Best Four Days In October Podcast Podcasts (2026)

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Ancient Athens Picked Its Leaders by Lottery for Over 200 Years. Some Think This System Should Replace Electoral Democracy 51:51

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5h ago51:51

51:51

For almost two centuries, Ancient Athens—the most successful democracy in history—selected citizens by lottery to fill government positions. Athens adopted sortition—a random lottery system—to select most public officials and the members of the Council of 500, a reform pioneered in 508 BC to break aristocratic control and distribute power equally a…

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How Would Nixon Have Handled the Cuban Missile Crisis? 28:39

2d ago28:39

28:39

The "Madman Theory" was Richard Nixon's foreign policy strategy during the Vietnam War era, where he deliberately cultivated an image of being unpredictable and irrational—hinting he might escalate to nuclear extremes—to intimidate adversaries like North Vietnam and the Soviet Union into concessions. Nixon instructed aides like Henry Kissinger to s…

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Eko Hensho – Turning the Light Around: Winter Solstice Talk 36:38

1h ago36:38

36:38

In this Winter Solstice gathering, Roshi Joan Halifax offers a grounded teaching on awareness amid darkness. Speaking during the longest night of the year, she introduces the Zen phrase ekō henshō—“turning the light around”—as the practice of directing awareness toward awareness itself. Through a story from a vinaya gathering in Thailand and a sing…

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2045 - Comic Talk 1:24:44

1d ago1:24:44

1:24:44

A variety of topics fill this holiday season Comic Talk episode including diving into the world of Vertical Scrolling comics, thoughts on Challengers of the Unknown, the Atom Project and Question All Along the Watchtower, a “Limited Perspective” review of Roofman, more Fantastic Four movie talk, TV Talk on Ozark, Strange New Worlds and others, retr…

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Diogenes, the Father of Ancient Greek Stoicism, Loving Trolling His Audience and Could Out-Shock Borat 49:18

7d ago49:18

49:18

The famous street artist Banksy shocked the art world in 2018 when his painting, Girl with Balloon, partially shredded itself moments after selling it for over a million dollars. at a Sotheby's auction in London. Banksy had secretly built a mechanical shredder into the painting's ornate frame, turning the destruction into a piece of performance art…

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Blown Off Course: How History’s Windy Turning Points Sank the Armada and Saved Japan from the Mongols 46:23

9d ago46:23

46:23

The greatest energy source for civilization before the steam engine was wind. It powered the global economy in the Age of Sail. Wind-powered sail ships made global shipping fast and cheap by harnessing free, reliable ocean winds to propel large cargo loads over vast distances without needing fuel or frequent stops. It also powered windmills, the fa…

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No Other Life 51:13

8d ago51:13

51:13

In this Way-Seeking Mind Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, resident Clayton Genryu Dalton charmingly shares his unexpected path to Zen and reflects on meaningful moments and insights from his life. From bathroom graffiti at UT Austin to Alan Watts, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, emergency medicine, and the abrupt end of his marriage, Genryu embodies lif…

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2044 - One World Under Doom issues 7-9 1:02:52

3d ago1:02:52

1:02:52

The big finale of One World Under Doom is here! The Speakers of Geek are joined by listener Craig Moore to discuss issues 7 thru 9 by Ryan North, R.B. Silva, David Curiel, Travis Lanham and company. What is Doctor Doom’s downfall? Where does the Marvel Universe go from here? Which tie-ins are worth reading? Find out in this episode! (1:02:52)…

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2043 - Comic Talk: Previews for February 1:33:12

6d ago1:33:12

1:33:12

Comic Talk and Previews! And this month, we’re joined by Prestige Sponsor Adam Chapman of the Comic Shenanigans podcast. After learning about Adam’s geek story, his podcast, and sharing his geekdom with his family, we delve into a number of topics including the return of Star Wars to theaters for its 50th Anniversary, the Netflix/WB/Paramount biddi…

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Maps Have Bigger Problems Than the Mercator Projection. They Invent Mountain Ranges and Usually Eliminate New Zealand 45:39

14d ago45:39

45:39

Maps have always had problems. Five hundred years ago, maps were wildly inaccurate simply because cartographers were drawing the edge of the known world, limited by slow ships and nonexistent satellite data, resulting in continents that were too large, too small, or entirely misplaced. All of those problems have been solved thanks to new technology…

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The Great Mathematicians of the Early 1900s Ran into an Unsolvable Problem. They Realized Math Made No Sense 45:38

16d ago45:38

45:38

In the 1800s, it seemed like mathematics was a solved problem. The paradoxes in the field were resolved, and even areas like advanced calculus could be taught consistently and reliably at any school. It was clearly understandable in a way that abstract fields like philosophy weren’t, and it was on its way to solving humanity’s problems. Mathematica…

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Wandering in the Treasury of Radiant Light 43:03

10d ago43:03

43:03

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Hoshi Senko reflects on Radiant Light as the everyday experience of being alive. Drawing on Dōgen Zenji’s Komyō (Radiant Light) and Koun Ejō’s sole surviving work, Komyōzō Zanmai (The Practice of the Treasury of Radiant Light), Senko traces how the ancestors point to what is closest and most easily missed—summar…

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2042 - DC K.O. 2 53:51

17d ago53:51

53:51

The cosmic tournament to be King Omega continues in DC K.O. issue 2 by Snyder, Williamson, Fernandez, Xermanico and company! DC’s champions (and villains!) compete in their first challenge and the Speakers of Geek discuss their favorite moments, the surprises, tie-in issues of Titans, Superman, Knightfight and more! Listen in to prepare yourself fo…

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The American Revolution was a World War in All but Name 56:43

21d ago56:43

56:43

The Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, known as the "shot heard round the world," marked the first military engagements of the American Revolution. Ralph Waldo Emerson named it that because it launched revolutionary movements in Europe and beyond, marking it as a key moment in the fight for liberty and self-governance. But this moment …

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How Napoleon and Churchill Used Neuroscience to Make a Better Soldier and More Loyal Public 45:23

23d ago45:23

45:23

The brain acts in strange ways during wartime. Even in active combat situations, when soldiers are one mistake away from death, many can’t fire on their enemies because their brain is triggering compassion centers against other soldiers. Studies of World War II show that while soldiers were willing to risk death, only 15% to 20% fired their weapons…

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Rohatsu: Undivided Activity 44:54

17d ago44:54

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On the first full day of Rohatsu sesshin, Sensei Kaz Tanahashi and Roshi Joan Halifax open practice with teachings on non-division and “undivided activity.” Kaz reminds practitioners that Rohatsu marks the Buddha’s awakening—“birth, enlightenment, and passing, celebrated in one day”—and points to the core insight that “all things have absolutely no…

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2041 - Batman/Green Arrow/the Question: Arcadia with Gabriel Hardman 1:44:23

17d ago1:44:23

1:44:23

Gabriel Hardman, Writer/Artist, Creator and Storyboard Artist, returns to the podcast to help us discuss the first issue of his new DC title, Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia. We learn about how these characters come together for a new era, how the Black Label format can enhance storytelling, and praise the stunning artwork. We also discuss…

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Awareness In Action: Bridging with Tara Brach (Part 14 – November) 1:30:07

18d ago1:30:07

1:30:07

In this session of Awareness in Action, spiritual teacher, psychologist, and author Tara Brach begins by acknowledging the profound pressures in our society and the importance of building solidarity in these times. She frames her exploration around the question of what it means to “keep choosing love.” Drawing on Father Gregory Boyle’s work with LA…

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Awakened Action: The Warrior’s Heart, Grandmother’s Wisdom, and the Path of Abundant Possibility (Part 7B) 47:07

25d ago47:07

47:07

This is the 2nd half of the closing session of the Awakened Action series begins with Christiana Figueres joining from Costa Rica, fresh from COP30 in Berlin. She shares her striking observation of “three realities” at the climate conference: the scientific urgency, governmental paralysis, and 50,000 activists accelerating change. Christiana emphas…

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Awakened Action: The Warrior’s Heart, Grandmother’s Wisdom, and the Path of Abundant Possibility (Part 7A) 1:12:08

25d ago1:12:08

1:12:08

This is the 1st half of the closing session of the Awakened Action series begins with Christiana Figueres joining from Costa Rica, fresh from COP30 in Berlin. She shares her striking observation of “three realities” at the climate conference: the scientific urgency, governmental paralysis, and 50,000 activists accelerating change. Christiana emphas…

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Awakened Action: Making the Future Now – Presence Under Pressure (Part 6) 57:53

18d ago57:53

57:53

In the sixth session of Awareness in Action, Christiana Figueres discusses Brazil’s Climate Conference, reflecting on our collective anxiety about present conditions and future uncertainties. She emphasizes that “the future is not waiting for us. The future is being shaped right now, every day, in the choices we make.” Drawing on Buddhist teachings…

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Awakened Action: Moral Beauty and The Great Turning (Part 5) 1:10:26

18d ago1:10:26

1:10:26

In the fifth talk of the Awakened Action series, Rebecca Solnit invites participants to name acts of moral beauty—from tribal leaders honoring Japanese American internment survivors to the Rainbow Defense Coalition protecting LGBTQ+ events. Rebecca reflects on falling into depression amid political darkness, emphasizing that the long view of histor…

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Awakened Action: The Divinity Tree and the Practice of Listening (Part 4) 1:03:30

18d ago1:03:30

1:03:30

In the fourth session of the Awakened Action series, Terry Tempest Williams shares the quiet, touching story she “could never write”—the killing of Harvard Divinity School’s beloved 200-year-old red oak in 2019. Sleeping beside the tree the night before its death, she received its transmission: “My absence will be my presence…this is transformation…

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Awakened Action: Liberating Imagination – Making the Future in the Present (Part 3) 1:15:19

18d ago1:15:19

1:15:19

In part three of the Awakened Action series, Roshi Joan Halifax invites participants to imagine the world in 20 years, revealing how we’re often “living in dread” rather than envisioning liberating possibilities. She distinguishes between liberating imagination—”the capacity to be with what is possible, even inside seeming impossibility, and to res…

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Awakened Action: The Charnel Ground – Cultivating Courage and Compassion (Part 2) 1:21:56

18d ago1:21:56

1:21:56

In this second session of Awakened Action, Valerie Brown explores where we encounter the charnel grounds—a Buddhist metaphor for places where deep suffering is present, including in our own minds. Valerie shares her own charnel ground: the dismantling of civil rights in America and invites participants to name their own charnel grounds within and o…

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Awakened Action: Opening Session (Part 1) 1:03:45

18d ago1:03:45

1:03:45

The opening session of Awakened Action lead by Roshi Joan, Rebecca Solnit, Valerie Brown, and Terry Tempest Williams, participants are invited to explore how futures are shaped through attention, relationship, and imagination. The teachers emphasized that “place is so important,” grounding the gathering in the land, labor, and layered histories tha…

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William F. Buckley JR.'s Guide to Friendship in a Polarized Era 39:43

28d ago39:43

39:43

William F. Buckley Jr., the charismatic intellectual who defined modern American conservatism, was famously skilled at forging friendships across the ideological divide, a talent that helped him both shape the political landscape and navigate public opinion. His capacity for personal charm allowed him to be a public extremist and a private moderate…

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What it Was Like Living Through the USSR’s Collapse 55:37

1M ago55:37

55:37

The Collapse of the Soviet Union was twice as devastating as the Great Depression for those who lived there. It immediately led to widespread economic chaos and a breakdown of public services, plunging millions into a difficult period where mere survival was the priority. As one Russian described, after hyperinflation wiped out their family's savin…

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Open Dharma: The Three Tenets and the Noble Eightfold Path 46:29

24d ago46:29

46:29

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Roshi Joan Halifax, joined by Senseis Kodo and Dainin, reflects on how Thanksgiving is both a time of festivity and a day of mourning for Native peoples. She raises this not to “send us down,” but to remind us not to turn away from the truth of suffering. Roshi moves through stories from her life, gathering us c…

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The Battle of Agincourt, 1415: Longbowmen, Bands of Brothers, and Henry V’s Triumph 53:15

1M ago53:15

53:15

From Shakespeare's 'band of brothers' speech to its appearances in numerous films, Agincourt rightfully has a place among a handful of conflicts whose names are immediately recognized around the world. The Battle of Agincourt, fought in 1415, is famous for the decisive role of the English and Welsh longbowmen, who—despite being significantly outnum…

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2040 - Comics Discourse 114 1:52:04

29d ago1:52:04

1:52:04

The Speakers of Geek are joined by the Comics Discourse 114 hosts of Brian, Bryan and Hassan for this special crossover episode! For our Geek Discourse, we each are tasked with developing a comics syllabus as a way to get people interested in the world of comics. But it doesn’t just stop at the Intro level as we up the difficulty by offering our In…

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Clarence Dillon: The Roaring 20s Wall Street Baron Who Wrote the Rules for Corporate Takeovers, Junk Bonds, and Bankruptcy 45:11

1M ago45:11

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J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Charles E. Mitchell are names that come to mind when thinking of the most prominent icons of wealth and influence during the Roaring Twenties. Yet the one figure who has escaped notice is an enigmatic banker by the name of Clarence Dillon. In the 1920s, as he rose in wealth and influence, Dillon became one of t…

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Sutra and Suture Have the Same Root 47:11

1M ago47:11

47:11

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Rebecca Solnit explores empathy as an act of imagination—the capacity to feel beyond the boundaries of one’s own body. She begins with Roshi Joan’s distinction between empathy as “feeling into another” and compassion as “[empathy] accompanied by the aspiration to take action.” Rebecca considers how our inner cap…

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A Utah Indian Chief Controlled the 1800s Mountain West Through Slave Trading, Building Pioneer Trails, Horse Stealing, and Becoming Mormon 1:00:05

1M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

The American Indian leader Wakara was among the most influential and feared men in the nineteenth-century American West. He and his pan-tribal cavalry of horse thieves and slave traders dominated the Old Spanish Trail, the region’s most important overland route. They widened the trail and expanded its watering holes, reshaping the environmental and…

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2039 - Catching Up with Tom King 1:37:41

1M ago1:37:41

1:37:41

Writer and creator Tom King returns to Comic Geek Speak for a fun, geeky and informative conversation about comics, original art, the tenth anniversary of the Vision, behind the scenes of landing Batman, Power Pack (yes, Power Pack), comics as community, his love of Legion of Super-Heroes, the challenge of writing Wonder Woman, and so, so much more…

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Why Did Rome Fall? Wrong Question. How Did it Last 2,000 Years Despite Changing its Religion, Language, and Government? 53:46

1M ago53:46

53:46

Rome began as a pagan, Latin-speaking city state in central Italy during the early Iron Age and ended as a Christian, Greek-speaking empire as the age of gunpowder dawned. Everything about it changed, except its Roman identity. This was due to a unique willingness among Romans to include new people as citizens, an openness to new ideas, and an unpa…

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Message from Jason - November 17, 2025 0:31

1M ago0:31

0:31

Howdy y'all! Do to some health issues and travel we were unable to drop and episode on November 10 so we do apologize for that. We won't have a new episode this week nor the week of November 24. We will try to get a good one for you on December 1st or 8th and we will try for another in December. We plan a new format in 2026 so stay tuned for more! …

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May We Be Nourished 36:25

1M ago36:25

36:25

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Monshin explores what it means to be truly nourished. While attending to a full day of cooking chiles rellenos, Monshin opened to how her ingredients might bring health to her body and her practice. In discussing the fifth precept as it relates to spiritual nourishment, Sensei Monshin challenges us to fin…

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2038 - Comic Talk: Previews for January 1:48:22

1M ago1:48:22

1:48:22

Our monthly Previews episode reaches comic coming attractions for yet another New Year with recommendations on titles shipping mostly in January 2026! And joining us is Prestige Sponsor and longtime listener Eric from the Longbox Review podcast! Topics include a review of longboxes (pun intended), recent purchases, the George Perez New Teen Titans …

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The Real Deadwood: A Gold Rush Town Built in a War Zone but Obliterated in an Inferno 37:30

2M ago37:30

37:30

Gunslinging, gold-panning, stagecoach robbing, whiskey guzzling – the myth and infamy of the American West is synonymous with its most famous town: Deadwood, South Dakota. The storied mining town sprang up in early 1876 and came raining down in ashes only three years later, destined to become food for the imagination and a nostalgic landmark that n…

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America's Pacific Dawn: The Spanish-American War Ushered In Global Reach and Savage Conflict 55:59

2M ago55:59

55:59

Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross, was in Havana in 1898, investigating the terrible conditions endured by Cubans whom the Spanish government had forced into concentration camps, where an estimated 425,000 people died of disease and starvation. While she was there, the American warship USS Maine exploded in Havana's harbor, which served as…

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2037 - CGS Reads: West Coast Avengers (1984) 1:01:11

2M ago1:01:11

1:01:11

The Speakers of Geek continue their journey through Marvel Limited Series of the ‘80s with West Coast Avengers by Roger Stern, Bob Hall, Brett Breeding and company. Hear our reactions - favorable and not so favorable - to the first Avengers spinoff title, the spotlight on lesser known characters, the backstory and development, the villains, the art…

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Buddha Nature 2.0: Embodying the Four Perfections with Dōgen 50:42

2M ago50:42

50:42

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, delivered under the largest supermoon in two years, Sensei Kodo reflects on fusatsu—the full moon ceremony of vow renewal—his own marriage vows, and the absence of regular ceremony in our lives. He notes how ceremony awakens in us something our culture has largely forgotten: “We hunger for ritual.” Drawing on Ta…

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The Unhealed Wounds of WW2 POWs and Combat Veterans 50:10

2M ago50:10

50:10

Nearly 16.4 million Americans served in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II, and for millions of survivors, the fighting left many of them physically and mentally broken for life. There was a 25% death rate in Japanese POW camps like Bataan, where starvation and torture were rampant, and fierce battles against suicidal Imperial Japanese forces, l…

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Robert McNamara Thought Enough Data Could Win Any War. Instead, It Led America to the Vietnam Quagmire 1:00:21

2M ago1:00:21

1:00:21

Robert S. McNamara, who was Secretary of Defense during JFK and LBJ’s administrations, and one of the chief architects of the Vietnam war, made a shocking confession in his 1995 memoir. He said “We were wrong, terribly wrong.” McNamara believed this as early as 1965, that the Vietnam War was unwinnable. Yet, instead of urging U.S. forces to exit, h…

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2036 - Comic Talk 1:17:27

2M ago1:17:27

1:17:27

Topics aplenty in this Comic Talk episode ranging from naming a new Comic Book Age, to taking a look at the restored art in the DC Finest: Crisis on Infinite Earths collection, trivia on comic cover artists, updates on our reading lists, David Letterman in comics, Avengers Arena from Marvel Now, LEGO Soundwave and so much more! (1:17:27)…

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Episode Sixty-Eight -- "Welcome to the show, Squirrel Tactics!" 1:09:08

2M ago1:09:08

1:09:08

Join Jason and Jimmy as they review this episode! Today we had a special guest. If you follow "King of the Hill" on YouTube you have undoubtedly run into Squirrel Tactics. If you haven't, subscribe to his channel ASAP. We spent some time talking about his channel and talking about "King of the Hill". Join us as we dive into this very fun conversati…

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Inner Sangha: Healing and Transformation with the Life and Teachings of Larry Ward 47:32

2M ago47:32

47:32

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Valerie Brown honors the life and legacy of Dr. Larry Ward, a pioneering African-American Dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition. Valerie recounts Larry’s journey from his Baptist roots to his work with Thich Nhat Hanh and his creation of the first BIPOC retreat in North America, and shares his teaching on…

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FPP2025 Sesshin Day 6: Returning Home 45:51

2M ago45:51

45:51

On the closing day of Upaya’s Fall Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Kathy, Hoshi Senko, and Sensei Monshin offer an integrated reflection on continuing practice beyond the zendo. Sensei Kathy grounds us in the body, reminding us that awareness can arise anywhere—and that mind and mood are contingent, not fixed. She encourages returning to simple act…

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FPP2025 Sesshin Day 5: Effort Without Desire 35:07

2M ago35:07

35:07

In this Day five talk during the Fall Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Monshin weaves together stories of generosity, effort, and hummingbirds to explore “effort without desire”—the natural, uncalculated movement of life giving to life. Beginning with the question of “deserving” in the meal chant, she challenges the logic of worthiness and turns us …