The Unusual History of Every Thing
146 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsThe Unusual History of Every Thing is a podcast for lovers of the weird history of common things in our world. Join cultural object preservationists Melanie Dellas and Karen Lacy as they uncover the unusual histories of every thing around us. New episodes every Tuesday!
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Episodes
Earthworm Oil: From the Dirt to the Doctor?
November 28, 2023 08:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBTypically, people nowadays don’t go into Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods and ask for earthworm oil, but from the 16th to 19th centuries, earthworm oil was used to treat various problems – kind of like how we use tea tree or coconut oils today. On this episode, we’ll show you how to use earthworm oil to treat many things, even gunshot wounds, because…well, why not?
The Unusual History of TV Dinners: Giving Thanks to Thanksgiving
November 21, 2023 08:00 - 7 minutes - 6.79 MBWho doesn’t love to come home from a long day of work, heat up some yummy food, turn on the TV and plop down on the couch to eat? Although many people still do enjoy a sit-down meal with the family that often doesn’t include a television, back in the 1950s when having a TV in the home was a new concept, people found themselves wanting to eat in front of it. On this episode, we thank Thanksgiving and an overabundance of turkeys back in 1953 for giving us the TV dinner.
Crap, Crapper, and the History of the Toilet
November 19, 2023 08:00 - 26 minutes - 24.8 MBHappy World Toilet Day! In case you didn’t know, the World Toilet Organization (yes, there is one) declared November 19th to be World Toilet Day back in 2001. Why, you may ask? Well it all had to do with drawing attention to the fact that even today not every country has great sanitation, which of course spreads diseases like cholera, typhoid and hepatitis. On this episode, we flush out what humans did when poop became a problem and how it all led to a universal holiday.
Witch Cakes: How Urine in a Cake Led to the Salem Witch Trials
November 07, 2023 18:39 - 8 minutes - 8.01 MBOne of the things people in Europe and in America used to do to thwart a witch’s spells was to bake a witch cake. It sounds sort of good, being a cake and all, but you know that having the word “witch” in its name means something has to be wrong with it. And there was something wrong with it. Despite the fact that this supernatural dessert was meant to be used against witches, its ingredients left something to be desired: rye meal, ashes and the victim’s urine. On this episode, we’ll show yo...
Stingy Jack & the Devil: This Unusual History of Jack-O-Lanterns
October 31, 2023 07:00 - 10 minutes - 9.89 MBWhen we in the west think of Halloween or All Hallow’s Eve, carving pumpkins is one of the first things that comes to mind. It’s a tradition parents share with kids, and even as adults we enjoy it. In fact, we spend a lot of time researching cool designs to carve and choosing the best pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. And let’s not forget gutting it and roasting the seeds! But why do we do all of this? How did turning pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns become a Halloween tradition? On this episode, ...
Dumb Cakes: How to Find A Husband on Halloween
October 24, 2023 07:00 - 10 minutes - 9.79 MBThey say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so using food to find a husband doesn't seem like such a bad idea. From the late 1600s to the mid-1900s, unmarried women in North America and the United Kingdom practiced a baking ritual on Halloween that was said to reveal who they would marry. They called the products of this ritual “dumb cakes.” The cakes themselves were simple: water, flour, sugar, salt. It was HOW you made them that was a bit more complicated. But finding a futur...
Magic Elixirs: How Snake Oil Salesmen Conned the Masses
June 27, 2023 23:07 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBOn this episode, we show you how ancient Chinese medicine became the inspiration for medicine shows and rattlesnake wranglers. If you’ve ever heard of the term “snake oil salesman,” then you’re probably well aware of its negative connotations. If you haven't, you're about to get all the details...
A Twisted Tale: The Unusual History of Rat Kings
June 20, 2023 07:00 - 8 minutes - 8.04 MBOn this episode, we try to unravel the tale of the European phenomenon of rat kings. As the story goes, long ago a wise old rat who wanted to be the king of all the rats made the lesser rats form a mountain. He climbed up to the top, and sat there, demanding respect and adoration from the other rats. Unfortunately for those other rats, they had been using their tails to hold onto each other and became tangled up together. In the 1500s, this tale gave rise to the term “rat king.” But where ...
The Life & Death of Mummy Paint
June 13, 2023 07:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBOn this episode, we talk about how artists used dead people to make their paintings come alive. We’ve done a podcast or two on corpse medicine and how people of long ago used mummies as cures. And the dark liquid the body oozes out during the putrefaction process, which ranges from dark purple to brown, made people in the Middle Ages take notice.
Don’t Flip Them Over! The Unusual History of Demon Bowls
June 06, 2023 07:00 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBOn this episode, we uncover the secrets contained within demon bowls, and try to figure out why anyone in their right mind would turn one over. But before we get into that, welcome to Season 8, which is going to be fun and, as always, a little weird and gross, depending on who you ask. And in the case of this episode, perhaps a little terrifying!
Weird Things Cities Drop on New Year’s Eve
December 27, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBAll over the world, the coming of the new year is ushered in with fireworks, champagne, a kiss, and, for the last 114 years, people have been celebrating New Year’s Eve by watching the ball drop in New York City’s Times Square. But it’s not the only thing that is dropped on New Year’s Eve in America. Cities around the country really get creative, and maybe a little weird, and we’re here for it.
How Rudolph Got His Red Nose
December 20, 2022 08:00 - 7 minutes - 6.99 MBWe all know the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but what is less commonly known is where that story comes from – and the fact that some reindeer DO have red noses. On this episode, we explain why Rudolph, the beloved Christmas reindeer, has a red nose – and it’s not because of alcohol.
WW2’s Female Santas & the History of Mrs. Claus
December 13, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 11 MBEveryone knows Santa Claus is a man, but in 1941, during World War 2, the women needed to stand in. It wasn’t unusual. Because the war took most of the men in America from their homes and jobs, the women left behind stepped in to do the work. They became riveters, crane operators, cab drivers, baseball players -- and even Santas.
The Eggnog Riot of 1876
December 06, 2022 08:00 - 13 minutes - 13 MBEvery country has a traditional holiday drink served to friends and family at gatherings and celebrations, and Americans and Canadians love their eggnog. Eggnog is an acquired taste, and not one that you would think would cause riots. But in 1876, that’s exactly what it did.
How Pumpkin Pie and ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’ Became Part of Thanksgiving History
November 22, 2022 08:00 - 8 minutes - 8.42 MBOn this episode, in honor of Thanksgiving, we thought we’d tell you how pumpkin pie became a Thanksgiving staple, and how "Mary Had A Little Lamb" was connected to it.
The Unusual History of Nursery Rhymes & Lullabies: Rock-A-Bye Baby
November 15, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 13.9 MBFor many parents in the western world, saying nursery rhymes and singing lullabies to their children are normal. But do people ever really stop and think about the words they’re saying to their innocent babies? Probably not, and that’s why we’re here: To show you the dark history of normal, everyday things people rarely pay attention to. On this episode, we uncover the darker side of lullabies and begin to question some people’s parenting skills.
The Unusual History of Trees and the Oldest Family Tree Ever Found
November 08, 2022 08:00 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBBeing interested in where your ancestors come from is not a new thing. People all over the world have a long and varied history of trying to find their roots to understand who they are. On this episode, we dig up the roots of the oldest family tree discovered so far and get a glimpse into the family structure of neolithic people.
Radiocarbon Dating Our History: How & Why Things Need to Change
November 01, 2022 20:20 - 10 minutes - 9.5 MBOn this episode, we look at the history of and the science behind radiocarbon dating artifacts, and what changes will be necessary in the future.
Ghosts: A Judgy Journey to Get to the Afterlife
October 25, 2022 07:00 - 13 minutes - 12.9 MBEvery culture around the world believes in some sort of ghost, spirit or soul that leaves the body at death to go to some sort of afterlife. On this episode, we get into the Halloween spirit by looking at the ghosts of various cultures, examine how we’re still judged even in the afterlife, and the important role dogs play even in death.
The Malleus Maleficarum and the History of Witches
October 18, 2022 07:00 - 10 minutes - 10 MBFrom the 9th century to the 13th century, witchcraft was looked down upon by the Christian churches as pagan superstition. But in the late 1400s, the heresy of witchcraft as a superstition turned into the heresy of consorting with the Devil. On this episode, to add to the Halloween spirit, we thought we’d try to understand how one book could be responsible for centuries of witch hunts.
Grave Robbing & Corpse Medicine: You'll Need A "Stiff Drink" After This One
October 11, 2022 07:00 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBGrave robbing may seem like something people did long ago, but it actually still occurs unfortunately. For example, in Egypt, archaeologists often have to have security round the clock to prevent people from stealing from the tombs. Most of that is for the gold and expensive tomb-related items, however sometimes the black market calls for more obscure things like mummy dust. But in the beginning, grave robbing had more to do with stealing the corpses themselves than it did what was buried wi...
Mesoamerica’s Batman, Echolocation & Bat Folklore
October 04, 2022 07:00 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBBats are one of the coolest animals we have. Some think they’re cute and cuddly, and they’re the only animal that doesn’t walk on four legs and instead, flies. Despite their small size, they’ve also been depicted in folklore as one of the scariest animals we have. On this episode, we swoop in to tell you all about the history of bat folklore and who the first Batman really was.
Wishes, Healing Waters and Tossing Coins into Them
September 27, 2022 07:00 - 10 minutes - 10.2 MBTossing a coin into a fountain or well and making a wish has been a tradition since ancient times. People long ago gave the coin as a gift or tribute to a god, usually to keep them happy, make them happy or as a form of payment for whatever it was they were asking for. On this episode, we dive into the history of making wishes and why we like to toss coins into water.
Fairy Dust, Butterfly Wings & Biodegradable Materials
September 20, 2022 07:00In creature mythology, pixies, fairies and sprites are sometimes used interchangeably, and although there are some similarities, there are also many differences. On this episode, we take a look at what these magical creatures, butterfly wings and biodegradable materials all have in common.
Fairy Dust, Butterfly Wings & Biodegradable Materials
September 20, 2022 07:00In creature mythology, pixies, fairies and sprites are sometimes used interchangeably, and although there are some similarities, there are also many differences. On this episode, we take a look at what these magical creatures, butterfly wings and biodegradable materials all have in common.
Magnets and the Monte Alto
September 13, 2022 07:00 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBMagnets are cool, and everyone has at least one. They hang our pictures on refrigerators, they hold things together, they’re used in various machinery, even the center of Earth has a type of one. Put simply, a magnet is a rock or piece of metal, called ferromagnetic metals, that have the ability to pull metals to – or repel metals away – from itself with a force called magnetism. On this episode, we examine the attraction between magnets and why certain parts of the body have more pull.
Nikola Tesla, Shark Intestines & Wastewater Filtration Systems
September 06, 2022 07:00 - 12 minutes - 11.5 MBWe're back! Welcome to our new season! On this episode, we take a look at how Nikola Tesla and shark intestines became the inspiration for filtering water today.
Giving the Evils: The Meaning & Origins of Evil Eye Superstitions
January 11, 2022 08:00 - 19 minutes - 18.5 MBMost people believe in some sort of superstition, whether it’s throwing salt over your shoulder to keep the devil away, or preventing bad luck by not walking under a ladder or breaking a mirror. It may seem silly, but these superstitions have been around for thousands of years and are passed down from generation to generation like grandma’s keepsakes. Some believe superstitions are super silly, but there are logical origins behind each one. On this episode, we look at the origins of some ev...
From Snail Water to Sheep Lungs: History’s Strange Way of Staying Healthy
January 04, 2022 08:00 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBWe all try to stay healthy and exercise, but the holidays tend to add a few extra pounds to our waistline. Throw in a pandemic or two and staying healthy is tops in our minds. Well, we’re here to help. You see, throughout history, various cultures have had the same problems and came up with some unusual food combinations to become healthier. From drinking snail water to roasting sheep lungs and eating a dead body part or two, it's clear to us where modern bizarre health food kicks and medici...
The Un-Yule-sual History of the Christmas Yule Log
December 28, 2021 08:00 - 9 minutes - 8.65 MBThe yule log, which wasn’t a log at all, but instead an entire tree, is originally a Nordic tradition dating back to medieval times. The burning of the Yule log is one of the oldest pagan rituals, which was lit to entice the sun to return as part of the Yule festival in Scandinavia. On this episode, we explore the history of the yule log and why people refused to cut the tree into pieces before they burned it.
Knecht Ruprecht: Santa’s Sinister Sidekick
December 21, 2021 18:02 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBSanta Claus's gift bringing at Christmas time really began in northern and central Europe before spreading to other parts of the world. And some of the things that spread with him were his little helpers. We're not talking about the elves, although they did come along for the ride, no, we're talking about his darker little friends, the ones who handed out punishments. On this episode, we’re hanging out in Germany with St. Nick’s scary friend who smacks kids with his dirty bag of ashes if the...
The Unusual KISS-tory of Mistletoe
December 14, 2021 08:00 - 10 minutes - 9.8 MBMistletoe has long been a romantic, fun Christmas tradition, but it didn’t start out that way. In fact, the plant is sort of gross when you think about it. On this episode, we look at how a plant that sucks nutrients from its host tree became the symbol for sucking face at Christmas.
The Domovoy: “He of the House”
December 07, 2021 08:00 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBEvery house has its quirks, its moans and groans, its creaks and cracks. Most people attribute these sounds to the house settling or the wind blowing against the windows and walls. However many people believe there’s something just a tad more supernatural to blame it on. Some blame it on brownies, some point the finger at elves, but in Russia and the Ukraine, the Domovoy is the culprit. On this episode, we investigate one potential reason why so many houses creak, and what could be responsib...
Jingle Bells for Thanksgiving?
November 30, 2021 08:00 - 9 minutes - 8.64 MBAs America celebrated Thanksgiving, millions of people prepared their tables with roasted turkey and pumpkin pie, they turned on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and some football, and gathered ‘round the table to sing the traditional Thanksgiving Day song – Jingle Bells. On this episode, we look at the history behind one of the holiday season’s most iconic songs, and how it all started with Thanksgiving and made its way into space.
Dowsing for the Dead
November 02, 2021 07:00 - 11 minutes - 11 MBWhen you think of dowsing or using divining rods, most people’s minds automatically go to the two-pronged sticks used to find water. And that’s true, that’s what they are said to do. But what most people don’t know is that divining rods have been used for thousands of years around the world to find metal, the depth of oil in the ground, hidden tunnels and even bodies buried beneath our feet. On this episode, we look at how diving rods are being used to find more than just water.
Sneezing Out Your Soul
October 26, 2021 07:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBAncient Rome and the Middle Ages seem to be the parents of a whole host of superstitions many people practice today: carving crosses in Brussels sprouts, fear of the number 13, and this episode's topic: Sneezing out your soul.
Brussels Sprouts: The Evil Within
October 19, 2021 07:00 - 10 minutes - 9.75 MBBrussels sprouts aren’t the favorite of many, and there could be a good reason for that. The often-overboiled side dish comes complete with a mushy texture, yellowed color and a rotten-egg smell that stays in your house and your hair for days. But, if you cook them right, it’s a whole other story. And you better cook them right, because some say evil lurks between the leaves.
The Unusual History of Lucky Number 13
October 12, 2021 15:26 - 14 minutes - 13.8 MBThe number 13 really does have some baggage attached to it, and not all of it is deserving! We as a society may like to think we aren’t superstitious like people from ancient times or even the Middle Ages, but in fact we all still do a lot of things that stem from the superstitions of our ancestors. On this episode, we’re going to show you how the number 13 got such a bad rap.
Gargoyles: The Unusual Origins of Water Vomiters
October 05, 2021 07:00 - 8 minutes - 7.7 MBAlthough the gargoyle as we know it today stems from medieval France, in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, an early form of the gargoyle took shape first. On this episode, as we gear up for Halloween, we thought we’d chip away at the stony exterior of gargoyles and see what historical goodies we can find.
The Weird History of Epidemics & Hauntings
September 28, 2021 07:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBHauntings, as we all know, usually take place in places that have tragic histories. Throw in some paranormal conductors, like water, limestone or fault lines, and you have the makings for the next great scary movie. On this episode, we enter at our own risk three hospitals that were the final resting places for epidemic victims – victims who are said to still call those places home.
Holding A Wake Over A Corpse & Eating Their Sins: Old Traditions in Modern Times
September 21, 2021 07:00 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBOn this episode, we explore the ancient origins of a modern funeral tradition, as well as the strange history of eating someone’s sins.
The Unusual History of the First Museums
September 14, 2021 07:00 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MBOn this episode, we take a step back in time to when museums were considered collections of objects and not institutions, and Cabinets of Curiosities were prized possessions.
Got Blood? Rituals, Sacrifice and Speaking to the Gods
September 07, 2021 07:00 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBBlood is the life force of humans and animals alike. And so for thousands of years it was believed that blood would in turn give the gods life, which would make the gods want to do nice things for the people. These blood rituals weren’t just animal and human sacrifices, they also included small amounts of blood used in ritualistic ways. On this episode, we examine some archaeological finds that point to a time when blood rituals allowed people to communicate with the gods and seek glory in t...
That Time of the Month: Where ‘Period’ and ‘Mittelschmerz’ Came From
August 31, 2021 07:00 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBWhile researching our previous podcast on feminine products, we came across two words that made us stop and think for a minute. On this episode, we take a look at the bloody history of the words “period” and “mittelschmerz.”
If the Foot Fits: Cinderella’s Origin Stories
August 24, 2021 07:00 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBOne of the most known and treasured fairy tales in history, as it is today, is Cinderella. Almost everyone knows the tale about a young girl who is forced to live as a servant and becomes a princess who lives happily ever after when good triumphs over evil. However, where this story originated, the original meaning, and the full impact of this fairy tale on American society is not as well known.
The Strange Histories of Some Kick-Ass Female Rulers
August 17, 2021 07:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBThere are many incredible, strong, talented women in the world – dead and alive. And in this episode, we want to focus on a small handful who ruled for an unusual length of time, did some odd things along the way, and kicked their enemies’ butts up and down their lands.
Dirty Hands, Dirty Bodies: The Evolution of Bathing
July 27, 2021 07:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBWashing your hands seems like common sense, especially if they’re dirty. But forget about what we know now about germs, viruses and bacteria. Forget how gross the feeling of gritty dirt is in your mouth because your hands were in the mud when you picked up that apple to take a bite. Forget about changing a baby’s diaper and then rubbing your eyes and getting pink eye. Instead, let’s focus on how society in general went from cleanliness to dying from infections, back to cleanliness. On this e...
From Brain Hooks to Poison Tea: How Different Cultures Preserve their Dead
July 20, 2021 07:00 - 27 minutes - 25.8 MBWhen you think about mummification, I’m sure Ancient Egypt is the first thing that springs to mind. Although that culture’s mummies are absolutely some of the coolest, they’re not the only ones who mummified their dead. In fact, mummification is still going on today thanks in part to Mother Nature and some odd things live people do to themselves. On this episode, we unwrap the layers of mystery around mummification and get to the heart of how various cultures preserve their dead.
The Unusual History of the Suction Tube for Reverse Axial Withdrawal
July 13, 2021 07:00 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBOn this episode, we’re going to suck you into the unusual history of the Suction Tube for Reverse Axial Withdrawal – the Straw. In order to fully grasp the unusual history of the straw, we need to go back in time before Friedman’s patented “Drinking Tube,” a.k.a., the bendy straw; before a man named Marvin Stone discovered how to make straws not disintegrate in his mint juleps. We have to go all the way back to 3000 BC. Underground, as a matter of fact. Into the tomb of Pu-Abi, a Sumerian q...
Vampires in Venice
July 06, 2021 07:00 - 15 minutes - 14.7 MBVampires in Venice. It sounds like the title of an Anne Rice novel, a dark supernatural romance. But alas, this podcast episode isn’t a dark romance, rather it’s the true story of how humans take what they do not understand and create legends that endure through the centuries – and make great Halloween costumes. On this episode, we’re going to take a bite out of vampire history and dig deep into some vampire burial grounds around the world.