When it comes to providing information to the public or introducing a brand, a radio interview is one of the best mediums to use. That is why Citi of Books Publishing cooperated with People of Distinction CBS Radio’s host, Benji Cole, for the inspiring and amazing stories behind every author’s work to be heard.
People of Distinction is a platform for professional and even enthusiast authors to engage in a genuine discussion and learn on inspirations, themes, and narratives from blossoming authors.
This program is hosted by Benji Cole, son of Al Cole, and is the ideal platform for authors who want to widen their readership. Benji Cole is an awesome Los Angeles actor and filmmaker who conducts interviews with guest authors. Take part in the CBS Radio Interview and become a notable guest on one of the most renowned radio shows in the country.
This extensively broadcast talk show has already conducted interviews with 2,000 of the most remarkable people in America over the past few years, including NBC producer Ken Corday and former CBS Morning News anchor Bill Kurtis. Authors who land a spot on this radio interview program will undoubtedly reach millions of listeners who could end up being book customers courtesy of CBS’ prominence and extensive national reach.
The author of the book “From Berkeley to Berlin: How the Rad Lab Helped Avert Nuclear War,” Tom Ramos, was interviewed by Benji Cole of CBS Radio. They talked about the in-depth nature of the book’s theme and inspiration during the interview. This book offers a powerful account of the University of California, Berkeley’s Radiation Laboratory and its critical influence during the Cold War.
Tom Ramos rose from humble beginnings in Brooklyn, New York, to build a distinguished career blending military service, scientific expertise, and national defense leadership. After graduating from West Point, he trained as an Airborne and Ranger officer and commanded combat engineer units in Germany and Korea. Selected for advanced technical studies, he earned a graduate degree in high-energy physics from MIT and later taught physics at West Point. Resigning his Army commission, Ramos transitioned into a role as a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he contributed to nuclear weapons design and played a key role in President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative through his work on the X-ray Laser.
Over time, Ramos shifted from weapons design to arms control and national security policy, serving as a senior advisor at the Pentagon during critical treaty negotiations and debates on nuclear testing.
Returning to Livermore, he spearheaded a counterproliferation program aimed at preventing hostile nations from developing weapons of mass destruction. What began with a modest $200,000 grant grew under his leadership into a $46 million per year effort, recognized by the Secretary of Defense as the nation’s most important counterproliferation program. Ramos’s career reflects a lifelong dedication to protecting the United States through both technological innovation and strategic policy work.
“From Berkeley to Berlin: How the Rad Lab Helped Avert Nuclear War” by Tom Ramos begins in November 1960, as John F. Kennedy assumes the presidency amid escalating tensions with the Soviet Union over West Berlin. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s nuclear brinkmanship threatened to spark a devastating conflict. At the center of this history is Ernest Lawrence—grandson of Norwegian immigrants and founder of the Rad Lab—who drew leading figures in nuclear physics, including J. Robert Oppenheimer, to his groundbreaking laboratory.
Ramos traces the immense challenges the Rad Lab faced as the Soviets, under Joseph Stalin, became a nuclear power. Tasked with building a deterrent to match Communist advances, Lawrence’s team endured repeated failures and mounting pressure, even calls to shut the lab down. Yet their persistence paid off, culminating in the Polaris missile, a submarine-launched ballistic missile that became a cornerstone of America’s nuclear defense.
The book closes with Kennedy’s visit to Berkeley six months after the crisis, where he thanked the physicists for their vital role in preventing nuclear war. Blending history, science, and politics, Ramos highlights how innovation and resilience at the Rad Lab helped shape global security. Ultimately, the book is a testament to how individuals and institutions can alter the course of history in moments of profound danger.
Visit his website at https://physicsandhistory.com/
Watch the full interview below: