Roots of Reality
by Ben Baumann
A podcast by historian Ben Baumann that uses history from the formation of the universe to the present, illustrating how our world came to be. The podcast provides brief historical summaries of various subjects and features oral history interviews with guest experts who have lived experiences related to the topics discussed."Billions of years led to you."
Episodes
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#247 Who Will Win the Global AI Race? with Anton Shenk
Historian Ben Baumann speaks with Anton Shenk, AI Policy Research Associate at the RAND Corporation, about the global race for artificial general intelligence, the economic and national security implications of advanced AI, the risks of AI-driven catastrophes, and how governments can prepare for…
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#246 Could AI Trigger the Next Global Crisis? with Dr. Stephen Casper
Historian Ben Baumann speaks with Dr. Stephen Casper, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, about the growing threat of rogue AI agents, the risks of open-weight artificial intelligence, the possibility of AI-driven catastrophes, and why the 2030s could become a decade of...
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#245 When AI Agents Go Rogue with Dr. Ian Reynolds
Historian Ben Baumann speaks with Dr. Ian Reynolds, AI Public Policy Manager at Hugging Face, about the rise of open-source artificial intelligence, the growing cybersecurity risks posed by autonomous AI agents, and a recent incident in which OpenAI agents hacked into Hugging Face's systems.…
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#244 Finding Meaning Beyond Fame and Success with Simon Ward
Historian Ben Baumann speaks with songwriter and former lead singer of The Strumbellas Simon Ward about the band's rise to international fame, the story behind their hit song "Spirits", and the personal struggles that accompanied his success. They also discuss the unique music scene of the 2010s,...
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#243 The Sound of the 60s with Steve Barri
Historian Ben Baumann speaks with legendary songwriter and record producer Steve Barri about his role in shaping the sound of the 1960s, the stories behind iconic songs like *Secret Agent Man* and *Eve of Destruction*, and his work producing The Grass Roots and signing bands like Steppenwolf and...
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#242 The Future of Education and AI with Dr. Daniel Greco
Historian Ben Baumann speaks with Yale philosophy professor Dr. Daniel Greco about how artificial intelligence is changing philosophy and education, the process of training AI models, and why he does it. They also discuss the implications of AI for education, the concerns surrounding the...
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#241 College Football Then and Now with Todd Reesing
Historian Ben Baumann speaks with former Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing about his college football career, the experience of leading one of the most successful teams in Kansas history, and how the game has changed over time.
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#240 The History and Transformation of College Sports in America
In this episode of Roots of Reality, historian Ben Baumann explores the history of college sports in America, tracing its evolution from Ivy League football fields and early university traditions to the modern era of television contracts, NIL deals, conference realignment, and athlete…
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#239 The Future of AI with Dr. Sean O hEigeartaigh
Historian Ben Baumann speaks with Dr. Sean O hEigeartaigh about the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, the myths and risks surrounding it, and why this moment may be remembered as a turning point in human history.
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#238 Will Humanity Ever Be the Same After AI?
In this episode of Roots of Reality, historian Ben Baumann explores artificial intelligence through the long arc of human technological history, asking whether AI represents just another transformative tool, or a turning point that could fundamentally reshape work, society, and what it means to…
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#237 Limiting the Influence of Money in Politics with Jeff Clements
Historian Ben Baumann and Jeff Clements, co-founder and CEO of American Promise, discuss the critical issue of money in politics and the movement to pass the For Our Freedom Amendment.
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#236 Does Money Rule the World?
Historian Ben Bauman explores the pervasive influence of money throughout history, particularly in relation to democracy and civic responsibility. He discusses how wealth has shaped political power from ancient times to the modern era, highlighting the ongoing struggle against the corrupting...
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#235 The Wow! Signal at 50: Revisiting a Cosmic Mystery with Dr. Abel Mendez
In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann speaks with planetary astrobiologist Dr. Abel Méndez about the search for extraterrestrial life, the science behind the WOW! signal, and the challenges of detecting extraterrestrial intelligence.
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#234 Beyond Earth: Exoplanets and Habitability with Dr. Eliza Kempton
In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann and astronomer Dr. Eliza Kempton discuss the diversity of exoplanets, the search for potentially habitable worlds, and what studying these planets reveals about Earth’s uniqueness and the possibilities for life elsewhere in…
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#233 Are We Alone in the Universe?
Historian Ben Baumann explores humanity’s enduring question of whether we are alone in the universe and what that search reveals about ourselves. Tracing the idea from ancient philosophy to modern astronomy, the episode examines how scientific discovery deepens existential questions about…
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#232 The Importance of Constitutional Courage with Jamie Neikrie
In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann and Jamie Neikrie, Legislative Director of Issue One, explore examples of constitutional leadership, the role of civil society, and how past challenges can inform the future.
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#231 Using History to Seek Truth
Historian Ben Baumann reflects on how America’s past moments of courage can illuminate a path for a successful future. This episode examines rising polarization, declining civic education, and the expanding influence of artificial intelligence on public trust and our sense of reality, asking what...
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#230 Exploring the Belief in Ghosts with Ben Radford
In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann talks with Ben Radford, Deputy Editor of Skeptical Inquirer magazine and Research Fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Together, they discuss Radford’s experiences investigating ghosts, the psychological and cultural...
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#229 Should You Believe in the Supernatural?
From ancient ghost stories to modern UFO sightings, historian Ben Baumann explores humanity’s enduring fascination with the supernatural, why people believe, how those beliefs reflect our fear of death, and what they reveal about the very nature of being human.
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#228 The Future of Freedom in America with Sabrina Schaeffer
In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann talks with Sabrina Schaeffer, Vice President of Public Affairs at the R Street Institute about how freedom in America has changed, whether Americans still truly value freedom today, and the challenges of defending freedom in a...
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#227 What Does It Mean to Be Free?
From roaming hunter-gatherers to modern democracies, historian Ben Baumann traces how freedom has evolved across thousands of years of human history and why knowledge and critical thinking are key to preserving freedom today.
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#226 Music for the Animals with Plumes
In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann talks with musician Plumes about his experiences playing music for animals, the connection between humans and animals, and why people need to show greater care and compassion for them.
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#225 How Will History Remember Our Treatment of Animals?
Historian Ben Baumann talks about the historical relationship between humans and animals, as well as the modern risks animals face.
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#224 Working Across the Aisle with Rep. Don Bacon
In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann speaks with Rep. Don Bacon about his approach to crafting bipartisan legislation, the challenges he’s faced in a divided Congress, and why cooperation still matters for America’s future.
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#223 Is Bipartisanship Still Possible in America?
Historian Ben Baumann examines whether bipartisanship is still possible in America, tracing America’s history of compromise from its founding to today’s era of deep political polarization.
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#222 The Early Universe with Dr. Ethan Siegel
In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann speaks with astrophysicist Dr. Ethan Siegel about the origins of the universe, why scientific skepticism matters, and how our understanding of the cosmos may evolve in the future.
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#221 Does Anyone Know Why the Universe Exists?
Historian Ben Baumann explores the timeless question of why the universe exists, challenging the belief in certainties, and encouraging listeners to embrace the unknown by creating their own meaning in a mysterious cosmos.
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#220 How Learning History Can Change Your Life
In this episode, Ben Baumann discusses the transformative power of learning history, emphasizing the importance of understanding historical context rather than memorizing random facts and dates. He critiques the prevalence of pseudohistory and the influence of unqualified individuals on…
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#219 Becoming the Voice of Pokémon with Jason Paige
In this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann speaks with Jason Paige about his work producing commercial jingles, his iconic performance of the Pokémon theme song, and the impact of the musical "Rent" on his life and career.
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#218 The History of Television Theme Songs
Historian Ben Baumann talks about the history of popular television theme songs from the 1960s to the 2000s and how they impacted audiences.
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#217 Chasing Dreams and Making Music History with Paul Durham
In this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann interviews the lead singer of Black Lab, Paul Durham, about his humble journey to becoming a professional musician, his experiences overcoming challenges in his career, and his work on the Spider-Man soundtrack.
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#216 2000s Nostalgia
Historian Ben Baumann talks about 2000s pop culture and what 2000s kids remember from the era.
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#215 Sporting KC History with Matt Besler
In this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann interviews Sporting KC legend Matt Besler about the origins and evolution of professional soccer in Kansas City, his career with Sporting KC, and more.
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#214 The History of Soccer in America
Historian Ben Baumann talks about the history of the US soccer team, the development of professional soccer in America, and how far the sport has come in the United States.
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#212 The History of Dead and Endangered Languages
Historian Ben Baumann talks about the history of language and why so many languages are going extinct today.
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#213 The Quest to Save Scottish Gaelic with Prof. Will Lamb
In this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann speaks with Prof. Will Lamb about the origins of Scottish Gaelic, its historic decline, and the modern efforts to save it.
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#211 An Inspiring Hockey Story with Rob O'Gara
In this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann speaks with Rob O'Gara about Yale University's hockey national championship team, how college hockey has changed, and Rob's journey to the NHL.
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#210 The History of Ice Hockey
Historian Ben Baumann talks about the origins of ice hockey, the beginning of the NHL, and the greatest players ever.
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#209 A Historical Perspective on the Future of America
Historian Ben Baumann Provides a historical perspective on the future of America
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#208 What America Can Learn from the Roman Republic with Dr. Jason Schlude
In this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann speaks with Dr. Jason Schlude about why ancient history is relevant, how ancient history influenced the founding fathers, and the ancient political challenges that American democracy faces today.
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#207 Lessons from the History of Democracy
Historian Ben Baumann examines how authoritarian movements have challenged democratic systems throughout history and why these examples remain relevant today.
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#206 Perspectives on American Democracy with Reed Galen
In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann speaks with Reed Galen about civic participation, democratic traditions, and their role in public life.
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#205 Democracy in America: Lessons from History
Historian Ben Baumann discusses historical challenges to American democracy and their continuing relevance.
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#204 A Look at the Republican Party’s History with Susan Molinari
In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann speaks with former Rep. Susan Molinari about the evolution of American politics, changes in party dynamics, and the lessons history offers today.
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#203 How Political Alignments Have Changed in America
Historian Ben Baumann explores recent trends in American politics and how individuals’ perspectives on political figures evolve.
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#202 Legal and Historical Views on Treason in Early America with Carlton Larson
Historian Ben Baumann talks with Carlton Larson about treason in early American history, its legal evolution, and lessons for today.
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#201 How Treason Has Been Defined in U.S. History
Historian Ben Baumann discusses how treason has been understood in American history and the lessons it offers.
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#200 A Historian's Experiences in the Cold War Era with Dr. Robert Baumann
In this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann speaks with Dr. Robert Baumann about growing up during the cold war, the history of the cold war, and his experiences living in the Soviet Union.
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#199 The History of Uncertain Times
Historian Ben Baumann talks about living through times of uncertainty and gives examples from his own family history, which can perhaps help us navigate uncertain times. (Poem by Dr. Benjamin McGraw Rush)
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#198 Dog Intelligence with Vanessa Woods
In this Roots of Reality Experiences episode, historian Ben Baumann speaks with Vanessa Woods about puppy intelligence, misconceptions about dogs, and why dogs and humans bond so well.
About this show
A podcast by historian Ben Baumann that uses history from the formation of the universe to the present, illustrating how our world came to be. The podcast provides brief historical summaries of various subjects and features oral history interviews with guest experts who have lived experiences related to the topics discussed."Billions of years led to you."
Hosted by
Ben Baumann
Categories