Witness of the Times

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:
Whether toilets really spin differently in opposite hemispheres
The myth of humans using only 10% of their brains
Why “right-brain vs. left-brain” thinking is misleading
Misconceptions about hydration, coffee, sugar, and MSG
Why shaving does not make hair grow back thicker
The truth about stretching before exercise
Whether dropped pennies can actually kill someone
Black hole fears surrounding particle accelerators
Why bumblebees absolutely can fly
Mouse traps, cheese, and animal behavior myths
Dangerous misconceptions involving sharks and rhino horns
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
Modern myths and misconceptions
Pseudoscience
Scientific misunderstandings
Nutrition myths
Human biology misconceptions
Physics myths
Animal behavior myths
Misinformation and belief systems
Joseph Campbell and mythology
The psychology of mythmaking
Key Myths Discussed
Coriolis effect and toilets
Humans using only 10% of the brain
Right-brain vs. left-brain thinking
“Eight glasses of water a day”
Coffee as a dehydrator
Sugar causing hyperactivity
MSG allergies
Alcohol warming the body
Pennies dropped from skyscrapers
Bumblebees being unable to fly
Mice loving cheese
Sharks never getting cancer
“Myths are powerful because they often contain just enough truth to feel believable.”
Credits
Hosted by Mark Veazey and Dr. Bruce BakerMusic by Jorgen Halber
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 witnessofthetimes@gmail.com.  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:
Viking contact with North America before Columbus
Norse navigation and the mystery of sunstones
Polynesian links to South America
The possible reality behind Rama’s Bridge
A sunken-island legend from the Solomon Islands
The Egyptian Labyrinth and the mystery of orichalcum
The okapi, extinct animals, and how myths preserve memory
Flood traditions, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Credits
Hosted by Marc Veazey and Dr. Bruce BakerMusic by Jorgen Halber
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 witnessofthetimes@gmail.com.  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:
The Lotus Eaters and the intoxicating lotus fruit of Tunisia
The Cyclops Polyphemus and Malta’s ancient legends
Aeolus and the wind-swept Aeolian Islands
Circe and the island of Aeaea
Lake Avernus and the Roman entrance to the underworld
The Sirens off the Amalfi Coast
Scylla and Charybdis in the Strait of Messina
Calypso’s island of Ogygia, believed by many to be Gozo
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
Homer’s Odyssey
Bronze Age Mediterranean navigation
Mythological geography
Troy and the Trojan War
Ancient seafaring and Greek ships
Malta and the Cyclops legend
The Sirens and Amalfi Coast
Scylla and Charybdis
Joseph Campbell and the hero’s journey
Mythology versus historical reality
Key Locations Explored
Troy (Hisarlik, Turkey)
Smyrna / Izmir
Chios
Gerba, Tunisia
Malta
Aeolian Islands
Sardinia
Ponza
Campi Flegrei and Lake Avernus
Amalfi Coast
Strait of Messina
Sicily
Gozo
Corfu
Ithaca
“Their feats may have been embellished, but the places were real.”
Credits
Hosted by Mark Veesey and Dr. Bruce BakerMusic by Jorgen Halber
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 witnessofthetimes@gmail.com.  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:
The origins of the El Dorado legend
The Muisca civilization and Lake Guatavita
Shangri-La and Tibetan myths of Shambhala
Ubar, the “Atlantis of the Sands”
Heinrich Schliemann’s discovery of Troy
The underwater rediscovery of Heraklion
Ancient temples and cities once thought fictional
Atlantis and the enduring mystery of lost civilizations
Why myths often preserve fragments of historical truth
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
Lost cities and mythical places
El Dorado and the conquistadors
The Muisca people
Shangri-La and Shambhala
Atlantis and ancient myths
Ubar and Arabian trade routes
Troy and archaeological discovery
Heraklion beneath the sea
Historical fiction and mythology
Archaeology versus legen
Key Historical and Mythological References
El Dorado
Atlantis
Shangri-La
Shambhala
Troy
Heraklion
Ubar
The Muisca civilization
Ponce de León
Sir Walter Raleigh
Heinrich Schliemann
“Many legends survive because somewhere within them lies a fragment of truth waiting to be rediscovered.”
Credits
Hosted by Mark Veazey and Dr. Bruce BakerMusic by Jorgen Halber
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 witnessofthetimes@gmail.com.  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:
Troglodytes and ancient cave-dwelling societies
Underground cities discovered across Turkey, Egypt, China, and beyond
Cherokee legends of “moon-eyed people”
Archaeological evidence supporting the existence of female Scythian warriors — the likely inspiration for the Amazons
Viking berserkers and theories surrounding their legendary battle frenzy
The elusive Sea Peoples and the collapse of the Bronze Age
How fear, disease, and decomposition may have inspired vampire myths
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 BakerMusic by Jorgen Halber
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 witnessofthetimes@gmail.com.  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 phoenix and how bird molting may have inspired stories of death and rebirth
Protoceratids fossils as the likely origin of the griffin legend
Dinosaur remains and the development of dragon myths across Asia
Giant squid and the Norse origins of the Kraken
The astonishing rediscovery of the coelacanth, a fish believed extinct for millions of years
The okapi, once dismissed as the mythical “African Unicorn”
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 BakerMusic by Jorgen Halber
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 witnessofthetimes@gmail.com.  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:
Why every form of currency ultimately depends on trust and acceptance
The strengths and weaknesses of government-backed fiat currency
How inflation and government instability erode the value of money
The collapse of historical currencies and failed monetary systems
The origins of Bitcoin and the mysterious figure known as Satoshi Nakamoto
How blockchain technology works as a decentralized digital ledger
Why cryptocurrency is considered resistant to counterfeiting
The risks associated with digital wallets, stolen keys, and irreversible transactions
The role of privacy and anonymity in cryptocurrency transactions
Why cryptocurrency has become attractive for both investors and criminal enterprises
The connection between the end of the gold standard and the rise of decentralized finance
The expiration of the petrodollar agreement and what it could mean for the future of global finance
The debate over cryptocurrency as both an investment and a storehouse of value
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 witnessofthetimes@gmail.com.  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:
Why barter systems eventually gave way to currency
The three essential functions of money
How ancient Chinese merchants pioneered paper receipts and notes
The origins of bank notes, bills of credit, legal tender, and IOUs
Why paper currency has value despite lacking intrinsic worth
The history of counterfeiting and anti-forgery measures
Hyperinflation and the collapse of currencies
Confederate money and the dangers of failed governments
The Bretton Woods Agreement and the post–World War II financial order
The rise and fall of the gold standard
President Nixon’s 1971 decision ending dollar convertibility into gold
The creation of the petrodollar system
Inflation, fiat currency, and the modern banking system
Why most modern “money” exists only digitally rather than as physical cash
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 witnessofthetimes@gmail.com.  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:
The fur and pelt trade in North America, Russia, and Europe
The origins of the term buck as slang for the dollar
Beaver pelts as a standardized trading currency
Cowry shells, whale teeth, and feathers as mediums of exchange
The Mayan use of quetzal feathers as currency
Shell money and Depression-era clam shell scrip
The distinction between commodities, collectibles, and true currency
Inflation and scarcity in fur-based economies
The global history of slavery as a system of wealth creation
The Roman, Ottoman, African, Asian, and colonial slave trades
The connection between industrialization, colonialism, and forced labor
Abraham Lincoln’s reflections on slavery and justice
The continuing modern reality of human trafficking and slavery worldwide
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 witnessofthetimes@gmail.com.  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:
How spices became one of history’s earliest forms of wealth and currency
Ancient spice routes connecting Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe
Why spices were once worth more than precious metals
The medicinal, culinary, and religious uses of spices
Arab traders, Venetian monopolies, and the rise of maritime exploration
Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, and the search for new trade routes
Colonialism, exploitation, and violence tied to the spice trade
The Dutch East India Company and the birth of multinational corporations
How sugar plantations and the slave trade became tied to global commerce
Tulip Mania and one of history’s first financial bubbles
Tobacco, tea bricks, cacao beans, coffee, and other plant-based currencies
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 witnessofthetimes@gmail.com.  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.”