Dr. Thomas Madden is a historian, author, and professor of history at Saint Louis University whose work focuses on the ancient and medieval worlds, the Crusades, Venice, and the history of republics. In his latest book, The Fall of Republics, he examines why republics rise, endure, and collapse, tracing lessons from Carthage, Rome, and Venice to the American ... Show More
Oct 29
#352 Cain Velasquez - UFC Champion Hunted the Man Accused of Abusing His 4-Year-Old Son
Cain Velasquez is a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion, widely regarded as one of the best heavyweights in MMA history, who later competed in pro wrestling with AAA and WWE. After a 2022 legal case that led to time in prison, he was released in February 2026 and has since f ... Show More
3h 55m
Oct 27
The Space Technology That Could Change History Forever
When I had Erin Brockovich on the Shawn Ryan Show, we took a deep dive into data centers and their impact on our water supply, power grid, and ecosystems. After watching that conversation, Baiju Bhatt, my guest on episode #223, reached out with a potential solution. What if we do ... Show More
59m 46s
Nov 2016
An Extraordinary Meeting Between Two Former Hostages
In 2002, the French Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt became perhaps one of the best-known hostages in the world when she was kidnapped and held for over six years, deep in the Colombian jungle, by the Farc or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Watching Ingrid's emotion ... Show More
34m 45s
Apr 2021
Kidnapped on an orchid hunt
In March 2000, two young English travellers, Tom Hart-Dyke and Paul Winder, were kidnapped by Colombian guerrillas while attempting to cross the notoriously dangerous Darien Gap region on the border with Panama. Hart-Dyke is a gardener who was on a mission to collect orchids, and ... Show More
10m 2s
Jan 2025
Aid Worker Kidnapped: Held Hostage in Haiti (Part 1 of 2)
An American humanitarian worker falls prey to a ruthless gang. In April 2023, Jeff Frazier is running a relief programme in Haiti - a beautiful Caribbean nation which has, in recent years, struggled terribly with extreme poverty and crime. One day, during his work, Jeff is sudden ... Show More
53m 14s