Book Club with Michael Smerconish

Reading for Independent Minds. Unlike many author interviews, if Michael didn't actually read the book, you won't hear about it. If he read it, you'll hear it and you'll love it. Insights into a wide range of topics, including many titles you've probably never heard of. The perfect book is just one listen away.

Episodes

Rye Barcott: "Courage Can Save US"

June 30, 2026 • 16 mins

Marine Corps veteran and social entrepreneur Rye Barcott joins Michael to talk about his new book "Courage Can Save Us: Ten Extraordinary Americans and the Fight for Our Future." Hear them discuss why courage, service, and principled leadership are more important than ever. Drawing on the stories of ten veterans who have put country before party, Barcott explains how military service fosters bipartisan cooperation, why veterans are...

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Jeremy Bernard: "Treating People Well"

June 22, 2026 • 15 mins

Michael sits down with former White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard to discuss "Treating People Well: The Extraordinary Power of Civility at Work and in Life", co-written with fellow former Social Secretary Lee Berman. Bernard shares behind-the-scenes stories from the Obama White House, including state dinners, holiday receptions, the night Osama bin Laden’s death was announced, and lessons learned from some of the worl...

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Dr. Ben Carson: "One Nation"

June 17, 2026 • 13 mins

In this archived conversation, Michael Smerconish sits down with renowned pediatric neurosurgeon and bestselling author Dr. Ben Carson to discuss his 2014 book "One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America's Future". Carson reflects on his upbringing in Detroit, the influence of his mother, the power of education and reading, and his views on the American Dream. The discussion also explores government, fiscal policy, political po...

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Lloyd Blankfein: "Streetwise"

June 5, 2026 • 34 mins

Michael sits down with former Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein to discuss his new memoir, "Streetwise: Getting To and Through Goldman Sachs." Blankfein reflects on his journey from Brooklyn public housing to Harvard and the top of Wall Street, sharing lessons on leadership, ambition, resilience, and navigating the 2008 financial crisis. In a candid and often humorous conversation, he offers an insider’s look at ...

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Richard Louv: "Noticing"

June 3, 2026 • 23 mins

Listen to Michael's conversation with Richard Louv about "Last Child In The Woods" here.

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Sharon McMahon: "We Are Mighty"

May 20, 2026 • 24 mins

Michael talks with bestselling author and educator Sharon McMahon about her new book "We Are Mighty: 12 Ordinary Americans Who Did the Next Needed Thing", an illustrated companion to her hit book "The Small and the Mighty." McMahon shares the inspiring stories of overlooked Americans whose courage and determination helped shape the nation, from civil rights pioneer Septima Clark to Constitution framer Gouverneur Morris. The convers...

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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson: "Your Data Will Be Used Against You"

May 18, 2026 • 27 mins

Michael Smerconish sits down with George Washington University law professor Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, author of "Your Data Will Be Used Against You: Policing in the Age of Self-Surveillance," for a timely conversation about privacy, policing, and the rise of AI-powered surveillance. From license plate readers and facial recognition to Tesla “hurry up mode” and automated school bus tickets, they explore how technology is...

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Admiral James Stavridis: "2084"

May 15, 2026 • 19 mins

Michael welcomes retired four-star Admiral James Stavridis to discuss "2084: A Novel of Future War", the gripping finale to his bestselling trilogy co-written with Elliot Ackerman. From great power conflict and artificial intelligence to climate catastrophe and the future of democracy, Stavridis explores the real-world forces shaping his vision of the late 21st century. The conversation ranges from China and NATO to sea-level rise,...

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Russell Muirhead: "A Lot of People Are Saying"

May 13, 2026 • 15 mins

As conspiracies about whether any of the three assassination attempts on President Donald Trump were staged or not, Michael speaks with Dartmouth professor Russell Muirhead, co-author of "A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy", about the rise of modern conspiracism and its impact on democracy. From JFK theories to 2020 election claims and online misinformation, Muirhead explains how social me...

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Dr. Nassir Ghaemi on The Psychology of Great Leaders: The Creative Power of Mental Illness

May 11, 2026 • 24 mins

In this episode of Book Club with Michael Smerconish, Michael speaks with psychiatrist and author Dr. Nassir Ghaemi about the surprising connection between mental illness and exceptional leadership. Drawing from Dr. Ghaemi’s books "A First-Rate Madness" and the newly published "Soul on Fire", the conversation explores how figures like Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Ted Turner may have drawn st...

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Susan Page: "The Queen and Her Presidents"

May 8, 2026 • 16 mins

Michael welcomes USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page to discuss her bestselling book "The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History." From Ronald Reagan’s close friendship with Queen Elizabeth II to Donald Trump’s fascination with royal protocol, Page shares revealing stories about the monarch’s relationships with every American president she encountered. The conversation explores unf...

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Robert Putnam Revisits "Bowling Alone" with The Mingle Project

May 7, 2026 • 28 mins

Visit The Mingle Project, and watch this in Episode #27 of The Mingle Project on YouTube.

The Mingle Project is Michael's mission to restore civility and compromise to our public discourse. For three decades, he’s had a front-row seat to the increase in polarization that has gripped the nation. He sees the current climate as part of a much larger disconnect in society fueled by technology and self-sorting, having a serious im...

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Julian Zelizer: "The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden"

April 29, 2026 • 21 mins

Michael welcomes Princeton University professor and historian Julian Zelizer with "The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden: A First Historical Assessment", a new collection of essays examining Biden’s legacy. They explore the administration’s major accomplishments—from economic recovery to climate and foreign policy—alongside the political challenges that defined his presidency, including inflation, immigration, a...

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Sarah Isgur: "Last Branch Standing"

April 27, 2026 • 24 mins

Michael sits down with legal analyst and Advisory Opinions host Sarah Isgur to discuss her best-selling book "Last Branch Standing: A Potentially Surprising, Occasionally Witty Journey Inside Today's Supreme Court" and unpack how the Supreme Court really works. Using engaging examples—from “snails on a train” to modern constitutional debates—they explore competing theories of interpretation, the myth of a pu...

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Jonathan Zimmerman: "Free Speech - And Why You Should Give A Damn"

April 23, 2026 • 14 mins

Michael Smerconish speaks with University of Pennsylvania historian Jonathan Zimmerman about "Free Speech: And Why You Should Give a Damn," co-authored with Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Signe Wilkinson. They explore how free speech—once a cornerstone of liberal activism—has become politically polarized, with conservatives now claiming its mantle. Zimmerman argues that cultural shifts, campus controversies, and the ...

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Lanny Davis: "Finding The Third Way"

April 17, 2026 • 42 mins

Michael Smerconish sits down with longtime political insider Lanny Davis to discuss his book "Finding the Third Way: Lessons in the Politics of Civility from My Journey through History." Through candid, often humorous stories—from Yale days alongside future presidents to moments inside the Clinton White House—Davis reflects on a lifetime in politics and the lessons he’s learned about civility, empathy, and bridgin...

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Melissa S. Kearney: "The Two-Parent Privilege"

April 15, 2026 • 21 mins

As U.S. birth rates hit record lows, Michael talks with economist Dr. Melissa Kearney, author of "The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind" about the consequences. From marriage trends to economic inequality, they break down what’s driving the decline—and why it matters for the future of families, the workforce, and the social safety net. Original air date 13 April 2026....

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Richard Louv: "Vitamin N"

April 13, 2026 • 17 mins

Ten years ago this week, Michael sat down with "Last Child In The Woods" author Richard Louv to explore the growing disconnect between children and the natural world—and why it matters more than ever. Louv's book discussed here is "Vitamin N: The Essential Guide To A Nature-Rich Life." He shares research on the physical, mental, and academic benefits of time spent outdoors, while offering practical, affordable ways families c...

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Jeffrey Sonnenfeld: "Trump's Ten Commandments"

April 10, 2026 • 22 mins

Michael sits down with Yale University's Jeffrey Sonnenfeld to discuss his bestselling book "Trump's Ten Commandments: Strategic Lessons from the Trump Leadership Toolbox." Drawing on decades of firsthand observation, Sonnenfeld breaks down the management principles and communication strategies that define Donald Trump’s leadership style. The conversation explores whether Trump’s approach is instinctive or deliberate&md...

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Mark Halperin & John Heilemann: "Double Down"

April 8, 2026 • 36 mins

From the archives from November of 2013, we revisit two revealing conversations with John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, co-authors of "Double Down: Game Change 2012," offering a behind-the-scenes look at the 2012 presidential campaign. From Mitt Romney’s uneasy path to the nomination to Barack Obama’s debate recovery—and the unforgettable convention moments featuring Clint Eastwood and Bill Clinton—the author...

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Book Club with Michael Smerconish

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Rye Barcott: "Courage Can Save US"

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Jeremy Bernard: "Treating People Well"

Dr. Ben Carson: "One Nation"

Lloyd Blankfein: "Streetwise"

Richard Louv: "Noticing"

Sharon McMahon: "We Are Mighty"

Andrew Guthrie Ferguson: "Your Data Will Be Used Against You"

Admiral James Stavridis: "2084"

Russell Muirhead: "A Lot of People Are Saying"

Dr. Nassir Ghaemi on The Psychology of Great Leaders: The Creative Power of Mental Illness

Susan Page: "The Queen and Her Presidents"

Robert Putnam Revisits "Bowling Alone" with The Mingle Project

Julian Zelizer: "The Presidency of Joseph R. Biden"

Sarah Isgur: "Last Branch Standing"

Jonathan Zimmerman: "Free Speech - And Why You Should Give A Damn"

Lanny Davis: "Finding The Third Way"

Melissa S. Kearney: "The Two-Parent Privilege"

Richard Louv: "Vitamin N"

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld: "Trump's Ten Commandments"

Mark Halperin & John Heilemann: "Double Down"

Popular Podcasts

Rye Barcott: "Courage Can Save US"

Jeremy Bernard: "Treating People Well"