History Obscura: Forgotten True Stories

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What went bump in the night a thousand years ago? Explore all the creepy, lost and just plain weird corners of history with me every Tuesday and Saturday!

Mandy Gardner


    • Jun 17, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 18m AVG DURATION
    • 219 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from History Obscura: Forgotten True Stories

    The Transmigration of the Soul

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 16:43


    This evening, we take a look at some compelling cases of reincarnation. Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show (and sweet Homer's vet bill) at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura Or, subscribe to the ad-free Patreon feed at www.Patreon.com/historyobscura Thank you!

    Herman Mudgett's Chicago Murder Castle

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2024 21:47


    Perhaps you know him better as H. H. Holmes? Under a variety of names, this slick character swindled dozens of people out of their money, their properties, and even their lives. Music from Fesliyan Studios

    The Sea-Cook: Treasure Island, Chapter VII

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 12:52


    Keeping on with the classic Robert Louis Stevenson adventure novel! Music from Fesliyan Studios.

    Mrs. Bartlett's Chloroform

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 11:22


    A reading from The New York Times' April 19, 1886 edition. Thanks for listening! Music from Fesliyan Studios.

    PT Barnum: The Great Showman's Favourite Human Exhibits

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2024 29:19


    Phineas Taylor Barnum was a businessman from a tender age, his first venture having been a general store. A move to New York City in his early 20s--and a chance happening upon a highly marketable human being--changed everything for Barnum and the people he would eventually employ. Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show by registering for ad-free episodes at www.patreon.com/historyobscura

    Agatha Christie's Biggest Mystery

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024 16:04


    Not many people realise that the queen of the mystery novel has her own mystery that not even Arthur Conan Doyle could solve. Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura And support our sponsor, Endless Ink Books, by visiting https://www.endlessinkbooks.com/ Thank you!

    The Atrocity Beneath the Wolf's Lair

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 13:20


    Wolfsschanze was the Nazi headquarters in Poland during the Second World War, as well as the residence of Herman Goring. Now, a potentially lost war crime has been unearthed from the renowned historical site. Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobsura Thank you!

    The Utmost Island: Chapter Twenty-Six (END)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 17:55


    THE END The new Christian religion clashes with ancient Norse gods during Leif Ericson's expedition to Vinland. Please enjoy the final chapters of this spellbinding historical fiction novel from Henry Myers while your host and the coven of cats finish up a few podcast-adjacent projects this month. As always, thanks for listening :)

    The Utmost Island: Chapter Twenty-Five

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2024 24:35


    The new Christian religion clashes with ancient Norse gods during Leif Ericson's expedition to Vinland. Please enjoy the final chapters of this spellbinding historical fiction novel from Henry Myers while your host and the coven of cats finish up a few podcast-adjacent projects this month. As always, thanks for listening :)

    The Utmost Island: Chapter Twenty-Four

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 15:48


    The new Christian religion clashes with ancient Norse gods during Leif Ericson's expedition to Vinland. Please enjoy the final chapters of this spellbinding historical fiction novel from Henry Myers while your host and the coven of cats finish up a few podcast-adjacent projects this month. As always, thanks for listening :)

    The Utmost Island: Chapter Twenty-Three

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2024 22:26


    The new Christian religion clashes with ancient Norse gods during Leif Ericson's expedition to Vinland. Please enjoy the final chapters of this spellbinding historical fiction novel from Henry Myers while your host and the coven of cats finish up a few podcast-adjacent projects this month. As always, thanks for listening :)

    The Utmost Island: Chapter Twenty-Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 22:25


    The new Christian religion clashes with ancient Norse gods during Leif Ericson's expedition to Vinland. Please enjoy the final chapters of this spellbinding historical fiction novel from Henry Myers while your host and the coven of cats finish up a few podcast-adjacent projects this month. As always, thanks for listening :)

    The Utmost Island: Chapter Twenty-One

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 18:03


    The new Christian religion clashes with ancient Norse gods during Leif Ericson's expedition to Vinland. Please enjoy the final chapters of this spellbinding historical fiction novel from Henry Myers while your host and the coven of cats finish up a few podcast-adjacent projects this month. As always, thanks for listening :)  

    Treasure Island: Chapter Six

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2024 14:13


    Avast, matey! Here be another chapter o' Treasure Island. Music by Fesliyan Studios

    William Mumler's Spirit Photographs

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 12:36


    Real or not, they did the trick for Mary Todd Lincoln! Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura Thank you!

    Henry Wyatt's Hero: Caterer Cat

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2024 6:38


    A special presentation by Minnie Mew. Do as she says and support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura! Music from Fesliyan Studios

    Whatever Became of the Protectorate's Head?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 13:29


    The English Civil War claimed the King, and malaria claimed the Protectorate. But, one of those men got to keep his body. Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura Thank you!

    Machines in the Sky? Heavenly Trumpeting Around the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 10:42


    Have you heard the music...err...noise, in the sky? Perhaps we'll all die. Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura

    The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allen Poe

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 20:03


    Not many know--in fact, no one really does--how the king of goth literature died that day. Music by Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura

    Old Indian Trails of the Canadian Rockies

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 22:31


    This week I delve into the journal of botanist and explorer Mary Shaffer, who took on the hard and unforgiving Canadian Rocky Mountains in the early years of the 20th century. Music from Fesliyan Studios www.patreon.com/historyobscura www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura

    Mutant Human Genes & the Choice Cocktail of the British Raj

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2024 13:52


    Creepy genetic mutations affect our teeth, arteries and the likelihood of survival in the tropics. Do come in and help yourself to a biscuit! Music from Fesliyan Studios Look at show merch designs at these links: Giordano Bruno quotation Tee/Tote/Pillow etc.! Vampire Cat hoodie/tee/tote etc! Support the show at Patreon for ad-free episodes! Send a lovely tip at BuyMeACoffee! History Obscura Teacup tee/tote/cushion, etc.!

    Treasure Island: Chapter Three

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024 13:55


    Back to Robert Louis Stevenson's 1873 classic pirate novel, Treasure Island! Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at Patreon for ad-free episodes! Send a lovely tip at BuyMeACoffee! Look at show merch designs at these links: Thinkin' Ain't Easy But It's Necessary Tee/Tote/Mug etc.! Giordano Bruno quotation Tee/Tote/Pillow etc.! Vampire Cat hoodie/tee/tote etc! History Obscura Teacup tee/tote/cushion, etc.!

    Talking to Martians

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2024 15:37


    From early attempts to capture radio signals from Mars to current debate on the 1977 WOW! signal, let's talk radio telescopes! Music from Fesliyan Studios Look at show merch designs at these links: Thinkin' Ain't Easy But It's Necessary Tee/Tote/Mug etc.! Giordano Bruno quotation Tee/Tote/Pillow etc.! Vampire Cat hoodie/tee/tote etc! Support the show at Patreon for ad-free episodes! Send a lovely tip at BuyMeACoffee! History Obscura Teacup tee/tote/cushion, etc.!

    Hume & the Disease of the Learned

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2024 15:29


    Do you ever feel heavy from the weight of your musings on existence?  You aren't alone! Music from Fesliyan Studios. Remember to subscribe through Patreon.com/historyobscura any time for ad-free episodes! You can also donate to the show via BuyMeACoffee.com/historyobscura And by all means, sport some History Obscura merchandise, available at TeePublic!

    Sekhmet, Blood Goddess of Egypt

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2024 13:36


    Very Happy New Year, everyone! Enjoy this ochre-dyed creation story and its literal counterpart, uncovered from the sands of Egypt. I bring you Sekhmet, the Lionness! Music from Fesliyan Studios. Remember to subscribe through Patreon.com/historyobscura any time for ad-free episodes! You can also donate to the show via BuyMeACoffee.com/historyobscura And by all means, sport some History Obscura merchandise, available at TeePublic!

    A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023 211:14


    Please enjoy the entire story of Scrooge and his ghosts! Perhaps best consumed over the coming weeks, A Christmas Carol is 3.5 hours long and does not actually involve Kermit the Frog OR Michael Caine. Please support the show this Christmas by signing up for ad-free episodes (www.patreon.com/historyobscura), buying me a tea (www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura), or buying a t-shirt, cushion, mug, tote bag, hoodie, magnet, sticker, etc. (https://tinyurl.com/nhaytp6d)! Clothing comes in various styles, so please do browse! Here's another design to check out: https://tinyurl.com/ycxf4edx. Merry holidays, everyone!

    Mission to Mars--But Not the Buzz Aldrin Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 22:14


    Hello! This is your happy host, Mandy Gardner. Unfortunately, a demon has taken up residence in my throat this week, so I have decided to share a few pre-recorded chapters of my science fiction novel, Mission to Mars, with you tonight. As luck would have it, this very book and its predecessor, Letters to Earth, are currently on sale as whole audiobooks through Endless Ink Publishing. Please do buy yourself a copy!   Thank you as always for tuning in, leaving great reviews, sharing episodes with your friends, and just being your lovely selves. Remember to subscribe through www.Patreon.com/historyobscura any time for ad-free episodes! Have a wonderful evening. Goodnight!

    Bonus Episode: Canadian WWI Soldier Saved by Dead Brother

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2023 8:51


    Does what it says on the tin! A Canadian soldier's paranormal experience during WWI. Music from Fesliyan Studios Subscribe for ad-free episodes at www.Patreon.com/historyObscura or www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura Thank you!

    Minnie Dean: The Baby Farmer of New Zealand

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 14:22


    Baby farming wasn't always an evil side hustle--or was it? This is the story of Minnie Dean, neé McCulloch, a Scottish-born settler of southern New Zealand in the 19th century. Music from Fesliyan Studios Please sign up for ad-free episodes or support the show at www.Patreon.com/historyobscura or www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura Thank you!  

    Treasure Island: Chapter Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 14:14


    Bonus weekly episode! Chapter Two of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel, Treasure Island.

    Life Magazine's ”Dawn of Religion”

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 19:10


    The antiquated yet fascinating tale of humankind's religious awakening, as told by Life Magazine in 1955! Ah, the obsolete anthropological theory! Golly, the complete omission of all femalekind! That's what we call the history of history, friends. Do enjoy ;) Music from Fesliyan Studios Please subscribe for ad-free episodes every week at www.patreon.com/historyobscura or kindly tip the podcast at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura. Thanks!

    Hallowe'en Special Story! The Monkey's Paw: Parts Two & Three

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2023 16:31


    Very Happy Hallowe'en to all of you special people! Thank you so much for joining me this season and every other season! There was great witchery afoot tonight; don't mind the lykoi's howling and jingling along with the conclusion of this classic spooky tale. It's their Hallowe'en, too ;)   Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura,where you can sign up for ad-free episodes! You can also become a supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura

    Halloween Special Story! The Monkey's Paw: Part One

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2023 13:27


    Not exactly as told by The Simpsons ;) Enjoy the Monkey's Paw short series this Hallowe'en season!   Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura,where you can sign up for ad-free episodes! You can also become a supporter at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura Thank you!

    Nightmare Before Halloween? It's the Month of Hungry Ghosts

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 11:50


      Halloween & Day of the Dead may epitomise the spooky season in Europe and North America, but Asia has its own terrifying annual festival in which swarms of ravenous spirits with bad karma flood into the land of the living. Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show by signing up for ad-free episodes at www.patreon.com/historyobscura or by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura Thank you!

    Prophecies for the World of 1980!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 13:16


    Hear what American industry experts of 1955 had to say about the world of the future in 1980! Music from Fesliyan Studios Purr by FrankenTito Please support the show at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura or by signing up for ad-free episodes at www.patreon.com/historyobscura Thanks!

    Treasure Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 15:00


    Today's reading is from Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure novel, Treasure Island. Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the podcast and subscribe to ad-free episodes at www.patreon.com/historyobscura Thanks!

    The Medieval Nun Who Scribbled her Name in the Gospel

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 9:59


    Who was "Eadberg", and does she represent a lost class of literate women in medieval England's nunneries? We don't know much yet, but a spark of personality has been discovered in the pages of a 1,200-year-old text! Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show and subscribe to ad-free episodes via www.patreon.com/historyobscura or www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura

    The Mayan Caste War

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2023 14:04


    The Mayan people did not disappear; in fact, they fought long and hard for their land and culture, which can once more be seen in Mexico's beautiful Quintana Roo and the Yucatan. Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura or www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura

    The Sweating Sickness of the English Renaissance

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2023 14:03


    King Henry VII had a lot on his plate after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, but he wasn't expecting a new plague to be one of them. Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura or www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura Thank you!

    Satan: Christianity's Tulpa?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 12:48


    A brief biography of autumn's favourite fallen deity...Satan, Lucifer, or the Devil, if you will! Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura, or at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura

    The Great Fire of London

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2023 15:56


    One night in 1666, it all started at a bakery in Pudding Lane.... Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura, or at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura

    Plural Worlds: Alien Theory through the Ages

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 12:40


    From the Ancient Greeks to modern extraterrestrial and UAP/UFO theory...is there really life out there? Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura, or at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura

    Lief Erickson's Viking Saga

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 16:02


    Chapter 20 of Henry Myers' amazing historical novel, The Utmost Island! You can now find the entire audio of the book at the Historical Fiction Book Club. More to follow, so subscribe to the feed! Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura, or at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura

    Hitobashira: Japan's Human Pillars

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2023 10:11


    Human sacrifice was an architectural feature of feudal Japan, it seems. Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura or at www.patreon.com/historyobscura

    Dickens & Hans Christian Andersen: The Bad Houseguest

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 14:30


    Two great authors of the 19th century kept up a friendship writing letters for 9 years--until one day, the fairytale king came to stay with the London novelist. Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show at www.patreon.com/HistoryObscura, or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura

    DNA & Migration to the Americas--Plus a Bonus/Bogus? Welsh Tale

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2023 18:54


    The timeline for original human migration into the Americas is becoming more complex as researchers explore new ways to track early settlers. Music from Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura  or at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura Thanks!

    A True(ish) Viking Tale

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 22:44


    Chapter nineteen of Henry Myers' The Utmost Island. Music from Fesliyan Studios.

    A Brief & Pungent History of Cadaveric Dissection

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2023 17:21


    Medical students were long prohibited from studying human anatomy from the naked form itself--especially when the subject was dead. Once the study was begrudgingly accepted, however, everyone wanted a first-hand look. Music by Fesliyan Studios Support the show at www.BuyMeACoffee.com/HistoryObscura, or at www.Patreon.com/HistoryObscura

    Mysterious Airships from the Turn of the 20th Century

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2023 12:32


    How many airships does it take to be called a "Flap?" You tell me. Music from Fesliyan Studios. Support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura or www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura

    Humboldt's Parrot: The Echoes of a Lost South American Language

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2023 7:46


    18th-century explorer Alexander Humboldt found the vestiges of a dead South American language in the most unusual host! Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura or at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura Thank you!

    The Utmost Island: Chapter Seventeen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023 22:42


    Another chapter from Henry Myers' novel, The Utmost Island. Enjoy! Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show at www.patreon.com/historyobscura or at www.buymeacoffee.com/historyobscura Thank you!

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