Keen On

EPISODE 1538: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of MY HIJACKING, Martha Hodes, about her memorable (and forgettable) experience of being on hijacked plane in 1970Martha Hodes is professor of history at New York University. She has presented her scholarship around the world, and serves as a consultant for documentaries, television and radio, and museum exhibitions. She is the author of the award-winning books Mourning Lincoln; The Sea Captain’s Wife: A True Story of Love, Race, and War in the Nineteenth Century; and White Women, Black Men: Illicit Sex in the Nineteenth-Century South. She is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Harvard University, the Whiting Foundation, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. Her latest book is MY HIJACKING: A Personal History of Forgetting and Remembering (2023)Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's

EPISODE 1537: In this KEEN ON episode, Andrew talks to the author of IMAGINE A CITY, Mark Vanhoenacker, about his love affair, as a pilot, with the world's greatest citiesMark Vanhoenacker is a Boeing 787 pilot for British Airways and the author of ‘Imagine a City’ (Chatto & Windus/Knopf). Follow Mark on Twitter @markv747 or email him at mark.vanhoenacker@ft.comNamed as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit k

EPISODE 1536: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the KresusLabs founder and CEO Trevor Traina about his super app in which, he claims, we will store all our Web3 dataTechnology entrepreneur and private investor Trevor Traina has founded and co-founded several successful enterprises, including the Internet's first comprehensive product-comparison guide, CompareNet. After Microsoft purchased CompareNet in 1999, he stayed on board for two years as the site evolved into MSN's shopping channel.Most recently, Trevor Traina founded and served as Chairman of DriverSide, a resource assisting consumers with all aspects of owning and maintaining vehicles. A major public corporation acquired the firm in 2011. Recognized for his expertise, Trevor Traina was appointed by the Mayor to the Technology Advisory Council of the City of San Francisco. He has also held responsibilities on business and charitable boards for Verdiem Corporation, Swanson Vineyards, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Gladstone Institutes,

EPISODE 1535: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, author of BIG GIRL, about whether the American Republic was founded on anti-fat people principlesMecca Jamilah Sullivan is the author of the novel Big Girl, a New York Times Editors’ Choice selection and a best books pick from Time, Essence, Vulture, Ms., Goodreads, Booklist, Library Reads, and SheReads.com. Her previous books are The Poetics of Difference: Queer Feminist Forms in the African Diaspora (University of Illinois Press, 2021), winner of the William Sanders Scarborough Prize from the Modern Language Association, and the short story collection, Blue Talk and Love (2015), winner of the Judith Markowitz Award for Fiction from Lambda Literary. Mecca holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from Temple University, and a B.A. in Afro-American Studies from Smith College. In her fiction, she explores the intellectual, emotional, and bodily lives of young Black

EPISODE 1534: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, the author of THE OVERLOOKED AMERICANS, about the resilience of rural America and it means for the future of the countryElizabeth Currid-Halkett is the James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning and professor of public policy at the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy. She teaches courses in economic development, the arts, and urban policy and urban planning. Her research focuses on the arts and culture, the American consumer economy and the role of cultural capital in geographic and class divides. She is the author of The Warhol Economy: How Fashion, Art and Music Drive New York City (Princeton University Press 2007); Starstruck: The Business of Celebrity (Faber & Faber/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010) and The Sum of Small Things: A Theory of the Aspirational Class (Princeton University Press, 2017), which was named one of the best books of the year by The Economist. Her books have been publ

EPISODE 1533: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks with Ana Castillo, author of DONNA CLEANWELL LEAVES HOME, on her "truth seeking" fictional characters and her amusement at being considered the "grande dame of Chicana literature"Ana Castillo is a celebrated poet, novelist, short story writer, essayist, editor, playwright, translator, and scholar. Born and raised in Chicago, her award winning, bestselling titles include the novels So Far from God, The Guardians, Peel My Love like an Onion, and Sapogonia, which was a New York Times Notable Book, and the poetry collection I Ask the Impossible. She has received numerous awards, including the 2018 PEN Oakland Lifetime Achievement Award, the Fuller Award for Lifetime Achievement, and this year was inducted into the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. Her latest collection of stories is Dona Cleanwell Leaves Home (2023)Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to pr

EPISODE 1532: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Hal Hershfield, the author of YOUR FUTURE SELF, about how to escape the tyranny of the present and make tomorrow better todayHal Hershfield is a Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and holds the UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors Term Chair in Management. His research, which sits at the intersection of psychology and economics, examines the ways we can improve our long-term decisions. He earned his PhD in psychology from Stanford University. Hershfield publishes in top academic journals and also contributes op-eds to the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, the Wall Street Journal, and other outlets. He consults with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, many financial services firms such as Fidelity, First Republic, Prudential, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and Avantis, and marketing agencies such as Droga5. The recipient of numerous teaching awards, Hershfield was named one of “Th

EPISODE 1531: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of THE CHILE PROJECT, Sebastian Edwards, about the story of the Chicago Boys and the downfall of neoliberalismSebastian Edwards is the Henry Ford II Professor of International Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is the Co-Director of the National Bureau of Economic Research's "Africa Project" and previously served as the Chief Economist for Latin America at the World Bank. His research interests include emerging markets, currency crises, capital markets, Latin America, monetary policy, and the Federal Reserve. His latest book is THE CHILE PROJECT: The Story of the Chicago Boys and the Downfall of Neoliberalism (2023)Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF

EPISODE 1530: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the inspiration behind THE SIBERIAN JOB, John Kleinheinz, on how he got rich in post communist Russia and what he learnt about the value of free markets and democracyJohn Kleinheinz is the CEO of Kleinheinz Capital Partners, Inc., the investment advisor for the Global Undervalued Securities Fund, a global-macro themed hedge fund which at its peak managed $4 billion. He returned outside capital to investors in 2013 after a successful 20-year career. John continues to manage the Fund, which is active in a variety of areas including Japan, US energy/technology markets and private equity. He is also a lead investor in efforts to develop high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston. After graduating from Stanford in 1984 with a degree in economics, John began his career as an investment banker, working for Nomura Securities in Tokyo and Merrill Lynch in New York and London. Upon moving to Texas in 1993, he was a partner in an investment firm where he managed the Ru

EPISODE 1529: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of THE DISSIDENT, Paul Goldberg, about Detente, Kissinger, the Y-word and the similarities between the Moscow of 1976 and 2023Paul Goldberg is the author of the novels The Yid, which was a finalist for the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature and the National Jewish Book Award's Goldberg Prize for Debut Fiction, and The Château. As a reporter, Goldberg has written two books about the Soviet human rights movement, and co-authored (with Otis Brawley) the book How We Do Harm, an expose of the U.S. healthcare system. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Slate, The New York Times, and elsewhere. He is also the editor and publisher of The Cancer Letter, a publication focused on the business and politics of cancer. He lives in Washington, D.C.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-ru

EPISODE 1528: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of ONLY THIS BEAUTIFUL MOMENT, Abdi Nazemian, about growing up gay in Los Angeles, the value of listening and why he's in awe of young people in Iran todayAbdi Nazemian spent his childhood in a series of exciting locations (Tehran, Paris, Toronto, New York), but could usually be found in his bedroom watching old movies and reading. Abdi has written for three television shows: NBC's ORDINARY JOE, Fox’s ALMOST FAMILY, and NBC’s THE VILLAGE. He has written six produced films including THE ARTIST’S WIFE (Strand Releasing, 2020) MENENDEZ: BLOOD BROTHERS (Lifetime, 2017), and THE QUIET (Sony Pictures Classics, 2006). He also wrote, directed and produced the short film REVOLUTION (2012). He is proud to say that his words have been spoken by the likes of Carmela Soprano, The Nanny, and The Girl With The Most Cake. Abdi’s first novel, THE WALK-IN CLOSET, was awarded Best Debut at the Lambda Literary Awards. He has written three young adult novels, all publ

EPISODE 1527: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of HERE BEGINS THE DARK SEA, Meredith F. Small, about Fra Mauro, the 15th century Venetian monk whose map of the world marked the beginning of our global ageMeredith F. Small is a professor of anthropology at Cornell University and the author of Our Babies Ourselves; What's Love Got to Do With It? and Inventing the World: Venice and the Transformation of Western Civilization, also available from Pegasus Books. She has written for Natural History Magazine, Discover, Scientific American, and is a commentator for National Public Radio's All Things Considered. She lives in Philadelphia. Her latest book is Here Begins the Dark Sea: Venice, a Medieval Monk, and the Creation of the Most Accurate Map of the World (2023)Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is

EPISODE 1526: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Jon Michaud, the author of LAST CALL AT COOGAN'S, about the life and death of one of New York's most beloved saloonsJON MICHAUD is the Collection Management Librarian at the Millburn Free Public Library. His debut novel When Tito Loved Clara (Algonquin) was named a best book of the year by The Barnes & Noble Review and was a finalist for the Writer’s Center First Novel Prize. Michaud was the head librarian at The New Yorker from 2003-2012 and the head librarian at the Center for Fiction from 2015-2017. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Tin House, LitHub, CrimeReads, and numerous other publications. The recipient of a 2022 fellowship from the New Jersey Council on the Arts, Michaud lives in Maplewood, NJ with his wife and two sons. An American citizen, he was nonetheless the Irish junior javelin champion in 1983. His latest book is LAST CALL AT COOGAN’S: The Life and Death of a Neighborhood Bar (2023)Named as one of the "100

EPISODE 1525: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Umut Ozkirimli, the author of CANCELLED offers a leftist alternative to what he sees as the intolerance of "woke" politicsUmut Özkırımlı is a Senior Research Fellow at IBEI (Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals), a professor at Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, and a Senior Research Associate at CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs). He is also the Academic Director of the Barcelona Summer School of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. He is the author of the acclaimed Theories of Nationalism: A Critical Introduction, currently in its third edition. His writings appear frequently in The Guardian, openDemocracy, Times Higher Education, Huffington Post, Al Jazeera, among others.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of fou

EPISODE 1524: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Jessi Kneeland, the author of BODY NEUTRAL, about her revolutionary new guide to overcoming body image issuesJessi Kneeland (they/them) is a coach, writer, and speaker dedicated to helping people overcome the suffering associated with body anxiety, insecurity, and negativity, and to improve their relationship with their bodies. After working as a personal trainer for a decade in New York City, Kneeland became an iPEC certified life coach and launched a coaching practice centered around the meaningful work of self-acceptance. Their innovative approach allows them to partner with clients individually and in groups to help them find body acceptance, a strong sense of self-worth, and true confidence. They are committed to the pursuit of body neutrality—a philosophy predicated on the idea that how we look is the least interesting and important thing about us. Their work has been featured in Women’s Health, Shape, Pop Sugar, Refinery29, BuzzFeed, Hello Giggles, an

EPISODE 1523: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Jared Fishman, the author of FIRE ON THE LEVEE, about the New Orleans police murder of Henry Glover and the search for justice after Hurricane KatrinaJared Fishman is the founder and executive director of Justice Innovation Lab, an organization that designs data-driven solutions for a more equitable, effective, and fair justice system. Justice Innovation Lab uses a collaborative approach to help justice system decision-makers identify and fix inequities in their jurisdictions. Prior to founding Justice Innovation Lab, Mr. Fishman served for 14 years as a senior civil rights prosecutor at the US Department of Justice, where he led some of the most complex civil rights prosecutions in the country, securing convictions in high-profile cases involving police misconduct, hate crimes and human trafficking. He received multiple awards from the Department of Justice for distinguished service, including the Civil Rights Division’s highest award for excellence in lega

EPISODE 1522: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of WE CAN HEROES, Paul Burston, about his survival story as a prominent British gay activist, journalist and novelistPaul Burston was born in York, raised in South Wales and now divides his time between London and Hastings. From the age of 23, he was an AIDS activist with ACT UP London and also worked for the gay police monitoring group GALOP before becoming a journalist. For 20 years he edited what became known as the LGBT section at Time Out London, documenting the changing cultural and political landscape. In 1994 he co-founded Attitude Magazine. He has written for many other publications including the Guardian and the Times. He also wrote and presented documentaries for Channel 4. His books include 'Shameless' (shortlisted for the State of Britain Award 2001), 'Lovers and Losers' (shortlisted for the Stonewall Award 2007), 'The Gay Divorcee' (2009, optioned for television) and 'The Black Path' (long listed for the Guardian's Not The Booker Pri

EPISODE 1521: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Kate Strasdin, the author of THE DRESS DIARY OF MRS ANNE SYKES, about fashion, fabric and femininity in 19th century EnglandKate Strasdin is a dress historian who has been fascinated by old clothes since she was a child. She is a lecturer in Cultural Studies at Falmouth University and is a freelance consultant for dress and textile exhibitions. She has appeared on The Great British Sewing Bee as an expert. In 2016 she was given an anonymous album full of annotated dress swatches that had been kept in a trunk for over fifty years, its original keeper unknown. She spent the next six years unlocking its secrets. She lives in Devon with her husband and two children. Her latest book is The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes: Secrets from a Victorian Woman’s Wardrobe (2023)Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long

EPISODE 1520: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Matthew Clavin, the author of SYMBOLS OF FREEDOM, about the way in which African American slaves were inspired by the American symbols of independence in their fight for true freedomMatthew J. Clavin is Professor of History at the University of Houston and the author of The Battle of Negro Fort: The Rise and Fall of a Fugitive Slave Community, Aiming for Pensacola: Fugitive Slaves on the Atlantic and Southern Frontiers, and Toussaint Louverture and the American Civil War: The Promise and Peril of a Second Haitian Revolution. His latest book is Symbols of Freedom: Slavery and Resistance Before the Civil War (2023)Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INT

EPISODE 1519: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Siena Sterling, the author of THE GAME SHE PLAYS CAN TURN DEADLY. about twisted plots, twisted people and twisted writers like Patricia Highsmith and Fyodor DostoievskiSiena Sterling is an American living in London. Before moving to England, she worked at Doubleday bookstore in New York, in political campaigns, and for the Federal Railroad Administration. She has two children. She plays poker and tennis, and has a passion for Jack Russell terriers. Her latest thriller is THE GAME SHE PLAYS CAN TURN DEADLY (2023)Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassand