4 of 7. We discuss Benjamin Franklin’s primary female love-interests in France and read direct correspondences including propositions for open relationships and proposals of marriage. Importantly- Ann-Catherine de Ligniville, Madame Helvetius and Anne Louise Brillon de Jouy are discussed. Amorous letters from and to Benjamin Franklin are read directly and discussed. Benjamin Franklin discusses with a lady-friend his penis and the blue-balls she is giving to him, in stylish prose. Professor of Wo...
May 15, 2023•39 min•Season 4Ep. 4
3 of 7. Secret Franklin papers unpublished by the State Department are read directly. Woman and men paid money to watch Benjamin Franklin just walk down the street; smothered him with kisses: and he advised his own grandson on the most pleasing attributes to look for in a lady he would choose to make his mistress. We discuss wildly different reactions of notables like Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson to Franklin’s behavior around the ladies, and: of their behavior around him. The master diplom...
May 01, 2023•39 min•Season 4Ep. 3
2 of 7. AKA Traitor William. Benjamin Franklin’s illegitimate son William was dragged from New Jersey by Revolutionary authorities, locked away for treason, and exiled after the war. Ben wrote him out of his will twice, refused him reconciliation, and raised his illegitimate son’s illegitimate son: Temple. Join Grim Philly historians as we flesh-out everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Benjamin Franklin’s illegitimate son William Franklin: soldier, son, politician, loyalist. And, a little...
Apr 17, 2023•35 min•Season 4Ep. 2
1 of 7. The bodies of dozens of dead woman, men, and children stolen from their graves were discovered hidden in Benjamin Franklin’s basement in 1998 sparking modern inquiries and investigations. World-famous for his lightning experiments; contemporaneous anatomists and scientists were inspired to electrify the bodies of hanged criminals attempting to charge the dead with life. Inspired by Dr. Franklin; Mary Shelly has Dr. Frankenstein in her novel do the same. Join historians from Grim as we op...
Apr 03, 2023•42 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Part 2 of 2. Doctors on the payroll of The United States government infected thousands of patients in a mental health asylum secretly in off-shore black-ops experiments that they'd built a hospital and laboratory specifically for in the jungles of Guatemala. World History and American History Professors Joe Wojie and Britnee Smith investigate primary source materials and are joined by Ethics Professor Tim Collins and Historians Ted Sisco and Adam Iessi in this, second part 2 of Ethically Impossi...
Dec 26, 2022•23 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Human experiments by the U.S. government on orphans, lepers, and in a foreign mental asylum saw doctors smearing gonorrhea puss in patients eyes', vaginas and rectums; forcing them to drink ground up chancroid from glass beakers, and forcibly restraining them when they ran away. John's Hopkins University, Bristol Meyer Squibb. Johnson & Johnson, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the government of the United States now face billion-dollar lawsuits, currently. Historians Joe Wojie and Britnee Sm...
Dec 19, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 15
The most famous willy in Russia was worshiped in Paris and traded hands after his death; finding a new home in the Erotica Museum in Petersburg as a fertility talisman today. The visions and prophecies of Rasputin are examined through primary source material in his own hand and that of others. The Russian Revolution, abdication of the Tsar Nicholas II, last days and death of the royal family, and the end to the 300 year reign of the Romanov Dynasty are discussed. Historians Joe Wojie and Britnee...
Dec 12, 2022•31 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Source material on the murder of Rasputin are scrutinized within the context of what has become a larger folklore surrounding the man who could not be killed. Rasputin’s murder, autopsy, funeral, burial; and memoirs of his daughter Maria and the assassin Felix Yusupov are examined. As are conspiracies to kill Tsarina Alexandra and Tsar Nicholas II within the backdrop of a burgeoning Russian Revolution and Return of Vladimir Lennon in the final days of The First World War. Historians Britnee Smit...
Dec 05, 2022•24 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Schlieffen Plan, Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, and the complex system of European alliances leading in to World War One and the height of power and eventual downfall of Grigori Rasputin are discussed; with both serious and lighter moments of reflection. Historians Britnee Smith, Ted Sisco, and Joe Wojie are joined by Historian Cassie Coxon of Penn State University. Support the show on patreon.com/grimphilly Live event information at grimphilly.com
Nov 28, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Part 2 of 5. Man with the Dragon Tattoo. Rasputin displays his private parts at a Moscow restaurant feeding rumors of espionage and an affair with Tsarina Alexandra Romanov amidst anarchy, assassination, royal incest, and Bloody Sunday according to Ochrana secret police reports at the dawn of WWI as his political power grows. Tsar Nicholas II begins his reign in blood and mediocrity as his hatred of The Japanese grows. Historians Britnee Smith, Ted Sisco, and Joe Wojie are joined by Historian Ca...
Nov 21, 2022•32 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Part 1 of 5. BDSM Church of the Sacred Whip. The name Rasputin stirs often images of a dark evil wizard; a gothic monk in black with powers of necromancy and the devil. Or more often; a mystic—stabbed, shot, beat, poisoned, and drowned—who could not be killed. The wandering holy man captivated the last tsars of Russia. Led a sex-cult of sorts. Woman adored him. Most hated him. Journalists, assassins, and the secret police followed him, everywhere, he went. This is the comprehensive 5-part story ...
Nov 14, 2022•43 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Assassin School: Cyanide and Ice Cream. Join us for a storied journey down murder-lane as Richard Kuklinski balances home and family life in New Jersey with murder and cold-blooded assassin contract killing. Christmas with the Kuklinski's. Mr. Softee (also a hitman). Media exposure. And death in Trenton State Prison. Historians Joe Wojie and Britnee Smith are joined by Historian Ted Sisco, Ethics Professor Tim Collins, and Psychologist and Horror Writer Frank Jakoweicz. Support the show on patre...
Nov 07, 2022•42 min•Season 3Ep. 9
The Real-life Tony Soprano Tony Soprano’s real-life New Jersey prototype was a frightening hitman who separated business and suburban family life perfectly. Was a freelance assassin and international contract killer with a wife, 3 children, Swiss bank accounts, a businessman cover, and 200 bodies to his name. This is the rags to middle-class-ish Jekyll-Hyde, murder for money, family-man, contract-killer story of The New Jersey assassin known as The Iceman: Big Richie Kuklinski. Historians Joe Wo...
Oct 31, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Halloween Episode interview in London with Dr. Rebecca Hayes (tenure faculty at University College London) on Bram Stoker’s use of sources and influences for his novel: Dracula. Including modern-day vampire and werewolf lore, and recommended ghost story readings. Support the show on patreon.com/grimphilly Live event information at grimphilly.com
Oct 24, 2022•40 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Part 2 of 2. Following a manhunt when body parts were found strewn around the home of Philadelphia’s Cookie Monster Serial Killer; testimony was given that the lovable handyman and drug dealer was a necrophiliac sex addict who enjoyed playing with local children and coloring with crayons. Historians Joe Wojie, Britnee Smith, and Ted Sisco are joined by Dr. Jon Crider of Texas Tech University and a Psychologist Dr. Kim for the most comprehensive deep-dive psychoanalysis; and scrutiny of the trial...
Oct 17, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Part 1 of 2. Philadelphia’s Cookie Monster Killer staged corpses in his kitchen, fingerpainted his living room with their blood, danced in the streets, and signed autographs and played with finger-puppets during his sentencing. Historians Joe Wojie, Britnee Smith, and Ted Sisco are joined by Dr. Jon Crider of Texas Tech University and Psychologist Dr. Kim for this most comprehensive deep-dive ever done on Philadelphia serial killer Harrison Graham whose sensational and interesting case has been ...
Oct 10, 2022•27 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Black Beard, Captain Kidd, and numerous pirates frequented Philadelphia’s brothels and markets; kept girlfriends and close company with government officials, buried treasure, and operated from the port of Philadelphia. Historians Britnee Smith, Ted Sisco, and Joe Wojie are joined by Ted Maust, Director of Elfreth’s Alley Museum; and Neil Ronk Historian Emeritus of Christ Church Philadelphia for this most comprehensive survey of The Pirates of Philadelphia ever done. Support the show on patreon.c...
Oct 03, 2022•41 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Bonus Banter and story conclusion. We discuss the treason trial and last moments of the life of the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette before her beheading. Banter and speculation are indulged. Historians Joe Wojie and Britnee Smith are joined by historians Ted Sisco, Cassie Coxon, and Morgan Haller. Support the show on patreon.com/grimphilly Live event information at grimphilly.com
Sep 26, 2022•36 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Grim explores The French Queen’s relationship with her lover Axel Von Fersen, her imprisonment, and escape attempts. Newly decoded secret letters between lovers using x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy from the French National Archives are discussed. As is The French King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette’s political and social ineptitude leading up to the Reign of Terror and French Revolution. Historians Joe Wojie and Britnee Smith are joined by historians Ted Sisco, Cassie Coxon, and Morgan Ha...
Sep 19, 2022•40 min•Season 3Ep. 2
The Queen of France shat herself and was dragged to her execution in a rope leash; watched friends ripped limb from limb in front of her eyes; and endured a 24-hour trial for treason accused of masturbating her son. So many heads rolled during The Reign of Terror of the French Revolution that the entertainment of death and souvenir heads to take home by jeering peasants ceased to fulfill crowds. Knitting clubs met at the Guillotine. Crowds copulated and fought over the blood. Historians Joe Woji...
Sep 12, 2022•33 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Contemporary Satanism. Part II of our Satan series moves from historical analysis of Satan in the Dead Sea Scrolls and so-called Lost Books of The Bible through Dante Alighieri to investigate Lucien Greaves and the political protest movement of the Satanic Temple with “After School Satan,” Satanic coloring books for children, and explores key differences from Anton Levey's Church of Satan, including study for the Satanic priesthood and everything you ever wanted to know about: Satanism today. Jo...
Oct 25, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 14
The historiography of Satan. The earliest Mishnaic and Aramaic writings of The Sa’Tan, Diabolis, Eblis were much different from the devil of modern imagination. Grim investigates the dead sea scrolls and other so-called lost books of the bible through dark age poetic and artistic expression; and influence from Hades through Dante’s Inferno.
Oct 18, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Medieval barber shops bled and performed surgeries on patients between hair dressing and a shave while operating as a tavern. Join Grim for the lost wonderous and terrifying world of the barber-surgeon with dark history stories of George Washington and medical tobacco enemas to educate and entertain.
Oct 11, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Penis’ were inspected and evidence given by family, neighbors, and friends in gawking sex-court proceedings around allegations of love-making deficiencies by medieval wives. Spectators attended and placed bets. Trial details were published. And it became an entertainment mainstay throughout the sixteenth-century. Grim investigates: medieval sex-court. As well as love, lust, and love-making in the middle ages.
Oct 04, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 11
The most badass saint butchered, boiled, buried, and burned her enemies alive. This is her story.
Sep 27, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 10
The conqueror of Europe was a passionate little fellow. Enjoyed oral sex. Wrote a host of love, sex, and amorous letters of torment to his love. And his penis now lives in New Jersey, by way of Philadelphia. Grim historians read and discuss the emperor’s love letters, love life, and the strange and wonderous journey of Napoleon’s penis from the hands of collectors, priests, and party-goers following his death. Background on the Napoleonic era is given; with token comparisons to the personal live...
Sep 20, 2021•58 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Demonic possession and ghosts are investigated including Vatican Secret Archive documents and protocols for Catholic exorcism rites. Cross-cultural analysis for spirit possession also is explored.
Sep 13, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Scientist Albert Hoffman’s synthesis of LSD-25 in 1938 was hailed as a miracle psychopharmaceutical throughout the 1950s and studied by Harvard University and others for use in psychiatric treatment. Grim’s candid investigation of the controversial chemical includes CIA, counter-culture, and medical interest and contention through the present. Explores Native-American shamanism, psylocibin, and ayahuasca. And the intellectuals and institutions behind its renaissance. Marker 1- 25:40. Ayahuasca. ...
Sep 06, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Grim explores scientific progress in artificial super-intelligence, futuristic cyborg technologies and robotics. And discusses the work of Stephen Hawking, Nick Bostrom, Sam Harris, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk including the potential positive and negative impacts of developing technologies of the future on humanity and the human race. Joe Wojie, Britnee Smith, and Ted Sisco are joined from the J Edgar Hoover Building in Washington DC by AI and Information Technologies Contractor and Cyber Securiti...
Aug 30, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 6
The Founding Fathers’ first scandals of blackmail, sex, and betrayal involving George Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson were all published by a Philadelphia journalist whose body washed up in the James River amidst the scandals he created. Grim Investigates. This is the story of Hamilton’s marital infidelities with Maria Reynolds. Of Jefferson’s children with his slave Sally Hemmings. And, of the scandalmonger: James T. Callander, who uncovered and published it. Th...
Aug 16, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 4
