Sofa King Podcast

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the most unique visionaries in all of Hollywood, Tim Burton. It's hard to even start with his biggest hit since there are so many—Batman, Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. His movies aren't just financial blockbusters, they are cult favorites, adored by millions. His visual style, animation, and soundtracks are just as iconic as some of his characters. Come along as we take a look inside the mind of a maestro.     Visit our Sources: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000318/bio/ https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/tim-burton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Burton https://www.ranker.com/list/fascinating-facts-about-tim-burton/collin-flatt https://vocal.media/geeks/25-facts-about-tim-burton-and-some-of-his-movies https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/directors/tim-burton-net-worth/ https://chrislacy1990.medium.com/revisiting-princes-batman-1989-retrospective-tribute-ed09e692be02#:~:text=While%20assembling%20a%20rough%20cut,convinced%20Burton%20to%20contact%20Prince.

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the ultimate brain baller, Archimedes. He was born in 287 BC, but he was a genius the likes of which the world has seldom known. The cool stuff was his machines. He created giant claws that could scoop attacking ships out of the sea, advanced catapults, ballista that could throw whole trees, and allegedly a heat ray that set ships on fire, as well as the world's first analog computer. But his real genius was in mathematics. He is said to be one of the all-time greats, a thousand years or more ahead of his time. The inventions and discoveries of Archimedes make him one of the smartest humans in the history of the species.   Visit Our Sources: http://archimedespalimpsest.org/about/history/archimedes.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v86Yk14rf8 https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/archimedes-archimedes https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/archimedes-ancient-greek-genius-ahead-his-time-003690 https://explorable.com/archimedes-war-machines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism  

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we go back in time to a story of murder, voodoo, torture, and sex. This is the story of Annie Palmer, the White Witch of Rose Hall. The year is 1820, and an 18 year old Annie marries the wealthy owner of Rose Hall. However, he is abusive to her, and she learned dark voodoo from her nanny, so he's killed with a mix of poison and dark magic. From there she goes off the rails, killing more hubbies, having sex with slaves, torturing people, and being a medieval-style crazy woman bent by dark magic and power. But, why do some skeptics say none of the story is true? What parts can history prove? Did she really kill slave babies just to use their bones in ritual? Who is the sorcerer Takoo, and how does he help in her undoing? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://medium.com/@karennordhus/annie-palmer-the-white-witch-of-rose-hall-81b434be4a2e https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Witch_of_Rose_Hall https://www.thepalmsjamaica.com/annie-palmer-white-witch-rose-hall/ https://www.gonomad.com/1103-annie-palmer-the-white-witch-of-jamaica https://jamaicatravelandculture.com/destinations/st_james/rose-hall/annie-palmer.htm https://theculturetrip.com/caribbean/jamaica/articles/who-is-the-white-witch-of-rose-hall https://www.ancient-origins.net/unexplained-phenomena/annie-palmer-white-witch-rose-hall-008837 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fJtU-_5osQ&t=636s

On this bonus episode of everyone's favorite sitcom, the guys celebrate shark week. Brent turns his pool into salt water, so he can buy a great white shark. Brad builds a shark cage to use in Brent's pool, but cheap steel from Kerplunkistan puts his life in danger. Dave makes a killing when he buys out all the U.S. steel in town and replaces it with cheap steel from Kerplunkistan. Special Guest Star: The King of Flavor! If you can't find this classic episode, you can always tune in at https://www.patreon.com/sofakingpodcast  

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the GOAT of late night television, Johnny Carson. At his height, he had the power to literally ask a comedian to stick around after a commercial break and make them overnight starts. David Letterman, Robin Williams, Rodney Dangerfield, Joan Rivers, and endless others claim that this single nod is what made their career. He single handedly changed late night programming into the format we recognize tonight. Carson was a brilliant comedian and show runner, though he did have some problems with liquor women. If you love classic comedy, give this one a listen!   Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/johnny-carson https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-comedians/johnny-carson-net-worth/ https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/johnny-carson-foundation/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Carson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Do_You_Trust%3F https://www.purevolume.com/entertainment/secrets-from-the-johnny-carson-show/ https://factsverse.com/dark-secrets-about-johnny-carson-we-ignored-for-too-long/ https://www.neatorama.com/2017/02/22/14-Facts-You-May-Not-Know-About-Johnny-Carson/ https://www.factinate.com/people/johnny-carson

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast we talk about one of the strangest True Crime cases we've ever seen—the Phantom of Heilbronn. Also called “The Woman Without a Face,” this master criminal left DNA evidence at over 6 murders and 40 crime scenes spread over three countries. From the gang-style murder of an elite drug cop to DNA left on a toy gun at a small robbery, The Phantom was unstoppable. Her crimes led to a multinational manhunt. Why didn't people already arrested for her crimes come forward with her identity? What was unique about the police officer's murder? Why did they think she used Heroin? What was the ultimate truth about this criminal mastermind who ran rampant across Europe? Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.iso.org/news/2016/07/Ref2094.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_of_Heilbronn https://haubrichnoir.medium.com/tanzen-in-the-dark-the-phantom-of-heilbronn-1f4778e4ecdf https://www.iflscience.com/serial-killer-the-phantom-of-heilbronn-was-hunted-for-16-years-the-problem-she-didnt-exist-58551 https://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1888126,00.html https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/nov/09/germany-serial-killer https://killzoneblog.com/2020/06/the-woman-without-a-face.html

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the Order of Odd Fellows. This fraternity slash secret society included Charlie Chaplin, Wyatt Earp, Ulysses S Grant, Charles Lindberg, and Franklin D Roosevelt. It was once larger than the Masons. Their goal was to expand friendship, love, and truth to all of humanities. They even acted as a form of insurance for each other before such a concept actually existed, but they had a funny way of doing things. For instance, starting in the 2000s, people all across America discovered dozens of skeletons hidden in abandoned Odd Fellow Lodges, and it turned out that this was a group that protected itself with odd rituals and cryptic codes.   Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/633931/independent-order-odd-fellows-secret-society-skeletons https://odd-fellows.org/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ioof/comments/6hyyx4/my_great_great_grandfather_was_a_odd_fellow_left/ https://occult-world.com/odd-fellows/ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-01-mn-45210-story.html https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/eras/grand-united-order-of-odd-fellows-in-america/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Fellows https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Howard_Cook

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the godfather of propaganda, Edward Bernays. Bernays was Sigmund Freud's nephew, and stewing in that pot of mental manipulation made him a master of the craft. He started as a small-time editor and ended up toppling communist regimes alongside the CIA, getting women to smoke cigarettes, and making bacon a health food. He actually discussed a shadow government that ruled the world by mass manipulation of the populace, way back in the 1920s. He was a member of this shadow government, and even the Nazis learned their craft from him.   Visit Our Sources: https://theconversation.com/the-manipulation-of-the-american-mind-edward-bernays-and-the-birth-of-public-relations-44393 https://www.edology.com/blog/marketing/4-lessons-from-behavioural-science/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays https://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/12/consumer https://growth.me/books/propaganda/ https://www.npr.org/2011/02/10/133636541/the-business-of-color-company-sets-fashion-trends  

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the one and only Batman. That's right, crime fighters! Batman has been a hallmark of American popular culture since he debuted in 1939. He's gone from a murderer to a campy clown to a brooding teen and back again. His origin story is tragic, and his heroism is arguably a psychotic obsession, but something about the Dark Knight has captured our imagination. If you want to hear about how this gothic hero came to be, or you want to listen us debate which actor played the best Batman, download this one ASAP.   Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman https://www.superherostuff.com/biographies/batman_biography.html https://www.hendrix.edu/news/news.aspx?id=61460 https://screencrush.com/psychologist-diagnoses-the-batman/ https://comicvine.gamespot.com/profile/vipersixteen/blog/batman-is-not-crazy/156779/ https://www.ranker.com/list/batman-in-arkham-asylum-fan-theory/jonathan-kantor  

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about John Ashley. He was the head of the Ashley Gang and was said to rob 40 banks while becoming the head of Florida rum-running during prohibition. He got one of his eyes shot out by a member of his own gang, became the first pirate to attack American ships since it was a British colony, and had a feud with a one-legged sheriff who vowed to take Ashley's eye! His lover and wife, Laura Upthegrave, was just as devious as he was. Bonnie and Clyde got all the attention, but they couldn't hold a candle to these two!   Visit Our Sources: Expedition Unknown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ashley_(bandit) https://indianrivermagazine.com/the-ashley-gang-what-really-happened/ https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/robberies/john-ashley/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Upthegrove https://indianrivermagazine.com/defiant-to-the-end/ https://www.flsheriffs.org/blog/entry/sheriff-bob-baker    

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we dive back in to the treasure trove of Artificial Intelligence with a talk on the state of A.I. (part 2). This time around, we talk about some of the newer events unfolding with AI. We cover the music being generated by AI, which uses the exact voice of actual singers. That's going to be a legal mess, as will digital actors doing things they may not approve of. We also talk about the rights not just of humans but of AI itself—if it gets advanced enough, shouldn't it have legal rights like any other sentient being? We cover that, the open letter to pause AI written by Future of Life Institute (and signed by Elon Musk, Seven Wozniak, and other tech badasses), and much much more!   Visit Our Sources: https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we explore the skies of the land down under and talk about the Westall '66 Encounter. Also called Melbourne 350, this is a strange UFO sighting. Why is it strange? Well because there were 350 witnesses including 5 local pilots from a flight club who were chasing it in the sky. It is also strange because all the reports sent to the government or the media seemed to have vanished, and there were straight up Men in Black on the scene within 30 minutes threatening students and teachers alike. President Johnson from the US even sent someone to investigate. After more than 50 years, most people who were witnesses are still reluctant to talk about what happened over Westall back in 1966. If you want to know what's out there, give this one a listen!   Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westall_UFO https://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/ufo-westall-april-6-1966 https://www.9news.com.au/national/westall-ufo-could-pilots-could-hold-answers-to-mysterious-objects-in-melbourne-sky/bcc6fb1f-6ea7-418d-abdf-24c92bf46b2e https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en-US/noartistknown/photograph-of-the-supposed-westall-ufo-encounter/nomedium/asset/3520531 https://www.heraldsun.com.au/web-stories/free/herald-sun/melbournes-westall-ufo-sighting-continues-to-fascinate?nk=b3204de6f74eba4240d185ee56cf5706-1688062656 https://www.roswellufomuseum.com/post/the-melbourne-350 https://www.foxnews.com/science/audio-reveals-creepy-details-of-ufo-mystery https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9631507/Westall-incident-April-6-1966-Melbourne-teacher-gagged-200-saw-UFO.html

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the greatest authors and popular culture figures of all time, Kurt Vonnegut. With the release of his 1969 book Slaughterhouse Five, Vonnegut became an overnight sensation. He was something we lack today—a celebrity author who was witty enough to dominate late night and literary enough to be studied by scholars. One of the key moments of his life was being captured the Battle of the Bulge in WWII and then surviving the firebombing of Dresden. His life, his pain, his humor, and his madness, all play out in his wildly original novels, and hopefully we do him some justice with this little episode of ours. We might even laugh inappropriately as he would have wanted. So it goes ***     Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/writer/kurt-vonnegut https://www.vonnegutlibrary.org/biography/ https://www.famousauthors.org/kurt-vonnegut https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/kurt-vonnegut-slaughterhouse-five https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?cc=mqr;c=mqr;c=mqrarchive;idno=act2080.0049.111;rgn=main;view=text;xc=1;g=mqrg https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/88215/13-humanizing-facts-about-kurt-vonnegut https://bookanalysis.com/kurt-vonnegut/facts/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Dresden_in_World_War_II https://scrapsfromtheloft.com/books/interview-with-joseph-heller-and-kurt-vonnegut-1992-by-carole-mallory/#:~:text=We%20were%20both%20sort%20of,didn't%20meet%20you%20then.

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the Mad Gasser of Mattoon. A few weeks after D-Day in Mattoon, Illinois, some families smelled a sweet gas that either paralyzed them or left then nauseous with swollen mouths and faces. Within a couple days, there were even sightings of a tall thin man with a long coat and tight cap prowling the neighborhoods. Once it hit the newspapers, dozens of people were similarly “attacked.” Some were mundane, some downright bizarre. But the townsfolk formed armed vigilante groups, people were scared, and even the FBI got involved. So what was happening here? Was it simply a case of Mass Hysteria? Was there a chemical leak at the plant? Was it a Nazi attack or a covert U.S. test for a new weapons? Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://allthatsinteresting.com/mad-gasser-of-mattoon https://cdn.centerforinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2002/07/22164741/p50.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gasser_of_Mattoon https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/madgasser https://www.library.illinois.edu/hpnl/blog/the-mad-gasser-of-mattoon/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_psychogenic_illness https://the-line-up.com/mad-gasser https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tetrachloride https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichloroethylene

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the life, twists, and scares of Alfred Hitchcock. Considered the greatest director of all time by many film rankings, this legend spawned entire genres of film. He was a true auteur, overseeing every bit of the production. Hitchcock was an interesting man filled with unique horrors and a wicked sense of humor. If you like the macabre in film, check this one out, and dial H for Hitchcock! Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/alfred-hitchcock https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hitchcock https://collider.com/best-alfred-hitchcock-movies-ranked/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/537233/facts-about-alfred-hitchcock https://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-alfred-hitchcock

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the creator of The Twilight Zone, Rod Serling. Serling was a visionary who changed the very medium of television. He survived some of the worst warfare in the Pacific theater in WWII, and when he returned home, he was a changed man. He wrote of justice and dreamed of worlds without war, racism, and the worst that humanity had to offer. But it was the 1960s, so the only way to do it was to hide it all in the guise of science fiction and horror. This brilliant, singular mind brought some of the greatest moments of scripted television to life and narrated it all like a cigarette smoking Man in Black baller while he did so.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/writer/rod-serling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twilight_Zone_(1959_TV_series) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Serling https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/rod-serling-about-rod-serling/702/ https://rodserling.com/rod-serling/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/59288/8-bizarre-facts-about-rod-serling-and-twilight-zone https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/rod-serling-5465.php https://www.metv.com/lists/15-fascinating-facts-about-rod-serling Animated Video: https://aeon.co/videos/rod-serling-on-how-imagination-turns-science-fiction-into-fact

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we shine a light on the Mole People of Las Vegas. No, they aren't some hybrid cryptid, but they are thousands of people who live in the 400 miles of drainage tunnels underneath Sin City. In 2007, a book called Beneath the Neon was written about these people. In the years since, there has been explosion in population thanks to Covid and inflation. Drugs are rampant there, as are murders, and death by drowning, but most of the residents love the freedom and family they find in this unique society. Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_people https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beneath_the_Neon https://www.nzz.ch/english/the-misery-of-the-homeless-in-las-vegas-living-in-tunnels-ld.1708954 https://www.thetravel.com/20-secrets-about-the-people-living-under-the-las-vegas-strip/ https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/primal-life-escape-from-las-vegas-tunnels-starts-with-volunteer-visits/ https://www.businessinsider.com/homeless-people-are-living-in-storm-tunnels-underneath-las-vegas-2019-9 https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/las-vegas-strip-home-homeless/story?id=8652139 Nightline Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE7i-7sd3yg https://www.ladbible.com/news/adult-entertainment-jenni-lee-mole-person-las-vegas-046958-20230129

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about The Walled City of Kowloon. Also known as the City of Darkness, Kowloon was part of Hong Kong, but it went unregulated by either the British or the Chinese. With no laws or regulations, the Triad gangs took over in short order, and everything from construction to factories were done for maximum efficiency, not government guidelines. It had the densest population on Earth, 30 times more dense than the city right now! So, how did the Triads take over in the 1950s? Why didn't the Brits or the Chinese claim it? What finally brought this crazy city's demolition? How does this connect to Dave's favorite sci-fi author? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: Walled City Map https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/kowloon-walled-city https://www.thecollector.com/kowloon-walled-city-lawlessness-and-claustrophobia/ https://www.businessinsider.com/kowloon-walled-city-photos-2015-2#despite-a-reduced-crime-rate-neither-the-british-nor-the-chinese-found-the-city-tolerable-in-1987-the-two-governments-agreed-to-tear-down-the-city-26 https://www.archdaily.com/800698/heres-what-western-accounts-of-the-kowloon-walled-city-dont-tell-you https://unbelievable-facts.com/2018/02/facts-about-kowloon-walled-city.html

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the dark side of the classic toy from the 1960s, Sea Monkeys. This is a tale of brine shrimp, a conman who hit the big time, millions of comic books, the Aryan Nations, false identities, and weapons deals. It all hinges around a man named Harold Von Braunhut. He dominated popular culture with Sea Monkeys, X-ray Specs, and other toys marketed directly to children. But when he developed Kiyoga Agent M5 Spring Whip, things went dark when he pledged his earnings to the Aryan Nations. So how did he help get a top white supremacist free from sedition charges? How did this Nazi get Sea Monkeys to live longer? What exactly were in those Sea Monkey pouches? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_von_Braunhut https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-oct-01-tm-29473-story.html https://www.theawl.com/2011/06/the-shocking-true-tale-of-the-mad-genius-who-invented-sea-monkeys/ https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/magazine/the-battle-over-the-sea-monkey-fortune.html https://www.cnet.com/culture/sea-monkeys-documentary-explores-creators-dark-side/ https://pennylaneismyrealname.com/film/just-add-water/

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the worst atrocities of World War II: The Rape of Nanking. Nanking was formerly the capital city of China, and as Japan invaded parts of the country before they officially entered WWII, destruction of Biblical proportion fell upon the city. Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek ordered the military to withdraw to fight later on, and the Japanese went nuts. They burned most of the city, killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and raped pretty much every woman there. The tales are horrible, and I'm not sure how we'll keep this one funny, but listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanjing_Massacre https://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/nanking.htm https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/thoughts-on-the-nanjing-massacre/ https://www.newsweek.com/exposing-rape-nanking-170890

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we take a look at the State of Artificial Intelligence. We've covered this topic before (way back in time), but so much has happened in the past year, and the growth is so stupendous, we thought it was worth revisiting. So, if you want to hear us talk about ChatGPT, Bard, Midjourney, and other commercial AI developments, give this one a listen. We also rap about the exponential curve of technological progress and get into a little bit of AI philosophy.   https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-03/only-humans-not-ai-machines-can-get-a-u-s-patent-judge-rules#xj4y7vzkg https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/ https://futureoflife.org/cause-area/artificial-intelligence/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roko%27s_basilisk https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chatgpt-causing-layoffs-which-jobs-danger-due-radhakrishnan#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20report%2C%20jobs,journalists%2C%20are%20also%20at%20risk. https://openai.com/research/gpts-are-gpts https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we travel back in time and look at one of the most powerful females of the ancient world, Hatshepsut. She was one of only handful of women to break with Egyptian law and fully become Pharaoh. And while she did conquer neighboring invaders early in her life, Egypt was a place of exploration, art, and construction under her reign. There is a camp that argues she was a manipulative, evil woman who wrested power with the help of her lover, but most historians today believe her reign was peaceful, she was loved by her people, and her power play was to keep her family in power against political rivals. Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-egypt/hatshepsut https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hatshepsut https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-queen-who-would-be-king-130328511/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatshepsut https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/Hatshepsut_From_Queen_to_Pharaoh https://blackhistorystudies.com/resources/resources/15-facts-on-queen-pharaoh-hatshepsut/ https://www.thecollector.com/hatshepsut-egyptian-queen-king/

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the most powerful company you've never heard of, Blackrock. Blackrock is an investment firm that was created by Larry Fink, the guy who brought you the housing collapse. After a computer lost his bank $100 million dollars due to an error, he created Aladdin, an AI model that the entire financial market now relies on. With its algorithm, Blackrock manages more money than the GDP of America. Some say it is why nobody can buy a house anymore, and it was involved in everything from Covid rescues to bank bailouts. It seems to own a percentage of just about every major corporation you can think of and is in bed with every government in the world. If there is an Illuminati, this just might be it.   Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackRock https://www.investigate-europe.eu/en/2018/blackrock-the-company-that-owns-the-world/ https://corporateaccountability.org/blog/blackrock-for-2022-corporate-hall-of-shame/#:~:text=BlackRock%20is%20a%20top%20shareholder,aspect%20of%20our%20daily%20lives. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/3-top-blackrock-holdings-you-can-and-should-buy-now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWBRldjVzuM https://medium.com/@Fancy_twogap/what-you-may-not-know-the-software-that-is-more-powerful-than-windows-or-even-us-goverment-8f2e08822673 https://citywire.com/pro-buyer/news/blackrock-reacts-to-the-conspiracy-theorists/a2389549 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Fink https://listverse.com/2022/04/20/10-facts-about-the-secret-company-that-runs-the-world/ https://slate.com/business/2021/06/blackrock-invitation-houses-investment-firms-real-estate.html

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at some true crime from back in 1992: the case of the Springfield Three. The Springfield Three refer to three women who went missing on June 7th, the nigh of the high school graduation. After Suzie Streeter and Stacy McCall spent the night partying, they went home to mother Sherrill Levitt's house to call it a night. When friends called on them the next morning to go to a water park, they were gone. Everything was in place, no signs of theft or struggle. But why was the porch lamp broken? What happened to the family dog? How could a grave-robbing motorcycle gang have been involved? What about the serial killer who lived across the street? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources https://www.springfieldmo.gov/2498/Three-Missing-Women https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/the-springfield-three---springfield-missouri https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_Three https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/Vanished-The-Springfield-Three https://www.ky3.com/2022/06/06/springfield-three-cold-sase-30-years-since-disappearance-suzie-streeter-sherill-levitt-stacy-mccall/ https://thesuitcasedetective.medium.com/true-crime-the-springfield-three-b018ba8db7de https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/30-years-later-family-still-seeking-answers-disappearance-three-springfield-n1296285  

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the most mysterious disasters of the modern world—The Tunguska Event. Early one morning in the summer of 1908, a massive explosion ripped through the heart of Russia. It was estimated to be around 15 megatons of explosive force that destroyed the land for miles. The common theory is that it was a hard metal asteroid that hit, but the theory loses steam since there is no crater to suggest impact. This leads to massive expeditions into the wilds of Siberia and theories that range from comet tails to subatomic blackholes and even a super weapon developed ty Nicola Tesla!   Visit Our Sources: https://www.britannica.com/event/Tunguska-event https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2008/30jun_tunguska https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_event https://earthsky.org/space/what-is-the-tunguska-explosion/ https://astronomy.com/news/2020/10/tunguska-explosion-in-1908-caused-by-asteroid-grazing-earth https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-tunguska-mystery-100-years-later/ https://www.newscientist.com/letter/mg17623644-800-tesla-and-tunguska/ https://www.teslasociety.com/tunguska.htm https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/02/15/crazy-conspiracy-theories-are-already-taking-root-after-russias-meteor/ https://www.nature.com/articles/245088a0

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the greatest to ever grip a microphone, Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld is the comedian's comedian. He started doing small gigs right out of college and never looked back. He was obsessed with comedy since the age of 8 and became sort of a meta-comic who has learned to dissect comedy and get to its essence. Of course, he blew the lid off of television with his sitcom Seinfeld, but his writing, professionalism, and even Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee make him stand out as the greatest of a generation. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/actors/jerry-seinfeld https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jerry-Seinfeld https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Seinfeld https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/66049/25-yada-yada-yada-facts-about-seinfeld https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/g42575155/14-seinfeld-fun-facts-you-havent-heard-before/ https://writingcooperative.com/jerry-seinfelds-best-writing-advice-347e75ea1508 https://www.thethings.com/jerry-seinfeld-controversy-underaged-girlfriend-wife-shoshana/ https://www.thethings.com/times-jerry-seinfeld-became-unlikeable-with-fans-hate-lady-gaga-larry-king/#jerry-seinfeld-39-s-thoughts-on-diversity-got-him-into-hot-water https://www.insider.com/seinfeld-fun-facts-2018-10#the-rye-episode-was-based-on-a-real-event-1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itWxXyCfW5s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKY6BGcx37k  

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the terrorist attack on Paris in 2015. On the night of November 13th, a coordinated assault raged across the city. There were a host of suicide bombers at a soccer match, and there was a car doing some nasty drive-by shootings at restaurants. The worst, however, was an assault inside of an Eagles of Death Metal concert that killed around 90 people. So, who planned this horrible attack? What did they want? What did this have to do with a magazine called Charlie Hebdo? What happened to the terrorists? Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34818994 https://www.britannica.com/event/Paris-attacks-of-2015 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_2015_Paris_attacks https://www.dni.gov/nctc/timeline.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4724780/ https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/08/europe/2015-paris-terror-attacks-fast-facts/index.html Paris attacks give rise to conspiracy theories | Paris Attacks News | Al Jazeera https://observers.france24.com/en/20151116-conspiracy-theories-paris-attacks-fake-videos-debunked https://www.vox.com/2015/1/9/18089104/charlie-hebdo-attack https://allthatsinteresting.com/controversial-charlie-hebdo-covers

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we tell the unique tale of Koko the gorilla. Koko was born in captivity in San Francisco and became world famous for her use of sign language. She was said to have the vocabulary of a five year old child, and she showed complex emotions, memories, and even a sense of humor through her use of language. She even taught another gorilla sign language, and the two of them made up their own signs. Koko was depressed after her mate died, and they brought in none other Robin Williams to cheer her up; they became fast friends. So, what do the haters say about Koko's language? What intelligence tests did she pass? What did she name her pet cats and the bird she hated? Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.koko.org/about/gorilla-koko/ https://daily.jstor.org/the-legacy-of-koko-the-gorilla/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koko_(gorilla) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/gorillas-koko-sign-language-culture-animals https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/robin-williams-best-friend-gorilla/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_test https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-koko-gorilla-last-words-631101544696

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the Guru of Popular Music, Rick Rubin. This music producer took on mythological status by launching Def Jam records out of his dorm room in New York and pioneering hip hop alongside Russel Simmons. But his story doesn't end there. Over the past 40 years, he has won endless Grammy awards in the genres of hard rock, rap, and country. Every strange (but amazing crossover) from Jonny Cash covering “Hurt” to Run DMC teaming up with Aerosmith were all thanks to Rubin. He may look like a hippie guru who only wants you to get in touch with your inner self—but that's only because that's exactly what he is. Visit our Sources: https://www.openculture.com/2021/12/rick-rubin-the-invisibility-of-hip-hops-greatest-producer.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Rubin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Rubin_production_discography https://www.cbsnews.com/video/rick-rubin-60-minutes-video-2023-01-15/ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rick-rubin-my-life-in-21-songs-26024/

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the worst music festival ever: Woodstock 99. This was supposed to be the return to peace and love, but it turned out to be a cash grab of a festival filled with sexual assault, mob violence, and riots. It was hosted on an old, polluted air force base where the temperatures reached 100 degrees on the hot tarmac; there was no water; there were no hotels; and the vibe was violent and hostile the entire time. So who planed this train wreck? What happened when people saw crimes occur? Why did it end being a swamp of muddy ground and backed up sewage? Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_%2799 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superfund https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/19-worst-things-about-woodstock-99-176052/ https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/trainwreck-woodstock-99-true-story/ https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a40769147/woodstock-99-true-story/

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the queen of Appalachia, Dolly Parton. She is a legend of country music with a fifty year career. From “Jolene” to “I Will Always Love You,” she has written and recorded some of the most important country songs ever. But that wasn't enough. She starred in smash movies like 9 to 5 in the 1980s, created the mega-hit theme park Dollywood, is a massive philanthropist, and is so open minded about other races and the LGBTQ+ community that she still gets threats from the KKK. If you want to hear about one of the most uplifting human beings on the planet, this is the one for you. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/musicians/dolly-parton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Parton https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/dolly-parton https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/61219/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-dolly-parton https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/singers/dolly-parton-net-worth/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollywood https://www.dollywood.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc3S5LAlPhg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46LL7vtfBhE https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/56324/12-fun-facts-about-dollywood

On this Classic episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we climb the Mount Everest of podcast topics to look for the tales and truths behind the Yeti. The Yeti, the Abominable Snowman, the Mi-Go, the Yeren; these are all apparently the same creature: a humanoid beast with feet like a man (smaller than a “Bigfoot”) who has been seen in the Himalayan mountains for centuries. Their gods and mythology tie back to this creature, and sightings and folk lore amount local Sherpas are vibrant and updated. So why should anyone care about a mythological beast called a Yeti? Well, for one thing, a lot of pretty high rolling explorers saw them, claimed to saw them, or brought back evidence of them. Sir Edmund Hillary went on multiple expeditions to find this creature and even brought back evidence. Over the past hundred years, public calls have gone out to find proof. From oil millionaire Tom Slick to a British newspaper and even Oxford University, they all sent people or paid for evidence surrounding this. The Chinese government even has an official department that is dedicated to looking for the Wild Man of China. So, with all of this research and folklore, what has been found? Well, a lot of tracks that either come from bears or can't be identified. DNA that often matches mountain creatures but sometimes comes back as a mystery. Sometimes, it even came back as prehistoric bears from the Pleistocene era. What is the difference between a Bigfoot and a Yeti? Why is a Yeti considered to be more dangerous? Why did the actor Jimmy Stewart help smuggle a Yeti hand out of Tibet and into London? Listen, laugh, learn.   Jimmy Steward, Relic Hunter: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/saga-of-the-yeti-hand

On this Classic episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the self-improvement mogul, Tony Robbins. He's the six foot seven inch motivational speaker who is worth $480 million dollars and holds seminars that cost between two and eight thousand dollars. Tony Robbins was born Anthony J. Mahavoric on February 29, 1960. His father left them, and his mother was abusive to point of chasing him around the house with a kitchen knife, so at age 17, he set out on his own and was such an amazing salesperson that he was in his own apartment and living a better life than he did with his mom in a matter of months. Robbins was an amazingly driven teen, becoming a sports writer by sheer force of will and quickly becoming a top salesperson for another motivational speaker. By the time he was an adult, he had studied psychology and hypnotism (never formally educated), and he started his own motivational industry. His companies are now worth over $5 billion, and he was the king of the late night infomercial during the 1990s. So what makes Tony Robbins worthy of discussion? We set out on our research to talk about this guy who we all thought was the ultimate scam artist, taking the savings of retirees and scamming them with bad real estate investments. But that doesn't seem to be the case at all. We honestly ruled him to be a passionate and compassionate man, driven by helping the lives of others more than driven by his wealth (though it astounding). How did the documentary called I Am Not Your Guru change our minds? How do you know he didn't hypnotize us? How did he get Oprah Winfrey to walk across hot coals? What does he do to get a woman to break up with her boyfriend in front of 2500 people? Listen, laugh, learn. Oprah Walks on Hot Coals with Tony Robbins: http://www.oprah.com/own-oprahs-next-chapter/oprah-walks-on-fire-video Bizarre video of Tony and DJ Khaleed: http://www.complex.com/music/dj-khaled-tony-robbins-interview-2016-cover-story 

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about The Man with No Name—Clint Eastwood. Eastwood is the ultimate Hollywood star. He started with the smash hit TV show Rawhide, went on to define The Spaghetti Western, and made some of the best films in the history of cinema. He did action, he did comedy, he did drama. He acted, and he won Oscar after Oscar as a director. Get the behind the scenes on America's favorite tough man and give this one a listen.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/actor/clint-eastwood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clint_Eastwood https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/80551/15-facts-about-clint-eastwood-make-your-day https://www.factinate.com/people/42-sharp-shooting-facts-clint-eastwood/ https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/clint-eastwood-net-worth/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=933hKyKNPFQ

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we take a look at one of the more bizarre stories in video games—The Tale of Tetris. It is a story of mass piracy, Soviet Secrecy, and murder! Everyone knows this brick stacking game, and most of us have been addicted to it at some point or another. But the story of its spread and development is wild. It was created by Alexey Pajitnov for a group run by the Soviet Union. A colleague named Vladimir Pokhilko first recognized its addictive quality and was brought in. After most of the world was playing it (illegally), Pajitnoz and Pokhilko used its success to move to the US and work on new software, but Pohkilko and his family died to hammer assaults and knife attacks. Maybe a murder-suicide, maybe a Russian mafia hit job? You decide. Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris https://murderpedia.org/male.P/p/pokhilko-vladimir.htm https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/tetris-game-facts/ https://decider.com/2022/12/05/the-tetris-murders-discovery-plus-review/ https://www.livescience.com/56473-7-weird-facts-about-tetris.html https://tetris.fandom.com/wiki/Tetris_Wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Pokhilko https://www.forbes.com/sites/risasarachan/2022/12/05/the-tetris-murders-docuseries-explores-mysterious-death-of-tetris-co-developer-and-his-family/?sh=616d76657301 https://nypost.com/2022/12/05/was-the-tetris-co-creator-the-victim-of-a-russian-mob-hit/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris_effect

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we head down under and talk about the baddest Bushranger of them all, Ben Hall. Ben Hall was an epic outlaw of the outback. After his wife left him, he took up with a bad crowd of criminals and soon became the leader of one of the most notorious gangs of the Australian Old West. In just a handful of years, they racked up over 100 robberies. Even better, they did crimes to mock the police and make the citizens like them. At one point, the put an entire town on lock down, put the cops in their own cell, and had a three day all-expense paid dance party in the saloon. His death was as grand as his life, and if you like cowboy times or Aussies, this is the one for you! Visit Our Sources: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/ben-hall-australian-bushranger https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hall-ben-1507 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hall_(bushranger) https://aguidetoaustralianbushranging.com/2017/11/08/the-mourning-of-may-5th-the-death-of-ben-hall/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushranger https://kids.kiddle.co/Ben_Hall

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the towering career of the one and only Shaquille O'Neill. The man is a legend on the court. He was a four-time champion, multiple MVP, won an Olympic Gold metal, and had plenty of beefs with other sports personalities. He was dominant on the Lakers but won championships on other teams as well. But let's not forget the fun stuff, like is video game Shaq-Fu, his rap albums, his role as a genie named Kazaam, and his reality shows. This man is a sports and pop-culture legend and worthy of an hour of the three of us rambling. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/athlete/shaquille-oneal https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shaquille-ONeal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaquille_O%27Neal https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/574854/shaq-facts-shaquille-oneal https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/united-states/top-10-facts-about-shaquille-oneal/ https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-athletes/nba/shaquille-oneal-net-worth/

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we remember, remember the 5th of November and talk about the Gunpowder Plot of Guy Fawkes. If you're from the UK, this is probably a story you are familiar with. In America, we really only heard about it from the movie and comic book V for Vendetta. Either way, it is a wild story about a soldier (and terrorist?) who tried to blow up Parliament with 36 barrels of gunpowder, assassinate the king, and put someone else on the throne. The tale ends in torture and death of the conspirators, but to this day, a feast and bonfire still exist in many parts of the UK to celebrate this odd occasion.   Visit Our Sources: https://archive.pinupmagazine.org/articles/article-guy-fawkes-mask-v-for-vendetta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guy-Fawkes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/633067/guy-fawkes-night-facts https://potw.org/archive/potw405.html

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about an American tragedy—the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. The date was March 25, 1911, and a sweatshop in the garment district of New York caught fire. At first, it was thought to be a cigarette in a scrap bin, but the tangle of boxes, oiled down floor, and lack of fire equipment turned it into disaster. The fire escape buckled from the crush of people, the elevator stopped working because so many burning bodies were on top of the car, and the fire fighters couldn't get to their hoses because they were piled with corpses who jumped from ten stories above. What fate befell the factory owners? How did they make things even worse for the fire, and what corruption did they do before the fire? Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/triangle-shirtwaist-fire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire https://trianglefire.ilr.cornell.edu/ https://www.osha.gov/aboutosha/40-years/trianglefactoryfire https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/uncovering-the-history-of-the-triangle-shirtwaist-fire-124701842/ https://www.britannica.com/event/Triangle-shirtwaist-factory-fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP5qn1fNfek https://www.famous-trials.com/trianglefire/964-home

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the films, crash, and rebound of Mel Gibson. Gibson's career was pure gold in the 80s and 90s. He was the star of two mega-franchises, Mad Max and Lethal Weapon. He was able to do drama, action, romance, and comedy, and he even started winning Oscars for directing such films and Braveheart and the Passion of the Christ. But he hit a hard snag when anti-Semitic rants and alleged abuse of his ex-girlfriend surfaced. Somehow, he avoided getting cancelled and went to win even more awards with films like Hacksaw Ridge. He is a mainstay of Hollywood, and even after saying the worst things imaginable, his career still thrives.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/actor/mel-gibson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Gibson https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mel-gibson-controversies-career-1234696080/ https://superstarsbio.com/bios/mel-gibson/ https://www.factinate.com/people/33-wacky-facts-mel-gibson/ https://www.10-facts-about.com/mel-gibson/id/485 https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/mel-gibson-net-worth/ https://movieweb.com/mel-gibson-confident-lethal-weapon-5-will-shoot-early-2023/ https://www.dexerto.com/tv-movies/lethal-weapon-5-release-date-trailer-cast-plot-more-2008081/

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about bats. Yes, they get a bad rap since a few species are vampires and drink the blood of horses and cattle. But they are an amazing creature, as helpful to human society as bees are, and aren't really a threat. In fact, they weren't considered evil or a menace until Bram Stoker used them in Dracula, where they were permanently married to Halloween and all things dark. These crazy critters use sonar to hunt, live in sophisticated colonies, pollinate, regulate pests, and silently help human society in many ways. They are a tourist attraction in Austin, and their poop is worth its weight in gold! Visit Our Sources: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/bats/batfacts https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/bats https://www.doi.gov/blog/13-facts-about-bats https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/arizona/stories-in-arizona/top-10-bat-facts/ https://www.nwf.org/garden-for-wildlife/cover/build-a-bat-house https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2019/12/13/for-what-it-is-guano-is-far-more-valuable-than-you-would-think/ https://www.austincityguide.com/listings/congress-bridge-bats

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about a unique group called the Bajau people. They are a group of sea nomads who have genetically evolved to be the perfect sea-goers. Their bodies have adapted to hold their breath insane amounts of time and regulate oxygen in ways no other human can. Some have held their breath for as long as 13 minutes and have dived as deep as 200 feet with no ill effects. They live on boats and coral reefs, call no nation their home, and some spend 60% of their day underwater. Their ancient legends about “The wave that eats people” let them survive the great Tsunami with no casualties. If you want to hear about the real-life Waterworld, give this one a listen. Visit our Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43823885 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sama-Bajau https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/bajau-sea-nomads-free-diving-spleen-science https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/04/bajau-sea-nomads-diving-evolution-spleen/558359/ https://isemph.org/Sea-Nomads#:~:text=The%20Bajau%20are%20a%20seafaring,day%20hunting%20underwater%20for%20fish. https://authentic-indonesia.com/blog/8-unique-facts-of-the-bajau-indonesia-sea-gypsies-tribe/ (88) Bajau - the real waterworld people - YouTube (88) Meet the ocean nomads of the South Pacific | 60 Minutes Australia - YouTube https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sea-gypsies-saw-signs-in-the-waves/  

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the Godfather of Soul, Mister James Brown! James Brown is arguably the most influential artist on the birth of soul, funk, and hip hop. Everyone from Justin Timberlake to Public Enemy to Kanye West say they would not be in music if not for James. He was born in the backwoods on a turpentine plantation and then after both his parents abandoned him, he moved in to his aunt's brothel. He fell into jail, but upon his release he was obsessed with making history as an artist, and he did so. He defined several generations of black music, single-handedly averted a riot in Boston the day MLK was assassinated, and has the most sampled drum beat in all of hip-hop history. If you want to get down with your bad self, this is the one for you.     Visit Our Sources: Documentary: Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown https://www.biography.com/musician/james-brown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown https://www.notablebiographies.com/Br-Ca/Brown-James.html https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/james-brown-facts https://www.thetalko.com/soul-brother-number-1-10-facts-trivia-james-brown/

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we discuss the myth, facts, science and searches for Noah's Ark. This ancient myth tells of the global flood and Noah creating a boat that could carry all of life for 40 days and drop it safely ashore when the flood died down. Cool story, bro, but do you even science? We start this one talking about the hard physics and facts of what would go into making and maintaining such a craft, and then we go into the many, many expeditions to find it. For hundreds of years, humans have tried to find this ancient craft, and some of their stories are wild.   Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Searches_for_Noah%27s_Ark https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/100428-noahs-ark-found-in-turkey-science-religion-culture https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/has-the-location-of-noahs-ark-finally-been-proven-using-3d-scans-680890 https://ncse.ngo/impossible-voyage-noahs-ark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL9eo9QaJb4

On this episode of Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the life and laughs of Will Ferrell. This juggernaut has made some of the greatest comedies of all times and helped to launch the careers of many other comedians. He started as a Groundling and soon moved to Saturday Night Live; it was a time when ratings were at their all-time low, and Lorne Michaels himself thinks Will Ferrell was the only thing that brought it back to life. He left it to make movies like Anchorman, Old School, Elf, and Talladega Nights. But he also co-founded Funny or Die through which he produced things like Between Two Ferns and Drunk History. His life has taught us one key lesson: stay classy, Sofa King Podcast!   Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/actor/will-ferrell https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002071/bio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Ferrell https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/john-william-ferrell-3179.php https://wealthygorilla.com/will-ferrell-net-worth/ https://www.factinate.com/people/43-facts-will-ferrell/ https://www.ranker.com/list/will-ferrell-facts/coy-jandreau https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(film)

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the most sensationalized murders of the 1920s, the Hall-Mills murder. In September of 1922, Dude Passerby and his girlfriend stumbled upon the bodies of Edward Hall and Eleanor Mills. Hall was the local pastor, and Mills was in the church choir. But the details got crazy. First, the entire congregation knew of the affair. Second, Hall was married to an older heiress of the Johnson & Johnson company and thought to be a gold digger. One of Hearst's newspapers whipped the nation into a frenzy over this murder, and the trial was one of legend. There was the Pig Woman who testified from her hospital bed. There were steamy love letters read to the crowd. But who did authorities think did the murder? Why did some people think it was the KKK? What made police rethink the case forty years later? Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall%E2%80%93Mills_murder_case https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/09/14/hall-mills-murders-case-location-nj-100-years/66060247007/ Audio Clip: https://www.nbfpl.org/local-history/hall-mills-murder-radio-broadcast https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/02/archives/was-the-murderer-in-the-jury-box-the-minister-and-the-choir-singer.html https://www.grunge.com/853673/the-tragic-details-of-the-hall-mills-murders/ https://www.communitynews.org/princetoninfo/artsandentertainment/off-the-presses-blood-and-ink/article_e5c245ae-4f0c-11ed-addf-73e1c5335d3b.html

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the infamous Fyre Festival. This aborted music festival was supposed to happen on Pablo Escobar's private island and headlined by Blink 182 and celebrity chefs. It ended up being a disaster where guests lived in rained-out FEMA tents and ate slices of wilted cheese on wheat bread. There was no power, no water, no Wi-Fi, no food, no toilets. Quite simply, there was no festival; hundreds found out too late and were stranded there. So, what crime did the organizer, Billy McFarland, end up facing? How was this caused by the social ills of media influencers? How did 18 trucks of Evian water lead to a blowjob scandal? How as Ja Rule involved? Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.billboard.com/pro/fyre-festival-founder-billy-mcfarland-out-prison-new-venture/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyre_Festival https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnises https://www.businessinsider.com/fyre-festival-expectations-vs-reality-2017-4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_McFarland_(fraudster) https://www.thedailybeast.com/fyre-festival-fraudster-billy-mcfarland-busted-by-prison-guards?via=twitter_page https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/billy-mcfarland-now Netflix: FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk beer. The history of beer is no less than the history of human civilization. Archaeologists and historians can track most major human innovations back to the need to make better beer. Its history is thousands of years old, and people think everything from the wheel to money and agriculture all come from a desire for people to have this fizzy goodness. It fed the Egyptians, pleased the Babylonians, and helped fuel the industrial revolution. If you want to have a cold one, or just hear us talk about it, give this one a listen.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/news/who-invented-beer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_beer https://www.salon.com/2017/04/26/heres-a-timeline-that-explains-how-beer-went-from-brilliant-mistake-to-hipsterific_partner/ https://www.ranker.com/list/how-beer-changed-history/steve-wright https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/beer-facts-beer-facts-to-make-you-sound-smarter-at-parties https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/01/craft-beer-industry/550850/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2018/10/17/beer-consumption-these-americas-26-top-selling-beers/38104743/

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we get our nerd on and talk about Magic: The Gathering. Magic was the brainchild of Richard Garfield, and he published it through the little known gaming company called Wizards of the Coast. His concept was a card game that was cheap to make and was infinitely expandable. So, unlike other games, you didn't just buy one copy and call it a day, but collected it and always had a thirst for more. In the past 30 years, this indie game has become a juggernaut with millions of players and billions in revenue. It may be the most fun game on the market, so if you want to learn how it works, hear about its history, or just listen to us nerd out for a bit, this is the one for you!   Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-twenty-five-year-journey-of-magic-the-gathering https://www.thegamer.com/magic-gathering-history-facts/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse_(Magic:_The_Gathering) https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3b4n9/magic-the-gathering-professional-earnings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_jvMTCSHoY

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we travel back in time to the end of World War Two and the Nuremberg Trials. These trials were a worldwide sensation at the end of the war. Their goal was complex: to bring justice to the world by trying the worst of the Nazi leaders. The top architects of the Third Reich had all killed themselves, but that left millions of Nazis to deal with. This trial created the notion of crimes against humanity and even had to invent the word Genocide to deal with the true scope of Nazi horror. How did one Nazi get poison smuggled to their cell? Why did Allied leaders like Stalin get a pass for their own war crimes? What became known as the “Nuremberg Defense” used by most Nazis? Listen, laugh, learn.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/nuremberg-trials https://allthatsinteresting.com/nuremberg-trials https://nuremberg.law.harvard.edu/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_trials https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/brief-overview-of-defendants-and-verdicts-at-nuremberg-trials https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-nuremberg-trials https://www.roberthjackson.org/speech-and-writing/the-influence-of-the-nuremberg-trial-on-international-criminal-law/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/feb/08/usa.secondworldwar

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at one of the most famous bank robbers in American history, John Dillinger. Responsible for a dozen bank robberies in just one year of his crime spree, he became the ultimate dark celebrity of his day. Though he broke out of many prisons, murdered people, and spent nearly a decade in jail, he was a cult figure of an early American pop-culture. He ran with the likes of Baby Face Nelson and came up with some very creative ways to rob banks and sell newspapers. He was dubbed Public Enemy Number One by the FBI before dying in a shootout with them. If you like tales of gangsters and true crime, give this one a listen.   Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/crime/john-dillinger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dillinger https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/john-dillinger https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/robberies/john-dillinger/ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dillinger-john-dillinger-timeline/ https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dillinger-gunned-down