Witness of the Times

Witness of the Times – Bonus Episode: Listener Q&A Welcome to a special bonus episode of Witness of the Times! We're at the halfway point of Season Two, and we wanted to pause and answer a couple of excellent listener questions that came in after Episode 5, which explored the Babylonian origins of timekeeping. Today, we’ll dig into why February is so short—and yes, it involves Roman superstiti...

Season 2, Episode 6 – Why Mesopotamia? The Land Between the Rivers That Built the World In this episode—the final part of our mini-series on the origins of history—we ask a deceptively simple question: Why did civilization begin in Mesopotamia? Dr. Bruce Baker explores why this region, nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, became the cradle of human advancement. From the agricultural re...

In this episode of Witness of The Times, Dr. Bruce Baker picks up where he left off in Episode 4—exploring the origins of history itself. If writing gave us a way to record our past, it was the Babylonians who gave us the tools to measure when those events occurred. In this fascinating installment, we journey through the development of ancient timekeeping—from shadow clocks and water clocks to the...

 Season 2,Witness of the Times: Episode 4: When History Began: The Invention of the Past Hi folk’s Marc here, Welcome back to Witness of the Times. In today’s episode, we’re taking a step back… wayback. Dr. Bruce Baker joins us to unpack a question we rarely stop to ask: What is history? When did it begin, who started keeping it, and what does it really take for something to become… historical? In...

🎙️ Witness of the Times Season 2, Episode 3 – The Girl Who Ran: Bobby Gibb and the Marathon That Changed Everything Hi folks, Marc here. In the inspiring conclusion to our three-part series on trailblazing women who defied societal restrictions, Dr. Bruce Baker will explore the groundbreaking story of Roberta “Bobby” Gibb—the first woman to ever run and finish the Boston Marathon, despite being of...

 Witness of The Times – Season 2, Episode 2: Marina Raskova & the Night Witches Hi folk’s, Marc here. In this powerful episode of Witness of The Times, Dr. Bruce Baker takes us on an unforgettable journey into the extraordinary lives of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment—better known as the Night Witches—and the trailblazing Soviet pilot Marina Raskova, who made their missions possible. Following...

Season 2, Episode 1: The Courage of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Hi folk’s Marc here, launching Season 2 of Witness of the Times. This season, we’re broadening our scope—as Dr. Bruce Baker will bring you incredible stories from across the globe that deserve more attention. Dr. Baker kicks things off with a gripping tale of bravery: the life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the only female recipient of the C...

🎙️ Witness of the Times  Season 2 Introduction: Expanding Horizons with Dr. Bruce Baker Hi folks, Marc here, excited to kick off Season 2 of Witness of the Times. This season, we’re widening our lens—bringing you captivating stories from around the world that have long deserved more attention. Get ready to hear tales of courageous women who defied immense odds, explore powerful civilizations that...

In this week’s episode, we delve into pivotal moments that have shaped our nation's journey toward justice and equality as we explore a powerful chapter in American history: Freedom Summer. Dr.  Bruce Baker takes us back to the turbulent summers of 1964 and 1965 in Cherokee County, Georgia—a time when segregation still gripped communities and equality was far from guaranteed. Dr. Baker recounts th...

Episode Title: Beyond the rails/Georgia’s devastating train tales Episode Summary: In this week’s episode, we explore two devastating train tragedies that left an indelible mark on Georgia’s history. Dr. Bruce Baker joins us to recount the harrowing stories of the Mill Pond Trestle collapse and the derailment of the Little Hook Train—accidents that occurred within twenty miles and twenty years of...

On this week’s episode we’re unraveling a piece of Cherokee County history that speaks to resilience, conflict, and a forgotten act of sabotage. Nestled in the heart of the Bridge Mill Community lies Steel’s Bridge Road, once a route that led to an old wooden covered bridge spanning the Etowah River. Today, the remnants of that bridge rest beneath the waters of Lake Allatoona, a lake constructed b...

High folk’s Marc Here. Welcome to this week’s episode of Witness of the Times, where we take a fascinating journey into the history of distilled spirits with Dr. Bruce Baker. Dr. Baker walks us through the origins of the distillation process, which was first discovered in Mesopotamia around 4000 BC. He also introduces us to the earlier discoveries of wine and mead, dating back to approximately 540...

On this week’s episode, we dive deep into the delicate dance between bootleggers, moonshiners, and the brave revenuers who tried to shut them down. Dr. Bruce Baker educates us on the crucial role that ATF agents played in the fight against the moonshine industry and the immense bravery these agents displayed. We learn about Justice Department Prohibition Agent Duff Floyd, whose long career was mar...

In this week’s episode, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Bruce Baker, who introduces us to the fascinating story of John Henry Hardin from Cherokee County, Georgia. Dr. Baker transports us back to the early 1900s, delving into the world of moonshining in Northwest Georgia. He shares the industrious spirit of Hardin in the moonshining industry, along with the numerous encounters Hardin had with the l...

Episode 6 Show Notes Episode 6: The Conclusion of Gold Mining in North Georgia On this week’s episode of The Witness of the Times, Dr. Bruce Baker concludes his compelling series on gold mining in North Georgia. In this final installment, Dr. Baker sheds light on the profound impact of the removal of Native Americans and the subsequent land lottery—a pivotal moment in history that led to the sale...

Episode 5 Show Notes Episode 5: The Cherokee Treasure Tunnel and the Quest for Lost Gold Hi folks, Marc here. Welcome to a riveting new episode of The Witness of the Times as we dive into the captivating tale of the Cherokee Treasure Tunnel and the Red Bank Indian Tribe. In this episode, Dr. Bruce Baker takes us on a journey through history, unraveling the stories of resilience and loss as the Che...

Episode 4: The First Gold Rush in North Georgia Join us in this week’s episode of The Witness of the Times as we embark on a captivating journey into the history of the first gold rush in the United States. Dr. Bruce Baker kicks off a three-episode series on gold mining in North Georgia, beginning with the enthralling tales of Jacob Scudder and two slaves, Dan and Lucinda Riley. Their compelling e...

Episode 3 Show Notes   Episode 3: The Legacy of Governor Joseph Emerson Brown In this week’s episode of The Witness of the Times, we delve into a fascinating chapter of history as Dr. Bruce Baker introduces us to the formidable former Georgia Governor, Joseph Emerson Brown. Known for his resilience and profound influence throughout the American Civil War, Governor Brown played a pivotal role in Ge...

Episode 2 Show Notes  Episode 2: The story of Mackie Anderson Keith In this week’s episode of The Witness of the Times, we have the privilege of delving into a profound historical narrative with Dr. Bruce Baker as he introduces us to Mackie Anderson Keith and the intricate history of slavery in Georgia during the American Civil War. This episode offers a captivating exploration of a pivotal era in...

Episode 1: When the law falls silent (The Captivating Story of Confederate Soldier Benjamin McCollum) In our very first episode of The Witness of the Times, Dr. Bruce Baker introduces us to the compelling story of Confederate soldier Benjamin McCollum. His journey offers a profound exploration of the Cicero quote, "in times of war, the law falls silent," and examines its enduring relevance through...

Episode 0 Show Notes  Episode 0: Welcome to Witness of The Times Welcome to Witness of The Times, a captivating history podcast hosted by the renowned Dr. Bruce Baker. Get ready to embark on a unique journey through history like never before. In each episode, Dr. Baker shares fascinating stories about the intriguing people, places, and events he encounters on his time-traveling adventures. From th...