Podcasts about Benjamin Franklin

Can the ICE agent be prosecuted who shot the women? Who should bear responsibility? Renee Nicole Good Is Dead. Benjamin Franklin Warned Us This Would Happen Fascist Alert! Puppy Killer Noem threatens Gov. Newsom, "We're coming for you." The Depraved New White House Website Isn't Just a Lie: It's an Invitation. Plus, The Night Wolves: Russian Motorcycle Club Militia.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Founders didn't build this country for secret police and point-blank executions…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Was the American Revolution just a regional rebellion on the eastern seaboard, or something far larger? Professor Richard Bell, author of The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, argues it was a geopolitical earthquake that reshaped the global order. In this episode, Bell explores how France, Spain, and the Netherlands entered the conflict for their own strategic reasons, why Jamaica mattered more to Britain than Virginia, and how foreign intervention proved decisive at battles like Yorktown. Along the way, he shares remarkable stories: Benjamin Franklin organizing his own privateering fleet from Paris, 50,000 ordinary Americans taking to the seas as state-sponsored pirates, and Harry Washington, a man enslaved at Mount Vernon who escaped to British lines and eventually led his own anti-colonial revolution in Sierra Leone. A fresh perspective on America's founding as a truly global event.Timestamps00:54 The American Revolution as a Global Conflict04:55 The British Empire and the Value of Jamaica07:27 Expanding the Patriot Coalition Beyond 13 Colonies09:44 Why France Joined the War13:21 Spain's Strategic Goals: Gibraltar and the Caribbean17:16 Dutch Financial Support and the St. Eustatius Arms Trade19:34 How Foreign Intervention Boosted British Morale24:06 From Philadelphia to Yorktown: Foreign Aid on the Battlefield27:11 Patriot Privateers and the War on British Commerce38:28 Harry Washington: From Mount Vernon to Sierra LeoneHost: Jeff SikkengaExecutive Producer: Jeremy GyptonSubscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanideaHomepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

Walter Isaacson is a biographer of geniuses like Benjamin Franklin and in his new book he reveals the origins of the most genius revolutionary line in the Declaration of Independence. He does so in his book “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written.”

Joining Audrey for this week's REELTalk - Direct from South Africa to discuss the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, Dr. PETER HAMMOND will be here! AND, Nationally syndicated Political Cartoonist (with Creators Syndicate), the comically incorrect, AF BRANCO will be here! PLUS, Major FRED GALVIN will be here!  In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately." Come hang with us...    

All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories #082 for January 1, 2026 It's January! Time for our annual 200th Birthday Bash for people born in 1826. After Martha Coston was widowed at age 21, she used her husbands notes and reputation to invent airborne signal flares that saved hundreds of lives. Henry Hagert was assistant District Attorney for the City of Philadelphia when he prosecuted a man for the murder of Civil Rights Activist Octavius V. Catto. Daniel Pabst was the finest cabinetmaker in town and people waited years for him to create their household masterpieces, many of which are today in museums.  Dr. Thomas Hewson Bache was a co-founder of Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, curator at the Mutter Museum, and a battlefield surgeon at Gettysburg. He was also Benjamin Franklin's great-great-grandson. Military historian Russ Dodge researched this one. Samuel Frankenfield was a German immigrant carpenter who discovered there was money to be made as a coffin builder and successfully switched professions from carpenter to mortician.  All were born in 1826. 

Looking for a New Year's resolution that creates lasting impact for you, your entire family, or your classroom? Join hosts Tom and Jeannie in the 2026 Mental Fitness Challenge—a simple, research-backed approach to building resilience through 36 weekly techniques that take just minutes per day.Specific Strategies You'll Learn:• How to access 36 free mental fitness techniques releasing weekly throughout the school year (with a summer break!)• The "Ritual for a Fulfilled Life"—Benjamin Franklin's approach adapted for modern times• Why popular techniques like Five Finger Breathing and the Concentration Grid help kids manage stress and improve focus• How teachers across Will County, IL are using these 2-minute videos as transformative classroom brain breaks• Why consistency matters more than perfection in building mental resilienceAbout This Challenge: Starting January 8th, new techniques release every Thursday. Each video is professionally produced, evidence-based, and designed for all ages—from kindergarteners to adults. Whether you're a parent looking to strengthen family connections, a teacher seeking classroom tools, or simply someone committed to better mental health in 2026, this challenge offers a structured, supported path forward.Ready to Join? Sign up at www.smarthwp.com (Resources > Two Minutes to Resilience) or subscribe on YouTube to receive weekly videos. Let's make 2026 our most mentally strong year yet—one week, one technique at a time.Thank youThank you for listening to the Raising Resilient Kids Podcast! We are siblings on a mission to help kids become their strongest selves. Each episode, we share proven strategies with parents, teachers, and all who work with youth and teens to build resilient, confident kids who can tackle life's challenges and thrive.For more information on the podcast, or if you have a question you would like answered by one of our expert guests, please visit us at – https://www.smarthwp.com/raisingresilientkidspodcast.A Special Thanks to our SponsorMind of a Champion https://smart-hwp.teachable.com/a/aff_9pt0kd23/external?affcode=246901_xpbs0um0The So Happy You're Here YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@sohappyyouarehereandThe Resilient Youth Certification Program - https://www.smarthwp.com/RY4teachers

Every January, millions of people make New Year's resolutions—and just as many abandon them weeks later. But where did this ritual come from? In this episode, Dr. Keith Sawyer traces the surprising 4,000-year history of New Year's resolutions, from ancient Babylonian vows to Roman civic promises, Christian moral reflection, early American self-engineering, and modern consumer culture. Along the way, he shows that resolutions were never inevitable or instinctive. They're a powerful example of collective creativity: a social tradition that slowly emerged as each generation added something new. Even when resolutions fail, we still grow from reflecting on our past and thinking about the future.  Five Key Takeaways New Year's resolutions are a tradition that emerged over thousands of years.  The earliest resolutions were about social trust, not self-improvement. In ancient Babylon, people made public vows to repay debts and keep promises to maintain social order. Christianity turned resolutions inward. Over time, public civic vows evolved into private moral commitments focused on personal character and self-examination. Modern resolutions were shaped by early American self-tracking--a science of the self. Figures like Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin treated the self as something that could be systematically improved through intention and measurement. Failure doesn't mean resolutions are pointless. Even when resolutions aren't fully kept, the act of reflection helps people clarify values, imagine future selves, and move toward personal growth. Chapters  Intro Why do we make resolutions? Reflection and self-improvement.  The First Resolutions: Babylon, 2000 BCE. Vows to the gods as public tools for social trust and stability.  Rome Invents January 1. How Julius Caesar, Janus, and Roman vota reshaped the calendar and the meaning of promises.  Christianity Turns Resolutions Inward. From public ritual to private moral self-examination.  Jonathan Edwards Invents the Modern Resolution. Seventy intense resolutions and the birth of systematic self-engineering.  Benjamin Franklin Tracks His Failures. Virtue charts, black dots, and the idea that character can be optimized.  Newspapers Start Making Fun of Resolutions. By the 1800s, some people were already making fun of how often they failed.  Radio and Psychology Take Over. How 20th-century media transformed resolutions into intimate self-help.  Advertising Discovers Resolutions. When self-improvement became a January sales strategy for gym memberships and Weight Watchers.  How to Make Resolutions that Stick. Research on resolutions: when they fail and what you can do to be more likely to succeed. Collective Creativity. Resolutions are a social innovation that emerged over the centuries. Outro Closer Music by license from SoundStripe: "Sparkling Eyes" by AFTERNOONZ "Uptown Lovers Instrumental" by AFTERNOONZ "Velvet" by AFTERNOONZ "Miss Missy" by AFTERNOONZ "Blue Molasses" by Renderings "Corner Trio" by Renderings "What's the Big Deal" by Ryan Saranich   Copyright (c) 2025 Keith Sawyer

The origins of self-help writing are often traced back to ancient times. This episode talks through some early versions of it, the goal-setting advice of a founding father, and the beginnings of the modern self-help genre. Research: Brady, Diane. “Charles Manson’s Turning Point: Dale Carnegie Classes.” Bloomberg Businessweek. July 22, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130925204803/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-07-22/charles-mansons-turning-point-dale-carnegie-classes Britannica Editors. "Lunyu". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Jan. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lunyu Britannica Editors. "Norman Vincent Peale". Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 May. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Norman-Vincent-Peale Carnegie, Dale. “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” London. Vermillion. Digital: https://dn720004.ca.archive.org/0/items/english-collections-1/How%20To%20Win%20Friends%20And%20Influence%20People%20-%20Carnegie%2C%20Dale.pdf Fairbanks, Douglas. “Laugh and Live.” New York. Britton Publishing Company. 1917. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12887/pg12887.txt Fontaine, Carole R. “A Modern Look at Ancient Wisdom: The Instruction of Ptahhotep Revisited.” The Biblical Archaeologist, vol. 44, no. 3, 1981, pp. 155–60. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3209606 Franklin, Benjamin. “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.” HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY. 1916. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/20203/20203-h/20203-h.htm#X Battiscombe G. “THE INSTRUCTION OF PTAH-HOTEP AND THE INSTRUCTION OFKE'GEMNI: THE OLDEST BOOKS IN THE WORLD.” London. John Murray. 1906. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/30508/30508-h/30508-h.htm Lilienfeld, Scott O. and Hal Arkowitz. “Can positive thinking be negative?” Scientific American. May 1, 2011. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-positive-thinking-be-negative/ Ray, J. D. “Egyptian Wisdom Literature.” Wisdom in Ancient Israel. Ed. John Day, Robert P. Gordon, and Hugh Godfrey Maturin Williamson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995. 17–29. Stableford, Brian. “Samuel Smiles.” Ebsco. 2023. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/samuel-smiles Seneca, Lucius Annaius, and Garth D. Williams (tr.). “On the Shortness of Life.” https://ia601705.us.archive.org/25/items/SenecaOnTheShortnessOfLife/Seneca%20on%20the%20Shortness%20of%20Life.pdf Tabor, Nick. "Dale Carnegie". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Nov. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dale-Carnegie See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine for a second that Eckhart Tolle wasn't a spiritual teacher, but a deep cover operative with a gun to his head. And just for a second, pretend that Tolle’s Power of Now wasn't a way to find peace, but a survival mechanism used to slow down time when your reality is collapsing. And your memory has been utterly destroyed by forces beyond your control. Until a good friend helps you rebuild it from the ground up. These are the exact feelings and sense of positive transformation I tried to capture in a project I believe is critical for future autodidacts, polymaths and traditional learners: Vitamin X, a novel in which the world’s only blind memory champion helps a detective use memory techniques and eventually achieve enlightenment. It’s also a story about accomplishing big goals, even in a fast-paced and incredibly challenging world. In the Magnetic Memory Method community at large, we talk a lot about the habits of geniuses like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. We obsess over their reading lists and their daily routines because we want that same level of clarity and intellectual power. But there's a trap in studying genius that too many people fall into: Passivity. And helping people escape passive learning is one of several reasons I’ve studied the science behind a variety of fictional learning projects where stories have been tested as agents of change. Ready to learn more about Vitamin X and the various scientific findings I’ve uncovered in order to better help you learn? Let’s dive in! Defeating the Many Traps of Passive Learning We can read about how Lincoln sharpened his axe for hours before trying to cut down a single tree. And that's great. But something's still not quite right. To this day, tons of people nod their heads at that famous old story about Lincoln. Yet, they still never sharpen their own axes, let alone swing them. Likewise, people email me every day regarding something I've taught about focus, concentration or a particular mnemonic device. They know the techniques work, including under extreme pressure. But their minds still fracture the instant they're faced with distraction. As a result, they never wind up getting the memory improvement results I know they can achieve. So, as happy as I am with all the help my books like The Victorious Mind and SMARTER have helped create in this world, I’m fairly confident that those titles will be my final memory improvement textbooks. Instead, I am now focused on creating what you might call learning simulations. Enter Vitamin X, the Memory Detective Series & Teaching Through Immersion Because here's the thing: If I really want to teach you how to become a polymath, I can't just carry on producing yet another list of tips. I have to drop you into scenarios where you actually feel what it's like to use memory techniques. That's why I started the Memory Detective initiative. It began with a novel called Flyboy. It’s been well-received and now part two is out. And it’s as close to Eckhart Tolle meeting a Spy Thriller on LSD as I could possibly make it. Why? To teach through immersion. Except, it's not really about LSD. No, the second Memory Detective novel centers around a substance called Vitamin X. On the surface, it's a thriller about a detective named David Williams going deep undercover. In actuality, it's a cognitive training protocol disguised as a novel. But one built on a body of research that shows stories can change what people remember, believe, and do. And that's both the opportunity and the danger. To give you the memory science and learning research in one sentence: Stories are a delivery system. We see this delivery system at work in the massive success of Olly Richards’ StoryLearning books for language learners. Richards built his empire on the same mechanism Pimsleur utilized to great effect long before their famous audio recordings became the industry standard: using narrative to make raw data stick. However, a quick distinction is necessary. In the memory world, we often talk about the Story Method. This approach involves linking disparate pieces of information together in a chain using a simple narrative vignette (e.g., a giant cat eating a toaster to remember a grocery list). That is a powerful mnemonic tool, and you will see Detective Williams use short vignettes in the Memory Detective series. But Vitamin X is what I call ‘Magnetic Fiction.’ It's not a vignette. It's a macro-narrative designed to carry the weight of many memory techniques itself. It simulates the pressure required to forge the skill, showing you how and why to use the story method within a larger, immersive context. So with that in mind, let's unpack the topic of fiction and teaching a bit further. That way, you'll know more of what I have in mind for my readers. And perhaps you'll become interested in some memory science experiments I plan to run in the near future. Illustration of “Cafe Mnemonic,” a fun memory training location the Memory Detective David Williams wants to establish once he has enough funds. Fiction as a Teaching Technology: What the Research Says This intersection of story and memory isn't new territory for me. Long before I gave my popular TEDx Talk on memory or helped thousands of people through the Magnetic Memory Method Masterclass, live workshops and my books, I served as a Mercator award-winning Film Studies professor. In this role, I often analyzed and published material regarding how narratives shape our cognition. Actually, my research into the persuasion of memory goes back to my scholarly contribution to the anthology The Theme of Cultural Adaptation in American History, Literature and Film. In my chapter, “Cryptomnesia or Cryptomancy? Subconscious Adaptations of 9/11,” I examined specifically how cultural narratives influence memory formation, forgetting, and the subconscious acceptance of information. That academic background drives the thinking and the learning protocols baked into Vitamin X. As does the work of researchers who have studied narrative influence for decades. Throughout their scientific findings, one idea keeps reappearing in different forms: When a story pulls you in, you experience some kind of “transportation.” It can be that you find yourself deeply immersed in the life of a character. Or you find your palms sweating as your brain tricks you into believing you're undergoing some kind of existential threat. When such experiences happen, you stop processing information like you would an argument through critical thinking. Instead, you start processing the information in the story almost as if they were really happening. As a result, these kinds of transportation can change beliefs and intentions, sometimes without the reader noticing the change happening. That's why fiction has been used for: teaching therapy religion civic formation advertising propaganda Even many national anthems contain stories that create change, something I experienced recently when I became an Australian citizen. As I was telling John Michael Greer during our latest podcast recording, I impulsively took both the atheist and the religious oath and sang the anthem at the ceremony. All of these pieces contain stories and those stories changed how I think, feel and process the world. Another way of looking at story is summed up in this simple statement: All stories have the same basic mechanism. But many stories have wildly different ethics. My ethics: Teach memory improvement methods robustly. Protect the tradition. And help people think for themselves using the best available critical thinking tools. And story is one of them. 6 Key Research Insights on Educational Fiction Now, when it comes to the research that shows just how powerful story is, we can break it down into buckets. Some of the main categories of research on fiction for pedagogy include: 1) Narrative transportation and persuasion As these researchers explain in The Role of Transportation in the Persuasiveness of Public Narratives, transportation describes how absorbed a reader becomes in a story. Psychologists use transportation models to show how story immersion drives belief change. It works because vivid imagery paired with emotion and focused attention make story-consistent ideas easier to accept. This study of how narratives were used in helping people improve their health support the basic point: Narratives produce average shifts in attitudes, beliefs, intentions, and sometimes behavior. Of course, the exact effects vary by topic and the design of the scientific study in question. But the point remains that fiction doesn't merely entertain. It can also train and persuade. 2) Entertainment-Education (EE) EE involves deliberately embedding education into popular media, often with pro-social aims. In another health-based study, researchers found that EE can influence knowledge, attitudes, intentions, behavior, and self-efficacy. Researchers in Brazil have also used large-scale observational work on soap operas and social outcomes (like fertility). As this study demonstrates, mass narrative exposure can shape real-world behavior at scale within a population. Stories can alter norms, not just transfer facts from one mind to another. You’ll encounter this theme throughout Vitamin X, especially when Detective Williams tangles with protestors who hold beliefs he does not share, but seem to be taking over the world. 3) Narrative vs expository learning (a key warning) Here's the part most “educational fiction” ignores: Informative narratives often increase interest, but they don't automatically improve comprehension. As this study found, entertainment can actually cause readers to overestimate how well they understood the material. This is why “edutainment” often produces big problems: You can wind up feeling smarter because you enjoyed an experience. But just because you feel that way doesn't mean you gain a skill you can reliably use. That’s why I have some suggestions for you below about how to make sure Vitamin X actually helps you learn to use memory techniques better. 4) Seductive details (another warning) There's also the problem of effects created by what scientists call seductive details. Unlike the “luminous details” I discussed with Brad Kelly on his Madness and Method podcast, seductive details are interesting but irrelevant material. They typically distract attention and reduce learning of what actually matters. As a result, these details divert attention through interference and by adding working memory demands. The research I’ve read suggests that when story authors don't engineer their work with learning targets in mind, their efforts backfire. What was intended to help learners actually becomes a sabotage device. I've done my best to avoid sabotaging my own pedagogical efforts in the Memory Detective stories so far. That's why they include study guides and simulations of using the Memory Palace technique, linking and number mnemonics like the Major System. In the series finale, which is just entering the third draft now, the 00-99 PAO and Giordano Bruno's Statue technique are the learning targets I’ve set up for you. They are much harder, and that’s why even though there are inevitable seductive details throughout the Memory Detective series, the focus on memory techniques gets increasingly more advanced. My hope is that your focus and attention will be sharpened as a result. 5) Learning misinformation from fiction (the dark side) People don't just learn from fiction. They learn false facts from fiction too. In this study, researchers found that participants often treated story-embedded misinformation as if it were true knowledge. This is one reason using narrative as a teaching tool is so ethically loaded. It can bypass the mental posture we use for skepticism. 6) Narrative “correctives” (using story against misinformation) The good news is that narratives can also reduce misbelief. This study on “narrative correctives” found that stories can sometimes decrease false beliefs and misinformed intentions, though results are mixed. The key point is that story itself is neither “good” or “bad.” It's a tool for leverage, and this is one of the major themes I built into Vitamin X. My key concern is that people would confuse me with any of my characters. Rather, I was trying to create a portrait of our perilous world where many conflicts unfold every day. Some people use tools for bad, others for good, and even that binary can be difficult for people to agree upon. Pros & Cons of Teaching with Fiction Let’s start with the pros. Attention and completion: A good story can keep people engaged, which is a prerequisite for any learning to occur. The transportation model I cited above helps explain why. The Positive Side of Escapism Entering a simulation also creates escapism that is actually valuable. This is because fiction gives you “experience” without real-world consequences when it comes to facing judgment, ethics, identity, and pressure-handling. This is one reason why story has always been used for moral education, not just entertainment. However, I’ve also used story in my Memory Detective games, such as “The Velo Gang Murders.” Just because story was involved did not mean people did not face judgement. But it was lower than my experiments with “Magnetic Variety,” a non-narrative game I’ll be releasing in the future. Lower Reactance Stories can reduce counterarguing compared with overt persuasion, which can be useful for resistant audiences. In other words, you’re on your own in the narrative world. Worst case scenario, you’ll have a bone to pick with the author. This happened to me the other day when someone emailed to “complain” about how I sometimes discuss Sherlock Holmes. Fortunately, the exchange turned into a good-hearted debate, something I attribute to having story as the core foundation of our exchange. Compare this to Reddit discussions like this one, where discussing aspects of the techniques in a mostly abstract way leads to ad hominem attacks. Now for the cons: Propaganda Risk The same reduction in counterarguing and squabbling with groups that you experience when reading stories is exactly what makes narratives useful for manipulation. When you’re not discussing what you’re reading with others, you can wind up ruminating on certain ideas. This can lead to negative outcomes where people not only believe incorrect things. They sometimes act out negatively in the world. The Illusion of Understanding Informative narratives can produce high interest but weaker comprehension and inflated metacomprehension. I’ve certainly had this myself, thinking I understand various points in logic after reading Alice in Wonderland. In reality, I still needed to do a lot more study. And still need more. In fact, “understanding” is not a destination so much as it is a process. Misinformation Uptake People sometimes acquire false beliefs from stories and struggle to discount fiction as a source. We see this often in religion due to implicit memory. Darrel Ray has shown how this happens extensively in his book, The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture. His book helped explain something that happened to me after I first started memorizing Sanskrit phrases and feeling the benefits of long-form meditation. For a brief period, implicit memory and the primacy effect made me start to consider that the religion I’d grown up with was in fact true and real. Luckily, I shook that temporary effect. But many others aren’t quite so lucky. And in case it isn’t obvious, I’ll point out that the Bible is not only packed with stories. Some of those stories contain mnemonic properties, something Eran Katz pointed out in his excellent book, Where Did Noah Park the Ark? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhQlcMHhF3w The “Reefer Madness” Problem While working on Vitamin X, I thought often about Reefer Madness. In case you haven’t seen it, Reefer Madness began as an “educational” morality tale about cannabis. It's now famous largely because it's an over-the-top artifact of moral panic, an example of how fear-based fiction can be used to shape public belief under the guise of protection. I don’t want to make that mistake in my Memory Detective series. But there is a relationship because Vitamin X does tackle nootropics, a realm of substances for memory I am asked to comment on frequently. In this case, I'm not trying to protect people from nootropics, per se. But as I have regularly talked about over the years, tackling issues like brain fog by taking memory supplements or vitamins for memory is fraught with danger. And since fiction is one of the most efficient way to smuggle ideas past the mind's filters, I am trying to raise some critical thinking around supplementation for memory. But to do it in a way that's educational without trying to exploit anyone. I did my best to create the story so that you wind up thinking for yourself. What I'm doing differently with Vitamin X & the Memory Detective Series I'm not pretending fiction automatically teaches. I'm treating fiction as a delivery system for how various mnemonic methods work and as a kind of cheerleading mechanism that encourages you to engage in proper, deliberate practice. Practice of what? 1) Concentration meditation. Throughout the story, Detective Williams struggles to learn and embrace the memory-based meditation methods of his mentor, Jerome. You get to learn more about these as you read the story. 2) Memory Palaces as anchors for sanity, not party tricks. In the library sequence, Williams tries to launch a mnemonic “boomerang” into a Memory Palace while hallucinatory imagery floods the environment. Taking influence from the ancient mnemonist, Hugh of St. Victor, Noah's Ark becomes a mnemonic structure. Mnemonic images surge and help Detective Williams combat his PTSD. To make this concrete, I've utilized the illustrations within the book itself. Just as the ancients used paintings and architectural drawings to encode knowledge, the artwork in Vitamin X isn’t just decoration. During the live bootcamp I’m running to celebrate the launch, I show you how to treat the illustrations as ‘Painting Memory Palaces.’ This effectively turns the book in your hands into a functioning mnemonic device, allowing you to practice the method of loci on the page before you even step out into the real world. Then there’s the self-help element, which takes the form of how memory work can help restore sanity. A PTSD theme runs throughout the Memory Detective series for two deliberate reasons. First, Detective Williams is partly based on Nic Castle. He's a former police officer who found symptom relief for his PTSD from using memory techniques. He shared his story on this episode of the Magnetic Memory Method Podcast years ago. Second, Nic's anecdotal experience is backed up by research. And even if you don't have PTSD, the modern world is attacking many of us in ways that clearly create similar symptom-like issues far worse than the digital amnesia I've been warning about for years. We get mentally hijacked by feeds, anxiety loops, and synthetic urgency. We lose our grip on reality and wonder why we can't remember what we read five minutes ago. That's just one more reason I made memory techniques function as reality-tests inside Vitamin X. 3) The critical safeguard: I explicitly separate fiction from technique. In Flyboy's afterword, I put it plainly: The plot is fictional, but the memory techniques are real. And because they're real, they require study and practice. I believe this boundary matters because research shows how easily readers absorb false “facts” from fiction. 4) To help you practice, I included a study guide. At the end of both Flyboy and Vitamin X, there are study guides. In Vitamin X, you'll find a concrete method for creating a Mnemonic Calendar. This is not the world's most perfect memory technique. But it's helpful and a bit more advanced than a technique I learned from Jim Samuels many years ago. In his version, he had his clients divide the days of the week into a Memory Palace. For his senior citizens in particular, he had them divide the kitchen. So if they had to take a particular pill on Monday, they would imagine the pill as a giant moon in the sink. Using the method of loci, this location would always serve as their mnemonic station for Monday. In Vitamin X, the detective uses a number-shape system. Either way, these kinds of techniques for remembering schedules are the antidote to the “illusion of understanding” problem, provided that you put them to use. They can be very difficult to understand if you don't. Why My Magnetic Fiction Solves the “Hobbyist” Problem A lot of memory training fails for one reason: People treat it as a hobby. They “learn” techniques the way people “learn” guitar: By watching a few videos and buying a book. While the study material sits on a shelf or lost in a hard drive, the consumer winds up never rehearsing. Never putting any skill to the test. And as a result, never enjoying integration with the techniques. What fiction can do is create: emotional stakes situational context identity consistency (“this is what I do now”) and enough momentum to carry you into real practice That's the point of the simulation. You're not just reading about a detective and his mentor using Memory Palaces and other memory techniques. You're watching what happens when a mind uses a Memory Palace to stay oriented. And you can feel that urgency in your own nervous system while you read. That's the “cognitive gym” effect, I'm going for. It's also why I love this note from Andy, because it highlights the exact design target I'm going for: “I finished Flyboy last night. Great book! I thought it was eminently creative, working the memory lessons into a surprisingly intricate and entertaining crime mystery. Well done!” Or as the real-life Sherlock Holmes Ben Cardall put it the Memory Detective stories are: …rare pieces of fiction that encourages reflection in the reader. You don’t just get the drama, the tension and the excitement from the exploits of its characters. You also get a look at your own capabilities as though Anthony is able to make you hold a mirror up to yourself and think ‘what else am I capable of’? A Practical Way to Read These Novels for Memory Training If you want the benefits without the traps we've discussed today: Read Vitamin X for immersion first (let transportation do its job). Then read it again with a simple study goal. This re-reading strategy is important because study-goal framing will improve comprehension and reduce overconfidence. During this second read-through, actually use the Mnemonic Calendar. Then, test yourself by writing out what you remember from the story. If you make a mistake, don't judge yourself. Simply use analytical thinking to determine what went wrong and work out how you can improve. The Future: Learning Through Story is About to Intensify Here's the uncomfortable forecast: Even though I’m generally pro-AI for all kinds of outcomes and grateful for my discussions with Andrew Mayne about it (host of the OpenAI Podcast), AI could make the generation of personalized narratives that target your fears, identity, and desires trivial. That means there’s the risk that AI will also easily transform your beliefs. The same machinery that can create “education you can't stop reading” can also create persuasion you barely notice. Or, as Michael Connelly described in his novel, The Proving Ground, we might notice the effects of this persuasion far more than we’d like. My research on narrative persuasion and misinformation underscores why this potential outcome is not hypothetical. So the real question isn't “Should we teach with fiction?” The question is: Will we build fiction that creates personal agency… or engineer stories that steal it? My aim with Flyboy, Vitamin X and the series finale is simple and focused on optimizing your ability: to use story as a motivation engine to convert that motivation into deliberate practice to make a wide range of memory techniques feel as exciting for you as they are for me and to give your attention interesting tests in a world engineered to fragment it. If you want better memory, this is your challenge: Don't read Vitamin X for entertainment alone. Read it to see if you can hold on to reality while the world spins out of control. When you do, you'll be doing something far rarer than collecting tips. You'll be swinging the axe. A very sharp axe indeed. And best of all, your axe for learning and remembering more information at greater speed will be Magnetic.

This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! Are you a good person? Do you live by your own values? How can you develop character and virtues? In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss values and virtue.Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening!  Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com  

L'invité : Olivier Jandot, agrégé et docteur en histoire moderneLe livre : Les délices du feu. L'homme, le chaud et le froid à l'époque moderne, Champ Vallon, 2018.La discussion : l'effort de contextualisation et d'imagination à produire pour comprendre les notations du passé concernant le froid et l'hiver ; le « grand hiver » de 1709 et les raisons de sa notoriété ; la nécessité de croiser les sources (médicales, du for privé) pour comprendre ce rapport au froid, et l'utilisation des sources iconographiques, en lien avec les travaux des médiévistes ; la vulnérabilité face au froid des sociétés anciennes, illustrée par la régularité des morts de froid ; l'absence d'isolation thermique de l'habitat ancien, compensée par des « espaces gigognes » ; la fracture géographique et culturelle entre cheminées et poêles ; la nécessité d'économiser le bois, et de se chauffer avec des combustibles de substitution ; un enjeu social qui s'aggrave avec une crise forestière perçue au XVIIIe siècle ; les instruments de chauffage portatifs ; la persistance de ce rapport au froid tard au XXe siècle, illustrée par la chanson « Bonhomme » de Georges Brassens (1958, extrait sonore) avec le bois mort, « chauffage du pauvre » ; un rapport à la chaleur socialement différencié mais qui touche aussi les puissants ; a chaleur humaine et animale comme solution face au froid ; l'évolution majeure décelable au XVIIIe siècle à partir notamment de la Mécanique du feu de Nicolas Gauger (1713) ; la circulation des savoirs (Benjamin Franklin) avec une prise en compte scientifique de la chaleur ; un discours critique sur la demande sociale de chaleur, lisible chez Rousseau par exemple.Musique de générique : Henry Purcell (livret de John Dryden), King Arthur, 1691, interprété par le Deller Consort (Nigel Beavan, basse), acte III, « Air du froid »COLD GENIUSWhat power art thou, who from belowHast made me rise unwillingly and slowFrom beds of everlasting snow?See'st thou not how stiff and wondrous old,Far unfit to bear the bitter cold,I can scarcely move or draw my breath?Let me, let me freeze again to death.Les conseils de lecture :– André Bucher. Déneiger le ciel. Sabine Wespieser, 2007.– Françoise Waquet, Histoire émotionnelle des savoirs, CNRS, 2019.Un podcast créé, animé et produit par André Loez et distribué par Binge Audio. Contact pub : project@binge.audioHébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

คอลัมน์ “สดแต่เช้า”ปีที่5 (ตอนที่271) พรวิเศษ? “แต่ทุกคนถูกล่อลวงด้วยตัณหาของตัวเอง คือ ถูกตัณหานั้นล่อลวงและชักนำ”‭‭ ~ยากอบ‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭THSV11‬‬ “But we are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires.”‭‭ ~James‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭GNT‬‬ ในภาษาไทย คำว่า ตัณหา หมายถึง“ ความใคร่ทางกามารมณ์ ความอยากได้ อยากมี อยากเป็นซึ่งมีมาก และเพื่อตอบสนองความต้องการของตน ” จึงกล่าวได้ว่า เราทุกคนล้วนถูกล่อลวง ด้วยความต้องการหรือความอยากได้ของตัวเองถ้าเราตอบสนองหนึ่งความอยาก เราจะต้องตอบสนองอีกหลายๆความอยากเราจึงต้องไม่ปล่อยให้ความอยากแรก ล่อลวงและชักนำเราให้หลงออกจากทางที่ควรเดินเหมือนดังที่ เบนจามิน แฟรงคลิน กล่าวว่า “การยับยั้งความอยากแรกนั้นง่ายกว่าที่จะสนองทุกความอยากที่ตามมาภายหลัง!“(It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follows it.) -Benjamin Franklin- ให้เราระวัง ตัณหา หรือความอยากของเราให้ดี เพราะผลที่ตามมาอาจจะไม่เป็นอย่างที่คิดหวังเหมือนดังอุทาหรณ์ต่อไปนี้“สามีภรรยาคู่หนึ่งอายุ 40 เท่ากัน จัดงานเลี้ยงฉลองครบรอบแต่งงาน 15 ปีมีทูตสวรรค์มาร่วมอวยพร พร้อมสัญญาจะให้พรคนละ 1 อย่างผู้ภรรยาขอเที่ยวรอบโลกกับสามีปิ๊ง!ในทันใดนั้น เธอและสามีต่างก็มีตั๋วเรือสำราญเที่ยวรอบโลกอยู่ในมือ!พอถึงคราวสามีขอพรเขามองดูภรรยาแล้วดูตั๋วในมือ ฉับพลันตาของเขาก็เป็นประกายขึ้น และขอพรว่า...“ผมขอให้ภรรยาที่ร่วมทางไปด้วย มีอายุน้อยกว่าผมครึ่งหนึ่ง!”ปิ๊ง! ชายผู้เป็นสามี นั้นกลายเป็นชายชราวัย 80 ปีในทันที! ” พี่น้องที่รักจงระวัง อย่าให้พรพิเศษ พาให้เรา พังพินาศไป นะครับ!คำเตือนวันนี้ คือ“ความอยากที่ไม่ถูกควบคุม อาจทำให้เราสูญเสียสิ่งที่มีค่ามากที่สุดไป” (Uncontrolled desire can cost us what matters most.) ดังนัันขอให้เราดำเนินชีวิตอย่างมีสติ อย่าให้เราเสียสิ่งล้ำค่าในชีวิต เพราะ ความอยากที่ขาดความยั้งคิด! นั่นคือ ขอให้เราเฝัาระวัง ในสิ่งที่เราคิด พูด โพสต์ กระทำและ ประพฤติไว้อยู่เสมอ … ไม่ทราบว่า คุณ1.เห็นด้วยและ2.ยินดีทำตาม คำเตือนสติดังที่กล่าวมานี้ หรือไม่ครับ?…………………………………ธงชัย ประดับชนานุรัตน์ 27ธันวาคม2025 (ตอนที่271ปีที่5)#YoutubeCJCONNECT#คริสตจักรแห่งความรัก#Churchoflove #ShareTheLoveForward #ChurchOfJoy #คริสตจักรแห่งความสุข #NimitmaiChristianChurch #คริสตจักรนิมิตใหม่ #ฮักกัยประเทศไทย #อัลฟ่า #หนึ่งล้านความดี

The lives of these men are essential to understanding the American form of government and our ideals of liberty. The Founding Fathers all played key roles in the securing of American independence from Great Britain and in the creation of the government of the United States of America.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation, Denise shares her journey from corporate burnout to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the chaos of scaling businesses and the importance of preparation for pitch meetings. She introduces her consulting firm, Data-Driven Intuition, which focuses on helping founders navigate product pivots and market fit. Denise also discusses her writing process and the therapeutic benefits of writing, while expressing her admiration for historical figures like Benjamin Franklin.As You Listen:00:00 The Journey to Entrepreneurship03:01 Navigating the Chaos of Scaling6:06 Mastering Pitch Meetings9:12 Data-Driven Intuition: A New Approach12:01 The Writing Process and Its Benefits14:57 Inspiration from Historical Figures"It's not about me.""Be prepared for rejection.""I would love his advice."

In the latest episode of Tin Foil Hat, Sam Tripoli welcomes Matt Ehret for a condensed but provocative discussion on America's hidden history and its alleged ties to the occult, including Benjamin Franklin's efforts to bring Canada into the early United States. The conversation explores a spider web of secret societies, the role of Freemasonry among the Founding Fathers, and how power networks are said to stretch across centuries. Ehret also draws bold connections between the Jack the Ripper mystery and what he calls the “Kevin Bacon” of conspiracies, linking it all to the greater Israel project.Please check out Matt Ehret's book: "Revenge Of The Mystery Cults"- https://bit.ly/4scPBlOPlease subscribe to the new Tin Foil Hat youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TinFoilHatYoutubeGrab your copy of the 2nd issue of the Chaos Twins now and join the Army Of Chaos:https://bit.ly/415fDfYCheck out Sam "DoomScrollin with Sam Tripoli and Midnight Mike" Every Tuesday At 4pm pst on Youtube, X Twitter, Rumble and Rokfin!Join the WolfPack at Wise Wolf Gold and Silver and start hedging your financial position by investing in precious metals now! Go to samtripoli.gold and use the promo code "TinFoil" and we thank Tony for supporting our show.CopyMyCrypto.com: The 'Copy my Crypto' membership site shows you the coins that the youtuber 'James McMahon' personally holds - and allows you to copy him. So if you'd like to join the 1300 members who copy James, then stop what you're doing and head over to: https://copymycrypto.com/tinfoilhat/ You'll not only find proof of everything I've said - but my listeners get full access for just $1LiveLongerFormula.com: Check out https://www.livelongerformula.com/sam — Christian is a longevity author and functional health expert who helps you fix your gut, detox, boost testosterone, and sleep better so you can thrive, not just survive. Watch his free masterclass on the 7 Deadly Health Fads, and if it clicks, book a free Metabolic Function Assessment to get to the root of your health issues.Want to see Sam Tripoli live? Get tickets at SamTripoli.com:Morris Plains, NJ: New Year's Eve At The Dojo Of Comedy Dec 31st https://www.tiffscomedy.com/events/121228 Atlantic City, NJ: Word War Debate: WW1 Live At the ACX1 inside Caesar's Place Jan 10thhttps://www.showpass.com/wordwardebate/Please check out Matt Ehret's internet:Website: https://independent.academia.edu/MattEhretTwitter: https://x.com/ehret_matthewSubstack: https://matthewehret.substack.com/Please check out Sam Tripoli's internet:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/samtripoli Sam Tripoli's Stand Up Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@SamTripoliComedy Sam Tripoli's Comedy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samtripolicomedy/ PSam Tripoli's Podcast Clip Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samtripolispodcastclips/ Please join us in supporting our sponsors, and thank you to them for sponsoring our show:True Classic: True Classic is made with stank-free, moisture-wicking technology so you can do it all in comfort and style. From running on the treadmill to running out for beer, True Classic has the gear for you. So, if you're ready to upgrade your closet, shop now with my exclusive link at trueclassic.com/TinFoil and save up to 25% off your first order. PLEASE support our show and tell them we sent you. No matter how you move, make 2024 your most comfortable year yet with True Classic.Stash: Stash isn't just another investing app—it's a registered investment advisor that combines automated investing with expert, personalized guidance, so you don't have to worry about gambling or figuring it out on your own. Don't let your money sit around—put it to work with Stash. Go to get dot stash dot com slash TINFOIL to see how you can receive TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS towards your first stock purchase and to view important disclosures.HIMS: No man wants to lose his hair, but for men, it's actually very common. And now with Hims, the solution is simple. Try Hims' hair loss solutions and you'll be joining hundreds of thousands of subscribers who got their flow back. Start your free online visit today at Hims dot com slash TINFOILHAT. That's hims.com/TINFOILHAT for your personalized hair loss treatment options.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before Raymond Ablack became a fan-favorite, playing Joe on Netflix's Ginny and Georgia, he was a kid who enjoyed acting, reading and Christmas. He joins The Next Chapter to share some of his childhood memories, and what it's like to play Sam Wilner in the Audibles Originals story, Mistletoe Murders. Plus, Madelaine Drohan on her book about Benjamin Franklin, the surprises and similarities in the history of Canada-US relations and two companion reads.Books discussed on this week's show include:He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin's Failure to Annex Canada by Madelaine DrohanTrading Fate: How a Little-known Company Stopped British Columbia from Becoming an American State by Graeme Menzies Elbows Up: Canadian Voices of Resilience and Resistance edited by Elamin Abdelmahmoud

In today's episode, Ryan Holiday sits down with legendary biographer Walter Isaacson for a wide-ranging, deeply thoughtful conversation recorded live at the Texas Tribune Festival. They talk about Walker Percy and The Moviegoer, how Stoicism shows up in fiction, and why the ancient virtues still matter in the modern world. They talk through Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Viktor Frankl, and why history tends to outlast the noise of the present moment.

durée : 00:58:40 - Le Cours de l'histoire - par : Xavier Mauduit, Maïwenn Guiziou, Anne-Toscane Viudes - Dans la deuxième moitié du 18ᵉ siècle, l'Europe découvre un étrange instrument : l'harmonica de verre. Contrairement à l'inventeur de cette "machine musicale", le diplomate et physicien Benjamin Franklin, son interprète, Mary Ann Davies, n'est pas retenue par l'histoire de la musique. - réalisation : Margot Page - invités : Mélanie Traversier Historienne

Episode 191: Guests:  Alexander Hamilton; John Adams; James Madison; Samuel Cooper; Benjamin Franklin; The General CongressApplied HistoryThe Workers that Keep America MovingHamilton's Defense of Congress Pt 3Life Liberty and PropertyCriminals and AccomplicesSelf-preservation and the Greater UnionChaos and Corruption as the Only OptionsWhy do the American People (2025) Support Corruption?The Example of the Congress 1774Congress 1774 vs Congress 2025British Parliament 1774 Approximates U.S. Congress 2024+Placing a Foot Forward___________________Support the show

"Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren...They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, ENEMIES IN WAR, IN PEACE FRIENDS." In this episode we explore Loyalist vs. Patriot Civil War during the Revolutionary War. Topics include: -the outbreak of violence in Lexington and Concord in 1775 and the mustering of local militias, which forced Colonial men to decide whether they supported the revolution or the King -the Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence, which urged fellow colonists both to support independence and also to engage in acts of protest against the British Empire -an exploration of Loyalists and Loyalism -British misjudgements about the extent to which Colonists--even mostly loyal Colonists--were in fact loyal to the King and satisfied with British military occupation -the use and effectiveness of loyalty oaths, which were administered an the population by both sides in the conflict -intrafamily division like that between Benjamin Franklin and his son, William, who was Governor of New Jersey and a fervent Loyalist, and that between the Patriot Officer Henry Knox and his wife's family, who were also fervent Loyalists -the post-war reconciliation, reintegration, and intentional forgetting of Loyalists

Ebenezer directed by Ken Jubenvill and starring Jack Palance, Ricky Schroder and Amy Locane. Episode Roundup: The Cowpuncher speculate on the kinds of gifts a reformed Scrooge might give for Christmas. Mel's birth is foretold by Benjamin Franklin. Amy reveals the terrifying orgins of "Tiny Tim disease". Stu quizzes Amy and Mel on Western Movie Geography. Happy Holidays everyone!

12/21/2025 Luke 3:31-32 The Man Who WILL Be King Intro: Lots of people have wanted to be king. King of a realm. King of the world even! But there is only going to be ONE king and ONE ruler of the universe eventually. You know that communism doesn't work….Islamic rule doesn't work…..Marxism doesn't work….even a constitutional republic doesn't work…..why? Because wicked people always in time ruin everything! Benjamin Franklin said that only a righteous people can govern themselves under a constitutional republic. But look at America….it is falling apart at the seams because we are not a righteous people. Only a righteous people can live together in harmony and only with a righteous king. WE will have a righteous king one day and it won't be long!

Joining Audrey for this week's REELTalk - Exec. Dir. of American Constitutional Rights Union and bestselling author, LTC ALLEN WEST, will be here! PLUS, Terror Threat Analyst and former FBI Agent, JOHN GUANDOLO will be here! PLUS, bestselling author of Mao's America, XI VAN FLEET will be here! AND, Grammy Winning Singer/Songwriter BRYAN DUNCAN will be here!  In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately." Come hang with us...    

Send us a textDr. Zeke Emanuel joins Dr. Michael Koren to discuss his new book Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life. Dr. Emanuel explains how frustrated he is at trendy, influencer-style health advice and how it accentuates intense, short-term "miracle fixes," which are almost always for sale and rarely have medical benefits. He explains his philosophy, and the philosophy of Benjamin Franklin: that, in order to make substantive change, you have to focus on one thing at a time, developing it into a habit. Dr. Emanuel also explains the title of his book, that one of the largest and most important factors in health is social well-being.Preorder Dr. Emanuel's book here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eat-your-ice-cream-ezekiel-j-emanuel-md/1147402755Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at askDrKoren@MedEvidence.comListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsWatch on YouTubeShare with a friend. Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the MedEvidence! podcast to be notified when new episodes are released.Follow us on Social Media:FacebookInstagramX (Formerly Twitter)LinkedInWant to learn more? Checkout our entire library of podcasts, videos, articles and presentations at www.MedEvidence.comMusic: Storyblocks - Corporate InspiredThank you for listening!

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on StoicismIn this episode of The Via Stoica Podcast, I sit down with Eric Weiner, celebrated author, philosophical traveler, and former NPR foreign correspondent, to explore how philosophy, travel, and character shape a meaningful life. Known for The Socrates Express and The Geography of Bliss, Eric brings a mix of humor, honesty, and depth to the conversation.We dive into the wisdom behind The Socrates Express, the surprising modern relevance of ancient philosophers, and why Stoic ideas continue to resonate today. Eric also shares insights from Ben and Me, his exploration of Benjamin Franklin's habits, virtues, and practical philosophy for living well.Whether you're into Stoicism, philosophy, or simply searching for grounded guidance in daily life, this conversation offers clear, practical takeaways. If you enjoy the episode, rate, review, and subscribe, and read our full review of The Socrates Express: https://viastoica.com/the-socrates-express/Support the showhttps://viastoica.comhttps://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coachinghttps://viastoica.com/benny-vonckenhttps://twitter.com/ViaStoicainfo@viastoica.comProduced by: http://badmic.com

Nationally known investment expert, economist, Chapman University professor and author of more than 25 books Mark Skousen joins us to discuss his latest book, The Greatest American, on his distant relative, Benjamin Franklin.  We talk about Franklin's legacy in science, business, economics, politics, and diplomacy, and ponder what Franklin would think about politicians like Zohran Mandami.  He also gives a preview of next year's FreedomFest, the world's largest gathering of free minds.

Joining Audrey for this week's REELTalk - Bestselling author of American Betrayal & Death of the Grown Up, DIANA WEST will be here! PLUS, Legal Analyst for GAO and bestselling author of Red Hot Lies, CHRISTOPHER HORNER will be here! PLUS, candidate for the US Senate seat in Texas, ALEXANDER DUNCAN will be here! AND, bestselling author of Beyond Treason, LTG THOMAS McINERNEY of CCNS will be with us! In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately." Come hang with us...    

Alan Lowe interviews Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute, as part of a series celebrating 250 years of American innovation. He joins AMSEcast to discuss the institute's 1824 origins, its mission to inspire curiosity in science and technology, and its deep ties to Benjamin Franklin's legacy. He highlights major exhibits, including the National Memorial, the Hamilton Collections Gallery, and historic patent models, and online series like Ingenious and The Road to 2050. Dubinski emphasizes fostering lifelong learning, diverse voices, and bold leadership to sustain innovation.   Episod Highlights (1:16) When The Franklin Institute was established and its mission (1:58) Why Benjamin Franklin still looms large over so many subjects (2:48) How Franklin's story is preserved and presented at the institute (3:33) Why the Baldwin 60000 steam locomotive is such a great engineering innovation (6:47) Exploring the museum's artifacts in "Ingenious: The Evolution of Innovation" (8:23) Why the U.S. has such an ability for creating new technologies and creative problem solving (9:06) How we can continue being leaders and innovators for the next 250 years Guest Biography Larry Dubinski is the President and CEO of The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, one of the nation's oldest and most respected centers for science education. Since taking the helm in 2014, he has led major initiatives that expand the institute's reach, modernize its exhibits, and deepen its role in inspiring curiosity about science and technology. Under his leadership, The Franklin Institute has continued to honor Benjamin Franklin's legacy while showcasing cutting-edge innovation and educational programming. A champion of lifelong learning and public engagement in STEM, Larry brings both vision and passion to the advancement of science education. Links Referenced The Franklin Institute: FiHome | The Franklin Institute https://fi.edu/

 Join host Professor Robert Allison for a dynamic conversation with historian Ronald Angelo Johnson, author of Entangled Alliances: Racialized Freedom and Atlantic Diplomacy During the American Revolution. Together they explore how the American Revolution unfolded within a vibrant and contested Atlantic world shaped by Black leadership, Caribbean revolutions, and international diplomacy. Johnson, who holds the the Ralph and Bessie Mae Lynn Chair of History at Baylor University,  highlights the  global forces—from Haiti to Europe—that influenced American independence and redefined ideas of freedom. The Revolution was not an isolated struggle, but was part of a far-reaching web of alliances, conflicts, and revolutionary change. Tell us what you think! Send us a text message!

Headlines move fast, but the root struggle rarely changes: what ideas shape our lives, our families, and our country. We follow a clear thread—from Minnesota's funding controversy to Churchill's warnings about Nazism to FDR's 1933 Christmas Eve fireside chat—to ask a hard question: do we evaluate people by ethnicity and origin, or by the ideology they carry and promote? That choice frames everything else, from policy to culture to how we raise our kids.We read from 1 Corinthians on marital fidelity and self-giving, then turn to Revelation's vision of justice and Psalm 143's cry from the depths. These passages aren't abstract; they show how private virtue sustains public courage. Proverbs adds a civic edge with small, wise creatures that model foresight, order, and presence—a reminder that strength without wisdom collapses. Along the way, we honor William S. Bond's Medal of Honor service, because history's courage steadies today's resolve.FDR's Christmas message anchors the conversation in hope and Scripture. He quotes the promise that nations should not learn war forever, a line many now miss because biblical literacy has faded. Benjamin Franklin's accounts of Scripture-saturated speech in early America reveal how a common text once set boundaries for power and protected freedom. When people know the words, leaders can't easily bend them. When that knowledge fades, new creeds slip in under familiar language.Our through-line is simple and urgent: ideology decides direction. If we abandon the principles of Christ—justice, mercy, humility, courage—we leave a vacuum that corrosive systems rush to fill. Rebuild literacy. Teach truth to children. Evaluate policies by dignity, not marketing. Support communities that pray, debate, and act with moral clarity. If this conversation moved you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a quick review so others can find the show.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Bienvenue à Philadelphie !!Une ville CAPITALE dans l'Histoire USC'est là que les Pères Fondateurs ont signé la Déclaration d'IndépendanceC'est là que les Pères Fondateurs ont signé la ConstitutionC'est là que Benjamin Franklin a inventé le paratonnerre (et ouais)Si vous avez fait grec première langue, alors vous le savez : Philadelphie : ça veut dire "la ville de l'amour fraternel"Dans cet épisode, vous pourrez croiser un cerf-volant, des éclairs, une cloche fissurée, Tom Hanks, Rocky Balboa et le dossier scolaire de Donald Trump Pour en savoir plus, une seule adresseLe podcats FIFTY STATES !Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Newt talks with Walter Isaacson, bestselling author and historian, about his new book, "The Greatest Sentence Ever Written," which explores the creation and significance of one of history’s most powerful sentences: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” from the Declaration of Independence. Isaacson emphasizes the importance of this sentence as a unifying mission statement for America, especially as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. The book delves into the historical context and the collaborative efforts of figures like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams in crafting this foundational sentence. Isaacson argues that understanding and reflecting on this sentence can help bridge current political divides and foster a renewed sense of patriotism. Their discussion also touches on the broader impact of the Declaration of Independence as a universal document advocating for individual rights and democratic governance. Isaacson's work aims to inspire dialogue and reflection on America's founding principles as the country prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our series continues about unprecedented politics, named for the famous Benjamin Franklin line in 1787: "A republic, if you can keep it." University of Denver political scientist Seth Masket provides historic context. Then, it takes a lot of work to keep Mustang standing strong outside DIA. Also, tech firm Ibotta makes a 10-year commitment to downtown Denver, which other businesses have fled. And the family stories behind Denver's Little Saigon at History Colorado Center. 

Joining Audrey for this week's REELTalk - BOSCH FAWSTIN, the world's first anti-Jihad comic book author and illustrator and creator of Pigman, will be here to set us straight on the truth about Islam and its plans for the West! PLUS, brilliant farceur MIKE FINE will be here! AND, Dr. STEVEN BUCCI of the Heritage FDN will be here! In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately." Come hang with us...    

Immigration bills, FDA admission, possible new fed chairman, and honoring a D-Day veteran. Plus, the Message of the Day, Benjamin Franklin and fake news… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benjamin Franklin and fake news… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 4, 2025 is: frowsy • FROW-zee • adjective Something described as frowsy has a messy or dirty appearance. // The lamp, discovered in a neglected corner of a frowsy antique store, turned out to be quite valuable. See the entry > Examples: “Footage from his early shows is sublime. In one, models with frowsy hair totter along the catwalk in clogs, clutching—for reasons not explained—dead mackerel.” — Jess Cartner-Morley, The Guardian (London), 4 Mar. 2024 Did you know? Despite its meanings suggesting neglect and inattention, frowsy has been kept in steady rotation by English users since the late 1600s. The word (which is also spelled frowzy and has enjoyed other variants over the centuries) first wafted into the language in an olfactory sense describing that which smells fusty and musty—an old factory, perhaps, or “corrupt air from animal substance,” which Benjamin Franklin described as “frouzy” in a 1773 letter. Frowsy later gained an additional sense describing the appearance of something (or someone) disheveled or unkempt. Charles Dickens was a big fan of this usage, writing of “frowzy fields, and cowhouses” in Dombey and Son and “a frowzy fringe” of hair hanging about someone's ears in The Old Curiosity Shop. Both senses are still in use today.

[SPONSORISÉ] En 1777, Benjamin Franklin, ambassadeur des États-Unis, arrive à Paris avec un objectif en tête : convaincre la France de soutenir les colonies américaines insurgées contre les colonies anglaises. La tâche devrait être facile. C'est l'occasion rêvée pour ce pays de prendre sa revanche sur son ennemi historique. Pourtant, il se heurte à un Louis XVI hésitant. Franklin met alors en place un réseau d'informateurs et de diplomates chargés de suivre les rumeurs et décisions venues de Londres. Ces informations lui permettent d'affiner ses discours et de préparer sa stratégie de négociation. Mais ce qu'il ne sait pas, c'est qu'un traître se cache parmi ses collaborateurs : Edward B. Bancroft.Edward Bancroft n'a pas de convictions politiques particulières. En revanche, il ne peut se résoudre à l'idée de voir l'Angleterre s'engluer dans un conflit qui lui causerait de lourdes pertes. Il ne s'était jamais prédestiné à l'espionnage, mais le contexte politique de son époque en a décidé autrement. Le voilà désormais agent double. Informateur pour Benjamin Franklin du mercredi au dimanche et agent du renseignement britannique les mardis soirs. Un emploi du temps bien particulier pour celui qui se prédestinait à être scientifique.Secrets d'agents • Histoires Vraies est une production Minuit.

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” was a radical concept for the Founding Fathers. How did they get there? Walter Isaacson joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how one sentence in the Declaration of Independence set out a promise of America, how Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams wrestled with its crafting, and how we can still use these words as our common values in a polarized nation today. His book is “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) written in the form of an extended letter to his son, William Franklin (1730-1813). Ben kept good records of his life and travels, and although he was never President, he still played a crucial part in American history. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin at https://amzn.to/43cp6CV Benjamin Franklin Books available at https://amzn.to/41fUkGD ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's HISTORICAL JESUS podcast is available at https://parthenonpodcast.com/historical-jesus Mark's TIMELINE video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkVinet_HNA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio Credit: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Librivox, read by G. Giordano).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even the Founding Fathers had their doubts about the future of the country, but Benjamin Franklin chose to see its promise. We'll explain how one chair gave him the answer he was searching for.  Plus, Sharon talks with philosopher Alex Madva, co-author of ⁠Somebody Should Do Something⁠, about why so many of us feel powerless, but there's more common ground in America than we think. So what can we do about it? He'll tell us.  And the history of White House holiday traditions, from Adams to Eisenhower, complete with snow ball fights, Christmas trees with actual lit candles on them, and a terrifying Christmas Eve fire in the West Wing. If you'd like to submit a question for Sharon to answer, head to ⁠ThePreamble.com/podcast⁠ – we'd love to hear from you there. And be sure to read our weekly magazine at ⁠ThePreamble.com⁠ – it's free! Join the 350,000 people who still believe understanding is an act of hope. Credits: Host and Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon Supervising Producer: Melanie Buck Parks Audio Producer: Craig Thompson To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1/8. The Wild Turkey, the Bald Eagle, and the Illogical Nature of Bird Names — Steven Moss — Moss introduces the Wild Turkey, discussing its successful reestablishment in New England and its domestication origin in southern Mexico. Moss critiques the turkey's nomenclature as fundamentally illogical, derived from historical confusion involving exotic trade routes through Asia Minor. Moss examines the Bald Eagle as a scavenger species that symbolizes predatory power and dominance. Moss notes that Benjamin Franklin reportedly argued the Wild Turkey should have been designated America's national bird instead. Moss further documents how the eagle was subsequently appropriated as a sinister political symbol by authoritarian regimes, most infamously by Nazi Germany. 1859

In our 12-part podcast series, Pursuit: The Founders' Guide to Happiness, Jeffrey Rosen explores the founders' lives with the historians who know them best and filmmaker Ken Burns shares his daily practice of self-reflection.  The “pursuit of happiness” is one of the most famous phrases in American history. When America's founders wrote it in the Declaration of Independence, they intended it to mean happiness through lifelong learning and self-improvement.  In the last episode of the series, listeners share some big and small changes that they have made. Plus, Jeffrey Rosen, filmmaker Ken Burns, and scholar Robert P. George explore Benjamin Franklin's virtue of silence, which he defines as “speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”    Listen to Pursuit: The Founders' Guide to Happiness on Apple Podcast and Spotify.  Watch the full performance of the Pursuit of Happiness: Song Cycles by Jeffrey Rosen.  Stay Connected and Learn More    Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org  Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr  Explore the America at 250 Civic Toolkit  Learn more about the NCC's and Arizona State University's new online course on civic virtue, 'What the Founders Meant by “Happiness”: A Journey Through Virtue and Character' and sign up for email updates  Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate  Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen  Join us for an upcoming live program or watch recordings on YouTube  Support our important work:   ⁠Donate

In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from November of 2022, Ellen goes on an odyssey through history with the wild turkey. We discuss their path alongside humans for thousands of years, from prehistoric America to praise from Benjamin Franklin, the brink of extinction and nets fired out of cannons.  Further viewing:Rocket Netting Turkeys, a video demonstration by the LSU AgCenter Paul Kelly's Gobbling Demonstration

Father explains Benjamin Franklin's 1728 Thanksgiving Prayer to the family just before their turkey dinner.Happy Thanksgiving this coming Thursday to our listeners in the United States and to all who celebrate it wherever they live. A well-developed sense of gratitude is something we all should share, regardless of a holiday or not. To celebrate this, we are skipping ahead about 30 episodes so we can hear the Thanksgiving episode now, instead of in July. Originally aired on November 22,1951. This is episode 98 of Father Knows Best.Please email questions and comments to host@classiccomedyotr.com.Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/classiccomedyotr. Please share this podcast with your friends and family.You can also subscribe to our podcast on Spreaker.com, Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Google podcasts.This show is supported by Spreaker Prime.

If the American Revolution was, as Ken Burns put it, the biggest event since the birth of Christ, then there's probably never been a better time to explore and drastically expand on why it happened, who was involved, and what it set us up for than right now. My guest today again is David Schmidt.David is the producer and co-director, along with Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein, of American Revolution, a six-part, 12-hour series premiering on PBS this November. David is a childhood friend, but two decades after he and I played Nintendo in his basement, he began working with Florentine Films as a researcher and apprentice editor, beginning with The Roosevelts in 2014, where he also supervised the documentary's seven-episode script. David's research on the Vietnam War in 2017 won him the Jane Mercer Footage Researcher of the Year Award, and he also worked closely on that project with writer Geoffrey C. Ward and helped coordinate post-production. With Burns, Schmidt also produced the two-part biography Benjamin Franklin in 2022 for PBS. I can't wait for you to hear this discussion. I think it pairs really nicely with our conversation with Clint Smith and can't wait for you to see this piece. -----------Have feedback or questions? Tweet us, or send a message to questions@importantnotimportant.comNew here? Get started with our fan favorite episodes at podcast.importantnotimportant.com.Take Action at www.whatcanido.earth-----------INI Book Club:This Here Is Love by Princess Joy L. PerryThe Sellout by Paul BeattyFind all of our guest recommendations at the INI Book Club: https://bookshop.org/lists/important-not-important-book-clubLinks:Watch the 12-part series, The American Revolution, on PBS https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-american-revolutionRead The American Revolution book by Ken Burns and Geoffrey C. Ward https://bookshop.org/a/8952/9780525658672David is listening to: The American Revolution playlist, Hammond Song by The Roches, and The Shape of Water soundtrackFollow us:Subscribe to our newsletter at importantnotimportant.comSupport our work and become a Member at importantnotimportant.com/upgradeGet our

What is the greatest sentence ever written? According to Walter Isaacson — former editor of Time, ex-CEO of CNN, and the acclaimed biographer of Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Benjamin Franklin, and Jennifer Doudna — it's this: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Yes, it's eloquent, but more than that, it gave the United States a mission statement, one that we are still striving — fitfully, imperfectly — to meet. Walter's new book, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, unpacks that mission statement: how it came to be written, what it meant to the founders, and why it matters today. We're pleased to announce that we've chosen it as our latest selection for the Next Big Idea Club. That means current members will receive a copy in the mail any day now, along with a digital reading guide, the opportunity to discuss the book with fellow members in our WhatsApp community, and an exclusive invitation to a live Q&A with Walter in December. If you're not already a member, sign up today at nextbigideaclub.com. And if you use the code PODCAST at checkout, we'll take 20% off your order and send you a signed copy of the book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ballooning became a huge fad starting in the late 18th century, and there was a surprising amount of rioting associated with it. Fervor, excitement, and intoxication in some instances, meant that balloon events were prone to get out of control. Research: Bond, Elizabeth Andrews. “Popular Science and Public Participation.” From The Writing Public: Participatory Knowledge Production in Enlightenment and Revolutionary France. Cornell University Press. 2021. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctv310vktg.8 Branson, Susan. “Scientific Americans.” Cornell University Press, 2022. Cornell University Press, 2022. Coxwell, Henry Tracey. “My Life and Balloon Experiences.” W.H. Allen. 1889. https://archive.org/details/mylifeandballoo02coxwgoog/ Daily National Intelligencer. “The Balloon, and Conflagration of Vauxhall.” 9/14/1819. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83026172/1819-09-14/ed-1/?sp=2&q=vauxhall&r=0.48,-0.027,0.621,0.225,0 Franklin, Benjamin. “Benjamin Franklin to Ingenhousz, 16 January 1784.” https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-41-02-0310#BNFN-01-41-02-0310-fn-0005 “Hot-Air Balloon: Jean-François Janinet (1752–1814).” https://www.getty.edu/publications/artists-things/things/hot-air-balloon/#fnref8 Gillespie, Richard. “Ballooning in France and Britain, 1783-1786: Aerostation and Adventurism.” Isis, Vol. 75, No. 2 (June, 1984). https://www.jstor.org/stable/231824 Glaisher, James. “Travels in the Air.” R. Bentley. 1871. https://archive.org/details/ldpd_7245144_000 Holman, Brett. “The Melbourne balloon riot of 1858.” Airminded. 3/23/2017. https://airminded.org/2017/03/23/the-melbourne-balloon-riot-of-1858/ Jackson, Joseph. “Vauxhall Garden.” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. Vol. LVII. No. 4. 1933. Keen, Paul. “The ‘Balloonomania’: Science and Spectacle in 1780s England.” Eighteenth-Century Studies , Summer, 2006, Vol. 39, No. 4 (Summer, 2006). https://www.jstor.org/stable/30053707 Magazine Monitor. “Victorian Strangeness: The great balloon riot of 1864.” BBC. 8/9/2014. https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-28674654 Robbins, John. “Up in the Air: Balloonomania and Scientific Performance.” Eighteenth-Century Studies, Vol. 48, No. 4, Special Issue: Performance. Summer 2015. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24690309 Robson, David. “The Victorians who flew as high as jumbo jets.” BBC. 4/20/2016. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160419-the-victorians-who-flew-as-high-as-jets Smith, Zoe. “Disaster at 37,000 feet.” University of Cambridge. https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/balloon-disaster Soth, Amelia. “Hot Air Balloon Launch Riot!” JSTOR Daily. 2/3/2022. https://daily.jstor.org/hot-air-balloon-launch-riot/ Sparrow, Jeff. “Wrath and awe: a short history of balloons and their power to fire up mob fury.” The Guardian. 2/14/2023. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/15/wrath-and-awe-a-short-history-of-balloons-and-their-power-to-fire-up-mob-fury Sydney Morning Herald. “The Balloon Riot in the Domain: Death of Thomas Downs.” 12/19/1856. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12990254 Sydney Morning Herald. “The Sydney Balloon.” Trove. 12/16/1856. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12990120 The Rhode-Island American. “Riotous Proceedigns.” 9/14/1819. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83025442/1819-09-14/ed-1/?sp=3&q=vauxhall&r=-0.14,1.265,0.686,0.248,0 Tucker, Jennifer. “Voyages of Discovery on Oceans of Air: Scientific Observation and the Image of Science in an Age of ‘Balloonacy.’” Osiris, 1996, Vol. 11, Science in the Field (1996). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/301930 Wroth, Warwick. “Cremorne and the Later London Gardens.” London. Elliot Stock. 1907. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.