In 1953, the CIA began implementing a series of experiments on test subjects - many of whom were unknowing participants. The goal was to see if drugs could tap into parts of the mind to enable what the U.S. government referred to as 'brain warfare.' They called it Project MKUltra.
What gothic podcast would be complete without a little dash of death? Join me in exploring taphophobia, or the fear of being buried alive. Which historical figures were taphophobes? What's a safety coffin? And why did Hans Christian Anderson sleep with a sign around his neck? Find out in this particularly macabre episode.
In this mini episode, I highlight my top 5 most haunted places to stay in the U.S. From the phantoms of the Queen Mary to the tortured souls of the Bordens, find out where I think you should lay your head for some frightfully dark dreams.
In this episode, I look into fashions from bygone eras that were treacherous. Hear about corsetry, crinolines, chopines, foot binding, and the strange case of the man who avenged Lincoln.
It seems only fitting that Episode 13 explores the spirit realm. Meet the Fox sisters, who spawned spiritualism; get acquainted with the dazzling Davenport brothers and their spectacular spirit cabinet; gaze upon a spectral image courtesy of William H. Mumler.
Continuing my two-part exploration of con artists, I focus on three men who were masters of deception: Dr. Joseph Brinkley otherwise known as The Goat Gland Man, C.L. Blood with his oxygenized air, and Joseph Weil who could dupe a dictator.
In this episode, I profile four women who almost got away with elaborate schemes and what led them down that path. From promises of eternal beauty to claiming to be Carnegie's illegitimate daughter, these female con artists used clever tactics to captivate their marks.
How easy is it to fake your own death? Here are some cases of people who have made the attempt, and a few dead celebrities who many want to believe are still alive. The book mentioned in this episode is Elizabeth Greenwood's 'Playing Dead: A Journey Through the World of Death Fraud. '