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The Jedburgh Podcast#170: Negotiating With Terrorists - Special Presidential Envoy For Hostage Affairs Ambassador Roger CarstensAmerica maintains a promise to its citizens. A promise to never leave them behind and stop at nothing to return them to American soil. Over 200 Americans are wrongfully detained or taken hostage each year across the globe. The Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs is responsible for bringing them home. Ambassador Roger Carstens served as the SPEHA from 2020-2025. A West Point Graduate, Green Beret, Army Ranger, and seasoned security leader, Roger and his team brought home close to 70 Americans during his tenure; including high profile cases such as WNBA star Brittney Griner and W...2025-07-111h 14
Melancholy Mentor PodcastThe Space Station: John Wyndham's Orbital Mystery UnveiledStep into the void with us as we journey through John Wyndham's captivating science fiction tale, "The Space Station." We unravel this gem from his 1959 fix-up novel "The Outward Urge," published under the curious dual authorship of Wyndham himself and his alter ego, Lucas Parks. The story whisks us away to a futuristic station orbiting Earth, where the darkness of space holds both mystery and menace. Like much of Wyndham's work, it beautifully explores themes of isolation, the pioneering spirit of exploration, and the remarkable resilience humans display when faced with the unknown. The story's...2025-05-2607 minMelancholy Mentor PodcastSpace, Seas, and Sulu: Trek Trivia You Never KnewReady to boldly go beyond the familiar boundaries of Star Trek? Join us as we uncover one of the franchise's hidden gems - the captivating radio drama "A Mirror for Futility." As lifelong fans of science fiction storytelling, we were thrilled to discover how this 1975 Peter Pan Records production captures the essence of Gene Roddenberry's visionary universe using only audio. The story follows the Enterprise on a routine patrol when Mr. Sulu detects mysterious radiation readings, setting up a classic Trek adventure that unfolds entirely through sound. What makes these productions particularly special is how...2025-05-1910 minMelancholy Mentor PodcastCupid and Psyche: From Ancient Myth to Modern InspirationWhat do ancient Roman myths and 1980s new wave music have in common? More than you might think! Join hosts Fran and Evan as they unravel the captivating tale of Cupid and Psyche, a timeless narrative that has sparked creative inspiration for nearly two millennia.This episode takes you on a journey through one of literature's earliest recorded fairy tales. Written by Apuleius in the second century AD, the story follows beautiful mortal Psyche who unwittingly incurs the wrath of Venus, goddess of love. When Venus sends her son Cupid to orchestrate Psyche's downfall, he...2025-05-1211 minMelancholy Mentor PodcastThe Kate Bush Connection: A Journey Through Wuthering HeightsStep back in time with us as we unravel the haunting beauty of Emily Brontë's masterpiece through a forgotten medium. Our journey begins with the timeless tale of Wuthering Heights – that sweeping saga of passion and revenge unfolding across the windswept Yorkshire moors – before taking a fascinating detour through musical history.Did you know that Kate Bush and Emily Brontë share the exact same birthday, July 30th, born precisely 140 years apart? This cosmic coincidence feels almost predestined when you consider how Bush's ethereal interpretation of Catherine's ghost has become inextricably linked with Brontë's literar...2025-05-0513 minMelancholy Mentor PodcastGothic Secrets and Strong Heroines: Exploring Jane EyreWhat drove a Victorian woman to publish her masterpiece under a man's name? How did three sisters from a remote Yorkshire parsonage revolutionise English literature? And why does Jane Eyre continue to captivate audiences nearly two centuries later?We journey through the fascinating world of Charlotte Brontë and her enduring classic Jane Eyre in this episode of Melancholy Mentor. Written in 1847 under the male pseudonym "Currer Bell," this story of a plain yet fiercely independent heroine challenged Victorian sensibilities while creating one of literature's most compelling love stories.The Brontë sisters' remarkable story un...2025-04-2814 minMelancholy Mentor PodcastTrek Tales: Captain Kirk's Cosmic Pet AdventureStep aboard the USS Enterprise with us as we uncover a forgotten gem from Star Trek history! We're exploring "Passage to Moauv," a captivating 1975 audio drama that follows Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy on their mission to transport an unusual alien pet across the galaxy.This rare audio treasure was the first of eleven Star Trek stories produced by Peter Pan Records, complete with a 20-page companion comic book that brought the adventure to life visually. What makes this particularly fascinating is the mystery surrounding the production. Despite our research efforts, the voice actors remain...2025-04-2113 minMelancholy Mentor PodcastPendulums, Pits, and Price: A Deep Dive Into Horror HistoryThe mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe seems almost as haunting as his gothic masterpieces. We're diving deep into "The Pit and the Pendulum," Poe's terrifying exploration of psychological torture during the Spanish Inquisition. From its 1842 publication to its transformation into a chilling radio drama, we uncover what makes this story endure.Poe's masterful use of sound, rhythm, and consonance creates an atmospheric dread that perfectly translates to audio storytelling. The pendulum's slow descent becomes a metaphor for impending doom, while the unnamed protagonist's psychological terror exposes our deepest fears. We explore the historical context...2025-04-1414 min