Best Bearded Enlightenment ✊🏾🤟🏾 Podcasts (2025)

1
How the Allies won WW2 36:04

1d ago36:04

36:04

This summer it's 80 years since the greatest conflict in human history came to an end. To mark the anniversary, the military historian, author and broadcaster James Holland has co-written a book that tells the story of the final moments of The Second World War through the Axis surrenders that brought the conflict to a close. In this episode James r…

1
Ancient tips for health and happiness 39:42

3d ago39:42

39:42

The science of health and wellbeing is a hot topic of modern life, and it was no different for the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome. From what you should eat, to how you should exercise, and when you should (and shouldn't) have sex, these cultures developed their own highly specific set of rules to live by to maximise health and happiness. …

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Thomas Aquinas: life of the week 44:20

4d ago44:20

44:20

Thomas Aquinas was a 13th-century Dominican theologian whose groundbreaking ideas set medieval Europe aflame – and continue to resonate today. As 2025 marks the 800th anniversary of Aquinas's birth, Emily Briffett speaks to Professor Robert Pasnau to find out more about the man behind some of medieval Europe's most significant philosophical and the…

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Barmier than Bond: Ian Fleming's extraordinary wartime escapades 41:30

5d ago41:30

41:30

Bogus sex parties, fake corpses, exploding tin cans and belligerent pigs. If you thought that James Bond's fictional escapades were outrageous, then the real-life experiences of his creator, Ian Fleming, are arguably even more extraordinary. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Edward Abel Smith reveals how Fleming's work as a wartime intellig…

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Fatherhood: a short history 40:24

6d ago40:24

40:24

What does it mean to be a father? When did people first start talking about men as 'father figures'? And how has the concept of fatherhood changed over the millennia? In conversation with David Musgrove, Augustine Sedgwick charts the story from the ancient near east right through to the modern father figure today. (Ad) Augustine Sedgwick is the aut…

1
Beyond Surface Spirituality: What Young Seekers Actually Want 13:26

8d ago13:26

13:26

Send us a text The future of spirituality depends on providing depth and relevance to younger generations who seek direct experience rather than surface-level teachings. Traditional spiritual institutions must adapt by empowering youth in leadership positions and offering timeless wisdom that addresses contemporary questions about consciousness, me…

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CIA book smugglers of the Cold War 36:27

8d ago36:27

36:27

During the Cold War, the CIA book programme was a covert campaign to smuggle books into the Eastern Bloc using everything from balloon drops to baked bean tins. But why was literature such a significant weapon in the culture wars between east and west? Lauren Good speaks to author Charlie English about his book The CIA Book Club: The Gripping New H…

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The Renaissance: not such a golden age? 49:33

10d ago49:33

49:33

From Michelangelo's David and Machiavelli's The Prince to the plays of Shakespeare, the Renaissance produced some of history's most astounding works of culture, art and innovation. But can focusing on these glittering creations obscure the messy and often violent reality of actually living through the era? Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, Ada Palmer hi…

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Archimedes: life of the week 34:32

11d ago34:32

34:32

He’s best known for his Eureka moment, but Archimedes was far more than a naked man in a bathtub. Speaking to Kev Lochun, Professor Michael Scott takes us through the wild imagination of this Ancient Greek polymath, who dreamt up war machines, water screws and a giant claw – but not, as legend has it, a death ray. The HistoryExtra podcast is produc…

1
The Third Reich's first genocide 40:24

12d ago40:24

40:24

Between 1939 and 1945, the Nazis killed nearly 300,000 people with learning disabilities or psychiatric illnesses. Some 400,000 more were forcibly sterilised. Historian Dagmar Herzog speaks to Ellie Cawthorne about how decades of eugenic theorising and propaganda led so many institutions to become complicit in this programme of sterilisation and ma…

1
English folklore: everything you wanted to know 47:59

13d ago47:59

47:59

What happens when you step inside a fairy ring? Where did the figure of the Green Man come from? And why have so many East Anglians been terrorised by a menacing, dog-like creature called Black Shuck? Emily Briffett speaks to folklorist and historian Francis Young to uncover more about the myths and historical traditions of England – from iconic ch…

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The Illusion of Exclusive Spiritual Paths: Finding Your Way to Truth 11:11

15d ago11:11

11:11

Send us a text The concept of a single truth with multiple spiritual pathways is often viewed as controversial in religious circles. Many spiritual traditions make exclusive claims about being the only pathway to truth, creating a dichotomy between those who are "saved" and those who aren't. • Exclusive spiritual paths can make followers feel speci…

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What happened in Shakespeare's "lost years"? 37:42

15d ago37:42

37:42

Shakespeare is now a towering figure of global theatre. But in the 1590s, he was just an up-and-coming young playwright, trying to scratch out a living in Shoreditch's emerging theatre scene. Daniel Swift revisits this early stage of the Bard's career in his new book The Dream Factory, linking it with the story of a long-lost Shoreditch playhouse s…

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Plague, famine and chivalry: a human history of the 14th century 54:04

17d ago54:04

54:04

Plague, war, regicide, famine, revolt – during the 14th century, life for people in England was turned on its head. Historian Helen Carr charts this extraordinarily turbulent period through the lives of three very different monarchs, each with their own idea of what it meant to wield power. Exploring the humanity of those on the throne, she speaks …

1
God is All-pervading 9:54

18d ago9:54

9:54

Send us a text God's all-pervading nature means there is no separation between the Divine and anything in existence, including ourselves – we are experiencing God or we are God experiencing itself through what appears to be many parts. • Understanding omnipresence means recognizing God is the only one present • When we see bodies and minds as divin…

1
WW2 legacies and Magna Carta: history behind the headlines 47:40

18d ago47:40

47:40

In the latest episode of our monthly series charting the past behind the present, historians Rana Mitter and Hannah Skoda explore the ways the Second World War continues to shape the world of today. Plus the medieval manuscripts hitting the headlines, and an express history of rail nationalisation. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team b…

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Dissolving Into Awareness: Beyond the 'I' on the Spiritual Path 10:09

19d ago10:09

10:09

Send us a text The spiritual journey's greatest obstacle is our own identification with a separate self that's seeking enlightenment. True seeking means recognizing that what we're looking for is already within us - there has only ever been the Self. • The journey is circular, bringing us back to what was always present but overlooked • Self-realiz…

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Drink, dance, death: wine in ancient Egypt 37:19

19d ago37:19

37:19

From merriment to mummification, new year revelries to funerary rites, wine played a key role in ancient Egyptian culture. Islam Issa speaks to Matt Elton about why the alcoholic drink was so important – and how it inspired everything from a wine vending machine to the Festival of Drunkenness. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ ⁠⁠https://nordvpn.com/hepod⁠⁠ …

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The Scottish Enlightenment: everything you wanted to know 39:58

20d ago39:58

39:58

In everything from the social sciences and technology to art and architecture, 18th-century Scotland saw a flowering of ideas and innovation. But what made the Enlightenment in Scotland different to the rest of Europe? Who were some of its key thinkers? And why were so few women involved? Historian Craig Smith, from the University of Glasgow, runs …

1
You Are Everywhere: The Truth of Pure Consciousness 10:10

21d ago10:10

10:10

Send us a text Pure consciousness is our true nature, though we often mistakenly identify with our body and mind, creating a sense of separation from the world around us. • "Tat Tvam Asi" (You are that) reminds us we are the pure consciousness that exists everywhere • There is not a single place where consciousness is not, meaning there's no place …

1
Deadly skies: the WW2 mission to fly over the Himalayas 47:27

22d ago47:27

47:27

During the Second World War, a promise by President Roosevelt to provide supplies to nationalist China led to the creation of an ill-fated air supply route from India, across a perilous stretch of the Himalayan foothills known as 'the hump'. Caroline Alexander tells Elinor Evans about the young American pilots who braved the world’s most dangerous …

1
Redefining Masculinity Through Spiritual Wisdom 27:59

23d ago27:59

27:59

Send us a text Our masculine identity crisis stems from misunderstanding what positive masculinity truly is through the lens of Advaita Vedanta. • Positive masculinity is about inner strength with gentleness, not dominance or suppression • True masculinity comes from being rooted in dharma (righteous living) • The false masculine identity is based …

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Royal sisters: the tragic lives of Queen Victoria's granddaughters 38:47

24d ago38:47

38:47

Victoria, Ella, Irene and Alix of Hesse were four young European princesses and granddaughters of Queen Victoria, whose marriages would change the face of early 20th-century Europe. Speaking to Elinor Evans, Frances Welch introduces the four sisters. She explores their relationships with one another, and reveals how their stories stretch from the c…

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Calamity Jane: life of the week 46:15

25d ago46:15

46:15

Calamity Jane roars into the popular imagination atop the Deadwood Stage with a 'whip-crack-away' and her pistol ready-loaded. A bold and resourceful frontierswoman, Calamity held her own among the men of the American West. But she was also instrumental in the making of her own myth. Emily Briffett spoke to historian Karen Jones to piece together w…

1
Spiritual showmen: the 1920s occult 36:40

26d ago36:40

36:40

Tahra Bey became a celebrity with his apparent ability to control his pulse, stab himself without pain and even bury himself alive. Dr Dahesh, meanwhile, was a spiritualist who sparked an entire religious movement. Speaking to Lauren Good, Raphael Cormack explores the lives of these two figures who made a name for themselves in the occult scene of …

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Cheese history: everything you wanted to know 40:16

27d ago40:16

40:16

Nothing beats a well-loaded cheeseboard. But while so many of us enjoy a stinky stilton and ripe brie, or chuck a reliable old cheddar into our basket at the supermarket each week, what do we actually know about the history of the cheese we eat? From sustaining Roman troops to becoming a staple in lunchboxes across the globe, the history of cheese …

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From Guru's Death to Spiritual Rebirth: My Journey Through Darkness 26:30

29d ago26:30

26:30

Send us a text I share the story of the darkest time in my life when my spiritual guru Babaji died in 2016, and how this profound loss ultimately led to deeper spiritual understanding and awakening. • The unique way Babaji addressed me not as a personality but as the true self within • The concept of oneness that formed the foundation of my spiritu…

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Taking sides: how the Civil War turned friends into enemies 31:12

29d ago31:12

31:12

As 17th-century Britain edged ever closer to civil war, two friends, Bulstrode Whitelock and Ned Hyde, found their relationship under increasing strain. Minoo Dinshaw tells Ellie Cawthorne about how these two companions found themselves on opposite sides of a political and ideological divide, and reflects on how the Civil War caused painful rupture…

1
Why Studying the Upanishads Will Transform Your Spiritual Journey 13:37

1M ago13:37

13:37

Send us a text The Upanishads offer direct communication with consciousness itself, providing a philosophical foundation for the Bhagavad Gita and practical spiritual guidance for modern seekers. • Upanishadic study connects us with our inner consciousness rather than human interpretations • The Upanishads provide the philosophical grounding behind…

1
Spiritualizing Your Everyday Life 15:56

1M ago15:56

15:56

Send us a text Everyday living itself is spiritual practice when approached with awareness and the recognition of our true divine nature. • Sadhana (spiritual practice) isn't limited to meditation or reading scriptures but includes all daily activities • Enlightenment is a gradual process requiring time, practice, and deliberate awareness of our tr…

1
Were Roman women done dirty by modern translations? 37:09

1M ago37:09

37:09

The stories of ancient Rome are littered with despicable women, and those of the Julio-Claudian dynasty are especially infamous. But where do these stories come from? And why have they endured for centuries? Speaking to Elinor Evans, Joan Smith explores how Roman misogyny, mistranslations, and modern historians have shaped a distorted narrative – c…

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Otto von Bismarck: life of the week 43:33

1M ago43:33

43:33

Few 19th-century leaders have a CV quite like Otto von Bismarck's. This formidable statesman's cunning, charisma and eye for an opportunity helped him drive the unification of Germany and engineer a stunning defeat of France in 1871. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Katja Hoyer introduces a man whose rise would change the face of European …

1
The Einstein murders 39:02

1M ago39:02

39:02

In the summer of 1944, as the German forces were retreating in northern Italy, a small group of soldiers made a detour to a remote villa in search of Albert Einstein's cousin. Robert Einstein posed no threat to the Nazi regime, but nonetheless they were determined to hunt him down. The tragic events that followed are the basis of a new book by the …

1
The Beaker People: everything you wanted to know 39:58

1M ago39:58

39:58

Who were the Beaker People? What was their contribution to the building of Stonehenge? And did their arrival in Britain really lead to the obliteration of the indigenous population? Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Mike Parker-Pearson answers the most pressing questions on the prehistoric culture that changed Britain for good. The HistoryE…

1
Courage from Within 13:55

1M ago13:55

13:55

Send us a text We explore how to cultivate courage and inner strength for daily life, examining the difference between rajasic energy and the pure sattvic energy demonstrated by figures like Krishna and Swami Vivekananda. • The courage displayed by spiritual leaders comes from Sattvic energy rather than just Rajasic energy • True courage flows from…

1
Gods, demons, witches and exorcists: inside an ancient Assyrian library 40:57

1M ago40:57

40:57

In the seventh century BC, the ancient Assyrian king Ashurbanipal created a gigantic library in his capital city – one that contained centuries of wisdom. And this vast wealth of ancient knowledge can reveal a lot about how the people of the Near East thought about their gods. Dr Selena Wisnom tells David Musgrove more about the Assyrians' religiou…

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The Bearded Mystic's Oneness Conversations with KnoweRata 1:39:18

1M ago1:39:18

1:39:18

Send us a text Rahul and Knowe Rata explore the dance between spiritual awakenin g and human experience, discussing how to remain authentic while grounded in awareness. They share insights on bhakti yoga, the power of silence, and the nature of consciousness beyond physical death. • Knowe shares his journey into spirituality that began in his teens…

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Peaks, perils, and pioneers: the deadly history of mountaineering 37:36

1M ago37:36

37:36

What has prompted humans throughout history to risk life and limb to conquer some of the world's highest mountains? Author and climber Daniel Light talks to Rachel Dinning about why humans have always been drawn to mountains, the evolution of mountaineering as a sport, and the stories of the individuals who risked everything to make it to the top o…

1
Josephine Baker: life of the week 47:17

1M ago47:17

47:17

Showbusiness, spying and civil rights - the extraordinary life of Josephine Baker had it all. From difficult beginnings, Baker transformed herself into the world's first black superstar, before turning her talents to espionage on behalf of the French Resistance. Hanna Diamond tells Ellie Cawthorne more about Baker's showbiz lifestyle, tireless camp…

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Direct Experience: The True Practicality of Spiritual Teachings 14:43

1M ago14:43

14:43

Send us a text The misconception that spiritual teachings need to be "more practical" reveals either a misunderstanding of what spiritual practice truly is or exposure to teachings that aren't genuinely spiritual. Non-dual traditions offer direct pointers to immediate experience of consciousness that are inherently practical when actually implement…

1
Women who ruled over Africa 41:58

1M ago41:58

41:58

From rainmaking queens to dogged isolationists, the lives and reigns of Africa’s female rulers have long been shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding and misogyny. Over the centuries and throughout the continent, these individuals navigated the rigid traditions of their own cultures to wield power – even to the detriment of their subjects. Speaking t…

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The Taiping Rebellion: everything you wanted to know 58:04

1M ago58:04

58:04

It's considered to be the bloodiest civil war in history, but there's a fair chance you've never heard of it. The Taiping Rebellion convulsed China from 1850 to 1864, leading to over 20 million deaths and severely weakening the Qing dynasty, but it remains little known outside of China today. Speaking to Rob Attar, Professor Stephen R Platt answers…

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When Vatican Meets Washington: A Hindu's Perspective on Faith in Challenging Times 22:30

1M ago22:30

22:30

Send us a text The Bearded Mystic podcast explores interfaith cooperation and spiritual transformation in turbulent times, examining how a new Pope might influence American faith communities and what this means for Hindu practitioners. • Updates on the upcoming "Resting in Formless Awareness" course launching in August/September • Course designed t…

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How to choose a pope 40:57

1M ago40:57

40:57

All eyes have been on the Vatican in recent days, as the conclave have decided who will be the next pope. But how does the process today compare to that of past centuries? What have been some of the most dramatic papal elections down the centuries? And was there ever really a female pope? Matt Elton caught up with expert in papal history Rebecca Ri…

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Vedanta Sara: Verses 15 - 16 16:39

1M ago16:39

16:39

Send us a text We continue our series on Vedanta Sara, exploring verses 15-16 which distinguish between the permanent (Brahman/consciousness) and the transient (everything else), a fundamental teaching for true spiritual understanding. • Discrimination between permanent and transient as essential spiritual practice • Only consciousness/awareness is…

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VE Day: a people's history 29:07

2M ago29:07

29:07

Nazi Germany had finally been defeated. And, for 24 hours, Britons could let their hair down and celebrate. But not everyone was in the mood to party. As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary, John Willis tells the story of VE Day via the experiences of ordinary Britons who lived through it. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, he discusses what the…

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Who Are You When Identity Falls Away? 14:27

2M ago14:27

14:27

Send us a text After returning from a spiritual conference in Switzerland and time with family in England, I reflect on how the guidance from my guru—"even if you win the rat race, you're still a rat"—shaped my approach to spirituality as central to all aspects of life. • Living with spirituality as the foundation rather than an accessory • Choosin…

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Nikola Tesla: life of the week 40:44

2M ago40:44

40:44

Nikola Tesla is remembered as an enigmatic, eccentric genius who harnessed the power of electricity. But if we strip away some of this myth, what can we really say about the inventor's life and legacy? For this Life of the Week episode, Iwan Morus joins Ellie Cawthorne to reveal how Tesla believed he could invent a death ray, whether he was really …

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What caused the Irish Famine? 44:57

2M ago44:57

44:57

In the 1840s, famine hit Ireland with devastating consequences. But what were the circumstances that turned a potato blight into a catastrophe that shattered societal structures and caused around a million deaths? Padraic X Scanlan speaks to Ellie Cawthorne about the causes and impact of the famine, linking the disaster to the economic structures o…

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The unification of Italy: everything you wanted to know 46:11

2M ago46:11

46:11

In 1861, the kingdom of Italy was proclaimed, unifying the various Italian states under one national banner. But what did it mean to be 'Italian' in the mid-19th century? How did the pope react to the concept of a united Italy? And why did so many British women fall in love with Garibaldi? In conversation with Spencer Mizen, historian David Laven a…

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