In this fascinating conversation, Michael Smerconish sits down with legendary media mogul John Malone — Chair of Liberty Media, Liberty Broadband, and Liberty Global, and former CEO of Telecommunications, Inc. — to discuss his new memoir, "Born to Be Wired: Lessons from a Lifetime Transforming Television, Wiring America for the Internet, and Growing Formula One, Discovery, Sirius XM, and the Atlanta Braves." Malone reflects on the origins of the cable television industry, the rise of “cable cowboys,” and the bold decisions that transformed American media. From small-town entrepreneurs stringing wire on telephone poles to the birth of modern communications giants, Malone shares behind-the-scenes stories of risk, innovation, and resilience. Original air date 17 October 2025. The book was published on 2 September 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Nate Soares: "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies"
Michael talks with Nate Soares, co-author of "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All", about the alarming risks of advanced artificial intelligence. Soares, president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, explains why AIs are not designed but grown, how that leads to unpredictable behavior, and why even their creators can’t control them. They discuss chilling examples—from rogue chatbots to lab “escape” attempts—and why simply “unplugging” an AI may not be possible. Soares argues that humanity must act now, treating AI risk as seriously as pandemics or nuclear war. Original air date 15 October 2025. The book was published on 16 September 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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Dr. Ben Rein: "Why Brains Need Friends"
Ben Rein, PhD, is an award-winning neuroscientist, chief science officer of the Mind Science Foundation, adjunct lecturer at Stanford University, clinical assistant professor at SUNY Buffalo, and renowned science educator. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Betty Medsger: "The Burglary"
Michael speaks with journalist and author Betty Medsger about her book "The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover’s Secret FBI." Medsger recounts the 1971 break-in at a small FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, where activists uncovered secret files exposing Hoover’s widespread surveillance and targeting of dissenters and Black Americans. She shares how the documents reached The Washington Post, the fierce debate over whether to publish them, and the lasting impact on government accountability and press freedom. The book was published on 7 January 2014. Original air date 8 March 2021, which was the 50-year anniversary of the 1971 break-in. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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David Paul Kuhn: "The Hardhat Riot"
In this episode of The Book Club with Michael Smerconish, Michael sits down with journalist and author David Paul Kuhn to discuss his book The Hardhat Riot: Nixon, New York City, and the Dawn of the White Working-Class Revolution. Together, they revisit the dramatic events of May 1970, when construction workers and anti-war protesters clashed in lower Manhattan following the Kent State shootings and President Nixon’s expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia.
Kuhn explains how the so-called Hard Hat Riot symbolized a deeper class divide in America—between blue-collar workers and college students—that reshaped the political landscape for decades to come. They explore how this moment foreshadowed today’s polarization, the “diploma divide,” and the shifting loyalties of the American working class from Democrats to Republicans.
Kuhn is also producer of the documentary "Hard Hat Riot", now streaming on PBS.
Original air date 1 October 2025. The book was published on 1 July 2020. The documentary was released on 30 September 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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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.
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