Episode 645: Justin Stamm on Mafia, Payola & Politics

Episode 645: Justin Stamm on Mafia, Payola & Politics

Author: Timothy Kelly April 23, 2026 Duration: 1:45:43
Justin Stamm joins Our Interesting Times to discuss his book The Payola Chronicles: How the Mafia & the CIA Created Rock & Roll and how the current political power structures operate similarly to the infamous Mafia organizations of the past. Justin is a screenwriter, director, author, and host of the Why We Fight show.

Timothy Kelly hosts Our Interesting Times, a podcast that digs into the stories shaping our world right now. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the constant churn of headlines; this show steps back to provide clearer context and more thoughtful analysis. Each episode focuses on a single current event or emerging trend, breaking down the complex forces at play without resorting to sensationalism. You’ll hear straightforward conversations and monologues that connect the dots between politics, culture, and the quieter developments that often slip under the radar. The aim is to make sense of the noise, offering listeners a more grounded perspective on the week’s events. Rather than just recounting the news, this podcast explores the underlying questions and human stories behind it. Tune in for a calm, considered take on the issues defining these interesting times, delivered with a focus on understanding over urgency. It’s a regular dose of clarity for anyone trying to stay informed without the usual frenzy.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Our Interesting Times
Podcast Episodes
Episode 683: Richard Parker on 9/11 and the 25-Year Dispossession [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:44
Richard Parker returns to Our Interesting Times to discuss his essay “The Waving Woman in So Many of Us: 25 Years of Dispossession and Disenfranchisement in the Wake of 9/11.” We talk about how late Generation X and the…
Episode 679: Thomas Cyr on the Nuremberg System [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Thomas Cyr joins Our Interesting Times to discuss his book The Nuremberg System: Conceptual Bases of World Order from 1933 to Present. Cyr argues that the Allied defeat of the Axis in 1945 was not, as court historians pr…
Episode 675: James Perloff on the Lindbergh Kidnapping [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:14:01
James Perloff returns to Our Interesting Times to discuss is his video "The Lindbergh Kidnapping" where he takes a close look at the long-controversial case. James focuses on the serious injustices that marked the trial…