On the Winter Holiday Special from CBS News Radio, Gil Gross chats with award-winning conductor Leonard Slatkin about one the most cheerful Christmas Carols beloved by all, Sleigh Ride.  Then, journalist Nicolas Kristof shares his research on which charities have the biggest impact during the season of giving and ways to multiply the amount of your giving through matching grants. Finally, if you got your driver’s license more than two decades ago, you might not be aware of the law–in all 50 states–that can save the lives of emergency responders and our men and women in blue.  Host Gil Gross explains why it's important during holiday travel to know the rules of the road. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did the phrase “You’ll shoot your eye out kid,” become almost as ubiquitous as “Merry Christmas?” On the Winter Holiday Special from CBS News Radio, host Gil Gross chats with Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie in the comedy classic, A Christmas Story.  Billingsley shares all of the behind-the scenes story of the little movie that is now broadcast and streamed for 24 hours on Christmas Day.   In the aftermath of the terrible tragedy on the first day of Hanukkah in Australia, we hear from Rabbi Diana Fersko about the origins of the eight-day Festival of Lights and how it has become a flashpoint for anti-semitic violence. Then we will hear from journalist and author Daoud Kuttab, a Palestinian Christian born in Bethlehem, about the elusive peace that is being sought in the birthplace of Jesus Christ. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Winter Holiday Special from CBS News Radio, Gil Gross tells the heart-warming story of Mark Cornetti and his wife, Nasheel Joules and their huge Christmas house light display w that works into her own battle for life. You have heard of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North in the Wizard of Oz, but have you heard of La Belfana the Good Witch of Italy, who brings presents and treats to Italian children on the Feast of the Epiphany? Cultural Historian Luisa Del Giudice shares the legend of the grandmother figure who also uses chimneys to spread holiday cheer. And then Professor Maria Kennedy takes us back before Christmas to explore the traditions that have withstood the test of time to be used  in our annual observations of Christmas.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Labor Day Special from CBS News Radio, host Gil Gross examines with former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty how the requirement for college degrees is excluding the majority of the work force from being even able to apply for jobs. Rometty pioneered an effort to eliminate the need for college degrees from one half of all jobs at IBM, down from 95% when she started her tenure. Rometty found that a skills-based emphasis was a better predictor of job success for many positions compared to a college degree. We will also hear about surprising and amusing first jobs of some of our favorite celebrities, from Bob Newhart to Denzel Washington. Then, David Ewalt, Editor-in -Chief of Scientific American, examines the threat to actors and studios posed by Artificial Intelligence. Finally, Economic Analyst Jennifer Sherer contrasts the increased interest from workers for organizing with the obstacles installed to hamper laborers from enrolling in Unions . To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Labor Day Special from CBS News Radio, host Gil Gross and Dirty Jobs TV host Mike Rowe look at the many benefits of pursuing lucrative careers in the trades, where six-figure incomes without a bank-breaking college degree abound. And, historian Erik Loomis takes an unconventional look at American History through the lens of Labor Strikes through the centuries. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Labor Day Special from CBS News Radio, host Gil Gross speaks with CBS News Business Analyst Jill Schlesinger about the new IRS rules regarding income tax on tips and overtime. Who is impacted and how? Jill provides the answers. Then, Georgetown University Professor Joseph McCartin examines the historic firing of Air Traffic controllers in the 80’s and how it affects federal and other employees to this day. Finally, MIT Economics Professor David Autor, co author of The Work of the Future, lays out the roadmap for your, your children’s, and your grandchildren’s employment in the years and decades ahead. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Independence Day Special from CBS News Radio, host Gil Gross speaks with Glenn Knobloch, the author of "Strong and Brave Fellows", which recounts the significant contributions of African-American soldiers and sailors during the Revolutionary War.  And, on America’s 249th birthday, we'll speak with Pulitzer Prize-winner Rick Atkinson about the middle years of the Revolution when doubts and sacrifices were high.  Finally, here's a story you've never heard. Our founding fathers for decades thought our nation would not survive. Dennis C. Rasmussen, author of Fears of a Setting Sun: The Disillusionment of America's Founders, explains why earliest leaders were pessimistic about the prospects for the United States. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Independence Day Special from CBS News Radio, host Gil Gross looks at the origin of the song God Bless America, which for many people has become a second national anthem. But why did Irving Berlin keep it locked in a desk drawer for 21 years before finally recording it? You will learn the surprising answer here.  We will also hear from Professor Akhil Amar about The Words That Made Us, a fascinating look at the ferocious negotiations that took place to determine what did, and what did not, make it into the Constitution.  Finally, Maya Jasonoff tells us about the Tory story, when tens of thousands of British loyalists fled America when Britain lost the revolution.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Independence Day Special from CBS News Radio, host Gil Gross and author Stephen Brumwell look at the birth of guerilla warfare, or as military scholars call it “asymmetric warfare.” Invented by Robert Rogers, an American colonist who led Rogers’ Rangers against the French Army in North America, his tactics are still being taught in military academies to this day. Rogers, whom his indigenous opponents called “the White Devil,” became the most famous soldier in North America–eclipsing even George Washington–but fell from grace during the Revolutionary War.  And what is the 4th of July without fireworks?  John Withington shares the fascinating story of the origins of fireworks and how they continue to amaze us to this day.   Then, we will learn about Washington's Final Battle with author Robert Watson about our first President’s effort to establish the new nation's capital and how that almost tore the country apart. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hour 3 of the CBS News Radio Memorial Day Special brings together powerful voices sharing the realities and legacies of military service. Host Gil Gross welcomes: Virginia Cruse, combat veteran and PTSD counselor, who shares her personal journey and practical strategies for veterans and families facing post-traumatic stress. Allison Jaslow, Army veteran and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, who discusses the unique challenges faced by post-9/11 veterans, the fight for voting rights and support for military families, and the urgent need to protect Afghan allies left behind. Ned Ricks, Vietnam veteran, who recounts his homecoming experience, the stigma Vietnam veterans faced, and the healing power of the National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago. Tune in for: Real stories and recovery strategies for PTSD with Virginia Cruse Frontline medical insights from Dr. David Jaslow Historical perspective and Memorial Day reflections with Tom Ricks Perfect for listeners seeking understanding, support, and inspiration from those who have served. Subscribe to CBS News Radio for more exclusive interviews and compelling stories honoring America’s heroes. Keywords: Memorial Day podcast, Virginia Cruse PTSD, Dr. David Jaslow military medicine, Tom Ricks historian, CBS News Radio, veteran stories, trauma recovery, Memorial Day special, honoring veterans To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hour 1 is your essential listen for Memorial Day 2025, blending powerful military storytelling with expert summer travel advice. Hosted by Gil Gross, this episode features an exclusive interview with decorated Navy SEAL Will Chesney, author of No Ordinary Dog. Chesney shares gripping firsthand accounts from Operation Neptune Spear, the critical role of military working dogs, and inspiring reflections on courage and sacrifice. Plus, CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg joins the show to discuss Memorial Day as the unofficial kickoff to summer travel. Greenberg offers listeners practical tips and top recommendations for summer getaways, helping you make the most of the holiday weekend and the travel season ahead. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hour 2 of the CBS News Radio Memorial Day Special offers listeners a powerful blend of personal stories, historical insight, and a tribute to the innovation and sacrifice of America’s military. Host Gil Gross sits down with Monica Mohindra, Executive Director of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. Mohindra shares how the project collects and preserves the firsthand accounts of over 121,000 U.S. military veterans, ensuring their voices and stories are never forgotten. Listeners will hear remarkable examples, including the harrowing World War II journal of Lieutenant George Washington Piercy and the moving audio letters of Vietnam Marine Lance Corporal Mark Ryan Black. Mohindra explains how families can contribute to the archive and how anyone can access these stories online, making Memorial Day a time for personal connection and remembrance. This hour also features an in-depth interview with military historian and author Jay Wertz, who explores the crucial role of Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH) during wartime. Wertz discusses how MASH units revolutionized battlefield medicine, saving countless lives from World War II through Korea and Vietnam. He shares gripping stories of doctors, nurses, and medics working under fire, the evolution of frontline medical care, and the lasting impact of MASH innovations on today’s emergency medicine and trauma care. Wertz’s insights bring to life the real stories behind the legendary MASH teams, honoring their courage, ingenuity, and dedication. Preserving Veterans’ Voices with Monica MohindraThe Legacy of MASH Units with Historian Jay Wertz To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join 48 Hours correspondent Peter Van Sant for "Trained to Kill: The Dog Trainer, the Heiress, and the Bodyguard," a gripping six-episode podcast that unravels a dark story — Mark Stover was a talented dog trainer, better known as the dog whisperer of the Pacific Northwest. He was charismatic and attracted the attention of wealthy blonde heiress Linda Opdyke. They built a business together, along with a marriage. But Linda said Mark also had a dark side and when she tried to leave the marriage, he obsessively followed. She sought the protection of a security expert Michiel Oakes who soon became the new love of her life, her knight in shining armor. But when blood was found in Mark’s home and he was reported missing, detectives went looking for Michiel. In this dark love triangle, just who was the hunter and who was the hunted? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here is CBS News Radio's 3-hour longform coverage of President Trump's 2025 address to a joint session of Congress. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clint Hill, a former U.S. Secret Service agent on duty the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, has died at age 93. Veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Mike Wallace once said that, in all his years as a journalist, very few interviews stayed with him like his time with Clint Hill. During that interview, Hill stunned Wallace -- and the nation -- by admitting he felt responsible for the president's death. Hill would later say it was the first time he had ever spoken publicly about that day, and that his emotional reaction surprised even him. Hill told "60 Minutes: A Second Look" why he spoke so candidly for an audience of millions, and how that interview with Mike Wallace may have changed the course of his life. This episode of "60 Minutes: A Second Look" originally released in October 2024. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For just the fifth time in more than 100 years, Christmas and the first day of Hanukkah are on the same day. Host Gil Gross talks with social media superstar Sal Litvak, the Accidental Talmudist and author of Let My People Laugh, who explains the history and traditions of the Festival of Lights. Then, food historian Adrian Miller, The Soul Food Scholar, shares the cultural import of global cuisine in Kwanzaa and other winter holidays. Next, Gil Gross counts down the top-ten selling Christmas records of all time, providing the fascinating and little-known backstories to each. Finally, journalist José Ignacio Castañeda discusses the tradition of La Dia de los Reyes, which is celebrated across all of the hemispheres of the world on the Feast of the Epiphany. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We know what happens to the nice kids on Christmas Day, but what about the naughty ones? This year on the Winter Holiday Special from CBS News Radio, host Gil Gross speaks with Jeff Belanger, author of The Fright Before Christmas about Santa’s not-so-jolly counterparts in Christmas traditions around the world. Then, Brian Earl, host of The Christmas Past podcast shares the amusing, and sometimes odd, origins of our most beloved holiday traditions. Finally, Medievalist, Professor Sarah Peverley sheds some light on Christmas celebrations during the Dark Ages. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s not just our homes that get lit up over the Winter Holidays, the night sky will also be aglow with some fascinating astronomical events. Celebrated astronomer Andy Fraknoi tells host Gil Gross about the stunning visuals we will see when searching the night sky for Santa’s sleigh. Then, one of the most beloved songs of the season, The Christmas Song composed by Mel Torme, has a fascinating origin story. As we approach the centennial of Torme’s birth and the eightieth anniversary of the song’s recording, singer and song stylist James Torme, Mel’s son, reveals the little known account of how the song came to be and the over-sized impact it had on our culture. Finally, the Emmy-Award winning host of MInd Your Manners Sara Jane Ho shares with Gil important etiquette tips on gift-giving and gift-receiving. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Historian Rebecca Fraser, author of the book The Mayflower: The Families, the Voyage, and the Founding of America, shares with host Gil Gross the real reason why the Pilgrims came to America and how they differed vastly from the Puritans. Gil explains why Thanksgiving ping-ponged across different calendar dates 150 years until it finally was established as occurring on the fourth Thursday in November. Then, Gil speaks with CBS News Business analyst Jill Schlesinger about the expected impact of holiday shopping on the economy. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Gil Gross reports a new national effort is underway to fight record increases in hunger in the United States that is mobilizing the support of members of Rotary International. Then Gross speaks with sports historian Matt Andrews about the long and storied tradition uniting football and Thanksgiving that goes back to the 1800’s. Then, Peter Greenburg handicaps the winter holiday travel season And finally we will hear from divorce coach Tania Leichliter on strategies for divorced parents who hope to have an amicable Thanksgiving together with their children. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices