Just the Gist

This week, animal trainer/stand up comedian Emma Malik is telling us about the history of animals in the armed forces & how we ended up in a world where dolphins are trained to (allegedly) kill. 

Turns out, during the early years of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union started using dolphins as part of their naval defence strategies. Over the years, dolphins have been deployed on increasingly complicated missions, and they’ve become such an important part of Russia’s operations that Vladimir Putin himself “auditions” new recruits. 

Jacob shares the story with comedian Emma Malik

Follow Emma on Instagram @emma.malik.comedian

Book her as a trainer: https://www.emmamalik.com/

Watch her on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5DG82vGszEy-6rVJlZATLA

Skip straight to the story: approx 12:35

We give you just the gist, but if you want more, there's this: 

Watch Russian Trained Dolphins Deployed To Ukraine War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elWHlZI5wSA 

Read DEFENDER DOLPHINS: The Story of "Project Short Time by Harold W Goforth 

Follow us on Insta: @justthegistpodcast

Send us your suGISTions for stories and guests: [email protected]

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In the early 2000’s, a group of artists were evicted from their home to make space for a shopping centre parking lot in Providence, Rhode Island. They were sad to lose their lodgings, and angry to see all the city's residential properties being converted into commercial ones.

This inspired them to run an experiment to find out whether a commercial property, like a shopping centre, could also be used as a residential space.

Initially the plan was to try to live in the Providence Place mall for a week without getting caught…

But 4 years later, the group were still secretly living in the mall in an apartment they’d covertly set up & filled with furniture, appliances & luxury homewares. 

Jacob shares the story with Charlie Clausen

Listen to Charlie's podcasts 'TOFOP' and '2 Guys 1 Cup' here: https://tofop.com/podcasts/

Listen to Charlie's podcast 'Dadpod' here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/dadpod-with-charlie-clausen-and-osher-g%C3%BCnsberg/id1483899206 

Skip straight to the story: approx 20:09

We give you just the gist, but if you want more, there's this: 

CHECK OUT Michael’s website, starting with a summary of his side of the story and his public apology 

http://trummerkind.com/mall/What_Happened.html 

READ this article and check out the photos of the wall being built 

https://www.core77.com/posts/115435/RISD-Grad-Built-a-Secret-Apartment-Inside-a-Providence-Shopping-Mall 

LISTEN To the episode of 99% Invisible called “The Accidental Room” which features a conversation with Michael 

https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-accidental-room/ 

WATCH Michael’s TED Talk about creativity and collaboration in the workplace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egAfg4dgFAs 

WATCH The tutorial video if you’re keen to learn how to make Tape Art 

https://www.youtube.com/tapeart 

Follow us on Insta: @justthegistpodcast

Send us your suGISTions for stories and guests: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On an ordinary morning in 1980’s Maryland, 17-year-old Larry Swartz and his 9-year-old sister Annie called 9-11 to report that their parents had been killed at their family home. When police arrived, they found their mum, Kay, stripped naked on the front lawn with stab wounds to her neck and their dad, Bob, in their home office having been stabbed 17 times. There were no signs of a break in and nothing was missing from the home, so police turned their attention to the family as suspects: Larry, Annie and their older brother Michael who’d been kicked out of home for being violent and rebellious.

Jacob shares every twist and turn with Veronica Milsom.

This episode was brought to you by Hayu.

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In 1978, eligible bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw appeared on the American reality TV program Dating Game to try and find her perfect match. Cheryl picked Bachelor #1, Rodney Alcala, who was known for his passion for photography, skydiving and riding his motorcycle. Unbeknownst to Cheryl, she picked a man who’d spent the past 10 years brutally murdering women and girls all over the United States.

Jacob shares the story with guest host and reality TV connoisseur Adam Densten.

This episode was brought to you by Hayu.

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In September 1977, an American Mormon missionary named Kirk Anderson went missing from his London church. When he returned three days later he claimed he’d been kidnapped by his ex-girlfriend, Joyce McKinney, tied to a bed and forced to have sex with her until she fell pregnant. Her story? They were in love and she was trying to rescue him from (what she believed was) the cult of Mormonism.

Join Jacob and co-host Veronica Milsom as they follow the story including the salacious headlines, fake wigs & fat suits, John Travolta and a desperate accomplice named Keith waiting in the wings.

This episode was brought to you by Hayu.

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In Julie d’Aubigny's short life she enjoyed affairs with men and women, joined (and destroyed) a convent, performed in the Paris Opera, defeated men in duels and got away with it.

It's a Just The Gist classic from 2020 chock-full of gender dynamics, snuff boxes and periods.

We'll be back with new stories and special guest hosts next week.

We give you Just The Gist, but if you want more, there’s this:

A comprehensive written account of the life of La Maupin with good footnotes that help provide context https://www.eldacur.com/~brons/Maupin/LaMaupin.html 

An even more comprehensive article https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/maupin-daubigny-c-1670-1707 

For those who prefer listicles to big slabs of text, here's one https://www.factinate.com/people/facts-julie-daubigny/ 

An author called Kelly Gardiner wrote a novel inspired by La Maupin called "Goddess" - you can buy the paperback here https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780732298883/goddess/ or track down the ebook version. 

See Julie: The Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/julie-the-musical

Our original episode about Julie d'Aubigny was published in June 2020 - scroll down in your feed to find it

If you liked this episode, check out our episodes with other kick-arse women including Amelia Earhart, Nancy Wake & Nellie Bly

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Before Lou Pearlman and Backstreet Boys, before Britney Spears and her parents… there was Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis. The managers of massive stars ripping them off for their talent and controlling every little thing about them is nothing new, but few people know it happened to Elvis. In fact, few people know much about Elvis Presley’s manager at all, except that Colonel Tom Parker had a weird accent and - oh, he probably murdered someone. 

Skip straight to the story: 6:25

We give you Just The Gist, but if you want more there’s this:

Read the book Jacob talked about: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Colonel/Alanna-Nash/9781451613575
Vanity Fair article: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/06/colonel-tom-parker-elvis-true-story/amp

Smithsonian article: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/colonel-parker-managed-elvis-career-but-was-he-a-killer-on-the-lam-108042206/

Watch the new Elvis movie: https://youtu.be/wBDLRvjHVOY

Watch a doco: https://youtu.be/U7ma-YGM5Bk

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Rosie is back, and it's been so long that she's collected a Breakin' Nooz BONANZA. 

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On August 4th, 1986, it was discovered that the most expensive painting in Australia, 'The Weeping Woman’ by Pablo Picasso, was missing from the National Gallery of Victoria's collection. Turned out it had been abducted by a cheeky new organisation no-one had ever heard of: the "Australian Cultural Terrorists” (the A.C.T) who were holding the painting ransom. Their demands? Increase funding to the arts, or the painting would be incinerated. 

Was this really a crime? Or was it more of an act of protest? Or a piece of performance art? Whatever the ACT intended it to be viewed as, it’s hilariously funny. 

Jacob shares the story with long time friend of the podcast and guest host Stuart Semple. Follow Stuart on Instagram @stuartsemple

Skip straight to the story: approx 13:21

We give you Just The Gist, but if you want more, there's this:

Watch the fantastic documentary “Framed” 

https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/framed 

Read this article from the day after the painting was found to be missing 

https://www.theage.com.au/culture/art-and-design/from-the-archives-1986-victoria-refuses-stolen-picasso-ransom-demand-20210730-p58ei5.html 

Check out these articles, written 30 years after the painting went missing, featuring a few theories about who the Australian Cultural Terrorists were… 

https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/thomas-dixon-first-person-weeping-woman-20160623-gpqixc.html 

https://www.crikey.com.au/2016/08/31/who-stole-picassos-weeping-woman-2/ 

To enjoy the Google reviews some folks have left for the Ann Freedman’s new gallery, just google Freedman Art and scroll through reviews like this one: 

“On the way out, a thin, curly, gray haired lady whispered that she could get me a Picasso for $500. I talked her down to $325!  Paint was barely dry!  It looks great, hanging over the cat litter box!”

If you haven't heard Jacob's episode about the fued between Stuart Semple & Anish Kapoor, scroll back in your feed to episode #35 'Stuart Semple vs Anish Kapoor'

Jacob caught up with Stuart last year too, scroll back to episode #99 'CHATTING WITH STUART SEMPLE’

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In 1692, in the small colonial village of Salem, Massachusetts, two young girls started experiencing bizarre, convulsive fits. The doctor’s diagnosis? Witchcraft. Over the course of a few months, as more villagers experienced similar strange symptoms, people started accusing their friends and neighbours of practicing black magic. Paranoia spread throughout Salem, and over the following 15 months of mass hysteria more than 200 people were accused, 20 people were executed and 5 people died in prison.

Jacob shares the story with guest host Abbie Chatfield. Follow Abbie on Instagram @abbiechatfield

We love Abbie's podcast 'It's A Lot'. New episodes are out every Tuesday & the infamous Nightmare Fuel episodes are out every Friday

Skip straight to the story: approx 27:19

We give you Just The Gist, but if you want more, there's this:

Listen to the History Extra podcast’s 9 part series https://open.spotify.com/episode/1NsSdyDu9cqaQHFoMURJ4k 

Read The Salem Witch Trials : A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-salem-witch-trials-a-day-by-day-chronicle-of-a-community-under-siege-marilynne-k-roach/book/9781589791329.html?source=pla&gclid=CjwKCAjwwo-WBhAMEiwAV4dybdRk6jpXnFNssskTU47hcDRPal5kUfSmjqf_ZARj8hYTmDT-53ZIoBoC2dEQAvD_BwE 

Read this article from Vox about Salem as a kitschy, sanitised tourist destination today https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/10/30/16560092/salem-witch-trials-magic-halloween-witchcraft-arthur-miller-crucible-past 

If you want to hear Rosie & Jacob recap Abbie's season of The Bachelor, scroll to the bottom of your podcast feed and listen to episodes 1 - 8

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