Family Dramas

A Boys Heart

Listen to the story of a young, aspiring Navy Seal who died and the man who got his heart.  This story took me six months to report.

Journey to Unusual Places

Life on a Volcano

Life with a Lava-Front View at the Base of a Hawaiian Volcano

The Underwater Town

Defying a Flood to Save a Hometown

Tower of the Arctic

An abandoned military base becomes a refuge for eccentric loners.

The Last of the Malibu Hillbillies

Millie Decker never runs from a raging inferno.

Island of the Storm Riders

Why run from a hurricane? Have a listen.

Stories About Me & My People

Christmas Day Movies Presents…

Unsure of how to fit in with my in laws, I cast them as zombies in a movie.

The Hot Dog Vendor & the US Constitution

My dad, the hotdog vendor and Constitutional law professor, takes on the NFL.

My Grandfather’s Trip to the Moon

He never made it, but maybe I will.

Grandpa’s Birth

The story of my grandfather's life, as told in his 107-year-old birth certificate.

Bed Bugs

Listen to my latest commentary on bed bugs, paranoia, and a very high-priced dog named Bugsy.

A Criminal Coincidence

When you are reading a who-done-it novel, it is odd to discover that a character with your name, in your hometown, from your very own street is a suspect.

Urban Legends

I didn't believe it until it happened to me.

Book Reviews

Night Soldiers

Check out my review of Alan Furst's novel, Night Soldiers.

Zombie Survival

Listen to my latest commentary on three books which -- literally -- might just save your life.

Shipwrecked

Three books for the shipwreck-obsessed.

The Winds of War

A book that spans generations.

Pop Culture: TV, Music, & Video Games

Mad Men

How the TV show Mad Men helped me understand a paranoid chapter from my family's past. 

A New Game That’s Good — Too Good

What happens when simulations in video games become too life like? 

Old Bootlegs

There is only one way to listen to the Grateful Dead. 

Sidekicks

A tribute to Ed McMahon, Sancho Panza, and sidekicks everywhere. 

Stories on Fame & Celebrity

Rolling Out the Red Carpet

A story about the meaning of the Hollywood red carpets and an encounter with the guy who cuts, binds, and ships them.

Bikini Waxer

Meet Hollywood's hottest agent -- only she isn't an agent -- she's a bikini waxer.

My Fictional Friends

What happens when your friendships exist only in your own head?

Hollywood Mythology

What does Hollywood gossip and Greek mythology have in common?

Acquired Situational Narcissism

What happens when your friendships exist only in your own head?

Rules by Rod

Marcy Braunstein claims that she is addicted to Rod Stewart.

Almost Famous

Meet the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants.

Oscar Dreams Never Fade Away

Hal Riddle is 90, but he still dreams of Oscars.

Agent for the Dead

Meet a Hollywood agent who exclusively represents dead celebrities.

Fame School

Major League Baseball is sending its rookies back to school to learn about the dangers of fame.