Michael A. Weiner, Janet A. Weiner

Michael Alan Weiner, professionally known as Michael Savage, was born in 1942 and is an American author, political commentator, activist, and former radio host. He holds advanced degrees in medical botany, medical anthropology, and nutritional ethnomedicine. Under the name Michael Weiner, he authored books on nutrition, herbal medicine, and homeopathy. As Michael Savage, he gained national recognition for hosting "The Savage Nation," a talk show that at one point was the second most listened-to radio program in the United States, reaching over 20 million listeners. His political philosophy is often summarized as "borders, language, and culture," and he has been described as a conservative nationalist, though critics have labeled his views as fostering extremism. Savage was banned from entering the United Kingdom in 2009 due to concerns about provoking criminal acts and fostering hatred.

Weiner's early life included a challenging family environment and an interest in Beat poets and figures like Timothy Leary. He pursued higher education, earning master's degrees from the University of Hawaii and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. His academic work focused on ethnomedicine, with his doctoral thesis examining nutritional ethnomedicine in Fiji. He later transitioned to a career in media, adopting the pseudonym Michael Savage after experiencing difficulties with publishers for his health and nutrition manuscripts. His radio career began in San Francisco, eventually leading to national syndication and significant audience reach.

Michael Weiner pursued extensive academic studies, earning master's degrees from the University of Hawaii in medical botany (1970) and medical anthropology (1972). He completed his formal education with a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1978, focusing on nutritional ethnomedicine, with his dissertation titled "Nutritional Ethnomedicine in Fiji." During this period, he also worked for psychedelic advocate Timothy Leary. As Michael Weiner, he authored works exploring topics such as nutrition, herbal medicine, and homeopathy. His early career also involved teaching high school biology and later working as a social worker, experiences that he stated influenced his views on welfare.

In the 1970s, Weiner was associated with the North Beach literary scene in San Francisco, befriending Beat poets. By the 1980s, his political views had shifted towards conservatism, leading to disagreements with liberal friends. He cited experiences, including his time as a social worker and his views on the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its relation to public health measures, as shaping his conservative outlook. A manuscript on "Immigrants and Epidemics" was rejected by publishers in 1994 for being inflammatory. This led him to adopt the pseudonym Michael Savage and pivot to a career in radio broadcasting, creating a demo tape to pursue opportunities as a talk show host.

Michael Savage launched his radio career in San Francisco in 1994, quickly gaining popularity. By 1995, "The Savage Nation" was a prominent afternoon drive-time show. The program was nationally syndicated starting in 1999 and by 2009, it was one of the most listened-to talk shows in the U.S. with an audience of millions. Savage often discussed a wide range of topics beyond politics, including medicine, history, philosophy, and culture, often incorporating personal anecdotes. His political stance is often summarized by the phrase "borders, language, and culture," and he has been characterized as a conservative nationalist. In 2009, he was denied entry into the United Kingdom for allegedly promoting hatred and criminal acts.

“I was once a child; I am now a man.”