Best Silent Consumers Podcasts (2025)

1
How Did 'Uncle Tom' Go from Hero to Traitor? 8:37

10h ago8:37

8:37

In the 1850s, the abolitionist novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' was America's first bestseller, and its enslaved character Uncle Tom was a heroic martyr. Learn how 'Uncle Tom' later became a biting insult in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/uncle-toms-cabin.htm See omnystudio.com/li…

1
In His Presence 11:36

3h ago11:36

11:36

In this week's episode, Pastor Jeremy recaps his sermon on Haggai 2 and the joy that is found in the presence of God.By Jeremy Daniel

1
Could Orbital Chaos Make the Planets Collide? 10:30

23h ago10:30

10:30

Our solar system runs pretty smoothly, but even tiny changes to how the planets, moons, and asteroids move could potentially cause Earth to collide with Mars or Venus in the distant future. Learn more about how chaos theory applies to planetary orbits in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/earth-venu…

1
California's 'Bum Blockade' 51:48

2h ago51:48

51:48

The story of the Los Angeles police chief who, faced with one of the largest internal migrations in American history, tried to close California's borders to stop it. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline. Learn more about sponsor message choices: …

1
How Did Woolly Mammoths Work? 11:35

3d ago11:35

11:35

These cold-adapted cousins of modern elephants coexisted with humans for thousands of years. Learn what we know (and don't know) about them -- and why we shouldn't bring them back -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/extinct-animals/woolly-mammoth.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info…

1
What Makes You Dizzy When You Stand Up? 5:22

4d ago5:22

5:22

If you've ever gotten dizzy and seen stars for a second after standing or moving quickly, don't worry, it's just your heart adjusting to the sudden change. Learn why it happens and how to prevent it in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/nervous-system/split-second-dizziness.htm See…

51
Motherhood 50:38

7d ago50:38

50:38

Baby bonuses, childless cat ladies: the rhetoric around motherhood is politically charged right now. And the fantasy of an ideal mother remains powerful, even as real-life parents struggle to reconcile its demands. Today on the show, three myths of motherhood, and the people who have fought to break them down. This episode originally ran in 2023 as…

1
Consumed With Your Own Kingdom 10:56

8d ago10:56

10:56

In this week's episode, Pastor John recaps our first sermon in our new sermon series Whole Heart looking at Haggai 1. Here we'll find a little bit of history and back story.By John Durham

1
The Deadly Story of the U.S. Civil Service 49:31

15d ago49:31

49:31

When James Garfield won the Presidency in 1880, Charles Guiteau got ready to accept his new government job. No one had actually offered him a job – but he'd campaigned for Garfield, so he assumed he'd be rewarded. That was the spoils system, and it was how the government worked. But President Garfield didn't hire him. Guiteau was furious. And on Ju…

1
Fear and Great Joy 8:35

18d ago8:35

8:35

In this week's episode, Pastor John recaps our Easter Sunday sermon and why those who saw Jesus after His resurrection had fear and great joy.By John Durham

1
BrainStuff Classics: Why a Gaggle of Geese? Where Do Collective Nouns Come From? 6:07

19d ago6:07

6:07

About 500 years ago, creating clever collective nouns for groups of animals, objects, and people was trendy, and some of those nouns of assemblage stuck. Learn the history of this quirk of the English language in today's classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/shrewdness-apes-collective-nouns-500-year-…

1
BrainStuff Classics: What's in Movie Theater Popcorn? 5:46

20d ago5:46

5:46

The satly, buttery popcorn sold in movie theaters is nigh irresistible, but there's zero butter involved. Learn what it's made of in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/facts/what-heck-is-in-movie-theater-popcorn.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Why Can't We Eat Grass? 7:18

21d ago7:18

7:18

Some animals like cows can live on grass, so why can't humans? And why do dogs and cats eat it even though they can't live on it either? Learn about digesting grass in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/pets/why-do-dogs-and-cats-eat-grass.htm; https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/di…

1
How Does the Sun Rotate? 7:00

22d ago7:00

7:00

Yes, the sun rotates, but it does so a little differently than rocky planets like Earth. Learn how (and why) in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/does-sun-rotate.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
The Alien Enemies Act 49:02

22d ago49:02

49:02

In March 2025, President Trump issued an executive order invoking a centuries-old law: the Alien Enemies Act. The Act allows a president to detain or deport citizens of foreign adversaries to the United States, but only in the case of a "declared war" or "invasion." Now, the Trump administration and the courts are locked in a battle over whether th…

1
Can a Turtle Outgrow Its Shell? 5:26

23d ago5:26

5:26

A turtle's shell grows with it throughout its life. Learn how a hard, protective shell can keep growing in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/reptiles/turtle-shell.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
What Is Fascism? 11:42

24d ago11:42

11:42

In fascism, the needs of the people bow to the needs of the State, and violent, authoritarian leaders demand unity, sacrifice, and a strict social heirarchy in order to enact constant conquest to bring glory to the State. Learn more about the past and present of fascism in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffwo…

1
How Does the 'Zombie Ant' Fungus Work? 7:08

25d ago7:08

7:08

Some specialized fungi can hijack the behavior of ants, wasps, and spiders in order to spread their spores. Learn about the real-life Cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps fungi that inspired 'The Last of Us' in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/zombie-ant-fungus.htm See omnystudio…

1
The King Enters Jerusalem 9:13

25d ago9:13

9:13

In this week's episode, Pastor John recaps our Palm Sunday sermon as we enter Holy Week. How does Jesus flip everything on it's head?By John Durham

1
When Things Fall Apart 49:01

28d ago49:01

49:01

Climate disaster, political unrest, random violence: Western society can often feel like what the filmmaker Werner Herzog calls "a thin layer of ice on top of an ocean of chaos and darkness." But is that actually true — or the way it has to be? Today on the show, what really happens when things fall apart. This episode originally published in 2023.…

1
The Lamb Was Silent 11:31

1M ago11:31

11:31

In this week's episode, Pastor John recaps his first message in our series As He Promised and looks more into the prophecy of Isaiah 52 & 53 of Jesus' crucifixion.By John Durham

1
Get Rich Quick: The American Lottery 49:41

1M ago49:41

49:41

Want to get rich quick? You're not alone. Right now, Americans spend over $100 billion, yes billion, every year on lottery tickets. Today on the show, in collaboration with Scratch and Win from WGBH, how the mafia, Sputnik, medical equipment, and the electoral college led to American's obsession with playing the numbers. Learn more about sponsor me…

1
Union with Christ 11:45

1M ago11:45

11:45

As we concluded our Way, Truth, Life sermon series Pastor John shares even further on our union with Christ and what life is like today. Salvation in Christ changes all things in our life. In this episode, we hear the 4 verbs that we do from our Ephesians passage this past Sunday.By John Durham

1
2025-03-27-brainstuff-anne-frank 13:09

1M ago13:09

13:09

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
We the People: The Right to Remain Silent 48:36

1M ago48:36

48:36

The Fifth Amendment. You have the right to remain silent when you're being questioned in police custody, thanks to the Fifth's protection against self-incrimination. But most people end up talking to police anyway. Why? Today on Throughline's We the People: the Fifth Amendment, the right to remain silent, and how hard it can be to use it. Learn mor…

1
BrainStuff Classics: Why Are Whales Big (But Not Bigger)? 4:08

1M ago4:08

4:08

Whales are some of the largest creatures on Earth -- but why? And why aren't they bigger? Learn a whale of a tale about ocean mammals in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
BrainStuff Classics: Was Earth's Oldest Rock Found on the Moon? 6:44

2M ago6:44

6:44

The oldest known intact Earth rock was collected on the moon in the 1970s. Learn how researchers think it got there it in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
Transubstantiation - Jay Mathis 9:52

2M ago9:52

9:52

In this week's episode, our guest preacher Jay Mathis shares more about communion and some takeaways that weren't included in this week's sermon.By Jay Mathis

1
What Were Prehistoric 'Hell Pigs'? 6:47

2M ago6:47

6:47

Enormous, pig-like omnivores with bone-barbed faces and long tusks once hunted and fought throughout what's now North America, Eurasia, and Africa. Learn about the entelodonts in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/extinct-animals/prehistoric-hell-pigs-once-roamed-earth.htm See omnystudio.com/listene…

1
When Did We Start Calling American Citizens 'Consumers'? 7:23

2M ago7:23

7:23

Sometime in the 1900s, Americans began referring to themselves as consumers more often than as citizens. Learn how this mindset can make a real difference in how we take responsibility for our communities in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/american-citizens-versus-consumers.htm See omnystudio.c…

1
How Does Saliva Work? 8:11

2M ago8:11

8:11

Saliva is something you probably (hopefully?) don't think about too much, but it helps you speak, eat, taste, and even digest. Learn about the wonders of spit in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/human-body/systems/digestive/saliva-change-food.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Who Was Harriet Tubman? 12:51

2M ago12:51

12:51

Harriet Tubman helped people escape slavery, ran intelligence missions for the Union during the Civil War, and set up the first nursing home for Black Americans. Learn more about her in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/harriet-tubman.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i…

1
Is Pluto Really Not a Planet? 8:23

2M ago8:23

8:23

Although the International Astronomical Union demoted Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet in 2006, some scientists think it deserves to be reinstated. Learn why in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/pluto-is-it-planet-after-all.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Sesame Street 48:47

2M ago48:47

48:47

Big Bird, politics, and the ABCs: how a television show made to represent New York City neighborhoods like Harlem and the Bronx became beloved by families around a divided country. This episode originally ran in 2022 as "Getting to Sesame Street." To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple P…

1
The Way of the Disciple 8:08

2M ago8:08

8:08

This week, Pastor John dives deeper from our sermon in Matthew 16 on the cost of discipleship and specifically why Jesus calls the disciple, Peter, Satan.By John Durham

1
Winter is Coming 51:01

2M ago51:01

51:01

Dinosaurs, Carl Sagan, and nuclear war. There was a moment in the not-so-distant past when we learned what drove the dinosaurs extinct — and that discovery, made during the Cold War, may have helped save humans from the same fate. In this episode, we'll take a journey from prehistoric times to the nuclear age and explore how humans contend with fea…

1
The Way to God's Presence 9:27

2M ago9:27

9:27

In this week's episode, we look at our second week in our sermon series, Way Truth Life. Pastor John looks at the statements of Jesus that leads us to the presence of God.By John Durham

1
We the People: Succession of Power 47:46

2M ago47:46

47:46

The 25th amendment. A few years before JFK was shot, an idealistic young lawyer set out on a mission to convince people something essential was missing from the Constitution: clear instructions for what should happen if a U.S. president was no longer able to serve. On this episode of our ongoing series We the People, the story behind one of the las…

1
One Way 8:16

2M ago8:16

8:16

In this week's episode, Pastor John gives an intro into our new sermon series, "Way Truth Life". There's only one way to God and that is through Jesus!By John Durham

1
Health Insurance in America 52:58

2M ago52:58

52:58

Millions of Americans depend on their jobs for health insurance. But that's not the case in many other wealthy countries. How did the U.S. end up with a system that's so expensive, yet leaves so many people vulnerable? On this episode, how a temporary solution created an everlasting problem. This episode originally ran in 2020 as The Everlasting Pr…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Silent Consumers Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen