Witness of the Times

🎙️ Witness of the Times

Season 2, Witness of the Times, Episode 10 – “The Guard Who Unlocked an Empire: The Story of Mehmet Kusman”

In recent episodes, we've explored the grand civilizations of Babylon, Greece, and Rome. But today, Witness of the Times brings you a story from modern history that is every bit as powerful—and perhaps even more sur...

Season 2, Witness of the Times, Episode 9 – “Alexandria: The Soul of a City”

🎧 Show Notes – Witness of the Times

In this sweeping episode, we explore the rise—and eventual decline—of one of the most remarkable cities in human history: Alexandria, Egypt. Founded in 332 BC by Alexander the Great, Alexandria was built from the ground up with the am...

🎙️ Witness of the Times – Season 2, Episode 8 Title: The Fall of Massalia: When Rome Went to War With Itself

In Episode 8, Dr. Bruce Baker continues our three-part arc on the cities that stood in the way of Rome's domination of the Mediterranean—Mare Nostrum. This week, we turn to Massalia (modern-day Marseille), a proud Greek colony and once-great trading power.

Witness of the Times – Season 2, Episode 7 Title: Carthage Must Be Destroyed: How Rome Claimed the Sea

In this sweeping episode, Dr. Bruce Baker traces the rise and fall of one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world—Carthage. Once a thriving hub of trade, innovation, and naval dominance, Carthage was born from Phoenician roots and flourished as the jewel of the wes...

Witness of the Times – Bonus Episode: Listener Q&A

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Witness of the Times! We're at the halfway point of Season Two, and we wanted to pause and answer a couple of excellent listener questions that came in after Episode 5, which explored the Babylonian origins of timekeeping.

Today, we’ll dig into why Februa...

Season 2, Episode 6 – Why Mesopotamia? The Land Between the Rivers That Built the World

In this episode—the final part of our mini-series on the origins of history—we ask a deceptively simple question: Why did civilization begin in Mesopotamia? Dr. Bruce Baker explores why this region, nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, became the cradle of human advancement. F...

In this episode of Witness of The Times, Dr. Bruce Baker picks up where he left off in Episode 4—exploring the origins of history itself. If writing gave us a way to record our past, it was the Babylonians who gave us the tools to measure when those events occurred. In this fascinating installment, we journey through the development of ancient timekeeping—from shadow clocks and water clocks to the Babyl...

 Season 2,Witness of the Times: Episode 4: When History Began: The Invention of the Past

Hi folk’s Marc here, Welcome back to Witness of the Times. In today’s episode, we’re taking a step back… wayback. Dr. Bruce Baker joins us to unpack a question we rarely stop to ask: What is history? When did it begin, who started keeping it, and what does it really take for something to...

🎙️ Witness of the Times

Season 2, Episode 3 – The Girl Who Ran: Bobby Gibb and the Marathon That Changed Everything

Hi folks, Marc here. In the inspiring conclusion to our three-part series on trailblazing women who defied societal restrictions, Dr. Bruce Baker will explore the groundbreaking story of Roberta “Bobby” Gibb—the first woman to ever...

 Witness of The Times – Season 2, Episode 2: Marina Raskova & the Night Witches

Hi folk’s, Marc here. In this powerful episode of Witness of The Times, Dr. Bruce Baker takes us on an unforgettable journey into the extraordinary lives of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment—better known as the Night Witches—and the trailblazing Soviet pilot Marina Raskova, who made their missi...

Season 2, Episode 1: The Courage of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker

Hi folk’s Marc here, launching Season 2 of Witness of the Times. This season, we’re broadening our scope—as Dr. Bruce Baker will bring you incredible stories from across the globe that deserve more attention. Dr. Baker kicks things off with a gripping tale of bravery: the life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the only fe...

🎙️ Witness of the Times

 Season 2 Introduction: Expanding Horizons with Dr. Bruce Baker

Hi folks, Marc here, excited to kick off Season 2 of Witness of the Times. This season, we’re widening our lens—bringing you captivating stories from around the world that have long deserved more attention. Get ready to hear tales of courageous women who defi...

In this week’s episode, we delve into pivotal moments that have shaped our nation's journey toward justice and equality as we explore a powerful chapter in American history: Freedom Summer. Dr.  Bruce Baker takes us back to the turbulent summers of 1964 and 1965 in Cherokee County, Georgia—a time when segregation still gripped communities and equality was far from guaranteed. Dr. Baker recounts the expe...

Episode Title: Beyond the rails/Georgia’s devastating train tales

Episode Summary: In this week’s episode, we explore two devastating train tragedies that left an indelible mark on Georgia’s history. Dr. Bruce Baker joins us to recount the harrowing stories of the Mill Pond Trestle collapse and the derailment of the Little Hook Train—accidents that occurred within twenty mil...

On this week’s episode we’re unraveling a piece of Cherokee County history that speaks to resilience, conflict, and a forgotten act of sabotage. Nestled in the heart of the Bridge Mill Community lies Steel’s Bridge Road, once a route that led to an old wooden covered bridge spanning the Etowah River. Today, the remnants of that bridge rest beneath the waters of Lake Allatoona, a lake constructed by the ...

High folk’s Marc Here. Welcome to this week’s episode of Witness of the Times, where we take a fascinating journey into the history of distilled spirits with Dr. Bruce Baker. Dr. Baker walks us through the origins of the distillation process, which was first discovered in Mesopotamia around 4000 BC. He also introduces us to the earlier discoveries of wine and mead, dating back to approximately 5400 BC, ...

On this week’s episode, we dive deep into the delicate dance between bootleggers, moonshiners, and the brave revenuers who tried to shut them down. Dr. Bruce Baker educates us on the crucial role that ATF agents played in the fight against the moonshine industry and the immense bravery these agents displayed. We learn about Justice Department Prohibition Agent Duff Floyd, whose long career was marked by...

In this week’s episode, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Bruce Baker, who introduces us to the fascinating story of John Henry Hardin from Cherokee County, Georgia. Dr. Baker transports us back to the early 1900s, delving into the world of moonshining in Northwest Georgia. He shares the industrious spirit of Hardin in the moonshining industry, along with the numerous encounters Hardin had with the law.

This episode kicks off a compel...

Episode 6 Show Notes

Episode 6: The Conclusion of Gold Mining in North Georgia

On this week’s episode of The Witness of the Times, Dr. Bruce Baker concludes his compelling series on gold mining in North Georgia. In this final installment, Dr. Baker sheds light on the profound impact of the removal of Native Americans and the subsequent land lotte...