Ripley's Believe It or Notcast

The largest president by all measurements, William Howard Taft is said to have spent four “uncomfortable years” in the White House, but did he really get so stuck in his bathtub that six people had to pry his naked body out?

This week on the Notcast, we investigate the stories of the portly president’s bathtub and uncover what might explain how his legacy became tainted by pernicious porcelain.

Show notes are on Ripleys.com. You can join the Notcast conversation on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected].

While the myth of lightning never striking twice has been perpetuated for years, meteorologists have long debunked the idea as nonsense.

This week on the Notcast, we explain why lightning can and will strike twice. We also examine the lives of two people who thought they were cursed after being struck by lightning several times throughout their lives.

Show notes are on Ripleys.com. You can join the Notcast conversation on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected].

While gilded retellings of the settlement of Jamestown may include a star-crossed romance between John Smith and the Native American princess, Pocahontas, how history has another tale to tell.

This week on the Notcast, we discuss the true nature of the pair's relationship. Were they lovers or even friends? And did Pocahontas really put her life on the line to save the English explorer?

Show notes are on Ripleys.com. You can join the Notcast conversation on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected].

It’s common knowledge that Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear, but what scholars are still trying to piece together is why the Dutch artist was driven to such a desperate act and whether he was the one who actually did it.

This week, we look into the theory that fellow artist Paul Gauguin cut off van Gogh's ear with a sword, and whether a letter from his brother led to a mental breakdown.

Show notes are on Ripleys.com. You can join the Notcast conversation on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected].

We’ve all heard the story of George Washington, the Founding Father who led America’s colonies to victory in 1781, having wooden teeth. It reminds us that even the greatest heroes have flaws. Some stories even say he carved his teeth himself, a reflection of the admirable ability for a person to solve their own problems. This idea may make for a great story, and compelling lesson in character but is any of it true?

This week on the Notcast, we look through historical accounts and Washington’s own writings to find out what his teeth were actually made of and why his dentures were treated like a state secret.

Show notes are on Ripleys.com. You can join the Notcast conversation on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected].

The idea of a moat imparts a sense of impassibility and danger. For one to fall into the waters of a castle moat seems to spell inevitable death at the jaws of crocodiles, the pets of a sinister count or king, but is there any historical precedence for crocodile-filled moats?

This week on the Notcast, we look through the history books to find out how moats worked and if any contained killer reptiles.

Show notes are on Ripleys.com. You can join the Notcast conversation on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected].

Cockroaches are renowned for how hard they are to kill; they’ve even been rumored to be tough enough to survive nuclear Armageddon. But is their resilience exaggerated?

Is the roach's body tough enough to survive nuclear detonation and fallout? This week on the Notcast, we break down the research behind a cockroach and atomic bomb confrontation.

Show notes are on Ripleys.com. You can join the Notcast conversation on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected].

Lemmings have a reputation for being suicide-obsessed cliff-diving rodents, but what explains this curious behavior?

While Brent and Ryan work on season two of the Notcast, we explore the "Or Not" side of Ripley's Believe It or Not!. This week, we look into the mystery of lemming behavior, and how our understanding of these rodents became so warped.

Show notes are on Ripleys.com. You can join the Notcast conversation on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected].

Could your grocery store clerk, the nurse at your local clinic, or even your priest be a real vampire? Whether it's biological or not, vampirism has long been used as a way to describe the differences between certain groups of people.

On the season one finale of the Notcast, Brent and Ryan interview real vampires, delving into the bizarre and sometimes bloody underground world of these unique individuals.

Show notes are on Ripleys.com. You can join the Notcast conversation on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected].

What began as an investigation into the life of accused witch Giles Corey, culminated in an interview with modern-day witch Lori Bruno.

This week, Brent and Ryan discuss the horrors perpetrated in association with the Salem Witch Trials. One man chose to be squished to death by rocks, rather than falsely admit to being a witch.

Show notes are on Ripleys.com. You can join the Notcast conversation on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected].