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Ken Krimstein, EINSTEIN IN KAFKALAND & Harry Abrams, LET’S DO LAUNCH

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We talk with cartoonist Ken Krimstein about the remarkable meeting of the minds between Albert Einstein and Franz Kafka in Prague, before either man was famous. His new graphic book is Einstein in Kafkaland: How Albert Fell Down The Rabbit Hole And Came Up With The Universe.

Join us as we explore how two seemingly disparate fields—physics and literature—intertwined in the lives of Einstein and Kafka, leading to some of the most profound and surreal discoveries of the modern age.

Then, we talk with veteran Hollywood talent agent Harry Abrams, who represented stars like Liam Neeson and Jennifer Lopez, about his memoir/how to book, Let’s Do Launch: A Hollywood Agent Dishes on How to Make Your Business and Career Take Off.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

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Key words: Einstein, Kafka, Prague, Gravity, Relativity, Franz Kafka, Albert Einstein, Graphic Novels, Ken Krimstein, Philosophy, Physics, Literature, Harry Abrams, Hollywood agent, author interview, history, podcast

Read The Transcript

Einstein in Kafka Land: A Surreal Intersection of Science and Literature

Episode Description

We welcome back graphic artist and author Ken Krimstein to discuss his latest book, Einstein in Kafka Land: How Albert Fell Down the Rabbit Hole and Came Up with the Universe.

Building on the success of a previous work, The Three Escapes of Hannah Arendt, Krimstein dives into a fascinating exploration of how Albert Einstein and Franz Kafka, two towering figures of the early 20th century, might have influenced each other’s groundbreaking work.

Listen to our interview with Krimstein about The Three Escapes of Hannah Arendt

In This Segment

  • The Intersection of Genius: Discover how Einstein’s pursuit of solving the mysteries of gravity intersected with Kafka’s exploration of existential truth in the early 1920s. Both men were navigating their own professional and personal challenges in Prague, a city that Krimstein vividly describes as a mystical outpost of civilization.
  • The True Truth: We explore the philosophical questions both Einstein and Kafka grappled with—what Krimstein calls “the search for the true truth.” We draw connections between their work and broader European traditions of Romanticism and Gnosticism.
  • Einstein’s Relativity: Struggle to understand Einstein’s theory of relativity? You’re not alone. Krimstein shares his own challenges in grasping the complexities of Einstein’s work and how he sought to make it accessible through his art.


Iconic Hollywood Talent Agent Harry Abrams on Integrity, Diversity, and Success

Host Francesca Rheannon sits down with legendary Hollywood talent agent Harry Abrams, author of the memoir Let’s Do Launch: A Hollywood Agent Dishes on How to Make Your Business and Career Take Off. With over 60 years in the entertainment industry, Abrams shares his insights on what it takes to succeed in Hollywood, focusing on integrity, trust, and diversity.

He also discusses his early career at MCA, his challenging partnership with Noel Abramoff, and the importance of forgiveness and moral values in business.

In This Segment

  • Harry Abrams’ Early Career: Abrams recounts his humble beginnings in the MCA mailroom and his journey to becoming one of Hollywood’s top talent agents.
  • The Betrayal and Lawsuit: Abrams shares the story of his fallout with business partner Noel Abramoff and how this challenging experience taught him valuable life lessons about resilience and entrepreneurship.
  • Moral Lessons: A discussion on how integrity and trust are the cornerstones of Abrams’ approach to business, and why these values are critical in today’s corporate environment.
  • Diversity in the Entertainment Industry: Abrams highlights the importance of diversity in business, sharing stories of how he advocated for underrepresented talent, including hiring actor Chris Burke, who became an advocate for the Down syndrome community.
  • Pro-Union Stance: Abrams explains why he has always supported labor unions in the entertainment industry and how the recent strikes (SAG-AFTRA and WGA) reflect necessary changes in the industry, especially with the rise of AI and streaming services.