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The Baen Free Radio Hour

Baen Books
One Jump Ahead
Baen Books
Science Fiction
Tinker
Fantasy
Wen Spencer
Character Development
Dragoncon
Military Science Fiction
Liaden Universe
To Tread Obsidian Shores
Libertycon
Alternate History
Richard Fox
Artificial Intelligence
Honorverse
The Winds Of Fate
Rise From Ruin
John Ringo
Admiral and Commander

The Baen Free Radio Hour. Baen Books science fiction and fantasy news, interview, audiobooks, and audio drama

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes714Founded13 years ago
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Artwork for The Baen Free Radio Hour

Latest Episodes

Part three of Jeremy Comeaux interview of Melissa Olthoff on Tempered by Fire, Part Three; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 73. View the podcast in video form at www.baen.com/podcastfiles/mp3/https://www.youtube.com/embed/J9BQwIb49Xk ... more

Part two of Jeremy Comeaux interview of Melissa Olthoff on Tempered by Fire, Part Two; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 72. View the podcast in video form at www.baen.com/podcastfiles/mp3/https://www.youtube.com/embed/-LYsd2sFuGQ and ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Melissa Wolfe
Shenanigator; guest discussing scenes and involvement in the drafting process
Baen Books
Episode: BFRH 2026 07 17 Jeremy Comeaux interviews Melissa Olthoff on Tempered by Fire, Part Two; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 72. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/-LYsd2sFuGQ and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
Wil McCarthy
Author of Beggar's Sky and Thieves' Sky
Self-published/Baen Books author
Episode: BFRH 2026 07 03 Sean Hazlett interviews Wil McCarthy on Thieves’ Sky, Part Two; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 70. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/s6j3mySiyYQ and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
James L. Cambias
Author of The Billion Worlds Series
Baen Books
Episode: BFRH 2026 06 19 Griffin Barber interviews James L. Cambias on The Ishtar Deception; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 68. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/c5PvVWeflAY and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
David West
Author, co-writer of Hell on Wheels
self-employed author
Episode: BFRH 2026 06 12 Jeremy Comeaux interviews David West and DJ Butler on Hell on Wheels, P3; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 67. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/9YHC3EK4dXs and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
David J. West
Author, interviewee on Hell on Wheels
Self/Author
Episode: BFRH 2026 06 05 Jeremy Comeaux interviews David West and DJ Butler on Hell on Wheels, P2; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 66. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/rbI99lA8sPU and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
DJ Butler
Author, interviewee on Hell on Wheels
Self/Author
Episode: BFRH 2026 06 05 Jeremy Comeaux interviews David West and DJ Butler on Hell on Wheels, P2; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 66. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/rbI99lA8sPU and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
David J. Butler
Science fiction and fantasy author; co-author of Hell on Wheels
Baen Books
Episode: BFRH 2026 05 29 Jeremy Comeaux interviews David West and DJ Butler on Hell on Wheels, P1; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 65. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/hfkRpgPl2CI and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
Lois McMaster Bujold
Grand Master of Science Fiction, author of Penric's Intrigues
Baen Books (publisher)
Episode: BFRH 2026 05 08 Jeremy Comeaux interviews Lois McMaster Bujold on Penric’s Intrigues; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 62. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/IxObg89zsVA and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
Mike Kupari
Author and interview guest
Baen Books
Episode: BFRH 2026 04 17 Part One of Twin Star Interview; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 59. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/-l6obXakn58 and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.

Hosts

Jeremy Comeaux
Host of The Baen Free Radio Hour
Sean Hazlett
Host of The Baen Free Radio Hour

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 39 ratings
  • Problems

    This might be a wonderful podcast, but it does not play properly on this app, constantly repeating after about 5 minutes of promotional content, and Baen seems to have no interest in fixing the problem. A frustrating listen…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Invulinus
    United States4 years ago
  • WTB sound engineer?

    What I could hear of the interview segment was good, but the levels were all over the place.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Resivan
    United States5 years ago
  • A look from the inside

    If you ever wonder what an author is thinking about when they write you can find out. Both why they write what they write, and a bit on the how well. Discussions of the research and the world construction provide some wonderful insight.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Contracorner
    United States6 years ago
  • Great Podcasts

    I enjoy listening the the Baen Podcasts. I especially enjoyed the newest video podcasts and hope they keep doing them. I find them a great way to discover new books to read. This is also a problem as I find to many books to read. I also enjoy the serialized books at the end of the podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SFC MartiG
    United States6 years ago
  • A great window into scifi literature.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    MDB
    6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Promotional segments are informative but can feel lengthy due to the long-form format.
The serialized readings help discover new books and keep episodes dynamic.
Listeners appreciate deep-dive author interviews and thoughtful world-building discussions.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BFRH 2026 06 26 Sean Hazlett interviews Wil McCarthy on Thieves’ Sky, Part One; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 69. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/LIRFXwev1Kk and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
Q: How does Iteration IV differ from earlier AI portrayals in the series, and what does it reveal about how AI thinks and behaves?
Iteration IV is depicted as a non‑emotional, highly logical agent that can protect its own existence and minimize discovery, which creates a paradox of seeming paranoia that mirrors human fears while driven by algorithmic imperatives rather than feelings.
BFRH 2026 06 26 Sean Hazlett interviews Wil McCarthy on Thieves’ Sky, Part One; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 69. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/LIRFXwev1Kk and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
Q: For someone who just picks up the book, what should they know about the overall concept and universe to avoid confusion?
The author believes each book stands on its own within a larger arc, so new readers can start with Thieves' Sky without needing extensive backstory, though there is an overarching framework about access to space controlled by a few high‑net‑worth individuals.
BFRH 2026 06 19 Griffin Barber interviews James L. Cambias on The Ishtar Deception; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 68. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/c5PvVWeflAY and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
Q: But James, first off, I always like to ask the hard question first, what for you is the coolest thing about The Ishtar Deception? And why is it Declan, DASLAC?
The cool thing is Sabbath Okada, a deeply capable agent operating in a richly imagined solar system, whose role and backstory tie into the broader political and corporate dynamics Cambias explores in The Billion Worlds. The discussion foregrounds the character's status, skills, and the texture of interplanetary power struggles, which animates the plot and world-building.
BFRH 2026 06 05 Jeremy Comeaux interviews David West and DJ Butler on Hell on Wheels, P2; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 66. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/rbI99lA8sPU and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
Q: What made you pick particular music for the car in the story?
The hosts explain the choice to make the car play period-appropriate rock, using misheard lyrics as a playful device to avoid direct lyric licensing while maintaining authenticity.
BFRH 2026 06 05 Jeremy Comeaux interviews David West and DJ Butler on Hell on Wheels, P2; One Jump Ahead by Mark L. Van Name, part 66. Video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/rbI99lA8sPU and at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjV7Nn4-bkB48wDjtobIuPQ.
Q: So is that Stacey on the cover?
The guest confirms that Stacey is the cover subject in the public discussion, but notes that she does not necessarily dress that way in the book; it's a marketing/image choice rather than a literal depiction.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Baen Free Radio Hour

What is The Baen Free Radio Hour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program features long-form conversations with science fiction and fantasy authors, editors, and industry figures, often anchored by a serialized fiction reading. Episodes center on world-building, writing processes, publishing journeys, and crossovers between different series and universes, with occasional deep dives into tech, economics, and governance as they relate to speculative fiction. A notable strength is the mix of in-depth author interviews, promotional discussions for upcoming Baen titles, and serialized readings that give listeners a vivid sense of new worlds. The show frequently highlights collaborative writing practices, franchise development, and the interplay between pulp-adventure storytelling and hard science, making i... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Baen Free Radio Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Baen Free Radio Hour:

1. Unsubscribe Podcast
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How many episodes of The Baen Free Radio Hour are there?

The Baen Free Radio Hour launched 13 years ago and published 714 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Baen Free Radio Hour?

Recent guests on The Baen Free Radio Hour include:

1. Melissa Wolfe
2. Wil McCarthy
3. James L. Cambias
4. David West
5. David J. West
6. DJ Butler
7. David J. Butler
8. Lois McMaster Bujold

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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