviews, and we had no idea what they would say, but all of their answers were moving, thought-provoking and inspiring. This episode was first released July 4, 2022.

Encore: How the Nazis Turned Ordinary Men Into Kill Squads

February 19, 2024 Tim 1:07:21 Comments Off

Historian and author Christopher R. Browning joins Tim to talk about his study of the Holocaust and the “Final Solution” in Poland. In this episode, Christopher discusses his book, “Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland” and how a group of otherwise average, everyday men turned into one of Hitler’s most prolific killing squads in World War II. This episode was first released January 24, 2022.

Encore: The Art of Cross-Examination with Attorney Charles Rose

February 12, 2024 Tim 0:48:37 Comments Off

Advocate, author and attorney Charles H. Rose, III, joins Tim to talk about the art of cross-examination in the court of law. Charles is a successful lawyer, a trial advocate, an author, and currently, he’s the Dean of the Pettit College of Law at Ohio Northern University. In this episode, he talks about one of the most dramatic features of any courtroom, the cross-examination of a witness at trial. Cross-examination is often where cases are won or lost in the court of law. This episode was originally released on February 28, 2022.

Encore: The Story of Fallen Police Officer Drew Barr

February 5, 2024 Tim 0:50:17 Comments Off

Cayce, South Carolina Police Chief Chris Cowan joins Tim to talk about something both of us wished we didn’t have to talk about. He tells the story of the recent and tragic loss of one of his officers who was shot and killed while responding to a call. He tells the story of and pays tribute to Officer Drew Barr. In the process, he tells the story of the risks and sacrifices police officers take every day to ‘protect and serve.’ This episode was originally released May 16, 2022.

Encore: It’s Groundhog Day…Again

January 29, 2024 Tim 0:27:25 Comments Off

Groundhog Club Inner Circle member John Griffiths joins Tim to talk about Groundhog Day and why a little town called Punxsutawney becomes the epicenter of weather prognostication one day a year. John is the handler of Punxsutawney Phil, the Pennsylvania ground hog famous around the world for predicting whether or not we have another 6 weeks of winter. February 2nd is better known as Groundhog Day. This episode was first released January 21, 2019.

Encore: Marc Summers Remembers Nickelodeon’s “Double Dare”

January 22, 2024 Tim 0:28:45 Comments Off

Television host and producer Marc Summers joins Tim to talk about the classic Nickelodeon show that put him and the Nickelodeon cable network on the map, Double Dare. Before Double Dare, kids didn’t have their own game show and the Nickelodeon network was not as widely known as it would become after this crazy, messy, green slimy “party” that millions of millennials would rush home after school to watch. This episode was originally released on March 16, 2020.

Encore: Mark Seal on the Making of The Godfather

January 15, 2024 Tim 1:01:22 Comments Off

Author Mark Seal joins Tim to talk with Mark about the subject of his popular new book about the making of The Godfather movie. The book is called, “Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.” Mark has is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair where he’s covered scandals, history makers and pop culture icons. This episode was originally released January 10, 2022.

Encore: Amy Herman on What’s Hiding in Plain Sight

January 8, 2024 Tim 0:53:09 Comments Off

Amy Herman joins Tim to talk about a one-of-a-kind career she made for herself, all centered on using art to help people see the world differently and better in order to do their jobs better. Amy is the author of the books, “Visual Intelligence” and “Fixed: How to Perfect the Fine Art of Problem Solving.” In short, Amy helps people find information and solutions that are hiding in plain sight. This episode originally was released February 7, 2022.

1979: City of Champions

Encore: She Spied on the Germans in WWII

Encore: CNN’s Aaron Brown Tells His 9/11 Story

Encore: Free Speech is the Most Basic Human Right

Encore: The Story of a MOTH Storyteller

Kent Tekulve – The Closer

Encore: Secrets of a Hostage Negotiator

Encore: 7 Random People on Their View of The American Dream

Encore: How the Nazis Turned Ordinary Men Into Kill Squads

Encore: The Art of Cross-Examination with Attorney Charles Rose

Encore: The Story of Fallen Police Officer Drew Barr

Encore: It’s Groundhog Day…Again

Encore: Marc Summers Remembers Nickelodeon’s “Double Dare”

Encore: Mark Seal on the Making of The Godfather

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