Best Phil Gonzales Podcasts (2024)

1
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales 35:36

7d ago35:36

35:36

A first for the podcast -- the former Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, joins David Oscar Markus to discuss prosecutorial independence. Alberto Gonzales and David Oscar Markus discuss the job of a prosecutor, whether prosecutors should be appointed or elected, whether governors should be permitted to fire prosecutors and other pressing ethical qu…

1
Ecstasy of Influence – Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

7d ago

—

We’re back with “Tim Burton’s Henry Selick’s Everyone Else’s The Nightmare Before Christmas!” We’ve seen it a billion times! Spooky! https://ia600800.us.archive.org/20/items/del-toro-night-christmas/DelToro-NightChristmas.mp3By philgonzales

1
David Kendall for President Bill Clinton 1:10:47

22d ago1:10:47

1:10:47

David Kendall sits down with David Oscar Markus to discuss the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. Independent counsel, impeachment hearings, infidelity. No, we aren’t talking about Donald Trump. Instead, we head back to the late 90s to discuss David Kendall’s incredible representation of President Bill Clinton. The high stakes showdown be…

1
Ecstasy of Influence – The Age of Innocence (1992)

19d ago

—

In 1992, Martin Scorsese directed a movie that is either his magnum opus, or a load of HOGWASH. It’s “The Age of Innocence” and we really get into it! https://ia600802.us.archive.org/27/items/del-toro-age-innocence/DelToro-AgeInnocence.mp3By philgonzales

1
Ecstasy of Influence – Defending Your Life (1991)

1M ago

—

Welcome to the JUDGMENT ZONE! It’s Phil and Willow and we’re back to talk about Albert Brooks’ 1991 classic “Defending Your Life!” What a weird movie to come back on, I swear. Anyways, here it is! https://ia600800.us.archive.org/0/items/ecstacy-defending-your-life/Ecstacy-Defending%20Your%20Life.mp3By philgonzales

1
Chris Morvillo for Autonomy CEO Mike Lynch 1:07:18

1M ago1:07:18

1:07:18

Chris Morvillo of Clifford Chance sits down with David Oscar Markus to discuss the long and amazing saga of his representation of Mike Lynch, the CEO of Autonomy. Mike Lynch was dubbed the British Bill Gates. Then his world came crashing down as he was charged in federal court with fraud for what the feds described as a massive scheme to trick HP i…

1
Phil Hubbart for Pitts and Lee 1:13:29

2M ago1:13:29

1:13:29

Florida International University School of Law hosted Phil Hubbart and David Oscar Markus for a discussion about Hubbart’s book, From Death Row to Freedom: The Struggle for Racial Justice in the Pitts-Lee Case. The podcast is lucky to host Phil Hubbart this week, a living legend in the 3-0-5. He revamped the public defender’s office and was an appe…

1
Sean Hecker for Robert Bogucki 1:00:21

2M ago1:00:21

1:00:21

Sean Hecker, of Hecker Fink, joins David Oscar Markus to discuss the trial of Barclays trader Robert Bogucki. How do you explain complicated FX trading to a jury? How do you try a case on the other side of the United States, far from home? How do you try a case with a large team? Join David Oscar Markus as he interviews his friend and amazing lawye…

1
Judge Andrew Brasher 53:36

2M ago53:36

53:36

Judge Andrew Brasher joins David Oscar Markus to discuss all things Eleventh Circuit. Judge Brasher joined the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals when he was 39 years old. Having clerked for Judge William Pryor and worked as the Alabama Solicitor General, he is part of the well-known Judge Pryor “judging tree,” along with Judge Kevin Newsom and others. …

1
CNN's Kaitlan Collins 1:01:50

3M ago1:01:50

1:01:50

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins joins David Oscar Markus and his University of Miami class to discuss everything from covering high profile trials to how to examine a difficult witness. As criminal defense lawyers know, cross examining witnesses is one of the hardest things to do. There's a lot to be learned from journalists who do it live on the air with di…

1
Todd Blanche for former President Donald Trump 57:45

4M ago57:45

57:45

Todd Blanche, counsel to former President Donald Trump, joins David Oscar Markus to discuss the New York trial of People v. Trump. Todd Blanche, the first guest to appear twice on For the Defense with David Oscar Markus, discusses everything from the war room to Melania Trump not appearing at trial to getting into it with Michael Cohen and everythi…

1
Judge Kevin Newsom 1:05:46

5M ago1:05:46

1:05:46

In this bonus episode, Judge Kevin Newsom joins David Oscar Markus for an open and wide-ranging discussion about being a judge on the 11th Circuit, legal writing, and even a recent health scare. This bonus episode of For the Defense with the affable Judge Kevin Newsom and David Oscar Markus (they were law school classmates) continues to explore wha…

1
The Dark Descent – “A Little Something for Us Tempunauts” by Philip K. Dick

5M ago

—

Aaaaaaaand, we’re done! It’s “A Little Something For Us Tempunauts” by Philip K. Dick and “The Dark Descent” is over! PARTY HORN NOISE! https://ia600308.us.archive.org/7/items/del-toro-tempu/DelToro-Tempu.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Hospice” by Robert Aickman

5M ago

—

WE’RE SO CLOSE TO THE END! It’s the penultimate “Dark Descent” story and it’s a whopper! “The Hospice” is quintessential Robert Aickman: it’s creepy, offbeat, weird, strange, chilling and inexplicable. We really loved it and now… only one story to go! https://ia600303.us.archive.org/23/items/deltoro-hospice/Deltoro-Hospice.mp3…

1
The Dark Descent – “The Asian Shore” by Thomas M. Disch

6M ago

—

What a mystery this story is! Willow isn’t sure if she likes it, or if it even qualifies as horror. I’m enamored of it, but can’t really decide what it’s about! PERFECT! It’s “The Asian Shore” by Thomas M. Disch! https://ia800307.us.archive.org/20/items/del-toro-asian-shore/DelToro-AsianShore.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Willows” by Algernon Blackwood

6M ago

—

This week, it’s one of the most terrifying and terribly intimate stories we’ve yet covered. The cosmic horror of “The Willows” by Algernon Blackwood! https://ia600206.us.archive.org/15/items/del-toro-the-willows_202403/DelToro-TheWillows.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Afterward” by Edith Wharton

6M ago

—

This week, Willow and I take a look at the creepy effects of UNFETTERED CAPITALISM with Edith Wharton’s “Afterward!” https://ia600203.us.archive.org/29/items/del-toro-afterward/DelToro-Afterward-1.mp3By philgonzales

1
Judge Nancy G. Abudu 42:46

7M ago42:46

42:46

In this bonus episode, Judge Nancy G. Abudu – the newest judge on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals – joins David Oscar Markus for an open discussion about her career, the confirmation process, and the Court itself. Almost all appellate judges served as lower court judges and bring that experience with them to the appellate bench. But Judge Nan…

1
The Dark Descent – “The Damned Thing” by Ambrose Bierce

7M ago

—

Whaddaya get when you take a dead guy, an invisible monster and a heaping dose of post-Civil War Traumatic Stress Disorder? “The Damned Thing” by Ambrose Bierce! The missingest author in the history of Weird Fiction! https://ia600206.us.archive.org/25/items/del-toro-bierce/DelToro-Bierce.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Beautiful Stranger” by Shirley Jackson

8M ago

—

This week, Willow and Phil take a quick look at a quick story: “The Beautiful Stranger” by Shirley Jackson. We throw out a lot of theories as to the actual nature of this story, but the one thing we can agree on? That stranger is beautiful. https://ia601307.us.archive.org/32/items/del-toro-beautiful-s/DelToro-BeautifulS.mp3…

1
The Dark Descent – “What Was It?” by Fitz-James O’Brien

9M ago

—

Sometimes, you don’t even need to ask. “What Was It?” by Fitz-James O’Brien! https://ia601302.us.archive.org/31/items/del-toro-what-was-it/DelToro-WhatWasIt.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Beckoning Fair One” by Oliver Onions

9M ago

—

Boy oh boy are we ever getting tired of sad men dying for their ghosts. It’s “The Beckoning Fair One” by Oliver Onions! A good story, but jeez, guys. See a therapist or something. https://ia601304.us.archive.org/16/items/del-toro-beckoning/DelToro-Beckoning.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers

9M ago

—

We’ve got a big one this week! It’s “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers and Willow goes OFF. If you’re looking for her sources, here they are! de Oliveira, Hugo Mendes. “An Empire of Delusion: The Process of Alienation as Expressed by Robert W. Chambers’ ‘The Repairer of Reputations.’” Thesis, Proquest Dissertations Publishing, 2021…

1
The Dark Descent – “Clara Militch” by Ivan Turgenev

10M ago

—

This week, we’re heading off to jolly ol’ Russia for a bit of nineteenth century whimsey titled “Clara Militch” or “Klara Milich” or any number of permutations. It’s by Ivan Turgenev and it’s a real cracker! By which I mean, we were utterly confused by it. https://ia601204.us.archive.org/5/items/del-toro-clara-militch/DelToro-ClaraMilitch.mp3…

1
Michael Schachter and Randall Jackson for Tom Barrack 1:04:30

10M ago1:04:30

1:04:30

In this bonus episode, Michael Schachter and Randall Jackson sit down with David Markus to discuss their amazing acquittal of Tom Barrack in federal court in New York. Tom Barrack, a close friend and advisor to Donald Trump, was charged with being a foreign agent for the UAE. The so-called FARA violation is the new hot charge by DOJ. Enter Michael …

1
The Dark Descent – “Seaton’s Aunt” by Walter de la Mare

10M ago

—

It’s another headscratcher! “Seaton’s Aunt” by Walter de la Mare might not be the scariest story we’ve ever read, but it sure does make me feel sad! https://ia601201.us.archive.org/14/items/del-toro-seatons-aunt/DelToro-SeatonsAunt.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Night-Side” by Joyce Carol Oates

10M ago

—

Yes, I sing Hall and Oates at one point. It’s “Night-Side” by Joyce Carol Oates! https://ia801204.us.archive.org/26/items/del-toro-night-side/DelToro-NightSide.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Crouch End” by Stephen King

10M ago

—

We’re back in Lovecraft Country, this week! It’s Stephen King’s “Crouch End” and it’s a modern CLASSIC! https://ia801204.us.archive.org/14/items/del-toro-crouch-end/DelToro-CrouchEnd.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Signal-Man” by Charles Dickens

11M ago

—

When is a ghost not a ghost? When it’s a SIGNAL-MAN! It’s “The Signal-Man” by Charles Discken and Willow has NOTES on the story! NOTES! https://ia601200.us.archive.org/26/items/del-toro-signalman/DelToro-Signalman.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Seven American Nights” by Gene Wolfe

11M ago

—

“Seven American Nights” is phenomenal and Gene Wolfe is brilliant. That’s all. https://ia801801.us.archive.org/3/items/del-toro-seven-american-nights/DelToro-SevenAmericanNights.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Smoke Ghost” by Fritz Leiber

11M ago

—

“Sssssssssmokin’!” Oh, somebody stop me. This week, we begin a new chunk of “The Dark Descent” as we wend our way into “A Fabulous Formless Darkness” by way of the game-changing short story “Smoke Ghost” by Fritz Leiber. Does it live up to the hype? Yes. Yes, it does. https://ia601509.us.archive.org/12/items/del-toro-smoke-ghost/DelToro-SmokeGhost.…

1
The Dark Descent – “The Jolly Corner” by Henry James

11M ago

—

Oh, Henry James. Why must you be so obtuse? This week, it’s a return to the creeps and the spooks as we take a step inside “The Jolly Corner!” Any good? Well, Willow had no idea what was going on! https://ia800505.us.archive.org/32/items/del-toro-jolly-corner/DelToro-JollyCorner.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Mackintosh Willy” by Ramsey Campbell

12M ago

—

This week, it’s a story that really left a wild impression on us. Is it supernatural? Natural? A little bit of both? Who knows! It’s “Mackintosh Willy” by Ramsey Campbell! https://ia600505.us.archive.org/32/items/del-toro-time-mackintosh-willy/DelToroTime-MackintoshWilly.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor

12M ago

—

This week, it’s a story that is remarkably similar in many ways to last weeks. So, we both loved it, of course! Right? RIGHT?! *sigh* It’s “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor. https://ia601402.us.archive.org/9/items/del-toro-time-good-country-people/DelToroTime-GoodCountryPeople.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Three Days” by Tanith Lee

12M ago

—

This week, it’s our first Tanith Lee story and, maybe not coincidentally, one of our favorites. Is it horror? Who cares? It’s awesome! It’s “Three Days” here on The Dark Descent! https://ia904600.us.archive.org/0/items/del-toro-three-days/DelToro-ThreeDays.mp3By philgonzales

1
Margot Moss (and I) for Mayor Andrew Gillum 1:09:29

1y ago1:09:29

1:09:29

In the Season 5 finale, partners Margot Moss and David Oscar Markus discuss their successful representation of Mayor Andrew Gillum. Mayor Gillum was a hairbreadth away from being Florida’s Governor. Had the FBI not started and leaked an unjustified investigation, he would have won. But once they did so, they kept the target on Gillum’s back, eventu…

1
The Dark Descent – “The Rocking Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence

1y ago

—

D. H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking Horse Winner” is no liar. It’s got a rocking horse. It’s got a winner. It’s all there on the tin! https://ia600501.us.archive.org/1/items/del-toro-rocking-horse/DelToro-RockingHorse.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “You Can Go Now” by Dennis Etchison

1y ago

—

Are you ready for some heady noir? This week’s “You Can Go Now” by Dennis Etchison is weird and trippy and short and delightful! It’s a real headscratcher, I tells ya! https://ia600506.us.archive.org/34/items/del-toro-you-can-go-now/DelToro-YouCanGoNow.mp3By philgonzales

1
Craig Albee for Mark Jensen (letter from the grave case) 52:46

1y ago52:46

52:46

Was it suicide or was it murder? Craig Albee sits down with David Oscar Markus to discuss whether Mark Jensen murdered his wife with antifreeze or whether she committed suicide. Craig Albee is the federal defender in Wisconsin. And he's tried lots of cases. But nothing like this one, which has led to books, movies, and of course, podcasts. Known as…

1
The Dark Descent – “My Dear Emily” by Joanna Russ

1y ago

—

Willow and I are back with more Dark Descent. This week, it’s “My Dear Emily” by Joanna Russ. It’s a vampire story, with a twist! The twist? Um… it’s good? https://ia902501.us.archive.org/14/items/del-toro-my-dear-emily/DelToro-MyDearEmily.mp3By philgonzales

1
Barry Scheck for the Innocence Project 52:33

1y ago52:33

52:33

Barry Scheck put DNA evidence on the map during the O.J. Simpson trial and now runs the amazing Innocence Project. Barry Scheck, a titan of the criminal defense bar, sits down with David Oscar Markus to discuss high profile cases, exonerating the innocent, and the practice of law. He's one of the best and it shows.…

1
John Lauro for Donald J. Trump 47:28

1y ago47:28

47:28

John Lauro is not sitting back in his defense of Donald Trump. Listen to him discuss his defense strategy with David Oscar Markus on this special episode of For the Defense. John Lauro is former President Trump's lawyer in the January 6 case in Washington D.C. In this interview with David Oscar Markus, he goes in depth on how he got involved in the…

1
Matthew Menchel for UBS banker Raoul Weil 1:10:02

1y ago1:10:02

1:10:02

David Oscar Markus interviews Matthew Menchel, one of the best trial lawyers in the country, on his acquittal for UBS banker Raoul Weil. The U.S. had enough with wealthy tax cheats hiding their money in Swiss bank accounts. So it decided to go after the foreign bankers to send a message, including Raoul Weil, one of the top executives at UBS. Enter…

1
Lisa Wayne for New Orleans DA Jason Williams 50:45

1y ago50:45

50:45

David Oscar Markus interviews Lisa Wayne, the executive director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, on her most recent trial win, for New Orleans district attorney Jason Williams. Progressive prosecutors have been pretty controversial around the country. The recently elected district attorney in New Orleans was no exception as…

1
Gerald Lefcourt for Abbie Hoffman (Chicago 8) 40:46

1y ago40:46

40:46

David Oscar Markus interviews legendary Jerry Lefcourt about one of the most important trials in American history, the Chicago 8 case. Jerry Lefcourt had recently been fired as a legal aid lawyer in the late 1960s when he got a call from Abbie Hoffman. They spoke all night at Hoffman’s apartment. Hoffman told him “I'll start a revolution; you keep …

1
Todd Blanche for Paul Manafort 52:28

1y ago52:28

52:28

David Oscar Markus sits down with former President Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, who has not yet spoken in detail with the media. Todd Blanche was a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, prosecuting violent criminals in federal court. He then left for the oldest law firm in New York – Cadwalader. There, he quickly developed a reputation …

1
Milton Hirsch for Pedro Guerrero 57:34

1+ y ago57:34

57:34

Season 5 starts off with a grand slam – Milton Hirsch, one of the country’s finest trial lawyers, current judge, and David Oscar Markus’ former partner, represented World Series MVP Pedro Guerrero in his federal trial in Miami. Too dumb to do the drug deal? That defense could never work, right? Wrong -- if your lawyer is Milton Hirsch, who beat the…

1
The Dark Descent – “Born of Man and Woman” by Richard Matheson

1+ y ago

—

If there’s one person we love talking about at The Dark Descent, it’s Dick Math! Dickie the Math Man! Richard “Richie Rich” Matheson! Yes, this week we take a look at Dickie’s first ever published story “Born of Man and Woman!” And, it’s an icky one! https://ia902601.us.archive.org/7/items/del-toro-born-man-woman/DelToro-BornManWoman.mp3…

1
The Dark Descent – “How Love Came To Professor Guildea” by Robert Hichens

1+ y ago

—

When is a ghost not a ghost? When it’s your repressed homosexuality! It’s Robert Hichens’s “How Love Came To Professor Guildea” on The Dark Descent! https://ia902707.us.archive.org/4/items/del-toro-professor-guildea/DelToro-ProfessorGuildea.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

1+ y ago

—

In William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” Emily doesn’t get a rose. How about that? It’s The Dark Descent and we’re back! https://ia902608.us.archive.org/33/items/del-toro-rose-emily/DelToro-RoseEmily.mp3By philgonzales

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Phil Gonzales Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide