We discuss a topic near and dear to about 12 percent of the world's population: left-handedness. This one goes out to all the southpaws, corrie-fisted, golly-handed, mollydookers, and cuddy wifters out there. Learn some history of left handedness from around the world and find out which of the afore mentioned terms drives Jeni nuts.
The Haunted Mansion is one of Disney's most famous rides. We discuss the history of the ride and it's backstory, both fictional and historical. Come learn about the Haunted Mansion.
What do you get when you mix two eccentric brothers, hoarding, and paranoia? You get the sad yet fascinating case of the Collyer brothers. These two bachelor brothers became part of Harlem lore due to the sad, grizzly tale of the discovery of their bodies in their brownstone apartment that was filled with over 100 tons of trash and collected items.
We continue our segment on the American fur trade with the impacts of the trade on societies, the effect on Native American women, and the rise of the Metis people.
We discuss the American Fur Trade, one of the earliest and most important economic trades between Europe and the natives and colonies in the New World. This trade resulted in multiple wars between native tribes, and constant rivalry between the French and English colonies.
It might not be pretty, but it sure is interesting. We discuss the origins, history, and cultural implications of Syphilis. Once a horrifying disease that caused madness and disfigurement, The Pox was stigmatized in many cultures and many time periods. Come find out more as we discuss the uncomfortable topic of Syphilis.
The Molly Maguires were an Irish secret society from the 19th century what were know for vigilantism against authority figures deemed to have wronged the people. The are most famous for their involvement in the labor conflicts over the conditions of immigrant laborers in late 19th century Pennsylvania. However, were the Molly Maguires really a threat or was their existence made up to excuse local bosses in crushing a new formed labor union? Check out this week's podcast and find out.
Dr. Grover Krantz was an American anthropologist that was widely published on multiple topics. He also was an avid bigfoot hunter, both figuratively and literally, researching any traces of the possible animal and driving though the woods at night with a shotgun. Listen in and learn all about this highly colorful character.
John B. Calhoun was interested in looking at the effects of overcrowding on societies of mammals, so he created a mouse utopia, Universe 25. Universe 25 was an environment made with unlimited supplies of food and water with no predators, where the mice could live without stress and allow their population to grow without environmental restriction. What he found was an initial utopia with explosive population growth, but it eventually led to a complete collapse of the social structure of the mice ...
The actress Natalie Wood, is synonymous with the golden age of Hollywood. Famous as a child actress she is sill known for her role in "A Miracle on 34th Street" and as Maria in "West Side Story". She was active from the 1940s until her untimely death by drowning under mysterious circumstances in 1981. We discuss her origins as Natalie Zacharenko, the daughter of Russian immigrants, her path from child star to adult in Hollywood, and what might have happened that final fateful night on her yacht....
We discuss the famous duo of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, founders in turn of Psychoanalysis and Analytical Psychology. Their relationship went from friends and compatriots to bitter rivals. What caused the rift and what did each of them contribute to the understanding of the human condition? Come find out!
Stockholm syndrome is a phrase that gets used when people discuss traumatic situations like kidnappings or hostage situations. What is Stockholm Syndrome? Where did the name come from? Does it have an opposite? Discuss all of the above on this week's episode.
Mary Mallon was an Irish born cook in early 20th century New York. She was the first know case of a healthy, non-symptomatic carrier of Typhoid in the United States and has since become known far and wide as Typhoid Mary. What hides behind the trope is a story that begs the question of just how much authority should public health officials have when it comes to forcible quarantine and detention. A topic very timely in today's pandemic backdrop.
We discuss a couple of interesting animals, the cupacabra, famed goatsucker of Puerto Rico and Texas. Is it an alien creature that sucks the blood of farm animals... or ugly coyotes. I bet you can guess which is more likely. We also discuss animals of the feline variety, the Ray Cat, genetically created to keep us safe from stored radioactive waste tens of thousands of years in the future.
The Winchester Mansion, built more or less continuously by Sarah Winchester from 1886-1922 is a huge sprawling complex with with 40 bedrooms, 47 fire places, and quite a bit of surrounding mystery. With no master plan the house has strange dead ends, doors that open onto nothing, and stairways that go nowhere. It also is rumored to be filled with the spirits of those killed by the Winchester family's most famous product, the Winchester Rifle.
We discuss Marie Laveau, the famed voodoo queen of New Orleans. From her beginnings as devoutly catholic hairdresser she rose to become an renowned herbalist, nurse, and of course practitioner of Voodoo. How much of the talk about her status of Voodoo queen is true, and why is her grave even more visited today than that of Elvis Presley? Tune in and find out.
The Chinchorro culture of South America created the world's first man made mummies roughly 7000 years ago, or 2000 years before the Egyptians. Listen in and find out about these ancient mummies, how and why they were made, and what is threatening their continued existence today.
We discuss traditions and lore concerning ghosts from cultures around the world. Listen in and find out about similarities shared in common (like "The Lady in White" and bad things happening at crossroads) and fascinating differences.
Often called America's first family of serial killers, the Bender family lived on the prairie of Kansas, not far from the famed site of "The Little House on the Prairie". However, their story is a bit more macabre than that of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Were the Benders indeed the blood thirsty band of depraved killers that they have been made out to be, or were they just scapegoated German immigrants who's spiritualist bent was unpopular with their neighbors?
Henry Plummer was an erstwhile Baker/Sheriff/Outlaw/US Marshall that ranged throughout the western US in the 1860s committing felonies or preventing them (depending on who's account you listen to). His treasure trove of ill-gotten gains is said to still be hidden somewhere in the American west with people still searching for it today.
We discuss the origins and meaning behind Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby and other tales passed down from enslaved peoples in the Americas and collected (and altered) in the Uncle Remus tales by Joel Chandler Harris.
We discuss Ambergris, an oily stone like substance that washes up on beaches and is worth an insane amount of money. We discuss it's rather disgusting source and the world wide market that exists for this rare commodity.
Tune in and find out the history behind Reese's Peanut Butter cups and ET's favorite candy, Reese's Pieces. They are both older than many think...
We discuss that strange period in the 80s and early 90s when fears of satanic cults spread across America. Tales of ritual cult abuse and satanic cults involved in murders with their influence spread by heavy metal music and involvement in Dungeons and Dragons were prevalent everywhere. Learn where the panic started and how it has transformed over time into a common conspiracy theory of today.
We discuss how magic was seen and "used" in medieval times before it was commonly seen as evil in western society.
We discuss the seven canonical wonders of the ancient world: The Pyramids of Giza, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Light House of Alexandria, Colossus of Rhodes, and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Were they all historically factual sites? What remains of them today? Answers in the podcast.
We discuss Genghis Khan, the first great ruler of the Mongol Empire and conqueror of most of the known world at the time. Was the formation of the empire a generally good thing that brought about a peace similar to the Pax Romana or was it a horrible blood letting that resulted in the deaths of millions? The answer is a bit of both.
The story of William Morgan, the man who threatened to expose the secrets of the Freemasons and disappeared under very suspicious circumstances in 1826. His disappearance and presumed murder lead to a major anti-mason backlash movement in the United States.
We discuss the famous Lewis and Clark expedition to map and explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase in 1803=06.
On December 16th 1773, colonists in Boston boarded ships at Griffin's wharf and proceeded to dump the cargo of tea into Boston Harbor. This act, The Boston Tea Party, has become an American cultural touchstone. We discuss the events leading up to the Tea Party and the event itself in our podcast.
