Victoria Gotti is a bestselling author, columnist, and television personality who built a writing career while growing up in one of New York’s most widely known families. The daughter of John Gotti, she became a novelist and a prominent gossip columnist at the New York Post, publishing several books and appearing frequently in television and media. Despite the intense public scrutiny surrounding her family name, Gotti established herself as a writer with her own voice and perspective.

On this episode, Kevin and Victoria discuss her path into writing and journalism, the challenges of building a media career while her family was constantly in the public spotlight, the ethics and realities of gossip reporting, and her personal memories of her father and life behind one of New York’s most talked-about families.

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Dan Barry is an award-winning journalist, author, and longtime columnist for The New York Times. A Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter and recipient of the Mike Berger Award for narrative journalism, Barry is known for his deeply human storytelling and his acclaimed “This Land” columns that explore the people and character of America. He is also the author of several books, including “Bottom of the 33rd: Hope, Redemption, and Baseball’s Longest Game” and “The Boys in the Bunkhouse: Servitude and Salvation in the Heartland.”

On this episode, Kevin and Dan discuss the legacy and influence of Jimmy Breslin, the discipline and grind behind great newspaper writing, the craft of finding stories others miss, and the humanity and responsibility at the heart of journalism.

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Carl Hiaasen is a bestselling novelist and longtime Miami Herald columnist known for his sharp satire, environmental advocacy, and fearless political commentary. Over a career spanning more than three decades in newspapers, Hiaasen built a reputation for channeling outrage into incisive columns while also crafting wildly popular Florida-set novels filled with eccentric characters and biting humor.

On this episode, Kevin and Carl discuss the role of anger and outrage in great column writing, the changing culture of modern journalism, press freedom in the Trump era, and how fiction can sometimes reveal deeper truths than the daily news.

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Mitch Albom is a bestselling author and longtime columnist for the Detroit Free Press, best known for Tuesdays with Morrie, which has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Albom has built a career that bridges sports journalism, deeply human storytelling, and philanthropic work. Known for his emotional clarity and moral voice, he remains committed to newspaper writing while continuing to publish bestselling books and lead charitable efforts in Detroit and beyond.

On this episode, Kevin and Mitch discuss the art of powerful storytelling, lessons from sports journalism and covering the “loser’s locker room,” the state of modern media and press credibility, and why honesty and humanity still matter in writing—and in public life.

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Gabriel Tennen, Ph.D., is a historian, educator, museum professional, and author whose work explores urban political power, democracy, and culture in modern America. Born in Manhattan and raised in Queens and New Jersey, he developed an early fascination with New York City’s history and its larger-than-life personalities. His doctoral research examined the 1969 Mailer–Breslin “51st State” campaign, earning recognition for reframing it as a serious political intervention rather than a literary stunt. Tennen brings both scholarly rigor and personal passion to the story of one of New York’s most unconventional campaigns.

On this episode, Kevin and Gabriel discuss the origins of the Mailer–Breslin campaign, the bold proposal to make New York City the 51st state, the use of humor and imagination as political tools, and what the campaign reveals about democracy, policing, and power—then and now.

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James Duff is an American television writer and producer, best known as the creator of The Closer and Major Crimes. Originally from New Orleans, Duff built a career in theater and television while navigating the deeply personal challenges of the AIDS crisis, including the loss of his partner, David Camacho. His work and life experiences have been profoundly shaped by themes of resilience, empathy, and storytelling.

Allen Roskoff is a veteran gay rights activist and longtime friend of legendary columnist Jimmy Breslin. A central figure in New York’s LGBTQ+ political scene since the early 1980s, Roskoff has fought tirelessly for equality and visibility, often bringing public figures—including Breslin—into the heart of the movement. His activism during the AIDS epidemic was instrumental in pushing political leaders and media voices to confront the crisis with compassion and urgency.

In this episode, Kevin, James, and Allen discuss the power of empathy in journalism, the impact of the AIDS crisis on New York’s gay community, Jimmy Breslin’s unexpected role as a chronicler of that struggle, and the enduring importance of activism and storytelling in shaping cultural change.

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Denis Hamill is a journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and TV writer. As a journalist at the Village Voice, he won the prestigious Meyer Berger Award from Columbia University for best NYC reporting. His columns for New York magazine, the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, the Boston Herald American, New York Newsday and 24 years at New York Daily News became an integral part of each city's life. In addition, he is the author of ten novels, several screenplays, movies, and TV shows/series.

In this episode, Kevin and Denis discuss Jimmy Breslin’s fascination with gangsters, the colorful characters of New York’s underworld, and how Breslin’s storytelling changed the way we see both crime and the city itself & more.

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Curtis Sliwa is a longtime New York City activist, radio personality, and founder of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer organization dedicated to public safety and community service. Known for his signature red beret and energetic presence, he has spent decades advocating for safer streets and civic engagement. In 2021, he ran for mayor of New York City, championing grassroots solutions and neighborhood empowerment.

In this episode, Kevin & Curtis talk the formation + evolution of The Guardian Angels, New York City, Bernhard Goetz incident & more.

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