Fantastic History

Ep.107 – Timothy Dexter: American Eccentric or Great Philosopher?

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:20:00 -0000

The story of Timothy Dexter shows that one does not have to be intelligent to become successful. Sometimes, a fool and his money are not soon parted.

Sources:

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Ep.106 – The Odyssey of Elmer McCurdy: The Outlaw Turned Mummy

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

How did a bandit get shot dead in 1911 and then show up in an amusement park funhouse 60 years later?

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Ep.105 – The Ghost Army of World War 2

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Deception was super important in World War 2, so many tactics were employed to keep the Axis powers confused. Enter the Ghost Army, the first tactical deception unit in US history.

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Ep.104 – Weird and Wonderful New Orleans

Tue, 27 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This week, Sarah covers some of her favorite faces and places in New Orleans - and, yeah, there are a lot of ghosts involved.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/new-orleans-louisiana/history

https://hnoc.org/publishing/first-draft/four-real-new-orleans-legends-put-ghost-stories-shame

https://www.reddit.com/r/NewOrleans/s/7lecGcbKJi

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/invention-won-world-war-ii-180972327/

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Ep.103 – Ernest Shackleton's Epic Trans-Antarctic Expedition

Tue, 20 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

An epic adventure turns into a fight for survival in the most deadly place on Earth.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/articles/shackleton-endurance-survival
https://fmht.co.uk/education/history-of-shackletons-endurance
https://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/picturelibrary/catalogue/itae1914-16/
“Endurance; an epic of polar adventure” By Worsley, Frank Arthur, 1872

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Ep.102 – Trials of the Century: Sam Sheppard

Tue, 06 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Sarah returns with another trial of the century!

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Ep.101 – Bizarre Discoveries: The Lead Masks Case & The Somerton Man

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 11:30:00 -0000

Today I'm sharing two mysteries with few clues but lots of theories.

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Ep.100 – Seven Tales for Episode 100!

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

It's our 100th episode! We celebrate by sharing seven of our favorite shorter tales from history. From 1750 BCE to the 20th century... this episode has everything you could ask for.

Sources:

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The Erfurt Latrine Disaster The Rothschild Surrealist Ball Complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir Pelorus Jack the Dolphin Máel Brigte of Moray Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt's Impromptu Flight Pope Benedict IX

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Ep.99 – Zombie Washington: William Thornton's Revolutionary Resurrection Plan

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

When George Washington died in December 1799, the nation mourned - but one man had a different idea. William Thornton, a Quaker doctor-turned-architect who designed the U.S. Capitol Building, arrived at Mount Vernon with a shocking proposal: to resurrect the first president using a combination of warmth, lamb's blood, and bellows. Join us as we explore the fascinating life of Thornton and his bizarre plan that thankfully never came to fruition.

Sources:

https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2020/12/a-prescription-for-the-resurrection-of-george-washington/#:~:text=By%20the%20time%20Thornton%20arrived,his%20recommendation%20was%20not%20seconded

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Ep.98 – The Mutiny on the Bounty

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The mutiny on the HSM Bounty is the most famous mutiny in history. We're talking about it!

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Ep.97 – Death by Balloon: Jean-François de Rozier and Sophie Blanchard

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Since the dawn of time, humans have dreamed of flight. This feat was finally achieved in France in 1783 by Jean-François de Rozier when he piloted the first untethered hot air balloon flight. The first woman pilot, Sophie Blanchard, began her solo flights in 1805. What else do these two intrepid explorers have in common? Tune in this week to find out!

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Ep.96 – Aum Shinrikyo and the Deadliest Terror Attack in Japan

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In 1995, a doomsday cult carried out a deadly biological weapons attack during rush hour in Tokyo. Their leader was convinced the apocalypse was coming and this attack would help bring about the end of the world.

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Ep.95 – The Lost Colony of Roanoke

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The Lost Colony of Roanoke is one of the most popular unsolved mysteries in American culture - but is it really unsolved? This week, Sarah discusses the litany of mishaps that befell England's first attempt to set up a permanent settlement in North America, and lays out the two most probable reasons why every single British colonizer to lay claim to Roanoke Island disappeared without a trace.

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Ep.94 – The Lobster and Emu Wars

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Let's go back to simpler times. When nations went to war over lobsters and waged war on flightless birds.

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Ep.93 – Defying Gravity: Matilda Joslyn Gage

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Matilda Joslyn Gage was the single most important and influential champion of women’s rights and the Suffragette Movement, so why have you never heard of her? Well, if you’ve ever seen Wicked or The Wizard of Oz, it turns out you have! Join us this week as Sarah shares the incredible life story of L. Frank Baum’s mother-in-law.

Sources:

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Ep.92 – The Strangest Towns in America

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

The US has a lot of weird places. Let's talk about some of them!

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Ep.91 – Trials of the Century: Fatty Arbuckle, Part 2

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In PART TWO of the State of California versus Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle in the death of Virginia Rappe, Sarah goes over the stories presented by the defense and the prosecution, the literally incredible testimony of Maude Delmonte, and the lasting effects of the first celebrity scandal. TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of violent sexual assault.

Sources:

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Ep.90 – Trials of the Century: Fatty Arbuckle, Part 1

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Sarah continues her mini-series on the Trials of the Twentieth Century this week with PART ONE of the State of California versus Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, accused of the rape and murder of actress Virginia Rappe. In this episode, we discuss the life and careers of Roscoe and Virginia, and the fateful Labor Day party that changed Hollywood forever.

Sources:

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Ep.89 – The Mechanical Turk: The First Chess Computer?

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In 1770, a Hungarian inventor revealed a chess playing automaton that puzzled the world. No one could figure out how it worked as it toured the world and defeated numerous historical figures and chess masters. It's secrets were almost lost to history, but thankfully we know how it worked. Let me share this incredible story with you!

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Ep.88 – The Dark History of Nursery Rhymes

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Death threats against babies, serial killer queens, Viking raids, and taxation without intoxication - this week, Sarah talks about the often-gruesome true stories behind some of the most popular nursery rhymes.

Sources:

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Ep.87 – The USA's Psychic Soldiers: The Stargate Project

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Let's explore the bizarre CIA project that tried to confirm and weaponize psychic phenomena.

Sources:

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Ep.86 – Boats Against The Current: The not-quite-love story of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

They're baaaaaack! In the kickoff to season two, Sarah presents the not-quite-love story of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, with a particular focus on their time in Asheville, North Carolina. This warm and fuzzy, feel-good story discusses substance abuse, abandonment, neglect, mental health struggles, and suicidal ideation, so listen with caution.

Sources:

https://www.npr.org/2013/09/03/216164420/for-f-scott-and-zelda-fitzgerald-a-dark-chapter-in-asheville-n-c
https://blueridgecountry.com/archive/favorites/fitzgeralds-asheville-days/
“Zelda; a biography” by Nancy Milford

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Ep.85 – The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Today we're talking about the Seven Wonders! Why there were built, why all but one do not exist anymore, and why it's so Greek.

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Ep.84 – Leah Smock: The Battletown Witch

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

We've got a story we know you haven't heard; it's not even on Wikipedia! This week, Sarah shares the tragic story of the only accused witch to ever be burned to death in the United States.

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Sources:

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Ep.83 – Ignaz Semmelweis: The Savior of Mothers (Part 2)

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Ignaz Semmelweis is remembered by history as a pioneer of prophylaxis, a champion of sanitation and a David standing against the Goliath of antiquated and incorrect theories on how disease formed and spread. But in his time, he was simply a doctor who wanted to save mothers' lives who were dying in his maternity clinic. Through his hard work and the adoption of his techniques, he saved millions of lives. And his reward for doing so was the destruction of his career, his reputation and his sanity.

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Sources

“The Etiology, Concept, and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever” by Ignaz Semmelweis
“Genius Belabored: Childbed Fever and the Tragic Life of Ignaz Semmelweis” by Theodore G. Obenchain
“Immortal Magyar: Semmelweis, conqueror of childbed fever” by Frank Slaughter

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Ep.82 – Ignaz Semmelweis: The Man Who Saved The World (Part 1)

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

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Sources

“The Etiology, Concept, and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever” by Ignaz Semmelweis
“Genius Belabored: Childbed Fever and the Tragic Life of Ignaz Semmelweis” by Theodore G. Obenchain

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Ep.81 – The Most Embarrassing Naval Disaster in History: The Battle of May Island

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

The "Battle" of May Island is a testament to desire for more power and speed at the cost of reason. The Royal Navy's K-Class submarines were supposed to be the next evolution in naval combat, but they were difficult to control, miserable to be inside of and prone to errors. On what was supposed to be a training exercise in the North Sea, a small error resulted in one of the most catastrophic disasters in Naval history and a staggeringly high death toll considering that not a single enemy participated. Join us as we talk all about this unbelievable story.

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Sources:

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Ep.80 – Trials of the Century: Part 2

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In part two of our look into the Trials of the Century, we have an insane government-versus-unions case that features several Fantastic History alumni. Then, Sarah discusses a Massachusetts-based case (BUM BUM BUM) that caused riots around the world - more than once!

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Sources

Music: Order by ComaStudio (royalty free)

Ep.79 – Frauds, Forgeries and Fakes: Five Hoaxes in Science and Archeology

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In this episode, we look at five famous hoaxes that rocked science to the core.

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Sources

Music: Order by ComaStudio (royalty free)

Ep.78 – The Trials of the Century: The Murder of Stanford White

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

This week, Sarah presents the first in a series of episodes covering some of the court cases that were dubbed "The Trial of the Century" in the 1900s. First up, the murder of architect Stanford White by Harry Thaw, the heir of a coal and rail baron. This story had all the earmarks of a sensational public scandal including a gorgeous young woman, passion, jealousy, and folks being super messy in the press.

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Sources

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Ep.77 – Pinkerton vs. Jesse James and Butch Cassidy

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Our second Pinkerton Detective Agency episode sees agents hunting down notorious outlaws in the wild west.

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Sources:

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Ep.76 – Our 2023 Fantastic History Retrospective

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

2023 is a wrap, so join us as we look back at some of our favorite moments of the podcast from the past year.

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Music featured:

Sneaky Adventure Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Look Busy Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) George Street Shuffle Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Fluffing a Duck Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Auld Lang Syne (Instrumental Jazz) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWNL4hFgii7hoOGKgY7Dv7w Music promoted by Happy Soul Music Library https://happysoulmusic.com

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Ep.75 – The Eggnog Riot of 1826

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

While these days eggnog is a divisive holiday treat, never has it been more contentious than in 1826, when a secret Christmas Eve party in the barracks of West Point Academy spiraled very, very far out of control.

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Sources

Music: Order by ComaStudio (royalty free)

Ep.74 – Who Was The Inspiration for Ebenezer Scrooge?

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

It's less Happy Holiday and more Bah Humbug as we explore the several possible inspirations for the covetous old sinner from Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol.

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Sources

Music: Order by ComaStudio (royalty free)

Ep.73 – Charles Dodgson: Math Through the Looking Glass, ft. Melanie Terrill

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

We have a very special guest this week: BFF of the podcast, librarian Melanie Terrill! Though children have known Alice in Wonderland for generations, not many know the story of the man behind the novel or the girl who may have inspired it. Bonus: it's also about math!

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Sources

Lewis Carroll Biography by Sarah Lewis
In the shadow of the dream child by Sarah Leach
http://joyofmuseums.com/
https://www.npr.org/2010/03/13/124632317/the-mad-hatters-secret-ingredient-math
https://www.npr.org/2010/02/28/124132534/years-beyond-the-rabbit-hole-alice-looks-back
https://carroll-myth.wild-reality.net/

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Ep.72 – Dangerous Women: Giulia Tofana and Baba Anujka

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

If “He Had It Coming” is your favorite song from Chicago, then boy, do we have an episode for you! This week, Sarah shares the eerily similar stories of Giulia Tofana and Baba Anujka, two legendary serial killers separated by centuries who nevertheless shared a goal: killing other women’s abusive husbands.

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Sources

Music: Order by ComaStudio (royalty free)

Ep.71 – The Monty Hall Problem & the Woman Who Solved It

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The Monty Hall Problem is one of the most famous puzzle in probability. But what is less famous is the woman who made it famous on the pages of Parade Magazine.

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Sources

Music: Order by ComaStudio (royalty free)

Ep.70 – Claude Duval: Restoration England's Public Enemy Number One

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

There have been many times throughout history where crime does in fact pay. Claude Duval saw such an opportunity while serving in the court of King Charles II and, oh boy, did he ever run with it! This week, Sarah tells the story of a gentleman robber who charmed his way onto the very first most wanted list in Restoration England - and into the hearts of the ladies.

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Sources

Music: Order by ComaStudio (royalty free)

Ep.69 – John C. Lilly & the Drug-Induced Psychic Sexual Dolphin Experiment

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In Episode 69, we dive into the most ambitious experiment of Dr. John Lilly into the communication between humans and dolphins, which was mired by drug abuse, cosmic divinations, sexual scandal but all funded by the US government. But please, your kids can sit this one out.

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Ep.68 – Halloween Spooktacular!

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Happy Halloween! Sarah aims to scare your socks off this week with a few true tales of terror including the Enfield Monster, the grim magic of the Pennsylvania Dutch, and an exorcism gone wrong.

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Sources

Music: Not As It Seems Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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Ep.67 – The Man Who Saved The World, Then Killed Millions: Fritz Haber

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today we explore the complicated legacy of a man whose inventions fed the world and caused a horrific genocide.

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Ep.66 – Darkey Kelly and the Hell-Fire Club

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

An alleged witch who became a ghost who was involved with an occultist who was hand-picked to replace the devil himself: true stories don’t get more Halloweeny than that of Dublin’s Darkey Kelly.

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Ep.65 – Deadly Inventions

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today we talk about inventions that kill and their well-meaning inventors. Including Franz Reichelt, Alfred Nobel and Thomas Midgley Jr.

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Ep.64 – Dearly Departed: Death in the Victorian Age

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week, Sarah brings a hearty dose of death positivity into October with the help of some actual newspaper articles from the Victorian era. From real life ghost stories to one widow’s zany worst day ever, this episode truly has it all.

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Sources

http://thebabydied.blogspot.com/
"The Victorian Book of the Dead" by Chris Woodyard

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Ep.63 – The Infinite Prison of Paradoxes

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Sarah is in prison, both figuratively and literally, and tortured with an episode about implications and paradoxes surrounding infinity, supertasks and Zeno of Elea.

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Ep.62 – The Men Who Saved The World From Nuclear Apocalypse

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Handle with care - or the world ends. This week, Clay shares two stories of men who found themselves in the unpleasant position of having to make a decision with the fate of humanity in balance.

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Ep.61 – Hedy Lamarr: The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Hedy Lamar - known as both “the most beautiful woman in the world” and “the mother of WiFi” - was more than meets the eye. This week, Sarah presents the story of a Golden Age actress who was also a brilliant inventor.

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Ep.60 – Harriet Tubman: American Spy and Military Strategist

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Harriet Tubman is famous for helping slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad, but this is only part of her story. During the Civil War, Harriet Tubman started out as a civilian volunteer with the Union Army cooking and caring for ex-slaves and later, she was tasked with leading a group of spies into the Confederacy. But that is not all and you will have to listen to hear the full story.

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Sources

https://www.brandeis.edu/now/2022/june/tubman-civil-war-larson.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/02/08/harriet-tubman-spy-civil-war-union/
“Harriet Tubman: The Road To Freedom” by Catherine Clinton; 2004; Little, Brow

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Ep.59 – George C. Parker: I've Got A Bridge to Sell You

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Long before phishing emails and ransomware, conmen had to make their living the old fashioned way: smooth talking and forged documents. This week, Sarah shares the buckwild bananas story of legendary scammer, George C. Parker!

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Ep.58 – The Monster with the 21 Faces: Japan’s Infamous Unsolved Mystery

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week we talk about the infamous Glico-Morinaga Case. What started as a kidnapping and ransom turned into a mass panic in Japan after poisoned candy hit grocer store shelves. The culprit was the Monster with the 21 Faces. But who was it and was it one person or many?

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Ep.57 – The Hockomock Swamp: The Bridgewater Triangle, Part 2

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

There’s a 200-square mile area of eastern Massachusetts that boasts more bizarre history, paranormal activity, and cryptid sightings than anywhere else in the United States - and possibly the world. In this second part, Sarah explores the mysterious and frightening Hockomock Swamp and Bigfoot!

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Ep.56 – Spooky Rocks and UFOs: The Bridgewater Triangle, Part 1

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

There’s a 200-square mile area of eastern Massachusetts that boasts more bizarre history, paranormal activity, and cryptid sightings than anywhere else in the United States - and possibly the world. In the first episode of a two-part series, Sarah tells Clay about King Phillip’s War, history’s first recorded UFO sighting, and more strange occurrences of the Bridgewater Triangle!

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Ep.55 – Operation Pastorius: The (Failed) Nazi Plan to Sabotage America from Within

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Hitler planned to sabotage American industry utilizing highly trained spies. But it failed almost immediately. Let me tell you why.

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Sources

Francis MacDonnell, 1995, “Insidious foes: the Axis Fifth Column and the American home front”, Oxford University Press
Joseph McCann, 2006, “Terrorism on American soil : a concise history of plots and perpetrators from the famous to the forgotten”, Sentient Publications
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/inside-story-how-nazi-plot-sabotage-us-war-effort-was-foiled-180959594/
https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/nazi-saboteurs-and-george-dasch
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/06/23/six-nazi-spies-were-executed-in-d-c-white-supremacists-gave-them-a-memorial-on-federal-land/

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Ep.54 – Great Britain's Trojan Horse

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

As a wise man once said, "Whoever controls the media, controls the mind." There's no better example of that than a little piece of war-time propaganda that has stood the test of time for nearly a century; one that you probably believe yourself! Check out this week's episode to learn how the German Luftwaffe was brought to its knees with a single misinformation campaign.

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Sources:

https://www.history.com/news/napoleon-complex-short
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-wwii-propaganda-campaign-popularized-the-myth-that-carrots-help-you-see-in-the-dark-28812484/
“The Bomber Will Always Get Through” | Air & Space Forces Magazine (airandspaceforces.com)
The Original Lord Woolton Pie – Recipe No. 151 – The 1940's Experiment (the1940sexperiment.com)

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Ep.53 – Mehran Nasseri: Trapped in Terminal One for 18 Years

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In 1988, Mehran Nasseri entered Charles de Gaulle Airport in France and he would not leave for 18 years. During his long residency outside of Terminal One, he would become a fixture and a minor celebrity. But he would also take on a new identity as living nearly two decades on a bench slowly altered his mind and reality.

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Sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/sep/06/features.features11
https://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A33471100
https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/12/europe/the-terminal-movie-paris-airport-mehran-karimi-nasseri-dies-intl-hnk/index.html
"Sir Alfred of Charles de Gaulle Airport" Directed by Hamid Rahmanian. 2000

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Ep.52 – A Brief History of Captain America

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In 1940, with war raging in Europe, America was in need of a hero - and publisher Martin Goodman was in need of a cash cow. There was only one superhero for the job: not a perfect soldier, but a good man. This week, Sarah covers the rise and fall of the Star-Spangled Man With a Plan.

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Ep.51 – Identical Strangers: The Story of Bobby, Eddie and David

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The incredible story of brothers reunited and an investigative journalist uncovering a monstrous study.

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Source: “Three Identical Strangers” by Tim Wardle; 2018 CNNFilms

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Ep.50 – Episode 50!!! The Tragic History of the Noid // The Sapphic Story of Julie d’Aubigny

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week we’re celebrating our fiftieth episode with a double-header! Sarah kicks things off with the bizarre and ultimately tragic history of the Noid, Domino’s forgotten mascot. Clay wraps up with the amazing legend of the 17th Century bisexual dueling opera singer: Julie d’Aubigny.

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Ep.49 – A Brief History of Lost Media

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Join as Clay shares the history of lost media, from silent movies to modern entertainment, and why important parts of our history go missing.

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Ep.48 – Ziryab: History’s First Influencer

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

You’ve probably never heard his name, but no one person has affected the day-to-day lives of society more than Ziryab. This pre-Renaissance renaissance man has so many credits on his resume that you won’t believe your ears. If you’ve ever shaved, had bangs, played chess, or eaten dessert, you have him to thank. Check out this week’s episode for the incredible, incomparable life story of the most influential person in history.

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Ep.47 – A Dreaded Dilemma: The First US Presidential Election

Tue, 30 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The election of the first US President was not as simple as it is often portrayed. Today we look into the complicated election process and the political scheming that took place during the Election of 1789.

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Ep.46 – The Hollywood History of Catalina Island, ft. Kristyn J. Miller

Tue, 23 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Author, grad student, bog docent, bird enthusiast, and expert on the Germanic Iron Age, KRISTYN J. MILLER joins us this week to discuss the Hollywood history of Catalina Island. This episode really has it all: Jaws, Marilyn Monroe, and a famous unsolved murder. Is it any surprise she and Sarah are friends?

Check out Kristyn's debut novel SEVEN RULES FOR BREAKING HEARTS, a fun and funny romp on Catalina Island: Now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Target.

You can find Kristyn online at https://kristynjmiller.com/ as well as on Instagram and Twitter.

Follow Fantastic History on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod

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Ep.45 – Sarah Chapman & the Matchgirls Strike

Tue, 16 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week, Sarah brings us a Dickensian tale with a feminist twist: the story of Sarah Chapman and the Matchgirls Strike of 1888, when the very first all-female strike in England’s history changed the course of British politics forever

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Ep.44 – How A Robbery Made The Mona Lisa the World's Most Popular Art

Tue, 09 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The Mona Lisa is the most recognized piece of art in the world. Millions visit the Louvre and wait in an hours long line just to see it. But why is it so popular? It all goes back to what was called at the time the "Art Heist of the Century". Let me tell you all about!

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Ep.43 – Victor Noir and the Sexiest Grave in Paris

Tue, 02 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This episode has it all: violence, revolution, rivalries, burlesque dancers, and (what else) more Hamilton references! This week, Sarah takes Clay on the journey that led Victor Noir from unknown journalist to posthumous god of sex.

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Ep.42 – The Carrington Event: Why Civilization Would Crumble If It Happened Again

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In 1859, a strong geomagnetic storm struck Earth causing bright auroras to appear as far as south as Mexico and damage to the world's early telegraph lines. It was not well understood at the time, but marveled as a beautiful display of nature. But if this happened today, it could be apocalyptic. Tune in to learn why.

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Ep.41 – Robert Shurtleff: The Baddest Badass of the Revolution

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Seven years after the start of the American Revolutionary War, a young soldier from Plympton, Massachusetts named Robert Shurtleff emerged from indentured servitude and picked up a gun to fight for his fledgling country. But there was more to this enlisted man than met the eye - much, much more. Join us this week for the story of the baddest badass who ever battled for America's freedom from British oppression.

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Ep.40 – The Disastrous Second Tour De France

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

When the Tour de France began in 1903, it was a major success. But the following year, the tour organizers declared the race was finished. What happened during the 1904 race that almost ended it forever?

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Sources

"Tour de France: The History, the legend, the riders" by Fife, Graeme
"Blazing saddles: The Cruel & unusual history of the Tour de France" by Rendell, Matt
The Story of the Tour de France: 1903–1964. Vol. 1. By Bill McGan
https://www.rediff.com/sports/2004/jul/06tour.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20090805001801/http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/85550

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Ep.39 – The Riot Act and Other Historical Idioms

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

If you’ve ever wondered where some of the most popular English-language idioms come from, this is the episode for you! Sarah covers everything from ancient religious practices to the early days of aviation to eighteenth century theater rivalries.

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Ep.38 – America's First Female Detective & the Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Kate Warne became America's first female detective, working with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, just before the country fell into civil war. Shortly after, she would be part of the one of the agency's most important assignments: protecting president-elect Lincoln from an assassination plot while en route to his inauguration.

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Sources

Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln by Edward Steers
The Hour of Peril : the secret plot to murder Lincoln before the Civil War by Daniel Stashower
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-unsuccessful-plot-to-kill-abraham-lincoln-2013956/
https://explorethearchive.com/kate-warne-first-female-detective

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Ep.37 – Teuta: Pirate Queen of Illyria

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This week, Sarah brings a story about a Mediterranean queen who defeated Greece, captured several islands in the Adriatic sea, and stood unafraid before the might of Ancient Rome - not with her impressive navy, but with her pirates. Not much is known about Teuta of Ardiaei, but what we do know is unbelievable.

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Ep.36 – Survival Against All Odds: Harrison Okene & Mauro Prosperi

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Clay has another double-header episode! This time, I share two stories of people who found themselves in extreme environments, unprepared, and lived to tell their tale.

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Ep.35 – Forty Whacks: The Story of Lizzie Borden

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Sarah returns from her visit to Massachusetts with a fresh take on the infamous story of Lizzie Borden. This true crime tale is not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach; you might just lose your head

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Source:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-19th-century-axe-murderer-lizzie-borden-was-found-not-guilty-180972707/

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Ep.34 – The Perfect Crime: Leopold and Loeb

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

It’s the 1923 and Chicago is shocked by the brutal murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks. The culprits ended up being 18-year olds Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, who thought they had committed the perfect crime. Join Clay as he shares the crime of the century.

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Source:

Baatz, Simon “For the thrill of it : Leopold, Loeb, and the murder that shocked Chicago” New York Harper, 2008

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Ep.33 – Marilyn Monroe and the Downfall of the Studio System

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood icon, timeless sex symbol, and…film producer responsible for upending the entire movie industry? Yep, you read that right. Spend Valentine’s Day with us as Sarah explains how Marilyn Monroe changed Hollywood forever.

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Ep.32 – The Drunk Duck Who Joined The Marines

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

It is time we talk about the duck who joined the US Marine Corps and waddled to war against the Japanese. Yes, this is our second episode about animals fighting in World War II.

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Ep.31 – Cadaver Synod: Dead Pope on Trial

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

A pope, a corpse, and the entire Catholic diocese walk into a bar… Join us this week as Sarah tells the extremely macabre tale of Pope Formosus and his posthumous criminal trial.

[short description of episode]

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Source:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/vatican-dead-pope-on-trial?loggedin=true&rnd=1674328065646

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Ep.30 – The A-Z Guide to History's Great Panics, Part 4

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

It's the end of the world! Apocalyptic radio broadcasts, computer bugs and an alien invasion!

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Sources

Infographic: https://i.redd.it/cfw4acjeskc91.png
W: https://www.historylink.org/File/5136
W: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/infamous-war-worlds-radio-broadcast-was-magnificent-fluke-180955180/
X: Peebles, Curtis (March 24, 1995). Watch the Skies!: A Chronicle of the Flying Saucer Myth, Ch 2 'The 1947 Flap'. Berkley Books.
X: https://www.history.com/news/roswell-ufo-aliens-what-happened
Y: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/Y2K-bug
Y: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4138-2004Jun24.html
Y: https://www.911memorial.org/connect/blog/years-911-wtc-security-experts-prepared-y2k
Z: https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4766

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Ep.29 – The A-Z Guide to History's Great Panics, Part 3

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Part 3 is a real gas! Chock full of spooky clowns, vampires and witches!

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Ep.28 – The Men Who Ate the World: Charles Domery and Tarrare

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Was it hyperthyroidism or maybe polyphagia that drove Charles Domery and Tarrare to eat anything they could get their hands on? Or, better yet, were their stories even true? This week, Sarah shares two tales so wild that they're difficult to believe, despite scientific documentation of their unusual eating habits.

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Ep.27 – The A-Z Guide to History's Great Panics, Part 2

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

The panic's keep coming this week as we cover Oujia boards, disappearing penises and Lisztomania! History sure has had some great panics. Let's talk about 26 or more of them in this multi-part series!

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Ep.26 – The A-Z Guide to History's Great Panics, Part 1

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

History sure has had some great panics. Let's talk about 26 or more of them in this multi-part series!

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Ep.25 – Bizarre Reappearances: Danny Filippidis & Lawrence Joseph Bader

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

It's another double-decker episode! This time, I share two stories of people who disappeared under bizarre circumstances, but reappeared alive. However the details of what happened to them are still unknown.

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Ep.24 – All Hail The Chiefs: Presidential Fun Facts

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Come along with us as Sarah shares some little known but fantastically interesting facts about a handful of America’s early leaders. From wine stains to possum dinners, this episode has it all!

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Ep.23 – Tickling the Dragon's Tail: The Story of the Demon Core

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In 1945, two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. But a third bomb was planned and prepared to be dropped as well. After the Japanese surrender and the end of World War 2, the plutonium core of this bomb was used in tests that physicist Richard Feynman described as like “tickling the tail of a sleeping dragon”. The events that followed would earn the item its well known nickname - the demon core.

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Ep.22 – Niagra Falls Down, Goes Boom

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

It’s been too long since we’ve done an episode about stunts fit for Jackass. In this episode, Sarah gives Clay the rundown on the people who have survived the 187-foot drop over the edge of Niagara Falls.

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Ep.21 – The Catastrophic Journey of the 1905 Russian Baltic Fleet

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

As war abruptly began between Russia and Japan in 1904, Russia found itself unprepared to face the naval might of the Imperial Navy. Tsar Nicholas II summoned the Baltic Fleet to hastily make way to the East to support the Pacific Fleet, but this would be a monumental challenge. The Baltic Fleet would have to traverse 18,000 miles from the Baltic, down across the tip of Africa and across the Indian Ocean for a grueling 7 months. Would they be able to complete their mission and save Russia? By the name of the episode, I suspect you may know the answer already.

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Ep.20 – The Principality of Sealand // Judith Love Cohen

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

It's our first double header episode! First, Clay shares the story of the incredible micronation of Sealand. Located just off the coast of Suffolk in Great Britain, Sealand sits on a 1-acre platform and has existed there for over 50 years. Next, Sarah shares the incredible story of Judith Love Cohen. Starting her life as a little girl who loved dancing and mathematics, she grew into one of the most accomplished aerospace engineers in American history!

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Ep.19 – Sarah Rector Drinks Your Milkshake

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

This week, Sarah takes Clay on a journey to the oil fields of Oklahoma in 1911 where an unlikely heroine began her incredible journey. The amazing life story of Sarah Rector is a rags to riches tale in every sense of the word, with twists and turns and good triumphing over evil.

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Ep.18 – Bizarre Disappearances: Blair Adams and David Glenn Lewis

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

It's a double-decker true crime episode! This week I share not one, but TWO stories of people who disappeared under bizarre circumstances and met tragic fates. Both men lived fairly normal lives, but something happened that cause them to vanish, only to later show up dead with no good explanation as to how or why.

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Ep.17 – The Children of the Night: Real-Life Vampires

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

For as long as there have been storytellers, there have been vampire stories. Join us this week as Sarah shares some of those stories with Clay, including the first recorded vampires in England, a vampire pandemic in nineteenth century America, and various vampiric myths and legends from all around the world!

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Ep.16 – America's Hoarders: The Collyer Brothers

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Today we discuss America’s most infamous hoarders - Homer and Langley Collyer. Long before television shows brought compulsive hoarding into the limelight were the Collyer brothers, who amassed an incredible collection of stuff in their four-story Harlem brownstone throughout the 1930s and 40s. But it was the manner in which they died that shocked the nation and solidified their names in newspapers and stories for decades to come.

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Sources:

"Stuff: compulsive hoarding and the meaning of things" by Frost, Randy O
"Weird New York: your travel guide to New York's local legends and best kept secrets" by Gethard, Chris

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Ep.15 – The Duality of Man: Arthur Conan Doyle and the SPR

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

What happens when a brilliant man of science has a brush with the metaphysical? More than just the legendary creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was also a prominent champion of the Victorian spiritualist movement. Join us as Sarah discusses his experiences with seances, phantoms, and even fairies.

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Sources

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Ep.14 – The 9th Planet that Never Existed: The Story of Vulcan

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union demoted Pluto to a dwarf planet. This was pretty humiliating for Pluto to lose its designation as the 9th planet, but what if I told you that Pluto was not the first 9th planet? Eighty years prior to Pluto's discovery, astronomers thought they had discovered the 9th planet of our solar system. The discovery was held as a triumph, but why have you never heard of this planet before? Let Clay share the incredible story with you.

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Source: "The Hunt For Vulcan: And How Albert Einstein Destroyed A Planet, Discovered Relativity, And Deciphered The Universe" by Thomas Levenson

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Ep.13 – When the Pine Leaves Turn Yellow: Woman Chief

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 11:37:00 -0000

Before there was Captain Marvel, Xena, or even Eowyn there was Woman Chief. This week Sarah regales Clay with the story of a White Clay turned Crow Two-Spirit warrior who never met a glass ceiling she couldn’t shatter. Part incredible true tale, part enduring myth, and all badass - this is the story of Woman Chief.

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Sources:

Native American Women: A Biographical Dictionary (Woman Chief section written by Jennifer L. Jenkins, but she didn’t write the whole book, so…?) - https://www.routledge.com/Native-American-Women-A-Biographical-Dictionary/Bataille-Lisa/p/book/9781138994379
Living the Spirit compiled and edited by Will Roscoe - NOTE: I cited this incorrectly in the episode and need to re-record that bit. - https://www.amazon.com/Living-American-Anthology-Stonewall-Editions/dp/031230224X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=031230224X&qid=1661948770&sr=8-1
https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Indian%20Education/Indian%20Education%20101/Montana%20Indians%20Their%20History%20and%20Location.pdf

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Ep.12 – The Dreadnaught Hoax & Other Pranks of Horace de Vere Cole

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Who doesn’t love a good prank? Well Horace de Vere Cole didn’t just love pranks - he lived for them. In the early 1900s, Cole managed to pull successful hoaxes on Cambridge and the British Royal Navy, but although they are his most famous antics, there are many more that are contributed to him that I have the pleasure to tell you and Sarah about this week.

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Sources:

Downer, Martyn (2011). The Sultan of Zanzibar: The Bizarre World and Spectacular Hoaxes of Horace De Vere Cole. London: Black Spring Press
https://thehistorianshut.com/2017/08/30/horace-de-vere-cole-the-great-prankster-of-britain/

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Ep.11 – John Dillinger, Part Two

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

In Part Two of Sarah’s John Dillinger deep dive, hear how a baseball player from small town Indiana earned his place as the FBI’s first ever Public Enemy Number One; the thrilling tale of the shoot out at Little Bohemia; the true story behind Dillinger’s most enduring legend; and how Clark Gable lured Dillinger to his doom.

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Sources:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dillinger-john-dillinger-timeline/
“Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI” by Bryan Burrough
“The Dillinger Days” by John Toland

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Ep.10 – Tenth Episode Extravaganza: John Dillinger, Part One

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

We’re celebrating our tenth episode of Fantastic History with a two-parter! This week, Sarah tells Clay about one of her favorite historical figures: Depression Era bank robber, John Dillinger. In Part One, hear about the train heist Dillinger pulled off with his childhood gang, his ridiculous first attempts at robbery, and his time in the Indiana prison system.

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Sources:

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dillinger-john-dillinger-timeline/
“Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI” by Bryan Burrough
“The Dillinger Days” by John Toland

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Ep.9 – Ken McElroy: The Bully Who Went Too Far

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

The town of Skidmore, Missouri faced a problem: a man named Ken McElroy. He had terrorized them for decades, robbed them, threatened them and even tried to murder them. The law would not help - Ken was able to slip his way out every time. Until one day, the town of Skidmore decided to deal with Ken themselves. Their actions have become one of the most bizarre and unique true crime cases I've ever come across. Let me tell you about it

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Sources:

No One Saw A Thing. Directed by Avi Belkin, Blumhouse Television, 2019. SundanceTV
https://www.grunge.com/715399/the-unsolved-murder-of-ken-mcelroy/
https://reasonedcrimechronicle.com/talking-well-of-the-dead-the-shooting-down-of-ken-mcelroy-usa/

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Ep.8 – We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat: New Jersey’s 1916 Shark Attacks

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Amidst an already miserable summer plagued with a scorching heat wave and a polio epidemic, visitors to the New Jersey seaside were given yet another worry to keep them up at night: a man-eating shark who claimed five victims over a twelve-day period. Tune in to learn more about the harrowing true tale that inspired Jaws.

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Sources:

Fernicola, Richard. Twelve Days of Terror: Inside the Shocking 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks. Roman & Littlefield, 2016

Music: Order by ComaStudio (royalty free) Amidst an already miserable summer plagued with a scorching heat wave and a polio epidemic, visitors to the New Jersey seaside were given yet another worry to keep them up at night: a man-eating shark who claimed five victims over a twelve-day period. Tune in to learn more about the harrowing true tale that inspired Jaws.

Ep.7 – The Princes That Vanished: The Boys in the Tower

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Near the end of the Wars of the Roses, a battle for the crown of England erupts with Richard III fighting for control after his brother's death. The late king's two sons are shut away in the Tower of London, never to be seen again. What happened to the boys in the tower is a mystery that has gripped England for centuries. Join us as we talk about this scandal and the repercussions Richard III's fight for the throne had on English history.

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Sources:

Real Royalty, 2020. Royal Murder: The Princes In The Tower | Wars Of The Roses. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwzuHGMHx1I
https://royalcentral.co.uk/features/new-theory-suggests-richard-iii-saved-the-boy-king-he-replaced-170335/
https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/the-princes-in-the-tower/

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Ep.6 – An Actual Game of Thrones: The Wars of the Roses

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Jump in the wayback machine and travel with us to the swinging fifteenth century to learn more about the true events that inspired George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series! While we won’t be discussing any direwolves or white walkers, there is plenty of intrigue, double crossing, and dudes named Edward.

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Source:

Captivating History. The Wars of the Roses: A Captivating Guide to the English Civil Wars That Brought down the Plantagenet Dynasty and Put the Tudors on the Throne. Audible Audiobook, 2018

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Ep.5 – A Credible UFO Case: The Lonnie Zamora Incident

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

When Police Sergeant Lonnie Zamora went to investigate an explosion just outside the small town of Socorro, New Mexico, he never expected that he would bear witness to what the head of Project Blue Book would later call "the best documented [UFO] case on record". Join us as we discuss this bizarre story of what Zamora saw and the intense investigation that followed.

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Ep.4 – Hungary’s Worst Hockey Player: Attila Ambrus

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Picture it: Romania, 1988. The country is struggling through its final years of Communist rule, and nobody has it worse than the ethnic Hungarians living in Transylvania. One young man, Attila Ambrus, dreamed of a better life for himself - of fame, glory, and riches. After a daring escape across the Hungarian border, he finds a way to achieve the greatness and notoriety he’s always craved.

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Source: Rubenstein, Julian. Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts. Back Bay Books, 2005

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Ep.3 – A Town in Terror: The Circleville Letters

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

In 1976, the residents of the small town of Circleville began receiving salacious and threatening letters from an unknown writer. These anonymous letters would eventually number in the thousands and would lead to cover-ups, attempted murder and death. Let Clay tell you all about the infamous Circleville Letters.

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Ep.2 – The Bear Who Went to War: Wojtek

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0000

After being released from a Nazi prison in the spring of 1942, a group of Polish soldiers traded some of their rations to an Iranian shepherd boy in exchange for his pet, a Syrian brown bear cub. The newly christened Wojtek became the mascot of Poland’s 22nd General Transport Company and considered himself to be just one of the boys. Tune in to learn more about his incredible rise from ursine orphan to decorated Army officer!

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Ep.1 – The Heist of the Century: The Antwerp Diamond Robbery

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0000

In 2003, thieves robbed one of the most secure and well-guarded places in the world - the Antwerp diamond district in Belgium. It was the largest diamond heist of all time and earned the name 'the heist of the century'. But how did they accomplish it and were they able to get away? Tune in to find out!

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