Mesmerism didn't stop with Mesmer. This week, we pick up where we left off, tracing the idea of animal magnetism to America, where it went through some... changes. Get ready for a whirlwind tour of American enterprise, religion and entertainment that leads us right through the door of this dark timeline we're living in. This one's a doozy.
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The Idea that Broke America

Did you know that Europeans used to believe that sheep grew from Mongolian trees? Have you heard about the misbegotten discovery of a new form of water in the 1960s that set off a cold war arms race? Ever seen the gleaming Las Vegas hotel that accidentally shoots heat rays at poolside guests? The Constant is an audio history of getting things wrong. From ancient science to contemporary blunders, we take you on journeys of misadventure and misapprehension, filling your brain with juicy nuggets of the sometimes comical, sometimes tragical and always fascinating ways people mess things up.

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Science & Medicine

History

Society & Culture

Science

Many men tried to claim the invention of anesthesia as their own. It didn't work out well for any of them.
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The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
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Comfortably Numb, Part 3

What does every wild west shootout in every movie you've ever seen have to do with the history of anesthesia? You'll find out in the cold open! Then, stick around for the rest.
Check out: indeed.com/theconstant now to start hiring
Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comfortably Numb, Part 2

The war between humanity and its oldest, archest of enemies: pain.
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Check out: indeed.com/theconstant now to start hiring
Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comfortably Numb, Part 1

He was the most beautiful man in the history of Athens. And he nearly destroyed it.
Check out: indeed.com/theconstant now to start hiring
Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like a Son

Until recently, our understanding of where babies came from was hazy. Which made it easy for a certain class of hucksters to make up crazy stuff about them.
Get 50% off by navigating to factormeals.com/constant50
Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Idea that Broke America

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