Impolite Society: Exploring the Weird, Taboo & Macabre

Drilling a Hole in the Skull: The Crazy History of 1960s Trepanation


Listen Later

In this episode of Impolite Society, Laura and Rachel explore the bizarre 1960s counterculture practice of trepanation, where individuals drilled holes in their heads to achieve heightened consciousness. We discuss the historical roots, key figures like Bart Hughes, and the modern revival attempts by groups advocating for it. Blending humor with research, we delve into the motivations behind self-trepanation, the supposed benefits, and the disturbing accounts of DIY procedures. This episode is a wild ride into one of the most extreme and peculiar fads of the past century.


Sources:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3640229/

https://www.scielo.br/j/anp/a/rsfbjBsF9RFVgMz3DwzsnkC/?lang=en

https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/hole-in-the-head-trepanation/

https://cvltnation.com/head-lure-trepanation/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1FHTJo4Bcg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJRA6EejY0U

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1173790/ pub: 2000

https://www.rcfp.org/abc-ordered-hand-over-unedited-head-drilling-tapes/

https://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/28/turner.php

https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/nation-world/2001/05/20/you-need-this-like-hole/50338130007/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/features/trepan.htm

https://www.thesantaclara.org/blog/trepanation

https://www.vice.com/en/article/meet-the-man-who-drilled-a-hole-in-his-own-skull-to-stay-high-forever/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/madness-stones-to-new-age-medicine-a-history-of-drilling-holes-in-our-heads/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-english-countess-revolutionizing-psychedelic-drugs-research/ 

https://lundissimo.info/docs/trep/luck_hole.html 

https://apocalypse-confidential.com/2022/07/30/through-the-blind-hole/ 

https://web.archive.org/web/20050407083517fw_/http://www.trepan.com/

https://news.bme.com/wp-conten

Got your own thoughts? Text them to Impolite Society!

Text Rachel and Laura or email us at [email protected]. Visit our website for info about the show and your hosts.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Impolite Society: Exploring the Weird, Taboo & MacabreBy Flyover Radio, Inc.

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

32 ratings


More shows like Impolite Society: Exploring the Weird, Taboo & Macabre

View all
Strictly Anonymous Confessions by Kathy Kay

Strictly Anonymous Confessions

1,440 Listeners

Why Are People Into That?! by Tina Horn

Why Are People Into That?!

291 Listeners

History Dweebs - A look at True Crime, Murders, Serial Killers and the Darkside of History by Tim Scott, Charles Walters and Brandy Herrmann

History Dweebs - A look at True Crime, Murders, Serial Killers and the Darkside of History

557 Listeners

HuffPost Love + Sex by HuffPost

HuffPost Love + Sex

509 Listeners

Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People by Chris Gethard

Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People

8,525 Listeners

Sexology by Dr. Nazanin Moali, Ph.D, Psychology of Sex | Couple Therapy | Sex Education

Sexology

433 Listeners

Turn Me On by Snack Labs

Turn Me On

185 Listeners

Other People’s Lives by Other People’s Lives

Other People’s Lives

3,198 Listeners

We Love to Hate Everything: Weekly Roasts of Sister Wives and Pop Culture by Boot Lamp Media

We Love to Hate Everything: Weekly Roasts of Sister Wives and Pop Culture

602 Listeners

Beyond the Secret by Ace Fanning

Beyond the Secret

1,579 Listeners

Come Curious by Florence Bark & Reed | QCODE

Come Curious

381 Listeners

Taboo Science by Ashley Hamer

Taboo Science

53 Listeners

The StickyBeak by Monika O'Hanlon

The StickyBeak

3 Listeners

Talk Sex with Annette (Locker Room Talk & Shots) by Talk Sex with Annette

Talk Sex with Annette (Locker Room Talk & Shots)

57 Listeners

They Talk Sex by Elle Stanger,  CSE

They Talk Sex

136 Listeners