American Loser Podcast
215 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 154 ratingsIn a culture obsessed with winning, "American Loser" is the podcast that puts the spotlight firmly on second place. Comedian KP Burke and his handsome Father dive head first into the true stories of the biggest losers in American History. Our theme song is "American Loser" by the supremely talented Robert Rolfe Feddersen. All episodes recorded at A Shared Universe Podcast Studio in Eatontown, New Jersey
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Episodes
Prince Hall: Forgotten hero of Black History
February 09, 2021 04:14 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBThe man called "Hobart" joins us, we talk about the original "community organizer...the legend known as "Prince Hall".....welcome to the inside knowledge that is "losing".....we love ya. Enjoy
Black History Month Announcement
February 02, 2021 16:01 - 13 minutes - 31.1 MBLittle Update from the boys over at American Loser. We've got a monster topic to start off Black History Month but between logistics, snow storms and a 16 hour drive back to New Jersey, we decided that rather than give you another "solo" episode that we'd delay this episode until we can do it properly in studio later this week. Sorry for the delay but thank you for understanding and keeping up the support. We will be back in style within a few days!
A trio of Florida Losers: A priest, a conman and a U-Boat walk into a bar
January 25, 2021 23:39 - 45 minutes - 103 MBLast solo episode from Florida! Back in studio next week but in the mean time enjoy this "trio" of Losers from Florida history. I tell the story of the Exploding Bishop, the Pirate King of Amelia Island and the U-boat sinking of the SS Gulfamerica. Enjoy!
Ben Bluff Wade: One Vote From President
January 18, 2021 22:17 - 42 minutes - 94.9 MBLive from Jacksonville, KP is Kahuna, LP, Ming and himself all rolled into one this week as we tell the tale of Ben "Bluff" Wade the only man to ever truly be one vote away from the Presidency. Wild story...let us break it down for ya! Enjoy!
America's Last Pirate: John Ashley
January 12, 2021 00:38 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBThe original #FloridaMan, John Ashley is part Jesse James, part Robin Hood but all FLORIDA bay-bay. His lifelong feud with Sheriff Baker has all the makings of Hollywood. LP, Kahuna and Eric Albert all take turns shocking us with more weird details on the "King of the Everglades". Enjoy!
Camp Siegfried and Hitler's New York Nazis
January 04, 2021 20:12 - 1 hour - 64.5 MBNazis in New York? Sounds crazy but it happened! Learn all about the wild origins of the Nazi party in America. What started off as just a fun summer camp in Long Island later filled Madison Square Garden with a rally that most people would like to forget. Eric Albert joins us and drinks too much (shocking).
Rockets and Witchcraft...the Jack Parsons story
December 29, 2020 05:41 - 1 hour - 105 MBDifferent style episode here today but the topic requires it. Andy Highroller and Jack Steiger return to the show to talk with us about Jack Parsons. Parsons is pure chaos to try and categorize, he's a mad genius, rocket scientist, cult leader, friend of Aleister Crowley and practitioner of the occult....oh yeah, he also kinda helped us start NASA. ENJOY!
The Kelly Family Killers
December 20, 2020 12:53 - 32 minutes - 74.5 MBYou can't be together with all your family this holiday...just thank God you aren't staying with the Kelly Family instead though. A family of Serial Killers that used their cozy "Tavern" as the site of nearly a dozen murders, the Kelly family "Fiends" brought back horrid memories of the "Bloody Benders"...another murdering family in the area. We cover both in detail just in time for Christmas! Enjoy!
Bull Simons and the Son Tay Raiders
December 14, 2020 15:24 - 1 hour - 233 MBThe most daring, successful and ballsy rescue mission in American history was actually a tangible failure. It involves Green Berets, Bomber Squadrons, Attack Helicopters and gritty World War 2 Vets hell bent on rescuing American POWs from the jungles of Vietnam. Enjoy this bizarre tale of American Military excellence with "mixed" results.
Tragedy and Mayhem at Altamont
December 08, 2020 04:46 - 1 hour - 72.5 MBA concert so wild that the Grateful Dead decided to bail....the Rolling Stones, Hells Angels and 300,000 fans, many on heavy drugs like acid and meth....what could possibly go wrong. This story seems like a bad trip come to life because it is....Andy Highroller joins us again while we talk about the death of the innocence of the hippie movement in style...enjoy.
American Loser Bay Of Pigs 2
December 01, 2020 15:11 - 1 hour - 71.1 MBPart 2 will complete our telling of infamous bay of pigs. The players are on board, JFK had to figure out what to do with the fiery young rebel just off the Florida shores, while the USSR starts getting some whacky ideas on what to with the place.
Bay of Pigs Part 1 of 2
November 23, 2020 17:02 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBSo much losing...it's gonna take us two episodes to cover it all. Part 1 of our Bay of Pigs excursion lets us set the groundwork for the Guatemalan Coup, the United Fruit Company and the CIA frameworks from the American side as well as the rise of Castro in Cuba and his heroes welcome he received in American in 1959....part 2 is gonna be nuts...but you have to understand the how and the why to truly appreciate all the losing.
William Tecumseh Sherman
November 17, 2020 04:41 - 1 hour - 195 MBJoin us as we explore all things "Losery" about General William Tecumseh Sherman, Civil war hero or villain depending on who you talk to..his life is wild...oh yeah and and a familiar voice returns to the show behind those 1s and 2s.
St. Clair's Defeat aka The Battle of Wabash
November 02, 2020 16:57 - 1 hour - 78.5 MBThis week we're open field tackling the little known but highly interesting Battle of Wabash aka St. Clair's Defeat...you know you fucked up when they name your blunder after you. Lots of familiar names in this one but lots more unfamiliar ones...Enjoy!
St. Clair's Defeat
November 02, 2020 16:57 - 1 hour - 78.5 MBThis week we're open field tackling the little known but highly interesting Battle of Wabash aka St. Clair's Defeat...you know you fucked up when they name your blunder after you. Lots of familiar names in this one but lots more unfamiliar ones...Enjoy!
Salem Witch Trials
October 25, 2020 20:30 - 1 hour - 104 MBWitches, demons and more this week as LP, Myself and my Sister Kerri and her wife (both probably witches) are in studio to talk about the fateful events that took place in Salem in 1692....it's our final Halloween episode of the month and we think you're gonna like it!
Eastern State Penitentiary
October 18, 2020 15:26 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBThis weeks "Loser" is a building, a system and a horror factory known as Eastern State Penitentiary. ESP is still standing, just outside of Philly and housed some of the most infamous prisoners of all time. Stories of torture, escapes and the gloom and doom design all add to the mystique of this one of a kind structure. My sister Kerri, fresh off parole, sits in for LP. Enjoy.
The Horror of the SS Morro Castle
October 12, 2020 19:11 - 1 hour - 64.8 MBLP dives deep while Ming and I try to keep it light and tell the horrifying story of the fate of the SS Morro Castle....we learned nothing from TITANIC apparently!!!
The Mysterious Agent 355
October 05, 2020 18:05 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBAgent 355 is the code name of one of the most successful spies in the history of America....their identity was never exposed...or was it? We tackle the story in style. It involves George Washington, prison ships and hangings...so you know it's good.
The Great Chicago Fire
September 29, 2020 14:16 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBUncle Paulie steps in for LP and we're talking about the great Chicago Fire and how it all got pinned on a poor old lady and her cow!
"Demo Dick" Marcinko and SEAL Team Six
September 21, 2020 00:09 - 1 hour - 69.1 MBYou've heard of Navy SEALS but do you know their backstory? Ming joins us as we tell the origin of the SEALS and then the story of Richard "Demo Dick" Marcinko...the first commander of Seal Team 6. The story takes the usual wild turns in a heartbeat. Marcinko is a fascinating man with a unique, occasionally troubling but all around INTENSE story. Enjoy!
2 Year Anniversary Show (fixed audio at 2:09)with Mark Riccadonna
September 18, 2020 20:19 - 1 hour - 139 MBAUDIO ISSUE CORRECTS QUICKLY! Our FB LIVE Feed was very fun but here is the audio for those that missed out. Thank you for making the show what it is...guest and honorary "Loser In Chief" Comedian Mark Riccadonna joins us for a recap. Also shout out to our boy Mike Harrington of Gas Digital for helping us remaster the sound!
Ford vs The Dodge Brothers: The Blood Feud
September 08, 2020 02:20 - 1 hour - 150 MBYou know the names...you don't know the story of the most intense rivalry in the history of the auto industry. It gets intense fast and we have to crack jokes nonstop to try and mitigate the chaos. Thanks to Ming and Kahuna for letting us go long enough to tell this story the right way...enjoy but beware...this one divides by zero.
Mike Cannon talks to us about MK Ultra
August 27, 2020 14:39 - 52 minutes - 71.6 MBComedian and Pal the hilarious Mike Cannon joins us via zoom to talk about the wild story of MK Ultra. Check out Mike's movie "Timing" on Amazon Prime, his podcast "Irish Goodbye" and his two great comedy albums. We covered MK Ultra in its own episode but Mike has a deep well of knowledge on all things "Conspiracy". Enjoy!
Thomas Paine and the mix tape that changed the world.
August 23, 2020 18:21 - 1 hour - 240 MBThomas Paine is possibly the most beloved and forgotten man in World History. His writings legitimately changed the course of human history. He was celebrated, destitute, imprisoned, nearly executed and more. His lists of friends and enemies includes majority of the most famous people in history and his story just simply needs to be told more...enjoy!
Mary Surratt and the Plot to Kill Abe Lincoln
August 18, 2020 16:08 - 1 hour - 72.9 MBMary Surratt lived a relatively normal life until the American Civil War...then she got tangled up in a web of spies, espionage and even had a small and controversial role in the assassination of President Lincoln...get a load of how this nice Catholic girl from Maryland went from Innkeeper to death row as Cousins Maggie and Megan join us for the story of Mary Surratt and the Booth Conspiracy.
MK Ultra: How the CIA started the best (and worst) party of all time!
August 11, 2020 04:40 - 1 hour - 77.9 MBNazis, CIA Agents, The Grateful Dead, Unabombers and tons of LSD....is this a party or a government program? Turns out...it was both. There was murder, cover ups, torture and all sorts of chaos during this decades long project to test certain substances on the knowing and more often on the unknowing. Enjoy the wild tale of Project MK Ultra.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
August 05, 2020 03:10 - 1 hour - 70.5 MBThe Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was one of the worst tragedies in the history of New York City...and somehow our guests Chris Covert and Ken Krantz made it okay to laugh at. The disaster spawned true reform for working conditions in America, the labor movement took on a new chapter and even those crazy old Roosevelts got involved. A truly irreverent take on an important topic...this one had us laughing big time.
Summer of 1916 and the "Jersey Man-Eating Shark" (with Ming Chen and Max Antonucci)
July 27, 2020 21:26 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBMing Chen in the house with guest and comedian Max Antonucci as we tell the gruesome but entirely true story of the Summer of 1916 Jersey Shore Shark Attacks.....4 people would die horrific deaths, was it a great white shark? a bull shark? A pissed off sea turtle? The Germans? All this and more while we unpack the true story that inspired the novel and later masterpiece film "Jaws".....enjoy!
Dracula, Vlad the Impaler and Mike Zapcic walk into a bar....
July 20, 2020 13:32 - 1 hour - 228 MBBram Stoker may not be American but he for damn sure is a "Loser"...the boss Mike Zapcic joins LP, the Kahuna and myself for a tell all type episode. Mike schools us up on all things Bram Stoker and Vampires and LP gives us the deep dive on "Vlad the Impaler". This was a wildly fun episode to record. Bram's life, inspirations for his masterpiece, his famous friends and more on this bad boy!
BONUS: Interview with Dr David Warmflash/ Moon Landings and more
July 19, 2020 16:26 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MBFan and Friend of the Show, Dr David Warmflash joins us from the west coast for an interview about the curiosities behind the Moon landings and more. David's book "Moon: An Illustrated History" is a fantastic way to learn more about this topic...AND IT HAS PICTURES! Enjoy this bonus episode interview that Kahuna bravely did for us while going through a tropical storm!
Frank and Jesse James (American Loser/I Can Steal That! Crossover)
July 12, 2020 13:54 - 1 hour - 216 MBSpecial crossover edition of "Loser" this week as stand up comic and host of "I can steal that!" Pete Stegemeyer joins forces with KP and the Kahuna to tell the story of Frank and Jesse James and their gangs brazen, never before attempted day time bank robberies. We give some backstory on the James Gang, Pete walks us through the heists in great detail and then Kahuna casts a dream movie featuring all the major players. Please enjoy and check out Pete's great podcast "I Can Steal That" on all...
Carl Panzram: aka GG Allin without a guitar
July 07, 2020 03:05 - 1 hour - 173 MBGuest, comedian and delinquent Andy Lawson returns! This week while LP is out camping in West Jersey we're talking Carl Panzram one of America's most prolific murderers and criminals in history. With a story so awful it's almost charming, Carl shows us why they called him "Rage Personified" and what an opening line tells you about about a person.
NASA's Nazi: Wernher Von Braun
June 29, 2020 23:09 - 1 hour - 218 MBThis guy helped us put a man on the moon...but man does he have a shady past. Wernher Von Braun is the REASON NASA worked but he was also a card carrying member of the Nazi party! How deep does his involvement go? Was it on paper or was he doing some really bad shit? How did he wind up in America? Find out all this and more with this weeks guest comedian Chris Johnston.
Charles Lee: the D-Bag of the American Revolution
June 23, 2020 00:26 - 1 hour - 102 MBCharles Lee was almost the biggest hero of the American Revolution...but he was kind of a jerk. He picked fights all over the place, talked trash about George Washington, got captured by the British in a whorehouse, may have committed treason and got a court martial at the Battle of Monmouth. Enjoy the wild story of Charles Lee while comedian Joe Carney lends us some "voices".
Orson Welles: Under-appreciated genius of film, radio and everything else he touched
June 15, 2020 21:43 - 2 hours - 344 MBStrap in....this one is a wild, bumpy and at times overwhelming ride. Orson Welles is a man of every talent. He's been called the boy genius, the problem child, the master of the medium, the bullshit artist, the God of the Damned and a one man American Institution. His story has ZERO uninteresting parts. He feuds with billionaires, gets badmouthed by Nazis, marries Hollywood starlets, gets exiled to Europe, hoaxes half the country and makes nothing BUT Masterpieces....Orson Welles is the ICON...
America's Emperor?
June 08, 2020 22:06 - 1 hour - 245 MBAmerica is a democracy! Sure? We've never had a monarch! Right? Well today we're telling the story of Joshua Abraham Norton...Emperor of America and Protector of Mexico....in a 100 PERCENT true story we tell the story of the unofficial ambassador of San Francisco while we also sneak in a little history of the 49' Gold Rush. Emperor Norton is not an episode to be missed!
Mike Fink: King of the River and sort of a jerk
June 01, 2020 19:39 - 1 hour - 140 MBPart tall tale, part hero, part jerk but all "Loser" comes this week's installment of the podcast. Mike Fink is a hard guy to get the facts on but the stuff we did find helped us gather some ideas about the "Half man/ Half Alligator" and as we try to put together the mysterious of how a drunken river pirate brawler got a ride named after him in DisneyLand. Enjoy!
BONUS: Smedley Butler and "The Business Plot"
May 28, 2020 15:44 - 23 minutes - 53.2 MBBONUS: Listen to the wild plot to overthrow FDR that Smedley Butler exposed....the man legit saved America.
Smedley Butler aka the Real Captain America
May 25, 2020 20:51 - 1 hour - 251 MBFor Memorial Day, we're happy to give you a mega sized episode of American Loser. LP is LIVE in studio with us for a topic we've been waiting to cover for months. At the time of his death, Smedley Butler was the most highly decorated Marine in American history. He pretty much conquered small nations, whooped asses, fixed problems, ran Philly, found a dead body part of Stonewall Jackson, earned the respect of Presidents and the hatred of another...all before joining the peace movement and givi...
The Mysterious Mary Celeste
May 19, 2020 01:19 - 1 hour - 97.5 MBEveryone loves mysteries and ghost stories...this one is kinda both. The curious case of the Mary Celeste is intriguing and raises the hair on your arms a little. We cover the story from the very beginning to the unconventional end with plenty of creepy stops in between. We cover the superstitions of both old and modern sailors....LP returns next week and feel free to check out our patreon to get access to our first premium episode at the end of the month!
Bonus: NASA and the 30 Million Dollar Sandwich (LP call in)
May 12, 2020 15:45 - 23 minutes - 54.7 MBLP calls in via skype from South Florida (we hope he will be back up here in Jersey soon) to tell us the tale of the now infamous "30 Million Dollar Sandwich"...the story supports small businesses, involves Homer Simpson and of course a wiseass from New Jersey.
Gus Grissom: NASA's Hard Luck Hero
May 12, 2020 04:09 - 1 hour - 178 MBGus Grissom was an American fighter pilot and one of the original "Astronauts" for the early days of NASA. Enjoy this legit one of a kind story that is criminally under told. LP calls up via skype in the bonus content to talk about the "30 Million Dollar Sandwich".
Nathan Hale Bonus: LP calls in via skype
May 05, 2020 19:20 - 34 minutes - 78.2 MBLP calls in from South Beach to give us some nuance about Washingston's personal spy network known as "The Culper Ring". It's a skype call so the quality isn't the best but it'll have to do til we can get him back up in Jersey. Enjoy this bonus episode and thanks for listening.
Nathan Hale: Double D'oh Seven
May 05, 2020 02:13 - 1 hour - 165 MBBack in action as best we can! Kahuna and I are holed up in an undisclosed location and bringing you a "Loser" to behold. The legendary Nathan Hale, the first spy to die in service of America. The story contains all the classic elements...some dumb shit, some cool stuff, some Loser-ceptions and of course...a Jersey connection. Enjoy guys, we're happy to be back.
Hard Hat Riots of 1970
March 16, 2020 04:51 - 1 hour - 252 MBCorona be damned...we're firing off a great episode from our quarantined bunker about the wild month leading up to and following the "Hard Hat Riots" of 1970. We're talking Kent State, Nixon, bombing Cambodia, Frank Serpico and more. This episode gets LP talking about his youthful first hand experiences and we even get Kahuna to laugh from within his gas mask. Enjoy!
The Sultana Disaster of 1865
March 09, 2020 12:46 - 1 hour - 195 MBNo guests this week, just the harrowing tale of the Steamship "Sultana" and its doomed voyage on the Mississippi River at the end of the Civil War. We spare no details as we tell the backstory of greed and corruption that led to the biggest maritime disaster in American History....we're not sure how but Kahuna snuck in some Muppet references. Enjoy!
Amelia Earhart- Great at flying, bad with maps.
March 03, 2020 03:59 - 1 hour - 230 MBThe Queen of Jersey, Jackie Bryne, is back in studio with LP, the Kahuna and I to talk about the mystery and legacy of Amelia Earhart. We cover her humble beginnings, passion for aviation, her fateful end and the conspiracy theories that survive to this day! It's a dam good one...Enjoy.
"Black Bart" The Gentleman Bandit of the West
February 25, 2020 02:07 - 1 hour - 175 MBThis weeks "Loser" is the English born but American made, soldier bandit of the Wild West known as "Black Bart". His story is as unique as the poems he wrote for the victims of his robberies. Bart held a life long feud with a little company known as WELLS FARGO. Enjoy his bizarre "Loser-hood" with guests comedian Mike Celona and guest audio engineer Criss (who's also part of the band "Serious Matters", an NJ favorite). Also I will actively work on not saying "Not for Nothing" anymore.
Calamity Jane: Swipe right for the baddest chick in the West
February 18, 2020 15:28 - 1 hour - 219 MBThis weeks #loser is the undeniable "Calamity Jane", her story is amazing, hilarious and could not be told without LP, Kahuna and the King of West Orange, NJ Kevin Joseph Garifo. Please enjoy.