Don't Look Now

Most know Harry Houdini as a legendary escape artist.  What most don't know is that his performances were largely possible though many inventions he developed to aid in his slight of hand.  He did not want them to become public knowledge so he refused to patent them, instead keeping them secret.  Many of his methods are still unknown to this day.

Studies show that roughly a quarter of the world's population believes in various forms of psychic powers despite there being no reproducible scientific evidence of their existence.  We discuss the history of psychic phenomenon from ancient oracles to Miss Cleo's pay per call line as well as people's attempts at conducting research into parapsychology. 

The term "Moral Panic" is used in sociology to denote a widespread feeling of fear, which is often irrational, that an evil person, thing, or group threatens the interests and well being of society.  While you can probably think of several active examples today, we discuss the term and some famous past examples, like the fear of the corruption of youth by Rock and Roll, and the Satanic Panic of the 80s.  Ever wonder how these panics start and how they are perpetuated?  We've got you covered.

David Hahn spent his teen years attempting to build a breeder reactor in the potting shed behind his house.  His work resulted in a crude neutron source, a merit badge, and the unintentional creation of a superfund site and a trip to jail.

James Joseph "Whitey" Bulger Jr. was an organized crime leader in Boston from the 1960s through the 1990s.  He went into hiding in 1994 and wasn't found and arrested until 2011, resulting in him sitting behind only Osama Bin Laden on the FBI's ten most wanted list.  Most astonishingly, Bulger managed to operate as an FBI informant during his career.  By giving information on his rivals and being shielded from arrest by his status, he managed to become one of the most powerful organized crime bosses in America. 

This week we discuss the infamous MKUltra program.  The CIA's attempt to identify drugs and procedures to help with interrogation, discredit targets, and perform brainwashing and torture.  This program was carried out on human subjects, often without their knowledge and consent.  Take a listen and learn the known facts about the program that has often be portrayed in books and film.

We’ve got an episode all about Zeus, leader of the Greek pantheon of Olympic Gods and epic philanderer.  Take a listen and learn some Zeus history and some of his greatest hits from Greek mythology.

One of the greatest scientific rivalries in history was that between paleontologists Edward Cope and Othniel Marsh, often referred to as The Bone Wars.  The two struggled not just to outdo each other but also to destroy each other, resorting to bribery, theft, violence, and any other means they could think of to ruin the reputation of their rival.  The rivalry resulted in the academic and financial ruin of both men but also left us with the discovery of many of the dinosaurs we love today like triceratops, stegosaurus, and diplodocus.   

Most of us remember the nursery rhyme “Do you know the Muffin Man” from childhood or its appearance in Shrek movies.  However, is there truth to the claim that the song references the first documented serial killer in London as opposed to some nice gentleman that made baked goods?  We discuss the truth behind the origin of the song and the real first documented serial killer in London history.

On September 16th, 1994, children at the Ariel School in Ruwa, Zimbabwe claim to have seen an alien spacecraft and extraterrestrial visitors while outside playing at morning recess.  People have heralded this as proof of Extraterrestrial visitation or contended that it is a classic case of mass hysteria.  Take a listen and see what you think.