Old School with Shilo Brooks

In this special episode, taped live at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Shilo sits down with Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett for a wide-ranging interview on the law. 

They discuss Barrett’s lifelong love of reading, her tumultuous confirmation process, the Constitution and what it should take to amend it, how she approaches cases where her interpretation of the law differs from her personal beliefs, why the Court is not the hyper-partisan institution that people think it is, and much more. 

It’s a thoughtful conversation that offers a more nuanced look at the highest court in the land. 

Old School is proudly brought to you by the Jack Miller Center. If you believe in the importance of civic education and want to help prepare the next generation to carry on our democracy, join us at JackMillerCenter.org.

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Hi Old School listeners! Veteran reporter Joe Nocera has launched a six part series about the Lindbergh kidnapping. Enjoy episode one here and then head on over to ⁠The Lindbergh Conspiracies⁠ feed for the rest of the season. Joe will be joining me next week to discuss Agatha Christie and how she was inspired by this very case.

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EP01 | The Broken Window

One night in March 1932, the infant son of aviator Charles Lindbergh is taken from his nursery. A warped window, a ladder, and a ransom note mark the beginning of a case that will grip the world and launch a hundred conspiracy theories. Ninety-four years later, we return to the scene of the crime to ask: What really happened that night?
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For tickets to our live recording with Jon Meacham in Philadelphia, click here and register. Use code TFP for a 20 percent discount. 

Roald Dahl gave the world Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He was also a vicious antisemite.

A Broadway play about Dahl’s legacy; the new Michael Jackson biopic; Kanye West’s attempted redemption arc; all of these have the culture asking again: How do we approach brilliant art produced by morally compromised artists?

Throughout history, some of the world’s preeminent literary geniuses have also been deeply bigoted, even monstrous people. In this episode, Shilo is joined by Eli Lake, host of Breaking History, for a conversation about these geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer, and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices.

Old School is proudly brought to you by the Jack Miller Center. If you believe in the importance of civic education and want to help prepare the next generation to carry on our democracy, join us at JackMillerCenter.org.

Become a paid subscriber to The Free Press today to enjoy exclusive bonus episodes and reduced ads. Click here to subscribe.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For tickets to our live recording with Jon Meacham in Philadelphia, click here and register. Use code TFP for a 20 percent discount. 

In this episode, Shilo sits down with sportswriter Wright Thompson to explore what the ESPN mainstay has learned from decades of covering elite athletes such as Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan. Does greatness require rage, dysfunction, or “daddy issues”? And what does GOAT culture teach young men about winning—and losing? 

They dig into why sports matter so deeply: tribal belonging, meritocracy, tradition, and the rare intensity of collective experience that borders on the religious. Thompson also explains why the most passionate fandoms often emerge in poor, deindustrialized towns. They also examine the controversies and contradictions of modern sports, from coaches and universities running de facto professional programs to the rise of gambling and debates over salary caps.

Old School is proudly brought to you by the Jack Miller Center. If you believe in the importance of civic education and want to help prepare the next generation to carry on our democracy, join us at JackMillerCenter.org.

Become a paid subscriber to The Free Press today to enjoy exclusive bonus episodes and reduced ads. Click here to subscribe.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For tickets to our live recording with Jon Meacham in Philadelphia, CLICK HERE and register. Use code TFP for a 20 percent discount. 

As he built Kind Snacks into a $5 billion company, ‘Shark Tank’s Daniel Lubetzky didn’t turn to startup gurus or business manuals—but to a 2,000-year-old Jewish text.

After the death of his father, a Holocaust survivor with whom he was deeply close, Daniel’s rabbi encouraged him to read Pirkei Avot, a collection of ancient wisdom on ethics, humility, and leadership.

In this episode, Daniel explains to Shilo how its teachings shaped both his leadership and Kind’s culture by reminding him to question his ego, resist yes-men, stay grounded, and learn from everyone.

More than moral philosophy, Pirkei Avot became a practical guide—anchoring his values while building an iconic brand.

Old School is proudly brought to you by the Jack Miller Center. If you believe in the importance of civic education and want to help prepare the next generation to carry on our democracy, join us at JackMillerCenter.org.

Become a paid subscriber to The Free Press today to enjoy exclusive bonus episodes and reduced ads. Click here to subscribe.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices