BEEF with Bridget Todd

A group of rural farmers versus a growing city. This week on Beef, the growing metropolis that is 1920s Los Angeles wages war on California’s peacefully bucolic Owens Valley over its most precious resource: water Hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bridget Todd⁠⁠⁠⁠Written by Max WolfsonShowrunning, Editing & Sound Design by Pete MustoProduced by James "Sam" LevineCreated by Executive Producer Jeremiah TittleFind out more about all of Next Chapter Podcasts' incredible content at ⁠⁠⁠⁠nextchapterpodcasts.com⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On April 28, 1192 the newly elected king of Jerusalem Conrad of Montferrat was assassinated in the streets of the city of Tyre by two Assassins, the name by which the Crusaders knew the Nizari Isma'ili Shi'a sect in Syria. The killers had acted in obedience to the leader of the Assassins, the Old Man of the Mountain Rashid al-Din Sinan. That much is known. On whose behalf the Old Man of the Mountain acted, however, was and remains an open question. Was it Guy of Lusignan, who had ruled the Kingdom of Jerusalem as consort of Princess Sibylla until her death and was the man that Conrad defeated in the disputed election? Or was it Guy's main supporter for the throne, Richard the Lionheart of England? Or perhaps it was Saladin to create confusion and dissension among the leaders of the Third Crusade? Or maybe it was Rashid al-Din Sinan himself to avenge Conrad's actions against the sect of Assassins? In this episode Richard and Ellen discuss the murder of Conrad of Montferrat, the Assassins as revealed in history and videogames, and the turbulent politics that nearly destroyed the Kingdom of Jerusalem and threatened to fragment the Third Crusade. Please join us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest piece of bonus content, writer Adrián Duston-Muñoz interviews science & technology journalist Jesse Hicks about the early days of chemistry, modern ideas of intellectual property, and the morality behind the things we put in our bodies. Jesse Hicks is a long-time writer and editor who typically focuses on science, healthy, technology, and politics, having published in Vice, Men's Health, Harper's, Politico, The New Republic, and other venues, both online and print. He served as one of the first features editors following the launch of The Verge, and I edited The Kernel after it became the "Sunday magazine" (a showcase for long-form feature writing about internet culture) of The Daily Dot. He's reviewed comics, movies, and books for PopMatters, covered the Guantanamo Bay 9/11 trial from Fort Meade for Vice, reported on the Chelsea Manning trial for The Verge, and written features on outsider technology artist Mark Pauline and on Terry Davis, the schizophrenic computer programmer who built an operating system to talk to god. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest piece of bonus content, writer Max Wolfson chops it up with comedian Talib Babb about NBA conspiracies, the importance of basketball's pioneers, and the never-ending GOAT conversation. Talib Babb is a Brooklyn-based stand-up comedian, actor, producer and writer for ESPN Creative Works, who's also written for The New Yorker and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest piece of bonus content, we want to introduce you to recent guest Alex Keledjian's podcast How I Got Greenlit. Season 4 of show launches on YouTube on Thursday, August 21! Alex Keledjian Alex Keledjian is the creator of Project Greenlight, a documentary television series where executive producers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck gave first-time filmmakers a chance to direct their first feature film. In 2018, Alex wrote and directed the film High Voltage starring David Arquette and Luke Wilson. MAX launched the latest season of the Emmy-nominated TV series Project Greenlight from executive producer Issa Rae and Miramax Television in July 2023. How I Got Greenlit ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠Podlink⁠ Credits Alex Keledjian, Host Sam Levin, Co-Host & Editor Pete Musto, Producer Jeremiah Tittle, Producer Experience more of How I Got Greenlit via ncpodcasts.com For guest inquiries, sponsorships, and all other magnificent concerns, please reach How I Got Greenlit via howIgotgreenlit@gmail.com For inquiries and more information on Next Chapter Podcasts info@ncpodcasts.com New episodes go live every Thursday. Please subscribe, rate & review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest piece of bonus content, writer Max Wolfson chats with writer-director Alex Keledjian about the sanitization of Hollywood, the volatile nature of creatives, and the loyalty a filmmaker must show to their art. Writer, director, producer Alex Keledjian is the creator of HBO & Bravo's hit indie filmmaking reality TV show Project Greenlight. Alex wrote and directed the 2018 thriller High Voltage, produced the 2018 film Freaks, as well as the 2005 film Feast, the 2003 film The Battle of Shaker Heights, and the 2002 film Stolen Summer. And he was a writer for the 1996 television series Second City Headlines & News. He’s also the host of the avid cinephile podcast How I Got Greenlit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our latest piece of bonus content, showrunner Pete Musto sits down with celebrated stage illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer to discuss performance magic versus charlatanism, the nature of deceit and the power of Harry Houdini's presence. The London Telegraph called Jim Steinmeyer “Broadway’s greatest stage illusionist,” and he’s served as a magic consultant for such legendary acts as Siegfried and Roy, Lance Burton, Orson Welles, Harry Blackstone, The Pendragons, Simon Drake, Ricky Jay, and David Copperfield, for whom he designed the famous “Vanishing Statue of Liberty” illusion in 1983. He’s written numerous books about magic and magicians, including “Hiding the Elephant,” “The Glorious Deception,” “The Last Greatest Magician in the World,” and “The Secret History of Magic.” He gives frequent talks and has appeared in documentaries and numerous television shows on the history and techniques of magic. And from 2018 to 2020, Jim served as President of the Academy of Magical Arts, the club at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, and served on the Board of Directors for seven years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Magic and mysticism. Spirits and skeptics. This week on Beef, legendary illusionist and escapologist Harry Houdini pulls back the curtain on the psuedo-scientific, semi-religious Spiritualist movement of the 19th century. Learn more about Jim Steinmeyer's incredible career and one-of-kind design work at his website. And order a copy of Prof. Richard Wiseman's book Paranormality: Why We See What Isn't There Hosted by ⁠Bridget Todd⁠ Written by Nicole Walkow-Benedi Showrunning, Editing & Sound Design by Pete Musto Produced by James "Sam" Levine Created by Executive Producer Jeremiah Tittle Find out more about all of Next Chapter Podcasts' incredible content at ⁠nextchapterpodcasts.com⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices