Noble American Lives: Biographies of America's Religious Thinkers and Believers

William H. Benson
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  • History
  • Updated Weekly

This show is about the lives of certain individuals from America's past, who participated in America's religious journey over the past five centuries. Some thought more deeply than did others. Some believed in new ways. Some believed in old ways, but promoted an existing religion in a new way. Each episode covers a chapter from a biography from twelve individuals: Roger Williams, Cotton Mather, Thomas Paine, George Whitefield, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Joseph Smith, William James, Mary Baker Eddy, Mark Twain, Billy Graham, H. L. Mencken, and Jim Bakker. In addition, other episodes will include comparisons and contrasts between the individuals.

  1. Sep 27

    H.L. Mencken: In Defense of Women, The American Language, and the Prejudices Years

    Noble American Lives: Biographies of America's Religious Thinkers and Believers

  2. Sep 15

    H.L. Mencken in War, Romance, and Literary Rise (1912–1919)

    William H. Benson introduces Noble American Lives podcast episode 161 and continues his biography of H.L. Mencken from The Parallel Lives of the Noble American Religious Thinkers and Believers: H.L. Mencken versus Jim Bakker. The script recounts Mencken's 1912 Europe trip during the Titanic disaster, a failed prank effort to list him for vice president, and his contempt for the 1912 Democratic convention and William Jennings Bryan, alongside broader critiques of American society. It follows Mencken's intense, ultimately doomed romance with Marion Bloom, shaped by class tensions and later her conversion to Christian Science, which he attacked. During World War I he became openly pro-German, lost his Sun column, co-edited The Smart Set promoting new writers, reported from Berlin and the Eastern Front, then returned amid worsening U.S.-German relations. The period also saw major books and controversy over his anti-Puritan essay and accusations by Stuart Pratt Sherman. 00:00 Show Intro and Series 00:54 Books and Newsletter 01:21 Recap of Prior Volumes 03:26 Episode Focus Mencken 03:40 Copyright Notice 04:20 Europe Trip and Titanic 06:07 Convention and Bryan 08:09 Meeting Marion Bloom 11:53 Turbulent Romance Years 13:05 War and Pro Germany 16:33 Smart Set Co Editor 18:33 Billy Sunday Spectacle 19:38 Berlin Correspondent 1917 21:54 Eastern Front Trenches 23:10 Escape via Switzerland Cuba 25:13 Marion Nurse and Drift 26:40 Christian Science Clash 29:56 Breakup and Aftermath 32:19 Books and Puritanism 34:01 Sherman Feud Conclusion

  3. Sep 10

    H.L. Mencken: Baltimore Fire, The Sun, and the Rise of an Iconoclastic Critic

    Episode 160 of the Noble American Lives podcast (Sept. 8, 2026), hosted by William H. Benson, continues his sixth book, H.L. Mencken versus Jim Bakker, with Mencken's biography. The script recounts Mencken's leadership during the 1904 Baltimore fire and his decision to stay in Baltimore despite a New York offer, then his growing career: managing editor and editor-in-chief at the Baltimore Herald, publication of his Shaw study, the Herald's collapse, and his long tenure at the Baltimore Sun, where he refined a bold editorial voice. It covers his Nietzsche book (1908) and its reception, his work for The Smart Set, his praise for Twain, Conrad, and Dreiser, multiple side projects, and his friendship with George Jean Nathan. Mencken's Evening Sun column "The Free Lance" provoked heavy backlash while promoting public health, Black housing and fair treatment, women's rights, sanitation, and education. 00:00 Podcast Series Intro 00:55 Books and Subscription Notes 01:24 Recap of Earlier Volumes 03:29 Mencken Biography Begins 04:29 Baltimore Fire Aftermath 07:19 Conventions and Career Rise 08:15 Shaw Book and Herald Collapse 10:32 Baltimore Sun New Voice 11:43 Nietzsche Book Breakthrough 16:35 Theater Critic to Bookman 19:19 Smart Set Literary Fame 21:25 Twain Conrad Dreiser 23:57 Side Projects and Work Ethic 26:36 Nathan and Evening Sun 30:24 The Free Lance Firestorm 33:28 Reforms and Social Causes 35:23 Closing Causes Summary

  4. Sep 9

    H.L. Mencken—From Baltimore's Cigar Row to Newspaper Days

    Host William H. Benson introduces Noble American Lives podcast episode 159 (Sept. 1, 2026), beginning his sixth book, H.L. Mencken versus Jim Bakker, and starting the biography of H.L. Mencken after recapping prior paired biographies in his series and giving purchase/subscription notes. The script traces Mencken's German-American family in Baltimore, his birth in 1880, childhood on Holland Street, early exposure to Black alley evangelists, and intense reading sparked by Huckleberry Finn. He excelled at the Baltimore Polytechnic despite hating it, became an agnostic influenced by Huxley, disliked sports, and loved piano. Forced into the family cigar business, he sought journalism; after his father's death in 1899 he joined The Baltimore Herald, rose quickly, endured illness, traveled to Jamaica, became drama critic and later city editor, published Ventures into Verse, formed the Saturday Night Club, and helped cover the 1904 Great Baltimore Fire as it destroyed downtown and the papers' buildings. 00:00 Show Intro and Series Overview 03:28 Launching Mencken Biography 04:21 Mencken Family Roots in Baltimore 07:12 Holland Street Childhood and Alley Life 10:49 Books School and Early Skepticism 18:07 Trapped in the Cigar Business 20:27 Father's Death and New Freedom 22:24 First Break at The Baltimore Herald 25:21 Crime Beat Hard Living and Jamaica 28:23 Critic Poet and Saturday Night Club 32:40 City Editor Ambition and Restlessness 33:45 The Great Baltimore Fire Finale

  5. Aug 28

    Billy Graham's Global Evangelism Conferences, Presidential Ties, Watergate Fallout, and Later Years

    Host William H. Benson introduces Noble American Lives Podcast episode 158 and his book series The Parallel Lives of the Noble American Religious Thinkers and Believers, then continues and completes his biography of Billy Graham from Mark Twain versus Billy Graham. The script recounts BGEA's Amsterdam evangelism conferences (1983 and 1986), their global, largely Third World participation, the Amsterdam Affirmations, workshops, a Day of Witness, and Billy's reluctance to dominate. It details Graham's pastoral relationships with presidents from Eisenhower through George W. Bush, highlighting close ties to Johnson and a complex, ultimately shattering relationship with Nixon, including Vietnam-era criticism, Watergate's revelations, and later release of tapes showing anti-Jewish remarks. It covers BGEA succession to Franklin Graham, Graham's honors, books and royalty trust, major health issues for Billy and Ruth, Ruth's 2007 death, and assessments of Billy's character. 00:00 Show Intro and Episode Setup 00:56 Series Overview and Books 03:27 Copyright and Transition 04:09 Amsterdam Evangelism Conferences 09:19 Presidents and Pastoral Access 09:43 Eisenhower and Kennedy Encounters 11:23 LBJ Friendship and Funeral 14:23 Nixon Alliance Before Watergate 18:52 Vietnam Protests and Billy Graham Day 23:28 Watergate Fallout and Regret 31:35 BGEA Succession and Later Crusades 32:58 Honors Awards and Publications 36:32 Health Struggles and Aging 37:48 Ruth Graham Injuries and Passing 40:40 Legacy and Character Reflections

  6. Aug 21

    Billy Graham's Global Crusades: Korea's Yeouido Record, Iron Curtain Openings, and Lausanne 1974

    Host William H. Benson introduces Noble American Lives podcast episode 157 (Aug. 18, 2026) and his book series pairing American religious "thinkers" and "believers," then continues his biography of Billy Graham from Mark Twain versus Billy Graham. The script recounts the Kohima "Miracle" crusade's impact in Nagaland, then details planning and execution of Graham's 1973 South Korea crusade at Yeouido Plaza, including Billy Kim as interpreter and reported attendance up to 1,120,000 with 12,000 inquirer cards. It traces Graham's later openings in communist Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, enabled by physician Alexander Haraszti, leading to preaching tours in Hungary (1977), Poland (1978), Moscow (1982), and a larger USSR trip in 1984. It concludes with BGEA-sponsored evangelism congresses in Berlin (1966) and Lausanne (1974), producing the Handbook of Unreached Peoples and the Lausanne Covenant, which Ruth Graham declined to sign over wording on "simple lifestyle." 00:00 Show Intro and Series 01:26 Previous Books Recap 03:11 Today Billy Graham Bio 04:04 Nagaland Kohima Miracle 04:52 Korea Crusade Planning 09:05 Yeouido Logistics Setup 11:24 Billy Kim Interpreter 13:45 Seoul Crusade Record Crowd 18:40 Into the Iron Curtain 20:04 Hungary Invitation Story 25:51 Moscow and Soviet Tours 28:11 Berlin Evangelism Congress 31:06 Lausanne and Covenant Debate

  7. Aug 7

    Billy Graham's Far East Tour, Family Life in Montreat, and the Launch of the 1957 New York Crusade

    Episode 155 of the Noble American Lives podcast (Aug. 2, 2026), hosted by William H. Benson, continues his biography of Billy Graham from The Parallel Lives of the Noble American Religious Thinkers and Believers: Mark Twain versus Billy Graham. The script recounts Graham's 1956 Far East tour (including India, where some Hindus tried to venerate him as a god; a tense meeting with Prime Minister Nehru; and stops across Southeast and East Asia) and the controversy from George Burnham's critical book, prompting Graham's apology. It describes the Grahams' growing family, loss of privacy, and Ruth's creation of the secluded Montreat home "Little Piney Cove," plus Graham's security practices and longtime aide T.W. Wilson. It covers the 1956 launch of Christianity Today and tensions with liberals and fundamentalists, leading into the heavily promoted 1957 New York City crusade at Madison Square Garden, where the opening night drew 18,000 and over 700 responded to the invitation. (00:00) Show Intro and Series (00:54) Books and Subscriptions (01:25) Recap of Earlier Volumes (04:06) Billy Graham Far East Tour (06:12) Tour Controversies and Apology (07:27) Family Life in Montreat (09:09) Little Piney Cove Retreat (11:25) Rules Travel and T W Wilson (13:15) Caretakers and Home Support (15:10) Launching Christianity Today (19:50) Preparing for New York Crusade (23:59) Critics Left and Right (28:17) Arrival and Media Blitz (31:21) Opening Night at the Garden (32:26) Isaiah Sermon and Invitation

  8. Jul 30

    Billy Graham's Greater London Crusade and the Expansion of His Global Ministry (1954–1956)

    Host William H. Benson introduces Noble American Lives podcast episode 154 and his book series pairing American religious thinkers and believers, then continues his Billy Graham biography. The script recounts the 1954 Greater London Crusade at Harringay Arena, which unexpectedly drew capacity crowds, expanded to multiple weekly services, used landline relays to 430 locations, and pioneered "Operation Andrew," culminating in massive outdoor meetings and a record day of two stadium services totaling at least 185,000 attendees; Graham met Winston Churchill afterward. It notes reported totals of about 2 million hearing at least one sermon and 36,431 inquirers, alongside later criticism about limited lasting impact. Graham's fame enabled wider European tours, a highly successful 1955 Scotland crusade, preaching to Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, and an eight-day Cambridge mission marked by controversy and a shift to his standard invitation format. The episode ends with his 1956 Far East tour launching in India, where large crowds responded strongly, including a dramatic, quieting prayer and thousands coming forward at Palamakota. 00:00 Podcast Intro and Series 00:56 Books and Newsletter 01:26 Previous Biographies Recap 04:06 Billy Graham London Opens 06:14 Crusade Momentum Builds 08:00 Press and Ruths Role 08:57 Innovations and Celebrities 10:45 Ruths Decision to Stay 14:09 Outdoor Rallies and Wembley 15:58 Meeting Winston Churchill 17:42 Impact and Criticism 19:34 Europe Tour and Scotland 22:27 Queen at Windsor Castle 24:14 Cambridge Mission Challenge 28:42 Far East Tour Begins 30:50 India Crowds and Poverty 32:28 Palm Amakota Revival Peak 33:48 Closing Reflections

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About

This show is about the lives of certain individuals from America's past, who participated in America's religious journey over the past five centuries. Some thought more deeply than did others. Some believed in new ways. Some believed in old ways, but promoted an existing religion in a new way. Each episode covers a chapter from a biography from twelve individuals: Roger Williams, Cotton Mather, Thomas Paine, George Whitefield, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Joseph Smith, William James, Mary Baker Eddy, Mark Twain, Billy Graham, H. L. Mencken, and Jim Bakker. In addition, other episodes will include comparisons and contrasts between the individuals.

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