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Historian Ben Baumann speaks with songwriter and former lead singer of The Strumbellas Simon Ward about the band's rise to international fame, the story behind their hit song "Spirits", and the personal struggles that accompanied his success. They also discuss the unique music scene of the 2010s, the relationship between music and mental health, finding meaning beyond fame and recognition, and how artificial intelligence and changing technology could shape the future of music.

Historian Ben Baumann speaks with legendary songwriter and record producer Steve Barri about his role in shaping the sound of the 1960s, the stories behind iconic songs like *Secret Agent Man* and *Eve of Destruction*, and his work producing The Grass Roots and signing bands like Steppenwolf and Three Dog Night. They also discuss what made the 1960s music scene so unique, the unpredictable nature of creating hit songs, and how the music industry has evolved with the rise of new technologies and artificial intelligence.

Historian Ben Baumann speaks with Yale philosophy professor Dr. Daniel Greco about how artificial intelligence is changing philosophy and education, the process of training AI models, and why he does it. They also discuss the implications of AI for education, the concerns surrounding the technology, and what this historic moment means for the future of knowledge.

Historian Ben Baumann speaks with former Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing about his college football career, the experience of leading one of the most successful teams in Kansas history, and how the game has changed over time.

In this episode of Roots of Reality, historian Ben Baumann explores the history of college sports in America, tracing its evolution from Ivy League football fields and early university traditions to the modern era of television contracts, NIL deals, conference realignment, and athlete compensation, while examining what these changes reveal about the broader relationship between community, identity, money, and culture in American society.

Historian Ben Baumann speaks with Dr. Sean O hEigeartaigh about the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, the myths and risks surrounding it, and why this moment may be remembered as a turning point in human history.

In this episode of Roots of Reality, historian Ben Baumann explores artificial intelligence through the long arc of human technological history, asking whether AI represents just another transformative tool, or a turning point that could fundamentally reshape work, society, and what it means to be human.

Historian Ben Baumann and Jeff Clements, co-founder and CEO of American Promise, discuss the critical issue of money in politics and the movement to pass the For Our Freedom Amendment.

Historian Ben Bauman explores the pervasive influence of money throughout history, particularly in relation to democracy and civic responsibility. He discusses how wealth has shaped political power from ancient times to the modern era, highlighting the ongoing struggle against the corrupting influence of money in public life. The conversation culminates in a critical examination of the current state of American democracy, the role of social media, and the ethical implications of wealth in society.

In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann speaks with planetary astrobiologist Dr. Abel Méndez about the search for extraterrestrial life, the science behind the WOW! signal, and the challenges of detecting extraterrestrial intelligence.

In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann and astronomer Dr. Eliza Kempton discuss the diversity of exoplanets, the search for potentially habitable worlds, and what studying these planets reveals about Earth’s uniqueness and the possibilities for life elsewhere in the galaxy.

Historian Ben Baumann explores humanity’s enduring question of whether we are alone in the universe and what that search reveals about ourselves. Tracing the idea from ancient philosophy to modern astronomy, the episode examines how scientific discovery deepens existential questions about meaning, mortality, and purpose. It asks whether the search for life beyond Earth is ultimately a search to understand our own place in the cosmos.

In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann and Jamie Neikrie, Legislative Director of Issue One, explore examples of constitutional leadership, the role of civil society, and how past challenges can inform the future.

Historian Ben Baumann reflects on how America’s past moments of courage can illuminate a path for a successful future. This episode examines rising polarization, declining civic education, and the expanding influence of artificial intelligence on public trust and our sense of reality, asking what history can teach us about confronting fear, resisting simple narratives, and choosing a future grounded in clarity, responsibility, and hope.

In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann talks with Ben Radford, Deputy Editor of Skeptical Inquirer magazine and Research Fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Together, they discuss Radford’s experiences investigating ghosts, the psychological and cultural roots of ghost beliefs, and how these beliefs persist and evolve despite modern technology.