Phyliss Karas Interview Episode 682

Family stories are often built on cherished memories, treasured photographs, and carefully preserved traditions. But sometimes, buried beneath those stories are secrets, tragedies, and wounds that ripple across generations. In this episode, I'm joined by Phyllis Karas, New York Times bestselling author, professor of journalism at Boston University, and longtime journalist, to discuss her powerful book Curse of the Blumenthals. Part true crime investigation, part family memoir, and part exploration of generational trauma, the book traces the extraordinary saga of the Blumenthal family—from immigration and Prohibition-era bootlegging to devastating tragedy, murder, family estrangement, and ultimately the search for healing. This is a conversation about family secrets, memory, resilience, journalism, and how understanding the past can help us break cycles that span generations.