Things aren’t always as they appear. And some bombshells might be hiding in plain sight. On 'Found Objects', a storytelling history podcast, Katy Bellotte digs up old tales from the deepest wells and the dustiest bookshelves to share each Wednesday.
“Well-behaved women seldom make history.” Well, that is the embodiment of Imelda Marcos, the former First Lady of the Philippines, and Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France before the French Revolution. You probably know these women's stories, so you may not see it at first, but these women share a common narrative of luxury, influence, and eventual downfall. While they lived in different times and countries, their lives existed in a strangely coincidental parallel. Today on Found Objects, we will look at the lives and legacies of these powerful women in history and examine just how much their stories overlap. FOLLOW US ON IG:Instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:Bicker, Laura. “Philippines Martial Law: The Fight to Remember a Decade of Arrests and Torture.” BBC News, BBC, 28 Sept. 2022, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63056898.de Guzman, Chad. “How Imelda Became the Philippines' Most Enduring Marcos.” Time, Time, 27 July 2023, time.com/6298212/here-lies-love-imelda-marcos-legacy/.“Five Things to Know about Martial Law in the Philippines.” Amnesty International, 21 Sept. 2022, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/04/five-things-to-know-about-martial-law-in-the-philippines/.History.com Editors. “Marie‑Antoinette ‑ Children, Death & Husband.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 21 Aug. 2018, www.history.com/topics/european-history/marie-antoinette.Malach, Hannah. “The Infamous Life of Imelda Marcos: The Bulletproof Bra, 1,000 Pairs of Shoes and Biographical Broadway Musical of the Philippines' Former First Lady.” WWD, WWD, 21 July 2023, wwd.com/pop-culture/culture-news/who-is-imelda-marcos-1235749455/.Ray, Michael. “Imelda Marcos.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 22 Aug. 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/Imelda-Marcos.“Research Guides: France: Women in the Revolution: Marie Antoinette.” Marie Antoinette - France: Women in the Revolution - Research Guides at Library of Congress, 2024, guides.loc.gov/women-in-the-french-revolution/marie-antoinette.Swartz, Mimi. “The Autocratic Allure of Imelda Marcos.” The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 1998, www.newyorker.com/magazine/1998/04/20/imelda-marcos-tears-profile-philippines.“‘Facts' About Marie Antoinette That Weren't True.” Weird History, YouTube, 10 Jan. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJYCy4ypK7c. Accessed 19 Sept. 2024. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
To this day, 5% of Americans believe that the Apollo Moon landings were faked - that's more than 16 million people. How did this theory start? And why, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, do some still believe it? This & the Flat Earth conspiracy theory will be discussed today on Found Objects history podcast. Listen wherever you stream podcasts!Follow us on Instagram:https://instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:“Apollo 11 Mission Overview.” NASA, NASA, 17 Apr. 2015, www.nasa.gov/history/apollo-11-mission-overview/#:~:text=Armstrong%20and%20Aldrin%20spent%2021,at%20124%20hours%2C%2022%20minutes.Baugh, L. Sue. “Flat Earth.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 22 July 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/flat-Earth.Burdick, Alan. “Looking for Life on a Flat Earth.” The New Yorker, 30 May 2018, www.newyorker.com/science/elements/looking-for-life-on-a-flat-earth.Harvey, Austin. “Inside the Enduring Conspiracy Theory That the Moon Landing Was Fake.” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 22 July 2024, allthatsinteresting.com/moon-landing-fake.“How Do We Know That We Went to the Moon? | Institute of Physics.” Institute of Physics, 2024, www.iop.org/explore-physics/moon/how-do-we-know-we-went-to-the-moon.“July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap for Mankind.” NASA, NASA, 20 July 2019, www.nasa.gov/history/july-20-1969-one-giant-leap-for-mankind/.Launius, Roger. “Why Do People Persist in Denying the Moon Landings?” National Air and Space Museum, The Smithsonian Institute, 1 Apr. 2010, airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/why-do-people-persist-denying-moon-landings.The Week Staff. “Apollo 11: The Moon Landing Conspiracy Debunked.” Theweek, The Week, 15 July 2019, theweek.com/102265/apollo-11-the-moon-landing-conspiracy-debunked. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Meet William James Sydis, the “smartest man who lived.” Sydis' IQ score is estimated by some, to be somewhere between 50 and 100 points greater than that of Albert Einstein. By the time he was just 18 months old, Sydis was able to read The New York Times. At age 2, he taught himself Latin, and by age 6, he was fluent in eight languages, including Greek, French, Russian, German, and Hebrew. Sidis is not a household name, but he was an extraordinary individual whose brilliance often went unnoticed. Let's explore the life of one of the most enigmatic and misunderstood prodigies of the 20th century, along with Albert Einstein, and the history of IQ testing. It's a battle of the brains today on Found Objects podcast.Follow us on Instagram:Instagram.com/katybellotteSOURCES:Albert Einstein – Biographical. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2024. Wed. 21 Aug 2024.Anglis, Jaclyn. “The Surprisingly Tragic Story of the Smartest Man Who Ever Lived.” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 2 June 2024, allthatsinteresting.com/william-james-sidis.Barbas, Samantha. “The Sidis Case and the Origins of Modern Privacy Law.” Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts, 2012, pp. 21–69, https://doi.org/10.7916/D8M335S5.Cherry, Kendra. “Why Alfred Binet Developed IQ Testing for Students.” Verywell Mind, 13 Mar. 2023, www.verywellmind.com/history-of-intelligence-testing-2795581.Dombrowski, Stefan C. “The Dark History of IQ Tests.” TED, TED-Ed, 2020, ed.ted.com/lessons/the-dark-history-of-iq-tests-stefan-c-dombrowski.NPR Staff. “Meet William James Sidis: The Smartest Guy Ever?” NPR, NPR, 23 Jan. 2011, www.npr.org/2011/01/23/132737060/meet-william-james-sidis-the-smartest-guy-ever.Piccotti, Tyler, and Biography.com Editors. “Albert Einstein: Biography, Physicist, Nobel Prize Winner.” Biography.Com, 20 July 2023, www.biography.com/scientists/albert-einstein. “William James Sidis.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James_Sidis. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
One of the loudest voices in the early years of the Harlem Renaissance (1918-1930's) was Madam C.J. Walker, a woman who defied the odds and became America's first female self-made millionaire with her Black haircare brand. Her journey is one of resilience, innovation, and empowerment in a time period where she faced hurdle after hurdle. Today, I tell the story of Madam C.J Walker and her daughter, A'Lilia Walker. Follow us on IG:https://instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:Biography.com Editors. “Madam C.J. Walker - Products, Daughter & Hair Products.” Biography.Com, 23 Jan. 2024, www.biography.com/business-leaders/madam-cj-walker.Bundles, A'Lelia. Madam C.J. Walker, 2020, madamcjwalker.com/.History.com Editors. “Harlem Renaissance ‑ Definition, Artists & How It Started.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/harlem-renaissance.History.com Editors. “Madam C. J. Walker ‑ Products, Hair & Facts.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/black-history/madame-c-j-walker.“A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance.” National Museum of African American History and Culture, 8 May 2024, nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/new-african-american-identity-harlem-renaissance.“Villa Lewaro (Madam C. J. Walker Estate): National Trust for Historic Preservation.” Villa Lewaro (Madam C. J. Walker Estate) | National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2024, savingplaces.org/places/villa-lewaro-madam-c-j-walker-estate.Walser, Lauren. “How A'Lelia Walker And The Dark Tower Shaped The Harlem Renaissance: National Trust for Historic Preservation.” How A'Lelia Walker And The Dark Tower Shaped The Harlem Renaissance | National Trust for Historic Preservation, 29 Mar. 2017, savingplaces.org/stories/how-alelia-walker-and-the-dark-tower-shaped-the-harlem-renaissance. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Sharon Tate was a rising star in Hollywood in the 1960s, but she was also the 26-year-old, pregnant victim of the infamous Manson Murders of 1969. She and seven others were the unlucky random targets of Charles Manson's murderous escapades. Today on Found Objects, we will explore the life of Sharon Tate before her untimely demise and the puppet-master, the man behind the curtain, Charles Manson himself. Follow us on Instagram:instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:Bauer, Pat. “Tate Murders.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 1 Aug. 2024, www.britannica.com/event/Tate-murders.“Charles Manson.” Charles Manson Part 01, Charles Manson Part 02, Charles Manson Part 03, FBI, 6 Dec. 2010, vault.fbi.gov/Charles%20Manson.Donica, Adrienne. “Charles Manson: Notorious Mastermind of the Manson Family.” Biography.Com, 12 July 2023, www.biography.com/crime/charles-manson.“Inside Charles Manson's Crazed Cult | 60 Minutes Australia.” YouTube, 60 Minutes Australia, 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWbzE0aZIvY.“The Manson Murders: True Story REVEALED | Full Documentary | A&E.” YouTube, A&E, www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_LLK4Hhgoc. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
In 1971, a mysterious man known as D.B. Cooper hijacked a plane, extorted a hefty ransom from the US Government, and then once the goods were secured, jumped from the aircraft vanishing without a trace. Today on Found Objects, we take a look at one of aviation's most captivating mysteries and dive into the history of “skyjacking.”Follow us on Instagram:instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:99pi. “Skyjacking.” 99% Invisible, 23 June 2014,9 9percentinvisible.org/episode/skyjacking/.“D.B. Cooper Hijacking.” FBI, FBI, 18 May 2016, www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/db-cooper-hijacking.Donovan, Lauren. “New Evidence Discovered in DB Cooper Skyjacking Case.” FOX Weather, Fox Weather, 5 Jan. 2024, www.foxweather.com/lifestyle/new-evidence-d-b-cooper-skyjacking-case.The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “D.B. Cooper.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/biography/D-B-Cooper. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.Morton, Ella. “Who Was D.B. Cooper?” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/news/who-was-d-b-cooper. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.Natale, Michael. “7 People Have Confessed to Being D.B. Cooper. A Twist in the Case Says One Told the Truth.” Popular Mechanics, 28 Feb. 2024, www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a46788110/db-cooper-confession-new-evidence-identity/.News, ABC. “The Possible Pittsburgh Connection in the Case of DB Cooper.” WTAE, WTAE, 5 Jan. 2024, www.wtae.com/article/db-cooper-pittsburgh/46297731. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Have you ever wondered who created the “I love New York” advertising campaign? Whose idea was it for flight attendants in the '60's to wear custom Emilio Pucci designer outfits? The woman (and advertising genius) behind these ideas was Mary Wells Lawrence. And today on Found Objects, I'll tell you her story. Follow us on IG:instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:“A 70-Year-Old Cereal Mascot Suddenly Is More Relevant than Ever.” Tony the Streamer (Kellogg's Frosted Flakes) | Work | Leo Burnett, 2024, leoburnett.com/work/tony-the-streamer2024.“Craftsmen of Creativity: Mary Wells and the End of the Plain Plane.” YouTube, Advertising Week, 30 Oct. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ciu6PVvRHM.The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Mary Wells Lawrence.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 2024, www.britannica.com/money/Mary-Wells-Lawrence.Henneke. “What Makes Copy Truly Persuasive?” Enchanting Marketing, 11 Aug. 2022, www.enchantingmarketing.com/david-ogilvy-rolls-royce-advert/.Lions. “Mary Wells Lawrence | Lion of St. Mark 2020.” YouTube, 13 May 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbTRz5ftBGk.McFadden, Robert. “Mary Wells Lawrence, High-Profile Advertising Pioneer, Dies at 95.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 May 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/business/mary-wells-lawrence-dead.html.Michals, Debra. “Biography: Betty Friedan.” National Women's History Museum, 2017, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/betty-friedan. Pollack, Judann. “Mary Wells Lawrence, Iconic Advertising Creative, Dies at 95.” Ad Age, 13 May 2024, adage.com/article/agency-news/mary-wells-lawrence-iconic-advertising-creative-dies-95/2560126.“Why Frosted Flakes' Tony the Tiger Is the Greatest Cereal Mascot of All Time.” PopIcon.Life, 4 June 2023, popicon.life/frosted-flakes-tony-the-tiger-greatest-cereal-mascot/.“‘at 60 Miles an Hour' Rolls-Royce Ad by David Ogilvy.” Swipedco, swiped.co/file/rolls-royce-ad-by-david-ogilvy/. Accessed 2 July 2024. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The story of the Titanic's sinking is a tragic tale to say the least. But it is one that has entranced the minds of so many. That is why it is still talked about so extensively to this day, AND why so many conspiracy theories exist about what ‘actually' happened on board to cause its sinking. Today we are debunking popular Titanic conspiracy theories.Found Objects Instagram:instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:Hsu, Tiffany, and Sapna Maheshwari. “The Titanic Truthers of TikTok.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 16 June 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/06/16/business/titanic-tiktok-misinformation.html.Little, Becky. “The Craziest Titanic Conspiracy Theories, Explained.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 28 Nov. 2018, www.history.com/news/titanic-sinking-conspiracy-myths-jp-morgan-olympic.Mikkelson, David, and Barbara Mikkelson. “Did a Cursed Mummy Sink with the Titanic?” Snopes, Snopes.com, 9 Oct. 1999, www.snopes.com/fact-check/mummy-titantic/.Ruehl, Franklin. “Did a German U-Boat Sink the Titanic?” HuffPost, HuffPost, 10 June 2012, www.huffpost.com/entry/-did-a-german-uboat-sink_b_1413770.Tikkanen, Amy. “Olympic.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Olympic. Accessed 25 June 2024.Tikkanen, Amy. “Titanic.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 18 June 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/Titanic.Wallace, Lorna. “10 Wild Conspiracy Theories about the Sinking of the ‘Titanic.'” Mental Floss, Mental Floss, 2 Feb. 2024, www.mentalfloss.com/posts/titanic-conspiracy-theories. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The earliest renditions of the Olympics featured a whole lot of running and a whole lot of nudity. Today, there may be a little less nakedness, but running still remains a pillar of the modern Olympic Games. So it's only fitting that we unpack one of the most bizarre events in the history of the games - the 1904 Marathon in St. Louis. Today on Found Objects, we will also delve into the origins of the games in Ancient Greece and their long awaited return in 1896. You will soon learn that the events may have modernized, but the tradition lives on. Just in time for us to celebrate the start of the 33rd Olympiad! Follow us on instagram:instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:10 Amazing Ancient Olympic Facts, History Channel, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a7vuvHuPic.Abbott, Karen. “How the 1904 Marathon Became One of the Weirdest Olympic Events of All Time.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 7 Aug. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-1904-marathon-became-one-of-the-weirdest-olympic-events-of-all-time-14910747/.“Ancient Olympic Games.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 July 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Olympic_Games.History.com Editors. “First Modern Olympic Games | April 6, 1896.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-modern-olympic-games. Accessed 18 July 2024.History.com Editors. “The Olympic Games: Locations, Facts, Ancient & Modern.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 6 Jan. 2010, www.history.com/topics/sports/olympic-games.Little, Becky. “When Young Ancient Greek Women Raced at Olympia.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 8 July 2024, www.history.com/news/ancient-greek-girls-women-heraia-race-olympia.Nelsen, Matt. “Twelve of the Biggest Athletes to Watch at Paris 2024.” Paris 2024, 8 July 2024, olympics.com/en/news/twelve-popular-athletes-ready-to-leave-their-mark-paris-2024.Olympic History - from the Home of Zeus in Olympia to the Modern Games, International Olympic Committee, olympics.com/ioc/ancient-olympic-games/history. Accessed 18 July 2024.Sakavitsi, Kalliopi. “The History of the Olympic Games.” Paris 2024, 11 Jan. 2024, olympics.com/en/news/the-history-of-the-olympic-games.Voigt, Robin. “The Evolution of the Early Olympics*.” International Society of Olympic Historians, isoh.org/cause-view/the-evolution-of-the-early-olympics/. Accessed 18 July 2024. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The hoaxes that you are probably most familiar with today are tied to legends. They are a means to justify an end. Think of the famous grainy photo of the Loch Ness Monster which was falsified to prove the monster's existence. Similarly, think of the sketchy video of Big Foot which was also tampered with to prove that Sasquatch was real. But what of the hoaxes that stand alone? The hoaxes that confuse or mislead even the most intelligent minds. These are where the juicy stories can be found. Today, on Found Objects, I share a story or two (or several lol) about hoaxes that will make you stop in your tracks and consider the validity of even the most seemingly legitimate tales. Follow us on instagram:instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSources:“6 Hoaxes People Actually Believed.” YouTube, Mental Floss, 2 Nov. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3x-lsqynRI.Dardenne, Robert. “Hoax.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/topic/hoax. Accessed 18 June 2024.Irving, Rob, and Peter Brookesmith. “Crop Circles: The Art of the Hoax.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 15 Dec. 2009, www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/crop-circles-the-art-of-the-hoax-2524283/.Kort, Alicia. “Did Mary Toft Give Birth to Rabbits?” Electric Literature, 26 Nov. 2019, electricliterature.com/did-mary-toft-give-birth-to-rabbits/#:~:text=Now%2C%20in%20Dexter%20Palmer's%20historical,London's%20top%20surgeons%20in%201726.Lyons, Stephen. “The Beast of Loch Ness | Birth of a Legend.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, Nov. 2000, www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lochness/legend.html.“Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus.” Save The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus, zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/. Accessed 17 June 2024.Pollock, Niki. “The Curious Case of Mary Toft.” University of Glasgow, Aug. 2009, www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/library/files/special/exhibns/month/aug2009.html.“Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus.” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/lcwaN0010826. Accessed 17 June 2024.Serena, Katie. “How a Bored Reporter Thought up One of the Greatest Literary Hoaxes of All Time.” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 15 Dec. 2017, allthatsinteresting.com/naked-came-the-stranger.“When Spaghetti Grew on Trees: The BBC's Legendary April Fools' Day Hoax.” Royal Examiner, 31 Mar. 2024, royalexaminer.com/when-spaghetti-grew-on-trees-the-bbcs-legendary-april-fools-day-hoax/.“‘Legend of Bigfoot.'” Washington State Military Department, mil.wa.gov/the-legend-of-bigfoot. Accessed 17 June 2024. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-excess/201705/the-psychology-hoaxingAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Did the heiress murder her friend? And, did the butler murder her?! The historically wealthiest families in the United States may sound familiar to you. Consider the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilts, the Waltons, the Hearsts... But, you probably don't immediately consider the Duke family, who pioneered the Tobacco industry. James Duke's only daughter Doris Duke was a woman wrought with scandal throughout her life, and today on Found Objects, we will tackle all that AND the mysterious death of Doris' long-time friend and employee, Eduardo Tirella. This was either the biggest murder cover up of the 1960s, or the most unfortunate case of the wrong place at the wrong time… Follow us on Instagram:instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSources:“6 Most Frequently Asked Questions about Doris Duke.” Newport Restoration Foundation, 24 Jan. 2024, www.newportrestoration.org/6-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-doris-duke/.Amore, Samson. “How America's Most Famous Heiress Got Away with Killing Her Gay Confidant.” Advocate.Com, Advocate.com, 24 Jan. 2024, www.advocate.com/crime/doris-duke-eduardo-tirella#toggle-gdpr.Colacello, Bob. “Doris Duke's Final Mystery: Vanity Fair.” Vanity Fair | The Complete Archive, Vanity Fair, 1 Mar. 1994, archive.vanityfair.com/article/1994/3/doris-dukes-final-mystery.“Doris Duke - Facts, Death & Mansion.” Biography.Com, 2024, www.biography.com/celebrities/doris-duke.“Duke University's Endowment and the Duke Endowment.” Giving To Duke, Duke University, 12 Nov. 2020, giving.duke.edu/endowment/duke-universitys-endowment-and-the-duke-endowment/.The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “James Buchanan Duke.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 2024, www.britannica.com/money/James-Buchanan-Duke.Lance, Peter. “The Doris Duke Cold Case Reopens: The Only Known Eyewitness Speaks.” Vanity Fair, 5 Aug. 2021, www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/08/the-doris-duke-cold-case-reopens-eyewitness-speaks. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Phillip Franklin, vice president of the White Star Line, famously said: “There is no danger that Titanic will sink. The boat is unsinkable.” But as we know, the ‘unsinkable ship' did in fact sink. And on board that fateful voyage, was one particular ‘famous' couple of the time: Billionaire JJ Astor and his wife Madeleine, who was 5 months pregnant. From swirling rumors in Gilded Age society of the couple's ‘fateful lust' and mass disapproval of the union, to the ultimate fate of the couple when the ship went down in 1914. All of this and more in today's episode!Follow us on IG:instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/john-jacob-astor.html.www.bbc.com/future/article/20120402-the-myth-of-the-unsinkable-ship.www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/madeleine-talmage-astor.html.www.mentalfloss.com/posts/madeleine-astor-titanic-widow.www.britannica.com/topic/Titanic. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Buckle up! Today we're going driving. We'll be uncovering some curious truths involved in the history of car safety - and I promise, it won't be boring. Spoiler alert: one very useful feature used in cars today was invented by a blind man, windshield wipers have come a LONG way, and... cadavers were once used as test dummies. All of this + more in today's episode of Found Objects!Follow us on IG: instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:www.forbes.com/sites/douglasbell/2019/08/13/60-years-of-seatbelts-volvos-great-gift-to-the-world/?sh=562d272e22bc.www.volvogroup.com/en/about-us/heritage/story-of-volvo.html.www.history.com/this-day-in-history/three-point-seatbelt-inventor-nils-bohlin-born. Accessed 11 May 2024.lemelson.mit.edu/resources/mary-andersonwww.invent.org/inductees/mary-anderson#:~:text=The%20lever%2C%20with%20a%20counterweight,clearing%20device%20to%20be%20effective.lemelson.mit.edu/resources/nils-bohlin. www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/ralph-r-teetor/magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/auto-history/a-seat-belt-history-timeline/magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/auto-history/the-history-of-crash-test-dummies/.
What happened to Hollywood's shining star, Marilyn Monroe? What happened during her short, ten years on the silver screen in Hollywood that destroyed her? The tale of her life and untimely death has been shrouded in mystery for decades. And what about her affair with JFK and Bobby Kennedy? And an FBI investigation? Did this have something to do with it all? All of the answers to these questions and more, on today's episode of Found Objects podcast. Follow us on instagram:instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:www.businessinsider.com/us-presidents-sex-scandals-white-house-and-beyond-2023-1#several-women-said-they-had-affairs-with-john-f-kennedy-3.https://www.netflix.com/search?q=mari&jbv=81216491.www.life.com/people/tearful-photos-from-the-day-marilyn-divorced-dimaggio-in-1954/.allthatsinteresting.com/james-dougherty.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe.people.com/politics/marilyn-monroe-affair-john-f-kennedy-robert-f-kennedy/.www.biography.com/actors/marilyn-monroe-mother-relationship.
Wink at your grocer… ummm. what?! The Kellogg Brothers are responsible for the invention of cereal, and they traveled an interesting road before their genius product hit the shelves. But, they had an even crazier path after when the industry blew up. Today on Found Objects Podcast, we will explore it all - the birth of cereal and, with it, the fallout of the century.Follow us on Instagram:instagram.com/foundobjectspodcast SOURCES:www.historytoday.com/archive/battle-cornflakes.www.history.com/news/dr-john-kellogg-cereal-wellness-wacky-sanitarium-treatments.www.postconsumerbrands.com/our-history/.knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/podcast/knowledge-at-wharton-podcast/the-bitter-feud-behind-an-iconic-brand/.dspace.willardlibrary.org/xmlui/handle/123456789/409.www.britannica.com/topic/Adventism. Accessed 2 May 2024.www.history.com/news/cereal-breakfast-origins-kellogg.
At the peak of their existence, the Pinkerton Detective Agency was *the* crime fighting machine in the United States. They hired the first female detective, notoriously saved Abraham Lincoln from being killed on a train by dressing him in a disguise, among other feats. But, they admittedly had their flaws as well. However, without the Pinkertons' contributions to the industry, we would not have the CIA, FBI, and law enforcement as we know it today. SOURCES:www.legendsofamerica.com/pinkertons/www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/james-agency/#:~:text=Scottish%20emigrant%20and%20abolitionist%20Allan,James%20brothers%2C%20and%20he%20failedwww.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-pinkertons. www.britannica.com/biography/Allan-Pinkerton.www.britannica.com/event/Chartism-British-history.www.intelligence.gov/evolution-of-espionage/civil-war/union-espionage/allan-pinkerton. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
TW: mentions of su*cideAt the age of eight, Barbara Newhall Follett wrote her first novel, inventing her own mythical world and language. She was a published author by age 12. But, child prodigy Barbara Follett would go on to vanish without a trace. When she was 25, after a fight with her husband, she grabbed her coat, a notebook, and $30 in cash, and left their Boston home, never to be seen again. Today on Found Objects, I tell her story.Follow us on IG: instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES -- www.laphamsquarterly.org/celebrity/vanishing-act.blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20speople-investigating-the-strange-disappearance-of-mrs-agatha-christie/.crimereads.com/what-happened-to-barbara-newhall-follett/.www.britannica.com/biography/Virginia-Woolf.www.mentalfloss.com/posts/barbara-newhall-follett-author-mystery.www.biography.com/authors-writers/virginia-woolf.
During World War II, tens of thousands of priceless paintings, sculptures + other art mediums (think: Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt…) were stolen by Nazi forces. Plucked off of walls, ripped out of the hands of private collectors, discarded in rubble, burned in bonfires.. and yet, today, many of the stolen works are safely and legally hanging on the walls of museums. How were these priceless artworks rescued? Enter: “Protect what's left. Find what's missing.” — That was the motto of the Monuments Men, a group of men and women who risked their lives during wartime to recover the stolen artwork. And today on Found Objects, I share their heroic, often unknown, story. Follow us on instagram:https://instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:allthatsinteresting.com/looted-okinawa-artifacts.encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/degenerate-art-1.www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2014/02/07/the-true-story-behind-the-monuments-men.www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/provenance-research-resources/monuments-men. Accessed 12 Apr. 2024.www.smithsonianmag.com/history/true-story-monuments-men-180949569/.www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2002/summer/nazi-looted-art-1.www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/monuments-men.historycollection.com/10-pieces-art-stolen-nazis-still-missing-today/. www.dailyartmagazine.com/the-story-of-the-lost-raphaels-portrait-of-a-young-man/.www.britannica.com/topic/Volk
Today on Found Objects, we explore one of the most famous (and most complicated) pair of sisters in history. Jackie Kennedy and Lee Radziwill. Find out why Jackie left Lee out of her Will. TLDR; It's an all-too-familiar tale of: she loves me… she loves me not.Follow us on Instagram: @foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:www.vogue.com/article/weddings-jackie-kennedy-aristotle-onassis-katie-holmes.www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/04/jackie-kennedy-lee-radziwill-sisterhood.www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/life-of-jacqueline-b-kennedy. Accessed 6 Apr. 2024.www.vogue.com/article/jackie-kennedy-wedding-to-john-f-kennedy.www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a46587141/lee-radziwill-feud-capote-vs-the-swans-true-story/.www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjT-WcZBpsc.
The strange tale of Patty Hearst is one fraught with a stealthy kidnapping, a supposed change of heart, a girl gone wild, and one of the longest FBI manhunts in recent history. Today on Found Objects, we will unpack the events of Patty's life from 1974 to 1975, from the kidnapping of a helpless college student to a criminal capture. Did this heiress go from good girl to terrorist? Tune in to find out.Follow us on Instagram: @foundobjectspodcastSOURCES: apnews.com/article/patty-hearst-kidnapping-anniversary-stockholm-syndrome-1e155ada27b2b0ab8940c2fc70d9b7d1www.britannica.com/biography/Patty-Hearstwww.britannica.com/science/Stockholm-syndromewww.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/patty-hearst#:~:text=They'd%20already%20shot%20two,newspaper%20magnate%20William%20Randolph%20Hearst.people.com/archive/cover-story-the-california-heiress-turned-hostage-vol-17-no-4/.content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,913456-7,00.html.www.washingtonpost.com/history/2024/02/04/patty-hearst-kidnapping-50-years/.www.npr.org/2016/08/03/488373982/whose-side-was-she-on-american-heiress-revisits-patty-hearst-s-kidnapping.
Let's take a trip down memory lane to the 1970's and consider where some experts think obsessive consumerism really began. Who remembers Cabbage Patch Kids? Cabbage Patch dolls? The story behind these dolls and their rise to popularity is wild. Things got.. dangerous. There's magic, intrigue and lawsuits involved in today's episode of Found Objects. Follow us on instagram:www.instagram.com/foundobjectspodcast/SOURCES:Bird, David. “‘Adoptable' Dolls Aren't Having Any Trouble Finding Homes.” New York Times, 29 Nov. 1983, p. 17.cabbagepatchkids.com/pages/our-historywww.usatoday.com/story/life/shopping/2024/01/04/winter-pink-starbucks-x-stanley-cups-are-selling-out-at-target-where-to-buy-in-delaware/72105916007/wpde.com/news/nation-world/reliving-the-cabbage-patch-doll-craze-of-1983-zayre-walmart-dolls-mob-coleco-christmas-new-yorkwww.fastcompany.com/90981007/cabbage-patch-kids-billion-dollar-babies-andrew-jenkswww.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2024/01/13/stanley-cup-obsession-explained/72176008007/www.theguardian.com/film/2023/nov/23/billion-dollar-babies-cabbage-patch-kids-documentaryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSk84zU1RuMwww.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/01/04/whats-up-with-the-stanley-cups/72108927007/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-12-mn-5746-story.html
Can you believe there was a time when Mussolini tried to BAN PASTA in ITALY?! Today on Found Objects podcast, we dive into modern food trends, and then instances of crazy, outright food bans - whether they were justified or not. But spoiler: it didn't matter - people found a way to eat what they wanted to eat regardless of the bans! Pasta, alcohol, absinthe, and milk… all that and more on today's episode of Found Objects. Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-should-know-about-prohibitionbigthink.com/the-past/pasta-italy-mussolini/food52.com/drinks/spirits-liquor/27829-the-history-of-absinthewww.britannica.com/biography/Filippo-Tommaso-Marinettiwww.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/the-devil-in-a-little-green-bottle-a-history-of-absinthe/www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/benito-mussoliniwww.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/03/raw-milk-legalized-states-unpasteruized-disease-risks-public-health/70369454007/americadomani.com/that-time-mussolini-tried-to-ban-pasta-in-italy/worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/raw-milk-legal-stateswww.britannica.com/art/Futurismthebeaconbeat.org/2022/12/22/american-food-vs-european-food-why-is-there-such-a-difference/
In examining one of the biggest known diamond heists in history, today on Found Objects, we will ponder the question: how far are you willing to go for money? Leonardo Notarbartolo was practically a thief straight out of the womb, but in his later years he would go on to become a criminal mastermind as the ringleader of 'The Antwerp Diamond Heist'. In 2003, Leonardo and his team stole loose diamonds, gold, silver and other types of jewelry valued at more than $100 million. How did he pull it off? And, where are the gems now?Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:$100 Million Diamond Heist | History's Greatest Heists with Pierce Brosnan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDIhoG4-P6Ewww.wired.com/2009/03/ff-diamonds-2/economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/the-untold-story-of-a-100mn-diamond-heist-and-how-it-happened/articleshow/60217597.cmsthecinemaholic.com/leonardo-notarbartolo-now-where-is-antwerp-heist-mastermind-today/www.cnn.com/travel/article/antwerp-diamond-district-belgium/index.html
Today on Found Objects, we will dive into the 'fountain of youth,' the rise in popularity of radium and its ultimate downfall by unpacking the tragic story of the Radium Girls, among other radium-tinged topics.Follow us on instagram:https://instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastSOURCES:blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2019/03/radium-girls-living-dead-women/www.wired.com/2011/03/life-in-the-undark/www.visitflorida.com/travel-ideas/articles/outdoors-nature-florida-springs-overview/www.history.com/news/the-myth-of-ponce-de-leon-and-the-fountain-of-youthwww.northernpublicradio.org/illinois/2017-05-18/ottawas-radium-girls-at-forefront-of-worker-protectionsLui, Elaine. “The History of Radium.” large.stanford.edu/courses/2021/ph241/lui2/www.mariecurie.org.uk/who/our-history/marie-curie-the-scientist#:~:text=On%204%20July%201934%2C%20at,to%20radiation%20through%20her%20workhttps://youtu.be/TPe81XKS30M?si=l9KewRtjt2u5UfrPlive-ucalgary.ucalgary.ca/sites/default/files/teams/246/death-by-numbers_the-mysterious-illness-of-the-dial-painters.pdfwww.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/130719-florida-fountain-of-youth-radioactive-magnesium-health#:~:text=Punta%20Gorda%27s%20water%20clocked%20in,it%20up%20to%20city%20waterwww.britannica.com/story/radium-girls-the-women-who-fought-for-their-lives-in-a-killer-workplace
The history of Taylor Swift's 1920's flapper muse, Clara Bow. Who was this mysterious Clara Bow, aka ‘the girl who burns ‘em up and leaves them cold,' according to gossip rags of the time. Spoiler alert: she was SO much more than that. A successful silent film actress & icon of the 1920's flapper + feminist movement, she was a fearless woman to be remembered. Follow us on instagram: https://instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastFollow Katy on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katybellotte/SOURCES:www.biography.com/actors/a45863068/clara-bowdaily.jstor.org/50-shadesthere-elinor-glyns/www.epstudiossoftware.com/clara-bow/www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2016/jun/21/clara-bow-wild-child-hollywood-history-silent-filmew.com/who-is-clara-bow-and-why-did-taylor-swift-name-a-song-after-her-8559842www.britannica.com/topic/flapperRayner, Richard. A Bright and Guilty Place: Murder, Corruption, and L.A.'s Scandalous Coming of Age.Voss, Jennifer. “I've Researched Clara Bow – It's No Wonder the Actress Inspired Taylor Swift's New Album.”www.blm.gov/visit/walking-box-ranchYork, Cal. “Hell Raisers of Hollywood.” Photoplay Magazine, 1927
What if I told you that a tire company was (allegedly) responsible for the death of a top-rated chef? In this episode, we'll cover the birth of the Michelin Star, discuss the reasons why restaurants are giving BACK their hard-earned Michelin stars, and finally, how lobsters went from being the lowly, 'cockroaches of the sea' of the past, to the lavish dish it is today. Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastFollow Katy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katybellotte/Contact us: katybellottebiz@gmail.comSOURCES:guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/8-surprising-facts-about-the-michelin-manwww.forbes.com/sites/karlaalindahao/2019/10/23/the-secret-life-of-an-anonymous-michelin-restaurant-inspector-2019/?sh=5334f44e35c9www.eater.com/2017/9/21/16345242/chefs-give-back-michelin-starswww.capeporpoiselobster.com/a-brief-history-of-lobsters-and-how-they-became-seafood-royalty/www.capeporpoiselobster.com/a-brief-history-of-lobsters-and-how-they-became-seafood-royalty/www.escoffier.edu/blog/world-food-drink/a-brief-history-of-the-michelin-guide/www.thedailymeal.com/1164378/being-a-michelin-inspector-is-exactly-as-glamorous-as-it-seems/#:~:text=A%20life%20of%20food%20and%20travel&text=Once%20it's%20time%20to%20get,editorial%20teams%20in%20an%20officewww.mainelobsternow.com/blog/a-taste-of-lobster-historywww.history.com/news/a-taste-of-lobster-historywww.tastingtable.com/943231/everything-you-need-to-know-about-michelins-fork-and-spoon-rating/www.thespruceeats.com/brief-history-of-canning-food-1327429guide.michelin.com/th/en/about-us-thguide.michelin.com/th/en/history-of-the-michelin-guide-thguide.michelin.com/th/en/to-the-stars-and-beyond-thpinetreeseafood.com/the-history-of-the-lobster-how-lobster-went-from-cockroach-of-the-sea-to-decadent-dinner/www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/michelin-and-the-deaths-of-two-french-chefswww.sidechef.com/articles/1250/a-brief-history-of-eating-new-england-lobster/
Legend has it, whoever wears the Hope Diamond will die a sudden, grisly death, lose all of their money, or fall victim to a random series of unfortunate events. Is this the truth? Or is it all just an elaborate lie invented by a salesman to sell a pricy, massive and precious blue stone? You decide.Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastFollow Katy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katybellotte/Contact us: katybellottebiz@gmail.comStory sources:https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Therese-Louise-de-Savoie-Carignan-princesse-de-Lamballewww.mentalfloss.com/article/19579/quick-10-10-victims-hope-diamond-cursewww.discoverwalks.com/blog/paris-biggest-mystery-the-man-with-the-iron-mask/naturalhistory.si.edu/explore/collections/hope-diamond-historyKurin, Richard. Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem. Harper Collins, 2006.postalmuseum.si.edu/delivering-the-hope-diamondPost, Jeffrey E., and François Farges. “The Hope Diamond: Rare Gem, Historic Jewel.” Rocks & Minerals, vol. 89, no. 1, 2014, pp. 16–26, doi:10.1080/00357529.2014.842831.www.thoughtco.com/the-curse-of-the-hope-diamond-1779329www.truecrimeedition.com/post/man-in-the-iron-mask
Welcome in! This is the introduction episode for 'Found Objects,' a history podcast by Katy Bellotte. New episodes every Wednesday.Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com/foundobjectspodcastFollow Katy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katybellotte/Contact us: katybellottebiz@gmail.com