Best Ten Very Big Books Podcasts (2024)

1
History Repeats 55:03

17h ago55:03

55:03

In this episode of "Need to Know," Bryce Zabel and Ross Coulthart delve into the history of UFO phenomena, marking significant anniversaries from 1944 to the present day. The hosts discuss notable sightings and events, emphasizing that UFO encounters are not recent phenomena but part of a long-standing historical pattern. They touch on key incident…

1
Zero Doubt 52:22

1M ago52:22

52:22

In this episode, Ross Coulthart reports from an undisclosed location in the U.S., sharing insights from the SCU conference in Huntsville, which concentrated on scientific approaches to UAPs. He reflects on a recent interview with Colonel Karl Nell, discussing Nell’s remarks about long-standing interactions between non-human intelligence (NHI) and h…

1
Swagger and Secrets 57:29

2M ago57:29

57:29

In this episode, hosts Bryce Zabel and Ross Coulthart delve into the complexities of UAP investigations, spotlighting the AARO's dubious reporting and the Pentagon's evasion in acknowledging UAP incidents. They explore the recent Eglin Air Force Base encounter and the broader implications of drone sightings that challenge national security. The hos…

1
UAP Burnout 59:58

3M ago59:58

59:58

It's an issue that's touched many in the UAP community, and worthy of a long discussion: fatigue from covering UAP, interacting with the community, fending off the flamers and trying to stay grounded. Bryce shares the tale of his ten-year hiatus while Ross commends Curt Jaimungal's recent decision to 'step away' for a while. But there's also hope, …

1
More UFO Lies & Coverup 50:52

4M ago50:52

50:52

Ross and Bryce take turns teeing off on the Defense Department's report that was supposed to chronicle the US government's history of dealing with the UFO/UAP issue. Among their conclusions about the reports "conclusions:" It's more Pentagon obfuscation to deter public attention; a kneejerk polemic against former AARO head Sean Kirkpatrick's critic…

1
Celestial by Abhay K And 10 Indian Languages by Karthik Venkatesh 43:43

4M ago43:43

43:43

Send us a Text Message. In this episode of The Literary City, we embark on a journey with two distinguished guests—each bringing a unique perspective to our exploration of literature and language. Abhay K, a poet-diplomat, and the author of "Celestial," a poetic masterpiece comprising 100 couplets that intricately weave the enchanting tales of the …

1
The Literary Life Of Ramachandra Guha 47:47

5M ago47:47

47:47

Send us a Text Message. My guest today is a titan of Indian history, Ramachandra Guha. He is known for his monumental works on Gandhi and Indian history, but today we're taking a detour into the realm of literature. We'll be diving into his latest book, "The Cooking Of Books," a slice-of-life memoir that offers a poignant glimpse into his relations…

1
The Lighthouse Family: A Compelling Novel From The Turkish Ambassador 41:24

5M ago41:24

41:24

Send us a Text Message. My guest today, is an author from Turkiye, Firat Sunel. He is a career diplomat. He is currently the Turkish Ambassador to India. Firat is a demonstrably fascinating novelist. His latest novel, “The Lighthouse Family”, is a wonderful example of storytelling, of craft and of everything literary. I venture to say without quali…

1
Adios, Voldemort 50:49

5M ago50:49

50:49

"Voldemort," in this podcast, is Bryce's new name for Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the now-former head of AARO, the Defense Department's "All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office." Bryce and Ross rip Kirkpatrick's exit statements, including his assertion that a soon to be released Pentagon report will say it's found no evidence of aliens, only allegations cir…

1
Is This the Year? 53:17

7M ago53:17

53:17

Bryce and Ross begin 2024 with a quick look back at the big events of last year: David Grusch's revelations and the gutting of the Schumer Amendment to the Defense bill. Then they look ahead to this year and an upcoming House Oversight Committee hearing, Lue Elizondo's book and Grusch's op-ed piece on the heels of the US government slightly looseni…

1
Churchill And India Fighting Retreat With Historian Walter Reid 43:48

7M ago43:48

43:48

Send us a Text Message. You know how some people just seem to have that star quality? Winston Churchill, he was one of those. No matter how many books, documentaries you may have imbibed—or, speaking of imbibed, tales you may have heard of his brandy-infused mornings, there's always an insatiable appetite for more and more Churchill. His wit, his w…

1
UFO Gatekeepers Strike Back 52:20

8M ago52:20

52:20

Disappointment and some disagreements in this episode, as Ross and Bryce review the amended version of Sen. Chuck Schumer's disclosure language in the new Defense bill. Ross blames "lickspittle Congressmen" in the pockets of the aerospace companies for turning Schumer's disclosure proposals into a "flaccid limp lettuce leaf." The two set the table …

1
A Disquiet In The Queen Of All Nations With Abhijit Sengupta 40:39

8M ago40:39

40:39

Send us a Text Message. In what is meant to be his quiet and reflective corridor of retirement, my guest today, Abhijit Sengupta grapples with a disquiet that lingers. A former senior IAS officer and therefore, you might say, a custodian of order and democracy, a lifetime of service to the nation has clearly left him with a profound sense of duty t…

1
The Secret Of More With Tejaswini Apte-Rahm 33:42

8M ago33:42

33:42

Send us a Text Message. The essence of historical fiction is telling stories set in a particular period of time. They transport us to a different place, offering insights into the past while exploring themes that are relatable across generations. In the craft of historical fiction, authors take creative liberties with places, events, and characters…

1
JFK and UFOs? 56:23

8M ago56:23

56:23

Approaching the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Bryce and Ross examine the similarities between the efforts to conceal the truth about the President's death and concealing the truth about UFO/UAP. Also: as predicted in the last episode, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick is, indeed, leading AARO. So who will succeed him? And w…

1
Mani Shankar Aiyar And The Memoirs Of A Very Literary Maverick 52:59

9M ago52:59

52:59

Send us a Text Message. My guest today is the remarkable Mani Shankar Aiyar. If you haven’t heard of him, let’s simply admit that you’ve been living under a rock. If you've been anywhere near the worlds of diplomacy, politics, or literature, you will know of him in detail but let me sum up his remarkable journey as succinctly as I can. Mani Shankar…

1
The Art Of The Thriller And The American Boyfriend With Ivy Ngeow 39:37

9M ago39:37

39:37

Send us a Text Message. In an essay, published in a 1964 edition of The Times Literary Supplement, V S Naipaul wrote: "The language was ours, to use as we pleased. The literature that came with it was therefore of peculiar authority, but this literature was like an alien mythology. There was, for instance, Wordsworth’s notorious poem about the daff…

1
Same Old UFO Song 1:00:06

9M ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Ross and Bryce catch up on several developments of the past few weeks, including the latest report from AARO. Ross calls out what he labels "completely disingenuous" statements by the agency's head, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, downplaying the UAP reports the agency reviewed in the 2023 US Government fiscal year. Ross calls the report "The Big Yawn." Ross…

1
What Happens When The Big Man Passes On? After Messiah With Aakar Patel 50:23

9M ago50:23

50:23

Send us a Text Message. Most of us do not colour code our threat levels. But nations do. Following 9/11, the Homeland Security Advisory System in America in 2002 came up with the warning system that we all know and love today in our TV shows—green, blue, yellow, orange and red, depending, obviously, on the severity of the threat. Government officia…

1
UFO Word Games 1:02:39

10M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Ross and Bryce are back with tough words for what they call the "word games" being played by the Department of Defense, NASA and others in the US government about the evidence - or lack of evidence - regarding what we know about UAP and the possibility of non-human intelligence. Bryce scorches NASA Director Bill Nelson over his "lack of evidence" c…

1
Reason And Hope In A Dark Time With History's Angel And Anjum Hasan 45:20

10M ago45:20

45:20

Send us a Text Message. Good literature can help us navigate our own emotions and motivations, and it helps us see the world through the eyes of the writer. The best literature touches our hearts and our minds. It triggers our emotions, and makes us think critically about the world around us, by challenging our assumptions and consequently, expandi…

1
Prof Ganesh Devy - The Man Who Discovered Over 700 Languages In India 49:09

10M ago49:09

49:09

Send us a Text Message. As a curious and casual reader of linguistics, one of the first things I learned is that there is no monolithic object called a single language. Languages are like a living organism, they grow and sometimes they are said to die, and sometimes, like humans, they disappear into a bureaucracy. Age and origins of language are no…

1
The Finale | Discussing the Book of the Fallen and Ten Very Big Books 1:30:08

11M ago1:30:08

1:30:08

We sit down as a group one final time to talk about the Book of the Fallen and the show. Thanks so much for listening. We love you. --- Watch the Stream of the Fallen VOD - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpt0p0d6i4I Back the show on Patreon - https://patreon.com/tenverybigbooks Subscribe to us on YouTube - https://youtube.com/TenVeryBigBooks Follo…

1
The Crippled God | Conversation with Steven Erikson 1:28:41

11M ago1:28:41

1:28:41

The gang talks to Steve one last time. --- Watch the Stream of the Fallen VOD - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpt0p0d6i4I Back the show on Patreon - https://patreon.com/tenverybigbooks Subscribe to us on YouTube - https://youtube.com/TenVeryBigBooks Follow the show on Twitter - https://twitter.com/tenverybigbooks Thoughts about the show? Email us…

1
Tree And Serpent With John Guy Curator At The Met In New York 38:14

11M ago38:14

38:14

Send us a Text Message. As part of Siddhartha’s awakening, he became aware of a spiritual energy in nature where trees had souls, birds had wisdom, and flowers bloomed no matter what the season. And snakes had the power of protection. And then there was all manner of mythical and hybrid creature contributing to the magical art and literature of Bud…

1
UFO Pushback 51:15

11M ago51:15

51:15

They expected it, and it's here: serious attempts to discredit Defense Department UFO whistleblower David Grusch. Ross summarizes what he calls the "slimeball" attempts to vilify Grusch, including the exploitation of his battle with PTSD. Ross notes that The Pentagon has always known about that, and gave Grusch a very, very high security clearance,…

1
Ahmed Naji Discovers Literature In An Egyptian Prison - The Story In Rotten Evidence 43:38

11M ago43:38

43:38

Send us a Text Message. Today I‘m excited to be speaking with Ahmed Naji, a writer who spent two years in prison in Egypt for writing what the authorities judged to be objectionable material. But while Ahmed Naji was in prison, he discovered literature and through that, himself. It’s an amazing story of a person who finds magic and hope in the unli…

1
UAP: What's Next? 48:41

12M ago48:41

48:41

We have contact! No, not that kind. Ross has made contact with Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, head of The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office. Ross shares his email exchange with Kirkpatrick, including the Latin motto on his email signature. Ross and Bryce talk about what may, or should, be the next level of Congressional hearings (maybe the full Intellige…

1
Centres Of Power - In The Den With Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi And Chinmay Gharekhan 40:18

12M ago40:18

40:18

Send us a Text Message. Why were the 1980s pivotal in so many respects? Think the giddy days of glasnost and perestroika, the end of the cold war—of the whole Soviet Union in fact, liberalisation and globalisation, GATT and open borders, the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the rise of Rajiv Gandhi—who stepped on the gas and pushed the country towar…

1
The Crippled God Mailbag Wrap-Up 45:40

12M ago45:40

45:40

HEYO! We're back after the Stream of the Fallen (which you can watch HERE on our YouTube<3 sorry about the echo that gets progressively worse until like hour 6 when AJ fixes it. Livestreaming!) and finally ready to wrap-up our readthrough of Dust of Dreams and The Crippled God. Thanks to everyone who submitted their questions! Keep an eye on the fe…

1
A Huge Step Forward 35:43

12M ago35:43

35:43

Ross and Bryce share their first impressions of the House Oversight Committee's national security subcommittee hearing on UAP. Whistleblower David Grusch was joined by two former military pilots who reported UAP years ago. Ross and Bryce say it was a big day - the first of what they hope will be more to come. The witnesses deferred several question…

1
With Tenzin Dickie And The Defiance Of Tibetan Literature In The Bardo 35:54

1y ago35:54

35:54

Send us a Text Message. A few weeks ago, I was reading LitHub, one of the many literary magazines I enjoy greatly, and I found an essay that caught my immediate fancy. It is titled, “Literature in the Bardo: Tenzin Dickie on the Past, Present, and Future of the Tibetan Essay”. Not only was I captivated by her prose but importantly, it opened a wind…

1
Schumer Knows Something 58:34

1y ago58:34

58:34

That would be Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, the Senate Majority Leader. Ross says a proposed amendment to next year's National Defense Authorization Act contains explicit references to non-human intelligence - and there must be a reason for that vetted language. A reason that the Senator knows. Bryce raises this issue of the "controlled disclosure" of …

1
Post-season and Stream of the Fallen Update w/ AJ! 2:17

1y ago2:17

2:17

Hey everybody! Producer AJ here, in the show notes ooooo ahhhhh. Subscribe to us on YouTube! Tune into the Stream of the Fallen on July 22nd from 11am to 9pm Eastern time (UTC -4)! Mailbag et cetera coming in August! See you soon love you byeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!! Subscribe to us on YouTube!!!!!!!!!! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★…

1
Is This Actually Happening Now? 56:30

1y ago56:30

56:30

Ross and Bryce reflect on the incredible developments of the past months, starting with Ross's interview of former government UAP investigator David Grusch. They agree that more is happening on the UAP front than ever before - especially in the US government. They note that three Congressional committees are considering language that explicitly ref…

1
The Crippled God - Your Private Shore - Part 2 3:28:39

1y ago3:28:39

3:28:39

This is it. The big one. Our final readthrough episode of the Malazan Book of the Fallen. We hope you enjoy. Thank you so much. - - - Chapters covered - 23, 24, Epilogues 1 & 2 - - - Back the show on Patreon - https://patreon.com/tenverybigbooks Subscribe to us on YouTube - https://youtube.com/TenVeryBigBooks Follow the show on Twitter - https://tw…

1
Godfrey Pereira And The Insane Story Of An English Smuggler In Bombay 36:50

1y ago36:50

36:50

Send us a Text Message. This is the incredible but true story of an Englishman—a dockworker in Bombay in the 1940s, who became a smuggler around the time of Independence. Not far offshore from the Ferry Wharf in Mumbai is a small island. It’s only some 100 metres out by boat, and you can see it from Ferry Wharf. It’s called Cross Island. You can se…

1
David Grusch: He's Still Here 1:02:33

1y ago1:02:33

1:02:33

It's been three weeks since David Grusch revealed his identity as the most senior and more credible government official yet to acknowledge the existence of UAP. Now, Bryce and Ross discuss what's next for Grusch and for members of Congress who want to know more. Ross also explains why we won't see every second of the more-than three hour interview …

1
The Crippled God - Your Private Shore - Part 1 1:07:15

1y ago1:07:15

1:07:15

Wow are we actually going to finish all these books??? WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS REGARDING OUR READTHROUGHS OF DUST OF DREAMS AND THE CRIPPLED GOD! JOIN US ON DISCORD OR EMAIL US YOUR MAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Josh's audio gets lost and we have to use the sync track, India reveals some production secrets, Mark joins the s…

1
A Tumbleweed In Shakespeare & Company - Jeremy Mercer 41:22

1y ago41:22

41:22

Send us a Text Message. When George Whitman, in 1951, established a bookstore he wanted it to be more than a literary sanctuary for book lovers. He turned it into a sanctuary for writers seeking inspiration. The bookshop — as any devotee of books or, really, any of my listeners would have guessed — is the legendary Shakespeare & Company in the hear…

1
News Nation's Whistleblower Special 50:10

1y ago50:10

50:10

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy Bryce Zabel

1
The Crippled God - To One in Chains 1:58:46

1y ago1:58:46

1:58:46

#FreeKalam. I can't believe we're almost done what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Things are happening!!!!!!!!!!! India asks about cars (and Cars, the film), AJ's dog is chewing a toy right next to them the *entire* recording, Josh doesn't actually know what's going on but he will explain it completely, Pete thinks Josh is a star. - - - Chapters covered - 17, …

1
The Tipping Point is Here 1:00:37

1y ago1:00:37

1:00:37

This is clearly the most important episode of Need to Know - for now. Ross reveals what's coming by the time you hear this: a whistleblower has come forward, and given two major interviews. One is online, the other is coming to the US cable news channel NewsNation. Ross knows this because he did the interview. Please listen to what could be the sta…

1
The Crippled God - A Hand Upon the Fates 1:27:42

1y ago1:27:42

1:27:42

It's not a metaphor! The show is here! Only three regular episodes left!!! India's eating a salad, Josh wants Gruntle to "nut up", Pete had AJ cut something from the podcast (I'll never tell), AJ nails it. - - - Chapters covered - 14, 15, 16 - - - Back the show on Patreon - https://patreon.com/tenverybigbooks Subscribe to us on YouTube - https://yo…

1
(20) 23 & Me 58:41

1y ago58:41

58:41

With Ross on assignment, Bryce has found a very worthy fill-in: Chrissy Newton, Founder of VOCAB Communications and Podcaster for The Debrief. A self-described UFO/UAP fanatic since age six, the Toronto native hosts the podcast "Rebelliously Curious with Chrissy Newton." Among the items on the table in this episode: "Confirmation" vs. "Disclosure,"…

1
The Crippled God - Fists of the World 1:19:35

1y ago1:19:35

1:19:35

Just got back from the Wastelands and BOY am I thirsty! Josh X's Y so Z, Pete hops on the Vengabus, AJ needs everyone to link up PLEASE. - - - Chapters covered - 11, 12, 13 - - - Back the show on Patreon - https://patreon.com/tenverybigbooks Subscribe to us on YouTube - https://youtube.com/TenVeryBigBooks Follow the show on Twitter - https://twitte…

1
Aamina Ahmad And The Return Of Faraz Ali 37:00

1y ago37:00

37:00

Send us a Text Message. Authors have for a long time used literary expressions of anguish as a powerful tool to connect with readers. They may use language and symbolic references to nuance the emotions associated with it, but whatever their approach, they look to inspire emotions that deliver that gut punch. My guest today, Aamina Ahmad clearly kn…

1
The Crippled God - To Charge the Spear 1:31:33

1y ago1:31:33

1:31:33

Wuh oh! Looks like a new kind of horrific animal(???) just dropped in the Wastelands!! Get your nets, we're goin' shard hunting. Pete's bein' smarmy again, India establishes her place in the pack, AJ teaches you how to kiss an orc, Josh finally learns the pleasure of edging. - - - Chapters covered - 8, 9, 10 - - - Back the show on Patreon - https:/…

1
UFO/UAP Hearings, Leaks & Briefings 56:41

1y ago56:41

56:41

A week after the Senate's latest UFO/UAP hearing, Bryce and Ross have calmed down enough to talk about it - especially the lack of any "it." Ross pounces on the video of a sphere, and Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick's comment that his group "has found no credible evidence thus far of extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology, or objects that defy the kn…

1
John Keane And The Shortest History Of Democracy 40:38

1y ago40:38

40:38

Send us a Text Message. There are many who believe that the cradle of democracy was Greece. But if anything, Greece may lay claim to the etymology of the word democracy, but not to democracy itself. Whence then? The short answer by many historians is that the first evidence of democracy was in the Syrian-Mesopotamian region (Mesopotamia would be a …

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