Bully Pulpit

A wry and pointed take on politics, media and society from Bob Garfield.

Off the Air

After nearly four decades of commentary, interviews and storytelling, Bob hangs up his headset. But because he is not yet technically dead, he gets to write his own radio obituary. Like much of his work, it’s a saga, 1400 hours rolled into 80 minutes — some of it kind of dramatic, and some just plain flabbergasting. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

06-17
01:20:08

What Future?

Bob speaks to his youngest daughter about the despair of her generation. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

06-03
31:23

May You Suffer for Your Crimes

Bob promised good faith arguments. He promised never to become “a spasm of id.”Then they massacred the children. Again. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

05-26
05:59

Tarring the Coal

David Michael Slater has written 22 books without breaking out on the bestseller lists. His next — The Vanishing, out this fall — may increase his visibility. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

05-13
25:44

What's Russian for 'Lie'?

We observe in horror and astonishment Putin’s poisonous, preposterous, obvious lies. But we needn’t look eastward for that. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

05-06
14:35

Bully Pulp

Journalist Mark Leibovich has a suggestion for the craven Republicans who cower before the domineering ex-president. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

04-29
15:43

Before Evil — Part 2: Dynamite

In the second half of their conversation about the origins of tyrants, Bob and Before Evil author Brandon Gauthier consider the immense power of ideas.Bully Pulpit with Bob Garfield is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Related Episode:You May Also Be Interested In: Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

04-22
36:10

Before Evil — Part 1

Historian Brandon Gauthier looks at the lives of six murderous dictators to assess the role of childhood trauma on their adult barbarity. But he finds other, surprising influences.Bully Pulpit with Bob Garfield is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.You may also be interested in: Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

04-15
38:14

Listen to America

Bob splices together a soundscape of a society. And just this once, he mostly keeps his mouth shut. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

04-08
09:09

Russian Undressing

In its horror and its rage, Western society is lashing out at anything Russian. Bob speaks to Northwestern University Professor Gary Saul Morson about cultural vigilantism. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

04-01
20:59

The Cruelty Cult — Part 2

Bob continues his conversation with Elizabeth Williamson, author of Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

03-25
33:29

The Cruelty Cult — Part 1

Bob speaks with Elizabeth Williamson, author of Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

03-18
31:08

Inside Baseball

With labor catastrophe once again narrowly averted, Bob speaks to a dyed-in-the-wool free marketeer about the mysteries of the baseball economy. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

03-11
28:48

The Age of Aquarius

Bob wonders what’s that in your hand, and why you’ve been schlepping it around with you all day. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

03-04
13:31

Cynthia’s Ordeal

Bob speaks with writer, actor, comedian and musician Cynthia Kaplan about men, Nazis and Important People who never call back. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

02-25
34:23

The Cosmic Lie — Part 2

In Part 1 of Bob’s conversation with New York Times global economics correspondent Peter Goodman, we learned how the world’s billionaire class rapes the world’s treasure as billions of souls can barely get by. This week, Goodman names names. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

02-18
29:22

The Cosmic Lie — Part 1

The world’s billionaire class strong-arms governments, exploits workers, and repeatedly monetizes human crisis as it siphons off the riches of the world. On this week’s Bully Pulpit, Bob talks with New York Times global economics correspondent Peter Goodman, author of “Davos Man: How the Billionaires Devoured the World.” Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

02-11
35:23

The Many Evils of Books

A Tennessee school board voted unanimously last month to remove Art Spiegelman’s “Maus” — a Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel about the Holocaust — from its 8th grade curriculum. Sadly, it’s not the first time a book will be banned in school and it won’t be the last. Bob talks with Professor Kathy M. Newman of Carnegie Mellon University. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

02-04
40:39

Nobody Knows Anything, Part 2

In the second part of Bob’s conversation with author Emer Gentway, they discuss the capacity of Zen to open our minds and diminish our dangerous levels of certainty. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

01-28
25:21

Nobody Knows Anything, Part I

Tricks of perception, mental shortcuts and a bias toward humanity limit our understanding of our universe and ourselves. Having trouble coping? It may be because you trust too much in what you believe. Get full access to Bully Pulpit at bullypulpit.substack.com/subscribe

01-21
24:50

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