Best Project Brazens Podcasts (2025)

1
Taking Inspiration from Greek History With Evaggelos Vallianatos 49:03

1M ago49:03

49:03

The ancient Greeks had a profound influence not only on their own world, but also on what would become Western culture as a whole. In this episode of Point of Inquiry, Jim chats with Evaggelos Villianatos, a Greek scholar who sheds an interesting light on how his ancestors helped shape the science, arts, language and governments of the modern world…

1
A Primer on Cold Reading 37:39

2M ago37:39

37:39

The art of cold reading has convinced millions of people that gimmicks like crystal balls, palm reading, tarot cards, and other alleged paranormal abilities are real. People walk away from astrologers, mediums, and psychics saying "there's no way he could have known that" or other exclamations of amazement. But are these skills really paranormal, o…

1
Introducing The Illuminator: Art, Conspiracy and Madness 2:38

4M ago2:38

2:38

The Illuminator is OUT NOW. Subscribe to get early releases and listen ad-free. http://brazen.fm/plus Mark Lombardi, a conceptual artist on the cusp of international success, had everything to live for. So why was the 48-year-old found hanged and deemed suicidal? Was his death the ultimate conceptual art, an afterlife laugh at those who doubted his…

1
12. Legit Cleaning Tips 11:49

5M ago11:49

11:49

Alexine gives you the nitty gritty on cleaning; it's more interesting than you might expect. She brags about her new arrangement for hair care. She gets into the dollars and (non) cents of her (soon to be EX) boss' business. She describes the right time and place to get a cocaine habit. SFX from Artlist, Zapsplat, and Freesound.org; Specifically: W…

1
11. The Reverend, Liquid Cocaine & Nourishing Deodorant 12:59

5M ago12:59

12:59

Alexine lets her hair down and has some FUN with her friend Sheen, another 'double bubble'! The rockabilly world is working for them both. She pontificates on the sexiness of women in all sizes. She manages to get through another day of cleaning while hung-the-fuck-over. SFX: from Artlist, Zapsplat, and Freesound.org; Specifically: Gaiterjay, LeeMu…

1
Introducing The Illuminator: Art, Conspiracy and Madness 2:38

5M ago2:38

2:38

The Illuminator is OUT NOW. Subscribe to get early releases and listen ad-free. http://brazen.fm/plus Mark Lombardi, a conceptual artist on the cusp of international success, had everything to live for. So why was the 48-year-old found hanged and deemed suicidal? Was his death the ultimate conceptual art, an afterlife laugh at those who doubted his…

1
10. Podcasts & Dog Fuckers 12:49

5M ago12:49

12:49

Alexine introduces us to some of her fav classic podcasts and explains what it's like to hear Americans talk about things now that she lives outside of the States; Dear Gawd. She compares the beloved Dyson stick vac with old-school carpet suckers. She shares a true poo confession and her frustration with dog-fuckers. And elaborates on a few feats f…

1
Introducing The Illuminator: Art, Conspiracy and Madness 2:38

5M ago2:38

2:38

The Illuminator is OUT NOW. Subscribe to get early releases and listen ad-free. http://brazen.fm/plus Mark Lombardi, a conceptual artist on the cusp of international success, had everything to live for. So why was the 48-year-old found hanged and deemed suicidal? Was his death the ultimate conceptual art, an afterlife laugh at those who doubted his…

1
David Miles on Point of Inquiry 54:50

5M ago54:50

54:50

For most of human history, infectious diseases have wreaked havoc on humans. But beginning in the late 18th century, more and more of us beat back illness by getting immunized with vaccines. Today, vaccines are -- or should be – a part of every thinking person’s health regimen. But exactly what are vaccines and how do they work? How are they tested…

1
Introducing The Illuminator: Art, Conspiracy and Madness 4:08

5M ago4:08

4:08

The Illuminator is out now. Subscribe to get early releases and listen ad-free. http://brazen.fm/plus Mark Lombardi, a conceptual artist on the cusp of international success, had everything to live for. So why was the 48-year-old found hanged and deemed suicidal? Was his death the ultimate conceptual art, an afterlife laugh at those who doubted his…

1
Introducing The Illuminator: Art, Conspiracy and Madness 2:38

5M ago2:38

2:38

This is The Illuminator - coming November 11, from Brazen. Subscribe to get early releases and listen ad-free. http://brazen.fm/plus Mark Lombardi, a conceptual artist on the cusp of international success, had everything to live for. So why was the 48-year-old found hanged and deemed suicidal? Was his death the ultimate conceptual art, an afterlife…

1
Steve Hill on Point of Inquiry 1:05:19

9M ago1:05:19

1:05:19

When a business owner, ex-marine, and retired peace office is questioned and later arrested for what appear to be bigoted reasons, there should be recourse in our system of justice to right such a wrong. But Steve Hill is having a hell of a time finding help with his well-documented struggles. Should the fact that he is a black man and a member of …

1
Robert Sapolsky POI 54:43

11M ago54:43

54:43

1
Leo Igwe on Point of Inquiry 1:01:58

11M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

1
There Are Definitely Atheists in Fox Holes 54:26

1y ago54:26

54:26

1
Ridouan Taghi Gets Life: An Update From The Marengo Trial 36:43

1y ago36:43

36:43

It’s been a couple of months since the last episode of Gateway: Cocaine, Murders & Dirty Money in Europe, but business is busy as ever in the world of global drug trafficking. This week, we wanted to share an important update with fans of the series: Ridouan Taghi has been sentenced. If you listened to Gateway, you’ll know Taghi rose to become a ru…

1
Kate Cohen on Atheism and the Rewards of Honesty 1:00:09

1y ago1:00:09

1:00:09

Almost 30 percent of the U.S. population is religiously unaffiliated, but only a fraction of those so-called "Nones" identify as atheist or agnostic. Fewer still feel comfortable revealing to the people in their lives that they don't believe in God. Kate Cohen was one of those people. Though she had determined that God was a human-made fiction from…

1
9. Turd Talk & Shoulder Sex 12:22

1+ y ago12:22

12:22

Alexine tells us more than we want to know about her should pain relief and having a 'moment' on a massage table. Her love for dog breasts, yes, dog breasts. And we hear about the first time she took her 14 year old son Harvey to the hospital after a reaction to his latest drug of choice. SFX from Artlist, Zapsplat, and Freesound.org; Specifically:…

1
8. Cold Concrete & a Furtive Hubby 11:00

1+ y ago11:00

11:00

Alexine introduces us to a couple of cleans in luxury homes; one is stark and cold, the other is cluttered and cozy. She compares her pained body to the ladies of these grand properties. She finds friendship with Cairo, the family dog, even if her shoulders pay the price. SFX from Artlist, Zapsplat, and Freesound.org; Specifically: zaku18, matrixxx…

1
Sarah An Myers on Secularism and the Millennial Mind 38:15

1+ y ago38:15

38:15

Members of Gen X and older grew up in an America in which being religious was the default and atheism was, as best, on the fringes. A lot has changed in the last couple of decades, and for many Millennials and members of Gen Z, being nonreligious is really no big deal. Folks in younger generations are accustomed to living among people of various re…

1
7. The Fall of the Bigfoot Believer & Welfare Tupperware 15:47

1+ y ago15:47

15:47

Alexine reflects on what exactly ruined the perfect bulge, that whole soul mate idea and yet another level of self care. The likelihood of a 'lipless wonder'... is that even possible?!? Oh and ball trimmers... I used a few seconds of Capricho Arabe by Nylon Bliss and added the entire song at the end of the episode because it's incredible and you wi…

1
Vaccine Hesitancy With Filmmaker Scott Kennedy 1:03:09

1+ y ago1:03:09

1:03:09

In 2019, Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Scott Kennedy was working on a film about the years-long anti-vaxxer movement. Filming with top public health officials–including Tony Fauci–as well as rare interviews with anti-vaccine activists who were persuading parents by the millions to refuse vaccines for their children. And then COVID h…

1
Inside Florida’s home insurance meltdown 36:49

1+ y ago36:49

36:49

Florida owns a massive property insurance company that’s been gobbling up policies while rates rise and some private insurers leave the state. A deal struck by the state legislature last year aims to fix this insurance market meltdown. To understand what’s happening – and what’s being done to fix it – we talked to former State Senator Jeff Brandes …

1
How Modelo became America’s #1 beer. And it’s not what you might think. 32:18

1+ y ago32:18

32:18

Last summer, a Mexican beer overtook the longtime favorite Bud Light as America’s best-selling beer. It happened amid a customer boycott against Bud Light for a marketing campaign featuring transgender social media personality Dylan Mulvaney. But the story of how Modelo knocked Bud Light from its perch is about much more than a marketing u-turn. It…

1
ABC and ESPN made Disney into an entertainment powerhouse. It’s now at a crossroads. 32:46

1+ y ago32:46

32:46

The Disney we know today came about in a series of game-changing deals led by CEO Bob Iger. But before the entertainment juggernaut bought properties like Pixar and Marvel, Disney, and former CEO Michael Eisner, inked an $19 billion deal for Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. The acquisition kick-started Disney’s transformation from a theme park and animated…

1
The fight to lead the world’s largest hedge fund 35:12

1+ y ago35:12

35:12

Ray Dalio founded the firm that became the world’s largest hedge fund more than 40 years ago. For years, he promised to retire. Rob Copeland, author of The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates, and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend, takes us inside the fight to succeed him – a negotiation that lasted almost two decades – exposing Bridgewate…

1
To The Temple of Tranquility, and Step on It 32:32

1+ y ago32:32

32:32

1
The Failed Deal that Led to WeWork’s Downfall 40:52

1+ y ago40:52

40:52

Once a “unicorn”, WeWork has filed for bankruptcy. The co-working company was once valued at $47 billion, but it’s had a rocky few years, including a failed IPO (it later went public through a special purpose acquisition company) and was battered by the pandemic. But what set WeWork on this falling-from-grace path can be traced back to a failed dea…

1
How Occidental Petroleum beat an oil giant in a high stakes acquisition 36:14

1+ y ago36:14

36:14

Back in 2019, an unlikely deal took Wall Street and the oil industry by surprise. Occidental Petroleum, commonly called Oxy, acquired Anadarko for $38 billion, beating out oil supermajor Chevron. But before the company triumphed, CEO Vicki Hollub chased Anadarko for nearly two years in pursuit of further expanding Oxy’s footprint in the Permian Bas…

1
The inside story of how Google went public 37:04

1+ y ago37:04

37:04

Google’s path to going public was rather untraditional from the start. The IPO included secret meetings at Denny’s, an infamous Playboy interview and something known as a “dirty” Dutch Auction. The listing ruffled feathers on Wall Street, and set new precedents for tech companies making their market debuts. Featuring Lise Buyer, partner and founder…

1
How 90s cool kid Marc Jacobs changed the fashion business 36:45

1+ y ago36:45

36:45

When luxury behemoth LVMH tapped Marc Jacobs to lead Louis Vuitton back in 1997, it also acquired the designer’s eponymous label. Hear how the double deal set a new precedent in the industry and helped usher in the era of celebrity and pop culture within the world of high fashion. Featuring Lauren Sherman, fashion journalist for Puck and writer of …

1
Supreme Injustice 1:01:41

1+ y ago1:01:41

1:01:41

The U.S. Supreme Court -- that over sixty years ago ruled against state-led prayer in public schools -- has swung back the other way with a vengeance. The ultra-conservative majority on the current court has reversed 60 years of progress and put the rights of non-believers in jeopardy. In this episode, Jim Underdown speaks to Nick Little, former Di…

1
How one policy wonk convinced the Biden Administration to get into the oil trading business 34:11

1+ y ago34:11

34:11

Fearing an energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a little-known policy wonk convinced the Biden Administration to help drive down oil prices by using the US’s government emergency supply of oil in a radical new way. Featuring Skanda Amarnath (@IrvingSwisher), Executive Director of the think tank, Employ America. For more from The Cl…

1
From SpyCast and Spy Valley: a night at the museum 1:29:35

1+ y ago1:29:35

1:29:35

In collaboration with SpyCast, this week on Spy Valley we're sharing a bonus episode recorded live at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. The panel was moderated by Sharon Weinberger, the national security and foreign policy editor at The Wall Street Journal, featuring Spy Valley host Zach Dorfman with Dr. Raymond J. Batvinis, a histori…

1
Dr. Juhem Navarro-Rivera on the Challenge of Rallying the Nones 54:08

1+ y ago54:08

54:08

The Nones are on the rise! When asked about their religious affiliation, year after year, more and more Americans are choosing “none of the above.” The number of religiously unaffiliated Americans, which includes atheists and agnostics, has been rocketing up over the past couple of decades, and today these Nones make up about one-third of the Ameri…

1
Listen Now—Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen 42:15

1+ y ago42:15

42:15

Thanks for listening to Spy Valley. If you’re looking for a new podcast to follow, we think you’ll enjoy Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen. Listen here for a special preview of the series. Amid the nuclear threat of the Cold War, America's prized secrets were falling into the hands of its sworn enemy—the Kremlin. The FBI's hunt f…

1
How Walmart bought Jet.com and went up against Amazon 41:00

1+ y ago41:00

41:00

The story of Jet.com, its founder Marc Lore, and how the startup helped retail giant Walmart sharpen its ecommerce edge against Amazon. Featuring Jason Del Rey, author of Winner Sells All: Amazon, Walmart and the battle for our wallets. For more from The Closer and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit www.thecloser.fm. The Closer is a Project Braz…

1
Introducing The Closer: Season 3 1:24

1+ y ago1:24

1:24

Deals change the world, and season 3 of The Closer brings you the inside story of those deals, as told by the people who know how it all went down. Each episode features the story of one deal, as host Aimee Keane talks to guests who bring insight into how and why the deal was done, and its broader impact. The Closer is a Project Brazen production. …

1
Introducing The Negotiators podcast 31:28

1+ y ago31:28

31:28

There’s a new season of The Closer coming soon — but before it does, we have a special episode to share from our friends over at The Negotiators podcast. Last season, we talked to Jeffrey Kessler, the lawyer who represented the US Women's National Team in their equal pay lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation. He said one of the main obstacles wa…

1
5. The Cheddar Lover & the Cretan 14:32

1+ y ago14:32

14:32

Alexine has a tasty experience while cruising the deli section. She tells you about some of the wide variety of characters that she cleans for. And oh, then there's Apollo... just wait til you hear about him! Credit: What What - Brick City Kids How Do You Want It - 2Pac I'm Alright - Mop Top Street Dreams - Nas Gin and Juice - Snoop Dogg - performe…

1
6. Rad Fluid & the Sprinkler Head 9:36

1+ y ago9:36

9:36

Alexine shares her current car woes, looks back on childhood beaters and wonders whether or not backyard mechanics need penises or not. This episode's artwork shows her in her home away from home; ready to launch a wad of what? And you'll find out about her handy friend who now sports a penis. Wow, that's a lot of penises in an episode description.…

1
4. MILFs & Something Wonderful 12:36

1+ y ago12:36

12:36

Alexine gets real about body image, Facebook dating, sexual attraction and arousal when you're over 50. And yes, that's Bigfoot serving her and her coffee date... check it out! Again, brace yourself! Artlist music: Temperatura - Yarin Primak Northern Lights - Borden Lulu Think About Lights - Ben Fox Afterparty - Balloon Planet SFX: Zapsplat, Artlis…

1
We want to hear from you! 1:35

1+ y ago1:35

1:35

Season 3 of The Closer is coming very soon — and we want to know what you want to hear this season, and why? It can be a specific deal, or it can be something broad, like a takeover by an underdog, or a question, like: what’s the strangest thing a CEO has said at a closing dinner? You give us a prompt or a challenge and we’ll see if we can find tha…

1
Bonus: Caribou: An American Agent in Communist Warsaw with Hanna Kozlowska 23:38

1+ y ago23:38

23:38

The man codenamed “Caribou” plays a critical role in James Harper’s story, but his own story remains in the shadows. In this bonus episode, Spy Valley host Zach Dorfman sits down with Hanna Kozlowska, journalist and translator of the Polish archives used in the series, to discuss Caribou’s position as a mole for the US within the Polish spy service…

1
Episode 6: Crossing the Rubicon 43:05

1+ y ago43:05

43:05

Spyhunters and prosecutors are closing in on James Harper. They need one last fount of information that could help put him away for good. But obtaining it could prove fatal for its source. Spy Valley is a Project Brazen production. Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus and get exclusive bonus episodes for Spy Valley and all ou…

1
Live Bonus: Producing Spy Valley 1:04:05

1+ y ago1:04:05

1:04:05

In this bonus episode, we bring you an intimate conversation with Zach Dorfman, an award-winning intelligence and national security journalist and host of the podcast Spy Valley: An Engineer's Nuclear Betrayal. Recorded live at the Podcast Garage at KQED in San Francisco earlier this month, the conversation delved into the making of the podcast ser…

1
Episode 5: The Doomsday Machine 34:55

1+ y ago34:55

34:55

James Harper is in dire need of protection—and money. But the nuclear spy has exhausted his options and left breadcrumbs of his trail. The FBI is watching. Spy Valley is a Project Brazen production. Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus and get exclusive bonus episodes for Spy Valley and all our shows, as well as ad-free liste…

1
Episode 4: Tinkerers, Traders, Solderers, Spies 34:05

1+ y ago34:05

34:05

Nuclear tensions between Moscow and Washington are reaching a fever pitch. When a desperate James Harper doubles down on spying for the Soviet Bloc, he gets his big payday. But in a game of double-cross and deception, even your friends start to feel like enemies. Spy Valley is a Project Brazen production. Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or a…

1
Getting to Know US Congressman Jared Huffman 36:54

1+ y ago36:54

36:54

Of the 535 Members of Congress, only one is an out-of-the-closet atheist. His name is Jared Huffman, and he is a U.S. Representative from Northern California. He is also the co-chair (with Rep. Jamie Raskin) of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, a group all secular Americans should know about and support. In this episode, Jim Underdown chats wit…

1
Episode 3: Get as Much as You Can 33:30

1+ y ago33:30

33:30

One million dollars, lives on the line, and a spy who keeps a diary. James Harper’s wild ride selling nuclear secrets as the cold war heats up—secrets that might still help Moscow in a nuclear exchange today. Spy Valley is a Project Brazen production. Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus and get exclusive bonus episodes for S…

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