Medical Mysteries
107 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★ - 1.6K ratingsWe trust doctors with our lives; they are some of the most educated and well-respected members of society. But what happens if they can't diagnose a patient? This high stake medical procedural follows patients as they suffer from bizarre, often terrifying illnesses. None of which doctors learned about in medical school. Medical Mysteries is a Spotify Original from Parcast.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Introducing: Impostors
May 03, 2021 07:01 - 11 minutesWayne Simmons had a dramatic 27-year career with the CIA taking down cartels and busting arms smugglers — or did he? The ex-CIA military analyst and cable news star stands accused of being a fraud. Hosted by the reporter who broke the story, Impostors follows the investigation into who Wayne Simmons really is… Hero, or conman? Impostors is a Spotify Original from Parcast. Produced by Topic Studios and Transmitter Media. Hosted by Alex French. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...
Richard and Rahla’s Love Story - A Valentine’s Special
February 15, 2021 08:01 - 20 minutesA newspaper ad, a coastal proposal, and a honeymoon “conspiracy” involving a limbo legend… Your host Richard Rossner plots out a different kind of history in this Valentine’s Special, presented by Our Love Story. Joined by Rahla, his wife of 33 years, the couple pulls back the curtain on their biggest relationship milestones. Dive into their thrilling love story right here, then search “Our Love Story” to hear real-life couples — including more of your favorite Parcast hosts! — prove that tru...
New Limited Series: Criminal Couples
February 01, 2021 08:01 - 1 minuteThis season, “L” stands for love… and lawless… and lethal. Beginning February 1st, uncover history’s most infamous couples in this collection of episodes from across Parcast Network. Follow the misdeeds of married mafiosos. Enter the transgressions of casanova cult leaders. And demystify the lives of coupled kingpins, pirates, and spies… Because in this limited series, romance takes a sharp turn into the radical. Get a preview of Criminal Couples right here, then search “Criminal Couples” t...
Welcome to the Family: The Kennedys
January 19, 2021 08:01 - 1 minuteThey’re a powerful political dynasty with no shortage of tragedies, scandals and controversies. Ahead of the 60th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, revisit the most shocking moments in the Kennedy family history — from conspiracies and cover-ups to assassinations and affairs — in this Parcast limited series. All 12 episodes are available January 19th. Listen free, only on Spotify.
Superstitions Special: New Year’s Eve Festivities
December 31, 2020 08:01 - 35 minutesThe clock’s winding down on the final moments of the year and people around the world are putting their charms and traditions to work, shoring up good fortune for the future. But it’s not always our own personal luck that’s on the line… In this story, a night of superstitions weaves together the fates of merrymakers eager for fresh starts. This episode is presented by Superstitions, a Spotify Original from Parcast. Follow Superstitions free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
The Sodder Family Tragedy: 75 Years Later (Pt. 3)
December 21, 2020 08:10 - 41 minutesFor decades, family members and sleuths have tried to determine what really happened the night of the fire. As of yet, they have been unsuccessful. But the clues remain, the questions linger, and the case unofficially stays open… This episode is presented by Unexplained Mysteries, a Spotify Original from Parcast. For more of history’s greatest puzzles, follow Unexplained Mysteries free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
The Sodder Family Tragedy: 75 Years Later (Pt. 2)
December 21, 2020 08:05 - 42 minutesIn the aftermath of the fire, a startling number of tips, twists, and witnesses came forward regarding the fate of the Sodder children. Their father, George, followed the clues for decades, driven by a suspicion of the “official” story and a belief that the blaze was no accident. This episode is presented by Unexplained Mysteries, a Spotify Original from Parcast. For more of history’s greatest puzzles, follow Unexplained Mysteries free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
The Sodder Family Tragedy: 75 Years Later (Pt. 1)
December 21, 2020 08:01 - 38 minutesEarly Christmas day in 1945, Jennie Sodder woke up to her house on fire. The blaze consumed her home, and five of her young children. Or did it? Strange events, prescient remarks, and a lack of human remains hinted at more nefarious — though no less tragic — outcomes. This episode is presented by Unexplained Mysteries, a Spotify Original from Parcast. For more of history’s greatest puzzles, follow Unexplained Mysteries free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Mary Toft
December 15, 2020 08:01 - 50 minutesIn 18th century England, Mary Toft defied all medical odds when she started giving birth to rabbits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Bubonic Plague Pt. 2
December 08, 2020 08:01 - 54 minutesWhen the plague broke out again in the late 19th century, scientists dissected buboes, bodies, and fleas… and found the source of the Black Death. The disease had already killed millions throughout Europe and Asia. In 1900, it reached San Francisco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Blind Dating: Finding Love on a Podcast
December 07, 2020 08:01 - 20 minutesYou know you can find love in a bar… on an app… Why not a podcast? Every week on Blind Dating, one hopeful single is introduced to two potential matches in a virtual hangout — no cameras allowed. This week, listen in as Pauler, a 33-year-old dancer from Australia, meets a tutor who falls for mama’s boys and a one-time swinger who’s “lived and learned” in LA. Is personality enough to spark a lasting connection? Listen to find out… and don’t miss the twist at the end! Blind Dating is free on Sp...
The Bubonic Plague Pt. 1
December 01, 2020 08:01 - 50 minutesIt was one of the most lethal pandemics in global history. The bubonic plague’s devastating spread in 6th and 14th century Europe paved the way for how we handle outbreaks today — though patients in medieval times saw no sign of a cure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Cults Crossover: John Alexander Dowie Pt. 2
November 24, 2020 08:05 - 48 minutesToday we’re bringing you a special two-part episode from another Spotify Original from Parcast. If you enjoy it, check out Cults on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! John Alexander Dowie was a discontented minister who rose to become a leading figure in Australia’s faith healer movement. The ambitious preacher railed against modern medicine, maintaining that prayer was the only cure for illness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Cults Crossover: John Alexander Dowie Pt. 1
November 24, 2020 08:01 - 46 minutesToday we’re bringing you a special two-part episode from another Spotify Original from Parcast. If you enjoy it, check out Cults on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! John Alexander Dowie was a discontented minister who rose to become a leading figure in Australia’s faith healer movement. The ambitious preacher railed against modern medicine, maintaining that prayer was the only cure for illness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Brain-Eating Amoeba
November 17, 2020 08:01 - 50 minutesIn July 2013, a 12-year-old girl from Arkansas was diagnosed with a rare and deadly brain-eating amoeba known as Naegleria fowleri. Her exposure came from a local water park, but brain-eating amoebas are lurking everywhere — including our own faucets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dictators: The Rise & Fall of a Roman Emperor
November 16, 2020 08:01 - 13 minutesThey’re natural-born leaders, hungry for absolute power. Every week on Dictators, delve into the minds and motives of history’s most infamous rulers — people who rose through the ranks toward radicalism, eliminating anyone who stood in their way. This week, track the rise and fall of Nero, an emperor who led Rome to destruction. Hear a clip from Part 1 here, then head to Dictators for the rest of the episode. Dictators is free to listen on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Aging Syndrome
November 10, 2020 08:01 - 44 minutesProgeria is a rare disorder that causes children's bodies to age and deteriorate quickly. Those with the condition have a life expectancy of 13 years. We follow the journey of one patient, Hayley Okines, who dedicated her short life to helping others battle the disease. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
November 03, 2020 08:01 - 48 minutesFor these patients, rooms shrink, bodies grow disproportionately large, and objects appear farther than they are. Many believe author Lewis Carroll had this condition, and that it inspired the classic tale for which the syndrome was named. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Welcome to Our Love Story
November 02, 2020 08:01 - 10 minutesHow do complete strangers turn into perfect pairs? On the new Spotify Original from Parcast, Our Love Story, hear from real-life couples themselves as they share the intimate, funny, joy-filled moments of their relationship — without skipping over what’s been hard. Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes featuring people like David, 41, and Samantha, 36, whose improv-fueled friendship led to a fateful first date and the sweetest park bench proposal. Listen now, and follow Our Love Story free o...
Ergotism and the Salem Witch Trials Pt. 2
October 27, 2020 07:01 - 49 minutesModern day researchers are still trying to explain what happened in 17th century Salem. Many have blamed the event on mass hysteria, but one doctor points to an outbreak of a fungus called ergot — the same organism used to create LSD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
True Horror: Top 10 Haunted Crime Scenes
October 21, 2020 07:01 - 41 minutesParcast Network is spinning a web of new shows and special programming to celebrate our favorite season. Follow us into the darkest depths of history, mystery, and the human mind — starting with this episode of Crime Countdown! Hosts Ash and Alaina are ranking the top 10 haunted crime scenes, including an Irish castle with a deadly trap door and the home of a ghostly bride. If you enjoy this episode, search Crime Countdown to find more passionate takes on top-ten rankings. Listen free on Sp...
Ergotism and the Salem Witch Trials Pt. 1
October 20, 2020 07:01 - 46 minutesIn 17th century Massachusetts, three young girls experienced strange symptoms –– prickling of the skin, convulsions and trance-like states. Before long, dozens were complaining of the same ailments, and accusations of witchcraft started to emerge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
All New! Superstitions
October 14, 2020 07:01 - 13 minutesEvery Wednesday, meet us at the intersection of chaos and fate… We’re unveiling the backstories and hidden lessons inside superstitions from around the world, and telling the stories of those who dare to defy them. Are these eerie codes of conduct simply about exerting control in an unpredictable world? Or can we truly sway supernatural forces to work in our favor? Enjoy this exclusive clip from our episode on black cats. Then search Superstitions to find more episodes, free on Spotify or wh...
Cotard Syndrome: Real-Life Zombies
October 13, 2020 07:01 - 48 minutesThis psychological condition, also known as "Walking Corpse Syndrome" causes people to suffer from disturbing delusions. Many feel that their bodies are void of blood or organs, while other patients are convinced they're dead and stuck in the world of the living. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Cutaneous Horns
October 06, 2020 07:01 - 44 minutesThe earliest description comes from a 16th century British pamphlet, featuring a Welsh widow with a four-inch-long growth protruding out of her forehead. Cutaneous horns were originally regarded as divine punishment, or a spectacle to be paraded around. In more recent decades, doctors have worked to understand the variety of decidedly less supernatural causes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Anthrax
September 29, 2020 07:01 - 47 minutesIn the wake of 9/11, one man’s exposure to a rare and deadly illness sparked widespread panic in the U.S. On September 19th, Bob Stevens opened a letter containing a strange white powder. A week later, he was fighting for his life as a victim of a biological weapon. It left many wondering who was responsible… and would they be next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Solved Murders: The Story of Helen Potts
September 25, 2020 07:01 - 35 minutesListeners, we’re excited to bring you an episode from one of our favorite podcasts, Solved Murders: True Crime Mysteries. Every Wednesday on Solved Murders, we explore the days, months, and even years leading up to the closure of a seemingly uncrackable case. This is part 1 of our episode on Helen Potts, a young girl who gets tangled up with a playboy medical student, with deadly consequences—but not for the reasons you might first suspect. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to check out p...
Lobotomies Pt. 2
September 22, 2020 07:01 - 47 minutesWith Dr. Walter Freeman’s invention in the 1940s, psychologists could perform a transorbital lobotomy from the comfort of their office… with an ice pick through the eye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Lobotomies Pt. 1
September 15, 2020 07:01 - 47 minutesIn the 1940s, Portuguese neurologist António Egas Moniz received the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking new treatment: the prefrontal lobotomy. His procedure was adopted by hospitals all over the world—but the treatment was controversial, and came to be known as one of medicine’s greatest mistakes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
New! Incredible Feats with Dan Cummins
September 14, 2020 07:01 - 5 minutesHumanity’s most daring achievements are coming together in the new Spotify Original from Parcast! Every weekday, Incredible Feats introduces you to a new story of jaw-dropping physical strength, mental focus, and bizarre behavior. Join comedian Dan Cummins as he profiles the people who turned the impossible into the incredible, breaking records and making history along the way. Enjoy this exclusive clip from our first episode, and stay tuned for episodes on daredevils, ultramarathoners, per...
The Girl Who Didn’t Age
September 08, 2020 07:01 - 43 minutesIn the early 1990s, Brooke Greenberg was born with a rare condition that kept her from aging. Her condition was accompanied by inexplicable conditions that doctors couldn't connect: seizures, ulcers, tumors… And by her 16th birthday, she was still the size of a toddler. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Alzheimer's Disease Pt. 2
September 01, 2020 07:01 - 41 minutesOver 100,000 people die from Alzheimer's Disease in the United States alone. Doctors are feverishly working to try and understand the disease in hopes of finding a cure. But the human brain holds many mysteries, and the results so far haven't been promising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
New Parcast Original: Medical Murders
August 26, 2020 07:01 - 14 minutesWe all know that medical professionals are trained to give exceptional care. But in the new Parcast Original, Medical Murders, you’ll discover a disturbing diagnosis… that not every doctor wants to extend your life. Every Wednesday, meet the men and women who used their expertise to develop sinister specialties. Host Alastair Murden examines the formative years and motives of history’s most infamous killer doctors, dissecting their medical backgrounds with expert analysis provided by practici...
Alzheimer's Disease Pt. 1
August 25, 2020 07:01 - 45 minutesIn 1901, a 51-year-old woman named Auguste Deter shuffled into a German asylum. She had forgotten nearly everything about her life: where she lived, her husband's name, and how old she was. She was put into the care of revolutionary psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Typhus Pt. 2
August 18, 2020 07:01 - 51 minutesDuring WWII, two Polish scientists raced to find a vaccine to end typhus once and for all. In Switzerland, another scientist discovered the pesticidal possibilities of a chemical called DDT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Introducing Very Presidential with Ashley Flowers!
August 12, 2020 07:01 - 14 minutesUncover the dirty dealings of history’s most badly behaved presidents in the NEW Spotify Original from Parcast, Very Presidential with Ashley Flowers. Every Tuesday through the 2020 election, Ashley shines a light on the darker side of the American presidency… From secret love affairs and all-night ragers to blackmail schemes and excessive drug use, she’ll expose the personal and professional controversies you may never knew existed. Enjoy this exclusive clip from our first episode of Very ...
Typhus Pt. 1
August 11, 2020 07:01 - 46 minutesIn the sixteenth century, sporadic outbreaks of a deadly fever crippled armies and altered the political landscape of Western Europe. Centuries later, a British surgeon reshaped the world’s understanding of how disease spread—and uncovered the key to fighting typhus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Phantom Limb Pain Pt. 2
August 04, 2020 07:01 - 47 minutesToday, doctors still work to understand what causes Phantom Limb Pain—and whether it can be cured in all cases. Innovative treatments like Mirror Therapy, and Virtual and Augmented Reality offer insights into how it can be cured. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Phantom Limb Pain Pt. 1
July 28, 2020 07:01 - 44 minutesIn the mid-1500s, French surgeon Ambroise Paré realized patients who survived an amputation could still feel their missing limbs. Doctors theorized for centuries about the phenomenon, driven by one question: How do you treat a limb that doesn’t exist? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Truman Show Syndrome Pt. 2
July 21, 2020 07:01 - 48 minutesAfter studying the "Truman Show Delusion" for years, Doctors Joel and Ian Gold discovered an underlying condition. It's possible that societal fears over progress and technology have a lasting impact on the subconscious… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Truman Show Syndrome Pt. 1
July 14, 2020 07:01 - 46 minutesIn the early 2000s, psychologist Dr. Joel Gold met several patients who believed they were the stars of their own reality shows. They each shared similar delusions of being recorded by hidden cameras, with their friends and family part of the cast and crew, and unseen producers coaxing them toward a grand prize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Disease Forgery Pt. 2
July 07, 2020 07:01 - 45 minutesGrowing up in the ‘90s, Gypsy Rose was convinced she suffered from cancer and epilepsy. But in truth, her mother Dee Dee was addicted to faking her daughter’s illnesses—a disorder in itself, known today as Munchausen’s by Proxy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Introducing: Meet Cute
July 05, 2020 07:01 - 15 minutesWhen you’re between episodes of Medical Mysteries, you should check out another great podcast called Meet Cute. It isn’t a Parcast show, but if you’re looking for mysteries that will always have a happy ending, Meet Cute is perfect for you. Meet cutes are short-form audio romantic comedies that take the listener from “meet cute” to “happily ever after” in 15 minutes — because everyone needs a good love story. To hear more episodes, search Meet Cute on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts!
Disease Forgery Pt. 1
June 30, 2020 07:01 - 45 minutesIn 1991, a 24-year-old woman checked herself into the hospital dozens of times, each with a new and perplexing illness. Her symptoms didn't match anything doctors had seen before. Then they discovered she was suffering from Munchausen's Syndrome—and was addicted to making herself sick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Radium Girls Pt. 2: Radium on Trial
June 23, 2020 07:01 - 48 minutesIn 1925, five dying US Radium Dial Painters sued their employer. They claimed they were dying of radiation poisoning—but experts at the time believed radium was healthy, not toxic. So the Radium Girls took the stand to try to convince juries—and the world—of radium's dangers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Radium Girls Pt. 1: Women Who Glowed in the Dark
June 16, 2020 07:01 - 45 minutesIn the 1920s, dial-painters at US Radium's New Jersey factory began getting sick. They were diagnosed with syphilis and phossy jaw, but their symptoms didn't add up. The women suspected something about their job was making them fatally ill—but they were running out of time to solve the mystery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Introducing SOLVED MURDERS: TRUE CRIME MYSTERIES, A Parcast Original Series!
June 10, 2020 07:01 - 14 minutesTo commemorate its fourth anniversary, Parcast and the team behind Unsolved Murders are taking a closer look at what it takes to catch a killer. In the new series Solved Murders: True Crime Mysteries, you'll follow the clues and uncover the missing pieces to some of history's most gripping cases. Every Wednesday, join hosts Carter and Wenndy as they explore the days, months, and even years leading up to a killer being caught. Each episode plays out like a classic murder mystery—where the fina...
Body Integrity Dysphoria
June 09, 2020 07:01 - 47 minutesOur body is the only one we'll ever know, for better or worse. And for those suffering from Body Integrity Dysphoria, they feel like one or more of their limbs doesn't belong. Many of them resort to drastic measures like self-amputation to achieve their ideal body. But researchers are still trying to figure out why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mental Health Pt. 4: The 21st Century
June 02, 2020 07:01 - 46 minutesToday, one in four homeless Americans are living with a mental health condition. Many are unable to turn to shelters out of fear that it will worsen symptoms and the prison system has subsequently taken on the role of asylums. But understanding foreign cultures may hold the key to a cure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mental Health Pt. 3: The 20th Century
May 26, 2020 07:01 - 52 minutesIn the late 1800s, Dr. Emil Kraepelin identified schizophrenia as its own mental health condition. But this new revelation also increased the stigma surrounding the disorder. Over the course of the next century, people living with schizophrenia became a target in the eugenics movement, both in America and overseas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices