Joe, Toren, and Kevin take a look at plummeting to your death (and other outcomes) from heights both great and ridiculously small. We go from history's Gemonian Stairs to the 1912 Eiffel Tower "Parachute Coat" incident to the most impressive falls from planes in recent memory including Alan MaGee, Nicholas Alkamade, and  Vezna Vulović. All this plus a Public Service Announcement on how to survive a bungee jumping accident and pop-culture most memorable falls!

Plus: a special Celebrity Lesser of Two Evils recorded with skeptic-musician George Hrab! He's not here for the whole episode but we managed to catch up with him while he was in Vancouver to ask him to choose between two horrible fates!

Music: "Everything Alive Will Die Someday" by George Hrab

Images

Links

Cheapass Games - Falling

George Hrab - GeoLogic Podcast

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBN3xfGrx_U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIGrvofPqRU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZIzreiseMk

Joanna Gaskell of the Standard Action web series joins us to discuss the history and "science" of alchemy, including the philosopher's stone and elixir of life, transmutation of elements, the universal solvent, homonculi, famous alchemists and frauds. Plus alchemy portrayed in film, comics, TV, literature, and video games.

Music: "There'll Be Some Changes Made" by The Boswell Sisters

Images

Linksguest

Standard Action

Standard Action Season 3 Kickstarter

Critical Hit Show

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5_9nat1_9U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAKNkrXhB60

Regicide continues — surprisingly — in the news with the Nepalese royal massacre! From there we jump right into the regicide-filled world of A Song of Ice And Fire/Game of Thrones.

Green Ronin Publishing’s Chris Pramas joins Kevin, Toren, and Joe to discuss the deaths of royalty like Mary, Queen of Scots and Charles I as well as Shaka Zulu’s mother issues and more!

Entomophile Andrew Scott joins us to talk about Cimex lectularius including a science quiz, traumatic extravaginal insemination, old timey bed bug treatments, plus news, pop culture and tips on how to avoid bed bug infestation at home and when traveling.

Music: "Mean Old Bed Bug Blues" by The Rhythmakers

Images

Links

Andrew's Bug Sculptures

Bed Bugs Fact Sheet

Health Canada - Bed Bugs

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GcFO8y-WDE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKfvnYGVTYg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9z_LtDx5-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSJgbzczdDY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MakIB_IJnu0

Joe, Kevin, and Toren discuss marijuana's many odd nicknames, effects, history of use, and some of the outrageous anti-marijuana propaganda of the 20th Century. After the break it's time for the weirder side of stoner movies, including Super High Me and the "Evil Bong" series.

Music: "That Cat Is High" by The Ink Spots

Images

Links

Leafly

VapeWorld.com (Pax Vaporizer)

Just A Plant

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jO_ncXj7RE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpDKfj7X8A0

The second in our ongoing Evil Dames in History series features "The Beast of Buchenwald", Ilse Koch. Kevin, Toren, and Joe look at this concentration camp terror, the claims of her bizarre leather work, as well as Ilse Koch inspirations in pop culture! Then we top it up with the return of "Lesser of Two Evils".

Music: "The Old Lamplighter" by Sammy Kaye

Images

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmhxHPsxYRc

The history of April Fools Day and other mischievous occasions, famous pranks gone wrong, practical jokes in the news and in comics, cartoons, movies and video games.

Music: "Just Kiddin' Around"  by Artie Shaw

Images

Links

Star Control 2 (The Ur-Quan Masters)

The Museum of Hoaxes

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBtOkw38DJU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyXWnVY0F3U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MjPPMLlZqo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=5tyV19ItB20&feature=fvwp

Dr. Jenna joins Joe, Kevin, and Toren to look at the mosquito-borne peril of malaria. We discuss the life cycle of the this protist parasite from mosquito to human and back again, tales of a recent outbreak, and news of a promising new treatment strategy.

Music: "Heebee Jeebies" by The Boswell Sisters

Charity O' The Week: Nothing But Nets Campaign

Images

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y68F8YwLWdg

In part two of our look at the biblical apocalypse, we discuss news and pop culture, including "Left Behind," "The Omen," "End of Days." and "The Rapture." Special guest Robert M. Price!

Music: "Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn" by Spike Hughes

Images

Links

Robert M. Price