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The John Batchelor Show

The John Batchelor Show

3,174 episodes — Page 13 of 64

S8 Ep1124: The Legends of the Wild Turkey and the Imperial Eagle Guest: Stephen Moss Book Title: Ten Birds That Changed the World Stephen Moss discusses the wild turkey, a bird rediscovered by Europeans in the Americas that was vital to the survival of the pilgrims.

Jul 13, 202611 min

S8 Ep1123: Headline: Sustainable Futures and the Weight of Modern Consumption Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History In the final segment, Frankopan highlights the staggering ecological footprint of modern life, noti

Jul 13, 20264 min

S8 Ep1123: Headline: The Age of Turbulence and the Race Against Nature Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History From 1870 to 1920, the race for monetized resources like rubber and nitrates led to massive ecosystem degrada

Jul 13, 202615 min

S8 Ep1123: Headline: The Great Divergence and Geopolitical Climate Shocks Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History The "Great Divergence" explains why Europe accelerated in science and technology over Asia despite the lat

Jul 13, 20267 min

S8 Ep1123: Headline: Mosquito Empires and the Ecology of the Slave Trade Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History Frankopan discusses the "mosquito empires" of the 17th and 18th centuries, where malaria and yellow fever d

Jul 13, 202610 min

S8 Ep1123: Headline: The Medieval Warm Period and the Rise of Parallel Empires Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History The Medieval Warm Period (950–1250 AD) was marked by low volcanism and climatic stability, facilitati

Jul 13, 20267 min

S8 Ep1123: Headline: Roman Stability, the Horse, and the Fragility of Empires Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History During the Roman Warm Period, Rome benefited from nearly 300 years of environmental stability, which F

Jul 13, 202612 min

S8 Ep1123: Headline: Ancient Globalization and Volcanic Disruptions Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History Frankopan explores the concept of ancient globalization, defining it through the long-range exchange of goods, i

Jul 13, 20266 min

S8 Ep1123: Headline: The Holocene Transition and the Dawn of Human Adaptation Guest: Professor Peter Frankopan Book Title: The Earth Transformed: An Untold History John Batchelor introduces Professor Peter Frankopan to discuss how mankind responds to nature and cata

Jul 13, 202611 min

S8 Ep1122: (4) Rituals of the Arena: Chubby Gladiators, Elephant Empathy, and the Roman Mythic Past Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. This discussion strips away the Hollywood image of gladiators, focusing on their specialized diets and the cultural

Jul 13, 20269 min

S8 Ep1122: (3) The Phony War and Strategic Reserves: Regulatory Displacement, the Iran-US "Phony War," and the Doctrine of Unconditional Surrender Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. Broadcasting a "bootleg edition" from a parking lot after being force

Jul 13, 202613 min

S8 Ep1122: (2) The Nuclear Taboo and Russian Forbearance: Secret Nuclear History, the Cuban Missile Crisis Comparison, and the Dangers of Escalation Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. In a "parking lot" broadcast, the hosts explore the fragility of nu

Jul 13, 202617 min

S8 Ep1122: (1) Regulatory Certitude in Londinium: The Power of the Building Inspector and Beachfront Evictions Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. The show is temporarily halted due to occupancy issues at the wine bar. Gaius admits to a "completely unf

Jul 13, 20264 min

S8 Ep1121: Jeremy Zakis describes being five minutes late for breakfast, leading his dog, Dallas, and local magpies to protest through a glass door. The animals vigilantly monitored the food preparation to ensure they were fed ham and cheese. Both Dallas and the bir

Jul 12, 20264 min

S8 Ep1121: Jeremy Zakis warns of a 97% probability of a Super El Niño, predicting record-breaking heat and dangerous winds for Australia. This forecast necessitates early bushfire preparations, such as controlled burn-offs of undergrowth. The global impact includes

Jul 12, 20269 min

S8 Ep1121: A highly venomous eastern brown snake was found seeking warmth under a plastic wheelie bin at a Canberra school. A snake catcher safely removed the reptile, employing calm showmanship to prevent audience panic. The snake was relocated ten kilometers away

Jul 12, 20268 min

S8 Ep1121: The English cricket team has implemented strict midnight curfews and alcohol restrictions following behavioral issues and performance declines. Jeremy notes that these drinking problems appear unique to the English side. Furthermore, Ben Stokes is in conf

Jul 12, 20267 min

S8 Ep1120: Legacies of the 1920s: Hoover and Roosevelt Guest: David Pietrusza The final segment contrasts the presidencies of Herbert Hoover and FDR, the last of the six presidents from the 1920 cycle. Hoover, despite rising from "great poverty" to become a "grea

Jul 12, 20268 min

S8 Ep1120: A Landslide Victory and the Birth of a New Era Guest: David Pietrusza Warren G. Harding secured one of the most lopsided victories in history, winning 60% of the popular vote and 404 electoral votes. His victory was fueled by modern advertising techniques

Jul 12, 202611 min

S8 Ep1120: Campaigning on the Front Porch and the League of Nations Guest: David Pietrusza The 1920 campaign highlighted a stark contrast in styles: Harding's "front porch" campaign versus the active touring of Cox and FDR. Despite his reputation for "bloviating," H

Jul 12, 20265 min

S8 Ep1120: The 1920 Democratic Convention and the Ohio Connection Guest: David Pietrusza Meeting in San Francisco, the Democrats faced a grueling nomination process dictated by the "two-thirds rule," which required 44 ballots to select James M. Cox. The convention w

Jul 12, 202612 min

S8 Ep1120: The 1920 Republican Convention in Chicago Guest: David Pietrusza The Republican Convention in Chicago was a sweltering "circus" where Warren G. Harding started with very low odds compared to favorites like Leonard Wood and Hiram Johnson. Harding initially

Jul 12, 20265 min

S8 Ep1120: The Contenders: FDR, Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover Guest: David Pietrusza This segment introduces the rising stars of the 1920s: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. At age 38, FDR was an ambitious Assistant Secretary of the Navy who

Jul 12, 202614 min

S8 Ep1120: The Rise of the "Available Man": Warren G. Harding Guest: David Pietrusza With Roosevelt dead and Wilson incapacitated, the Republican Party sought a candidate who could unify their ranks during what was perceived as "their year." Warren G. Harding emerge

Jul 12, 20267 min

S8 Ep1120: The Tragedy of Woodrow Wilson and the League of Nations Guest: David Pietrusza The 1920 election cycle begins with a physical and political crisis as President Woodrow Wilson suffers a massive, debilitating stroke in October 1919. This event leaves him fr

Jul 12, 202610 min

S8 Ep1119: The 1936 Landslide and Political Realignment Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal Election night 1936 at Hyde Park began with nervous anticipation, as many — including

Jul 12, 20264 min

S8 Ep1119: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Campaign Climax Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal The 1936 campaign saw the emergence of Eleanor Roosevelt as a political star. While Republicans

Jul 12, 202615 min

S8 Ep1119: The Selection of Alf Landon and the Republican Field Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal The Republican Party in 1936 struggled to find a viable candidate to face Roosevelt'

Jul 12, 20269 min

S8 Ep1119: William Randolph Hearst and the "Soak the Rich" Tensions Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal One of the most formidable figures Roosevelt had to manage was media tycoon Will

Jul 12, 20269 min

S8 Ep1119: Splinter Parties and the Global Shadow Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal Beyond populist insurgents, Roosevelt had to contend with the Socialist and Communist parties, whi

Jul 12, 20266 min

S8 Ep1119: The Townsend Plan and the Radio Priest Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal Two unconventional figures heavily influenced Roosevelt's 1936 strategy: Dr. Francis Townsend and

Jul 12, 202613 min

S8 Ep1119: Populist Threats and the "Share Our Wealth" Movement Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal As Roosevelt prepared for the 1936 election, he faced significant pressure from the

Jul 12, 20267 min

S8 Ep1119: The Passing of Louis Howe and the Challenge of the Right Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal In April 1936, the Roosevelt administration faced the looming loss of Louis Howe

Jul 12, 202611 min

S8 Ep1118: Truman's Rally and the Brave Dissent of Margaret Chase Smith GUEST: Nick Bunker In May 1950, a politically wounded Harry Truman embarked on a western tour to rebuild momentum and refocus the nation on his "Fair Deal." Despite a high-profile Chicago rall

Jul 12, 20267 min

S8 Ep1118: NSC-68: The Blueprint for Cold War Rearmament GUEST: Nick Bunker Following the 1949 Soviet atomic test, Paul Nitze and Dean Acheson drafted NSC-68, a top-secret strategic document that defined the Cold War struggle. The document portrayed the Soviet threa

Jul 12, 202611 min

S8 Ep1118: Stalin's Strategic Shift and the Path to the Korean War GUEST: Nick Bunker Throughout 1949, Stalin was skeptical of Kim Il-sung's plan to invade South Korea, doubting North Korea's capability and the strategic rationale. However, in January 1950, Stalin a

Jul 12, 20267 min

S8 Ep1118: The Hiss Perjury Conviction and the Ignition of the McCarthy Era GUEST: Nick Bunker On January 25, 1950, the conviction of Alger Hiss for perjury electrified American politics, seemingly validating Republican claims that Washington was "full of communist

Jul 12, 20269 min

S8 Ep1118: The Domestic Crisis: Coal Strikes and the 1950 Winter of Discontent GUEST: Nick Bunker Despite the escalating Cold War, Harry Truman viewed the winter 1950 coal strike as his "greatest test." Coal was essential for heating homes and running trains, and a

Jul 12, 20265 min

S8 Ep1118: Republican Opposition: The Intellectual Force of Robert Taft and the Rise of McCarthy GUEST: Nick Bunker Senator Robert Taft, known as "Mr. Conservative," was a dominant intellectual force in the Republican Party, preparing for a potential 1952 presidenti

Jul 12, 202614 min

S8 Ep1118: The Moscow Summit: Stalin and Mao's Suspicious Alliance GUEST: Nick Bunker In late 1949, Mao Zedong traveled to Moscow seeking Joseph Stalin's sponsorship for the nascent People's Republic of China. Mao required financial aid, an air force, and recognitio

Jul 12, 20265 min

S8 Ep1118: Truman's Post-Election Struggles and the Rise of Dean Acheson GUEST: Nick Bunker By Labor Day 1949, President Harry Truman's optimistic mood following his 1948 victory had soured as he was "overtaken by events." A post-election recession created a $5 bill

Jul 12, 202611 min

S8 Ep1117: SCHEDULE JBS 7-10-2026 1926 LOUISIANA

Jul 11, 20263 min

S8 Ep1117: MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR, FEATURING JEFF BLISS, MICHAEL VLAHOS, 7-10-26

Jul 11, 20261h 1m

S8 Ep1116: Headline: SETI vs. UAPs: Distinguishing Science from Folklore Guest: Michael Garrett Garrett clarifies that SETI focuses on astronomy, not atmospheric phenomena like UFOs or UAPs. While supportive of UAP research to understand drones or rockets, he rem

Jul 11, 20264 min

S8 Ep1116: Headline: SETI Protocols and the Scientific Search for Extraterrestrial Life Guest: Michael Garrett Michael Garrett introduces updated SETI protocols for handling potential contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. The guidelines emphasize the scientifi

Jul 11, 202615 min

S8 Ep1116: Headline: Latin America's Shift Toward Democratic Capitalism Guest: Conrad Black Conrad Black observes a "tidal wave" of reform across South America as nations reject left-wing "gangster" governments in favor of market economies. He highlights the success

Jul 11, 20268 min

S8 Ep1116: Headline: The Secretive Construction of Iran's Pickaxe Mountain Guest: Andrea Stricker Andrea Stricker warns of a deeply buried nuclear site at Pickaxe Mountain, which may house advanced centrifuges. The facility is located two-thirds of a mile undergroun

Jul 11, 20268 min

S8 Ep1116: Headline: AI Productivity vs. Headcount in the Small Business Sector Guest: Gene Marks Marks argues that AI is not replacing workers but rather increasing productivity for existing staff. He highlights innovative applications like the "AI Shop Advisor" at

Jul 11, 20267 min

S8 Ep1116: Headline: Main Street Resilience: Small Business Success in 2026 Guest: Gene Marks Gene Marks reports that American small businesses are thriving, with strong consumer spending and rising revenues. He notes that wages are outpacing inflation, contributing

Jul 11, 202612 min

S8 Ep1116: Headline: Nuclear Safety and the Fog of War in Iran Guest: Henry Sokolski Sokolski examines reports of strikes near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, noting that targeting reactors is legal if they serve military purposes. He expresses concern over the

Jul 11, 20267 min