Best Frank Schaeffer Podcasts (2025)

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Steve Griggs: Straight Dirt on Wealth, Work, and the Art of Landscape Design 58:28

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34m ago58:28

58:28

Landscape designer Steve Griggs joins Frank Schaeffer for a raw, funny, deeply human conversation about rising from a working-class New York childhood to becoming one of America’s premier landscape artists — featured in Forbes, WSJ, HuffPost and Bravo’s Backyard Envy. Steve reveals the truth about designing for the ultra-wealthy, why taste beats mo…

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Featuring: Rebuilding L.A. 1:08:26

24h ago1:08:26

1:08:26

Please enjoy this specially featured episode of LA Times Studio's Rebuilding LA. What’s next for L.A. in the wake of its recent wildfires? In “Rebuilding Los Angeles,” broadcast journalist Kate Cagle examines the systems that failed us, the path forward and the innovative fire recovery efforts making L.A. more resilient. This episode features promi…

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Phil Spector: Silent Night, Loaded Gun 42:03

19h ago42:03

42:03

A gun-waving showdown with the Ramones. A death threat from the Genovese crime family. A terrorized Ronnie Spector locked inside a gilded cage. And a Christmas record crushed by one of the darkest days in American history. Listen to find out how producer Phil Spector created a joyful holiday masterpiece before fear and violence turned his quest for…

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Rethinking Procurement's Impact on Agency Success with Michelle Cleary 22:36

2d ago22:36

22:36

What are the often-overlooked red flags and chemistry factors that can make or break your agency's success in the RFP process? I'm thrilled to welcome Michelle Cleary, a seasoned marketing procurement professional with Anywhere Real Estate, to unravel the myths and unlock the potential of procurement in agency collaborations. Michelle shares her un…

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Blondie: Punk vs. Disco, Held Hostage by Phil Spector, and Riding with Ted Bundy 36:32

3d ago36:32

36:32

Blondie got their start as part of New York’s fertile punk scene in the late ‘70s, a time of great musical innovation. Also a time of great fear. Violent crime had the five boroughs in a stranglehold. Muggers, rapists, thieves, criminal deviants of all stripes ran wild in the streets. Or so they said. True New Yorkers like Blondie were tough, jaded…

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Blink-182: Tom Was Right. Aliens Exist. 43:44

5d ago43:44

43:44

Everyone thought Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge was a joke, until he proved them all wrong. This is the story of government control, aliens, an arrest, a plane crash, a cancer diagnosis, redemption, and (of course) anti-authority punk rock. Do you believe in Non-Human Intelligence? Have you had an experience with UFOs? Let Jake know and tell your story at…

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Bonus Episode: Are Rockstars Part of the UFO Disclosure Theory? Plus Psychopedia’s Brooke Slater on Slayer and Ed Gein 1:00:56

6d ago1:00:56

1:00:56

On the heels of the release of the excellent new documentary The Age of Disclosure, and our own recent mini and full episodes on Merle Haggard’s UFO obsession, we discuss the likelihood that rockstars from John Lennon to Tom DeLonge are part of the UAP disclosure theory. We also talk to Psychopedia’s Brooke Slater about Slayer and Jake’s Ed Gein he…

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A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts: Spiritual Abuse and Life on the Other Side (with Katherine Spearing) 44:41

2d ago44:41

44:41

If you've been the victim of spiritual abuse--experienced in a wide variety of forms--it is imperative for you to gain the language, or vocabulary, to be able to describe what exactly happened to you. Moreover, education is one of the most critical aspects on the recovery journey. Author Katherine Spearing, with her new book A Thousand Tiny Paper C…

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A Thousand Tiny Paper Cuts: Spiritual Abuse And Life on the Other Side (with Katherine Spearing) 44:42

7d ago44:42

44:42

If you've been the victim of spiritual abuse--experienced in a wide variety of forms--it is imperative for you to gain the language, or vocabulary, to be able to describe what exactly happened to you. Moreover, education is one of the most critical aspects on the recovery journey. Author Katherine Spearing, with her new book A Thousand Tiny Paper C…

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“The Trials of Frank Carson” Update 27:12

8d ago27:12

27:12

Attorney Frank Carson spent decades defending the accused in California's Central Valley. He made powerful enemies among law enforcement. When they put him on trial for murder, he insisted he was being framed. He was acquitted after a lengthy trial, but his widow says the ordeal destroyed his health and hastened his death. As part of a malicious pr…

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Merle Haggard (Pt. 2): Surviving Christmas, Cosmic American Aliens, and Cocaine Clarity 36:30

8d ago36:30

36:30

A cosmic-country dust-up with Gram Parsons. A months-long cocaine spiral. An alien obsession, and a bleak Christmas single that wouldn’t quit. Death threats, pistols, pardons, and “Pancho & Lefty.” Listen to find out how Merle Haggard survived another December and lived to rewrite country music. For the full list of contributors, visit ⁠⁠disgracela…

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Jeffrey Kripal & Dean Radin | Psychic Reality, Magic & the Coming Paradigm Shift 1:17:13

7d ago1:17:13

1:17:13

Are psychic phenomena real—and are science and the humanities finally ready to admit it? In this episode, I speak with Jeffrey Kripal, PhD and Dean Radin, PhD about consciousness, magic, telepathy, UFOs, and why a genuine paradigm shift is already underway. Dean, one of the most prolific researchers in parapsychology, and chief scientist at the Ins…

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Succeeding in an AI World: Vital Training, Bias Awareness, and More with Waseem Ali, Part 2 26:27

9d ago26:27

26:27

Could AI leaders be the new key players in achieving financial revenue targets, or is this just another tech myth? In the second of two parts, we welcome back Waseem Ali, former Chief Data Officer at Lloyd's and now CEO at Rockborne. Waseem offers an expert's perspective on the role of AI and data leaders, arguing for their potential to directly in…

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Fear Not: Diana Butler Bass on Light, Darkness, and A Beautiful Year 1:12:21

9d ago1:12:21

1:12:21

Frank Schaeffer talks with bestselling author and theologian Diana Butler Bass about Advent, spiritual resilience, and her new book A Beautiful Year. In this powerful conversation, they explore the meaning of “fear not” in a time of political turmoil, the role of the Christian liturgical calendar in daily life, and how ancient spiritual practices h…

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Merle Haggard (Pt. 1): A Christmas Robbery Leads To Hard Time at San Quentin 36:01

12d ago36:01

36:01

Merle Haggard was what authorities liked to call a “repeat offender.” He was arrested for riding trains, for skipping school, for stealing cars, for robbing gas stations, and for attempting to knock over a restaurant – during the Christmas Eve rush. He was committed to juvenile halls, correctional facilities, and reform schools 17 times, and 17 tim…

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Medical Gaslighting, Grief & a Golden Retriever Healer with Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor, MD 1:23:38

7d ago1:23:38

1:23:38

Neurologist Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor, MD joins Frank Schaeffer to talk about her powerful new memoir Whispers of the Mind — a life in neurology, grief, intuition, near-death stories, medical gaslighting, and one extraordinary golden retriever named Prancer who became a four-legged healer in the clinic. _____ LINKS https://www.carolynlarkintaylorau…

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Bonus Episode: Killer Concert Films 42:22

8d ago42:22

42:22

Why The Last Waltz is the greatest concert film of all time plus, in the exclusive section of this bonus episode, a long list of other favorites and some criminally overlooked live gems with Jake and Zeth. You can become an All Access member and hear this and more exclusive content, along with ad-free listening of all Disgraceland episodes, by goin…

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Martin Scorsese, The Band, and The Last Waltz: A Thanksgiving Story 41:02

15d ago41:02

41:02

Martin Scorsese’s death wish. Bob Dylan’s theft. Robbie Robertson’s cocaine purchase. Four thousand pounds of turkey. Two thousand pounds of candied yams. Eight hundred pounds of pies and ninety gallons of gravy. What’s it all mean? It means that Disgraceland has a Thanksgiving episode about the making of The Last Waltz that you’ll be grateful you …

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Succeeding in an AI World: Vital Training, Bias Awareness, and More with Waseem Ali, Part 1 24:33

16d ago24:33

24:33

How can businesses ensure responsible innovation without getting lost in the AI hype, and what role does upping your skills play in this journey? Waseem Ali, former Chief Data Officer at Lloyd's and now CEO at Rockborne, is here to share his top insights on thriving in an AI-driven market. As we explore the ever-evolving landscape of job roles infl…

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Martin Scorsese (Pt. 2): One Night. One Murder. Five Directors 46:36

19d ago46:36

46:36

Hollywood:1975. Martin Scorsese sits in his apartment, enraged. He wants to literally kill the man who is ruining his to-be-released film, Taxi Driver. Scorsese’s friends, filmmakers Stephen Spielberg, Brian De Palma, John Milius, and Paul Schraeder rush to Scorsese’s side to talk him out of committing murder, but when they arrive, their friend Mar…

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Brian Cranley: Wonder, Logic, and the God of Reason 59:42

15d ago59:42

59:42

What happens when a former evangelical-turned-atheist-who-prays sits down with a Catholic engineer–philosopher who nearly became a priest… and then founded a medical device company… and then wrote a book arguing that logic, science, and divinity aren’t enemies but dance partners? Frank Schaeffer speaks with Brian Cranley, author of The Call of Wond…

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Bonus Episode: A Brief History of Gun Violence from Music’s Past 39:15

20d ago39:15

39:15

“The Devil’s Right Hand" – the gun. Many have died by it in music history. From the unknown piano player who helped influence rock ‘n’ roll to iconic stars like Marvin Gaye and John Lennon. On the heels of our Dr. John episode detailing the shooting that changed the trajectory of his career, and in advance of our Martin Scorsese archive episode det…

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Restart and Restore: Surviving Manipulative Cults and Relationships (with Rachel Bernstein) 46:51

16d ago46:51

46:51

This week I'm joined by my friend Rachel Bernstein, host of the IndoctriNation Podcast and author of a brand-new book entitled Restart and Restore: A Journal for Survivors of Manipulation. Rachel's book, along with a companion notebook for journaling and self-reflection, are super helpful resources for those of us who come out of high-control relig…

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Restart and Restore: Surviving Manipulative Cults and Relationships (with Rachel Bernstein) 46:52

16d ago46:52

46:52

This week I'm joined by my friend Rachel Bernstein, host of the IndoctriNation Podcast and author of a brand-new book entitled Restart and Restore: A Journal for Survivors of Manipulation. Rachel's book, along with a companion notebook for journaling and self-reflection, are super helpful resources for those of us who come out of high-control relig…

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Killer with a Badge: How the LAPD Missed a Murderer in its Ranks 26:20

22d ago26:20

26:20

In 1986, 29-year-old Sherri Rasmussen was just starting her married life when she was brutally murdered in her Van Nuys home. The LAPD called it a “burglary gone bad,” ignoring red flags pointing to one of their own for years. Detective Stephanie Lazarus might have gotten away with it if she hadn’t left behind a key piece of evidence.…

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Dr. John: A Shooting, Federal Prison, and Voodoo Healing 35:41

22d ago35:41

35:41

A gunshot ended his career as a guitar player, but opened up a path to becoming an iconic piano man. Heroin, pimping, and federal prison nearly ended him, but Voodoo––and music––saved him. Listen to find out how one of New Orleans’ most notorious musicians, Mac Rebennack, became Dr. John. For a full list of contributors, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disgracela…

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Transformational Growth in the Age of AI Through Emotional Intelligence with Oya Mustafa 26:08

18d ago26:08

26:08

How can emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity transform your B2B sales strategy in a world dominated by automation? Joining the podcast today is Oya Mustafa, the Chief Growth Officer at Not Normal Group. We get into a deep discussion about transformative power of emotional intelligence in B2B sales, discussing how human-centric approaches…

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Tommy James and the Shondells: Mony Mony and Mafia-Sanctioned Hits 43:46

26d ago43:46

43:46

Tommy James came up during a time when the music industry was in part controlled by New York’s Italian mafia. And for a period in the 1960s, that power was centralized at Roulette Records. The record label was run by convicted extortionist Morris Levy and operated in partnership with the Genovese crime family. Tommy James’ hits were sanctioned by t…

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Karen Elliott House on MBS, Saudi Arabia, and the Future of Faith and Power 1:08:27

22d ago1:08:27

1:08:27

Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Karen Elliott House joins Frank Schaeffer to talk about her remarkable new book, The Man Who Would Be King, Muhammad bin Salman and the Transformation of Saudi Arabia. Across four decades of reporting on the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, Karen has developed rare access to the kingdom’s inner world — including seven…

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Mike Brock | The Simulation Is Collapsing: America's Political Meltdown 51:43

22d ago51:43

51:43

Former tech executive and political writer Mike Brock joins me for one of the most urgent and explosive conversations we've had on the channel — covering Trump's accelerating authoritarianism, the GOP civil war, Silicon Valley's Christian turn, Epstein revelations, and the structural collapse of American democracy in real time. In this new episode …

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Bonus: From the Nitrous Mafia to the Italian Mafia, the Criminal Enterprises That Infiltrate Music Culture 36:19

27d ago36:19

36:19

Gangsters, rude boys, drug dealers, soviet bootleggers, ticket scalping syndicates, and psychedelic chemists—why do criminals like the “Nitrous Mafia” associated with Phish, and the Italian Mafia linked to Tommy James, so often infiltrate and influence music culture? This topic, along with your voicemails, texts, and emails, and in the All Access p…

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Roman Hanis | Beyond Ayahuasca: Indigenous Wisdom, Healing & the Forgotten Heart 44:31

23d ago44:31

44:31

Can ancient plant medicines and indigenous traditions help heal our fractured civilization? Daniel Pinchbeck speaks with Roman Hanis—author of Beyond Ayahuasca and co-founder of the Paititi Institute—about his two decades apprenticing with Amazonian elders, bridging Tibetan Buddhism, Jungian psychology, and ecological preservation. In this episode …

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Death on the Set of the Twilight Zone Movie 28:25

29d ago28:25

28:25

When a helicopter crash killed actor Vic Morrow and two children on the set of Twilight Zone: The Movie, the filmmakers called it an unforeseeable accident. An LA County Sheriff’s detective saw something else: broken laws, reckless risks, and an A-list director who ignored warnings.By L.A. Times Studios

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Phish: Community, Hippie Crack, and the Nitrous Mafia 39:47

29d ago39:47

39:47

A parking lot ruled by shady nitrous oxide dealers. And a bandleader whose addiction nearly killed him. This is the story of Trey Anastasio and Phish – and their improbable comeback. For a full list of contributors, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disgracelandpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To listen to Disgraceland ad free and hear an exclusive mini-episode that further explor…

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The Secret Ingredients of Successful Brand Clarity with Ulli Appelbaum 30:35

1M ago30:35

30:35

Are you ready to discover the magic of combining scientific insights with emotional connections in brand strategy? Ulli Appelbaum, Founder & Chief Strategy Officer at First The Trousers Then The Shoes, joins us in this episode to explore the nuanced world of brand strategy. As he shares his wealth of experience in creating brand clarity and emotion…

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Toxic Empathy: How Christian Nationalism Turned Cruelty Into Virtue 15:30

25d ago15:30

15:30

This is an audio version of my recent video essay based on my recent Substack post, "Toxic Empathy: The Supreme Court and the Death of Christian Compassion." I explore how right-wing Christian nationalism has inverted the moral teachings of Jesus—transforming empathy into sin and cruelty into virtue. Drawing on Herbert Marcuse, Joy DeGruy, and the …