Best Benjamin Ballinger Podcasts (2025)

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2025 Highlight-o-thon: Oops! All Bests 1:40:17

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11h ago1:40:17

1:40:17

It’s that magical time of year once again — highlightapalooza! Stick around for one top bit from each episode we recorded this year, including: Kyle Fish explaining how Anthropic’s AI Claude descends into spiritual woo when left to talk to itself Ian Dunt on why the unelected House of Lords is by far the best part of the British government Sam Bowm…

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His Name Was Ensign Burrows (ENT S4E10) 1:08:20

12h ago1:08:20

1:08:20

When Captain Archer reunites with his retconned second family, the experiment set up by Dr. Erickson is a both a charade and a danger to the crew. But after Ensign Burrows is killed and Danica loses it at her dad, Trip gets suspicious and Emory finally has to let go of his son. Who ruined cupcakes? How does human slurry get removed from the transpo…

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CLASSIC: The Weird Life of George Washington, Part 1 43:37

2d ago43:37

43:37

Returning special guest Christopher Hassiotis joins the guys today for a round-robin discussion of the very weird life of George Washington, first President of the United States. (As you may have guessed from the title, there's more weirdness than we could fit in a single episode.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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Folks, We're Doing A Clip Show: Leftovers, 2025 37:25

5d ago37:25

37:25

Hey there, Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. Ben, Noel and Max here: as we travel to hang with our friends and family, we like to do a little thing at the end of the year where we explore various tangents and trivia we didn't get to in our first run of a show. So, as you're hugging or dodging your own family -- and just maybe having some advent…

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"Blacula" by P.C. Verrone + "Shahmeran" by Leyla Hamedi 21:15

1d ago21:15

21:15

This episode features "Blacula" by P.C. Verrone (©2025 by P.C. Verrone) read by Mirron Willis, and "Shahmeran" by Leyla Hamedi (©2025 by Leyla Hamedi) read by Justine Eyre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Adamant Press

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Was 536 Really the Worst Year in History? 42:42

7d ago42:42

42:42

Welcome to the end of the year, fellow Ridiculous Historians! As Ben, Noel and Max look back on the events of 2025, they discovered historians do, in fact, have one year singled out as "the worst year in human history." But... why? Join the guys as they explore how DXXXVI absolutely wrecked Europe, the Middle East and Asia -- with consequences that…

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CLASSIC: Clara, The World's Most Famous Rhinoceros 45:28

7d ago45:28

45:28

For centuries most people in Europe thought of rhinos as another form of mythical creature, like unicorns or griffins. However, this all changed when an enterprising sea captain brought a young, orphaned rhino named Clara back to his home country after his travels abroad. It's often said that fame can have a powerful effect on the average human bei…

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Boot Tire (ENT S4E9) 1:16:04

8d ago1:16:04

1:16:04

When V’Las is still warmongering at the Vulcan tactics table, Archer and T’Pau insist they must deliver the Kir’Shara to the High Command personally. But after Shran kidnaps Soval and tortures him for no reason, the Andorians team up with the Entrepreneur to avert V’Las’s war. What do all cults on Vulcan have in common? Which rules are outlined in …

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#232 – Andreas Mogensen on what we owe 'philosophical Vulcans' and unconscious beings 2:37:15

10d ago2:37:15

2:37:15

Most debates about the moral status of AI systems circle the same question: is there something that it feels like to be them? But what if that’s the wrong question to ask? Andreas Mogensen — a senior researcher in moral philosophy at the University of Oxford — argues that so-called 'phenomenal consciousness' might be neither necessary nor sufficien…

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Christmas Traditions Are So Incredibly Weird! 43:55

12d ago43:55

43:55

What's the strangest Christmas tradition you practice? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max ring in the end of the year with an exploration of Christmas celebrations across the world -- and speculate on inventing a few of their own. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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#231 – Paul Scharre on how AI-controlled robots will and won't change war 2:45:17

12d ago2:45:17

2:45:17

In 1983, Stanislav Petrov, a Soviet lieutenant colonel, sat in a bunker watching a red screen flash “MISSILE LAUNCH.” Protocol demanded he report it to superiors, which would very likely trigger a retaliatory nuclear strike. Petrov didn’t. He reasoned that if the US were actually attacking, they wouldn’t fire just 5 missiles — they’d empty the silo…

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Home-Defense Mug (Holiday Party 2025) 39:10

13d ago39:10

39:10

When the Uxbridge-Shimoda company holds its first annual holiday party, everyone is invited and attendance is not optional. But after sharing a festive cocktail and suggesting attractive new possibilities for Lego, we’ll either bring back punch bowls or play a round of good keg, bad keg. What would constitute a very special episode of Factory Secon…

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The Grim Christmas Folklore of Johnny Ace, with Jake Brennan 41:10

13d ago41:10

41:10

While the career of rhythm-and-blues vocalist Johnny Ace was short, he left a huge mark on the music world. Up until Christmas Day of 1954, Ace seemed set to reach genuine crossover success in pop music -- until, that is, he met his untimely end during an ill-fated game of Russian Roulette. At least, that's the legend. Yet as special guest Jake Bre…

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Wine Dad Drunk (ENT S4E8) 1:03:07

15d ago1:03:07

1:03:07

When Archer and T’Pol find the Syrannites in the caves, they reunite with Mrs. T and learn T’Pau wasn’t the United Earth Embassy bomber. But after Archer tells the Syrannites that he’s carrying Surak’s katra, he leads them to an important ancient relic while the High Command threatens war. How is Ben like T’Pau? Which type of prison cell feels like…

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CLASSIC: How the Monopoly Board Game Became a World War II Escape Kit 29:35

17d ago29:35

29:35

Ben, Noel and Max return with this week's Classic episode! Monopoly is a pretty divisive game, and people tend to either love it or hate it. However, for hundreds of Allied POWs captured during World War II, Monopoly became more than a mere diversion -- it became, instead, their ticket to freedom. Join the guys as they explore the strange sequence …

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AI might let a few people control everything — permanently (article by Rose Hadshar) 1:00:10

17d ago1:00:10

1:00:10

Power is already concentrated today: over 800 million people live on less than $3 a day, the three richest men in the world are worth over $1 trillion, and almost six billion people live in countries without free and fair elections. This is a problem in its own right. There is still substantial distribution of power though: global income inequality…

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The Deliciously Ridiculous History of Fruitcakes 39:19

19d ago39:19

39:19

Let's be honest. If you live in the United States, you probably think fruitcake is ridiculous. It's like the MRE of Christmas, passed around from one family to the next. But what makes it so resilient? How, out of all the cakes in the world,did fruitcake become a thing -- and why does it remain with us today? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…

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#230 – Dean Ball on how AI is a huge deal — but we shouldn’t regulate it yet 2:54:15

19d ago2:54:15

2:54:15

Former White House staffer Dean Ball thinks it's very likely some form of 'superintelligence' arrives in under 20 years. He thinks AI being used for bioweapon research is "a real threat model, obviously." He worries about dangerous "power imbalances" should AI companies reach "$50 trillion market caps." And he believes the agriculture revolution pr…

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"Review: When the Baby Sleeps" by Lyndsie Manusos + "The Short History of a Long Forgotten Ill-Fated Telenovela" by Dante Luiz 44:01

20d ago44:01

44:01

This episode features "Review: When the Baby Sleeps" by Lyndsie Manusos (©2025 by Lyndsie Manusos) read by Justine Eyre, and "The Short History of a Long Forgotten Ill-Fated Telenovela" by Dante Luiz (©2025 by Dante Luiz) read by Roxanne Hernandez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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That Time the US Government Brainwashed America into DIY Bomb Shelters 39:02

20d ago39:02

39:02

Picture this: it's just after World War II -- the world knows nuclear weapons can end civilization. So, how can a government help the public feel safe? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the ridiculous history of that time Uncle Sam tried to make the public build cartoonishly bad fallout shelters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac…

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Ass-Riding Centipede (ENT S4E7) 1:24:11

22d ago1:24:11

1:24:11

When the United Earth Embassy gets blown up on Vulcan, an investigation begins and Dr. Phlox sniffs out the fake evidence right away. But after Archer and T’Pol go into danger looking for the wrong suspect, a mind meld by Soval reveals the identity of the real bomber. Where else could that one laurel go on the flag? What does GTL stand for on Vulca…

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CLASSIC: Idiomatic For The People, Part I 1:04:05

24d ago1:04:05

1:04:05

Language is beautiful and, in many cases, continually evolving. As a result, we end up with hundreds of strange idioms and figures of speech that we use on a daily basis, with little to no understanding of what they originally meant. Join the guys and special guest, Rowan Newbie, the creator of the Pitches podcast, as they explore the bizarre origi…

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Spontaneous Human Combustion: A Bizarre Controversy 31:50

25d ago31:50

31:50

Can people really just, for no discernable reason, catch on fire? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the centuries old folklore and investigations of a phenomenon known as "spontaneous human combustion" -- and discover the debate continues, even in the modern day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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Lifting, Life, and Overcoming the Victim Mentality with Nathaniel Hancock 1:06:40

21d ago1:06:40

1:06:40

From running a marathon at 14 to winning awards in bodybuilding and powerlifting as an adult, Nathaniel Hancock has dedicated his life to continuous improvement. Now in middle-age, he identifies as someone who rages against the dying of the light. In this episode, we discuss Nathaniel's journey so far – his role models, his setbacks, and how he ove…

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#229 – Marius Hobbhahn on the race to solve AI scheming before models go superhuman 3:03:18

26d ago3:03:18

3:03:18

We often worry about AI models “hallucinating” or making honest mistakes. But what happens when a model knows the truth, but decides to deceive you anyway to achieve a goal of its own? This isn’t sci-fi — it’s happening regularly in deployment today. Marius Hobbhahn, CEO of the world’s top research organisation focused on AI deception (Apollo Resea…

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IP, Part Three: A Copyright for Everyone! 39:59

27d ago39:59

39:59

As Ben, Noel and Max close out another year of Ridiculous History, they return to the patently baffling world of intellectual property. In part three of this series, the guys finally tackle one of the weirdest concepts out there -- a thoroughly confusing thing called a 'copyright'. What is it? Where did this idea come from, how does it work... and …

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Late-Model Augment (ENT S4E6) 1:04:54

29d ago1:04:54

1:04:54

When Dr. Soong wants to hide all of his augments in the Briar Patch, Malik pitches a plan to start a war between the Klingons and Starfleet. But after Persis continues to play both sides by helping Soong escape to the Entrepreneur’s brig, Malik decides to blow up the Bird of Prey leaving only one family member to serve time. Who was the older broth…

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CLASSIC: Was there a real-life Rapunzel? 28:59

1M ago28:59

28:59

Most people in the West are familiar with the old Rapunzel fairy tale -- a beautiful princess is confined to a tower until a prince, captivated by her beauty, uses her hair as a ladder and comes to her rescue. But where did this story come from, exactly? Tune in to learn more in today's Classic episode from 2019. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri…

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Ridiculous Maps: That Time Everyone Thought California Was An Island 34:39

1M ago34:39

34:39

Nowadays, pretty much anyone can easily find an accurate map of a city, a country, or the entire world. But this wasn't always the case. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore baffling cartography of old, when well-intentioned mapmakers, working with the best info they had at the time, often got things wrong. Our first episode in this contin…

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"Futakuchi onna speaks of the Kamaitachi" by Betsy Aoki + "Bleed For Me, Bro" by Sharang Biswas 36:32

1M ago36:32

36:32

This episode features "Futakuchi onna speaks of the Kamaitachi" by Betsy Aoki (©2025 by Besty Aoki) read by Roxanne Hernandez, and "Bleed For Me, Bro" by Sharang Biswas (©2025 by Sharang Biswas) read by Stefan Rudnicki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Adamant Press

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Rob & Luisa chat kids, the 2016 fertility crash, and how the 50s invented parenting that makes us miserable 1:59:09

1M ago1:59:09

1:59:09

Global fertility rates aren’t just falling: the rate of decline is accelerating. From 2006 to 2016, fertility dropped gradually, but since 2016 the rate of decline has increased 4.5-fold. In many wealthy countries, fertility is now below 1.5. While we don’t notice it yet, in time that will mean the population halves every 60 years. Rob Wiblin is al…

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The Chicago Tylenol Murders 39:23

1M ago39:23

39:23

For most people, Tylenol is nothing more than an ol' stand-by, over-the-counter pain reliever. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max learn in today's episode -- this wasn't always the case. Today's episode takes the boys to 1980s Chicago, when a ghoulish series of still-unsolved murders rocked the pharmaceutical industry, and led to the creation of tamper-proo…

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Slow-Motion Hulk (ENT S4E5) 1:09:10

1M ago1:09:10

1:09:10

When Dr. Soong’s augments arrive at Cold Station 12 and continue their mission to unfreeze dangerous shit, Archer meets up with a Lennie Aug and convinces him to help kick the frozen can further down the road. But after the away team beams into a hostage situation, Soong extracts the codes from Richard Riehle and the augments leave everyone on the …

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CLASSIC: Benjamin Franklin's Advice On "Finding A Mistress" 31:43

1M ago31:43

31:43

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was a man of many interests, but his endeavors were by no means limited to technical innovation, philosophy and politics. In fact, throughout his life he had a reputation as an irredeemable lech -- literally, in later years, a dirty old man -- and his exploits were common knowledge on both sides of the Atlantic. He…

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#228 – Eileen Yam on how we're completely out of touch with what the public thinks about AI 1:43:24

1M ago1:43:24

1:43:24

If you work in AI, you probably think it’s going to boost productivity, create wealth, advance science, and improve your life. If you’re a member of the American public, you probably strongly disagree. In three major reports released over the last year, the Pew Research Center surveyed over 5,000 US adults and 1,000 AI experts. They found that the …

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Wait! Can a tree really own itself? 42:22

1M ago42:22

42:22

Do you have a favorite tree? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max head over to the famous college town of Athens, Georgia where -- legend has it -- one guy was so enamored with his childhood oak that he ultimately deeded it to itself. How much of the story is true? Can a tree really "own itself"? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information…

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Doc Holliday Was, In Fact, A Deadly Dentist 40:57

1M ago40:57

40:57

Longtime listeners are well-aware that the history of the 'Wild West' is more than a bit... embellished. Yet a grain of truth exists at the heart of almost every legend, and the story of Doc Holliday is no different. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max learn more about Tombstone's breakout star -- and how, if things were just a little different, …

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Shopping Cart Is Cloaked (ENT S4E4) 56:54

1M ago56:54

56:54

When a Klingon Bird-of-Prey brings aboard a couple of disheveled humans, their ass-kicking and ship-stealing behavior has the High Council super pissed. But after Starfleet figures out who these augmented augments are, the Entrepreneur picks up Dr. Arik Soong and brings him along on their mission to avert a war. How is Captain Archer like a UPS dri…

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"Primordium" by Erica Ruppert + "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds" by James L. Sutter 43:28

2M ago43:28

43:28

This episode features "Primordium" by Erica Ruppert (©2025 by Erica Ruppert) read by Stefan Rudnicki, and "Make of Your Chest a Place for Birds" by James L. Sutter (©2025 by James L. Sutter) read by Scott Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Adamant Press

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CLASSIC: What does "Idaho" actually mean? 24:53

2M ago24:53

24:53

Idaho was the 43rd state admitted to the Union, and today it's well-known for potatoes, mining, and stunning forests -- but, even in the modern day, Idaho is home to a surprising mystery: What does its name actually mean? Join the guys as they explore the ridiculous origin story of Idaho's name in this week's Classic episode. See omnystudio.com/lis…

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The Ridiculous History of Dog Food 36:09

2M ago36:09

36:09

Here on Ridiculous History, we are avowedly pro-dog. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into a strange evolution of slave, to companion, to family member, tracing the evolution of dog food as it blossoms into a multi-billion dollar marketing phenomenon (and one heck of a grift). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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OpenAI: The nonprofit refuses to be killed (with Tyler Whitmer) 1:56:06

2M ago1:56:06

1:56:06

Last December, the OpenAI business put forward a plan to completely sideline its nonprofit board. But two state attorneys general have now blocked that effort and kept that board very much alive and kicking. The for-profit’s trouble was that the entire operation was founded on the premise of — and legally pledged to — the purpose of ensuring that “…

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Bir Tawil: The Ridiculous Tale of "Earth's Worst Real Estate" 31:26

2M ago31:26

31:26

Land! Historically speaking, it's a pretty popular thing. In fact, a great deal of human conflict is based upon fighting over real estate -- yet, as Ben, Noel and Max discover in today's episode, in at least one case there's a piece of the world no nation wants. For well over a century, Egypt and Sudan have both been fighting over who controls Bir …

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Leech Wish (ENT S4E3) 1:18:35

2M ago1:18:35

1:18:35

When the Entrepreneur arrives back at Earth and Captain Archer blows up in his debrief meeting, he ends up on vacation with an old flame who wants to help him clear his head. But after Tucker joins T’Pol for her shore leave on Vulcan, her betrothed makes an offer she really can’t refuse. What’s the real reason for only one laurel on the lectern? Wh…

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CLASSIC: Uncle Sam Tried to End World War II With Bat Bombs 38:12

2M ago38:12

38:12

Folks, we are phenomenally excited about this week's Classic episode. It sounds like something straight out of the cave beneath Bruce Wayne's Manor, but thanks to the passion of a part-time inventor named Lytle Adams, the United States military really did spend millions attempting to arm bats with incendiary devices and launch them -- real-life bat…

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A Modern History of Assassination with Prof. Simon Ball 56:13

2M ago56:13

56:13

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 is often seen as the spark that ignited World War I – and it was pivotal in transforming the way that states use and protect against assassination. In his recently published book, Death to Order: A Modern History of Assassination, Simon Ball, Professor of International History and Politics at th…

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The Ridiculous History of the "Ice Cream Sundae" 35:19

2M ago35:19

35:19

For fans of sweet, frozen sweets, there's nothing as perfect as ice cream. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max scoop into a bizarrely niche controversy: Who actually invented the 'Ice Cream Sundae,' and why on Earth is it spelled 'Sundae,' rather than 'Sunday'? Ben here: we do figure it out, and history is super weird. Thanks for tuning in! See o…

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#227 – Helen Toner on the geopolitics of AGI in China and the Middle East 2:20:02

2M ago2:20:02

2:20:02

With the US racing to develop AGI and superintelligence ahead of China, you might expect the two countries to be negotiating how they’ll deploy AI, including in the military, without coming to blows. But according to Helen Toner, director of the Center for Security and Emerging Technology in DC, “the US and Chinese governments are barely talking at…

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Zombies, Part Two: The Movies! 53:08

2M ago53:08

53:08

On the shambling heels of their recent episode exploring the bizarre legendary origins of zombies, Ben, Noel and Max dive headfirst into the cinematic side of the undead: zombie movies. As they discover in today's episode, the film version of zombies or the walking dead has become increasingly distinct from the original folklore version -- and this…

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Chill Hitler (ENT S4E2) 1:13:30

2M ago1:13:30

1:13:30

When Lt. Reed figures out where the timeline went wrong, Vosk offers up his prisoners and Captain Archer starts sharing everything he knows. But after Silik and Vosk clash and the Entrepreneur destroys the temporal hole, the timeline is restored and Agent Daniels agrees to fuck off. Which new collab could turn things around for the Purple Zebra? Wh…