Intrigue12 Helmi 2025

Word of God: 1. In the Beginning Was the Word

In July 2017, Dr Jeff Kloha is preparing to start his dream job as Director of Collections at Washington DC's new Museum of the Bible when he discovers his new employer’s biggest donor has been caught up in a government investigation.

The donor, Hobby Lobby, has been ordered to return 3,500 artefacts and pay a $3 million settlement.

Through exclusive interviews with museum officials and evangelical scholars, investigative journalist Ben Lewis pieces together the extraordinary story of how the Green family - owners of the Hobby Lobby craft store empire - embarked on an unprecedented collecting spree of biblical treasures. Their ambitious mission: to create a museum showcasing the Bible's history through ancient objects.

But as Lewis discovers, their rush to acquire 40,000 items in just three years would bring them into the orbit of a complex network of antiquities dealers in problematic ways.

And it sparks a scholar turned super sleuth to start asking questions…

This episode has been edited since broadcast.

Presented by Ben Lewis Produced by Clem Hitchcock Executive producers: Philip Abrams and Jago Lee Story editor: Andrew Dickson Sound design by Richard Courtice Original music composed by Max de Wardener Commissioning Editor: Daniel Clarke Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Assistant Commissioner Podcasts/Digital: Chris Walsh-Heron

A TellTale production for BBC Radio 4.

Episodes of Intrigue: Word of God are released weekly on Wednesdays, wherever you get your podcasts, but if you’re in the UK, you can listen to the latest episode a week early, first on BBC Sounds.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(108)

To Catch a King: 4. The French Escort

A hidden location. Migrants awaiting a boat crossing. Who helps them to reach the UK?A journalist and an ex-soldier search for the identity of a people smuggler believed to be responsible for thousand...

3 Kesä 33min

To Catch a King: 3. Stormy Weather

A pause in small boat crossings and a coincidence that reveals how boats are delivered.A journalist and an ex-soldier search for the identity of a people smuggler believed to be responsible for thousa...

27 Touko 33min

To Catch a King: 2. The Bullet Train

Gangs exert power through fear, but where are they getting weapons from?A journalist and an ex-soldier search for the identity of a people smuggler believed to be responsible for thousands of illegal ...

20 Touko 33min

To Catch a King: 1. Kardo

A journalist and an ex-soldier search for the identity of a people smuggler believed to be responsible for thousands of illegal crossings to the UK by small boats and lorries. They start with a false ...

12 Touko 34min

To Catch a King: Trailer

A new people smuggling boss is running routes into the UK. Who is he, and can his true identity be revealed? To Catch a Scorpion duo Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie investigate.

11 Touko 3min

Ransom Man: 6. Nameless, Faceless People

Crossing the road between interviews, Jenny receives the opportunity she has been waiting for. A chance to meet Julius Kivimäki and finally seek answers from him.She heads to Turku prison in Western F...

24 Helmi 29min

Ransom Man: 5. 635 Years of Suffering

Within a month of the Vastaamo data breach, Tomi Haustola, a Finnish stand up comedian, is on stage making jokes about it.But Tomi himself is one of the thousands of victims. He tells Jenny how he wen...

17 Helmi 28min

Ransom Man: 4. The Zen Garden

Authorities think Julius Kivimäki could be responsible for the Vastaamo data breach and the leaking of patient records.They want to bring him in for questioning, but he’s disappeared. Kivimäki is know...

10 Helmi 28min