Best Jim Wilhelm Podcasts (2025)

1
Costa Rica 15:34

Play Pause

3h ago15:34

15:34

Located in the heart of Central America is the Republic of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is situated between Panama and Nicaragua and shares a similar colonial history with other countries in Central America. However, over the last 100 years, it has taken a radically different path. A path that has allowed the country to avoid most of the problems that ha…

1
Wilhelm Canaris: Working Against the Nazis From the Inside 16:40

1d ago16:40

16:40

Throughout World War II, Nazi Germany was a formidable force due to its military strength and success. A large reason for this success was its intelligence network. What most people don’t know is that the Nazi head of military intelligence was actively working against Adolf Hitler. Through a series of active and passive measures, he went from a loy…

1
The Storming of the Bastille 15:31

2d ago15:31

15:31

On July 14, 1789, in Paris, France, one of the most iconic events of the French Revolution took place. Thousands of French citizens stormed a prison to liberate the weapons from its armory and to free any political prisoners who were held within. It is considered to be the start of the revolution and the beginning of the end of the French monarchy.…

1
Josephine Baker: From Entertainer to Resistance Hero 9:07

2d ago9:07

9:07

These episodes explore the remarkable transformation of Josephine Baker (1906-1975) from world-famous entertainer to French Resistance operative during World War II. Born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri, Baker became an international sensation in 1920s Paris before dedicating herself to intelligence work and humanitarian efforts dur…

1
Put Him in the Hole: A Gospel of Absurdity and the Lie We Tell Ourselves 13:08

3d ago13:08

13:08

Charlie Robison’s “The Preacher” tells the story of a man who thinks his sins were buried with the preacher who knew them. It’s funny—until it ain’t. In this episode, Pastor Jim takes us line by line through this darkly comic, theologically misguided anthem to reveal the deeper ache beneath the swagger: a desperate hope for absolution through secre…

1
The Greatest Comebacks of All Time 15:42

3d ago15:42

15:42

More often than not, in competitive sports, when a team or player has a significant lead, the outcome is often just a formality. While that is usually the case, it isn’t always the case. On rare occasions, sometimes very rare occasions, a huge lead does not guarantee victory. A team that is down can beat the odds and come from behind to win. In the…

1
The Fundamental Forces of Nature 16:25

4d ago16:25

16:25

Everything in the universe, from galaxies to the atoms in your body, is driven by just a few fundamental forces. It took centuries for physicists to identify these forces, but once identified, they believed that some of these forces were merely different manifestations of the same underlying phenomenon. Once they realized this, some physicists felt…

1
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Encore) 15:31

5d ago15:31

15:31

In August of 1964, an event occurred off the waters of North Vietnam that would have repercussions that would echo in US foreign policy for decades. Two alleged confrontations between US Navy vessels and North Vietnamese ships set off a chain of events that resulted in a dramatic escalation in the United States’ involvement in Vietnam and a subsequ…

1
The Haitian Revolution 19:35

6d ago19:35

19:35

Between 1791 and 1804, the only successful slave rebellion in human history occurred. The revolution was an insurrection of enslaved Africans against French colonial rule in the Caribbean colony of Saint-Dominge. The success of the revolution led to the establishment of a free state known as Haiti. Yet, despite achieving their freedom, the aftermat…

1
The Black Chamber: Origins of Code-Breaking 9:53

6d ago9:53

9:53

This episode explores the establishment and operations of England's first systematic intelligence service under Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth government (1649-1660). The "Black Chamber" represents a crucial turning point in the history of espionage – the transition from ad hoc intelligence gathering to a permanent, bureaucratic intelligence appara…

1
That Ain't In The Bible: Disarming Self-Help Theology 24:39

6d ago24:39

24:39

“God helps those who help themselves.” It sounds biblical—maybe even sacred. But it’s not in the Bible. It’s not from Jesus. It’s from Ben Franklin. And it might be doing more harm than good. In this episode of The Semi-Seminarian, Pastor Jim Wilhelm traces the surprising history of this popular phrase—from ancient Greek fables to colonial common s…

1
Fabergé Eggs 16:17

7d ago16:17

16:17

In 1885, the Russian Tsar Alexander III commissioned an Easter gift for his wife. It was a rather unusual gift. He asked one of the finest goldsmiths in the country to create a jeweled egg. However, it wasn’t just to be an expensive bauble. Inside the egg was to be another exquisite surprise. This began a tradition that would last for over 30 years…

1
Transistors 16:39

8d ago16:39

16:39

One of the most important inventions of the 20th century was the transistor. Prior to the transistor, electronic devices were large and bulky and dependent on vacuum tubes. Vacuum tubes were large, fragile, power-hungry, and prone to failure. The transistor not only replaced the vacuum tube in many applications but also enabled the miniaturization …

1
The Peloponnesian War 16:27

9d ago16:27

16:27

In the 5th century BC, the Greek world found itself in the middle of one of its greatest wars. This wasn’t one of their existential conflicts against the Persians; this was a war of Greeks against Greeks. An alliance of city-states led by Athens fought a coalition led by Sparta for control of the Greek world. Over nearly 30 years, the two city-stat…

1
Wilhelm Stieber: The Father of Modern Intelligence 13:32

9d ago13:32

13:32

This episode focuses on Stieber's most sophisticated intelligence operation: his preparation for and conduct of espionage during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. The episode demonstrates how Stieber's methods revolutionized warfare by proving that information could be as decisive as military force in determining conflict outcomes. Years before…

1
Tom Ames’ Prayer: When Even Cussin’ Counts 12:01

10d ago12:01

12:01

In this episode of The Semi-Seminarian, we crackle through the static to sit with one of the rawest outlaw ballads ever penned: Tom Ames’ Prayer, written by Steve Earle. This ain't your grandma’s devotional—unless she wore a pearl snap shirt to Wednesday night prayer meeting and whispered grace between drags on a Marlboro. We take a verse-by-verse …

1
Madame la Guillotine 16:29

10d ago16:29

16:29

The Guillotine has become infamous for being the main weapon utilized during the Reign of Terror and a modern symbol of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. It has been responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people since its invention in April of 1792. Of all the ways to execute people, why did they create an elaborate contrap…

1
LEDs: Light Emitting Diodes (Encore) 15:48

11d ago15:48

15:48

One of the most important inventions in human history was artificial lighting. With the electric lightbulb, the night could be illuminated, allowing people to extend the productive hours in a day and to work in places that were otherwise difficult or impossible. While the incandescent bulb was a breakthrough, it wasn’t actually very efficient. It w…

1
The Chinese Communist Revolution 16:08

12d ago16:08

16:08

The 19th Century wasn’t a good one for China. It was marked by the nation being taken advantage of by foreign powers and the signing of lopsided treaties. The 20th Century started out promising, but eventually devolved into a series of warlords and a civil war between two major forces for control of the country, on top of the Japanese occupation of…

1
Michigan vs Ohio 16:56

13d ago16:56

16:56

Michigan and Ohio are two states renowned for their intense rivalry. When you think of the rivalry between the two states, you may automatically think of the rivalry between the University of Michigan and Ohio State on the football field. However, their rivalry extends far beyond that. In 1835 and 1836, the two states came close to going to war ove…

1
Wilhelm Stieber: Bismarck's Master Spy 12:35

13d ago12:35

12:35

This episode explores the early life and career of Wilhelm Johann Carl Eduard Stieber (1818-1882), who became Otto von Bismarck's chief intelligence officer and architect of Prussia's first organized intelligence service. Born to modest circumstances in Merseburg, Prussian Saxony, Stieber's path to espionage began when financial necessity forced hi…

1
The Sky Didn’t Split, But Something Broke Open 20:15

13d ago20:15

20:15

The Great Disappointment: Why Jesus Didn’t Return in 1844 In 1844, thousands of believers climbed hills in white robes, waiting for Jesus to return. He didn’t. In this episode, Pastor Jim explores the story of the Millerites, the roots of Seventh-day Adventism, and what the Great Disappointment reveals about faith, failure, and holy longing. Featur…

1
Questions and Answers: Volume 32 17:33

14d ago17:33

17:33

The months of the year are named after Roman god, and some are named after their placement in the year. However, the first month to be named after an actual person was the month of July, which was named after Julius Caesar. What is surprising isn’t that the name of the month has stuck for over 2000 years, it's that more rulers didn’t try to name mo…

1
Fifth Anniversary Episode 15:01

15d ago15:01

15:01

Five years ago today, I published the first episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Since then, I’ve published over 1,800 episodes, written close to 3,000,000 words, and had my podcast episodes downloaded almost 50,000,000 times. In the process of doing all of that, I’ve learned a lot about this show and this audience and where it fits in the bigge…

1
Marcus Licinius Crassus 15:35

16d ago15:35

15:35

Marcus Licinius Crassus was the richest man in the Roman Republic. His wealth bought him power and influence, but it couldn’t buy him everything. His massive wealth couldn’t give him the respect and authority that came from victory on the battlefield. His desperate attempt to achieve this glory led to his spectacular demise and ultimately the fall …

1
Erskine Childers: From Author to Revolutionary 8:54

16d ago8:54

8:54

Erskine Childers: From Author to Revolutionary This episode chronicles Childers' dramatic transformation from British establishment figure to Irish revolutionary martyr. By 1913, his political evolution from imperialist to Irish nationalist was complete, leading him to conceive the audacious Howth gun-running operation of July 1914. Using his yacht…

1
Nothing New in The Rolling Stone: A Red Dirt Tale of Cosmic Proportions 11:03

17d ago11:03

11:03

Join Pastor Jim Wilhelm in this episode of The Semi-Seminarian as we journey through Randy Crouch’s surreal masterpiece, The Epic. This deep dive into the heart of Red Dirt music blends cosmic storytelling, outlaw theology, and lyrical analysis in true Theology in Three Chords fashion. From alien campfires to winged horses, discover how this psyche…

1
Central Park (Encore) 15:42

17d ago15:42

15:42

In the 19th century, New York City was one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. However, it was still a very young city, and as such, the city’s leaders were able to take a step back and plan what exactly they wanted the future of the city to be. What they decided was that the city needed a park. Not just any park, but a great park that took…

1
The Sinking of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff 15:39

18d ago15:39

15:39

On the evening of January 30, 1945, the deadliest shipwreck in human history occurred. Most of you might be aware of the sinking of the Titanic or the Lusitania, yet you’ll have never heard of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff. With a death toll 4 to 6 times worse than the Titanic, the maritime disaster has been all but forgotten today. Why has history forgo…

1
Undersea Fiber Optic Cables 15:42

19d ago15:42

15:42

For many of you listening to the sound of my voice right now, the audio originated from a digital file that was transported across the globe at the speed of light on fiber-optic cables. The fiber optic cables, which crisscross the oceans, create a network that unites the entire globe. Almost all the telephone calls, text messages, web pages, stream…

1
The Republic of Ghana 16:44

20d ago16:44

16:44

Located in the heart of West Africa is the nation of Ghana. Ghana is a medium-sized country in terms of both population and area, but for West Africa, it has multiple distinctions and firsts which set it apart from the rest of the region. Its course since independence has taken it down a path that in some ways has been very similar to other African…

1
Erskine Childers: The Man Who Created the Modern Spy Novel 9:41

20d ago9:41

9:41

Erskine Childers: The Man Who Created the Modern Spy Novel This episode explores the early life and literary career of Robert Erskine Childers (1870-1922), whose novel "The Riddle of the Sands" (1903) essentially created the modern spy thriller genre. Born to an English father and Irish mother, Childers was orphaned at six and raised by relatives i…

1
Misquoted: The Verses We Think We Know 25:48

20d ago25:48

25:48

You’ve heard them—“God won’t give you more than you can handle,” “Money is the root of all evil.” But what if those verses don’t mean what we think? Pastor Jim digs into four of the Bible’s most misquoted lines and plants them back in their proper soil. No shame, just deeper grace. Where scripture’s misread, mercy rewrites the story.…

1
Napoleon's Invasion of Russia 15:48

21d ago15:48

15:48

There are many lessons we are supposed to know in life: pick up after yourself, never bet against a Sicilian when death is on the line, and most importantly, don’t invade Russia in the winter. Known as one of the greatest military disasters in history, Napoleon’s invasion of Russia is often cited as a key factor in the emperor's eventual defeat. Al…

1
Innovative Sports Strategies 15:24

22d ago15:24

15:24

All sports are governed by a body of rules. Within those rules, there is usually a set of norms for how the game should be played. Most coaches will instruct their players to use similar techniques. However, every so often, someone comes along who totally rethinks how a game can be played. Using the same set of rules, they come up with a totally di…

1
The French Army Mutinies of 1917 14:13

23d ago14:13

14:13

In late May and early June of 1917, the French Army faced what could have been an extensive crisis. After three years of some of the most brutal conflict that the world had ever seen, many soldiers had had enough. Thousands of troops refused to obey orders and refused to go along with the suicidal attacks that were the hallmark of trench warfare. I…

1
Francis Walsingham: Defeating the Spanish Armada 11:18

23d ago11:18

11:18

Francis Walsingham: Defeating the Spanish Armada This episode examines Walsingham's intelligence campaign against the Spanish Armada of 1588, demonstrating how information warfare could be as important as naval battles in determining national survival. Facing the largest invasion force in European history, Walsingham deployed a comprehensive intell…

1
Gallo del Cielo – A Warrior’s Gospel 15:28

24d ago15:28

15:28

In this episode of Theology in Music, Pastor Jim unpacks “Gallo del Cielo” by Tom Russell—a border ballad wrapped in myth, memory, and blood. This ain’t just a song about a rooster—it’s a gospel of exile, inheritance, and a man who tried to claw back the past with nothing but a picture, a prayer, and a broken-winged bird. From the land thefts of Ca…

1
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto (Encore) 15:22

24d ago15:22

15:22

In the Pacific Theater in World War II, the leader of the combined Japanese fleet was Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Yamamoto was villanized as the arch-enemy of the American forces in the Pacific, and to be fair, he was their enemy. But there is actually much more to the story. Yamamoto was the loudest voice against going to war with the United States …

1
The Great Locomotive Chase 15:44

25d ago15:44

15:44

On April 12, 1862, one of the most daring and audacious events of the American Civil War took place. It wasn’t a major battle. It didn’t involve armies meeting each other on the field of battle. Instead, it was one of the first examples in military history of a raid designed to deny the enemy access to the most vital 19th-century technology: the ra…

1
Grass and Lawns 15:33

26d ago15:33

15:33

One of the most common types of plants in the world is grass. Grass is almost everywhere. An enormous part of the landmass on Earth is covered with grass. Grass isn’t just stuff in a field that cows eat, although that is part of it. Grasses also include some of the most economically important plants in the world. On many different levels, our civil…

1
The Russian Revolution 15:59

27d ago15:59

15:59

One of the most transformative events of the 20th century was the Russian Revolution. The Revolution was responsible for the downfall of the Russian monarchy and the rise of the Soviet Union. It also had reverberations that were felt all over the world by other revolutions that were inspired by the Russian Revolution. Learn about the Russian Revolu…

1
Francis Walsingham: The Babington Plot and the Fall of Mary Queen of Scots 10:59

27d ago10:59

10:59

Francis Walsingham: The Babington Plot and the Fall of Mary Queen of Scots This episode focuses on Walsingham's most famous intelligence operation: uncovering and manipulating the Babington Plot of 1586, which led to the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. The operation demonstrated Walsingham's sophisticated understanding of counterintelligence and …

1
Parting the Sea: When God Opens Impossible Doors 27:40

27d ago27:40

27:40

Backed into a corner? Stuck with no way forward? Join Pastor Jim for a virtual seat at Wednesday night Bible study as we explore the Red Sea—not just as a miracle, but as a pattern. Grab a cookie, sip some strong coffee, and discover what God does when the road ends but the promise doesn’t.

1
The History of Apples (Encore) 15:00

28d ago15:00

15:00

One of the most popular fruits in the world are apples. Apples are associated with the Garden of Eden, pleasing your teacher, and the story of Snow White. They play a role in Greek and Norse mythology, and they have lent their name to famous record and computer companies. However, apples are unlike almost every other fruit in that there are thousan…

1
Desalination 15:04

29d ago15:04

15:04

Seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is covered with water… and the vast majority of it is useless for consumption or agriculture. This problem has been known for thousands of years, and for thousands of years, humans have recognized that it is possible to turn seawater into drinking water; it was just difficult to do so. In the last few decades,…

1
Autogyros 15:31

1M ago15:31

15:31

We are all familiar with things that fly in the air. Hot air balloons, dirigibles, blimps, airplanes, and helicopters. However, there is another category of flying craft that most people aren’t familiar with. It isn’t an airplane, and it isn’t a helicopter. It actually lies somewhere in between. By combining parts of both, it has some amazing prope…

1
Francis Walsingham: The Birth of English Intelligence 10:05

1M ago10:05

10:05

Francis Walsingham: The Birth of English Intelligence This episode explores the early life and career of Sir Francis Walsingham (c.1532-1590), who established England's first professional intelligence service under Queen Elizabeth I. Born into a Protestant family during the religious upheavals of the Tudor period, Walsingham witnessed the persecuti…

1
"When the Sky Breaks Open: The Theology of Dylan’s ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’" 15:24

1M ago15:24

15:24

What if Jeremiah came home and his mama asked where he’d been? What if Isaiah sat at the kitchen table and said, “You really wanna know?” In this episode, Pastor Jim Wilhelm unpacks Bob Dylan’s apocalyptic ballad as modern-day prophecy. We trace each burning image through scripture — from crooked highways to poisoned waters — with deep theological …

1
Transuranium Elements (Encore) 16:11

1M ago16:11

16:11

If you take a look at the periodic table of elements, you will notice something interesting. Go to the bottom and take a look at any element over, say, number 94. You will find a bunch of elements you have probably never heard of. Don’t worry because most chemists probably aren’t familiar with them, either. They are not part of any chemical compoun…