Podcasts about mesopotamian

Today, we dive into the Labubu craze, a plush doll phenomenon sweeping TikTok and sparking claims of demonic ties to Mesopotamian demon "Pazuzu." We unpack its origins, the $423 million industry, and why adults' obsession with these collectibles signals cultural idolatry. We also explore the shift from permissive “gentle parenting” to “FAFO” parenting and explain why it's important to emphasize biblical discipline over chaos. Plus, we celebrate Navy SEAL Chadd Wright's powerful gospel presentation to Joe Rogan, showcasing God's transformative grace. Share the Arrows 2025 is on October 11 in Dallas, Texas! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sharethearrows.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for tickets now! Sponsored by: ⁠Carly Jean Los Angeles⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.carlyjeanlosangeles.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Good Ranchers⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.goodranchers.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠EveryLife⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.everylife.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Allie's new book, "Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://a.co/d/4COtBxy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Timecodes: (03:00) What are Labubus? (17:00) Chinese government responds (22:50) Are Labubus demonic? (43:50) FAFO parenting (54:33) Chadd Wright on Joe Rogan --- Today's Sponsors: Good Ranchers — Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoodRanchers.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to any of their boxes (but preferably the Allie Beth Stuckey Box) to get free Waygu burgers, hot dogs, bacon, or chicken wings in every box for life. Plus, you'll get $40 off when you use code ALLIE at checkout. Fellowship Home Loans — Fellowship Home Loans is a mortgage lending company that offers home financing solutions while integrating Christian values such as honesty, integrity, and stewardship. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fellowshiphomeloans.com/allie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get up to $500 credit towards closing costs when you finance with Fellowship Home Loans. EveryLife — The only premium baby brand that is unapologetically pro-life. Visit ⁠⁠everylife.com⁠⁠ and use promo code ALLIE10 to get 10% off your first order. Field of Greens — Use code ALLIE at ⁠FieldofGreens.com⁠ for 20% off your first order of superfood supplement for better health and energy! Concerned Women for America — For a donation of $20 or more, you will get a copy of their new book, written by the CEO and President, Penny Nance, A Woman's Guide, Seven Rules for Success in Business and Life. Go to ⁠⁠⁠ConcernedWomen.org/Allie⁠⁠⁠ for your copy today. --- Episodes you might like: Ep 714 | The Balenciaga Story Is Even Worse than You Think https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-714-the-balenciaga-story-is-even-worse-than-you-think/id1359249098?i=1000587809431 Ep 1144 | The Theological Errors of Gentle Parenting | Guest: Abbie Halberstadt https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-1144-the-theological-errors-of-gentle-parenting/id1359249098?i=1000694482757 --- Buy Allie's book, You're Not Enough (& That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://alliebethstuckey.com/book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Relatable merchandise – use promo code 'ALLIE10' for a discount: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.blazemedia.com/collections/allie-stuckey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tapputi is widely regarded as one of the first known chemists, and her name appears in a Mesopotamian cuneiform tablet dating to approximately 1200 BCE. She is believed to have worked in the Babylonian royal palace, where she held the title of “Belatekallim,” meaning a female overseer or supervisor. Tapputi is most famous for making perfumes, the descriptions of her work provide some of the earliest documented evidence of chemical distillation and solvent use—techniques that form the foundation of modern chemistry. For Further Reading: The first chemist in history may have been a female perfumer – here’s how the science of scents has changed since Tapputi-Belatekallim: The First Chemical Engineer | Great Minds How Mesopotamia Became the Cradle of Civilization | HISTORY Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative This month, we’re bringing back some of our favorite Womanica episodes you might have missed! We’ll be talking about Pink Collar Workers: women who revolutionized jobs that have traditionally been called "women's work." Through their lives, they created a more just and humane world for us today. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should. Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures. Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, Luci Jones, Abbey Delk, Adrien Behn, Alyia Yates, Vanessa Handy, Melia Agudelo, and Joia Putnoi. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. Follow Wonder Media Network: Website Instagram Twitter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unlock the truth behind biblical stories  from the holy bible and ancient creation myths found in the Bible, the Enuma Elish, and Mesopotamian mythology. This in-depth Bible study dives into the cosmic war between Marduk and Tiamat, the rise of the Anunnaki, and what modern science says about our true origins.Explore how mythology from Babylon and Mesopotamia shaped stories like Genesis and the Book of Enoch. From the formation of the solar system to rogue planets and Enki's genetic engineering, we connect dots across the Bible, science, and ancient texts.

Unlock the truth behind biblical stories from the holy bible and ancient creation myths found in the Bible, the Enuma Elish, and Mesopotamian mythology. This in-depth Bible study dives into the cosmic war between Marduk and Tiamat, the rise of the Anunnaki, and what modern science says about our true origins.Explore how mythology from Babylon and Mesopotamia shaped stories like Genesis and the Book of Enoch. From the formation of the solar system to rogue planets and Enki's genetic engineering, we connect dots across the Bible, science, and ancient texts.

In this episode, we time travel through Mesopotamian body paint, ancient offerings of scented jasmine, to love letters sealed with a kiss of scent. This episode will inspire you to indulge in  beauty ritual as an expression of adornment, healing, anointing and empowerment. LINKS FROM THE SHOW:Join The Sanctuary: Open Now for One Week Only! Beauty: The Invisible Embrace by John O'donohueLa Seduction by Elaine Sciolino - An Ode To Red Lipstick 

TraditionalGlass Lewis, ISS sue Texas over law restricting use of ESG in proxy-voting advice Italian court allows climate lawsuit against energy giant to proceedItaly's highest court has given the green light to a lawsuit against the oil giant Eni for its role in warming the planet, rejecting the company's motion to dismiss the case. The environmental groups Greenpeace Italy and ReCommon, along with 12 Italian citizens filed suit in 2023 against the state-controlled oil producer for “past and potential future damages resulting from its contribution to climate change.”Honolulu's lawsuit against fossil fuel companies leads climate change legal fightHonolulu's lawsuit is further along than similar litigation across the country. A hearing on Tuesday will indicate how these fights play out in court. In 2020, Hawaii's capital city sued major oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron, arguing they knew for nearly half a century that fossil fuel products create greenhouse gas pollution that warms the planet and changes the climate. The companies have also profited from the consumption of oil, coal and natural gas while deceiving the public about the role of their products in causing a global climate crisis, the lawsuit says.Rhode Island is the first state to provide menopause accommodations at workCiting New Rules, Meta Says It Will End Political Ads in E.U.Beginning in October, the company will stop ads related to political, electoral or social issues, it said in a release, citing a forthcoming E.U. regulation around the transparency of political advertisingThe Country Where 76% of Cars Sold Are ElectricNepal; 20% worldwide 20%; Norway 92%; US 10%Speed RoundIs this good because a headline not affiliated with Free Float is saying it out loud?: Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol made 6,666 times more than the median employee at his coffee chain last yearSub-score: Is this also good because they actually named the CEO in the headline?Is this good because a CEO is connecting consumer prices to Trump's tariffs?: Procter & Gamble CEO says Trump tariffs are causing the company to hike prices on shoppers Is this good because a CEO is saying something about AI that is not corporate gobbledygook?: Bluesky's CEO warns you shouldn't 'fully outsource your thinking' to AIIs this good because JD Vance agrees with me?: JD Vance calls out Big Tech for firing Americans while hiring cheap foreign H-1B visa replacementsIs this good because Hooters is gross?: Hulk Hogan's death could be bad news for Hooters Is this good for Free Float Media?: Young people aren't anti-capitalist. They're just sick of corporate hypocrisy

"Music connects us with something deeper. We know there's stuff around us that science cannot explain. Consciousness, for example, is hard to explain through science alone. Music seems to connect you somehow with what this other thing is. The emotional impact that music has and how it connects people together is also very profound. Music was absolutely central to Einstein too and if he got stuck in something when he was theorising, he would go away and play his violin and that would transport him into a different world and give him ideas. He likened music to science and scientific discovery. Musicians, he believed, didn't create music; they received it. I believe that as well. The music is out there and you act as an aerial/valve/funnel. Einstein believed that about scientific discovery too -- it's not like you create these theories; you receive them. So, by playing music by composers he loved -- like Bach -- who he believed received music, it put him in that frame of mind for discovery. Other great scientists like Max Planck, who were also good musicians, have said that as well. Science, music and mathematics have been woven throughout history. It's natural because, what is music? It is sound. Sound is a physical phenomenon and it's got mathematical rules. There is something unique about music, something different from anything else, and that's' what makes it so fascinating!" -- David Darling, author, A Perfect Harmony; Music, Mathematics and Science talks to Manjula Narayan about everything from Mesopotamian music from 1400 BCE, the Bull-Headed Lyre of Ur, and the compositions of the Abbess Hildegard of Bingen to dementia choirs and the tannerin used by the Beach Boys Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have seen the memes, and maybe you are even familiar with them, but today we look at who was the famous Ea-Nasir, why people would buy from him, and what scams he was probably running. We ask how often Mesopotamians complained about things, and we learn a bit along the way.In this episode, we go far beyond the famous complaint tablet to uncover the full economic and historical context of Ea-Nasir's career:His rise from wage-earner to property owner - His role in the first global trade network - The truth about the complaints and copper quality scandals - What his archive reveals about Mesopotamian law, shipping, and merchant guilds - And what it means that archaeologists found a box of receipts in his house.Along the way, we explore the bronze age economy, the origins of writing, and the hidden sophistication of Old Babylonian international commerce. We even follow the trail of copper all the way from Bahrain to Babylon—and maybe all the way to your favorite meme.Keywords: Ea-Nasir, Mesopotamia, copper merchant, ancient fraud, cuneiform complaint, Old Babylonian trade, Ur city history, bronze age economy, Akkadian history, ancient shipping, Alik Tilmun, Leonard Woolley, Hammurabi era, ancient scams, history meme explained, Babylonian documentsWhether you're a meme fan, a history buff, or just curious how a 4,000-year-old complaint became internet legend, this is your definitive guide to the oldest business scandal on record.I am also doing daily history facts again, at least until I run out of time again. You can find Oldest Stories daily on Tiktok and Youtube Shorts.If you like the show, consider sharing with your friends, leaving a like, subscribing, or even supporting financially:Buy the Oldest Stories books: https://a.co/d/7Wn4jhSDonate here: https://oldeststories.net/or on patreon: https://patreon.com/JamesBleckleyor on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCG2tPxnHNNvMd0VrInekaA/joinYoutube and Patreon members get access to bonus content about Egyptian culture and myths.

In this episode we're joined by Dr. Tate Paulette, who is an Archeologist and Associate Professor of History at NC State University and the author of In the Land of Ninkasi: A History of Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia (published by Oxford University Press). Kicking off our series on ancient wine and beer in biblical literature and relevant traditions, we begin by talking with Dr. Tate Paulette about the world's oldest beer culture—ancient Mesopotamia. We discuss brewing techniques as well as the role and value of beer in Mesopotamian culture, economics, and religion. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, and Stanley Ng. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's an old thesis - that capitalism has created a religion out of money. But nobody, not even Marx, has been quite as theologically explicit as Paul Vigna, author of The Almightier: How Money Became God, Greed Became Virtue, and Debt Became Sin. The former Wall Street Journal reporter argues that money literally functions as our modern deity, complete with faith-based belief systems, sacred rituals of accumulation, and moral frameworks that equate wealth with divine favor. Tracing money's origins back 5,500 years to — surprise surprise — Mesopotamian temples, he reveals how what began as a practical accounting tool has evolved into humanity's central organizing principle. Unlike Marx's revolutionary critique of capitalist exchange, Vigna argues in favor of recalibration rather than outright destruction. Imagining money as a useful hammer rather than an almighty god, he questions why we chase dollars instead of human welfare, especially in a digital age when innovative new technologies could provide basic needs for everyone.1. Money literally originated in religious temples 5,500 years ago: "Money shows up first time about 5,500 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, it is a product of temples. The temple in Uruk is where we find it and the temple scribes developed this system to keep track of the temple's possessions, which is called money."2. Money isn't "real" - it's a collective belief system based entirely on trust: "Money isn't real. Money is an agreement among people. When you talk about trust, we're all trusting in this system. It's a system that we all buy into."3. The Protestant Reformation transformed greed from sin into virtue: "Calvin says, God controls everything... So if you have money, you have it because God want you to have it. Therefore, if you become rich, God wanted you to become rich... you should work hard to make a lot of money because that's what God wants."4. We've confused the tool with the goal: "We could provide the basic needs for every single human being on the earth... And what I say is, we don't do that... because we still have this deeply embedded belief that money... we are chasing money, we are not chasing the thing that society is supposed to be set up to do."5. Bitcoin perfectly illustrates money-as-religion: "Bitcoin is absolutely a religion. It's got its own god in Satoshi Nakamoto... it is the most fascinating thing to watch because it really is, you saw a religion grow up around a monetary system."Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Virtually all ancient civilisations considered the celestial bodies and their movements of great importance, even incorporating astronomical events into the design of their sacred temples and monuments. The Egyptians, Babylonians, Mesopotamians, Chinese, Incas, Mayans and Aztecs worshipped the sun, moon, and stars. They built splendid sacred monuments that reflected astronomical events associated with the movement of the planets and stars. They were revered as gods to be worshipped and considered vital to people's day-to-day lives. These ancient people believed the stars carried an important message for humanity. Interestingly, these majestic stars do have a message for us today. Join Gary on a journey to some of the most magnificent sacred sites in the ancient world to discover the message of the stars – a message that will hold you spellbound.

News items read by Laura Kennedy include: Oldest ancient Egyptian genome indicates North African and Mesopotamian ancestry (details) (details) Flourishing 3,500-year-old city in Peru served as key trading post (details) Old Stone Age tools in China suggest sophisticated foraging techniques by early humans (details) New study reveals that Neanderthals practiced complex food-processing vital to human development (details) (details)

What's really in a hot dog? Why does the letter “s” look like “f” in the Declaration of Independence? Are bald eagles actually bald? On this unique Fourth of July edition of Catholic Answers Live, we dive into five fun mysteries of Independence Day. Plus, callers ask deep theological questions: Did Christ always have a human nature? Can Genesis reflect ancient myths while remaining divinely inspired? Did the apostles expect the Second Coming in their lifetimes? Is it possible that angels are saints from a previous universe? And what happens to grace when a baptized person commits mortal sin? Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 03:30 – Top 5 Mysteries of the 4th of July 14:25 – Why do some oppose the Traditional Latin Mass? 15:43 – Did Christ always possess a human nature, or did God gain a human nature at the moment of the Incarnation? What is the best language to describe this mystery? 18:28 – Could Genesis incorporate contemporary myths like the Mesopotamian flood stories to explain God’s actions, such as the Flood, using familiar cultural narratives? 31:47 – Why did the Church transition from severe fasting to weekly abstinence and now allows other penances in the US? Is this spiritual progression good or bad? 42:08 – Did the apostles believe the Parousia (Second Coming) was imminent during their lifetimes? 48:32 – Is it conceivable that angels are saints from a previous iteration of the universe? 52:22 – Does a baptized person who commits a mortal sin lose all grace until Confession, despite the indelible mark of baptism?

Our feature monster for this episode is that hairy hide-and-seek champion of the cryptids: Bigfoot. We'll also look at some of his possible origins in the tales of Indigenous North Americans, as well as the tradition of the "wild man" in China, Roman mythology, medieval Europe, and Scottish folklore. And we'll learn a little more about Enkidu, the companion of Gilgamesh in Mesopotamian mythology. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 9 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read:  Bigfoot How the Bigfoot Legend Began Bigfoot Was Investigated by the FBI. Here's What They Found BFRO Geographical Database of Bigfoot Sightings & Reports Before Bigfoot:  BBC: The true origins of Sasquatch American Museum of Natural History: Beyond Bigfoot World History Encyclopedia: Tsul'kălû', The Slant-Eyed Giant Enkidu and Gilgamesh: World History Encyclopedia: Gilgamesh The Chinese Yeren Wild Men of the Ancient World: Legends Across the Globe Tell of a Humanoid Beast – Are They Real? Am Fear Liath Mor Stuff to Watch: Our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

EPISODE 3 - PART 1Dive into this thought-provoking Bible study exploring how ancient Mesopotamian texts—like the Enuma Elish, Epic of Gilgamesh, and Sumerian cuneiform tablets—reframe the origins of familiar biblical narratives. Paul Wallis unpacks the parallels between Babylonian and Hebrew stories, tracing the influence of the Anunnaki, Sumerian gods, and the reinterpretation of the Elohim. Discover how religious belief systems evolved, how cultural taboos formed, and what it means for our understanding of faith today.00:01:31 - Exploring Ancient Texts and Belief Systems 00:04:05 - Spiritual Coaching and Personal Transformation 00:05:07 - Exploring Ancient Texts and Belief Systems 00:06:52 - Exploring Ancient Texts and Belief Systems 00:09:16 - Babylonian Influence on Biblical Texts 00:10:51 - Cuneiform Writing and Mesopotamian Discovery 00:12:02 - George Smith and the Genesis Connection 00:15:11 - Ancient Mesopotamia and Cultural Context 00:20:23 - Genesis and Ancient Parallels 00:24:53 - Faith Deconstruction and Reframing 00:26:14 - Religious Reforms and Monotheism 00:30:25 - Elohim and the Anunnaki Connection 00:33:28 - Hezekiah and the Shift to Monotheism 00:36:25 - Ancient Seal and Pre-Reform Judaism 00:38:34 - Sky People and Ancient Contact 00:41:04 - The Impact of Violent God Imagery 00:42:50 - Belief Systems and the Loss of Independent Thought 00:45:08 - Fear-Based Faith and Hell Doctrine 00:48:17 - The Grief Process of Belief Deconstruction 00:52:01 - Letting Go: Embracing New Understanding

Send us a textThe ancient and profound Epic of Gilgamesh holds far more than just mythological storytelling—it contains clues to humanity's possible extraterrestrial origins. As we explore this Mesopotamian masterpiece dating back to 2100 B.C., we unravel fascinating connections between Sumerian accounts and Biblical narratives that suggest common source material predating both traditions.Many mistake Gilgamesh for the Mesopotamian equivalent of Noah, but the flood survivor in this epic is actually Utnapishtim, whom Gilgamesh seeks out during his quest for immortality. The wild beast-man Enkidu, created by gods to challenge Gilgamesh, represents what might be evidence of the "gods" carrying out genetic hybridization experiments. Sumerian artwork depicts mutated creatures that appear distinctly non-human, raising questions about what these representations may truly document.The creation accounts found in Akkadian texts describe how the Anunnaki gods created humans as a workforce, with passages stating they mixed their divine DNA with existing primitive beings. This aligns remarkably with the unexplained evolutionary leap that separated Homo sapiens from other hominids. Despite sharing nearly identical DNA with chimpanzees and coexisting with Neanderthals, humans developed unprecedented cognitive abilities and self-awareness. Could this advancement have resulted from external genetic manipulation?Both Gilgamesh's epic and the Bible share striking elements—sacred cedar forests, serpents that prevent immortality, divine beings with physical needs, and giants among men. Such parallels suggest these stories preserve memories of actual events involving advanced beings who were interpreted as prehistoric peoples as gods. The quest for immortality that drives Gilgamesh mirrors humanity's eternal struggle with the meaning and purpose of life, a theme that continue to resonate across cultures to this day.Join us as we examine this remarkable archaic story through the lens of the ancient alien theory, considering the compelling possibility that our creation myths contain literal truths about extraterrestrial intervention in human evolution. If our search for meaning is actually encoded memories of our origins, what other secrets might these ancient texts reveal?"Space Journey" by Geoff HarveyCopyright © 2021 Melody Loops LPFull License Royalty-Free Music https://www.melodyloops.com Support the showVisit our website

Take a wild ride to the edge of the map and beyond as they explore one of the most enduring and bizarre conspiracy theories of all time: the Flat Earth Theory.Despite centuries of scientific discovery and overwhelming proof that the Earth is a sphere, millions of people across the globe still believe the planet is flat. And not all Flat Earthers agree—some claim Earth is a flat disc surrounded by a wall of ice, while others argue it's covered by a dome, or even shaped like a cube. Many believe the sun, moon, and stars are just lights stuck on that dome, and that space travel is nothing but a Hollywood-style illusion.The boys dig into the early roots of the belief—from ancient Mesopotamian myths and early Greek maps to the moment Greek philosophers like Pythagoras and Aristotle flipped the model and proposed a spherical Earth based on lunar eclipses and star movements. But the Flat Earth idea didn't vanish—it kept creeping through history, even making its way into early Christian interpretations of the Bible.Fast forward to the 1800s, when British inventor Samuel Rowbotham gave the theory new life with his book Zetetic Astronomy, which proposed that Earth was a flat, unmoving plane. His work sparked the creation of the Flat Earth Society—an organization still active today and even growing thanks to online communities and social media platforms.The episode also explores the modern Flat Earth movement, which has exploded on YouTube, Reddit, and TikTok. Figures like Mark Sargent have turned Flat Earth evangelism into a full-time gig—attending conventions and claiming NASA is faking everything from moon landings to satellite photos. Many of these beliefs are part of a larger web of conspiracy thinking, where distrust in science, institutions, and government converge.The boys also highlight the celebrities who've fueled Flat Earth buzz—NBA stars Kyrie Irving and Draymond Green, NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and even Tila Tequila—who've all publicly expressed support or curiosity toward the theory. Whether they're serious or just trolling, their influence has helped keep the movement in the public eye.So what exactly do Flat Earthers believe? Why do these ideas persist despite centuries of contrary evidence? And how do their beliefs intersect with other conspiracies like moon landing denial or secret global elites?Strap in as the boys dissect the science, the history, the madness—and the oddly compelling reasons why this centuries-old theory refuses to fall off the edge of the Earth.www.patreon.com/theconspiracypodcast

When a pizza delivery man becomes an unwilling bank robber with a bomb around his neck, a radiology technician dances with his dead girlfriend's corpse for seven years, and a teenager secretly lives in a family's walls – you know you've entered the realm of true crime cases so bizarre they make fiction look perfectly reasonable.Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.IN THIS EPISODE: The world of astral projection is filled with eerie encounters and odd entities – and the haunting possibility of never returning to your body! (Beyond The Body: True Stories of Astral Projection) *** In 1982, Chicago was rocked by a series of mysterious deaths linked to Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide. And we still don't know who committed the crime. (Fatal Dosage: The Tylenol Murders) *** From ancient Mesopotamian wind demons to the fallen angel Lucifer himself, we'll touch on the dark and fascinating world of demonology and demonic lore across various cultures and religions. (Degenerate Demons and Dangerous Demonology) *** In 1929 the Evangelista family was brutally murdered in their own home… and it's possible Benny Evangelista's dabbling in the occult was the catalyst. (The Evangelista Occult Murders) *** We'll look at the unsettling and bizarre side of true crime, from Carl Tanzler's macabre obsession to the chilling disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi. Each case is both captivating and confounding, and sometimes downright weird. (The Weird And Strange Side of True Crime)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Lead-In00:01:27.135 = Show Open00:03:26.990 = The Weird And Strange Side of True Crime00:16:45.734 = Beyond The Body: True Stories of Astral Projection00:22:42.713 = Fatal Dosage: The Tylenol Murders00:32:47.959 = Degenerate Demons and Dangerous Demonology00:46:38.652 = The Evangelista Occult Murders00:58:39.290 = Show CloseSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…“Beyond The Body: True Stories of Astral Projection” source: Marcus Lowth, UFOInsight.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3wb9h869“The Weird And Strange Side of True Crime” source: Patrick Thornton, Weird History at Ranker.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9fsamf“Fatal Dosage: The Unsolved Tylenol Murders” source: Stefanie Hammond, Unspeakable Crimes at Ranker.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5n8d7kzn“Degenerate Demons and Dangerous Demonology” source: Austin Harvey, AllThatsInteresting.com:https://allthatsinteresting.com/demons“The Evangelista Occult Murders” by Troy Taylor for American Hauntings Ink:https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/evangelista (used with permission)=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: July 31, 2024NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of Weird Darkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice. (AI Policy)EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/DancingWithTheDead

For thousands of years, ancient cuneiform - the script of the ancient Mesopotamians was lost to time, until being dramatically rediscovered in the 19th century by an adventurous group of unlikely Victorians. A dashing archaeologist, an officer turned diplomat and a reclusive clergyman raced to decipher it and unlock the secrets of long-lost empires. Joining us is Joshua Hammer, a former war correspondent and author of 'The Mesopotamian Riddle'. Produced by Mariana Des Forges and James Hickmann, and edited by Tim Arstall.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.We'd love to hear your feedback - you can take part in our podcast survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on.You can also email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com.

UFO Undercover UFOs Extraterrestrials ancient world Myain Aztecs Toltecs Egyptians Samarians Mesopotamians wide did they all talk people come from the sky to teach them ?

Send us a textWhat if the story of Noah's flood was derived from a much older tale where the gods destroyed humanity not because of sin, but because humans were too noisy? The Atrahasis, an epic inscribed on clay tablets dating back to 1650 B.C., reveals a startlingly different motivation behind the Great Flood than what most of us learned in religious education.Discovered in the forgotten Library of Ashurbanipal among the ruins of ancient Nineveh, this Mesopotamian text describes how the gods created humans as laborers to dig irrigation channels and grow food for divine consumption. When humanity multiplied and became too loud, the irritated god Enlil attempted to exterminate them—first with disease, then with famine, and finally with a catastrophic flood. Meanwhile, the clever god Enki found loopholes to help humanity survive each crisis, eventually saving Atrahasis (the "exceedingly wise one") by speaking flood warnings to a wall while Atrahasis listened from behind a tent.The parallels between Atrahasis and the Biblical Noah are unmistakable, yet the Sumerian version provides richer context about divine politics, the creation of humans, and the cosmic drama behind the flood. Scientific evidence supports the occurrence of significant flooding in Mesopotamia around 11,000-13,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, suggesting these myths preserve cultural memories of real cataclysmic events that transformed ancient societies.Most fascinating are the details absent from the Biblical account: how the gods actually needed humans for sustenance, how they limited human lifespan to just 120 years after the flood, and the suggestion that certain individuals like Noah/Atrahasis may have had unusual physical characteristics that set them apart. These elements hint at alternative interpretations through the ancient astronaut theory, where these "gods" might represent advanced beings with ability and knowledge that appeared divine to ancient peoples.Whether viewed through a religious, historical, or alternative lens, these ancient flood myths offer profound insights into humanity's relationship with the divine and our understanding of catastrophic events that shaped civilization. Join us as we decode these remarkable stories that have endured for millennia, revealing the rich tapestry of human belief that lies beneath our most cherished religious narratives."Space Journey" by Geoff HarveyCopyright © 2021 Melody Loops LPFull License Royalty-Free Music https://www.melodyloops.com Support the showVisit our website

A lively story of death, What to Expect When You're Dead: An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Dr. Robert Garland explores the fascinating death-related beliefs and practices of a wide range of ancient cultures and traditions—Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, and Islamic. By drawing on the latest scholarship on ancient archaeology, art, literature, and funerary inscriptions, Dr. Garland invites readers to put themselves in the sandals of ancient peoples and to imagine their mental state moment by moment as they sought—in ways that turn out to be remarkably similar to ours—to assist the dead on their journey to the next world and to understand life's greatest mystery.What to Expect When You're Dead chronicles the ways ancient peoples answered questions such as: How to achieve a good death and afterlife? What's the best way to dispose of a body? Do the dead face a postmortem judgement—and where do they end up? Do the dead have bodies in the afterlife—and can they eat, drink, and have sex? And what can the living do to stay on good terms with the nonliving?Filled with intriguing stories and frequent humor, What to Expect When You're Dead will be a morbidly delicious treat for every reader alive. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

A lively story of death, What to Expect When You're Dead: An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Dr. Robert Garland explores the fascinating death-related beliefs and practices of a wide range of ancient cultures and traditions—Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, and Islamic. By drawing on the latest scholarship on ancient archaeology, art, literature, and funerary inscriptions, Dr. Garland invites readers to put themselves in the sandals of ancient peoples and to imagine their mental state moment by moment as they sought—in ways that turn out to be remarkably similar to ours—to assist the dead on their journey to the next world and to understand life's greatest mystery.What to Expect When You're Dead chronicles the ways ancient peoples answered questions such as: How to achieve a good death and afterlife? What's the best way to dispose of a body? Do the dead face a postmortem judgement—and where do they end up? Do the dead have bodies in the afterlife—and can they eat, drink, and have sex? And what can the living do to stay on good terms with the nonliving?Filled with intriguing stories and frequent humor, What to Expect When You're Dead will be a morbidly delicious treat for every reader alive. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars.

A lively story of death, What to Expect When You're Dead: An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Dr. Robert Garland explores the fascinating death-related beliefs and practices of a wide range of ancient cultures and traditions—Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, and Islamic. By drawing on the latest scholarship on ancient archaeology, art, literature, and funerary inscriptions, Dr. Garland invites readers to put themselves in the sandals of ancient peoples and to imagine their mental state moment by moment as they sought—in ways that turn out to be remarkably similar to ours—to assist the dead on their journey to the next world and to understand life's greatest mystery.What to Expect When You're Dead chronicles the ways ancient peoples answered questions such as: How to achieve a good death and afterlife? What's the best way to dispose of a body? Do the dead face a postmortem judgement—and where do they end up? Do the dead have bodies in the afterlife—and can they eat, drink, and have sex? And what can the living do to stay on good terms with the nonliving?Filled with intriguing stories and frequent humor, What to Expect When You're Dead will be a morbidly delicious treat for every reader alive. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

A lively story of death, What to Expect When You're Dead: An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Dr. Robert Garland explores the fascinating death-related beliefs and practices of a wide range of ancient cultures and traditions—Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, and Islamic. By drawing on the latest scholarship on ancient archaeology, art, literature, and funerary inscriptions, Dr. Garland invites readers to put themselves in the sandals of ancient peoples and to imagine their mental state moment by moment as they sought—in ways that turn out to be remarkably similar to ours—to assist the dead on their journey to the next world and to understand life's greatest mystery.What to Expect When You're Dead chronicles the ways ancient peoples answered questions such as: How to achieve a good death and afterlife? What's the best way to dispose of a body? Do the dead face a postmortem judgement—and where do they end up? Do the dead have bodies in the afterlife—and can they eat, drink, and have sex? And what can the living do to stay on good terms with the nonliving?Filled with intriguing stories and frequent humor, What to Expect When You're Dead will be a morbidly delicious treat for every reader alive. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/archaeology

A lively story of death, What to Expect When You're Dead: An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Dr. Robert Garland explores the fascinating death-related beliefs and practices of a wide range of ancient cultures and traditions—Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, and Islamic. By drawing on the latest scholarship on ancient archaeology, art, literature, and funerary inscriptions, Dr. Garland invites readers to put themselves in the sandals of ancient peoples and to imagine their mental state moment by moment as they sought—in ways that turn out to be remarkably similar to ours—to assist the dead on their journey to the next world and to understand life's greatest mystery.What to Expect When You're Dead chronicles the ways ancient peoples answered questions such as: How to achieve a good death and afterlife? What's the best way to dispose of a body? Do the dead face a postmortem judgement—and where do they end up? Do the dead have bodies in the afterlife—and can they eat, drink, and have sex? And what can the living do to stay on good terms with the nonliving?Filled with intriguing stories and frequent humor, What to Expect When You're Dead will be a morbidly delicious treat for every reader alive. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lively story of death, What to Expect When You're Dead: An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Dr. Robert Garland explores the fascinating death-related beliefs and practices of a wide range of ancient cultures and traditions—Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, and Islamic. By drawing on the latest scholarship on ancient archaeology, art, literature, and funerary inscriptions, Dr. Garland invites readers to put themselves in the sandals of ancient peoples and to imagine their mental state moment by moment as they sought—in ways that turn out to be remarkably similar to ours—to assist the dead on their journey to the next world and to understand life's greatest mystery.What to Expect When You're Dead chronicles the ways ancient peoples answered questions such as: How to achieve a good death and afterlife? What's the best way to dispose of a body? Do the dead face a postmortem judgement—and where do they end up? Do the dead have bodies in the afterlife—and can they eat, drink, and have sex? And what can the living do to stay on good terms with the nonliving?Filled with intriguing stories and frequent humor, What to Expect When You're Dead will be a morbidly delicious treat for every reader alive. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

A lively story of death, What to Expect When You're Dead: An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Dr. Robert Garland explores the fascinating death-related beliefs and practices of a wide range of ancient cultures and traditions—Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, and Islamic. By drawing on the latest scholarship on ancient archaeology, art, literature, and funerary inscriptions, Dr. Garland invites readers to put themselves in the sandals of ancient peoples and to imagine their mental state moment by moment as they sought—in ways that turn out to be remarkably similar to ours—to assist the dead on their journey to the next world and to understand life's greatest mystery.What to Expect When You're Dead chronicles the ways ancient peoples answered questions such as: How to achieve a good death and afterlife? What's the best way to dispose of a body? Do the dead face a postmortem judgement—and where do they end up? Do the dead have bodies in the afterlife—and can they eat, drink, and have sex? And what can the living do to stay on good terms with the nonliving?Filled with intriguing stories and frequent humor, What to Expect When You're Dead will be a morbidly delicious treat for every reader alive. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

A lively story of death, What to Expect When You're Dead: An Ancient Tour of Death and the Afterlife (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Dr. Robert Garland explores the fascinating death-related beliefs and practices of a wide range of ancient cultures and traditions—Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Early Christian, and Islamic. By drawing on the latest scholarship on ancient archaeology, art, literature, and funerary inscriptions, Dr. Garland invites readers to put themselves in the sandals of ancient peoples and to imagine their mental state moment by moment as they sought—in ways that turn out to be remarkably similar to ours—to assist the dead on their journey to the next world and to understand life's greatest mystery.What to Expect When You're Dead chronicles the ways ancient peoples answered questions such as: How to achieve a good death and afterlife? What's the best way to dispose of a body? Do the dead face a postmortem judgement—and where do they end up? Do the dead have bodies in the afterlife—and can they eat, drink, and have sex? And what can the living do to stay on good terms with the nonliving?Filled with intriguing stories and frequent humor, What to Expect When You're Dead will be a morbidly delicious treat for every reader alive. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day

Long before telescopes or space agencies, ancient Mesopotamians were decoding the secrets of the cosmos. Beneath skies unpolluted by modern light, they tracked the movements of planets, charted eclipses, and read the stars not just for science—but for signs from the gods.In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid to uncover the origins of written astronomy and the extraordinary legacy of left by the Mesopotamians that studied it. Their observations shaped empires, guided kings, and laid the groundwork for astronomy as we know it. From clay tablets to the zodiac, from omens to eclipse prediction—this is the story of how ancient Mesopotamians turned stargazing into science.Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

In episode 490 professor M. Willis Monroe joins the podcast to discuss the history of astrology in ancient Mesopotamia. Willis is a historian of the ancient Near East and scholar of Cuneiform Studies with a focus on the science and scholarship of first millennium Mesopotamia, and he did his doctoral thesis on the use of zodiacal subdivisions in cuneiform sources. During the course of the episode we give an overview of the origins of western astrology in ancient Mesopotamia, starting with the earliest surviving sources around 2000 BCE, and then working our way forward until cuneiform writing died out around the 1st century CE. We end up discussing the earliest evidence for astrology in eclipse omens from the 2nd millennium BCE, the high point of state supported astrology under the Neo-Assyrian kings in the 7th century BCE, and eventually the development of the zodiac and natal astrology in the 5th century BCE. This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Watch the Video Version of This Episode Watch the video version of this episode on Mesopotamian astrology on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkcM6wOJBZY - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

Applesauce on a cheesburger, unwrapped presents and Molotov cocktails, Mesopotamian bocce balls on Pangea... Stupid enough for you? PLUS: Birthdays and a Talkback to a Talkback!LINKS:Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial is full of drama, cringe and explosive commentsScientists discover mysterious sphere in Colombia, sparking UFO speculationNFL owners unanimously approve player participation in Olympic flag football for 2028 – Los Angeles SentinelThe Treehouse is a daily DFW based comedy podcast and radio show. Leave your worries outside and join Dan O'Malley, Trey Trenholm, Raj Sharma, and their guests for laughs about current events, stupid news, and the comedy that is their lives. If it's stupid, it's in here.The Treehouse WebsiteCook DFW Roofing & Restoration | Dallas, Fort Worth TX | Roofing Company CLICK HERE TO DONATE:The RMS Treehouse Listeners Foundation

In this episode, it's time to meet some slithering serpentine monsters! We start with the many-headed Hydra, who had the misfortune to be one of Heracles's many targets, but who got the consolation prize of becoming a constellation. Then we'll look at that constellation's story in Mesopotamian mythology and we'll meet an eight-headed serpent-dragon from Japanese mythology. Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 6 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: Hydra:  At Mythopedia and Perseus at Tufts Original Greek literature quotes about the Hydra Bašmu & Ninurta:  More on Bašmu Ninurta at World History Encyclopedia Enki and Enlil Yamata no Orochi: From yokai.com The Eight-Headed Eight-Tailed Serpent Stuff to Watch: Check out our curated Youtube playlist for this episode!

We sit down with Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid, author of "Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and The Birth of History" an honorary fellow at Wolfson College, University of Oxford. She takes us on an incredible journey through ancient Mesopotamia, exploring the region's rich history, significant cultural innovations, and the development of the first writing system. We delve into the lives and contributions of notable Mesopotamians, including the first named author, princesses, and everyday people. We learn about ancient astronomy, the role of women in Mesopotamia, and the deep historical roots of many concepts we consider modern today. Tune in to understand why studying this ancient civilization remains crucial for our understanding of the present.00:00 Introduction 00:31 Exploring Mesopotamia: Location and Significance02:31 The Origins and Use of the Term "Mesopotamia"03:15 Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization05:52 The Birth and Impact of Writing Systems09:11 Deciphering Cuneiform: The Rosetta Stone of Mesopotamia12:51 The Importance of Studying Ancient History15:16 Personal Stories and Objects from Mesopotamia31:43 Understanding Heartbreak and Anxiety32:45 The Evolution and Loss of Knowledge35:45 Ancient Mesopotamian Medical Practices37:20 Origins and Impact of Astrology43:51 Women in Ancient Mesopotamia51:53 Top Five Mesopotamians: Dead or Alive57:09 RecommendationsDr Moudhy Al-Rashid is an assyriologist and historian based at Wolfson College, University of Oxford, who specializes in cuneiform and the history of science in ancient Mesopotamia. Thousands of cuneiform tablets preserve breathtaking moments in early scientific endeavor, like a 4,000-year-old approximation of pi and ancient observations of Halley's Comet — moments she hopes to bring to a wider audience. She's written "Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and The Birth of History," and practices archaeology in her home country of Saudi Arabia to learn more about the its rich ancient history, from early writing to wild camels in rock art.Connect with Dr Al-Rashid

In this episode, I welcome back author and scholar Peter Mark Adams for a rich and far-reaching conversation centred on his upcoming book from Theion Publishing "Ritual & Epiphany in the Mysteries of Mithras – The Secret Cult of Saturn in Imperial Rome" an extraordinary and deeply thoughtful study of the cult of Mithras. Peter takes us through the ancient layers beneath Mithraic practice — its origins, iconography, cosmology, and initiatory structure — tracing a lineage from early Mesopotamian myths such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, through the cultic worship of Saturn, and into the esoteric heart of Imperial Rome. What emerges from his research is a profound view of Mithraism not simply as a Roman mystery cult, but as the survival of a much older, animistic, star-oriented cosmology. It is a vision of reality structured around spirit, fate, celestial forces, and the metamorphosis of the human soul.Peter takes us through the complex ideas behind his thesis weaving in insights from recent advances in anthropology, ethnography, and comparative religion. He draws particularly from the Orphic mysteries to illuminate the metaphysical architecture underpinning the Mithraic rites. We unpack how the mysteries functioned as both a lived, embodied practice and a carefully guarded initiatic system, intended to bring about deep spiritual transformations in their adherents. The conversation explores the mythic grammar encoded in the Tauroctony — the slaying of the bull — not as a static religious image but as a dynamic, performative act tied to the movement of the heavens and the soul's journey through the stars.In the Plus show, Peter also shares fascinating insights into the seven grades of Mithraic initiation, each representing different spiritual and cosmic stations, and the curious fact that while the cult is famous for these grades, only two formal initiation rituals are known. We delve into the frescoes at St. Capua Vetere, rare depictions that provide intimate glimpses into the ritual life of Mithraic initiates, and discuss how sacred art served not merely as decoration but as an active, living technology for transformation.Along the way, we touch on the challenges faced by modern researchers and practitioners in articulating and re-contextualising these ancient experiences in a world that has largely lost the language for mystery. We talk about the difficulty of bridging the gap between ancient participatory worldviews and the post-Enlightenment skepticism that dominates contemporary thought — and how, paradoxically, the sciences of anthropology and archaeology often come closest to glimpsing the ancient mysteries, even as they struggle to fully comprehend them.Show notes:Peter's site https://petermarkadams.comPeter's instagram https://www.instagram.com/petermarkadams/Peter's Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/petermarkadams/postsTheion Publishing https://theionpublishing.com/shop/pma-ritualepiphany/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJt5h9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHrcrTB0SZCnZKoBiV8ekJtAVHGQawQVzitb5lGAscZwhU94lYmX-PLrQDWW9_aem_NJX2uq5lcQtsID72NJrHJASola-Busca Workshop, Turin https://www.houseofzophiel.com/sola-busca.htmlCosmic or Orphic egg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_eggPhanes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhanesTauroctony https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TauroctonySt. Capua Vetere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_Capua_VetereEpic of Gilgamesh https://www.britannica.com/topic/Epic-of-GilgameshOrphism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OrphismMithras https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MithraismHenosis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HenosisLeontocephaline https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9461/2/2/3Chora https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KhôraApogenesis https://www.iasdurham.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Hannah_From-Here-to-the-Hereafter-Genesis-and-Apogenesis-in-Ancient-Philosophy-and-Architecture.pdfKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmasonMusic by Obliqka https://soundcloud.com/obliqka

Situated opposite Galilee, the “earth” of the Gerasenes marks the site of God's first tactical strike against Greco-Roman assimilation in Luke.The Greco-Roman rulers who possess and enslave the land impose violence and havoc, sowing death where God's many flocks were meant to roam freely, without interference.Like the abusers in Jerusalem, the occupying forces in Decapolis do not want to live and let live. They seek to assimilate, to convert, to impose, to kill—to force others to become like them, “twice as much the sons of Hell as themselves.”Sure, they may be interested in learning something from those they conquer, but ultimately, everything must be “melted down” and absorbed into something of their own making. It's called a “god complex:”“…the logic of American liberalism is a barely warmed-over Hellenism. The world-embracing, universe-striding Hellenic ideology under Alexander was an assimilationist one. In the Alexandrian ideology, it doesn't matter what tribe your parents are from, what your lineage is, or in what area of the world you were born. If you speak Greek, eat like a Greek, dress like a Greek, walk like a Greek, shit like a Greek, think like a Greek—then you're a Greek. It's exceptionally difficult for an American to consider this ideology and not think of the ‘melting pot'”(Matthew Franklin Cooper, And the Lamb Will Conquer)They do not submit to God, who made the heavens and the earth. They do not accept what was made, as it has been made, by his making. His name alone be praised!Unlike every other revolution in human history, the socio-political rebellion of the biblical tradition—be ye not deceived, O man, it is indeed a political rebellion, though it is not about starting something new, it is a reversion—to accept the Bible is to revert to God as your King, your religion, your tribe, your city, and your homeland.To return to his land is to return not to what we build, create, perceive, synthesize, or formulate through our ideolocial or theological assimilations, but to what God himself provided in the beginning: an open field where all living creatures coexist in his care.This week, I discuss Luke 8:27.Show Notesδαιμόνιον (daimonion) / ש–י–ד (shin–yod–dalet) / ث–د–ي (thā–dāl–yāʼ)Demon, other deity, or god. From the root שדד (shadad), which means “to deal violently, despoil, or devastate.” Klein notes that the Arabic ثَدْي (thady), “breast,” reinforces his observation that שֹׁד (shōd) and שַׁד (shad) are two forms of the same biblical root meaning “breast.” In consideration of this link, and the fact that the original text is unpointed, it is difficult to ignore the consonantal link between chaos, havoc, militarism, and the function “demon,” vis-à-vis the field, and violence against the land, since the land is inherently matriarchal:שָׂדָאוּת (sadā'ut) is a feminine noun meaning “military fieldcraft,” derived from שָׂדֶה (sadeh), meaning “field.”Note that שֵׁדָה (shedah), female demon, and שָׂדֶה (sadeh), field or open land, are indistinguishable in the unpointed text.This intersection is intentional. Consider a related sub-function associated with δαιμόνιον in Luke:שׁדד (shin-dalet-dalet) and שׂדד (sin-dalet-dalet)שׁדד (shadad) to devastate, despoil, or destroy, referring to violence or judgment.שׂדד (sadad) to plow or harrow, referring to agricultural activity.In Semitic languages, the function “demon” likely originates from the Akkadian term šēdu, a protective spirit often depicted in Mesopotamian art as a bull-like colossus or a human-bull hybrid, for example, the bull effigy of Wall Street. The question is not what the demon šēdu protects, but whose interests it serves. Does it protect life in God's field or wreak havoc on behalf of its human sponsors? Does it plow and harrow, or does it despoil?Demonic Evil“For [a] root of all evils is the love of money—which some, desiring, wandered away from the faith,and pierced themselves through with many griefs.”(1 Timothy 6:10)As it is written:“ῥίζα γὰρ πάντων τῶν κακῶν ἐστιν ἡ φιλαργυρία”“the love of money is [a] root of all evils”“πάντων τῶν κακῶν” unambiguously indicates “of all evils,” not “all kinds,” underscoring Paul's deliberate rhetorical force in presenting the love of money not as a moral weakness but as a seed giving rise to every form of evil in God's field.ἱμάτιον (himation) / ב-ג-ד (bet–gimel–dalet) / ب-ج-د (bāʼ–jīm–dāl)Outer garment; cloak.A scarce word in Classical Arabic, بَجَدَ (bajada), means “to strive or exert,” technically different than بِجَاد (bijād) — the pre-Islamic Bedouin term for a striped cloak or blanket, which Klein links to ב-ג-ד.Instead of بَجَدَ (bajada), Arabic typically employs roots like ج-ه-د (jīm–hāʾ–dāl) — جَاهَدَ (jāhada) — the basis of جِهَاد (jihād), to express striving or struggle, especially in a religious context. Related roots such as ج-د-د (jīm–dāl–dāl) — جَدَّ (jadda) “to be serious” — and ج-دّ (jīm–dāl–dāl) — جِدّ (jidd) “seriousness” — reinforce the idea of earnest effort and commitment that underlies the concept of jihād.The بِجَاد (bijād)—a coarse, often red or striped woolen cloak worn by Bedouins—symbolizes striving through its association with the harsh realities of shepherd life in God's open field, demanding simplicity, endurance, and honor, in contrast with the soft garments of city dwellers. The reference to soft garments is not incidental. In Luke 7:25, Jesus mocks those dressed in “soft clothing” who “live in luxury” in the royal houses. As such, John the Baptist is “more than a prophet.” Clothed in the rough and unpleasant garment of a shepherd, he survives under God's rule in the open field with an honor imperceptible in the eyes of city dwellers.It is “the smell of a field” that Luke 8:27 makes terminologically functional here, recalling the transfer of Isaac's blessing to his younger son. Now Luke turns the tables. As Esau was denied his birthright in favor of Jacob, so now Jacob is denied the same in favor of the demon-possessed Gerasene:Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come close and kiss me, my son.”So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments (בְּגָדָ֖י begāday), he blessed him and said,“See, the smell of my sonIs like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed;Now may God give you of the dew of heaven,And of the fatness of the earth,And an abundance of grain and new wine;May peoples serve you,And nations bow down to you;Be master of your brothers,And may your mother's sons bow down to you.Cursed be those who curse you,And blessed be those who bless you.”(Genesis 27:26–29)οἰκία (oikia

Since this episode is dropping just before Mother's Day in the US, it seemed like the perfect time to talk about Echidna, the Mother of All Monsters. Or… at least an awful lot of the Greek ones. We'll also look at some other monstrous mothers in Mesopotamian, Norse, and Germanic mythology! Visit the World of Mythik website to learn more and to contribute your theories to our board! All stories told on Myths & Muses are original family-friendly adaptations of ancient myths and legends. Stories from ancient mythology can also sometimes deal with complicated topics for young listeners — to the mortal parents and caretakers reading this, we encourage listening along with your young demigods to help them navigate those topics as they explore these epic tales. Transcript for Episode 5 If you'd like to submit something creative you've done inspired by the stories in Myths & Muses, use this form (with a Mortal Guardian's permission!). ----more---- Stuff to Read: Echidna Summaries at Mythopedia and Ancient Origins Quotes from original Greek texts at THEOI Echidna: Half Woman, Half Snake of Greece Angrboda: From Vikingr Chaos, and Destruction: The Symbolism of Angrboda in Norse Mythology and Beyond Tiamat Summary from World History Encyclopedia  From The Met: Mesopotamian Creation Myths Dungeons & Dragons: The History Of Bahamut And Tiamat Grendel's Mother: Beowulf and Grendel's Mother Stuff To Watch: Check out our curated YouTube playlist for this episode!

Join Derek Gilbert as he traces Saturn's evolving identities across ancient civilizations, from Kronos and El to Dagon and Molech. Explore the rituals, symbols, and veneration of the Rephaim—spirits of the dead—central to Saturn worship in Mesopotamian and Amorite cultures.Learn how families summoned ancestors to ritual meals using teraphim idols, a practice that shaped early Christian traditions and persists in modern saint veneration. Derek uncovers how these ancient beliefs connect to biblical prophecy, pagan symbolism in the U.S. Capitol, and events like the 2020 Great Conjunction and January 6, 2021.Discover why understanding Saturn's motives matters today.Watch more about Saturn worship withTroy McLachlan https://youtu.be/SAQ-FZUrPzw and HERE https://youtu.be/Q3ItwdGw5YcSupport the Show: BUY ME A COFFEE:https://buymeacoffee.com/sensiblehippieIf you like to be on the show or have guest suggestions please email me sensiblehippie@gmail.com⁠instagram.com/sensiblehippie⁠Derek Gilbert's website: https://www.gilberthouse.org/Beginning music from Moments: Fugue FrenzyIntro music: PALA ImaginationOutro music: LNDÖ Just Look UpFinal song: Cira Grandi Good Tonight

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 2, 2025 is: ziggurat • ZIG-uh-rat • noun A ziggurat is an ancient Mesopotamian temple consisting of a pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top. The word ziggurat is also sometimes used for a similarly shaped structure. // Ancient ziggurats were always built with a core of mud brick and an exterior covered with baked brick. They had no internal chambers and were usually square or rectangular. See the entry > Examples: "The Breuer building, the former home of the Whitney Museum on New York's Upper East Side, counts as one of the defining buildings of the brutalist movement. Completed in 1966, it was designed by Marcel Breuer, who envisioned the structure as an inverted ziggurat." — Alex Greenberger, Art in America, 14 Jan. 2025 Did you know? French professor of archaeology François Lenormant spent a great deal of time poring over ancient Assyrian texts. In those cuneiform inscriptions, he pieced together a long-forgotten language, now known as Akkadian, which proved valuable to our understanding of the ancient civilization. Through his studies, he became familiar with the Akkadian word for Mesopotamia's towering, stepped temples: ziqqurratu, which stepped into English as ziggurat.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 2, 2025 is: ziggurat • ZIG-uh-rat • noun A ziggurat is an ancient Mesopotamian temple consisting of a pyramidal structure built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top. The word ziggurat is also sometimes used for a similarly shaped structure. // Ancient ziggurats were always built with a core of mud brick and an exterior covered with baked brick. They had no internal chambers and were usually square or rectangular. See the entry > Examples: "The Breuer building, the former home of the Whitney Museum on New York's Upper East Side, counts as one of the defining buildings of the [brutalist] movement. Completed in 1966, it was designed by Marcel Breuer, who envisioned the structure as an inverted ziggurat." — Alex Greenberger, Art in America, 14 Jan. 2025 Did you know? French professor of archaeology François Lenormant spent a great deal of time poring over ancient Assyrian texts. In those cuneiform inscriptions, he pieced together a long-forgotten language, now known as Akkadian, which proved valuable to our understanding of the ancient civilization. Through his studies, he became familiar with the Akkadian word for Mesopotamia's towering, stepped temples: ziqqurratu, which stepped into English as ziggurat.

I'm reading and talking about Ted Gioia's "Immersive Humanities Course," 52 weeks of World Classics.This week I tackled the Epic of Gilgamesh and also The Dhammapada. Gilgamesh was written in approximately 2000 BC, the oldest known story in the world, and is about 1500 years older than anything I've read to date. The Dhammapada is the oldest writings of the Buddha, from approximately 450 BC, which is a lot more in line with some of the other things I've been reading. I think it's important to note the relative ages of these works and know how they fit together. Gilgamesh was an actual, historical king of a Mesopotamian city called Uruk, around 2750 BC. The poem tells the story of how he angers the gods and then makes a best friend from a former wild man, Enkidu. They go rampaging, killing beasts for the sport of it, and that angers the gods. Enkidu is cursed and falls ill. When he dies, Gilgamesh is heartbroken and goes in search of a cure for his own mortality. He fails in that quest. Here are a few of my take-aways:The style of writing feels extraordinarily primitive to me. There is something very, very basic about the story, and many times it feels like it's written with the mindset of a sixth grade boy: lots of graphic talk about sex and body parts, and lots of bloody killing. Until the last part, there wasn't much nuance and there wasn't a lot of reflection on anyone's part.The Flood story is well-described here, lending credence to an actual, world-changing flood taking place at some point in history. The narrative of it is very interesting, especially the description of a square “boat” constructed and filled with pairs of animals.Book X is much more thoughtful than earlier sections. Gilgamesh is mourning his dead friend, searching for ways that he himself might become immortal. But the only immortal human tells him:Humans are born, they live, then they die, this is the order that the gods have decreed. But until the end comes, enjoy your life, spend it in happiness, not despair. Savor your food, make each of your days a delight, bathe and anoint yourself, wear bright clothes that are sparkling clean, let music and dancing fill your house, love the child who holds you by the hand, and give your wife pleasure in your embrace. This is the best way for a man to live.And that's what it comes down to. Man will always and forever struggle with his mortality. We have and we will. The oldest and most enduring story is about the oldest and most enduring question.There is just not a lot of man-woman romance in these old stories. Only Penelope and Odysseus come to mind in the last few weeks. Here, Enkidu is seduced by the temple prostitute but there's not much more mention of women than that. I was actually surprised to see a wife mentioned in the quote above!The Dhammapada reminded me very, very much of The Analects of Confucius (Week 4). Books of aphorisms are very hard to read in big chunks, as I've already noted. It's more a matter of scanning, trying to see how things fit together, if there are over-arching themes. I have a few thoughts here as well:Some of these sayings of Buddha are good sense, and we saw them in Confucius, and we see them in Proverbs. A wrongly-directed mind will do to you far worse than any enemy; a rightly-directed one will do you good.All the talk of “emptying” and forgetting the self is bleak to me. It's a completely different mindset from the Greek philosophy I've read until now. It's not Stoic; it's a kind of blankness, a rejection of self but not an embrace of anything else as far as I can tell. Reading...

Today on Sense of Soul we have back to the third time the host and founder of the 5th Kind, Paul Wallis! He is the international best selling author of The Eden Series, and he's back to tell us about his recent book THE EDEN ENIGMA Do ancient carvings in the mountains of Türkiye carry memories of E.T. contact from the dawn of civilization? This book will take you on a mind-altering journey in Türkiye and Armenia, back to the silent spring which followed the most recent ice age, back to a lost civilization to unearth vital information concerning the emergence of humanity. Paul is not only a fabulous author but a  researcher, speaker and author on spirituality and mysticism. He is a healing practitioner and has worked as a theological educator and as an Archdeacon for the Anglican Church in Australia. Paul researches the world's mythologies for how they speak to our origins as a species and our potential today as human beings.  He's joining us from Australia to share more of his amazing knowledge, years of research of the Bible, creation, ancient scripture and translations. Learn more at his websites: https://paulanthonywallis.com  https://www.youtube.com/c/PaulWallis https://5thkind.tv/  https://youtube.com/@the5thkind Don't forget to rate, follow and leave a comment! www.senseofsoupodcast.com https://www.patreon.com/senseofsoul

Luke wrote “Acts of the Apostles” as a sequel to his Gospel. The book picks up after the ascension of Jesus to chronicle the life of the early Church. That makes the Easter season a great time to pray through Acts of the Apostles. Previously on The 40 Days for Life Podcast, we introduced you to 9 People You Meet at Christ's Birth AND Planned Parenthood and 10 People You Meet at Christ's Passion AND at Planned Parenthood. Today, we introduce you to 10 People You Meet in Acts of the Apostles AND at Planned Parenthood: Matthias Peter Annas and Caiaphas Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judeans, Cappadocians, residents of Pontus and Asia, Phrygians, Pamphilians, Egyptians, Libyans, Cyrenians, Romans, Cretans, and Arabians  The Athenians Mark Demetrius the Silversmith Barnabas The Sadducees Paul

What does a Mesopotamian sheep herder from 4,000 years ago have to do with us? Today, Barry Cooper explains how God's promise to Abraham reveals the good news of Jesus Christ. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/simply-put/the-abrahamic-covenant/ Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

On today's episode, Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid sheds light on the history of Ancient Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, gave rise to writing, literature, astronomy, and law - shaping human history in ways that still resonate today. Drawing on her new book Between Two Rivers, Al-Rashid brings to life the stories of ordinary people from thousands of years ago: working mothers, enslaved individuals seeking freedom, and even a princess who may have founded the first museum. In conversation with archeologist and author Rebecca Wragg Sykes, Al-Rashid discusses the earliest written records, from economic tallies to personal letters, and explores how Mesopotamians grappled with timeless human concerns - love, illness, ambition, and the quest for knowledge. Why does Mesopotamia often remain in the shadow of Egypt and Greece? And what can we learn from this ancient civilization today? Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Oxford's Wolfson College, where she specialises in the languages and history of ancient Mesopotamia. She has written for academic and popular journals, including History Today, on topics as diverse as mental illness in ancient Mesopotamia to Late Assyrian scholarly networks. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IT'S BECOMING more acceptable for pagans to proclaim their faith openly in America. Carl Teichrib (GameOfGods.ca), author of Game of Gods: The Temple of Man in the Age of Re-enchantment, shares his experiences at the 2025 Paganicon in Minneapolis. Carl tells us that many of the Neo-pagans there, who now follow gods of the Greek, Roman, Mesopotamian, and Norse pantheons, came out of Christian churches. We discuss the reasons these modern-day pagans abandoned Jesus and the responsibility we Christians share for failing to serve as effective ambassadors for our King. Follow Carl on X (@CarlTeichrib) and take advantage of his research at ForcingChange.org.

Tapputi is widely regarded as one of the first known chemists, and her name appears in a Mesopotamian cuneiform tablet dating to approximately 1200 BCE. She is believed to have worked in the Babylonian royal palace, where she held the title of “Belatekallim,” meaning a female overseer or supervisor. Tapputi is most famous for making perfumes, the descriptions of her work provide some of the earliest documented evidence of chemical distillation and solvent use—techniques that form the foundation of modern chemistry. For Further Reading: The first chemist in history may have been a female perfumer – here’s how the science of scents has changed since Tapputi-Belatekallim: The First Chemical Engineer | Great Minds How Mesopotamia Became the Cradle of Civilization | HISTORY Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative This month, we’re talking about cultivators — women who nurtured, cross-pollinated, experimented, or went to great lengths to better understand and protect the natural world. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should. Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures. Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, Luci Jones, Abbey Delk, Adrien Behn, Alyia Yates, Vanessa Handy, Melia Agudelo, and Joia Putnoi. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez. Follow Wonder Media Network: Website Instagram Twitter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IT'S BECOMING more acceptable for pagans to proclaim their faith openly in America. Carl Teichrib (GameOfGods.ca), author of Game of Gods: The Temple of Man in the Age of Re-enchantment, shares his experiences at the 2025 Paganicon in Minneapolis. Carl tells us that many of the Neo-pagans there, who now follow gods of the Greek, Roman, Mesopotamian, and Norse pantheons, came out of Christian churches. We discuss the reasons these modern-day pagans abandoned Jesus and the responsibility we Christians share for failing to serve as effective ambassadors for our King. Follow Carl on X (@CarlTeichrib) and take advantage of his research at ForcingChange.org. The Gilberts' new book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! Derek's new book Destination: Earth, co-authored with Donna Howell and Allie Anderson, is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! Follow us! X: @viewfrombunker | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbertTelegram: t.me/gilberthouseSubstack: gilberthouse.substack.comYouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelationFacebook.com/viewfromthebunker Sharon's novels Winds of Evil and The Armageddon Strain are available now in paperback, ebook (Kindle), and audiobook (Audible) formats! Get signed copies of the first two books of The Laodicea Chronicles now at GilbertHouse.org/store! Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! The building has HVAC, a new floor, windows, insulation, ceiling fans, and an upgraded electrical system! We truly appreciate your support. If you are so led, you can help out at www.GilbertHouse.org/donate. —— Download our free app! This brings all of our content directly to your smartphone or tablet. Best of all, we'll never get canceled from our own app! Links to the app stores for iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle Fire devices are at www.GilbertHouse.org/app. Please join us each Sunday for the Gilbert House Fellowship, our weekly Bible study podcast. Log on to www.GilbertHouse.org for more details. Check out our weekly video program Unraveling Revelation (unravelingrevelation.tv), and subscribe to the YouTube channel: YouTube.com/UnravelingRevelation. —— Special offers on our books and DVDs: www.gilberthouse.org/store. —— JOIN US AND SPECIAL GUEST CARL TEICHRIB IN ISRAEL! Our next tour of Israel is October 19–30, 2025 with an optional three-day extension to Jordan. For the latest information, log on to GilbertHouse.org/travel. Discuss these topics at the VFTB Facebook page (facebook.com/viewfromthebunker) and check out the great podcasters at the Fringe Radio Network (Spreaker.com/show/fringe-radio-network)!

A rollicking adventure starring three free-spirited Victorians on a twenty-year quest to decipher cuneiform, the oldest writing in the world—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu.It was one of history's great vanishing acts.Around 3,400 BCE—as humans were gathering in complex urban settlements—a scribe in the mud-walled city-state of Uruk picked up a reed stylus to press tiny symbols into clay. For three millennia, wedge shape cuneiform script would record the military conquests, scientific discoveries, and epic literature of the great Mesopotamian kingdoms of Sumer, Assyria, and Babylon and of Persia's mighty Achaemenid Empire, along with precious minutiae about everyday life in the cradle of civilization. And then…the meaning of the characters was lost.London, 1857. In an era obsessed with human progress, mysterious palaces emerging from the desert sands had captured the Victorian public's imagination. Yet Europe's best philologists struggled to decipher the bizarre inscriptions excavators were digging up.Enter a swashbuckling archaeologist, a suave British military officer turned diplomat, and a cloistered Irish rector, all vying for glory in a race to decipher this script that would enable them to peek farther back into human history than ever before.From the ruins of Persepolis to lawless outposts of the crumbling Ottoman Empire, The Mesopotamian Riddle whisks you on a wild adventure through the golden age of archaeology in an epic quest to understand our past.Joshua Hammer is a veteran foreign and war correspondent for Newsweek who has covered conflicts on four continents. He is the author of two previous books, A Season in Bethlehem and Chosen by God: A Brother's Journey. He has contributed articles to The New Yorker, Smithsonian, and many other publications. He lives in Cape Town, South Africa, with his wife and two sons.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/earth-ancients--2790919/support.

Long before Pazuzu terrorized audiences in *The Exorcist*, this ancient Mesopotamian demon struck fear into the hearts of the Assyrians and Babylonians—both as a harbinger of destruction and an unlikely protector against even greater evils.Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateInfo on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScreamInfo on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TVIN THIS EPISODE: The Exorcist is widely regarded as one of the most influential horror movies of all time. Even now, half a century after its release, it continues to terrify audiences, in large part due to its horrifying practical effects and iconic antagonist: Pazuzu. (Pazuzu, The Demon ‘The Exorcist' Made Famous) *** Latoya Ammons and her family claim to have experienced demonic possession that began when they moved into what became known as the “house of 200 demons” in 2011. (The Haunting on Carolina Street) *** In the eerie depths of 1920s Los Angeles, a sinister tale unfolded, shrouded in secrets and steeped in darkness. It all began with May Otis Blackburn and her daughter, Ruth, who claimed to receive divine revelations from the angels Gabriel and Michael. Thus emerged the enigmatic Blackburn Cult, a group entangled in a web of prophecies, tributes, and whispered mysteries. (The Blackburn Cult) *** 19th-century freak shows brought both the extraordinary and the macabre to captivated audiences far and wide. Among the peculiar spectacles of these exhibitions stood a man whose skeletal frame defied all norms of human anatomy… as his skeleton and skin appeared to be the only parts of his anatomy intact. (Seurat, The Living Skeleton) *** In the heat of summer in 2008, a mysterious creature washed ashore on a beach in Montauk, Long Island, sending shockwaves through the community. What began as a simple sighting by local resident soon exploded into a media frenzy, with wild theories and speculation running rampant. (Hot Montauk Summer) *** While epic Hollywood films often depict gladiators as men, the truth is far more captivating. We'll step into the arena with the women who dared to defy convention and enter the gladiatorial games. (Gladiators Of The Fairer Sex)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Lead-In00:01:22.707 = Show Open00:04:14.288 = Pazuzu, The Demon ‘The Exorcist' Made Famous00:13:50.830 = The Blackburn Cult00:19:20.920 = Haunting on Carolina Street00:25:23.931 = Seurat, The Living Skeleton00:31:41.566 = Gladiators of the Fairer Sex00:46:43.838 = Hot Montauk Summer00:55:36.671 = Show Close00:56:20.781 = Final Thought and BloopersSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…Episode Page at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/pazuzu“Pazuzu, The Demon ‘The Exorcist” Made Famous” by Austin Harvey for All That's Interesting: https://tinyurl.com/3myts9h4“The Blackburn Cult” by Troy Taylor from the book “Taking Up Serpents: American Cults, Messiahs and Madmen”: https://amzn.to/4ak7SUG“The Haunting on Carolina Street” sources: https://tinyurl.com/2cvyfu46, https://tinyurl.com/bdzz467u,https://tinyurl.com/39u7b79f, https://tinyurl.com/35uvhbp6“Seurat, The Living Skeleton” by Kaushik Patowary for Amusing Planet: https://tinyurl.com/mr4xwp9k“Gladiators Of The Fairer Sex” by Paul Chrystal for Ancient Origins: https://tinyurl.com/ptzpv46v“Hot Montauk Summer” by TheGhostInMyMachine.com: https://tinyurl.com/2b74wzpx=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: March 26, 2024TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/36kz4jdd