Originally released for Patrons on Sep 26, 2024

In this episode, Hallie dives into the web of social factors that likely drove the Salem Witch trials. The bewitched girls, called the afflicted, were from one faction in town, while the accused were from another. Is this a coincidence? Probably not.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes seizures, but throughout history, it was thought to be caused by demonic possession, angry gods and evil spirits. In this episode we discuss what Epilepsy is, and its medical and social history.

Originally released for Patrons on Feb 13, 2023.

"Highgate cemetery was one of the first large garden cemeteries built during the industrialization of London. Over the years it's had its ups and downs, from being a sought-after luxury cemetery to an abandoned, overgrown haunt of tramps and adolescents. It was even the scene of a possible vampire sighting. In this episode we discuss the history of Highgate."

Between the late 18th and early 20th century, the fear of premature burial was intense. This fear was spurred by both real incidents and magnification of the issue by newspapers and public interest groups. Many inventive ideas arose to deal with the issue, one of which was the security coffin. In this episode we discuss where this fear came from and the many devices created to aid the mistakenly buried.

This episode is part 2 of a 3-part series, originally published on May 18th 2023.

"In this episode, we discuss the evidence from the Jack the Ripper case, including, letters, photos, and personal accounts from the Metropolitan and City of London police. We also dive into the many suspects that have been proposed over the years, which range from escaped asylum inmates to royalty."

When you need a glimpse of hope in the most dire circumstances, there is Anna Essinger, a school teacher who was able to pull her whole school full of Jewish pupils out of Germany. Essinger taught and cared for hundreds of Jewish refugees, quietly and peacefully resisting the Nazi party throughout World War II.

Originally posted on Patreon on July 14, 2023. 

"In this episode, we discuss the archaeological and scientific work that has been done at the RMS Titanic wreck site, from its discovery in 1985 to the more recent and unfortunate expedition undertaken by OceanGate. We strive to remain sensitive and respectful, while also giving the most up-to-date and factual information about these expeditions."

Bone-setting was the strength-based art of resetting broken bones, dislocations, and bad backs. In the 1730s, one of the most prolific and effective bonesetters was Sarah Mapp, also known as Crazy Sally.

Originally published as 'Lost' on Nov 14, 2016, this remastered episode was published on Patreon on June 18th, 2024.

"Before the colony of Jamestown, another colony attempt was made on Roanoke Island. After several years and many unfortunate events, the people and the village seemingly disappeared. The Colony of Roanoke is known as the Lost Colony, and it's not as lost as you might think."

Alchemy is an ancient practice combining mysticism with scientific observation in order to explain and manipulate the natural world. Secrecy was a large part of alchemy and the use of codes and ciphers was common. Several substances were especially important to Alchemists, and in this episode, we dive into these legendary ingredients.