Firemen, Bourbon, and Bathhouses - Katherine Russell Rich

Photo by David Polenberg

Firemen, Bourbon, and Bathhouses

A literary woman sparks a romance with a New York City fireman, Jim Beam's great-grandson describes growing up under the watchful eye of his famous Kentucky bourbon family, and a father and son battle liberal guilt in a sauna.

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Stories in this Episode

12:08
What Goes Up

by Katherine Russell Rich

A writer's uptown friends won't believe her dating adventure with a New York City fire fighter.

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15:18
Booker and Me

by Fred Noe

Jim Beam's great-grandson describes growing up under the watchful eye of his famous Kentucky bourbon family. 

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14:19
The Pieties of Perspiration

by Adam Gopnik

Adam Gopnik battle liberal guilt with his son in a sauna.

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Extras From This Episode

Krr Books 465X345

Katherine Russell Rich's books

Katherine Russell Rich was an accomplished author with two nonfiction books: Dreaming in Hindi and The Red Devil: To Hell with Cancer – and Back. They can both be purchased on Amazon.

After a two-decade long battle with cancer, Kathy Russell Rich died in 2012. One of her close friends, Judy Stone, wrote a piece in remembrance of her on The Moth Blog, which you can read here.

Right before she died, she recorded a segment on This American Life about living with cancer. Listen here.

Booker Noe’s famous ham recipe:

  1. Scrub the ham. Soak in water.
  2. Place in a large roasting pan filled with water and place in the oven at 220 degrees until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees, about 14 hours.
  3. Let cool overnight in the pan juices.
  4. Remove skin and bones.
  5. Make a thick paste of brown sugar and water and coat the ham.
  6. Bake at 220 degrees until the sugar caramelizes, about 1 1/2 hours
  7. Let cool. Slice paper thin.
Fred And Booker Edit 465X323

Booker and Fred. Photo courtesy of Fred Noe.

Luke And Dad At Party Edit 465X311

Adam and Luke today.

Edit Ag2

Adam (R) and his grandfather. Photos courtesy of Adam Gopnik.

The music in this story