Thecuriousmanspodcast

What happens when a philosopher tries to change the world—not through words, but by shaping a king? In this episode, we sit down with James Romm, classical historian and author of Plato and the Tyrant, a gripping narrative about Plato’s dramatic real-world attempt to bring his philosophical ideals to life in the court of the tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse. Through ambition, betrayal, and idealism, Romm explores the tensions between power and wisdom—and why even Plato wasn’t immune to the seductions of political influence.

n today’s episode, we’re joined by Corinna Barrett Lain, a law professor and the author of Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection. With meticulous research and unflinching clarity, she exposes the hidden history of how lethal injection became the preferred method of execution in the U.S.—and how it’s far more troubling, untested, and violent than the public has been led to believe. Together, we explore the myths that mask this method as “humane,” the legal loopholes that protect its secrecy, and the moral reckoning Americans must confront. This is a conversation about truth, justice, and the machinery of death.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Theresa Callaghan, skincare scientist of 35 years and author of Help! I’m Covered in Adjectives: Cosmetic Claims & The Consumer. With wit, science, and decades of industry experience, Dr. Callaghan helps us unpack the seductive language of the beauty industry—revealing how terms like “clinically proven” and “anti-aging” are often more about persuasion than proof. From scientific credibility to regulatory blind spots, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone who buys (or sells) cosmetics, including men.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Claudia Rowe, award-winning journalist and author of Wards of the State, a searing, meticulously researched account of the U.S. foster care system. Over the course of a century, America’s foster care system has promised protection but often delivered pain. Through deeply human storytelling and journalistic rigor, Claudia exposes the system’s structural failures—and the children caught in its web. We explore the hidden history of foster care, the emotional and ethical toll of reporting on vulnerable lives, and what real reform might look like. This is an urgent conversation on accountability, visibility, and justice.

In today's episode we speak with author Steve Eichenblatt about his memoir, Pretend They Are Dead. When Steven's dad, Allen, disappeared, he left behind more than his children-he left a legacy of loss and family secrets. Though working just miles away, Allen gave up his kids for adoption. He was soon replaced by another man, one with his own four children, whose strict rules and explosive temper made home a place of fear rather than refuge.   Steven spent decades wrestling with the wounds of abandonment and abuse, burying his pain so deep it became "the feeling of no feeling." A forced move to Florida, a brutal fist fight, and a grisly car crash pushed Steven to life's edge resulting in a move to Israel, where he discovered that "self-help" meant he would die a failure unless he learned to help himself.   Pretend They Are Deadis a gripping memoir of survival, trauma, and resilience-told with raw honesty, filmic detail, and defiant humor. Steven grew up rejected: Two men claimed to be his father but neither proved to be a dad. Determined not to repeat the past, he becomes an unwavering presence in the lives of his own five children. His story will both shock and inspire.