Roots of Reality

Feb 08, 2026 — 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.

Feb 06, 2026 — 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...

Dec 22, 2025 — 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.

Dec 22, 2025 — 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...

Dec 20, 2025 — 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...

Dec 20, 2025 — 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...

Dec 20, 2025 — 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...

Nov 22, 2025 — In this episode of Roots of Reality Experiences, historian Ben Baumann and Jamie Neikrie, the Legislative Director of Issue One, discuss the need for a unified civil society to resist authoritarian impulses, the historic importance of constitutional...

Nov 19, 2025 — Historian Ben Baumann reflects on how America’s past moments of courage can illuminate a path through today’s turmoil. This episode examines rising polarization, declining civic education, and the expanding influence of artificial intelligence on...

Oct 31, 2025 — 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...