Sam Roberts has written 1,600 obituaries in his decadeslong career as a reporter for The New York Times. In this episode of "Settle In," he speaks to Geoff Bennett about his new book, "Are They Dead Yet?" and what he's learned about life. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A weaponized biological pathogen could be "man's last invention' according to Annie Jacobsen, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author. Jacobsen sits down with Geoff Bennett to discuss her latest book, Biological War: A Scenario - which examines how deadly pathogens that have been weaponized could lead to a civilization-ending event. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Emilee Hackney grew up in small-town Appalachia in a church that taught her men were meant to lead. In this episode of Settle In, she spoke with Amna Nawaz about her debut memoir, "All That's Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir," the world she grew up in and reconciling it with everything she encountered since. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ben Wikler chaired the Democratic Party of Wisconsin for six years, leading to victories in numerous key contests in the battleground state. In this episode of Settle In, Wikler talks to Geoff Benett about his new book, "This is the Plan," which details his prescription for "saving" America's democracy. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Simon Kuper is one of the few sports journalists who has now attended 10 World Cups. The author of "World Cup Fever: A Soccer Journey in Nine Tournaments" and co-author of "Soccernomics" joins Geoff Bennett to share the highs and lows of this year's World Cup. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Historian and Smith College professor Elizabeth Pryor has spent much of her career studying the history of the N-word. Her father, legendary comedian Richard Pryor, made the word central to his work before renouncing it altogether. In this episode of "Settle In," Elizabeth Pryor sits down with Geoff Bennett to discuss her father's legacy and her new book, "Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Dave Portnoy is the founder of Barstool Sports, a media goliath he started as a free gambling newsletter in the early 2000s. His new book, "Cancel Me If You Can," details his rise – and the controversies he's faced along the way. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Tressie McMillan Cottom says the second Trump administration has revealed uncomfortable truths about power in America. Today, we're revisiting her episode of Settle In with Geoff Bennett about trust in institutions and how to keep your sense of purpose in an onslaught of news. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

We're revisiting our episode with comedian Dave Chappelle, who sat down with Amna Nawaz in Yellow Springs, Ohio, for a wide-ranging discussion on his concerns around free speech, the importance of local journalism and why he doesn't regret his controversial decision to perform last year in Saudi Arabia. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

We're revisiting our episode with award-winning journalist and writer Michael Harriot, who spoke with Geoff Bennett about his best-selling book, "Black AF History," and what we can learn from Black history today. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy