Best Alva Williams Podcasts (2024)

1
Mithradates VI: The Poison King 1:24:13

4d ago1:24:13

1:24:13

In today's doozy of an episode Ben and Pat take you on a journey into the world of Mithradates VI, the "Poison King," who waged relentless war against the mighty Roman Empire for decades. Known for his unmatched cunning, resilience, and immunity to poison, Mithradates forged one of the most impressive resistance campaigns in ancient history. As a m…

1
Reducing Noise Pollution with the Subsea Quieter - Damien Demoor, Greenov 34:17

4d ago34:17

34:17

Send us a text In this podcast episode, I welcome Damien Demoor, a French engineer and ocean innovator based in France, who introduces his company, Greenov, and its groundbreaking product, the Subsea Quieter. Demoor discusses the significant threat of underwater noise pollution caused by maritime activities, detailing its detrimental effects on mar…

1
William Wallace, nuff said 50:02

11d ago50:02

50:02

In today's episode Ben is joined by producer Andrew Jacobs to discuss the legendary braveheart - William Wallace. Famously portrayed by Mel Gibson, William Wallace is a Scottish warrior and hero who showed led his people in an uprising against the tyrannical English until he got beheaded, drawn and quartered, inspiring an even bigger uprising!! Thi…

1
Can Insects Provide Sustainable Fishfeed? Alessandro Romano, Founder, Ittinsect 41:06

17d ago41:06

41:06

Send us a text Innovative Fish Feeds: Reducing Aquaculture's Environmental Footprint In this episode of the Happy Planet podcast, I speak to Alessandra Romano, the entrepreneur behind Ittinsect. Allessandro discusses his novel aquaculture feed supplements derived from insect proteins, which aim to accelerate fish growth with lower environmental imp…

1
King Minos: The Tyrant of the Labyrinth 33:15

18d ago33:15

33:15

In today's episode Ben and Pat step into the mythic halls of power as we unravel the legend of King Minos of Crete, the ruler with a legacy steeped in both glory and terror. Known for his connection to the infamous Minotaur and the labyrinth, Minos’s reign was marked by cunning, ambition, and iron-fisted control over the Mediterranean. In this epis…

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Alva Nuñez Cabeza De Vaca: Epic Survival 48:49

25d ago48:49

48:49

In today's episode Ben and Pat are joined by author and podcast host Erik Slader from Epik Fails of History to talk about Alva Nuñe Cabeza De Vaca, a Spanish explorer who defied all odds to survive a harrowing trek across the Americas. Shipwrecked, enslaved, and wandering through unknown lands, Cabeza de Vaca's tale is one of resilience, resourcefu…

1
Can Probiotics Save our Coral Reefs? Benjamin Alva, Azul Bio 38:44

1M ago38:44

38:44

Send us a text In this podcast episode, Abigail interviews Benjamin, founder of Azul Bio and participant in the Ocean Pitch Contest by the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. The discussion focuses on Benjamin's startup, which aims to save coral reefs from extinction caused by ocean warming. Benjamin explains the importance of coral reefs for ocean life an…

1
Eddie "Firestorm" Loder 41:10

1M ago41:10

41:10

In today's episode, Ben and Pat are joined by Matt the host of the Late Night History podcast to chat about one of Boston's Bravest, Eddie Loder, a firefighter who made some of the most daring rescues in Fire Fighting history.By High Five Content

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Eugene James Bullard: The Black Swallow of Death 34:57

1M ago34:57

34:57

In today's episode, Ben is joined by Brandon Fibbs to tell the story of Eugene James Bullard, an unsung American war hero who was one of the first African American Military Pilots who flew for France in WWI, and then fought the Germans again in WWII.By High Five Content

1
Captain James Macrae: The Buccaneer's Bane 43:58

2M ago43:58

43:58

In today's episode Ben Thompson and producer Andrew Jacobs tell the story of Captain James Macrae, a blue-collar ship captain for the British East India Company who managed to fight off two ships full of bloodthirsty pirates and lived to tell the tale.By High Five Content

1
Jim Thorpe: Path Lit By Great Flash of Lightning 51:15

2M ago51:15

51:15

In today's episode, and in honor of the Olympics, historian Ben Thompson and producer Andrew Jacobs talk about possibly the greatest athlete of all time - Wa-Tho-Huk - AKA Jim Thorpe. Thorpe, a Native American from the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma not only dominated multiple Olympic events with scant experience in them, but put professional footb…

1
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri: The Iron Sheik 1:00:13

2M ago1:00:13

1:00:13

In today's episode Ben Thompson and guest Dr. Brad Balukjian step into the ring with the Iron Sheik, the larger-than-life wrestling icon who captivated audiences with his unmatched charisma and fierce persona. In this hard-hitting episode we delve into the incredible journey of Khosrow Vaziri, from his early days in Iran to becoming the Iron Sheik,…

1
The Night Witches 41:55

2M ago41:55

41:55

You've seen TV shows like Masters of Air and movies like Memphis Belle. Incredible stories of American boys fighting Nazis for dominance of the skies in WWII. But what you haven't heard of is the Soviet 588th Night Bomber Regiment... an all women bomber squadron that flew under the cover of darkness in bare-bones plywood biplanes that dropped more …

1
The Bulgar Slayer 1:11:06

2M ago1:11:06

1:11:06

In today's episode Ben and Pat dive into Basil II also known as The Bulgar Slayer a super hardcore dude from Byzantine history who took on Krum the Horrible. No this is not a Conan the Barbarian movie. This is real life and just goes to show we need way better nicknames for our leaders these days.By High Five Content

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Edith Garrud + Mary Church Terrell: Fist Fighting for the right to vote 1:01:33

3M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

On today's episode Ben and Pat dive into the stories of two very different women: Edith Garrud and Mary Church Terrell. They both fought valiantly for civil rights and women's suffrage, but only one them did so with jiu jitsu!By High Five Content

1
Is the future of fashion cyclical? William Calvert, Return to Vendor 28:38

3M ago28:38

28:38

Send us a text Welcome to Happy Planet! Our guest this week is William Calvert, co-Founder and CEO of the NYC based startup, Return to Vendor. William is a fashion designer and entrepreneur who has lived in Paris, and Italy and designed for the likes of Balenciaga before getting the fashion-tech bug about 10 years ago. His first foray into the fiel…

1
Apollo 11: One Badass Leap for Mankind 1:13:45

3M ago1:13:45

1:13:45

Today we blast off with Apollo 11 as Ben and special guest Brandon Fibbs (9 Days in July) celebrate the audacious mission that put humanity on the moon. Learn about how Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins defied the odds, overcame incredible challenges, and made history.By High Five Content

1
Ernest Shackleton: Ice Capades Commando 1:09:58

3M ago1:09:58

1:09:58

In today's episode we follow Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition to the Antarctic where he led his crew through relentless ice, treacherous seas, and brutal conditions. This is one of the greatest survival stories ever told as Shackleton and his men defy death at every turn.By High Five Content

1
Wolf the Quarrelsome 39:37

3M ago39:37

39:37

He's barely mentioned in history, except for once each in two separate books - but what they do mention - is the sort of utter mayhem that simply must be told and retold. Tune into to find out what makes Wolf the Quarrelsome so freaking badass.By High Five Content

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Can two Norwegians Establish a Fish Farm "up country" in Maine? Marianne Naess, CEO Katahdin Salmon. 29:21

4M ago29:21

29:21

Send us a text Happy Planet Wednesday! The weather has been so beautiful in Maine lately that I am going to bring you all here to my home state. Today we’re going to speak to Marianne Naess, a Norwegian native living in Maine who, with her husband, has co-founded Katahdin Salmon, a soon-to-be scaled salmon aquaculture farm that intends on bringing …

1
John Paul Jones: Admiral of Anarchy 1:07:52

4M ago1:07:52

1:07:52

In today's swashbuckling episode, Ben and Pat set sail on an adrenaline-fueled adventure with John Paul Jones, the fearless naval commander who gave the British navy a run for their money. Here we'll chart the daring exploits of the man who declared, "I have not yet begun to fight," and meant every word. From his legendary sea battles to his relent…

1
Roy Benavidez : Rumble in the Jungle 39:35

4M ago39:35

39:35

Ben Thompson is joined by Producer Andrew Jacobs in today's episode as they discuss the epic tale of Roy Benavidez, a human hurricane who tore through the jungles of Vietnam with unstoppable force. In this action-packed episode, witness how Roy transformed into a one-man army, rescuing comrades and defying death like it was just another day at the …

1
Constitutional Badasses with special guest A.J. Jacobs 1:06:35

4M ago1:06:35

1:06:35

New York Times best-selling author A.J. Jacobs (author of the new book The Year of Living Constitutionally) joins Ben and Dr. Pat to talk about some of the unexpected people who have led to changes in the U.S. Constitution over the years.By High Five Content

1
Can eating farmed redfish help restore the Florida coastline? Megan Sorby; Pine Island Redfish 35:59

4M ago35:59

35:59

Send us a text Happy Planet Wednesday! Could eating farmed redfish be the answer to building coastal resilience in Florida? Founder Megan Sorby would like to think so. Megan and her husband co-founded Pine Island Redfish. True to its name, they grow growing the much-loved but highly protected redfish for the commercial market on Pine Island, a Flor…

1
Handsome Mingyan: The man who stole 10,000 horses 1:02:37

4M ago1:02:37

1:02:37

On this week's episode Ben and Dr. Pat chat about "Handsome" Mingyan a mythological character from the Jangar Epic, a group of stories that comprise what some might call the Mongolian King Arthur. He was a minor character in our previous episode about the Scarlet Khongor - today he takes center stage.…

1
Can seaweed bring relief to rural African farmers? Anga Mbeyiya, Co-Founder Ole Blue 26:45

5M ago26:45

26:45

Send us a text Happy Planet Wednesday! Pack your bags, we're headed to Kenya! This week we'll be speaking to Anga Mbeyiya, a South African seaweed entrepreneur whose company, Ole Blu, is transforming seaweed into biostimulants to help rural farmers adapt to climate change. While her company is still young, it's also already having a big impact both…

1
Gus March-Philips and the real Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare 51:28

5M ago51:28

51:28

In today's episode Ben Thompson and Producer Andrew Jacobs talk about the true story behind the new movie The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. And you won't be surprised to know that Operation Postmaster and those behind it were even more badass than portrayed in the movie!By High Five Content

1
Ten Tsewang: The Sherpa Who Raced to Tell the World Everest Had Been Climbed 1:06:21

5M ago1:06:21

1:06:21

On today's episode Ben Thompson is joined by journalist and host of Outside Podcast Peter Frick-Wright to tell the story of Ten Tswewang who ran a grueling 200 mile race from Everest to Kathmandu to tell the world that Everest had finally been summited. Along the way they'll chat about Sherpas and Everest and how gnarly it really gets up there.…

1
Does the solution to coastal resilience lie offshore? Matt Campbell, President of NatrX 37:25

5M ago37:25

37:25

Send us a text Happy Planet Wednesday! If you live on the coast, this is a podcast you might want to pay special attention to. Matt Campbell, President of NatrX, is joining us today to talk about his nature-based solutions for building coastal resilience. Thinking you need to protect your community from rising sea levels? Rather than building a wal…

1
Ridiculous History: Ben joins Noel and Ben of Ridiculous History 59:25

5M ago59:25

59:25

Badass listeners: This week we're sharing Ben's recent appearance on the Ridiculous History Podcast where they chat about Le Maupin. We'll resume our regular scheduled programming next week!By High Five Content

1
REPLAY: La Maupin and the Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Swordfighting Adventurerers of the French Revolution 59:10

5M ago59:10

59:10

Hello regular listeners and new listeners - here's a replay of Le Maupin for those joining us from Ridiculous History. If you are in to badass swordfights, debauchery, classical music, big fancy hats, and a couple unlikely heroes face-stabbing their way to success against seemingly-impossible odds, then this is the episode for you. Julie D'Aubigny …

1
Ignacio Zaragoza: The Hero of Cinco de Mayo 42:47

5M ago42:47

42:47

With Cinco De Mayo coming up this weekend, Ben and producer Andrew Jacobs talk about Ignacio Zaragoza who led Mexican forces to victory over French Invaders way back in 1862, leading to the holiday so many of us love to celebrate with chips, guac and a cerveza!By High Five Content

1
Can deep drilling make nuclear power greener? Elizabeth Muller, Founder, Deep Isolation 39:08

5M ago39:08

39:08

Send us a text Happy Planet Wednesday! This week's guest, Elizabeth (Liz) Muller is Co-Founder of Deep Isolation. While living in France, was impressed by France's nuclear power program, which provides nearly 70% of the country's power, with zero carbon emissions. The problem was, and it still is, the waste. Today, over 490,000 metric tons of nucle…

1
Benvenuto Cellini: Maestro of Mischief - with guest Daniele Bolleli 50:39

6M ago50:39

50:39

Known for his masterful sculptures and fiery temper, Benvenuto Cellini’s escapades ranged from dueling in the streets to making audacious escapes from papal prisons. Join Ben and Daniele as they unfurl Cellini's wild stories and scandalous life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By High Five Content

1
King Kamehameha: The Hawaiian Hero 1:10:22

6M ago1:10:22

1:10:22

King Kamehameha was the original Hawaiian superhero—legend says he was born with a comet lighting up the sky, hinting at his future badassery. He turned his warrior’s spirit into action, unifying Hawaii with clever tactics and serious muscle, like literally pushing his enemies off cliffs. He didn’t just fight with spears; he was all about upgrading…

1
Can an oyster in the ocean be worth more than one on your plate? George Birch, Founder, Oyster Heaven 43:57

6M ago43:57

43:57

Send us a text Happy Planet Wednesday! With all of the good work that oysters can do for the planet, filtering water, preventing erosion, reducing acidification, mitigating storm surge and more, entrepreneur George Birch wanted to see if an oyster living in the water doing all of those good deeds could be more valuable in terms of dollars or euros …

1
Anita Garibaldi - Part II: Brazilian Boogaloo 41:40

6M ago41:40

41:40

Here comes part II (that's 2 in roman numerals for you animals out there!) of the Anita Garibaldi story! Tune in. Tell your friends. Tell your enemies. Leave us a review. Stay Badass. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By High Five Content

1
The Badass Brazilian Anita Garibaldi - Part 1 56:09

6M ago56:09

56:09

In this episode Ben and Pat dive into the story of Anita Garibaldi the Badass Brazilian revolutionary who, alongside with her husband Giuseppe Garibaldi AKA "The George Washington of Italy", fought through the jungles and mountains and more for equality and independence of the Brazilian people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Bonus Episode: Damnatio Memoria 36:46

6M ago36:46

36:46

Back with another fun bonus episode, Ben and Pat dive into the original cancel culture. Except this was way more extreme, and maybe even a bit worthwhile, as complete d**kwads would be completely erased from history, ensuring that they couldn't even be remember, hatefully. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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Brian Skerry: Can powerful images save our oceans? 1:00:51

6M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Send us a text We are kicking off the season with the unstoppable Brian Skerry. Brian is a world renown photojournalist and film producer specializing in marine wildlife and underwater environments. He has won the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition no less than ELEVEN TIMES. He is a National Geographic Society Storytelling Fe…

1
Medea: The Mythological Maddest Sorceress Queen 58:25

6M ago58:25

58:25

There are few characters quite as angry and dangerous in greek mythology as Medea. Over the course, Medea's life she dismembered her own brother, murdered her sons, and burned her husband's lover alive. Basically, don't F with her... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By High Five Content

1
Australia: Land of Hugh Jackman and Huge-a** crocodiles. 52:15

7M ago52:15

52:15

Way down under at the bottom of the globe is a deadly land named AUSTRALIA, where the entire the place is designed to kill you. It's a legit thunderdome, full snakes, spiders, crocs, jellyfish, trees, ants and people descended from criminals. And that's what makes it so badass! Tune in this week as Ben is joined by guest host (and Badass of the Wee…

1
Bishnu Shrestha and Gurkhas Gone Wild 44:08

7M ago44:08

44:08

Bishnu Shrestha wasn't looking for a fight on the evening of 2 September 2010, but a fight found him. Unfortunately for his opponents, Shrestha was a Gurkha, a soldier hailing from an elite Nepalese unit of the British Army. Their motto: "It is better to die, than be a coward." Join Pat and Ben as they dive into the history of the Gurkhas and Shres…

1
Bonus Episode: Medieval Tinder + Civil War Linkedin 22:44

7M ago22:44

22:44

Ben has been marooned in Brazil without a working computer this week so we're delivering a bonus episode! Our regularly scheduled programming will return next week! But first - a couple stories about finding love and jobs way back when... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By High Five Content

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Heinrich Schliemann: The Man Who Discovered Troy 58:13

7M ago58:13

58:13

This week, Ben and Pat discuss the fantastical life of Heinrich Schliemann. His life was full of far travels, great riches, bold lies, and even bolder thievery. What was real about the man and what was his own imagination? Perhaps one of the founding father's of archeology, he discovered the ancient city of Troy, and then sort of blew it up. A bada…

1
Ramesses II: Ramses Harder 1:05:41

8M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

Every now and then, the sequel is better than the original. In today's episode, Ben and Pat discuss just one of those rare occasions. In fact, Ramesses II was so badass, they made Ramesses III through X. Tune in to find out why! And if you're enjoying the podcast, be sure to tell your friends, tell your enemies, tell the weird dude at work who look…

1
Henry Johnson and The Harlem Hellfighters 52:02

8M ago52:02

52:02

Today Ben and Pat tell the story of the 396th Infantry Regiment - an all African American unit that spent 191 days in combat in WWI, more than any other unit, they fought so ferociously, the Germans called them the "Hollenkampfer" aka Hellfighters. Tune in to find to hear more... And if you're enjoying the show, tell your friends, tell your enemies…

1
Marie Curie: Radioactive and totally rad. 53:33

8M ago53:33

53:33

This week Ben and Pat dive into the story behind the scientist - Marie Curie - the first woman to win the Nobel prize. From the battlefield to the laboratory, she put herself in harm's way (dodging bullets and not really dodging gamma rays) to make the world a better place. Her work led to chemotherapy and also nuclear weapons. Listen now! And if y…

1
Toussaint L’Ouverture: The Haitian Hero 57:09

8M ago57:09

57:09

In today's ep, Ben and Pat discuss Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Haitian Hero. Born a slave, L'Ouverture eventually turned into rebel and later a leader, in the Haitian Revolution before eventually becoming the Govenor-General of the whole island. He beat the French, the Spanish and even British, while liberating his people. Not too shabby. See omnyst…

1
SKULD: Viking Zombies vs Bear Berserkers 48:26

9M ago48:26

48:26

In today's episode Ben and Pat pull from the world of Norse legend a vengeful, pitiless necromancer sorceress. We're talking bear massacres, viking zombies (hell yeah!) and general epic bloody battles. Even her name is awesome: Skuld! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By High Five Content

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Alva Williams Podcasts

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