The John Batchelor Show

   The Death of a Legend at Kealakekua Bay. Guest Author: Hampton Sides. Cook returned to Hawaii in 1779, arriving during the Makahiki festival. The Hawaiians perceived him as the god Lono , and Cook played along to restock his ships. Tensions rose after the festival ended and a broken mast forced a return to the bay. The theft of a boat led Cook to attempt to kidnap the Hawaiian King, resulting i...

The Perils of the Northwest Coast. Guest Author: Hampton Sides. Cook mapped the coastline from Oregon to Alaska , enduring foul weather and perpetual fog. While the Spanish sought to arrest him for encroaching on their territory, Benjamin Franklin ordered American captains to protect Cook's scientific mission. The expedition spent a month repairing ships at Nootka Sound , interacting peacefully wi...

The Discovery of Hawaii. Guest Author: Hampton Sides. In late 1777, Cook accidentally discovered the Hawaiian Islands , starting with Kauai . The Hawaiians, who had never seen smoking or pockets, dubbed the sailors "volcano people." Cook realized these were Polynesians, leading him to marvel at the Polynesian diaspora and their incredible voyaging skills. Although he was in a hurry to reach Alaska...

Rage on Moorea and Farewell to Mai. Guest Author: Hampton Sides. Tensions escalated on the island of Moorea during the "Goat Incident," where the theft of a pregnant nanny goat triggered a "scorched earth" campaign from Cook. He destroyed huts and canoes in a disproportionate rage that shocked his officers. Sides suggests this was a desperate attempt to protect Mai's future property by making an e...

Tahiti and the Challenges of Resettling Mai. Guest Author: Hampton Sides. The expedition arrived in Tahiti in August 1777, where the crew was eager for recreation. Cook's primary task was finding a home for Mai , who had returned from England with a hoard of treasures, including muskets and armor. Cook worried about Mai's status as a commoner and tried to arrange a marriage for him to protect his...

Tahiti and the Challenges of Resettling Mai. Guest Author: Hampton Sides. The expedition arrived in Tahiti in August 1777, where the crew was eager for recreation. Cook's primary task was finding a home for Mai , who had returned from England with a hoard of treasures, including muskets and armor. Cook worried about Mai's status as a commoner and tried to arrange a marriage for him to protect his...

Crewing the Expedition and Erroneous Science. Guest Author: Hampton Sides. The mission involved two ships: the Resolution and the Discovery . Key officers included Charles Clerke , who commanded the Discovery while suffering from tuberculosis, and James King , a talented astronomer whom Cook mentored. Also on board were John Gore , an American-born veteran, and William Bligh , a brilliant but "ins...

Preparation and the Lure of the Third Voyage. Guest Author: Hampton Sides. In 1776, a retired Captain James Cook was living a comfortable life at Greenwich Hospital after two legendary voyages. However, a dinner with Lord Sandwich and the prospect of finding the Northwest Passage —and its £20,000 reward—convinced him to return to sea. Sides describes Cook's rise from poverty in Yorkshire , apprent...

The Controversial Legacy of Plato's Letters. Guest Author: Professor James Romm. Much of this history comes from thirteen letters attributed to Plato , though their authenticity is debated. Romm accepts five as genuine, including the detailed Seventh Letter . Critics like Karl Popper viewed Plato as an enemy of the "open society" due to his autocratic leanings. In his final work, The Laws , Plato...

Justice and the Allegory of the Philosophic King. Guest Author: Professor James Romm. Plato spent his final decades in Athens , completing The Republic . He categorized governance, placing tyranny at the bottom as a system driven by base appetites. He argued that a true king must be a philosopher to perceive the absolute "form of justice." Using the Allegory of the Cave , he described the philosop...

Timoleon and the Exile of Dionysius in Corinth. Guest Author: Professor James Romm. Dionysius the Younger eventually reclaimed his fortress, but Syracuse turned to Corinth for aid. Corinth sent Timoleon , a retired man leading a meager mercenary force. Surprisingly, Dionysius chose to abdicate rather than fight, negotiating a peaceful retirement in Corinth. The former tyrant lived his final years...

The Liberation of Syracuse and the Fall of Dion. Guest Author: Professor James Romm. Dion invaded Syracuse with a liberation force but faced internal chaos as populist passions erupted. He clashed with the radical democrat Heraclides , whom he eventually had assassinated. This political murder embarrassed Plato's Academy, as both Dion and his later assassin, Calippus , were students. Following the...

The Invitation to Educate a Young Tyrant. Guest Author: Professor James Romm. Following the elder tyrant's death, Dion invited Plato back to tutor Dionysius the Younger . Dion hoped to transform the immature ruler into an enlightened monarch. Plato's arrival was celebrated, yet he faced a court culture of "wilding" and 90-day parties. Syracuse was then an expansionist power with a massive military...

Plato's Intellectual Roots and First Visit. Guest Author: Professor James Romm. Plato 's early life was shaped by the reign of the 30 Tyrants in Athens , including his relative Critias . The execution of his teacher, Socrates , further disillusioned him with traditional democracy. He developed a philosophy centered on an unseen world of perfect "forms." Influenced by Pythagorean mathematics, he vi...

The Rise of the Dionysian Dynasty in Syracuse. Guest Author: Professor James Romm. Syracuse , a Corinthian colony, rose to power under Dionysius the Elder during the 4th century BCE. Starting as a clerk, he became a demagogue by attacking elite leaders accused of collaborating with Carthage . He fortified "the island," a strategic peninsula with a natural spring, to secure his power. Dionysius bro...

SCHEDULE FOR THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-26-2026. MT. LOWE, LOS ANGELES Urban Crises: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and the Mayor Contest. Guest: Jeff Bliss. Jeff Bliss reports on the interconnected challenges facing Las Vegas and Los Angeles , specifically focusing on the escalating homelessness crisis. The segment also analyzes the ongoing mayor contest, examining how candidates are addressing urban in...

STREAMING MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FEATURIN JEFF BLISS ND MICHAEL VLAHO, 6--26-26. LA FIESTA This broadcast segment features a wide-ranging dialogue between John Bachelor and Jeff Bliss regarding current domestic and international crises. The discussion begins with the economic decline of Las Vegas , noting a significant drop in international tourism attributed to strained US-Canadian re...

Global Trade Dynamics and Strategic Alliances. Guest: Josh Rogin. In the final segment, Rogin provides a broader discussion on the future of international trade. He evaluates how diplomatic shifts and security concerns are reshaping global supply chains, the effectiveness of trade-based sanctions, and the importance of American alliances in maintaining a stable and open international marketplace a...

Trade Rivalry and National Security Suspects. Guest: Josh Rogin. Josh Rogin analyzes the escalating trade rivalry between the United States and China . He focuses on the strategic decision to list certain Chinese companies as national security suspects, exploring the geopolitical motivations behind these designations and the impact such measures have on the broader economic competition between glo...

Defense Budgeting and National Security Policy. Guest: Peter Huessy. Huessy explores the fiscal and policy challenges associated with national defense. He analyzes how legislative budget decisions affect military readiness and the development of next-generation weapons systems, arguing for a strategic and long-term approach to addressing the diverse security threats posed by emerging global and re...

Nuclear Deterrence and Strategic Defense Modernization. Guest: Peter Huessy. Strategic analyst Peter Huessy evaluates the status of the U.S. nuclear triad and the importance of strategic deterrence. He discusses the urgent need for modernization in the face of advancing nuclear capabilities by adversary nations, emphasizing how a strong defense posture is critical for maintaining global stability...

Workforce Evolution and the Future of Business. Guest: Gene Marks. Marks expands on the evolution of the modern workforce, focusing on remote work and talent retention strategies. He evaluates the impact of government policies on small firms and discusses how business owners can adapt their operations to meet the changing expectations of employees and consumers in the post-pandemic economy. 12 191...

Small Business Trends and Economic Adaptation. Guest: Gene Marks. Business expert Gene Marks discusses the current economic trends affecting small businesses, including inflation and labor shortages. He provides practical advice for entrepreneurs on leveraging new technologies like AI and navigating complex tax regulations to maintain growth and competitiveness in an increasingly challenging and r...

The Administrative State and Constitutional Oversight. Guest: John Yoo. Yoo continues his assessment of federal power, focusing on the role of the administrative state. He provides a critical look at how government agencies operate within the constitutional framework, discussing the necessity of judicial oversight to ensure that executive actions remain consistent with the rule of law and democrat...

Executive Authority and National Security Frameworks. Guest: John Yoo. Legal expert John Yoo analyzes the scope of executive power, particularly in relation to national security and foreign policy. He explores the constitutional foundations that grant the presidency authority during international crises and the legal debates surrounding the use of executive orders in managing the nation's defense...