In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, Guy Powell interviews engineer and author Les Fredette. Fredette discusses whether the Shroud of Turin could realistically have been forged in the Middle Ages. He explains why the anatomical precision, blood evidence, and crucifixion details challenge medieval forgery claims. The conversation explores limestone traces connected to Jerusalem. It also considers how evolving science affects our understanding of the cloth. Fredette shares how he integrates Shroud research into his novel The Shrouded Truth. He avoids overwhelming readers with technical lectures. Instead, he presents evidence through character dialogue and tension. Faith and science intersect throughout the discussion. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ remains central to the question of authenticity. For readers of The Only Witness, this interview adds depth to the ongoing historical and theological exploration. Is the Shroud of Turin an unsolved scientific mystery? Or is it evidence connected to the Resurrection?
Proof of Resurrection?
25/02/2026 | 38 mins.
In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, host Guy Powell interviews evangelical apologist and theologian William Red. The two dive deep into Jewish burial customs from the first century and how these practices offer compelling support for the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin. Red details how key figures like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea honored Jesus Christ with kingly burial rites 75 pounds of burial spices and fine linen, just as one would expect for a royal entombment. The conversation doesn’t stop at tradition. Red explores modern science and its contributions to the Shroud’s authenticity, utilizing odds calculus and Bayesian probability to determine the likelihood of forgery. By considering over 30 lines of evidence, including blood chemistry and textile analysis, Red concludes that the probability of forgery is astronomically low. Whether you're grounded in faith or in data, this conversation challenges your perspective on the most famous burial cloth in history.
The Shroud of Turin: Divine Evidence
23/02/2026 | 29 mins.
In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, host Guy R. Powell interviews Dr. Giulio Fanti, one of the leading researchers on the Shroud. Dr. Fanti discusses his work in unraveling the mystery of how the Shroud’s body image was formed. He explains the concept of “divine photography,” where neutron radiation and a series of complex scientific processes, including electric fields and chemical reactions, may have imprinted the image of Jesus' body onto the cloth. Dr. Fanti also explores his groundbreaking discovery of beta radioactivity in the Shroud’s bloodstains, challenging the 1988 Carbon-14 dating results. This discovery has the potential to change the way we view the Shroud’s authenticity, suggesting a much earlier origin possibly from the time of Christ's death. Join us for an in-depth conversation about the science behind the Shroud and how it may provide physical evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This episode will give you a new perspective on one of history’s most famous relics.
Shroud and Resurrection
21/02/2026 | 58 mins.
In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, Guy Powell speaks with theologian and Shroud scholar Andrew Dalton. Dalton explains how the Shroud became central to his academic and pastoral mission. The conversation explores Jewish burial customs, Gospel testimony, and forensic details found on the Shroud. Dalton highlights John’s Gospel and the discovery of the collapsed linen cloths at the tomb. These details challenge explanations of theft or fabrication. Listeners learn why the Resurrection is not merely a return to life. It represents transformation into glory. The Shroud offers physical evidence consistent with this claim. The episode also explains why Christian faith is grounded in reason. Belief grows from evidence, testimony, and historical coherence. Themes explored here closely align with The Only Witness.
Shroud and Conversion
19/02/2026 | 38 mins.
In this episode of The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin, Guy Powell speaks with John Sottosanti, a retired dental surgeon and Shroud researcher. John shares how a scientific interest in the Shroud became a deeply personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Formerly agnostic, John’s life shifted after extended observation of the blood and wounds on the Shroud. He explains how that experience revealed sacrifice, presence, and purpose. John also offers professional insight into facial anatomy and linen behavior. He explains why some visual claims require caution and how the Shroud continues to resist artistic explanation. The discussion blends humility, science, and faith without sensationalism. It echoes themes found in The Only Witness, Guy Powell’s exploration of the Shroud’s historical journey.
Are you fascinated by the intersection of biblical archaeology and modern science? Step into a world where history and cutting-edge research converge in our podcast, focusing on the Shroud of Turin, one of the most important Christian relics. I'm Guy R. Powell, author of "The Only Witness, a Christian Historical Fiction on the Shroud of Turin" and I invite you to join me and top experts from around the world including researchers, scientists, historians, and believers, (sindonologists – those that study the Shroud), as we explore the Shroud of Turin from every angle. We’ll try to uncover the truth about the Shroud of Turin.
Special topics include:
• Carbon dating of the Shroud.
• How Jesus’s burial cloth, aka, The Shroud of Turin, or the Holy Shroud is mentioned in the Gospels
Past interviews include top Sindonologists, such as:
• Barrie Schwortz
• Russ Breault
• Joe Marino
• Giulio Fanti
• And many others
Top questions discussed:
• What is a biblical scholar as it relates to the Shroud of Turin?
• What is the Shroud of Turin?
• What is radio-carbon dating?
• Is the Shroud of Turin real of fake?
• What is the history of the Shroud of Turin?
• When will the Shroud of Turin be exhibited?
• What was the Shroud of Turin used for?
• What blood and DNA was found on the Shroud of Turin?
• What is the mystery of the Shroud of Turin?
• Was the Shroud of Turin burned in a fire?
• Was the Shroud of Turin found in Jesus’s tomb?
• Is the Shroud of Turin the burial cloth of Jesus Christ?
• Was it Mary Magdalene that found the Shroud of Turin?
• Was it Peter and John that found the Shroud of Turin?
• Is the Shroud of Turin the Holy Grail?
Guy’s podcast and book has generated a world of comments:
Guy Powell’s The Only Witness masterfully weaves a myriad of true historical and scientific details regarding the Shroud of Turin into a fascinating novel about this treasured relic and the people who were involved with it. His storytelling breathes life into history and is a joy to read!
—Theodora (“Teddi”) A. Pappas, sindonologist and criminal defense attorney
Kudos to Guy Powell who, in The Only Witness, has skillfully presented a most intriguing work of historical fiction regarding the putative burial cloth of Jesus Christ.
—Jack Markwardt, historian and author of The Hidden History of the Shroud of Turin”
“The missing element in Shroud studies has been a book like this."
—David Rolfe, BAFTA-winning producer of The Silent Witness and Who Can He Be?
Discussion topics covered in the Shroud include:
• What future research is planned to further investigate the Shroud of Turin?
• How does the study of the Shroud of Turin contribute to our understanding of Jesus’s life and times?
• What controversies surround the carbon dating of the Shroud, and how are they addressed?
• In what ways have new archaeological methods and discoveries provided insights into the authenticity of the Shroud?
• How do experts differentiate between authentic relics and medieval forgeries?
• What are the major historical events linked to the Shroud of Turin?
• What are the latest scientific findings of the Shroud of Turin?
• How does religious faith impact the study of the Shroud of Turin?
Subscribe to Spotify or Apple Podcasts to listen each week. New episodes are uploaded every Thursday-Friday.
Want to learn more about author Guy R. Powell? Check out my socials below:
Website: www.guypowell.com
Youtube: @Guy.R.Powell.ShroudofTurin
Instagram: @guy.r.powell
Facebook: @AHistoryOfTheShroudOfTurin
Email List: https://guypowell.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=27f4c87d37aa36fffdca695f3&id=6857bf7051
Connect today to unlock the mysteries of the Shroud of Turin.
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