Episodes

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode Andrew is joined by Kamal Al-Solaylee, the author of Return: Why We Go Back to Where We Come From, to share the perspectives of those who have chosen to or long to return to their homelands. ________________________ Kamal Al-Solaylee is an award-winning and national bestsellin...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode Andrew is joined by Paul Cartledge, the author of Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece, to tell the story of a city which changed the ancient world and which deserves to be remembered by the modern. ________________________ Paul Cartledge is A.G. Leventis Senior Resear...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode Andrew is joined by Caroline Chambers, the author of Just Married: A Cookbook for Newlyweds, to discuss how she has explored alternative forms of publishing and how writers can create independently-owned income streams. Caroline Chambers is a recipe developer, food writer and a...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Bob Spitz, the author of “Led Zeppelin: The Biography”, to give the authoritative account of the group many call the greatest rock band of all time, arguably the most successful, and certainly one of the most notorious. Bob Spitz is an award-winning author and New York Times bestseller who has also represented Bruce Springsteen and Elton John in several capacities. His articles appear regularly in magazines and newspapers. Visit our website: ht...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Tom Clavin, the author of “Lightning Down: A World War II Story of Survival”, to tell the story of an American fighter pilot doomed to die in Buchenwald but determined to survive. Tom Clavin is a bestselling author of 18 nonfiction books on American and military history, sports, and entertainment. He previously worked as a newspaper editor and writer, including for the New York Times for 15 years, and as a writer for such magazines as Smithsonia...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode Andrew is joined by Benjamin J.B. Lipscomb, the author of The Women Are Up to Something: How Elizabeth Anscombe, Philippa Foot, Mary Midgley, and Iris Murdoch Revolutionized Ethics, to discuss the fascinating history of four women philosophers who shaped the intellectual history...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Linda Greenhouse, the author of “Justice on the Brink: The Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Rise of Amy Coney Barrett, and Twelve Months that Transformed the Supreme Court”, to ponder a fundamental question relevant to all Americans: Is this still John Roberts’s Supreme Court, or does it now belong to Donald Trump? Linda Greenhouse, the winner of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize, writes about the Supreme Court and the law. She reported on the Supreme Co...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Ruben Gallego, the author of “They Called Us "Lucky": The Life and Afterlife of the Iraq War's Hardest Hit Unit”, to reflect on the eternal bonds forged between the Marines of Lima Company, the hardest-hit unit of the Iraq War. Congressman Ruben Gallego represents the 7th District of Arizona, including parts of Phoenix, Glendale, and Tolleson, in the U.S. House of Representatives. Representative Gallego is a Marine Corps combat veteran, a lifelo...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen, the co-authors of “The Library: A Fragile History”, to discuss the history of libraries and the people who built them, from the ancient world to the digital age. Andrew Pettegree is Professor of Modern History at St Andrews University, where he directs the Universal Short Title Catalogue, a database of information about all books published before 1650. A leading expert on the history of book and media tra...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode Andrew is joined by Omar Mouallem, the author of Praying to the West: How Muslims Shaped the Americas, to reveal a secret history of home and the struggle for belonging taking place in towns and cities across the Americas. Omar Mouallem is a writer, journalist, editor, filmmake...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Ben Wilson, the author of “Metropolis: A History of the City, Humankind's Greatest Invention”, to demonstrate that the story of human civilization is the story of cities, as well as to retrace how urban living sparked humankind’s greatest innovations. Ben Wilson is an award-winning author and has also consulted for various TV history programs and appeared on TV and on national radio in the U.S., UK, and Ireland. He has written for The Spectator,...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Theodore R. Johnson, the author of “When the Stars Begin to Fall: Overcoming Racism and Renewing the Promise of America”, to discuss why racism is a structural crime of the state and how recognizing that a color-conscious society—not a color-blind one—is the true fulfillment of the American Promise. Theodore R. Johnson is the director of the Fellows Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. His work explores the role that race plays in electora...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode Andrew is joined by Celine-Marie Pascale, the author of Living on the Edge: When Hard Times Become a Way of Life, to discuss what daily life looks like in economically stressed communities. . Find more Keen On episodes and additional videos on Lit Hub’s YouTube Channel! ______...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode Andrew is joined by Chris Matthews, the author of This Country: My Life in Politics and History, to showcase the grand arc of the American story through one life dedicated to its politics. This interview was done in collaboration with the Miami Book Fair. Chris Matthews is just...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Sandro Galea, the author of “The Contagion Next Time”, to discuss how investing in the healthiest population possible is literally an act of national security against a future pandemic. Sandro Galea, a physician, epidemiologist, and author, is dean and Robert A. Knox Professor at Boston University School of Public Health. He previously held academic and leadership positions at Columbia University, the University of Michigan, and the New York Aca...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Joanna Chiu, the author of “China Unbound: A New World Disorder”, to discuss the backdrop of toxic diplomacy, human rights abuses and foreign interference seen in a "booming" China today. Joanna Chiu is senior journalist for the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest newspaper. As a globally-recognized authority on China, Chiu is a commentator for international broadcast media and was previously based for seven years in Beijing and in Hong Kong as a for...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Stan Cox, the author of “The Path to a Livable Future: A New Politics to Fight Climate Change, Racism, and the Next Pandemic”, to discuss how a healthy, just, sustainable future is possible if we reduce our ecological footprint and share the earth’s gifts equitably. Stan Cox began his career in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is now the Ecosphere Studies Research Fellow at the Land Institute. His writing about the economic and political r...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Peter T. Coleman, the author of “The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization”, to discuss why we are stuck in our current cultural riptide and what we can do to find our way out. Peter T. Coleman is Professor of Psychology and Education at Columbia University where he holds a joint-appointment at Teachers College and The Earth Institute. Dr. Coleman directs the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution (MD-I...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Bill Burnett, the author of “Designing Your New Work Life”, to discuss how design thinking can transform our present job, and how it can improve our experience of work in times of disruption. Bill Burnett is the Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford. He directs the undergraduate and graduate program in design at Stanford, both interdepartmental programs between the Mechanical Engineering department and the Art department. He got h...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Jonathan Reisman M.D., the author of “The Unseen Body: A Doctor's Journey Through the Hidden Wonders of Human Anatomy”, to discuss the human body and reveal medical stories about our insides that have uniquely our perspectives on life, culture and the natural world. Jonathan Reisman M.D. is an internist and pediatrician, naturalist, adventure traveler, forager, foodie and teacher of wilderness survival and prehistoric crafts. He has practiced me...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Ian Rosenberg, the author of “The Fight for Free Speech: Ten Cases That Define Our First Amendment Freedoms ”, to discuss combating authoritarianism, protecting our democracy, and bringing an understanding of free speech law to all. Ian Rosenberg has over twenty years of experience as a media lawyer, and has worked as legal counsel for ABC News since 2003. A graduate of Cornell Law School, he is an Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, and teach...

Jose Huizar grew up in Boyle Heights – a working-class Latinx neighborhood in L.A. Eventually, he became their councilperson. And, for the most part, people trusted Huizar... until the day the FBI raided his home and offices, looking for evidence of corruption. The Feds would go on to say that Huizar led a criminal enterprise based in city hall. He stands accused of taking bribes from luxury developers as his constituents were displaced from their homes. This season of Smoke Screen is a collabo...

In this episode of “Keen On”, Andrew is joined by Brendan Borrell, the author of “The First Shots: The Epic Rivalries and Heroic Science Behind the Race to the Coronavirus Vaccine”, to discuss the quest that has so far taken place to end the pandemic, from its discovery to the creation and rollout of vaccines. Brendan Borrell is a correspondent for Outside magazine and his work regularly appears in other publications, including The New York Times, National Geographic, The Atlantic, and Bloomber...

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode Andrew is joined by Pamela Paul, the author of 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet, to look back on the world before cyberspace—from voicemails and blind dates to punctuation and civility. Pamela Paul is the editor of The New York Times Book Review and oversees all books cove...