The Megyn Kelly Show with Doug Brunt: The Lost Empire of Emmanuel Nobel & The Power of Humor in Marriage

Date: December 27, 2025
Host: Megyn Kelly
Guest: Doug Brunt (author & Megyn’s husband)

Episode Overview

In this festive and lively episode, Megyn Kelly welcomes her husband Doug Brunt—bestselling author and host of the podcast Dedicated—to discuss his upcoming book, The Lost Empire of Emmanuel Nobel: Romanovs, Revolutionaries and the Forgotten Titan Who Fueled the World. The conversation weaves together themes of lost history, the making of the book, humorous tales from their marriage and family traditions, and the importance of laughter and lightness in life. The pair also digress into current events, their holiday rituals, and share their take on modern college accommodations, tying it all back to family values and the culture of resilience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Doug Brunt’s New Book: “The Lost Empire of Emmanuel Nobel”

• Doug’s Book Premise

  • Emmanuel Nobel established a Russian oil empire by the Caspian Sea in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which at its height was larger than Standard Oil and, by WWI, controlled more oil than anyone else in the world.
  • Nobel’s legacy was erased from history post-Bolshevik revolution due to nationalization under Lenin and Stalin—Doug’s book seeks to resurrect his forgotten story.
  • Brunt reveals he is working on a trilogy; this is the second book, following The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel.
  • Quote:
    “This brings him [Emmanuel Nobel] back to life and tells the story.” – Doug (02:09)

• The “Nobel” Brand Misunderstanding

  • Most only associate the name with the Nobel Prizes (from Alfred Nobel); Emmanuel built a separate massive oil fortune.
  • Anecdote: Alfred Nobel read his own mistaken obituary, prompting him to establish the Nobel Prizes to reshape his legacy (03:00).
  • Emmanuel defended the integrity of the Nobel Prize legacy against family and the King of Sweden (03:57).

• Book Themes & Genre

  • The story covers geopolitical intrigue—German, British, Bolshevik, and Japanese interest in Russian oil—World War I, and major historical figures (Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Dostoevsky, Stalin).
  • Written “in a very novelistic way...a ripping read,” blending narrative flourish with deep historical research (05:54).

• Unique Historical Focus

  • Insights into Joseph Stalin’s early years working in Nobel oil fields and the fascinating counterpoints between Nobel and Stalin (05:54).
  • Quote:
    “Everything that Russia is today is explained in this book…But you don’t feel like you’re learning. You feel like you’re just getting a… caper.” – Megyn (05:22)

• Production & Publishing Journey

  • Discussion on cover art, the importance of book titles, and the influence of font—tying into a larger point about how minor details set the tone (see Times New Roman segment) (34:58, 35:20).

2. Holiday Traditions & Humor in the Kelly-Brunt Family

• Drinks & Podcast Rituals

  • In true “Dedicated” podcast fashion, Doug and Megyn toast with eggnog (with rye), discussing the pros and cons of various eggnog recipes, and the caloric pitfalls (“We both blew up like ticks.” – Megyn, 08:44).

• Their Family’s Christmas Rituals

  • Descriptions of shared tasks and the balance of holiday prep duties.
  • Stories about family caroling attempts (“It was a disaster…No one wanted us.” – Megyn, 11:34), annual traditions in Montana, and the meaning found in small rituals—most notably, starting every day together with coffee (13:04).

• “Costume Night” & Themed Fun

  • A major family highlight: Each holiday season, the family stages a themed costume night with elaborate and budget-friendly ideas.
  • Past themes include “Back to the Future,” “The Ten Commandments,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and “Karate Kid/Cobra Kai.”
  • Invitees must wear assigned costumes—sometimes to the bemusement of unsuspecting guests (“...when you cross that threshold, you’re in her world.” – Doug, 16:44).

• Games & Celebrating Playfulness

  • Charades and the new family-favorite app “Imposter” are discussed—emphasizing the importance of being able to laugh at oneself and with others (28:42).
  • Poker with their children becoming a new favorite tradition.

3. The Importance of Laughter in Marriage & Family

• Laughter as a Core Value

  • Megyn and Doug stress that shared humor is their number one must-have trait for their children’s future spouses.
  • Quote:
    “You really do have to be able to laugh at all of it or you’re not going to make it very far.” – Megyn (24:42)
  • Laughter—especially the capacity to laugh at oneself—is portrayed as a critical coping, bonding, and health mechanism.

• Anecdotes About Humor’s Role in Their Marriage

  • Light ribbing over who is the family’s funnier parent (“You are actually the funnier of the two.” – Doug, 23:35).
  • Reference to Megyn’s fun-loving grandmother, who lived to 101 and attributed her longevity to laughter.

4. Culture, News, & Social Commentary

• Font-Gate: Times New Roman vs. Calibri

  • Discussion of Senator Rubio's decision to restore Times New Roman as the official government font, leading to a conversation on how such subtle cues “set the mood” in communication (20:10).
  • Quote:
    “It’s your first chance to set the tone, set the atmosphere...” – Doug (20:10)
  • Megyn links this to a Jordan Peterson soundbite about valuing small daily moments over “big” seen-it-on-Instagram events in defining a good life (22:08).

• Evening News Irrelevance

  • The rise of podcasts and new media in relevance over the “big three” network evening news slots.
  • Quote:
    “People…have their loyalty, their allegiance to, like, this show. If you’re going to spend an hour or two a day with somebody, it’s not going to be the evening news.” – Megyn (33:03)

• College Accommodations “Explosion”

  • They dissect a recent Atlantic article on skyrocketing learning disability accommodations at elite colleges:
    • From 3% in 2014 to over 30% in some prestigious universities (41:41).
    • The pair critique what they see as “cheat codes” and parental overreach, undermining true preparation for life.
    • Quote:
      “We’re supposed to be preparing these kids for life. So offering these little cheat codes…is not preparing you for life, it’s preparing you to get into the college that makes the parent feel good.” – Doug (44:44)
  • Megyn rails against the unfairness to students who “just work hard and show up.” (47:01)

• Modern Marriage & Gifts

  • The couple eschews expensive presents, preferring handwritten letters and small, meaningful tokens—emphasizing the thought far over material value.

5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker/Context | |-----------|-------|-----------------| | 02:09 | “To Rockefeller. And yet…Nobel has been obliterated from history totally. This brings him back to life…” | Doug, on Emmanuel Nobel’s lost legacy | | 05:22 | “Everything that Russia is today is explained in this book…But you don’t feel like you’re learning. You feel like you’re just getting a…caper.” | Megyn | | 13:04 | “We start each day with 20 minutes together, talking, having coffee….It’s just an awesome way to enter the day and enter the world, you know, having connected a little bit.” | Doug, on their daily routine | | 20:10 | “It’s your first chance to set the tone, set the atmosphere…” | Doug, on the importance of font and presentation | | 22:08 | “Your life…is how your wife greets you. At the end of the day, it’s how you are around the dinner table with each other…” | Megyn quoting Jordan Peterson | | 24:42 | “You really do have to be able to laugh at all of it or you’re not going to make it very far.” | Megyn | | 33:03 | “People…have their loyalty, their allegiance to, like, this show. If you’re going to spend an hour or two a day with somebody, it’s not going to be the evening news.” | Megyn, on shifts in media consumption | | 44:44 | “We’re supposed to be preparing these kids for life. So offering these little cheat codes…is not preparing you for life, it’s preparing you to get into the college that makes the parent feel good.” | Doug | | 47:01 | “This is so unfair because if you have a kid who just studies hard and goes into class…they get disadvantaged by this.” | Megyn, about academic accommodations |

6. Listener Takeaways

• Doug Brunt’s new book promises a fast-paced, narrative-driven account of a nearly lost chapter in world history—one with direct relevance to current Russian power and Western oil politics.
• The couple’s playful and honest banter models the “importance of laughter in marriage” and underscores how rituals and shared humor cement family bonds.
• Commentary about modern higher-ed accommodations, media trends, the value of small daily acts, and even government fonts is delivered with a mix of irreverence, skepticism, and warmth—typical of Megyn’s signature tone.

Segment Timestamps

• [00:36] Doug introduces the new book and backstory of Emmanuel Nobel
• [03:57] Family politics over the Nobel Prize legacy
• [05:22] How the book reads like a historical adventure
• [08:44] The couple’s eggnog mishaps—humor in everyday life
• [13:04] Their most valued daily ritual: morning coffee together
• [14:24] Costume night stories, including hosting “theme” guests
• [17:23] Costume night tips for listeners
• [20:10] The deeper meaning behind Senator Rubio’s font decision
• [22:08] Discussion of “the small things” in life (Jordan Peterson)
• [24:42] On the essential nature of shared humor
• [32:45] Decline of the network evening news
• [41:41] Outrage and analysis over skyrocketing college accommodations
• [44:44] The threat to integrity in college admissions, sport, and character building
• [50:02] Handling winter illnesses differently in marriage—more playful ribbing
• [51:14] On the magic of old, sentimental holiday movies and rituals
• [52:33] Writing heartfelt letters—gifts that matter more than stuff

Tone & Style

Throughout, the episode is candid, witty, familial, and tinged with nostalgia—punctuated by moments of pointed cultural critique and affectionate teasing. Megyn’s direct, no-nonsense approach is softened by Doug’s easy storytelling and the couple’s shared humor, making for an episode that’s both entertaining and insightful.

Final Note

This special holiday episode of The Megyn Kelly Show shines not just as a book launch, but as a window into how traditions, humor, and honest conversation create resilient, joyful families—and how remembering the overlooked stories of history might just help us see the present more clearly.
“Get your pre-order of The Lost Empire of Emmanuel Nobel now!”