Eyewitness History

Charles Murray has spent decades challenging Americans to think differently about some of the biggest questions facing society.
In this episode of Eyewitness History, Murray discusses his career as a social scientist, the controversies surrounding his work, and the ideas behind books like Losing Ground, The Bell Curve, and Coming Apart.
We also explore his relationship with William F. Buckley Jr., including his appearance on Buckley's legendary program Firing Line. Drawing from my book, William F. Buckley Jr.'s Guide to Friendship in a Polarized Era, we discuss Buckley's approach to debate, friendship, and engaging with those who held opposing views.
This is a conversation about ideas, controversy, intellectual courage, and the people who helped shape modern America.
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In this episode of Eyewitness History, I speak with Daryl Davis, an American R&B and blues musician, author, and race-relations activist whose life has uniquely bridged the worlds of music and social change.
Davis is widely known for an unconventional and controversial approach to combating racism: engaging directly with members of the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups through sustained personal dialogue. Over decades of outreach, he has persuaded dozens of Klansmen to renounce their affiliation, and he has documented these encounters in his book Klan-Destine Relationships: A Black Man’s Odyssey in the Ku Klux Klan as well as in the documentary Accidental Courtesy: Daryl Davis, Race & America (2016).
Before his activism gained national attention, Davis established himself as a respected professional musician. A gifted boogie-woogie and blues pianist and vocalist, he studied at Howard University and went on to perform with some of the most iconic figures in American music, including Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Bo Diddley. His playing style reflects deep roots in traditional blues and early rock-and-roll piano, and he has been recognized within the Washington-area and national blues community for both his technical skill and stage presence.
His work is grounded in a belief in communication as a tool for dismantling prejudice, summed up in his view that dialogue, not avoidance, is the most effective response to ignorance and hate.
Here, Davis reflects on his unusual journey, the philosophy behind his outreach to the Klan, and the ways music, conversation, and personal encounter have shaped his understanding of human change.
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In this episode of Eyewitness History, we speak with Jo-Anne Berelowitz, author and art historian, about her captivating auto-fiction memoir Somewhere I Belong. Born in Durban, South Africa, Jo-Anne shares her journey through betrayal, family secrets, and the search for home, tracing her story from her father’s warnings of revolution to uncovering her Jewish grandparents’ history in Lithuania and Russia.
Jo-Anne discusses how identity, displacement, and resilience shaped her life, her career in art history, and ultimately her path to self-discovery. Her story is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the universal quest to find where one truly belongs.
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Our guest today is none other than the incomparable Pat Boone.

With a decades-long career, Pat has graced stages, screens, and airwaves with his golden voice and timeless charisma. From chart-topping hits to silver-screen successes, he's a multifaceted talent who has stood the test of time.

We discuss his career, fame, and why he said no to making a movie with Marilyn Monroe!

Now, I give you Pat Boone!
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On this episode of Eyewitness History, we sit down with Jeffrey Riddick, the screenwriter and producer behind the iconic Final Destination franchise. Riddick shares his journey from aspiring writer to Hollywood powerhouse, revealing the inspirations, challenges, and creative processes that brought one of modern horror’s most enduring series to life.
We dive into:
The genesis of Final Destination and how Riddick transformed a simple idea into a cinematic phenomenon.

Stories from the set and behind-the-scenes insights that fans have never heard.

The challenges of writing suspense, fear, and death in a way that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.

Jeffrey’s advice for aspiring filmmakers, screenwriters, and anyone chasing creative dreams.

How horror reflects society’s fears and why it resonates with audiences worldwide.

Whether you’re a diehard Final Destination fan, a lover of film history, or curious about the craft of screenwriting, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the mind of one of Hollywood’s most influential horror storytellers.
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