The House Red

      Just off the coast of Venice lies Poveglia, an island with a history so dark it makes a relaxing Italian getaway sound like a terrible idea. From devastating disease to unsettling rumors that refuse to die, this little patch of land has earned a reputation that’s anything but picturesque. But how much of its terrifying legacy is fact, how much is legend, and why has it become one of the world’s most infamous islands? Pack your bags… if you dare.

     This week on The House Red, we dive into the unbelievable life of Frano Selak, the Croatian schoolteacher often called the luckiest—or unluckiest—man alive. Was he blessed by fate, cursed with impossible misfortune, or simply the greatest statistical anomaly ever recorded? Join us as we unpack one of history’s most incredible survival stories.

When Soviet archaeologists opened the tomb of Timur—better known as Timur the Lame—they reportedly found a chilling warning: disturb his grave, and a greater invader would follow. Days later, Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa. 

Coincidence, legend, or something darker? This week, we look at the life of one of history’s most feared rulers and the strange events tied to his tomb, and decide whether some secrets are better left buried.

       In 1908, a massive explosion tore through the remote wilderness of Siberia, flattening more than 80 million trees across hundreds of square miles. The strange part? No crater. No impact site. No clear explanation. Was it a meteor, a comet, a freak natural event—or something even stranger? This week on The House Red, we investigate the mysterious Tunguska Event, one of the most powerful explosions in recorded history and a cosmic cold case that still sparks debate more than a century later.

     A brutal double murder. A daughter under suspicion. A nursery rhyme everyone knows. This week on The House Red, we’re exploring the shocking case of Lizzie Borden—a story filled with bloodshed, courtroom drama, and enough unanswered questions to keep people arguing more than 130 years later. Grab a seat and decide for yourself: did Lizzie do it?

       A royal feast. A horrifying mistake. And one king who never recovered. This week on The House Red, we dive into the bizarre and gruesome story of Charles VI of France and the infamous meal that may have helped seal his fate. From medieval medicine to royal excess, this is one dinner France would never forget.

       In this episode of The House Red, we dive into the chilling true story of the Greenbrier Ghost — the only known case in U.S. history where a ghost’s testimony helped solve a murder. Young bride Zona Shue was found dead under mysterious circumstances and what followed shocked an entire town, baffled a courtroom, and turned a local legend into one of America’s strangest murder cases.

        In this episode, we explore the life of Genghis Khan—from an outcast on the Mongolian steppe to the leader of one of the largest empires in history. Was he a ruthless conqueror who left devastation in his wake, or a brilliant strategist who reshaped the world? We break down his rise, his tactics, and the lasting impact of the Mongol Empire—and ask whether history has judged him fairly.

       In 1944, the quiet town of Mattoon, Illinois was gripped by a bizarre and terrifying mystery. A phantom attacker. A town in panic. And a mystery that still doesn’t quite make sense. This week, The House Red dives into the strange case of the Mad Gasser of Mattoon.

   After a plane crash deep in the Amazon, four children vanished into one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. For 40 days, they survived alone—guided by the eldest, whose courage and instincts kept them alive against impossible odds. This is a story of survival, resilience, and a jungle that didn’t take them.