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In this fascinating podcast episode, historian Gareth Russell delves into the riveting life of King James I. Michele McAloon, the host, describes Russell's latest book, 'The Six Loves of James the First,' as a compelling historical narrative that rivals even the most intricate fiction. Russell shares captivating anecdotes about James I's dramatic upbringing amidst religious turmoil, his complex relationships, and his influence on history, including the creation of the King James Bible and Jamestown. Throughout the discussion, Russell emphasizes the importance of balancing historical accuracy with the dignity of both historical figures and contemporary readers.

Connect with Michele on her website Bookclues https://www.bookclues.com/

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War Eagel! Roll tide! College game day! The Iron Bowl

A single game can define a state. We sit down with Yahoo Sports senior writer Jay Busbee to unpack how Alabama vs Auburn became the South’s fiercest mirror, reflecting pride, pain, progress, and power from 1893 to NIL. Jay’s new book, Iron in the Blood, traces the Iron Bowl’s evolution from picnic blankets and early tailgates to bowl-driven TV eras and today’s high-dollar recruiting wars, revealing how a rivalry without pro competition in the state grew into a year-round identity.

We go beyond scores to meet the people who built the myth: Bear Bryant’s thunderous authority and complicated path through integration; Sug Jordan’s Normandy-forged steadiness and Auburn family ethos; Nick Saban’s era-defining system that asked five-stars to wait their turn and won anyway. Along the way, we examine the 40-year hiatus, Birmingham’s iron roots, how a tossed-off line became the rivalry’s name, and why the legislature once had to force the schools to play again. Jay explains how football offered the South a way to rebuild civic pride after the Civil War and how the sport later became a public stage for change, even as politics pressed hard on the pace.

We also get honest about money. Boosters shaped both programs for decades, but NIL brought the cash into daylight and opened new fronts against mega-donors in the Big Ten and beyond. What happens to tradition when a playoff softens single-game stakes? Can another Saban rise in an era of transfers and player power? And why do Auburn and Alabama feel so different up close—one centered on family ties, the other scaled by dynasties and reach? Jay leaves us with a grounded prediction for the next Iron Bowl and a sober look at where the sport is heading.

If this conversation adds something to your Saturday, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a review with your favorite Iron Bowl memory or hot take on NIL—War Eagle or Roll Tide?

Find Michele https://www.bookclues.com/

https://sports.yahoo.com/author/jay-busbee/

Jay Busbee @jaybusbee on X

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A freighter longer than a skyscraper is tall. Waves four seconds apart that can bend steel. A ballad recorded in a single take that changed how an entire industry thinks about risk. We sat down with John U. Bacon, author of The Gales of November, to trace the Edmund Fitzgerald from blueprint to bell, and from storm science to the quiet rooms where families still keep watch.

We unpack what makes the Great Lakes uniquely dangerous: freshwater’s sharper, closer-spaced waves; locally brewing systems that sit right over your head; and the long, narrow hulls forced by the Soo Locks. John explains how changes to the Plimsoll line let ships ride lower and heavier than intended, why welded seams and added tonnage tightened margins, and how a northern route, dark beacons, and dead radar turned one November run into a blind sprint. We revisit the race dynamics of the locks, the near-miss culture of “just one more trip,” and the accident chain that can turn routine into tragedy in minutes.

Beyond the mechanics, we spend time with the people whose choices and dreams were on board: a celebrated captain delaying retirement to pay for his wife’s care, a young deckhand saving for a road trip and a future he’d mapped out, an engineer mailing a ring home days before the lake took him. Then we follow the song—Gordon Lightfoot’s first-take recording that became a national memorial—and how attention, grief, and storytelling helped drive reforms. The most striking fact remains: from 1875 to 1975, the lakes saw thousands of wrecks; in the fifty years since the Fitzgerald, not one commercial ship has been lost.

If you care about maritime history, human resilience, and how culture can push safety forward, this conversation belongs in your queue. Listen, share with a friend who loves Great Lakes lore or music history, and if it moved you, subscribe and leave a review to help others find the show.