Our guest this week is Richard Behar, an award-winning investigative reporter who spent 15 years chronicling the life of Bernie Madoff, the mastermind behind the largest Ponzi scheme in history.

Behar is the author of the newly released blockbuster book Madoff: The Final Word.

Before Madoff died in prison, Behar and Madoff had more than 50 phone conversations, exchanged more than 300 emails, and met face-to-face three times.

When Madoff was arrested in December 2008, his decades-long scam unraveled, revealing approximately $68 billion in purported assets across nearly 5,000 client accounts. In stark contrast, Madoff had less than $300 million, having swindled countless victims, including banks, charities, colleges, pension funds, and notable individuals such as Steven Spielberg, Sandy Koufax, Kevin Bacon, and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel.

On this week’ episode, Behar shares how Madoff sustained his scam for decades, the many people who facilitated his fraud, why his investors were so gullible, and what steps everyone should take to avoid falling victim to swindlers.

As an exclusive bonus, listeners will hear two short private phone conversations between Behar and Madoff, recorded during Madoff’s incarceration at a federal prison in Butner, North Carolina.

Behar, honored as one of the top 100 business journalists of the 20th century, has received more than 20 major journalism awards. He previously worked on the staff of Forbes, Time, and Fortune. He also contributed reporting to CNN, PBS, and the BBC.

If you believe you could never be tricked like thousands of Madoff’s trusting investors were, you need to listen closely to this week’s episode.

Monday Morning Radio is hosted by the father-son duo of Dean and Maxwell Rotbart.

Photo: Richard Behar, Madoff: The Final Word
Posted: July 22, 2024
Monday Morning Run Time: 1:10:31
Episode: 13.06

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A Christmas Day Miracle, by Dean and Talya Rotbart, is adapted from their 2020 biography of Margaret and Riyaz Adat, titled Improbable Lives: A Scot, A Tanzanian, and Their Canadian Love Story. 

A true-life, inspirational adult yuletide tale, A Christmas Day Miracle offers a universal message — regardless of readers' religious beliefs — about the wonder and power of life’s unexpected blessings.

Since the book was first published two years ago, it has become a perennial holiday favorite.

We hope you enjoy it.

A special audio/video edition of Monday Morning Radio presenting a panel of distinguished journalists discussing the future of business journalism.

TO VIEW THE VIDEO, CLICK HERE.

This is the first episode in the 11th year of the business-to-business podcast.

Everyone who owns a business, operates a professional practice, or works for either, understands the importance of the business news media - and their ability to provide actionable insights and intelligence.

The discussion arises from the publication of The Future of Business Journalism and Why It Matters for Wall Street and Main Street by Chris Roush. Roush is the Dean of the Quinnipiac University School of Communications, where he is also a professor. He is a veteran business journalist and the founder of Talking Biz News — a must-read website for journalists and communications executives about the business journalism profession.

Roush joins Dean Rotbart, award-winning author and host of Monday Morning Radio, to examine the history of the business journalism profession, its current status, and what Roush believes are the changes that are necessary to buttress business and financial news going forward.

In his book, Roush writes: “[The] shift in business news content away from many consumers and small business owners on Main Street and toward Wall Street investors, money managers, and Fortune 500 executives is one of the most misunderstood inequalities in twenty-first century American civic life.”

To examine that contention, along with other key elements in The Future of Business Journalism, are a distinguished panel of four veteran business journalists:

Peter Coy, Opinion Economics Writer, The New York Times
Henry Dubroff, Owner and Founder, Pacific Coast Business Times
Matt Murray, Editor in Chief, The Wall Street Journal
Matt Quayle, Senior Executive Producer, CNBC-TV

Biographies of Roush and the panel members are available here.
Order your copy of The Future of Business Journalism here.

Posted: June 20, 2022
Monday Morning Run Time: One Hour and Seven Minutes

When the history of the COVID-19 pandemic is written, it is certain to include many examples of government overreach and outright stupidity. The State of Maine will be a prime exhibit.

With a total population of fewer than 1.5 million citizens, and only a fraction of New York’s coronavirus deaths, the governor of Maine has imposed some of the most draconian lockdown rules in the nation.

For residents of Maine, particularly those requiring regular dental treatments for ailments such as gum disease, the result has proven disastrous.

This week, host and award-winning reporter Dean Rotbart speaks with a panel of four distinguished dentists who explain the serious health risks to patients who are locked out – whether in Maine or any other state – and also the economic ripple effect of shutting down dental practices and other health providers to all but emergency care.

Included on Dean’s panel is a Floridian, Dr. Samuel B. Low, who is an internationally renowned periodontist, academic, and expert on the risks of delaying dental care.

Photos: Dr. Samuel B. Low, Dr. Daniel L. Steinke, Dr. David H. Pier, and Dr. Ted Morgan
Posted: May 11, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: 57:28

Employee fraud and embezzlement cost American companies $50 billion annually, much of that coming out of the pockets of small business owners.

It’s often an employee who you trust the most who turns out to be the most untrustworthy.

This week on Monday Morning Radio, three experts on employee theft – an investigator, a litigation attorney, and a prosecutor – join host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart for a panel discussion on how to prevent, detect, and respond to dishonest employees.

 Panelists:

• Doug E. Cash, Senior Manager (Fraud Investigator), Eide Bailly (Photo Center)
• Lisa M. Six, Partner (Litigation), Crowley Fleck PLLP (Photo Right)
• Carolyn O’Hara, Deputy District Attorney (Economic Crime Unit), Jefferson County, Colorado (Photo Left)

Posted: January 13, 2020
Monday Morning Run Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

For the third consecutive year, host and award-winning journalist Dean Rotbart turns the microphone over to his son, Maxwell, who reviews the top business lessons of the past year, gleaned from ten of the weekly guests appearing on Monday Morning Radio.

Among the priceless business insights and actionable tips for success included this week are the gift of struggle; the simple truths of great customer service; the proper care and feeding of bosses; how to build an ironclad brand; and the Bezos method of business growth and risk-taking.

Give Maxwell Rotbart less than an hour to start off the New Year, and he’ll give you a year’s worth of business magic.

Photo: Maxwell Rotbart, Guest Host
Posted: December 30, 2019
Monday Morning Run Time: 54:56

Readers of Roy H. Williams’ Monday Morning Memo are well-acquainted with Indiana Beagle, the legendary curator and editor-in-chief of the Rabbit Hole.  

Although “Indy” is a metaphorical, metaphysical canine – the twin brother of Intuition, a leading character in the Destinae trilogy – he embodies spontaneous, impulsive, reckless curiosity.

Which is exactly why Monday Morning Radio host and reputation coach Dean Rotbart asked Indy to serve as the guest host of this week’s episode. 

Don’t be fooled, however. Indy’s interview with Dean is not only entertaining, it’s also actionable, as Dean shares a behind-the-scenes look at how Monday Morning Radio is produced and the lessons that Dean has gleaned in the course of hosting and producing more than 300 episodes.

Do his guests all share common traits?  Yes. And no.

Are they all business successes?  More yes, than no.

Might you be a suitable guest for Monday Morning Radio?

Tune in and discover for yourself, not only what it takes to land a slot on Dean’s very popular podcast, but also how you can ace any broadcast or print interview that comes your way.

Arooo! Aroo-Aroooooo!

Photo: Indy Beagle, Guest Host, and Dean Rotbart, Guest Guest
Posted: October 1, 2018
Monday Morning Run Time: 43:03

Last night – Sunday, July 16th – was the Season 7 premiere of HBO’s smash hit, Game of Thrones, which consistently averages more than 23 million viewers per episode.

One byproduct of the show’s huge popularity is that it has ignited global demand for genuine Viking and medieval collectibles.

This week, on a special double-header edition, host and reputation coach Dean Rotbart showcases two businesses that have ridden the Game of Thrones coattails to phenomenal success.

First, Dean interviews Bob Dodge, co-founder of Artemis Gallery, a leading U.S. auction house selling Viking artifacts and jewelry; and then Dean sets sail on an entrepreneurial voyage of discovery with http://www.artemisgallery.com/, a senior executive with LiveAuctioneers.com, which runs live auctions in 47 countries worldwide and has hard data on just how “hot” the Viking collectibles market is right now.

To receive a free transcript of this week’s program, enter your first name and email at: http://tinyurl.com/MMRTranscript01

This week on a special edition of Monday Morning Radio, host and veteran journalist Dean Rotbart has assembled a panel of five experts who address the question: How will the election of Donald Trump impact small business owners and entrepreneurs – and what can YOU do to protect yourself – and to take advantage of fresh opportunities.

Dean’s panel includes Roy H. Williams, co-founder of Wizard Academy and author of the blockbuster book, Pendulum; Mike Agugliaro, co-owner of Gold Medal Services, the largest home service provider in Central New Jersey; Raymond Hennessey, the founding news director of the FOX Business Network and a communications consultant with JConnelly in New York; Frank Lalli, a multi-award winning health and personal finance journalist and author; and Michele Miller, a Wizard of Ads partner and expert on marketing to woman.

You can fork over big bucks to hear the insights of any one of these small business experts or you can listen for free and come away wiser and better prepared. The choice is yours.

Photo (Clockwise): Michelle Miller, Raymond Hennessey, Frank Lalli, Mike Agugliaro, and Roy H. Williams
Posted: November 14, 2016
Monday Morning Run Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes