Notorious Narratives
121 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 147 ratingsWith an enduring fascination with all things weird, long time friends Jen and Robin delve into history's most peculiar people and extraordinary events.
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Episodes
The Night the Midwest Burned
December 03, 2019 05:00 - 25 minutesThe Great Chicago Fire of of 1871 in infamous, but on that same October night infernos spread throughout much of the midwest killing thousands. Many factors such as weather and wooden structures led to the fire's ability to spread. But in one town, all contact with the outside world was cut off as a town burned to the ground; taking men, women, children and animals along with it. In this episode, Jen will tell you the tragic tale of the Night the Midwest Burned. Check out our website for lin...
Death on the Hour - The Story of The Jewel of Prague
November 26, 2019 05:00 - 29 minutesAt the top of each hour a crowd amasses to watch a show of astronomical proportions. They are there to see one of the world's oldest astronomical clocks. The clock is located in Prague where the medieval masterpiece wisely it sits in front of the Old Town Hall Tower. Each hour it chimes, and a show begins that lasts 45 seconds full of allegorical characters, including death himself. But this hourly show is not the only thing that draws tourists. With tales of magic, murder and mystery this cu...
The Mind Control Race
November 19, 2019 05:00 - 38 minutesWhile most have heard of the Space Race competitive endeavors of the Cold War many do not know that there was also fierce competition crack the code of how to control man's greatest weapon, the mind. With "Communists" consistently vilified in media, literature and pop culture the fear that a person could be "made a communist" spread like wild fire. The concept of mind control led to a program developed by the CIA in the 1950s that consisted of a series of experiments to delve into ways in whi...
Sex, Lies & Attics: A Tale of Murder Most Odd
November 12, 2019 05:00 - 19 minutesOn a hot August night in 1922 the Los Angeles police were called to a private home after a neighbor reported gun shots and the sounds of a woman screaming. Upon entering they found the man of the house, a rich businessman named Fred Oesterreich, lying on the floor, shot dead. They also found a woman locked in a closet, she was Dolly Oesterreich, Fred's much younger wife. The distraught woman told the tale of burglary gone wrong. But the evidence just did not add up. In this episode, Robin tel...
A Grotesque Stew - The Process of Egyptian Mummification
November 05, 2019 05:00 - 24 minutesIn this episode, Robin walks us through the meticulous process of Egyptian mummification. This elaborate preparation for the afterlife has been popularized by movies, books and literature, but do you know how it was accomplished? From mud to onions this episode has a lot of surprise ingredients. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Detective Whicher and The Road Hill House Murder : A Victorian Murder Mystery
October 29, 2019 04:00 - 20 minutesMurder is as old as humanity but detectives are a much newer concept. It was not until the 19th century that these specialized members of the police were utilized to help solve the most heinous of crimes. One of London's very first detectives was, Jack Whicher, a man whose skilled deductions led to the capture of some of England's most notorious criminals. But all men have their limits and Jack was no different. In this episode, Jen introduces you to Detective Whicher, a man who inspired the ...
Beyond the Enigma - The Story of Alan Turing
October 22, 2019 04:00 - 33 minutesYou may know his name, you may know about his achievements in computer science and code-breaking, but do you know the man? Alan Turing was without a doubt one of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century, but he was also a gay man. A gay man who was unashamed of himself at a time when homosexuality was criminalized. In this story, Jen will tell you about the man whose extraordinary brilliance was extinguished by hate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Terror From the Sky - The Story of The Night Witches
October 15, 2019 04:00 - 18 minutesAt the height of World War II, as darkness descended on the battlefields, a nightmare would appear in German skies. The “Night Witches.” This is the name the Germans gave to the terror that came by night — 80 or so female aviators from Russia dropping bombs from rickety wooden planes that sounded like brooms sweeping the sky. In this episode, Robin tells you the tale of these courageous women who were among some of the wars bravest heroes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...
The Amber Room - The 8th Wonder of the World
October 08, 2019 04:00 - 22 minutesWhen you think of amber you probably think of the casing that held the dinosaur DNA in Jurassic Park or maybe even jewelry. But you probably do not associate amber with building material. Amber was incredibly popular in Europe, especially in Russia and as a gift to Peter the Great, the Amber Room was constructed using several tons of the gemstone. During Operation Barbarosa the room was looted by Nazis, dismantled and sent to Germany, where just before the war's end, it disappeared. The story...
Take Some Cocaine For It - The History of Patent Medicine
October 01, 2019 03:59 - 28 minutesMedicine has a strange history. In the 19th century medical practices were questionable at best and often did not offer immediate relief of the patient's symptoms. This left the door open for a burgeoning industry that would provide quick fixes in brightly colored bottles that promised cures for anything from balding to cancer. These cures utilized a variety of ingredients from the useless to the deadly. In this episode, Jen tells us the story of the Patent Medicine industry. Learn more abou...
The Horrors Within - The Tale of Unit 731
September 24, 2019 04:00 - 20 minutesWar is hell and hell is other people. Weirdly both of these statements are true, maybe never more so than in the atrocities committed during war. While some of history's heinous wartime exploits are well known, this one may surprise you. From 1937-1945 Unit 731 was a base of scientific experimentation into weapons of mass destruction, specializing in germ warfare. Within the walls of 731, humans were subjected to horrors that are beyond unthinkable. In this episode, Robin walks us through the...
Two Lives Lived - The Story of the Omm Sety
September 17, 2019 04:00 - 35 minutesSome stories are beyond belief but some unbelievable stories are hard to discount. Dorothy Louise Eady was a small child when a household accident would change her life forever. This accident would shape her entire life and her legacy. In this story, Jen tells us of a near-death experience, a young girl's reincarnation story and a badass woman who shaped the face of modern archeology in Egypt, this is the Omm Sety. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Razor Blades or Fancy Pants: The Story of the Real Peaky Blinders
September 10, 2019 04:00 - 19 minutesStreet gangs ran amuck in Birmingham, England during the Industrial Revolution. The Peaky Blinders were one such gang comprised of children as young as 11 years old. The harsh economic conditions in the working class neighborhoods fueled their desire to attain power and influence through violence and crime. This gang was distinctive though, they had a keen sense of fashion. They wore a signature outfit that included tailored jackets, silk scarves and peaked flat caps. But unlike their Hollyw...
The Glass Delusion: The Most Popular Madness of the Middle Ages
September 03, 2019 04:00 - 19 minutesDepression can affect anyone, young, old, rich, poor. But sometimes depression can manifest itself in very intriguing ways. Imagine, one day, you feel that your body is made of glass. No longer skin and bone, but brittle glass that could shatter at the slightest touch. In this episode, Robin teaches us about the most popular madness of the Middle Ages: The Glass Delusion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jen's Anniversary Episode - Ferris Wheels and a Murder Castle: The Chicago World's Fair and H.H. Holmes
September 03, 2019 04:00 - 54 minutesChicago's Columbian Exposition in 1893 was meticulously designed to highlight the marvels of the day and most importantly to showcase just how far America had come in the mere 400 years since its inception. But among the beautiful facades of the White City lurked a monster. In this episode, Jen will tell you all about the fair, its planning, construction and of course one of the most notorious serial killer's in American history: H.H. Holmes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...
Greed and the Need to Feed - The Story of the Colorado Cannibal, Alfred Packer
August 27, 2019 04:00 - 1 hourDuring the mid-19th century the call of the west was difficult for many to ignore. This westward drive was full of promises, the the most alluring was that of GOLD. Greed has a way of making people do things they normally would not do. For instance, pick up a stranger who claims to be a wilderness guide, who suspiciously lacks all of the tools of that trade. In this episode, Jen tells you the wild story of the Colorado Gold Rush and it most notorious cannibal killer, Alfred Packer. Learn mor...
Musk Comes From the Butt - The History of Perfume
August 20, 2019 04:00 - 19 minutesSince the dawn of time man has had a problem, that problem is human stink. From feet to nether-regions people can have a rather unsavory aroma. Perfume, now in every home, was once a luxury item only for the royal or incredibly wealthy. The demand for goods to create these scents forged some of history's most profitable trade routes. In this episode, Robin will tell you some of the weirder ways in which people have combatted their own unsavory aromas throughout history. Learn more about your...
How to Become a Turncoat 101 - The Story of Benedict Arnold
August 13, 2019 04:00 - 48 minutesIn this episode we welcome guest, Greg Jackson, host of History That Doesn't Suck. In this episode, you will learn all about the man, the myth and the legend Benedict Arnold. While his name is a synonym for traitor, do you know why? We will discuss the war hero, wounded veteran, rum runner and how he eventually came to betray what he seemed to hold so dear. So buckle up, tighten your corset as we introduce you to history's most notorious traitor, Benedict Arnold. Learn more about your ad ch...
The Not So Sweet Story of The Bradford Candy Scandal
August 06, 2019 04:00 - 24 minutesIn the mid 19th century there were very few regulations on the preparation of food. This fact is terrifying but probably not surprising. But on one fall day all of that would change and the fallout from this 24 hour period would change the way that food is prepared, drugs are sold and poisons are regulated. In this episode, Jen will tell you a a not so sweet story about candy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Best Party in the Afterlife - The Cave Burials of Indonesia
July 30, 2019 04:00 - 25 minutesIn this week's Notorious Knowledge, Jen tells the story of the deadliest shipwreck of all time, and you have probably never heard of this one. This week's episode centers on the intricate and unique funeral rituals of the Toraja society. In this isolated culture the funeral ritual is the most elaborate and expensive event of one's life. So you might ask what they do with the deceased while they save for the ceremony. Well listen to this week's episode and Robin will tell you all about it. L...
A Light That Never Stops Shining - The Dark Story of The Radium Girls
July 23, 2019 04:00 - 37 minutes"My beautiful Radium", Marie Curie called the element that glowed softly and emitted warmth. During WWI, many young women took jobs in factories. One such job, that was considered quite glamorous was a dial painter. They used radium laced paint to color the numbers and hands of dials for military equipment. In this episode, Jen introduces you to the women who bravely fought for all of us and today, OSHA exists because of their selfless efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...
One Small Step - The Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Episode
July 20, 2019 04:00 - 22 minutesIn this special episode we turn our eyes to the sky and meet madmen and heroes. Meet Lawnchair Larry a man who despite all common sense decided that he would fulfill his dream of flying. Proof that no man should not be allowed too many weather balloons or Bud Ice. Then Robin will tell us all about the Apollo 11 moon landing as we marvel at how close this mission came to failure (many times). And you know Robin has some fun facts for us. Happy 50th Apollo, despite the conspiracies you are stil...
The Culture of Foot Binding
July 16, 2019 04:00 - 28 minutesIn this week's Notorious Knowledge segment, Jen explains the self-mummification practices of the Sokushinbutsu. Then Robin takes on the task of discussing the Chinese cultural practice of foot binding. It was for fashion, vanity and the illusion of being "high class" that these young girls were tortured. While this may be shocking to some, ask yourself, are today's beauty standards any different? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nothing in this Episode is Funny - The Gruesome Tale of the Castrati
July 09, 2019 04:00 - 38 minutesWhat would you do for fame? That answer is probably shocking, but not as shocking as castration, I am sure. Until the late 19th century, boys were being castrated to create a voice that was otherworldly. As women were banned in the theater and the church people went to any lengths to replace them. Those who were successful were revered, pampered and adored. But for those who did not make it, life was not so kind. In this episode, Jen tells you about history's most tragic child stars. Learn m...
Out With a Bang - The History of Fireworks
July 02, 2019 04:00 - 23 minutesAround the world fireworks are synonymous with joyful celebration, but those that invented these delightful explosives certainly were not thinking of partying during their creation. Developed in China by alchemists searching for the elixir for eternal life, gunpowder was born. In this episode, Robin will tell us the history of fireworks and how the search for eternal life brought about death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Land of the Lost - The Story of Doggerland
June 25, 2019 04:00 - 23 minutesFor those of you that fear rising waters and tidal waves, this episode is NOT for you. Deep beneath the frigid waters of the North Sea lies an entire lost civilization known as Doggerland. Touted as the real life Atlantis, this is no fantasy land. As waters rose at the end of the Ice Age and major tidal waves crashed across the land it erased the land that once connected Great Britain to Europe. In this episode, Robin and Jen discuss climate change, globalization and dating. Learn more about...
The Corpse Queen of Portugal
June 18, 2019 04:00 - 18 minutesWe all know the stories of love at first sight; rarely are they true. But in the case of Peter and Ines they were inexplicably drawn to one another. Peter's father disapprove, and since he was King of Portugal he was creative in his designs to keep them apart. But these lovers were undeterred and nothing could keep them apart, not a king, not a war and certainly not death. In this episode, Jen tells you a true tale of literally, love eternal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...
Coffee and Other Afterlife Necessities - The Story of The Valley of the Kings
June 11, 2019 04:00 - 23 minutesIn this episode Robin takes you on an adventure through Egypt's infamous Valley of the Kings. From their pets to their shoes these Pharaohs designed elaborate tombs to house all of the necessities they would need as they became a God in the next life. What would you bring? What could you not live without? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Let's Talk to the Dead - The Fox Sisters and the Birth of American Spiritualism
June 04, 2019 04:00 - 33 minutesWe have all played with a Ouija board, but few of us truly think we are contacting the dead. But in mid 19th century two young girls, The Fox Sisters, were doing just that. These two women would inspire the birth of Spiritualism in the United States that would incite a national frenzy. But fame came at a price, as it always does. In this episode, Jen will tell their tale of fame, seances, alcoholism and shame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Children's Crusade - Certainly Not Child's Play
May 28, 2019 04:00 - 23 minutesWhat happens when tens of thousands of children decide to take on a Holy Crusade? Nothing good. In this episode, Jen regales you with the legend of the Children's Crusade or well...crusades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Red Ghost of the Southwest
May 21, 2019 04:00 - 32 minutesAs if pulled from the silver screen the legend of The Red Ghost once struck fear in the citizens of the Arizona territory. The bleeding demon that trampled the helpless to death was a legend that went as wild as a brush fire. In this episode, Jen asks to grab a seat by the campfire as she tells you a tale that is almost unbelievable, except that its all true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Fire in the Sky - The Story of the Halley's Comet Panic of 1910
May 14, 2019 04:00 - 18 minutesNo matter what you think, there are documented stories of catastrophe each time that Halley's Comet has come whizzing by. In this episode, Robin tells you the history of this visitor and the panic it caused the good citizens of Earth in 1910. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Not So Happy Mothers Day : The Tale of Anna Jarvis
May 07, 2019 04:00 - 17 minutesMother's Day, a day to give cards, flowers and breakfasts in bed, to celebrate your mother. But few now how this holiday came to be. In this episode, Robin tells you the tale of the "inventor" of the American Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, who in the end found the holiday to be not so happy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Resurrectionists Gone Wrong: The Tale of Burke and Hare Part 2
April 30, 2019 04:00 - 23 minutesIn the second part of the tale, we join this infamous duo of Victorian Resurrectionists and find them in the midst of a murder spree that used the anatomy theaters of The University of Edinburgh as their dumping grounds. In this episode, Jen will tell you how this grisly group was finally brought to justice. But don't worry, if you find yourself missing Burke when we are done you can always visit him....listen to find out where! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adcho...
Resurrectionists Gone Wrong: The Tale of The Burke and Hare
April 23, 2019 04:00 - 24 minutesThis is a tale of supply and demand at it's darkest. As medical knowledge grew so did the field of anatomy. Courses in anatomy that offered students the opportunity to study real human specimens were highly sought after in the 19th century and were considered the highest form of medical training. But where does one procure human specimens? In this episode, Jen will introduce to the Victorian era's most sinister duo, Burke and Hare, who met the demand for bodies by any means necessary. Learn...
Crooked Construction - The Story of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
April 16, 2019 04:00 - 22 minutesWe have all seen the photo. You know the one. The one where the smiling tourist appears to be holding up or being crushed by The Leaning Tower of Pisa. But why does the tower lean? Will it ever just fall? In this episode, Robin teaches you the history of its notorious construction and the beautiful mistake that made it famous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jamaica's Forgotten Tale - The White Witch of Rose Hall
April 09, 2019 04:00 - 29 minutesIf you have ever set foot on the beautiful island of Jamaica you may have heard of the White Witch. Steeped in history, legend, voodoo and slave rebellion this tale has it all. In this episode, Jen takes you on spooky island tour that is like no other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Deadly Drinks - The Story of The Chemist's War
April 02, 2019 04:00 - 22 minutesProhibition was supposed to lead to an era of morality and a resurgence of American family values. But what happens when people do not comply, how do you punish an entire culture? In this episode, Robin will tell you the story of how the American government set to punish its rebellious citizens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Family Curse - The Tale of Lemp Mansion
March 26, 2019 04:00 - 23 minutesThey say that money does't buy happiness and for The Lemp Family this saying was certainly true. Though blessed with health, wealth and success, generations of this family never found happiness. Plagued with divorce and suicide, members of the family and the media began rumors of a family curse. In this episode, Robin tells the tale of the cursed Lemp Family of St. Louis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A Witness to Assassination - The Story of Major Henry Rathbone
March 19, 2019 04:00 - 22 minutesFor every scar there is a story, and for Major Henry Rathbone the deep scar that ran along his arm told a tale of a night that changed his life forever. Rathbone and his wife, Clara, were part of DC's elite and were guests in a very infamous box at Ford's Theatre on the one of the worst nights in American history. In this episode, Jen tells the story of a life turned tragic and a story that is the loose basis for The Shining. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Hard to Kill- The Tale of Mike Malloy
March 12, 2019 04:00 - 32 minutesSometimes a story is so unbelievable that it must be true. That is the case for the legend of Mike Malloy. Times were tough in NYC during The Great Depression and people thought of all sorts of schemes to make money, even murder. In this episode, Jen introduces you to a band of hapless criminals and one tough Irishman who became known as The Rasputin of the Bronx. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dirty Days- The Story of The Dust Bowl
March 05, 2019 05:00 - 24 minutesThe Dust Bowl is one of the worst manmade ecologic disasters in human history. As the Depression took hold, many Americans began fleeing the overcrowded cities of the east coast looking for a lucrative future in farming. The American Dream. But what awaited them was far more sinister. In this episode, Robin takes a look at the decade that literally changed the American landscape: The Dirty Thirties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Wash your hands - The Story of an Epidemic in NYC
February 26, 2019 05:00 - 33 minutesToday we know that it is necessary to wash your hands. Most of us know what a disease carrier is. But in the early 20th century these concepts were high science and for one Irish immigrant cook they were impossible to understand. It this episode, Jen tells you how peach ice cream became a killer dessert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Mysterious City of Petra
February 19, 2019 05:00 - 24 minutesMost of us have seen the beautiful pink facades of the city of Petra. One of the new seven wonders of the world the ancient city of Petra is Jordans most popular tourist destinations but few know the true story of it's past, present and future. In this episode, Robin takes us through the winding canyons of this mysterious ancient location. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Most Kissed Woman in History
February 14, 2019 05:00 - 13 minutesYou may not know who the most kissed woman in history is, and it may surprise you to hear that she is a corpse. In this special Valentine's Day episode Jen will change the way you think about what it means to be kissed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Real Life Dr. Frankensteins
February 12, 2019 05:00 - 23 minutesFrankenstein, the amazing novel by Mary Shelley was published over 200 years ago and it changed the world. But many of the ideas in her novel were inspired by real science, and her novel also managed to inspire scientific experimentation for years to come. In this episode, Jen explains the scientific experimentation that can be linked directly to Frankenstein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Viking Burial Ceremonies
February 05, 2019 05:00 - 27 minutesWe can learn a lot about how a civilization lived by how they treat their dead. From pyramids, to sky burials to being buried in a ship, there are so many different ways we can leave this Earth. In this episode, Robin digs her way through centuries of tales of how the Viking civilization buried their dead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Weird History of Breakfast Cereal
January 29, 2019 05:00 - 25 minutesWhat do masturbation and enemas have to do with Corn Flakes? Well, in this episode Jen will tell you about the health craze that inspired the sanitarium system and the fight that started in Battle Creek and ended on your breakfast table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Human Sacrifice in the Maya Culture
January 22, 2019 05:00 - 27 minutesFor most of us the thought of human sacrifice does one of two things, either you cringe or you think of Indiana Jones. We clearly think about Indiana Jones. In this episode, Robin explores the reasons, process and necessity of human sacrifice in the Maya culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A Sticky Situation- The Story of the Boston Molasses Flood
January 15, 2019 05:00 - 20 minutesOf all the things to fear in this world you may have overlooked the diabolical villain that sits quietly upon your pantry shelf: molasses. Well the people of Boston will never forget. On this day exactly one hundred years ago a sticky wall of molasses travelled at speeds of up to 35 mph, killing 21 and injuring 150. In this episode, Robin tells the legendary tale of this sticky situation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices