Best Benjamin Hunter Podcasts (2025)

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IP, Part Three: A Copyright for Everyone! 39:59

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4h ago39:59

39:59

As Ben, Noel and Max close out another year of Ridiculous History, they return to the patently baffling world of intellectual property. In part three of this series, the guys finally tackle one of the weirdest concepts out there -- a thoroughly confusing thing called a 'copyright'. What is it? Where did this idea come from, how does it work... and …

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CLASSIC: Was there a real-life Rapunzel? 28:59

3d ago28:59

28:59

Most people in the West are familiar with the old Rapunzel fairy tale -- a beautiful princess is confined to a tower until a prince, captivated by her beauty, uses her hair as a ladder and comes to her rescue. But where did this story come from, exactly? Tune in to learn more in today's Classic episode from 2019. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri…

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Book Club: The Legacy Life (with David Green and Bill High) – EP 229 21:11

4d ago21:11

21:11

In this conversation, Benjamin Quinn hosts David Green and Bill High to discuss their book, 'The Legacy Life.' They explore the importance of living a legacy-focused life rather than a short-term, vapor life. The discussion emphasizes stewardship over ownership in business, the significance of intentional family practices, and the power of storytel…

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Ridiculous Maps: That Time Everyone Thought California Was An Island 34:39

5d ago34:39

34:39

Nowadays, pretty much anyone can easily find an accurate map of a city, a country, or the entire world. But this wasn't always the case. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore baffling cartography of old, when well-intentioned mapmakers, working with the best info they had at the time, often got things wrong. Our first episode in this contin…

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The Chicago Tylenol Murders 39:23

7d ago39:23

39:23

For most people, Tylenol is nothing more than an ol' stand-by, over-the-counter pain reliever. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max learn in today's episode -- this wasn't always the case. Today's episode takes the boys to 1980s Chicago, when a ghoulish series of still-unsolved murders rocked the pharmaceutical industry, and led to the creation of tamper-proo…

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CLASSIC: Benjamin Franklin's Advice On "Finding A Mistress" 31:43

10d ago31:43

31:43

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was a man of many interests, but his endeavors were by no means limited to technical innovation, philosophy and politics. In fact, throughout his life he had a reputation as an irredeemable lech -- literally, in later years, a dirty old man -- and his exploits were common knowledge on both sides of the Atlantic. He…

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Headlines: Patriotism and Dismantling Higher Ed – EP 228 26:45

12d ago26:45

26:45

In this episode of the Christ in Culture podcast, hosts Benjamin Quinn, Daniel Darling, and Kristin Kellen discuss various cultural trends, including the current state of patriotism among Christians, the implications of Christian nationalism, and the evolving landscape of education in America. They explore the importance of civic responsibility, th…

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Wait! Can a tree really own itself? 42:22

12d ago42:22

42:22

Do you have a favorite tree? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max head over to the famous college town of Athens, Georgia where -- legend has it -- one guy was so enamored with his childhood oak that he ultimately deeded it to itself. How much of the story is true? Can a tree really "own itself"? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information…

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Doc Holliday Was, In Fact, A Deadly Dentist 40:57

14d ago40:57

40:57

Longtime listeners are well-aware that the history of the 'Wild West' is more than a bit... embellished. Yet a grain of truth exists at the heart of almost every legend, and the story of Doc Holliday is no different. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max learn more about Tombstone's breakout star -- and how, if things were just a little different, …

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CLASSIC: What does "Idaho" actually mean? 24:53

18d ago24:53

24:53

Idaho was the 43rd state admitted to the Union, and today it's well-known for potatoes, mining, and stunning forests -- but, even in the modern day, Idaho is home to a surprising mystery: What does its name actually mean? Join the guys as they explore the ridiculous origin story of Idaho's name in this week's Classic episode. See omnystudio.com/lis…

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Blindspots: The Beautiful Risk of Teaching Your Kids about Missions - EP 227 25:45

19d ago25:45

25:45

Where is your allegiance when you raise children? Our new series called 'Blind Spots,' debuts focusing raising children with a missional mindset. The hosts discuss the importance of understanding one's worldview, the potential blind spots in parenting regarding missions, and the necessity of preparing children for independence. In another segment o…

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The Ridiculous History of Dog Food 36:09

19d ago36:09

36:09

Here on Ridiculous History, we are avowedly pro-dog. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into a strange evolution of slave, to companion, to family member, tracing the evolution of dog food as it blossoms into a multi-billion dollar marketing phenomenon (and one heck of a grift). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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Quiet Dell 48:20

20d ago48:20

48:20

Robert Mitchum's preacher in The Night of the Hunter was inspired by real murders that also shaped Jayne Anne Phillips's novel Quiet Dell. Ed and Melanie trace the link between book and film, exploring how truth becomes myth and how art transforms tragedy. More at melanieanded.substack.com or email [email protected] .…

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Bir Tawil: The Ridiculous Tale of "Earth's Worst Real Estate" 31:26

21d ago31:26

31:26

Land! Historically speaking, it's a pretty popular thing. In fact, a great deal of human conflict is based upon fighting over real estate -- yet, as Ben, Noel and Max discover in today's episode, in at least one case there's a piece of the world no nation wants. For well over a century, Egypt and Sudan have both been fighting over who controls Bir …

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CLASSIC: Uncle Sam Tried to End World War II With Bat Bombs 38:12

24d ago38:12

38:12

Folks, we are phenomenally excited about this week's Classic episode. It sounds like something straight out of the cave beneath Bruce Wayne's Manor, but thanks to the passion of a part-time inventor named Lytle Adams, the United States military really did spend millions attempting to arm bats with incendiary devices and launch them -- real-life bat…

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Navigating Politics as a Christian (with Hunter Baker) - EP 226 30:23

25d ago30:23

30:23

How should Christians interact with politics in an age of volatility and anger? In this episode of the Christ in Culture podcast, Benjamin Quinn interviews Dr. Hunter Baker, exploring the intersection of Christianity and politics. They discuss Baker's journey to faith, the role of Christian universities, and the current political landscape for Chri…

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The Ridiculous History of the "Ice Cream Sundae" 35:19

26d ago35:19

35:19

For fans of sweet, frozen sweets, there's nothing as perfect as ice cream. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max scoop into a bizarrely niche controversy: Who actually invented the 'Ice Cream Sundae,' and why on Earth is it spelled 'Sundae,' rather than 'Sunday'? Ben here: we do figure it out, and history is super weird. Thanks for tuning in! See o…

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Zombies, Part Two: The Movies! 53:08

28d ago53:08

53:08

On the shambling heels of their recent episode exploring the bizarre legendary origins of zombies, Ben, Noel and Max dive headfirst into the cinematic side of the undead: zombie movies. As they discover in today's episode, the film version of zombies or the walking dead has become increasingly distinct from the original folklore version -- and this…

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Oliver Postgate 27:39

29d ago27:39

27:39

"Postgate's work is deep inside me and I think that's true for so many of my generation...His work represents nothing less than a touchstone for our national imagination and in that sense it's profoundly important" Andrew Davenport, writer, composer, and creator of Teletubbies and In the Night Garden, nominates Oliver Postgate, who, along with his …

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CLASSIC: The American Soldiers Who Defected to North Korea and Became Movie Stars 36:33

1M ago36:33

36:33

In this weekend's Classic episode, Ben quizzes Max on his dreams of being a director, ultimately asking: What would the average person do to become famous? Often described as one of the most isolated countries in the world, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been ruled by the Kim dynasty since 1948. And while most reports of defectors fo…

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Sinners: Systemic Trauma & Musical Healing 1:41:30

1M ago1:41:30

1:41:30

Happy Halloween! For our spooky episode of 2025, we are discussing Sinners! This is Hannah and Brittney's favorite movie of 2025 and we are so excited to be talking about it. We discuss many heavy topics: childhood abuse, racial violence, oppressive systems; so be mindful while listening. Below you can find the research referenced by Brittney in th…

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Being Human – A Framework (with Ray Van Neste) - EP 225 32:38

1M ago32:38

32:38

What does it mean to be a human? In this episode, Benjamin Quinn interviews Dr. Ray Van Neste, Dean of the School of Theology and Missions at Union University, discussing the university's Framework for Biblical Anthropology, https://tinyurl.com/mrxkm84c. They explore the importance of public theology and cultural apologetics, the ten articles that …

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Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Temple of Artemis 32:11

1M ago32:11

32:11

It's no secret that the Wonders of the Ancient World were pretty... wonderful -- yet also pretty mischaracterized. In today's episode, Ben, Noel, and Super Producer Max explore the phenonemal Temple of Artemis, which was built not once, not twice, but three separate times before it ultimately disappeared. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf…

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That Time Everyone Loved Radium: What Could Go Wrong? 50:45

1M ago50:45

50:45

Fellow Ridiculous Historians, we all know the inspiring and tragic story of Marie Curie -- however, not everyone is familiar with the absolute boom in radium-associated merchandise, which took the world by storm before the public understood the dangers of radiation. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into a bizarre tale of capitalism, marke…

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KPop Demon Hunters: Identity, Shame, and Healing Connections 1:47:09

1M ago1:47:09

1:47:09

Today we are gonna show you how its's DONE DONE DONE as we cover the MOVIE. OF. THE. YEAR. K-Pop Demon Hunters! In this episode we discuss Identity, Shame, and Healing Connections with those closest to you! This film has taken over the hearts of kids and adults everywhere and is absolutley GOLDEN! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spr…

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Sylvia Plath 27:06

1M ago27:06

27:06

Lucy Jones, author of Matrescence, chooses the writer Sylvia Plath. Sylvia Plath was a precocious, prize-winning child,. Her mother had high expectations for her. Her father had died when she was 8 (but could have been saved if only he'd gone to see a doctor). When she was well, Plath was energetic, fun, bright, attractive, funny and incredibly sma…

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CLASSIC: How a Broken Toilet Foiled a German Sub 25:48

1M ago25:48

25:48

Toward the end of World War II, the German Type VIIC submarine was acknowledged to be one of the most advanced -- and deadliest -- predators on the seas. Yet, in at least one case, some of the same technological breakthroughs that made these subs astonishing also led to their demise. Join the guys as they dive (get it?) into the strange story of U-…

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Cultural Apologetics Unveiled (with Josh Chatraw) - EP 224 28:24

1M ago28:24

28:24

Culture is what we do with creation. In this episode, Benjamin Quinn and Josh Chatraw explore the themes of cultural apologetics and public theology, discussing their significance in contemporary ministry. Josh shares his personal journey to faith, the importance of understanding culture, and how apologetics can be effectively communicated in today…

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CLASSIC: Creature Feature: The Dark Tetrad 1:03:46

1M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

It's the weekend! Time to get outdoors, enjoy nature... and, honestly, watch out for crazy animals. Join the guys in this Classic episode as they make an appearance on Creature Feature, the podcast that takes a critter’s eye view to explore how animal behavior parallels the behavior of humans. In this episode, Katie Goldin and the guys explore the …

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CLASSIC: Gustaf Broman Tried to Cross the Atlantic in a Canoe . . . Or Did He? 38:59

1M ago38:59

38:59

Ben here: Noel and I are sailing the seas this week -- wish us luck! Luckily, our Super Producer Max is holding it down with some of our favorite Classic episodes. Here's one I especially enjoyed from 2019, all about strange ocean travels: "In 1895, Gustaf Broman announced he would sail across the Atlantic in a 13-foot-long sailboat crafted from a …

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Elizabeth Day on Hatshepsut 27:40

1M ago27:40

27:40

"One of the things that she claimed was that her mother had been impregnated by the sun god Amon-Ra."Elizabeth Day's interest in the female pharaoh Hatshepsut was sparked by a trip to Egypt less than a year ago. What intrigued her was how this woman survived and thrived as ruler in a traditionally male role. Joining her in discussion is Professor J…

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CLASSIC: The Weird, Surprisingly Recent Origin of the Tooth Fairy 27:29

2M ago27:29

27:29

Ben here: Noel and I are sailing the seas this week -- wish us luck! Luckily, our Super Producer Max is holding it down with some of our favorite Classic episodes. Here's one for all the kids scared of dentists: "For millions of kids in the West, the story is as mysterious as it is profitable: Once your baby teeth begin falling out, hide them benea…

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Headlines: Are We in a Revival? - EP 223 30:06

2M ago30:06

30:06

In this Headlines episode of the Christ and Culture Podcast, host Benjamin Quinn is joined by Dan Darling, Nathan Finn, and Kristin Kellen to discuss significant October headlines. They delve into the release of Hamas hostages, the potential for peace in the Middle East, the concept of revival versus revolution in Christian America, and the implica…

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CLASSIC: When Vikings Loot The Wrong Town 39:01

2M ago39:01

39:01

Ben here: we're out on the high seas this week -- true story! While we're away, we're sharing some of our favorite Classic episode. Here's one we absolutely loved, and travel-related: "Like many Viking leaders, Halfdan and Bjorn wanted to be known for their fearlessness in battle and their ability to locate the finest spoils -- they wanted the comm…

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CLASSIC: Were Tulips Really The Bitcoin of the 1600s? 30:21

2M ago30:21

30:21

In the 1600s, residents of the Dutch Republic were -- according to the story -- absolutely bonkers for tulips. A market sprang up around the tulip trade, and people began paying in advance for tulip bulbs, negotiating increasingly extravagant financial agreements and, in some cases, even using tulips as currency. This Tulipmania is often presented …

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Comedian Stewart Lee on Derek Bailey 30:43

2M ago30:43

30:43

"The area I mostly work in is generally known as free - the free music area. And free is one of those four letter words, like rock or jazz or punk maybe. It started out meaning something." Derek Bailey Born in 1930 in Sheffield, Bailey worked as a session musician in dance bands and orchestras before turning his back on that world. Free improvisati…

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CLASSIC: (Some of) History's Dumbest Military Prototypes 55:49

2M ago55:49

55:49

As Ben and Noel hit the high seas, they're celebrating with a special week of their favorite Classics. It's true that the world's militaries often pioneer technological innovation -- but don't let all those great successes fool you! The world's militaries have at least as many failures as they do breakthroughs. Join Ben, Noel and special guest Chri…

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Church Can Save Your Life (with Rebecca McLaughlin) - EP 222 31:31

2M ago31:31

31:31

Do you want better mental and physical health? It turns out that church might be the thing you need. Rebecca McLaughlin joins the show to discuss her new book "How Church Can Literally Save Your Life." They discuss the relationship between religious participation and mental and physical health, the importance of church community, and the intellectu…

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The Dumbest Mobster Ever Tried To Steal Ruby Slippers 40:23

2M ago40:23

40:23

There are few pieces of film history more iconic than Dorothy's magic ruby slippers from 1939's The Wizard of Oz. Yet, at first, the studio had no idea how valuable these would become. The multiple pairs of slippers languished in obscurity until costume department worker named Kent Warner launched a mission to save them. Yet the story doesn't stop …

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The Ridiculously Disturbing History of North Korea 48:25

2M ago48:25

48:25

By iHeartPodcasts

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Jock Stein, first British football manager to win the European Cup 27:41

2M ago27:41

27:41

Jock Stein, first British football manager to win the European Cup, picked by composer Sir James MacMillan and aided by Jock Stein’s biographer, Archie MacPherson. Jock Stein was manager of Celtic FC when they won the European Cup in Lisbon in 1967. He later died while managing Scotland in a world cup qualifier against Wales – the date, September 1…

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CLASSIC: The Forty Elephants: London’s All-Female Jewel Thieves 42:07

2M ago42:07

42:07

For at least 200 years, part of London’s criminal underground was ruled by a gang of brilliant, all-female jewel thieves. In this week's classic episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the rise and fall of the notorious Forty Elephants. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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Can We Trust the Bible is Real (with Charles Quarles) - EP 221 37:35

2M ago37:35

37:35

How can you know the words you read in the Bible are actually what was originally written? In this episode of Christ in Culture, host Benjamin Quinn is joined by Dr. Charles Quarles to discuss the importance of textual criticism in understanding the New Testament. They explore the historical accuracy of the Bible, comparing it to other ancient text…

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Disco Balls are Ridiculous, and We Love Them 38:47

2M ago38:47

38:47

Human history is absolutely riddled with ridiculous inventions. Some are cartoonishly specific. Others, like the disco ball, serve no purpose other than amusement -- and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the dazzling (get it?) history of the 'myriad reflector.' See omnystudio.com/listener fo…

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The Truth About "Zombies" 50:17

2M ago50:17

50:17

As summer turns and fall begins, Ridiculous History officially enters the most wonderful time of the year. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the legend of a specific kind of 'living dead' -- the zombie. According to the stories, a zombie is a cadaver reanimated through evil magic, and cursed to obey the commands of a powerful bokor (s…

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Benjamin Franklin 26:59

2M ago26:59

26:59

Matthew Parris heads to the house where Benjamin Franklin lived for almost 17 years to meet banker and philanthropist John Studzinski. Franklin was born in Boston when it was still a part of the British empire, ran away to Philadelphia and lodged near Charing Cross at 36 Craven Street in London for over a decade. He was an agent for the Pennsylvani…

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CLASSIC: The Malleus Maleficarum: A Real-life Witch Hunter's Bible 33:46

2M ago33:46

33:46

During Europe's period of witchcraft hysteria, one enterprising (and failed) witch hunter sought to bolster his reputation by creating an authoritative text on the existence, discovery and persecution of witches. While it may seem silly now, the Malleus Maleficarum was a runaway success, with thousands of copies inundating European society even whi…

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How to Apprentice Under Jesus at Work - EP 220 39:26

2M ago39:26

39:26

Your work is not secular if the Spirit of God dwells in you, because you make your workplace sacred just by walking in.This week, the guests explore the integration of faith and work, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise in the workplace. They emphasize the importance of viewing work as a mission field and the role of apprentice…

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How the Kentucky Derby Became a Thing 37:49

2M ago37:49

37:49

We’ve all been there, right? You wake up one day, and you say: “You know what? Forget work! It’s so nice outside. I want to put on a fancy hat, watch a bunch of horses run around in a circle, and gamble. Like they do in Europe.” In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max learn how the volatile, ambitious Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. created a litt…

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Night of the Hunter 1:04:18

2M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Robert Mitchum's sinister preacher, Charles Laughton's only directorial effort, and one of cinema's most haunting thrillers — The Night of the Hunter (1955) went unappreciated in its day. Ed and Melanie explore its striking imagery, Shelley Winters' fate, and Lillian Gish's quiet strength. More at melanieanded.substack.com…