Conversation ex Nihilo

23/11/2021

Check out the latest interview with author and attorney Carrington Smith.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-099-blooming-with-carrington-smith

Carrington Smith is an author and an attorney. Her new book Blooming is a candid account of surviving sexual assault, two divorces, disfiguring surgery and a slew of other curveballs that life has thrown at her. She addresses her past with a sense of humor as well as with a newfound compassion for

26/10/2021

Truly enjoyed this interview with Frank King a former writer for The Tonight Show who has attempted to end his own life and now shares stories about it.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-098-2nd-to-a-puppet-with-frank-king

Frank King is "The Mental Health Comedian." He is a former writer for The Tonight Show as well as a renowned stand-up comedian. He currently specializes in su***de prevention and gives talks to that end. He isn't shy about saying he knows what the barrel of his gun tastes like. Frank joi

16/09/2021

In case you missed it - A special episode in which Mike Michael Keane and I discuss Battleship Potemkin.

https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-096-moscow-kino-i-with-mike-keane

Mike joins Billy via Zoom to talk about Battleship Potemkin in what they hope to be the first in a series (perhaps a whole new podcast) on Russian cinema.

13/09/2021

A conversation with filmamker Ricky Neuwirth. Enjoy!
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-097-return-of-the-living-with-ricky-neuwirth

Ricky is a filmmaker, screenwriter and author. He joins Billy to talk about his projects, some of which included Billy. The conversation goes from the twenty year anniversary of 9/11, to reminiscing about Oliver Stone films and a fondness for iconic film locations over other historic sites, to just

26/08/2021

Talking exodus (little "e") with Afghanistan Vet Sean McGrane.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-094-as-one-chapter-ends-with-sean-mcgrane

Sean McGrane is a Veteran of both the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. He joins Billy via Zoom to talk about the U.S. departure from the war in Afghanistan, what it means to him as a vet and an American as well as some general thoughts on military service.

17/08/2021

Today a conversation with a do******ix.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-093-semantics-amp-safe-words-with-jewels

Jewels is an author, speaker and bodybuilder. Her newest book The Making of a Woman: From the Inside Out chronicles her journey of abuse as an adolescent to her jobs in healthcare and as a touring stripper while continuously spinning out of control. Jewels got sober at 35 and began a career as a

09/08/2021

Today I speak with a lady who spoke with the ghost of Thomas Jefferson. Believe it or not it was still a good conversation.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-092-lets-get-metaphysical-with-suzanne-munson

After a career in corporate and nonprofit communications, Suzanne Munson went back to her first loves of teaching and writing about colonial America. In 2018 she published the book J efferson's Godfather the Man Behind the Man: George Wythe, mentor to the founding fathers. Her 2021 book The Meta

02/08/2021

A conversation with professional makeup artist turned historian Sara Long.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-091-making-up-history-with-sara-long

Sara Long is a former professional makeup artist turned U.S. history professor. She hosts the podcast The Makeup Historian and she joins Billy via Zoom to talk about the founding fathers and mothers, the politics of education, whether we as a society need textbooks as well as some of the other cha

26/07/2021

Today, I have Michael Belfer on the podcast. Michael was the guitarist in not one but TWO legendary and influential bands, The Sleepers and Tuxedomoon.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-090-when-can-i-fly-with-michael-belfer

Michael Belfer was the guitarist of The Sleepers and Tuxedomoon both highly influential San Francisco bands from the late 70's. He is also the author of When Can I Fly? a book chronicling his time with these two bands as well as his stint in Black Lab in the early 90s. Michael lead the proverbia

25/07/2021

Just completed editing my interview with Michael Belfer of The Sleepers and Tuxedomoon. Look forward to this on 7/26. In the mean time if you haven't already join the conversation about Iran with Dr. Baktiari.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-089-desatanization-with-dr-bahman-baktiari

Dr. Bahman Baktiari is the executive director of the Baskerville Institute an organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening the bonds of friendship between the people of Iran and the United States. He joins Billy via Zoom to talk about the institute's origins, the assassination of Quasem So

19/07/2021

Today the conversation is about the U.S./Iran relationship. Good stuff!
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-089-desatanization-with-dr-bahman-baktiari

Dr. Bahman Baktiari is the executive director of the Baskerville Institute an organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening the bonds of friendship between the people of Iran and the United States. He joins Billy via Zoom to talk about the institute's origins, the assassination of Quasem So

12/07/2021

The conversation takes a turn for the hypnotic with Wendi Friesen.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-088-stronger-healthier-and-in-control-with-wendi-friesen

Since 1994 Wendi was worked as a hypnotherapist. Her work has been featured in GQ, on HBO, The Man Show, Men's Health and several other outlets. She joins Billy via Zoom to talk of her humble beginnings as an unemployed single mother of two and how she became a success in the early days of the i

05/07/2021

Today ther conversation got to Connecticut for a talk with Christopher Boorman.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-087-celebrating-questioning-with-christopher-boorman

Christopher Boorman is a public speaker and host of Christopher Boorman Speaks. He joins Billy via Zoom to talk about his views on Christianity as a marginalized group, our over reliance on technology, his experiences with bullying and his discovering confidence through public speaking.

03/07/2021

Check out this week's conversation with Hollywood studio finance wizard Tim Tortora.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-086-a-hollywood-accounting-with-tim-tortora

Tim Tortora has worked in Hollywood for over 30 years. He started as a tape operator who worked his way up into the executive world, primarily as a CFO. He has worked for Harpo Films, Mandalay Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Disney, TriStar Pictures and Columbia Pictures. Some of his movie credits inc

21/06/2021

Today the conversation is with Jeff Roth, 20 years army national guard, Harvard man and former city planner for NYC. Check it out!
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-085-fires-floods-and-taxi-cabs-with-jeff-roth

Jeff Roth is the author of the book Fires, Floods and Taxi Cabs part memoire and part how-to manual on navigating leadership roles (especially in government.) Jeff has served for 20 years in the U.S. National Guard, he holds a master's degree in public policy and urban planning from Harvard Unive

14/06/2021

You won't want to miss this conversation. This lady is too cool.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-084-beauty-in-the-grotesque-with-danielle-agami

Danielle Agami is the founder of Ate9 Dance Company based in Los Angeles, CA. She started dancing at the age of 3 and has traveled the world as a professional dancer. Originally from Israel she danced for the prestigious Batsheva Dance Studio before moving to America. She is a highly sought after ch

11/06/2021

https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-083-changing-the-social-fabric-with-kim-kid-curry

Kim is an author and speaker who had spent 33 years in the radio broadcasting industry before being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 50 effectively ending his career. Kim decided to turn his attention to writing. He published the memoir, "Come Get Me Mother, I'm Through,"

07/06/2021

Today on Convo ex Nihilo a talk about a prison reform.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/what-i-learned-in-prison-with-dr-adam-key

Dr. Adam Key is an author, a speaker, a scholar and an educator. He spent nearly a decade teaching in some of Texas's toughest prisons. He currently teaches at The University of Arkansas where he continues his research on academic deviance. Adam joins Billy via Zoom to talk about his background i

04/06/2021

The latest conversation is with Karl Smith a print journalist with some great annecdotes about the days when the news was also found on paper.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-081-a-man-of-the-times-with-karl-smith

Karl Smith has worked in journalism since high school. He has been on the bleeding edge of the design revolution and also at the forefront of online journalism and user-generated content. He designed the front page in Lexington, KY the day Secretariat died, was running a newsroom the night of the Bu

28/05/2021

Today, Eric Beser from The Jewish Film Project speaks about the project and how Billy Crystal played his father in a movie.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-079-film-and-family-with-eric-beser

Eric Beser is the program director for The Jewish Film Project , an organization that supports Jewish artists in their endeavors to tell bold and innovative stories. Eric joins Billy via Zoom to talk about the founding of the organization, his father's role in the dropping of the atomic bombs, Eri

24/05/2021

Today on Convo ex Nihilo a talk with conservative pundit Phillip Sharp.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-078-straw-man-meet-ad-hominem-with-phillip-sharp

Rage of the Age is a podcast about politics, religion, economics and history with a conservative bend and it's hosted by Phillip Sharp. Phillip joins Billy via Zoom to talk U.S. history, federalism, socialism v. capitalism (a love story), those slave owning founding fathers of ours, and the importa

21/05/2021

Today on Convo ex Nihilo, Empress joins the conversation. Empress is a musician and a professional ballerina. Enjoy!
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-077-the-shoe-just-fit-with-empress

Empress is a musician, dancer, singer and actress. She danced for the San Francisco Ballet and joins Billy via Zoom to talk about her experiences as a performer. In addition to telling her story and how she fell in love with music and dance, she speaks of: The notorious ill treatment of ballet dance

19/05/2021

On this day in history - Lawrence of Arabia died, 1935 ; Lawrence of Australia born, 1967.

18/05/2021

On this day in history - Abraham Lincoln nominated for presidency at Republican convention; The fact that he was so, without mentioning the size of his ge****ls or those of his opponents, baffles historians to this very day.

17/05/2021

Jason Lafarge joins me to talk SWANS and recording music Gowanus style.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-076-the-mighty-gowanus-sound-with-jason-lafarge

Jason LaFarge runs Seizures Palace Recording in Brooklyn, New York. He is also the bassist in Pants Exploder . He joins Billy via Zoom to talk about his Georgia roots, playing with Pineal Ventana, his work with SWANS and Michael Gira. Billy and Jason reminisce about brick and mortar music stores

14/05/2021

Meet the Finnish Leonard Cohen.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-076-raw-amp-bare-with-mauri-dark

Dreams of a Middle-Aged Man is the first solo album by Finnish musician Mauri Dark . Mauri blends influences such as Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen to craft an album of personal reflection. The album comes on the heals of his mother's death and the separation from his long-time girlfriend but also

10/05/2021

History and prisons, today on Convo ex Nihilo.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-075-history-reformed-with-paul-kahan-phd

Paul Kahan is a historian and the author of the books Eastern State Penitentiary: A History , The Bank War: Andrew Jackson, Nicholas Biddle and the Fight for American Finance and Amiable Scoundrel: Simon Cameron, Lincoln's Scandalous Secretary of War among others. He joins Billy via Zoom to ta

07/05/2021

Our latest guest is a returning guest. She is the host of A Few Bad Apples, a podcast about police crimes. She is an educator and a wonderful guest. Please give a listen.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-073-education-of-an-apple-with-katherine-sheffield

Katherine is the host of A Few Bad Apples Podcast a podcast that spotlights the crimes of police officers with an eye toward research and neutrality concerning the subject. Katherine is also an educator. She has a doctorate in education and she teaches English in Hawaii. She returns to Convo ex Ni

04/05/2021

Nice talking with Regina G. Hanson. I think you'll agree.
https://www.convoexnihilo.com/episodes/episode-072-soul-satisfied-with-regina-g-hanson

Regina G. Hanson is the author of the books Sexual Intellectual Female and Racism: The Real Reason I Left the South. She has a B.A, in American history with a minor in women's studies, she has an M.A. in American studies. Originally from Lawrenceville, Georgia she currently resides in Las Vegas