Best Power Ballads Podcasts (2026)

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Ep. 231 - A mime with bubbles...welcome to 2026! 29:23

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2h ago29:23

29:23

Send us a text In this episode of the podcast, Josh and Lara discussed upcoming powerlifting events, including the Georgia State meet which has a registration deadline of midnight on Wednesday. They reviewed the USAPL rulebook updates, particularly the reorganization of world event references. The hosts shared personal updates, including Josh's ear…

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Tower of London: Medieval Prison 54:29

2d ago54:29

54:29

Locked in the Tower of London after hours, Matt Lewis searches for his vanished co‑host Dr. Eleanor Janega. They swap wild escape stories of Ranulf Flambard and Roger Mortimer, and shiver inside the Bloody Tower discussing legendary prisoners including Princes in the Tower, Henry VI and William Wallace. Along the way, they meet a former Tower resid…

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Episode 131 - YAWN AND LOKO SUPREME 1:55:57

1d ago1:55:57

1:55:57

Jaymee and his partner/manager Lacee Dilmore are back with another YAWN & LOKO themed episode, a two hour window into their unique relationship as romantic partners, mental health professionals, business partners, and devout spiritual practitioners. LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, edited by Jaymee Carpenter. OPENING MUSIC: Ben Carpenter CLOSING MUS…

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2026 Pop Predictions: big beat, animated avatars, and Bruno Mars 58:47

3h ago58:47

58:47

It’s a brand new year, and what better way to ring it in than with the second annual Switched On Pop bingo? Like last year, Charlie, Nate, and Reanna polish their crystal balls and play Popstradamus, each throwing out eight outlandish pop predictions for the coming months. This time, there’s piano ballads, cover songs, and what Charlie calls the im…

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Charles Dickens and the Train Crash 28:32

1h ago28:32

28:32

In June 1865, the writer Charles Dickens was sitting in the first-class carriage of a train when it crashed outside of Kent. The horrific accident would require all his courage and threaten to reveal his most closely guarded secret. Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light…

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Tower of London: Medieval Palace 1:05:27

5d ago1:05:27

1:05:27

In the first of two special episodes from the iconic Tower of London, Dr. Eleanor Janega charts the transformation of the William the Conqueror's Norman fortress by Henry II and Edward I into an opulent royal palace. Now imaginatively recreated, the palace is brought to life with furniture, tapestries, original artefacts, and vivid illustrations. E…

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2025 Year in Review: Superman Takes the Crown, Thunderbolts Surprises, and Big 2026 Hype (Supergirl, Doomsday, Odyssey) 1:00:27

9d ago1:00:27

1:00:27

Thomas and Frank look back on the movies and TV that defined their 2025, from why Superman hit so hard to how Marvel's three-film run landed with Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, and Captain America: Brave New World. They also talk about the stuff that disappointed them, why TV felt like it "won" this year, and the shows they could not stop thinking a…

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The Kingdom of Mercia 44:05

9d ago44:05

44:05

Once the powerhouse of the Anglo-Saxon world, the kingdom of Mercia dominated not just Wessex but nearly all its neighbouring realms. At its height, Mercia held sway over regions that include modern Birmingham and even London. Though the kingdom eventually faded with the rise of Alfred the Great, its story—and its influence—were far from over. In t…

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The Sound of Silence from Unexplainable 30:59

7d ago30:59

30:59

A scientist asked people to sit in a silent room for 15 minutes. Almost half of them decided to give themselves a painful electric shock instead. What is it about our brains that makes our relationship with silence so strange? And should we learn how to listen to it? This is the third episode of the four-part Unexplainable series, The Sound Barrier…

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Medieval Europe's Most Evil Monarch 49:20

12d ago49:20

49:20

Who was the worst Medieval monarch? Dr. Eleanor Janega teams up with the hosts of our sister podcast After Dark to delve into the lives of some of Europe's most notorious medieval monarchs..and rank them! From Pedro the Cruel of Portugal to Richard the Lionheart, and from Isabella the She Wolf of France to Vlad the Impaler, the team unravel their n…

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Episode 130 - Elena Brower 1:20:36

8d ago1:20:36

1:20:36

Elena Brower is a bestselling author, international yoga and meditation teacher and the host of the acclaimed Practice You podcast. Her new book, Hold Nothing published by Shambhala Publications in late 2025 has been incredibly successful, celebrated generously by the spiritual elite, iconic authors and lay practitioners alike. Jaymee and Elena mee…

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Assassins and Templars 1:03:14

16d ago1:03:14

1:03:14

The heart of the Assassin’s Creed franchise is the deadly rivalry between the brotherhoods of Assassins and Templars. These were real groups in history, whose power and influence in their lifetimes matched the longevity of their reputations. But how much of what we know of the two organisations is myth, and what is reality? To help separate fact fr…

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Ep. 230 - IDFPA Worlds Recap! 32:23

14d ago32:23

32:23

Send us a text The episode primarily focused on reviewing Team Rohr's strong performance at the IDFPA Worlds competition in South Korea, where multiple lifters achieved impressive results and set records. The discussion covered various aspects of the competition including coaching support, individual performances across different age divisions, and…

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Naughty or nice? The 2025 holiday music round up 37:06

14d ago37:06

37:06

Every Christmas season, pop stars far and wide throw their Santa hats into the ring to see who has the next "All I Want for Christmas Is You," and this year is no exception. It's a yearly tradition on Switched On Pop to explore the deluge of holiday hits, and 2025 sees formidable entries to the canon from folks like Kylie Minogue, Leon Bridges, and…

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History's Heroes Trailer 2:25

14d ago2:25

2:25

Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.By BBC Radio 4

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Medieval Winter Ghosts 1:01:30

19d ago1:01:30

1:01:30

Come closer, warm yourself by the fire, and don't look too closely at the shadows playing at the edges of the room. Dr. Eleanor Janega explores eerie medieval ghost tales with Dr. Michael Carter, of knights with blood-stained souls and transforming ravens, fleeing monks and night walkers. Together they explore how winter hauntings reflected beliefs…

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Night of the Living Dead | The 1968 Classic That Wrote the Zombie Rulebook 24:31

17d ago24:31

24:31

Frank revisits Night of the Living Dead (1968) and breaks down why it still feels ahead of its time, even with a shoestring budget and simple setup. He walks through the full plot from the cemetery opening to the brutal ending, calls out the movie's "proto zombie rules" (headshots, fire, escalating panic), and digs into the constant clash between B…

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Lady Godiva 52:04

23d ago52:04

52:04

Did Lady Godiva ride naked through Coventry? Matt Lewis welcomes Annie Whitehead to delve into the legendary tale of Lady Godiva, uncovering the true historical figure behind the myth. They explore primary sources, the political landscape of 11th-century Mercia, and Godiva's significant role as a landholder and patron, as one of many independent an…

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The year that killed music (best and worst of 2025) 47:27

21d ago47:27

47:27

From big-ticket albums by Taylor and Gaga, to a revival of the stomp-clap revival – 2025 had it all, for better and for worse. Now that the year has come to a close, it's time to take a look back at the past twelve months: what happened in the zeitgeist, what we loved listening to, and what we missed here on the show. Reanna, Charlie, and Nate talk…

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History's Toughest Heroes: William Marshal: The Greatest Medieval Knight 29:41

21d ago29:41

29:41

At the age of 70, does England’s greatest knight still have what it takes to save the realm from invasion? In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge. The young Sir William Marshal was handsome, charming, captain of the England Tourney team a sporting hero and ri…

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The Jews of Norwich 53:39

26d ago53:39

53:39

The chilling discovery of a medieval well in Norwich, filled with the remains of 17 Jewish adults and children, opened a window into the lived reality of historical antisemitism. What do these findings tell us about the forces that shaped Jewish life and loss in medieval England? Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis continue their exploration of Norwi…

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Episode 129 - Wayne Carpenter 1:22:31

22d ago1:22:31

1:22:31

Wayne Carpenter is Jaymee's father, a New York born singer/songwriter who lived and breathed music from his earliest life. Wayne developed himself as a performer and writer while attending prestigious music colleges before chasing his dreams on the West Coast in the early 1970's pursuing a record deal with his band (which included Jaymee's mother).…

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Why pop songwriters break the rules (ft. Amy Allen) 57:10

29d ago57:10

57:10

Grammy-winning songwriter Amy Allen joins NYU Steinhardt students live to trace her path from early pitch songs to co-writing some of the decade's defining hits. She explains why Halsey's "Without Me" needed an extended chorus but no pre-made chord loops, how Harry Styles' "Matilda" required character-driven writing for emotional safety, and what m…

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Norwich Castle 48:13

30d ago48:13

48:13

Medieval Norwich comes alive as Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega visit Norwich Castle, once a hulking Norman fortress, royal palace and later a Victorian jail. Matt tours the huge Keep with archaeologist Dr Tim Pestell, exploring fire-scarred vaults from medieval sieges and exquisite high-status finds unearthed in recent excavations. Matt also get…

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Fargo | Snow, Schemes, and a Woodchipper 41:25

26d ago41:25

41:25

In this single-player episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank bundles up with the winter classic Fargo and breaks down why this 1996 Coen Brothers film still hits so hard. From Jerry's desperate spiral and Gaear's cold brutality to Marge Gunderson's calm, quietly heroic presence, Frank walks through the story, performances, music, and snow-covered Mid…

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Ep. 229 - The IDFPA Worlds are here! 24:36

1M ago24:36

24:36

Send us a text Josh and Lara reviewed the Team Rohr holiday party and discussed recent powerlifting meet results before focusing on the upcoming IDFPA Worlds competition in Korea. They also reflected on past sponsorship experiences, including missed marketing opportunities and the need for clearer expectations. The conversation concluded with a dis…

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How Sombr’s bedroom recordings became his biggest hits 39:21

28d ago39:21

39:21

Sombr went from crafting raw, reverb soaked songs alone in his Lower East Side bedroom to finding his life shifting in ways he never could have predicted across 2024 and 2025. His biggest tracks kept their imperfections even as world class players at Sound City added new layers, and a disco groove he began as a late night joke transformed into a br…

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History's Toughest Heroes: Ida B. Wells and the Red Recorder 28:09

28d ago28:09

28:09

With lynchings of Black Americans on the rise, a reporter begins documenting the crimes, sending her on a dangerous journey through the violence of the Jim Crow South. In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge. After a humiliating standoff with a train conductor…

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St. Francis & the First Nativity Play 1:04:31

1M ago1:04:31

1:04:31

Christmas would not be complete without a nativity play: Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, all watched over by an ox, a donkey and assorted bystanders in the stable. St Francis of Assisi staged the very first nativity play way back in 1223, so like all the best things in life; it's medieval! Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Tim Larsen to uncove…

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Episode 128 - Da Snake Mon 1:19:03

1M ago1:19:03

1:19:03

Chance Feimster aka "Da Snake Mon" is a naturalist guide and wildlife expert from North Carolina who’s been a devout fan of Jaymee's podcasts for the past 5 years. Earlier this year the two began working together in weekly Spritual Mentorship sessions online and a close bond formed between them. Chance decided to travel across the country to meet J…

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Medieval Roots of The Modern Alphabet 49:57

1M ago49:57

49:57

How did the alphabet we use today take shape? Matt Lewis welcomes Danny Bate to explore how the medieval period shaped the alphabet we use today. They discuss the transformation of Egyptian hieroglyphs, the significant impact of the Norman Conquest of 1066, and the eventual disappearance of medieval letters like thorn (þ) and ash (æ). This is a jou…

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Batman: Mask of the Phantasm | Fresh Look at the 90's Cult Classic 41:00

1M ago41:00

41:00

In this solo episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank finally sits down with the iconic animated film Batman Mask of the Phantasm after years of calling it a major Batman blind spot. He shares his deep love for Batman The Animated Series, breaks down Bruce Timm's distinctive art style, and explores why Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill's performances still …

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Ep. 228 - No Equipped at the Arnold?? 41:03

1M ago41:03

41:03

Send us a text In this Episode, Josh and Lara discussed upcoming powerlifting events, including the Arnold Classic and various competitions in Georgia, while analyzing participation numbers and challenges facing equipped divisions. They explored ethical considerations around lift protests and referee decisions, with Josh sharing experiences about a…

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"It’s a Hail Mary every time" (ft. Marc Rebillet) 51:49

1M ago51:49

51:49

When it comes to improvisational loop jams, few have gone as viral as Marc Rebillet. From his 2020 lockdown-era video “How to Funk in Two Minutes,” which features him wearing nothing but a bathrobe, to unsuspecting New York street corners, and eventually the Coachella main stage, Rebillet has come to be known as “loop daddy” for his gifted ability …

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History's Toughest Heroes: The Ballad of Crazy Horse 28:46

1M ago28:46

28:46

When European American settlers begin displacing the indigenous Lakota from their ancestral lands, one enigmatic warrior refuses to surrender. He gathers his people for an epic standoff with the military. In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge. In the depths …

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Medieval Europe's Encounter with Islam 52:44

1M ago52:44

52:44

What if the Renaissance was powered by Arabic science? Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Drayson to uncover how figures like Constantine the African and Fibonacci transformed European learning and commerce by channelling Islamic knowledge into Latin Christendom. They dive into records from multicultural Spain and Sicily, where Islamic s…

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When the Vikings met the Slavs 52:51

1M ago52:51

52:51

Journey east with Matt Lewis and Martyn Whittock to uncover how the Vikings came face to face with the Slavs. Using clues like the Ingvar Rune Stones, Matt and Martyn discover how the Vikings reshaped Northeastern Europe, with Norse trade, warfare, and cultural exchange, as well as their role in the Byzantine Empire and Islamic Caliphates, and how …

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Bob's Burgers Thanksgiving Throwdown - Ranking The Best Holiday Episodes 22:22

1M ago22:22

22:22

In this Thanksgiving special of Challenge Accepted, Frank and Jonathan celebrate the Belchers by ranking their top Bob's Burgers Thanksgiving episodes and crowning a definitive winner. They break down why the holiday episodes hit so hard, talk about the emotional gut punches hidden inside the jokes, and revisit the wild chaos of turkeys, hoarding, …

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Stranger Things Seasons 1–4 Recap – Getting Ready For The Final Battle 28:03

1M ago28:03

28:03

On this episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank Lourence (@franklourence79) teams up with Jonathan to walk through Stranger Things seasons 1 through 4 so you are fully refreshed before season 5 lands. The two revisit the early days in Hawkins, the rise of the Mind Flayer, the Starcourt Mall showdown, and Vecna's terrifying curse, mixing clean plot rec…

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Quitting Spotify (ft. Deerhoof) 44:12

1M ago44:12

44:12

In June 2025, indie veterans Deerhoof scrubbed their entire catalog from the world’s dominant streaming platform. The catalyst wasn't low royalties, but Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek’s investment in AI military technology through his investment firm Prima Materia. Greg Saunier and Satomi Matsuzaki explain why they are prioritizing their ethics over …

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History's Toughest Heroes: Margery Kempe: Ministry of Tears 28:22

1M ago28:22

28:22

Margery Kempe always tells it like it is. But in Medieval England, such straight-talking can get a woman killed... In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge. Born in Kings Lynne in around 1373, Margery Kempe was destined for a typical medieval life. But after th…

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Trial of Joan of Arc 1:08:54

2M ago1:08:54

1:08:54

How did a teenage girl stand up to armies, theologians, and kings? Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Anne Curry to trace Joan of Arc’s astonishing rise and tragic fall. From leading French forces to facing a ruthless 1431 heresy trial, they uncover the politics, pressure, and defiance that shaped her fate. Joan's defiance, the relentless ef…

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Scotland's Stone of Scone 1:01:00

2M ago1:01:00

1:01:00

How did a medieval Scottish stone become the centre of a daring heist in the 1950's? This is the extraordinary saga of the Stone of Scone, aka the Stone of Destiny, a relic that created the kings of Scotland, is shrouded in myth and legend and was taken by the English. Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Dauvit Broun to unravel the truth behind the t…

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The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs | Death and Legends 40:12

2M ago40:12

40:12

In this solo Thanksgiving episode of Challenge Accepted, Frank breaks down The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the Coen Brothers' Netflix Western anthology that has quietly become one of his holiday staples. Story by story, he digs into how each vignette wrestles with death, chance, and human nature, from Tim Blake Nelson's singing gunslinger to Tom Wait…

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Ep. 227 - Happy Thanksgiving...we're taking next week off 28:46

2M ago28:46

28:46

Send us a text In this Episode, Josh & Lara covered various topics including TV shows, upcoming powerlifting events in Georgia, and Laura Styrlund's performance at the IDFPA Bench Worlds. The conversation concluded with discussions about training methods, the importance of celebrating progress in fitness goals, and plans for an upcoming Team Rohr h…

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Is there a Disney curse?: Demi, Selena, and Miley 48:06

2M ago48:06

48:06

This year, there were a few records that delivered less-than-optimal returns on either the Hot 100 or the Billboard 200 – and they all came from former Disney pop stars. Demi Lovato’s latest album peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200, where it spent one week and then fell off; Selena Gomez’s record with Benny Blanco peaked at number 2 on the …

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History's Toughest Heroes: Henry Johnson: Hellfighter 28:35

2M ago28:35

28:35

A Black soldier from the American South makes headlines when he fights off an entire German party in World War One. But his fame comes at a price. In History's Toughest Heroes, Ray Winstone tells ten true stories of adventurers, rebels and survivors who lived life on the edge. Growing up in as a Black man in North Carolina, where racism was enshrin…

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How the Wind Blew Up The Middle Ages 1:03:17

2M ago1:03:17

1:03:17

From the tactical nautical decisions of the Normans and Vikings to medieval monks' meticulous wind records, medieval civilisations have always harnessed and feared the wind. Dr. Eleanor Janega and Simon Winchester explore the intimate relationship medieval people had with the wind, from it's role in agriculture and health, to its perceived divine a…

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The Birth of the Medieval World 47:35

2M ago47:35

47:35

Matt Lewis pays a visit to Gone Medieval's sister podcast The Ancients for a lively debate with Tristan Hughes about the blurred boundary between the ancient and medieval worlds. Can Tristan champion Roman Emperor Justinian as an Ancient? What about Charlemagne? Which period can lay claim to the worst year in history? And was there a single moment …

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Ep. 226 - Dr. John Rusin: Pain-Free Performance 1:16:03

2M ago1:16:03

1:16:03

Send us a text In this episode, Dr. John Rusin, a coach with extensive experience in strength and conditioning, discussed his new book "Pain Free Performance" which focuses on helping powerlifters and fitness enthusiasts achieve their goals without pain. The conversation covered John's background in athletics, his writing process for the book, and …