Episode 12 Title: Unbelievable History: Modern Myths We Still Believe

Drop Date: August 18, 2026

Show Notes

In the Season 4 finale of Witness of the Times, Dr. Bruce Baker shifts the focus from ancient myths to the modern misconceptions that continue to shape how we understand the world today. From pseudoscience and nutrition myths to misunderstood physics and animal behavior, this episode explores how easily human beings create explanations for things we only partially understand — and why some myths endure even when evidence disproves them. Drawing on science, history, psychology, and everyday experience, Dr. Baker examines how myths evolve not only from ignorance, but often from logic that appears convincing on the surface.

Among the modern myths explored:

Throughout the episode, Dr. Baker reflects on how myths form, spread, and persist — especially when they reinforce what people already want to believe.

The episode also closes the broader Season 4 exploration of mythology, unbelievable history, and misunderstood truth with a reminder that myths, while often inaccurate, still reveal something profound about human nature.

Topics Covered

Key Myths Discussed

“Myths are powerful because they often contain just enough truth to feel believable.”

Credits

Hosted by Mark Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker

Witness of the Times explores the people, places, and moments that shaped our world — often hidden in plain sight.

 If you like what we do, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.  Every positive review helps new listeners find the show.  Send us your questions about the stories we profile.  You can email us at [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “The Witness of The Times” are Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker.  Our music is by Jorgen Hallberg.  Witness of the Times is produced by Ezra Media Network. We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker, and this has been” The Witness of the Times.”

Show Notes

Witness of the Times – Season 4, Episode 11 “Mythcellaneous Tales”

Drops August 11, 2026

Show Notes

In Episode 11 of Witness of the Times, “Mythcellaneous Tales,” we explore the line between myth and history, looking at legends once dismissed as fiction that may contain surprising elements of truth.

This episode examines evidence of Viking exploration in North America before Columbus, including the Norse settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows, and considers how the Vikings may have navigated using lodestone and sunstones. It also looks at possible Polynesian contact with South America, the enduring legend of Rama’s Bridge between India and Sri Lanka, and a Solomon Islands story that appears to preserve the memory of a real island lost beneath the sea.

We also revisit the ancient world, from the possible rediscovery of the Egyptian Labyrinth to the true identity of orichalcum, the mysterious metal described by classical writers. Along the way, the episode touches on the okapi, extinct animals such as the aurochs, global flood traditions, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, and the long-running debate over the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

At its core, this episode asks an important question: How often do myths preserve real history? Sometimes, the stories of the past are not pure invention, but echoes of events, places, and discoveries that were once very real.

In this episode:

Credits

Hosted by Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker

Witness of the Times explores the people, places, and moments that shaped our world — often hidden in plain sight.

 If you like what we do, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.  Every positive review helps new listeners find the show.  Send us your questions about the stories we profile.  You can email us at [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “The Witness of The Times” are Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker.  Our music is by Jorgen Hallberg.  Witness of the Times is produced by Ezra Media Network. We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker, and this has been” The Witness of the Times.”

Episode 10 Title: Unbelievable History: The Odyssey and the Real World of Ancient Myth

Drop Date: August 4, 2026

Show Notes

In this episode of Witness of the Times, Dr. Bruce Baker concludes his exploration of unbelievable history by examining one of the greatest legendary journeys ever told: Homer’s Odyssey. Was the voyage of Odysseus pure fiction, or was Homer describing real places, real dangers, and real maritime routes known to Bronze Age sailors? Traveling stop-by-stop through the Mediterranean, Dr. Baker retraces the ten-year journey of Ulysses from the fall of Troy back to Ithaca, connecting mythological encounters with actual locations that still exist today.

From Malta and Sardinia to Sicily, Tunisia, the Amalfi Coast, and the volcanic landscapes near Naples, the episode reveals how ancient sailors transformed dangerous coastlines, strange natural phenomena, and unfamiliar peoples into enduring myths.

Among the legendary encounters explored:

Dr. Baker also examines the realities of Bronze Age seafaring, the ships used during the Trojan War era, and the plausibility of Homer’s route through the Mediterranean.

The episode closes with a reflection on comparative mythology scholar Joseph Campbell’s belief that Odysseus represents more than a single legendary king — he represents all of us and the universal human journey through life.

Topics Covered

Key Locations Explored

“Their feats may have been embellished, but the places were real.”

Credits

Hosted by Mark Veesey and Dr. Bruce Baker

Witness of the Times explores the people, places, and moments that shaped our world — often hidden in plain sight.

 If you like what we do, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.  Every positive review helps new listeners find the show.  Send us your questions about the stories we profile.  You can email us at [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “The Witness of The Times” are Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker.  Our music is by Jorgen Hallberg.  Witness of the Times is produced by Ezra Media Network. We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker, and this has been” The Witness of the Times.”

Episode 9 Title: Unbelievable History: Atlantis, El Dorado, and the Search for Lost Cities

Drop Date: July 28, 2026

Show Notes

In this episode of Witness of the Times, Dr. Bruce Baker continues the Season 4 series on unbelievable history by exploring legendary places once dismissed as fantasy — but which may have been inspired by real cities, civilizations, and historical events. From El Dorado and Shangri-La to Troy, Heraklion, and Atlantis, the episode examines how myths evolve from kernels of truth into enduring legends that capture the imagination for centuries. Dr. Baker explores why human beings are so willing to believe in lost utopias, hidden cities, and forgotten civilizations — especially when those stories promise wealth, immortality, or paradise.

The episode follows the Spanish conquistadors into South America in search of El Dorado, tracing the origins of the legend back to the Muisca people of present-day Colombia and their gold ceremonies at Lake Guatavita. From there, the discussion expands to other legendary places whose existence was once doubted but later confirmed through archaeology.

Among the topics explored:

Throughout the episode, Dr. Baker reflects on the relationship between storytelling, exaggeration, archaeology, and human curiosity — and how history repeatedly reminds us not to dismiss ancient accounts too quickly.

Topics Covered

Key Historical and Mythological References

“Many legends survive because somewhere within them lies a fragment of truth waiting to be rediscovered.”

Credits

Hosted by Mark Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker

Witness of the Times explores the people, places, and moments that shaped our world — often hidden in plain sight.

 If you like what we do, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.  Every positive review helps new listeners find the show.  Send us your questions about the stories we profile.  You can email us at [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “The Witness of The Times” are Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker.  Our music is by Jorgen Hallberg.  Witness of the Times is produced by Ezra Media Network. We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker, and this has been” The Witness of the Times.”

Episode 8 Title: Unbelievable History: Cyclopes, Amazons, and the Truth Behind Mythical Peoples

Drop Date: July 21, 2026

Show Notes

In this episode of Witness of the Times, Dr. Bruce Baker continues the Season 4 series on unbelievable history by exploring the origins of mythical peoples — legendary races and strange human societies once dismissed as fantasy, but often rooted in historical truth. From the Cyclopes of Homer’s Odyssey to Viking berserkers, Amazons, cave dwellers, and the mysterious Sea Peoples, this episode examines how archaeology, anthropology, and misunderstood discoveries helped shape some of humanity’s oldest legends. The journey begins on the island of Malta, where fossilized dwarf mammoth skulls may explain the ancient belief in one-eyed giants. Dr. Baker also explores the Hypogeum of Malta, a massive prehistoric underground complex whose enormous chambers may have contributed to stories of giants and lost civilizations.

Other topics explored include:

Throughout the episode, Dr. Baker demonstrates that myths rarely emerge from pure invention. More often, they are exaggerated retellings of real people, real events, and misunderstood evidence passed down through generations.

“Behind many myths lies a kernel of truth — stretched, exaggerated, and transformed over centuries of storytelling.”

Credits

Hosted by Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker

Witness of the Times explores the people, places, and moments that shaped our world — often hidden in plain sight.

 If you like what we do, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.  Every positive review helps new listeners find the show.  Send us your questions about the stories we profile.  You can email us at [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “The Witness of The Times” are Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker.  Our music is by Jorgen Hallberg.  Witness of the Times is produced by Ezra Media Network. We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker, and this has been” The Witness of the Times.”

Episode 7 Title: Unbelievable History: Dragons, Krakens, and the Truth Behind Mythical Beasts

Drop Date: July 14, 2026

Show Notes

In this episode of Witness of the Times, Dr. Bruce Baker launches the second half of Season 4 with a fascinating exploration into what he calls unbelievable history — stories once dismissed as pure fantasy that may contain surprising elements of truth. From dragons and griffins to krakens and phoenixes, this episode examines how ancient people attempted to explain strange discoveries, fossil remains, and rarely seen animals long before modern science existed. Drawing from mythology, paleontology, archaeology, and history, Dr. Baker explores how misunderstood evidence often evolved into legendary creatures that still capture our imagination today.

Among the myths examined:

The episode also reflects on the scientific method itself, reminding listeners that human beings have always attempted to make sense of the unknown — and that many modern assumptions may someday prove incomplete as well.

As the series on unbelievable history continues, Dr. Baker challenges us to reconsider the boundary between myth and reality, and to recognize that legends often begin with genuine attempts to explain the world.

“The more we learn, the more we discover how wrong we once were — and perhaps how wrong we still are.”

Credits

Hosted by Mark Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker

Witness of the Times explores the people, places, and moments that shaped our world — often hidden in plain sight.

 If you like what we do, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.  Every positive review helps new listeners find the show.  Send us your questions about the stories we profile.  You can email us at [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “The Witness of The Times” are Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker.  Our music is by Jorgen Hallberg.  Witness of the Times is produced by Ezra Media Network. We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker, and this has been” The Witness of the Times.”

Episode 6 Title: The History of Money, Part VI: Cryptocurrency and the Future of Wealth

Drop Date: July 7, 2026

Show Notes

In the final installment of Season 4’s exploration into the history of money, Witness of the Times examines one of the newest and most controversial forms of currency ever created — cryptocurrency. From ancient coinage and salt trades to paper money and the global dominance of the U.S. dollar, Dr. Bruce Baker traces the long evolution of money before turning to Bitcoin, blockchain technology, and the rise of decentralized digital currency.

In this episode, listeners will discover:

Dr. Baker also explores the broader philosophical question underlying every monetary system: what truly gives money its value? Whether gold, paper currency, or cryptocurrency, every form of money ultimately survives only so long as people collectively agree to trust it.

Blending history, economics, technology, and cultural commentary, this episode concludes the series by examining how digital currency may represent either the next great evolution of money — or simply the latest chapter in humanity’s long and complicated relationship with wealth.

Until then, keep moving forward… but don’t forget to look backwards every once in a while, too.

 If you like what we do, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.  Every positive review helps new listeners find the show.  Send us your questions about the stories we profile.  You can email us at [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “The Witness of The Times” are Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker.  Our music is by Jorgen Hallberg.  Witness of the Times is produced by Ezra Media Network. We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker, and this has been” The Witness of the Times.”

Episode 5 Title: The History of Money, Part V: Paper Currency and the Power of Trust

Drop Date: June 30, 2026

Show Notes

In Episode 5 of Season 4, Witness of the Times explores the fascinating rise of paper currency — the form of money that dominates the modern world.

From ancient Chinese merchants exchanging receipts during the Tang Dynasty to the collapse of the gold standard in the 1970s, Dr. Bruce Baker traces the evolution of paper money from simple promissory notes into the backbone of the global economy.

This episode examines how paper currency transformed trade by solving the limitations of barter and heavy coinage, while also introducing entirely new risks involving inflation, counterfeiting, government debt, and economic instability.

In this episode, listeners will discover:

Dr. Baker also explores the fragile but essential role of trust in every monetary system. Whether backed by gold, governments, or global trade agreements, paper currency ultimately depends upon confidence, stability, and collective belief. Blending economics, history, politics, and finance, this episode provides a compelling overview of how paper money reshaped civilization and became the dominant currency system of the modern age. Next time, the series concludes with one of the newest and most controversial forms of money ever created — cryptocurrency.

Until then, keep moving forward… but don’t forget to look backwards every once in a while, too.

 If you like what we do, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.  Every positive review helps new listeners find the show.  Send us your questions about the stories we profile.  You can email us at [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “The Witness of The Times” are Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker.  Our music is by Jorgen Hallberg.  Witness of the Times is produced by Ezra Media Network. We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker, and this has been” The Witness of the Times.”

Episode 4 Title: The History of Money, Part IV: Animals, Currency, and the Price of Human Labor

Drop Date: June 23

Show Notes

In Episode 4 of Season 4, Witness of the Times turns to perhaps the most difficult and controversial chapter in the history of money — the use of animals, animal products, and ultimately human beings as commodities of exchange.

From buckskins and beaver pelts to shells, whale teeth, feathers, and livestock, societies throughout history assigned value to the animal world in ways that shaped trade, culture, and economic systems across the globe. But this episode also confronts the darker reality that nearly every major form of wealth creation in history was deeply intertwined with exploitation, forced labor, and slavery.

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Baker explores:

This episode also examines the uncomfortable truth that much of human economic history — from salt mines and plantations to spice routes and precious metals — was built upon the labor of enslaved or exploited people. Blending history, economics, ethics, and social commentary, Dr. Baker delivers one of the most sobering and thought-provoking episodes of the season.

Next time, the series continues with the rise of paper money and the transformation of modern currency.

Until then, keep moving forward… but don’t forget to look backwards every once in a while, too.

 If you like what we do, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.  Every positive review helps new listeners find the show.  Send us your questions about the stories we profile.  You can email us at [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “The Witness of The Times” are Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker.  Our music is by Jorgen Hallberg.  Witness of the Times is produced by Ezra Media Network. We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker, and this has been” The Witness of the Times.”

Episode 3 Title: The History of Money, Part III: Spices, Trade, and the First Global Economy

Drop Date: June 16

Show Notes

In Episode 3 of Season 4, Witness of the Times continues its exploration into the history of money by turning to one of the most influential trade systems ever created — the spice trade.

Long before modern banking systems or global stock exchanges existed, spices helped create what may have been the world’s first truly global economy. From cinnamon and ginger to saffron, vanilla, pepper, and cardamom, these rare and valuable commodities transformed trade, fueled exploration, built empires, and reshaped the world.

In this episode, Dr. Bruce Baker explores:

Dr. Baker also examines the darker side of wealth and trade, showing how greed, speculation, monopolies, and exploitation repeatedly emerge throughout the history of money.

From saffron worth thousands of dollars per pound to tea bricks used as legal tender, this episode reveals how plants, flavor, and commerce helped shape global civilization and laid the groundwork for the modern economic world. Next time, the journey concludes with one final category of ancient currency — animals.

Until then, keep moving forward… but don’t forget to look backwards every once in a while, too.

 If you like what we do, rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.  Every positive review helps new listeners find the show.  Send us your questions about the stories we profile.  You can email us at [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “The Witness of The Times” are Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker.  Our music is by Jorgen Hallberg.  Witness of the Times is produced by Ezra Media Network. We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce Baker, and this has been” The Witness of the Times.”