Best American Babylon Podcasts (2025)

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The Rise and Fall of the Assyrian Empire 48:44

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24h ago48:44

48:44

Was this the world’s first empire? To uncover the story of ancient history's most formidable powers, Dan is joined by Yale University’s Professor Eckhart Fromm to explore Assyria’s military machine, its sophisticated communication networks and the monumental architecture that defined its dominance. But what caused this ancient superpower to fall—an…

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Why do India and Pakistan fight over Kashmir? 45:23

4d ago45:23

45:23

A dive into the history behind today's tensions. In this episode, Dan is joined by historian and journalist Andrew Whitehead to explain the historical context behind the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir region, stemming from the partition of India in 1947 to the present day. They examine the political and cultural comple…

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"Beat Down Babylon" Bonus Episode 19:45

4d ago19:45

19:45

"Beat Down Babylon" is a touching tribute to singer Junior Byles, whose recent passing on May 15, has deeply touched the Rootsland Family. This unscheduled episode unfolds with an emotional recollection of a moment in the mid-1990s, where Host Henry K, alongside veteran reggae artist Eddie Fitzroy, encountered Junior Byles, who had once been a tita…

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The Biden Cover-Up and the Failure of the Press Corps 1:51:38

5d ago1:51:38

1:51:38

In 2023 and 2024, there were many things that were unsayable. Perhaps the most unsayable—at least in legacy media circles—was that the President of the United States was not capable of being president, because he was no longer mentally fit. Those people who did break the taboo—who dared to notice Biden’s countless gaffes, his stiff gait, those who …

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How Did Genghis Khan Change the World? 33:52

6d ago33:52

33:52

Genghis Khan reshaped the world with brutal force and brilliant organisation. He began life in exile and rose to be a powerful nomadic warrior who united the disparate Mongol tribes to create the largest contiguous empire in history. Dan is joined by economic historian Duncan Weldon to explain how his empire revolutionised global trade via the Silk…

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How to Examine Your Marriage and Your Life 1:09:36

7d ago1:09:36

1:09:36

A lot of people fall in love outside of their marriages. Some have affairs. Some leave their wives or husbands. But not a lot of people are Agnes Callard. Agnes did something really unique. She fell in love while she was (seemingly happily) married with two children. She told her husband. They got divorced—sharing a single lawyer—and it took under …

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The Battle of Okinawa 39:31

8d ago39:31

39:31

Warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence against children and suicide. The Battle of Okinawa was the final, climactic battle of the war in the Pacific. The largest naval fleet in human history assembled to support the amphibious invasion of the island. But the Americans would learn the hard way that the Japanese intended to fight too…

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Sunday 05.25.25 - Eastertide VI - "New Heavens, New Earth, New Life" - Fr. Jeromie Rand 25:25

8d ago25:25

25:25

Support the showBy Christ Our Hope Anglican Church

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Welcome to the Global Intifada 14:52

10d ago14:52

14:52

Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, were staffers at the Israeli Embassy. They had just planned a trip for Sarah to meet Yaron’s parents. He had recently bought an engagement ring. Then on Wednesday night, they were murdered outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The suspect, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, told police: “I did …

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Captain Cook 1:21:51

11d ago1:21:51

1:21:51

Dan tells the extraordinary tale of Captain James Cook. Born a labourer's son, he would rise to become one of history's greatest explorers. He went about as far as it was possible to go, sailing the Pacific Ocean and arriving on the shores of Australia and New Zealand. For these voyages, he assembled an A-Team of maritime explorers - marines, scien…

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"Gatekeepers without Gardens" Bonus Episode 16:53

11d ago16:53

16:53

In this bonus episode, Henry K and Sia tackle the pressing need for accountability and authenticity within the reggae community, lamenting the lost opportunities for meaningful dialogue and action due to the pervasive influence of gatekeeping practices in digital spaces. They recount instances of censorship, such as the removal of petitions advocat…

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Debate: Will the Truth Survive Artificial Intelligence? 1:16:02

12d ago1:16:02

1:16:02

The late biologist E.O. Wilson said that “the real problem of humanity is the following: We have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, and god-like technology. And it is terrifically dangerous.” Wilson said that back in 2011, long before any of us were talking about large language models or GPTs. A little more than a decade later, artificial…

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Socialism Sucks: Robert Lawson on the Real-World Consequences of Central Planning 30:39

13d ago30:39

30:39

Roger welcomes Robert Lawson, economist, author, and director of the Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom at Southern Methodist University. Lawson is the co-author of “Socialism Sucks: Two Economists Drink Their Way Through the Unfree World.” In this episode, they discuss Lawson’s firsthand observations from socialist regimes including Venezuela…

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Mount Hiei: Home of Japan's Warrior Monks 38:04

13d ago38:04

38:04

Assassin's Creed: Shadows gives players the chance to visit the imperial capital of medieval Japan. But today, we're heading to a mountain lying just northeast of the capital: Mount Hiei, a sacred site that was protected by a powerful army of warrior monks. Dr Chris Harding, Senior Lecturer in Asian History from the University of Edinburgh, returns…

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Andrew Cuomo on His Past and New York’s Future 1:26:36

14d ago1:26:36

1:26:36

When you think about great political comebacks, maybe you think of Donald Trump, or Richard Nixon, or “comeback kid” Bill Clinton. You might soon add Andrew Cuomo to that list. In 2020, Cuomo was at the top of the world. He had been governor of New York for a decade. He had an illustrious career in New York politics—which is sort of the Cuomo famil…

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The Nazi Occupation of Jersey 50:38

15d ago50:38

50:38

The only British territory ever occupied by the Nazis was the Channel Islands. From 1940 to the end of the war, the Germans turned Jersey, and some of the islands around it, into an impenetrable fortress. It became a key strategic part of Hitler’s defensive Atlantic Wall and a base from which he hoped to invade Britain. Under German occupation, isl…

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Sunday 05.18.25 - Eastertide V - "Babylon Destroyed: The Mercy of God's Judgement" - Fr. Jeromie Rand 23:26

15d ago23:26

23:26

Support the showBy Christ Our Hope Anglican Church

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Why is Timbuktu Famous? 31:11

18d ago31:11

31:11

Synonymous for somewhere far away, Timbuktu has been mythologised by the stories of old European explorers. But in fact, for centuries it was in fact a key trading post on the edge of the Sahara and the centre of the Islamic Golden Age- home to some of the most important manuscripts in African history. Dan is joined by Kai Mora, an author and histo…

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The Glorious Revolution 46:57

20d ago46:57

46:57

In this episode we hear all about the Glorious Revolution, a pivotal moment in British history that saw the overthrow of King James II and the accession to the throne of William III and Mary II. For this we're joined by Professor Clare Jackson, a distinguished historian from the University of Cambridge. She joins us to delve into the religious, pol…

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How China Captured Apple 1:37:20

21d ago1:37:20

1:37:20

The majority of people listening to this episode are hearing it on an iPhone. As most of us can attest, the iPhone is so central to our lives that if we lose it, we feel totally unmoored from our ability to function in the world. It’s hard to explain how ubiquitous the iPhone is—and how much of a behemoth Apple is. Apple sells over 60 million iPhon…

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The Siege of Vienna 47:34

22d ago47:34

47:34

In the summer of 1683, Vienna was under siege. A vast Ottoman army surrounded the city, poised to breach the walls and clear the way for Ottoman expansion into Central Europe. Inside the city, famine and fear took hold. But as the city teetered on the brink of collapse, a thunderous cavalry charge broke the Ottoman lines and shattered the siege. To…

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Sunday 05.11.25 - Eastertide IV - "Remember You'll Die, But Remember to Live" - Fr. Jeromie Rand 30:25

22d ago30:25

30:25

Support the showBy Christ Our Hope Anglican Church

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Meet Casey Means, Trump’s Pick for Surgeon General 1:31:47

24d ago1:31:47

1:31:47

There’s an endearing saying that the U.S. surgeon general’s primary role is to be the nation’s family doctor. They represent America’s medical community, educate the public on current health risks, and wield tremendous influence over medical and scientific information. On Thursday, President Trump nominated Dr. Casey Means to take on this important…

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The History of Alcatraz 36:48

25d ago36:48

36:48

Home to the likes of Al Capone and George 'Machine Gun' Kelly, Alcatraz was once the jewel in the American prison system. The wind-swept island fortress was the final stop for the nation's most dangerous criminals and was thought to be escape-proof - at least, until one night in June 1962, when three men on an improvised raft slipped into the icy w…

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"Healing of the Nation" Bonus Episode 19:16

25d ago19:16

19:16

After a Season of murder, conspiracy, and darkness. Henry K decides to take listeners on a positive journey for this Bonus Episode. "Healing of the Nation" is the inspiring narrative of Sandy G, a woman who epitomizes resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Sandy's story serves as a poignant reminder that true freedom and dignity are…

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The Man Who Helped Michael Jordan Win 49:21

26d ago49:21

49:21

I want to tell you the story of a kid, born in 1937 into segregated Washington, D.C. He’s 9 when his father dies and 13 when his mother has a mental breakdown, disappears, and is institutionalized. He’s effectively orphaned. This is how George Raveling’s story begins. Despite being dealt one of the worst cards imaginable, George, now 87, went on to…

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VE Day 33:58

27d ago33:58

33:58

When the Second World War finally ended 80 years ago, there was a mixed reaction in Britain. Today, we hear about these varying responses, from elation and celebration to reticence and restraint. For the final episode of our 'D-Day to Berlin' series, we're joined by Lucy Noakes, author of 'The People's Victory: VE Day Through the Eyes of Those Who …

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The Journalist Who Wouldn't Be Silenced: Benjamin Hall's Story of Survival and Recovery 31:14

27d ago31:14

31:14

Roger welcomes Benjamin Hall, FOX News correspondent and New York Times bestselling author, for a powerful conversation about courage, recovery and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. They discuss Halls’ harrowing experience surviving a Russian missile strike while covering the war in Ukraine, the loss of his colleagues that day and t…

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Dana Perino on Trump’s White House, Fox News, and … Love 1:11:27

28d ago1:11:27

1:11:27

Sometimes we have a guest who needs no introduction. You know Dana Perino. She took on the job of White House press secretary when President George W. Bush was at his most unpopular—back in 2007 and 2008, as the Iraq War dragged on. She did not receive a warm welcome from those covering the White House—outlets like The New Republic called her cluel…

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How did Andrew Jackson Change the U.S. Presidency? 41:33

29d ago41:33

41:33

A hero to some, and a villain to others, the seventh president of the United States was a populist firebrand who reshaped America and left a legacy that still echoes today. In this episode, Dan dives into the life and times of Andrew Jackson from his birth in a cabin on the frontier to his mission to 'drain the swamp' of Washington elites. He's rem…

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Sunday 05.04.25 - Eastertide III - "The Many Ways of Encountering the (Same) Risen Christ" - Fr. Jeromie Rand 34:20

29d ago34:20

34:20

Support the showBy Christ Our Hope Anglican Church

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Germany After Hitler 30:54

1M ago30:54

30:54

80 years ago, as the war in Europe drew to a close, the world began to come to terms with the horrors of the Third Reich. This is the story of the Nuremberg Trials, the first of their kind, that would decide the fate of Nazism's worst criminals. It's also the story of the millions of people who were displaced by the chaos of conflict. For them the …

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Douglas Murray on Joe Rogan, Hamas, and Moral Collapse in the West 1:23:21

1M ago1:23:21

1:23:21

President Donald Trump has been in office for 100 days. Israel has been at war with Hamas in Gaza for 570, and Russia and Ukraine have been at war for over 1,000. Douglas Murray has had a front-row seat to all three of these unfolding stories, bringing us reportage and analysis that have illuminated the most urgent issues of our time. His reporting…

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The Death of Hitler 37:38

1M ago37:38

37:38

Warning: this episode contains discussion of suicide. Berlin, April 1945: After nearly 12 years, the "Thousand-Year Reich" is crumbling. Isolated in a bunker beneath the city, as Soviet forces close in on them, Adolf Hitler and his inner circle face the end. Today we're joined by Frank McDonough, a historian of the Third Reich and author of The Hit…

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100 Days of Donald Trump 1:20:59

1M ago1:20:59

1:20:59

Today marks President Donald Trump’s 100th day in office. What to make of this dizzying first hundred days? As Bret Stephens put it: “I’m hard-pressed to think of a more disastrous first 100 days of any presidency in American history. . . all of the wounds are self-inflicted.” Even some of Trump's most ardent supporters are struggling to understand…

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The Dreyfus Affair: The Spy Scandal that Shook France 36:32

1M ago36:32

36:32

It started with an inconsequential piece of military intelligence, scrawled on a piece of paper and left in a waste paper basket. But over the next decade, the infamous Dreyfus affair would mutate into a scandal that shook nineteenth-century France and stunned the world. Ruth Harris is a Professor of History at the University of Oxford and author o…

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Sunday 04.27.25 - Eastertide II - "The Almost Happily Ever After" - Fr. Jeromie Rand 28:52

1M ago28:52

28:52

Support the showBy Christ Our Hope Anglican Church

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The Einstein Murders 28:00

1M ago28:00

28:00

Warning: this episode contains discussion of suicide. In August 1944, German soldiers burst into the Florentine villa of Robert Einstein, cousin of the renowned physicist, Albert Einstein. As both a Jew and an Einstein, Robert had already gone into hiding, but his wife, daughters and extended family remained at home. What followed was a 12-hour nig…

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"Wanted Dread or Alive" Peter Tosh vs. Babylon 32:41

1M ago32:41

32:41

In the finale of Wanted Dread or Alive "Peter Tosh vs. Babylon" Host Henry K recounts his personal journey to Tosh's birthplace during the Peter Tosh Festival, which serves as a backdrop for a deeper investigation into the circumstances surrounding his untimely death. He confronts the unsettling realities of how narratives surrounding Tosh have bee…

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Marco Rubio on Iran, Deportations and the State Dept. Shake-Up 37:29

1M ago37:29

37:29

Yesterday, The Free Press had a major scoop: The State Department is launching the biggest shake-up in decades in an effort spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Today, Rubio joins us on Honestly to discuss his goals for restructuring the Department and also how the U.S. is responding to manifold crises at home and abroad, from controversi…

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Satire in the Age of Censorship: How Kyle Mann and the Babylon Bee Preserve Humor and Navigate Cancel Culture 21:22

1M ago21:22

21:22

Roger welcomes Kyle Mann, a comedian, writer, podcast host, and the editor-in-chief of the Babylon Bee. They discuss the origin story of the Babylon Bee, the creative process behind crafting their daily satirical headlines, and their expansion into film and other media projects. Plus, how they navigate the landscape of censorship and fact-checking,…

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A History of Popes 44:09

1M ago44:09

44:09

Popes have shaped the history of the world. The Catholic Church has had a Pope for two thousand years, the first- tradition dictates- was St Peter, the fisherman turned disciple of Jesus. Pope 'Leo the Great' stared down Atilla the Hun at the gates of Rome while Pope Innocent III made it his mission to convert the Anglo-Saxons and spread Christiani…

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Can America Survive Without Christianity? 1:08:51

1M ago1:08:51

1:08:51

In the past few weeks, Bari has done two episodes on religion—one asking, “Do we need a religious revival?,” and then a follow-up conversation with Ross Douthat asking how people who grew up in the secular West can actually find faith. Today, we have the last installment of this intellectual and religious inquiry, and we are asking a new question: …

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How Did the American Revolution Start? 1:18:47

1M ago1:18:47

1:18:47

On 19th April, 1775, just over 250 years ago, the opening salvos of the American Revolutionary War were fired at the battles of Lexington and Concord. Elite British Redcoats went head-to-head with the famed provincial Minutemen in bloody skirmishes across the Province of Massachusetts Bay. Ultimately, the British were forced to retreat, and the pro…

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Sunday 04.20.25 - Easter Sunday - "Practice Resurrection" - Fr. Jeromie Rand 26:49

1M ago26:49

26:49

Support the showBy Christ Our Hope Anglican Church

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The Battle of Berlin with Sir Antony Beevor 36:16

2M ago36:16

36:16

Warning: this episode includes discussion of subjects like suicide and sexual assault that some listeners may find disturbing. 80 years ago, the Soviets launched their final assault on the German capital. Having swept across Eastern Europe with the Wehrmacht fleeing before them, this was to be the final, apocalyptic battle that marked the collapse …