Best Scott Benton Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 84: (bonus episode) FREE PLANET ft. Aubrey Sitterson 58:30

21d ago58:30

58:30

In a special bonus episode, I speak with comic book writer Aubrey Sitterson about his new hard scifi geopolitical space opera, Free Planet. This comic has it all: energy literacy, questions of science and technology, the trials and tribulations of democracy, and some incredible layouts. I hope you guys enjoy this break from our usual programming. I…

1
Episode 83: Nuclear = Energy Security ft. Benton Arnett of NEI 43:09

24d ago43:09

43:09

Benton Arnett, Director of Markets and Policy at the Nuclear Energy Institute, joined me to talk about nuclear’s prospects today and what makes it such a boon for energy security. Benton’s a great guy with a deep knowledge base. I had a lot of fun chatting with him and learned things about the nuclear supply chain construction that surprised me!…

1
39. The Disappearances of Scott Hilbert and Wilbur Pate 34:00

2M ago34:00

34:00

In March of 1988, 18 year old Morehead University student Scott HIlbert returned home to Milford, Ohio for spring break. While his family was out of the home, Scott left a note stating that he was leaving for Columbus to see some friends, he would never arrive, and several weeks later a discovery in Arizona would lead to more questions than answers…

1
Stronger Together: Facing Mental Health as Partners with Dr. Lisa Benton-Hardy 51:59

2M ago51:59

51:59

If you or your partner is in need of urgent mental health support, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8 or go to the nearest emergency room. Today, I welcome psychiatrist (and close friend) Dr. Lisa Benton-Hardy to the show. Dr. Hardy is Board Certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and has been practicing for over 20 years. In …

1
A Mini Episode: Weddings, What I'm Reading & Mental Health 6:19

2M ago6:19

6:19

In this solo mini episode, I'll explain my unexpected extended break in Season 2 before touching on what Practically Married has had me thinking about and working on over the last couple months. I'll share... Some thoughts about weddings The marriage book I'm reading - 'Til Stress Do Us Part by Elizabeth Earnshaw A promo of my upcoming discussion o…

1
Episode 82: Galileo's Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems Pt. I 1:42:18

3M ago1:42:18

1:42:18

John and I are back with the first installment of our series on one of Galileo’s masterworks in the history of philosophy and science: Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems. We dive into the historical context in which the work was published and then discuss the book’s dedication to the Grand Duke of Tuscany.…

1
Episode 81: Energy Cinema: Chinatown ft. Andrew Plimpton 1:04:36

4M ago1:04:36

1:04:36

Film critic and writer Andrew Plimpton returns to the pod to talk about one of the greatest American films of all time—Chinatown—which also happens to be a canonical film about the politics of energy. We dive into the film’s themes, noir as a genre, Jack Nicholson as a writer, and much more.By Emmet Penney

1
Are You Spending Opposites? Tightwads and Spendthrifts With Professor Scott Rick 48:58

6M ago48:58

48:58

If you've ever wondered about the feelings you or your partner have when spending money, listen to this episode with Scott Rick, Associate Professor of Marketing from the University of Michigan, and author of the book Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships. In our conversation, Scott explains his definition…

1
Fix Your Eyes on Jesus 5:16

6M ago5:16

5:16

Start your week with a fresh perspective! In today’s Faith Rebuilt devotional, we explore how to stay focused on Jesus amidst life’s distractions. Based on Hebrews 12:2, this message reminds us to fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith, who strengthens us through every challenge. Take a moment to pause, reflect, and recenter your hea…

1
Episode 80: Light of the Mind, Light of the World Ft. Spencer Klavan 47:40

6M ago47:40

47:40

Spencer Klavan joined me to talk about his new book, Light of the Mind, Light of the World: Illuminating Science Through Faith. We talk about "Newtonian" Default Mode, the history of science, what innovations in physics mean for the faithful and secular alike, and much more! Check out Spencer's Substack: https://rejoiceevermore.substack.com/ The Ro…

1
The Money Conversations to Have if You Just Got Engaged: A Special Episode with Haley and Justin Brown-Woods 47:10

6M ago47:10

47:10

So this episode is a bit different because today, I'm answering the questions! A few months ago, I was fortunate to be a guest on the Price of Avocado Toast podcast with hosts Haley and Justin Brown-Woods. Haley and Justin are a married millennial couple who want to normalize conversations about money, and they demonstrate that by sharing their own…

1
'Tis The Season... 5:16

6M ago5:16

5:16

Just a quick episode about the upcoming season...and it's probably not the one you think! If you like what you heard... Follow Practically Married with Paula Holt on your favorite podcast platform to get every episode! Visit PracticallyMarried.net/Newsletter to sign up and receive even more relationship info and resources! Follow @getpracticallymar…

1
Episode 79: An Education in Energy Realism ft. Dr. Scott Tinker 57:09

6M ago57:09

57:09

One of my favorite things about running this podcast is getting to talk to people with way more experience than me. Dr. Scott Tinker, a geologist and energy expert with decades of experience, joined me to talk about the breadth of his career, how our understanding of energy has changed over time, energy realism, teaching people the energy basics, a…

1
38. The Box Lady of Benton County 35:46

6M ago35:46

35:46

It was a cool day in October of 1976. A farmer in Benton County, Indiana was working hard to catch up on harvest. It had rained for several days beforehand, and Norman Skoog was working against the rain tarnished terrain to get his work done. While driving his combine through the corn, he suddenly came upon a box in the middle of his path, Norman w…

1
How a Prenup Can Help Your Marriage with our guest Aaron Thomas of Prenups.com 44:50

6M ago44:50

44:50

On today's episode, we're joined by Aaron Thomas, Founder of Prenups.com and author of The Prenup Prescription, to discuss the role a prenup can play in supporting your marriage. After defining what a prenup actually is, Aaron shares some of the things a prenup can accomplish during three stages of marriage: Before - disclosure of assets and debts …

1
What Does it Mean to Be Practically Married? 5:34

7M ago5:34

5:34

In this solo mini-episode, I describe what I mean by the name "Practically Married" and I list the 10 subjects that make up the Practically Married approach to marriage preparation, which are: Communication & Conflict Careers & Goals Money Home Life Sex & Romance Leisure Time Family & In-laws Physical & Mental Health Spirituality & Culture Children…

1
Episode 78: Esoteric Origins of the Enlightenment Pt. IV 1:41:09

7M ago1:41:09

1:41:09

John and I finish up our series on the esoteric origins of the Enlightenment by diving into romanticism, mesmerism, the forgotten aspects of Jung, American New Age stuff, and way more! Next up: Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems. http://nuclearbarbarians.substack.comBy Emmet Penney

1
Navigating Your Relationship as a Dual Career Couple with Abby Davisson 58:47

7M ago58:47

58:47

In this episode, I welcome author, entrepreneur, and coach Abby Davisson to the show to talk about the intersection between careers and relationships. Abby is a Fortune 200 leader-turned-founder of the Money and Love Institute whose mission is to help people turn daunting decisions into achievable action. She's also the co-author of Money & Love: A…

1
The Best of Sex - Highlights From Season One 47:54

7M ago47:54

47:54

Today, we're going back to Season One to hear clips from the two-part conversation we had about sex. Our guest, Sex, Intimacy & Relationship Coach Keeley Rankin provided an overview of various topics that couples can expect to encounter in the context of a long-term committed partnership. The first half of this episode corresponds to "Conversations…

1
Episode 77: Esoteric Origins of the Enlightenment Pt. III 1:23:27

7M ago1:23:27

1:23:27

In our penultimate Hanegraaff episode, John and I take a look at how “magic,” “superstition,” and the “occult” became epithets divorced from critical reasoning, the uncomfortable overlap between occult and scientific practices, and I deliver a brief monologue on how all of this shows up in the work of HP Lovecraft.…

1
The Best of Money - Highlights From Season One 40:01

7M ago40:01

40:01

In this episode, we revisit the key points from the two episodes on money from Season One. First, you'll hear clips from my conversation with Ed Coambs, CFP and therapist from Healthy Love & Money. Ed joined Season One to discuss the emotional side of money and the need to learn our partner's money history. He explained attachment theory and descri…

1
37. The Disappearance of Rachel Mellon Skemp 48:46

7M ago48:46

48:46

Thirteen year old Rachel Mellon Skemp was an average middle school girl. She loved music, playing with her friends, and attending church. In January of 1996, on an unforgivingly cold Illinois Winter Day, Rachel would stay home from school, complaining of a sore throat. Her mother would go to work, and her step siblings to school. Her step father, V…

1
Practically Married with Paula Holt is Back For Season Two!!! 8:23

8M ago8:23

8:23

Practically Married with Paula Holt was specifically created to help dating, engaged, and newly married couples create a firm foundation for a long successful future together. Join us to hear conversations with relationship experts as we address topics such as communication, money, sex, in-laws and more. You'll learn strategies to navigate the typi…

1
Episode 76: Esoteric Origins of the Enlightenment Pt. II 1:20:18

8M ago1:20:18

1:20:18

In our second episode on Hanegraff’s Esotericism and the Academy, John and I dive into the “history of error,” and how Protestantism and refinements in historical practices began to put pressure on the Renaissance conceptions of perennial philosophy and ancient wisdom. John also had some corrections for Hanegraff!…

1
Episode 75: The Esoteric Origins of the Enlightenment Pt. I 1:48:26

8M ago1:48:26

1:48:26

John and I are back with our new series. This time we’re working through Wouter Hanegraaff’s Esotericism and the Academy: Rejected Knowledge in Western Culture. Hanegraff’s project looks at the debates over the recovery of ancient texts and their impact on Christian life and thought and what that means for us today, especially when it comes to our …

1
Episode 74: The Theological Origins of Modernity Pt. V 1:06:09

8M ago1:06:09

1:06:09

John and I finish up our series on Michael Gillespie’s Theological Origins of Modernity—offering a break down of his final chapter and our closing thoughts.By Emmet Penney

1
36. The Disappearance of Nevaeh Kingbird 35:25

9M ago35:25

35:25

In October of 2021, a young girl would run from her home after her mom would arrive home and break up the gathering taking place inside. Shortly afterwards, in the early hours of the morning she would be seen at the residence of another friend, before exiting the home at the behest of the friend's stepfather. She would then go into the cold Minneso…

1
Episode 72: Theological Origins of Modernity Pt. IV 1:22:02

11M ago1:22:02

1:22:02

John and I spend this, our penultimate episode in the series, discussing Hobbes—his anthropology, his physics, his politics—and the nature of modernity’s “new science.” If you have questions for our final Q&A Episode, leave a comment here: https://open.substack.com/pub/nuclearbarbarians/p/the-theological-origins-of-modernity-1fe…

1
Episode 71: Theological Origins of Modernity Pt. III 1:01:11

12M ago1:01:11

1:01:11

John and I return to Gillespie’s book to talk about Luther, Erasmus, and Descartes and to dig into the motivations behind the ideas that inspired the philosophies that brought about the scientific revolution.By Emmet Penney

1
35. The Murder of Rachel Anthony 29:56

1y ago29:56

29:56

It was a cold, frigid night in February of 2001. It was approximately 10:00 PM and a local police officer was patrolling the quiet streets of Pine River, Minnesota. The officer was driving by Ultimate Liquors when he noticed a car running in the parking lot with no one inside of it. The officer knew the vehicle belonged to the clerk, 50 year old Ra…

1
34. The Murder of Joe Bova 26:59

1y ago26:59

26:59

Joe Bova was a man living the good life. He was married with a good job and a prominent position in his local union. He was well liked by everyone including neighbors, coworkers, fellow union members, members of his church, and the community of Merrillville, Indiana at large. One cool September morning however. A large explosion would rock the stre…

1
Episode 70: The Theological Origins of Modernity Pt. II 1:26:41

1y ago1:26:41

1:26:41

By Emmet Penney

1
Episode 69: The Theological Origins of Modernity Pt. I 1:14:21

1y ago1:14:21

1:14:21

John returns for the first installment of another reading series. This time we’re tackling Michael Gillespie’s The Theological Origins of Modernity, a book that aims at getting to the root of some of the major questions we face today as products of both the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment. This is also the first in what John and I hope …

1
Episode 68: Remix to Ignition ft. Rachael Zisk 48:11

1y ago48:11

48:11

Rachael Zisk just launched a nuclear energy newsletter — Ignition — which is great. I brought her on to talk about her new venture, the challenges of covering highly technical topics, how the media landscape is changing, and more! Subscribe to Ignition. Subscribe to Payload.By Emmet Penney

1
Episode 67: The Machine in the Garden pt. V ft. John Goodson 1:00:17

1+ y ago1:00:17

1:00:17

John and I finish up our discussion of the Machine in the Garden. We reflect on Leo Marx’s contribution—both its successes and failures. And we consider what opportunities there are to think about the American relationship with the Machine.By Emmet Penney

1
Episode 66: Juice: Power, Politics, and the Grid 1:00:04

1+ y ago1:00:04

1:00:04

Director Tyson Culver joined me to talk about his new docu-series with Robert Bryce —Juice: Power, Politics, and the Grid. We talk about what Tyson learned while making documentaries with Robert about the grid and what’s currently going around with America’s electricity sector. Check it out! You can watch it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/J3G3HF…

1
Episode 65: The Machine in the Garden Pt. IV ft. John Goodson 1:09:44

1+ y ago1:09:44

1:09:44

John and I continue our series on Leo Marx’s The Machine in the Garden. In this episode, we talk about Emerson, Thoreau, Melville, and Hawthorne. We recorded this one a bit before Christmas last year.By Emmet Penney

1
Episode 64: Progress Toward What and For Whom? ft. Matthew B. Crawford 1:14:39

1+ y ago1:14:39

1:14:39

Author and mechanic Matthew B. Crawford joined me to talk about the nature of progress, our over designed world, the limits of laissez faire, safetyism, the current golden age of hotrodding, and so much more. Here are the pieces we discussed: Misanthropic Use of the Nudge by Matthew B. Crawford A $5,600 Taillight Repair? by Matthew B. Crawford For …

1
Episode 63: Oil and Gas Execs for Nuclear ft. Doug Sandridge 1:01:50

1+ y ago1:01:50

1:01:50

I got to sit down with Doug Sandridge, an oil and gas guy with decades of experience, to talk about his shocking new project: OIL AND GAS EXECS FOR NUCLEAR. This is the story of someone called to action to stand up for energy abundance for all—Doug’s a great guy and I loved chatting with him. Check out the declaration of Oil and Gas Execs for Nucle…

1
33. The Murder of Rebecca WIlliams 32:50

1+ y ago32:50

32:50

2003. Thirteen year old Rebecca Williams had just finished up her eighth grade year at Morton Middle School in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time she was living with her mother, but was set to move to Las Vegas, Nevada to live with her father. On a normal June day, she would leave her home in the Park Meadows Mobile Home Community and head to a nearby pl…

1
Episode 62: The Valor of Valar Atomics ft. Isaiah Taylor 51:48

1+ y ago51:48

51:48

Isaiah Taylor, the founder of Valar Atomics, joined me to talk about his new venture, how he wants to turn the nuclear energy over on its head, how his Christian faith and Midwestern roots inform his work, and much more. Reach more about Valar here.By Emmet Penney

1
Episode 61: The Machine in the Garden Pt. III ft. John Goodson 1:05:32

1+ y ago1:05:32

1:05:32

John and I are back with our third installment of our reading series on The Machine in the Garden by Leo Marx. This chapter is all about “the machine” as a symbol in American life and letters. We talk about obscure figures like the Pennsylvanian manufacturer Tench Coxe, Thomas Carlyle’s “Signs of the Times,” the Newtonian reconciliation of art and …

1
#32.5 Jeffrey Lundgren and the Kirtland Cult (Bonus episode) 46:33

1+ y ago46:33

46:33

I'm trying to do some additional digging on the next cold case episode so for this month I'm releasing May 2023's patreon episode. This epsiode focuses on Mormon fundamentalist and extremist Jeffrey Lundgren, who led a cult in Kirtland, Ohio and is responsible for the murder of an entire family. Patreon and Socials: https://linktr.ee/MidwestMystery…

1
Episode 60: Energy Cinema: Killers of the Flower Moon ft. Andrew Plimpton 1:11:02

1+ y ago1:11:02

1:11:02

Writer and film critic Andrew Plimpton returns to the pod to speak with me about Scorsese’s latest film, which centers around oil rights and a covert assault on the Osage tribe. We discuss the merits and demerits of this epically long film, Scorsese’s legacy, the American project, and more.By Emmet Penney

1
Episode 59: The Machine in the Garden Pt. II ft. John Goodson 1:13:10

1+ y ago1:13:10

1:13:10

John and I continue our series on Leo Marx’s The Machine in the Garden: Technology and the Pastoral Ideal in America. This chapter delves deep into the symbol of the garden—we dive into Marx’s reading of Jefferson, the nature of the pastoral ideal and how it evolved, the vision of Virginia, and more.…

1
Episode 58: What's Up With South Africa's Grid? ft. Hugo Kruger 49:45

1+ y ago49:45

49:45

Hugo Kruger is a razor sharp engineer with a deep knowledge of energy systems. He came onto the show to talk to me about what’s going on with South Africa’s grid. I learned a ton from this episode—I hope you guys enjoy it! Check out Hugo’s work on Substack. Connect with him on LinkedIn.By Emmet Penney

1
32. The Disappearances of Michael Womack and Jared Hanna 36:02

1+ y ago36:02

36:02

In March of 2008, father of five, soon to be six, MIchael Womack would vanish without a trace from Alton, IL. Only for his truck to be found almost 30 miles away, clean and wiped of any fingerprints. Then, in July of 2011, father of two, Jared Hanna would leave his home in Jerseyville, IL. After failing to pick up his daughters from their mother, J…

1
Episode 57: The Machine in the Garden Pt. I Ft. John Goodson 1:02:37

1+ y ago1:02:37

1:02:37

John Goodson, my old co-host from the ex.haust podcast, joined me in the first of our series on Leo Marx’s The Machine in the Garden: Technology and the Pastoral Ideal in America. There are a few audio problems in this episode, for which we apologize. Thankfully, they’re brief. “Believing in America,” Leo Marx, Boston Review. The Elizabethan World …

1
Episode 56: Our Neo-Pagan Moment ft. Spencer Klavan 57:26

1+ y ago57:26

57:26

Spencer Klavan (author, podcaster, and editor) joined me to talk about that horrible Apple clean energy/Mother Nature video, neo-paganism as social and ideological force, quantum physics, epistemology, THE LORD, and more. Watch the Apple video here. “Mother Nature Returns,” Spencer Klavan, Rejoice Evermore “Where Wind Meets Matter,” Spencer Klavan,…

1
Episode 55: Gridlocked ft. Nick O'Hara 59:25

1+ y ago59:25

59:25

Nick O’Hara—writer, host of the Gridlocked podcast, and owner of an enviable speaking voice—joined me to talk about climate, energy, how to have a sane conversation in insane times, and much more. Listen to Gridlocked: Why the 21st Century is Broken and How to Fix It. Why Big Oil Loves the Renewable Energy Industry by Nick O’Hara, Salon. We abandon…

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