Michel Picaud, one of the most preeminent experts on the restoration of the Notre Dame cathedral, will regale us on the painstaking efforts to bring this world-renowned gem back to life from a devastating fire five years ago to its joyous reopening in December. Picaud heads the leading international fundraising organization for Notre Dame and […]
We end our season on a high note - literally! Steve Friedman is an internationally recognized Broadway Musical historian, classically trained tenor, and one-time actor himself who will entertain us with a peek inside the Golden Age of Musical Theater of the ‘50s & ‘60s. We’ll hear behind-the-scenes back stories and plenty of our favorite […]
He's the guy you love to hate. But you'll love him in person! Concord resident Dan Truhitte played the young Nazi turncoat in The Sound of Music and will regale us with his journey to the silver screen along with fun behind-the-scenes stories – a fitting presentation on this 60th anniversary of the release of […]
Another memorable anniversary this year is the 80th since the end of WWII in 1945, and author Don Aines has a book-full of forgotten tales from that conflict. We'll hear stories of courage, daring, & downright stupidity, some of which would challenge the imaginations of not only Hollywood scriptwriters but ours as well!
Remember the young missionary who, in 2018, tried to convert indigenous islanders in the Indian Ocean only to be killed by them? Historian & author Adam Goodheart has that story along with plenty of his own & others' from similar trips to the homes of the last hunter-gatherers on earth, and how the modern age […]
Did you know that ages before the dawn of modern medicine, animals have been harnessing the power of nature to heal themselves? Emory University professor Jaap De Roode has the astonishing stories of how everything from ants to apes, bees to bears, & cats to caterpillars treat themselves, and how much we can learn from […]
So what in the world is bitcoin? Or cryptocurrency? Where did they come from? How do you determine their value? Are they wise investments? How do people make money from them? Or lose it? Respected investment advisor Gerald Townsend will have all the answers and promises to provide them in a simple, understandable way!
Get a peek into the international world of spying with one of the most preeminent experts in counterterrorism. Dexter Ingram will share his personal collection of spy gadgets, surprise us with the names of celebrity spies, & trace the history of espionage from using the simplest of tools to today's techno/cyber methods and which countries America […]
Did you ever think how much we owe France for our independence? Who's to say if we'd be celebrating the 250th anniversary this year of the founding of our nation without the Marquis de Lafayette? Colonial Williamsburg's Mark Schneider will share the story of how this man not only fought in the Continental Army but […]
Artificial intelligence is everywhere! But how will it be used to influence our critical midterm elections? What forms could it take, who or what will be targeted, how widespread will it be, what impact will it have, & what can we do to keep from being duped? Political advertising expert Dr. Scott Brennen has some […]
In light of the hullabaloo over late night hosts Stephen Colbert & Jimmy Kimmel, UNCG Professor Dr. Patrick Giamario examines the history of political satire, how it has changed over the centuries, what role it plays, & whether the ability to needle politicians - a right enshrined in the 1st Amendment - is actually effective, beneficial, […]
To commemorate the 250th Anniversary of our nation's founding, Colonial Williamsburg's historic interpreters Kurt Smith & Katharine Pittman provide 1st person portrayals of the Declaration of Independence's primary author Thomas Jefferson, & Revolutionary War general & President George Washington's wife Martha.