Podcast appearances and mentions of Atlas Obscura

When the East India Company surrendered Fort William (in modern-day Kolkata) to the Nawab of Bengal on 20th June, 1756, dozens of British captives were imprisoned in a cell measuring only 18ft long and 14ft wide, with just two tiny windows - ‘the Black Hole of Calcutta'. Among the prisoners was John Zephaniah Holwell, whose pamphlet describing the terrors of the airless room caused a sensation back in Britain and became a cause célèbre in the idealization of imperialism in India. Holwell claimed 123 men lost their lives in the cell, although it is now thought the number of deaths was exaggerated. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly uncover Holwell's mixed feelings around colonialism; consider how ‘the black hole of Calcutta' became an enduring term of phrase; and reveal what connected Kolkata with Olly's home village in Hertfordshire… Further Reading: • ‘A Genuine Narrative of the Deplorable Deaths of the English Gentlemen, and Others, who Were Suffocated in the Black-Hole in Fort-William, at Calcutta, in the Kingdom of Bengal, in the Night Succeeding the 20th Day of June, 1756, in a Letter to a Friend - By John Zephaniah Holwell' (A. Millar, 1758): https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/A_Genuine_Narrative_of_the_Deplorable_De/xGg0Cg9WVNcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Holwell+%2B+Calcutta&printsec=frontcover • ‘The Black Hole of Calcutta – Kolkata, India' (Atlas Obscura): https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-black-hole-of-calcutta • ‘The Story of The Black Hole Of Calcutta - Britain's Secret Homes' (ITV Daytime, 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbjFxITtXwU This episode first aired in 2021 Love the show? Support us!  Join 

The staff here at Atlas Obscura answered an unsettling question for this episode: Where would you spend the last day before the apocalypse? Some interesting truths come out. Plus, we want to hear from you. Tell us where YOU would spend your last day before the hypothetical apocalypse. What connection do you have with this place? Why would you spend it there? What would you do if you had the whole place to yourself? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com

Today, we're sharing an episode from our friends at the Sporkful. Dan Pashman goes on a tour of Los Angeles, with an Atlas Obscura guide in hand. In search of an elusive slice of coconut cake, Dan begins at the airport, takes a detour to an underground tunnel system, and pays a visit to a very unusual store: Time Travel Mart.

Помните дядю Билиуса из «Гарри Поттера», который увидел Грима и на следующий день умер? Он не был одинок в своем страхе перед черными псами. Многие века жители Британских островов верили, что в холмах водятся ужасные огромные собаки. Atlas Obscura рассказывает о Ку Ши, шотландской вариации Грима, и связанных с ним преданиях. Текстовая версия: https://newochem.io/smert-pes/ По материалам Atlas ObscuraАвтор: Эмма Цеслик Озвучил: Александр ТарасовПереводила: Елизавета ЯковлеваРедактировала: Валерия Зитева

Earlier this month, the Atlas Obscura staff shared the places we gained during the pandemic. Now, we hear your stories – from a university that is an unlikely home for a certain critter, to a private community, to an arboretum and a chance encounter.Plus: We want to hear from you for our next compilation episode! Pride month is coming, and we want to hear your stories about the places that celebrate LGBTQ+ history, and what they mean to you. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com.

It's been five years since the pandemic shutdown. So often, conversations about that time revolve around places we've lost. But for this episode, Atlas Obscura staffers share the places they gained during the pandemic. Plus: We want to hear from you. Tell us about the places that you gained or discovered during the pandemic. How did you discover this place? Why is it important to you? What's it like visiting that place now vs. then? Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and story. Or record a voice memo and email it to us at hello@atlasobscura.com. 

A secret field that summons lightning. A massive spiral that disappears into a salt lake. A celestial observatory carved into a volcano. Meet the wild—and sometimes explosive—world of land art, where artists craft masterpieces with dynamite and bulldozers. In our Season 2 premiere, guest Dylan Thuras, cofounder of Atlas Obscura, takes us off road and into the minds of the artists who literally reshaped parts of the Southwest. These works aren't meant to be easy to reach—or to explain—but they just might change how you see the world. Land art you'll visit in this episode: - Double Negative and City by Michael Heizer (Garden Valley, Nevada) - Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson (Great Salt Lake, Utah) - Sun Tunnels by Nancy Holt (Great Basin Desert, Utah) - Lightning Field by Walter De Maria (Catron County, New Mexico) - Roden Crater by James Turrell (Painted Desert, Arizona) Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.

Two small stories about two cold nights in different parts of the world. 11:45 p.m. in Oulu was written by Anne Korkeakivi, and 2:30 a.m. in McMurdo Station was written by Elizabeth Endicott. Both essays were edited by Tusshara Nalakumar Srilatha and originally appeared in Off Assignment. Elizabeth Endicott is a writer based in Denver, and Anne Korkeakivi is the author of the novels Shining Sea and An Unexpected Guest.

Today, more than 1 billion people around the world celebrate Earth Day—but decades before this global movement began, one woman laid the foundation. When aerial pesticide programs drenched the Northeast in chemicals like DDT, devastating ecosystems and killing thousands of wildlife species, marine biologist and writer Rachel Carson sounded the alarm. Her groundbreaking book, Silent Spring, ignited a nationwide reckoning with the hidden environmental costs of modern life. Listen to Watch Her Cook on Apple and Spotify! Follow us on Instagram  Resources:  The Sea Around Us, by Rachel Carson (1951). Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson (1962). “The Story of Silent Spring,” by the National Resources Defense Council (2015). “The Right Way to Remember Rachel Carson,” by Jill Lepore (The New Yorker, 2018). “The Personal Attacks on Rachel Carson as a Woman Scientist” by Mark Stoll (Environment & Society Portal, 2020). “Rachel Carson Memorial,” (Atlas Obscura, 2023). For the latest NPAD updates, group travel details, merch and more, follow us on npadpodcast.com and our socials at: Instagram: @nationalparkafterdark TikTok: @nationalparkafterdark Support the show by becoming an Outsider and receive ad free listening, bonus content and more on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. Want to see our faces? Catch full episodes on our YouTube Page! Thank you to the week's partners! Harvest Hosts: For 20% off your order, head to HarvestHosts.com and use code NPAD. Lume Deodorant: Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promo code NPAD at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepod IQBAR: Text PARK to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products and free shipping.

They appear in lace and corsets, drifting from the fog… but why do so many ghosts wear Victorian mourning clothes?Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateIN THIS EPISODE: Victorian-era ghosts… they seem to haunt not only our imaginations, but also our Halloween wardrobes. Why were people in the mid-to-late 1800s so obsessed with the supernatural? And why are we so fascinated by Victorian ghost stories still today? (What's The Deal With Victorian Ghosts?) *** The story of Queen Esther is chilling – full of an Iroquois warrior woman's quest for vengeance, brutal warfare, haunting legends, ghostly wails, and a curse that many believe still has power even today. (The Curse of Queen Esther) *** No one can remember exactly when the ghost story began, but records show it dates back to at least 1926. The tale centers around the Administration Offices of Rockford School District 205 on South Madison Street, formerly Rockford High School. Built in 1885, the school gained a spooky reputation due to eerie events reported in its underground tunnels. After a tragic accident in the school's swimming pool claimed the life of a student named Gosta Anderson, strange sightings and sounds fueled the legend of his restless spirit, haunting the very site where he died. (Gosta's Ghost) *** Plumas County, California, holds a chilling mystery that dates back to 1978. On a winter night with a half-moon, five friends left a basketball game at California State University, Chico, and drove away, never to be seen again. Their car was found abandoned on a remote mountain road, leading to a series of eerie discoveries, unanswered questions, and clues that still baffle investigators today. (The 5 Boys Who Never Came Back)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00.00.000 = Disclaimer, and short story “Lost Hearts” by M.R. James00:24:47.662 = Show Open (Coming Up In This Episode)00:27:30.530 = What's The Deal With Victorian Ghosts?00:37:29.237 = The Curse of Queen Esther00:47:34.032 = The Five Boys Who Never Came Back01:08:28.167 = Gosta's Ghost01:15:12.327 = Show Close, Verse, and Final ThoughtSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…Free Audiobook: “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, narrated by Darren Marlar: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/AChristmasCarolNarration: “The Signalman” by Charles Dickens, narrated by Darren Marlar: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/TheSignalman“What's The Deal With Victorian Ghosts?” source = Dan Nosowitz at Atlas Obscura: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p94894t“Lost Hearts” by M.R. James (public domain)“The Curse of Queen Esther” source = Creative History Stories: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3bn9kwe8“Gosta's Ghost” written by Kathi Kresol for Haunted Rockford: https://www.hauntedrockford.com/gostas-ghost/“The 5 Boys Who Never Came Back” written by Cynthia Gorney in 1978 for the Washington Post:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8hkyef=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: May 17, 2024EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/VictorianGhosts

The story of how strawberries went from small forage item to one of the world’s most popular fruits – though they're technically not a true fruit – involves lots of crossbreeding experimentation, as you might expect, but also a bit of spy craft. Research: “A Transatlantic Tango: The Story of the Strawberry. Royal Horticultural Society. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/features/history-of-the-strawberry#:~:text=It%20is%20hard%20to%20believe,back%20on%20fortifications%20near%20Concepci%C3%B3n. Allen, Mike. “The 18th-Century Spy Who Gave Us Big Strawberries.” Atlas Obscura. Nov. 16, 2017. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/big-strawberries-spy-chile-france Barnes, Monica. “Frezier, Amédée François (1682-1773).” American Museum of Natural History. January 2008. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280567727_Frezier_Amedee_Francois_1682-1773 Darrow, George M. “The Strawberry: History, Breeding and Physiology.” New York. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 1966. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/strawberryhistor00darr/mode/1up The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "strawberry". Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/plant/strawberry Folta, K.M., Barbey, C.R. “The strawberry genome: a complicated past and promising future.” Hortic Res 6, 97 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-019-0181-z Grubinger, Vern. “History of the Strawberry.” University of Vermont. June 2012. https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/strawberryhistory.html Hancock, J.F. “Strawberries.” Oxford University Press. 2000. Petruzzello, Melissa. "list of plants in the family Rosaceae". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Mar. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-plants-in-the-family-Rosaceae-2001612 Sevilla, Elisa, and Ana Sevilla. “STRAWBERRY.” New World Objects of Knowledge: A Cabinet of Curiosities, edited by Mark Thurner and Juan Pimentel, University of London Press, 2021, pp. 207–12. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1vbd275.34 “Strawberry Facts.” University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. https://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/fruit-crops/strawberries/strawberry-facts/ Sytsma, Kenneth J.. "Rosaceae". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Feb. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/plant/Rosaceae See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hydrogeologist Greg Brick discovered that the ground water under downtown Minneapolis is way warmer than it should be. Let's dig into how he found that, and why it's important. Links Greg Brick's website Atlas Obscura article with pictures of Greg exploring Schieks Cave Peer-reviewed book featuring a chapter by Greg Minnesota Spring Inventory (MN DNR) John Snow Attributions Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck's Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band, The Urban Hillbilly Quartet, on their website. This episode was edited by Sherry Johnson, hosted by Ian R Buck, and was transcribed by Stina Neel. We're always looking to feature new voices on the show, so if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line at podcast@streets.mn. Transcript Find the full transcript on our website.

Two small stories about early morning, otherworldly encounters with animals. 7 a.m. in Kelso was written by Emma Jones, and 10:30 a.m. in Choteau, Montana was written by Annika Berry. Both essays were edited by Aube Rey Lescure and originally appeared in Off Assignment.Plus: Order the audiobook of Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders today!

David Plotz has been podcasting for a long time. Twenty years ago, he sat down in a conference room with his colleagues Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson to record the very first episode of Slate's Political Gabfest. Since then, he's gone on to be Slate's editor, the CEO of Atlas Obscura, and now the CEO of City Cast, the nationwide network behind City Cast Denver. He was also in town this past weekend to attend our big HEYDAY event, so producer Paul Karolyi sat down with David to talk about his outsider's take on Denver, the one problem he thinks Denver really needs to solve, and share some insights into the business behind this podcast.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this March 12th episode: Arvada Center Port Aransas 5280 Magazine Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Black American living in Korea writes a letter to a restaurant worker, reckoning with race and the meaning of home. This essay was edited by Aube Rey Lescure and originally appeared in Off Assignment. Kat Lewis' debut novel, GOOD PEOPLE, is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster in 2026.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of AlzAuthors with the founding members and more.   About Marianne Sciucco:   Marianne Sciucco is a founder of AlzAuthors and the author of Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer's love story. She's also co-producer and host of their podcast Untangling Alzheimer's and Dementia.   About Deb Bunt:   Deb took early retirement from her role in the youth offending service in London and moved to Suffolk seven years ago. As well as acquiring four grandchildren since she's been in Suffolk, she has also built an enduring friendship with Peter. This friendship Peter has given Deb a new lens through which to view her life.   Peter has enabled Deb to fulfil one of her life's ambitions – to be a published writer – and she now spends her time with Peter raising awareness of the condition or cycling insane distances around the county. Without question, Peter has enriched Deb's life.   About Tanya Ward Goodman:   Tanya Ward Goodman is the author of the award winning memoir, “Leaving Tinkertown.” Her essays and articles about travel, art, and the challenges and rewards of caregiving have appeared in numerous publications including The Washington Post, Orange County Register, Luxe, Premium Magazine, Atlas Obscura, and Variable West.   About Vicki Tapia:   Trained as an educator, Vicki Tapia has a proclivity for caring, spending over 30 years working as a Lactation Consultant teaching mothers and babies the art of breastfeeding.   When both her parents were diagnosed with dementia (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's-related) within a few months of each other, she took on the role of caregiver. As a coping mechanism, Vicki kept a journal detailing the many challenges her family faced along the way. Over time, her diary became a roadmap of sorts, morphing into the award-winning memoir Somebody Stole My Iron: A Family Memoir of Dementia.   About Dorothy Horne: Dorothy Horne is an author, speaker, and a former award-winning blogger for the Longview News-Journal. She was honored to be named a “Star Over Longview” in 2016. Dorothy is a member of AlzAuthors, “a global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others." She has served on the board of the East Texas Alzheimer's Alliance and facilitated several Alzheimer's support groups. Dorothy is a retired first grade teacher. One of her greatest delights is being "Dot-Dot" to her four grandsons. She lives in East Texas and enjoys photography and traveling.   About Susan Landeis:   Susan is a member of the AlzAuthors management team and Board of Directors. She became a featured author on the AlzAuthors website in 2020, and team member later the same year. Her roles include Graphic Designer, Curator of Custom Caregiver Collections, and LinkedIn Manager.    Susan is the author of her memoir, In Search of Rainbows: A daughter's story of loss, hope, and redemption and she also penned Optimal Caregiving: A guide for managing senior health and well-being.   About Jean Lee:   Jean Lee wrote lesson plans for 22 years as an elementary school teacher. She had no aspirations to write a book, however when both parents were diagnosed on the same day with Alzheimer's, her journey as their caregiver poured out on paper through Alzheimer's Daughter. After the sadness of her parents decline, life brought her comfort and healing through the formation of AlzAuthors.com, cofounded with Marianne Sciucco and Vicki Tapia. What started as a one-month collaboration has now taken on a thriving life of its own for a decade.   About Carol Bradley Bursack:   Carol Bradley Bursack was a caregiver for an older neighbor and seven aging family members, all of whom are represented by first-person vignettes in Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. However, Carol wanted to do more than tell her own stories. She wanted to give other caregivers a chance to do the same.   About Christy Byrne Yates:   Christy is an expert in navigating the challenges and opportunities in life including living in the “Sandwich Generation” — that time period of raising children while also caring for an aging loved one. Her book, “Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation” recounts her journey and learning as a working mother of two who also managed the care of her parents, both of whom had some form of dementia. She incorporates meditation, mindfulness and other evidence based mind/body practices into her work to support growth, resilience, and a pathway to living life fully.

A couple years ago, Josh Foer, the co-founder of Atlas Obscura, took us to a remote patch of land in the Arizona desert, where he built (and later rebuilt) a museum in honor of the company's former CEO, David Plotz. And just a few weeks ago, this patch of land appeared on a reality TV show. In a strange collision, Dylan talks with one of the stars of TLC's Sister Wives about her own experience at the Plotz Plot.  Learn more about Wow in the World family tours. 

Bush tucker in Australia is something many of us take for granted. Still, when you look at the variety and accessibility of native ingredients, we offer through the eyes of a visitor to our shores.

A graduate of the College of William and Mary and the University of Richmond, Kris Spisak wrote her first three books—Get a Grip on Your Grammar, The Novel Editing Workbook, and The Family Story Workbook—to help writers of all kinds sharpen their storytelling and empower their communications. Her award-winning debut novel, The Baba Yaga Mask, was inspired by her family's experience in the post-WWII Ukrainian diaspora and has been called “A complex, poetic tale” by Kirkus Reviews and “edu-tainment at its best” by the Historical Novel Society. Her fifth book, Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods, has been described as “A delicious read” by Atlas Obscura and a “nuanced work of feminist literary criticism,” by Foreword Reviews.https://kris-spisak.com/https://www.instagram.com/kris.spisak/https://www.facebook.com/KSWriting

Today on Sense of Soul we have Author Kris Spisak, she is an active speaker, workshop leader, and literary historian. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary (B.A.) and the University of Richmond (M.L.A.), fully believes that well-written words and well-told stories have the ability to change the world.  She wrote her first three books—Get a Grip on Your Grammar, The Novel Editing Workbook, and The Family Story Workbook—to help writers of all kinds sharpen their storytelling and empower their communications. Her award-winning debut novel, The Baba Yaga Mask, was inspired by her family's experience in the post-WWII Ukrainian diaspora and has been called “A complex, poetic tale” by Kirkus Reviews and “edu-tainment at its best” by the Historical Novel Society.  Her fifth book, Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods, described as “A delicious read” by Atlas Obscura, is a nonfiction exploration of the complex origins of this Slavic folktale character and her lingering lessons for empowering us all. https://kris-spisak.com/becoming-baba-yaga/ https://www.senseofsoulpodcast.com

Today we're bringing  you an episode from our friends at the Women Who Travel podcast. Women make up just 7% of truckers in the United States—a number that shows no sign of increasing, even while the industry suffers from a huge shortage of workers. We hear from trucker Desiree Wood, whose job has taken her to 48 states, about the freedom of life on the road, the dangers that herself and women colleagues face, and the joys that come with the occasional return trip home.Listen to and follow Women Who Travel from Condé Nast Traveler here: swap.fm/l/cnt-wwt-YUyg6t

Americans love not believing anything the government tells us, and it seems likely we'll just keep coming up with stories to explain what is probably really boring in real life. The latest of these is the mysterious drones that descended upon New Jersey and then vanished without a trace. Dylan Thuras joins us to shed light on Americans' love of conspiracy theories, which naturally begins with Area 51. Our guest Dylan Thuras is the co-founder of Atlas Obscura. Follow his work at https://www.atlasobscura.com/users/dylan, and you can hear more of his stories on the Atlas Obscura Podcast wherever you listen to ‘em. Catch the extended conversation and plenty of other great bonus content, plus ad-free episodes, by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Use code "PANIC" at checkout to get your first month for just $0.50! Want to sponsor Panic World? Ad sales & marketing support by Multitude, hit them up here: ⁠http://multitude.productions⁠. Credits - Host: Ryan Broderick - Producer: Grant Irving - Researcher: Adam Bumas - Business Manager: Josh Fjelstad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans love not believing anything the government tells us, and it seems likely we'll just keep coming up with stories to explain what is probably really boring in real life. The latest of these is the mysterious drones that descended upon New Jersey and then vanished without a trace. Dylan Thuras joins us to shed light on Americans' love of conspiracy theories, which naturally begins with Area 51.Our guest Dylan Thuras is the co-founder of Atlas Obscura. Follow his work at https://www.atlasobscura.com/users/dylan, and you can hear more of his stories on the Atlas Obscura Podcast wherever you listen to ‘em.Catch the extended conversation and plenty of other great bonus content, plus ad-free episodes, by joining our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Use code "PANIC" at checkout to get your first month for just $0.50!Want to sponsor Panic World? Ad sales & marketing support by Multitude, hit them up here: ⁠http://multitude.productions⁠.Credits- Host: Ryan Broderick- Producer: Grant Irving- Researcher: Adam Bumas- Business Manager: Josh Fjelstad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The women of the Wild West mostly spent their lives laundering men's clothes, bringing up children, and avoiding getting caught in the crossfire - but that didn't stop a legend forming around them; not least dime novel heroine and ‘Bandit Queen' Belle Starr, who was murdered on 3rd February, 1889. The ‘outlaw' was riding home, two days before her 41st birthday, eating a piece of cornbread, when she was blasted off her horse. And then shot again, in the face. But mystery still surrounds the identity of her killer. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how the fallout from the civil war shaped Starr's life; ask whether ostrich plumes, rattlesnake rattles and dried earlobes could come back into fashion; and explain what Tom Starr's gang had in common with Elton John…  Further Reading: • ‘Belle Starr the Bandit Queen: How a Southern Girl Became a Legendary Western Outlaw' (Atlas Obscura, 2013): https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/belle-starr-the-bandit-queen • ‘Belle Starr The Badass "Bandit Queen" Of The Wild West' (allthatsinteresting, 2021): https://allthatsinteresting.com/belle-starr ‘Belle Starr's Crazy Life Story & Grave!' (Rhetty for History, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2XLrY0cuJ8 Love the show? Support us!  Join 

The Isles of Scilly were part of one of the longest wars in human history, but the main reason for the length of the very mild conflict was lagging paperwork. Research: “335-year-old War Ends for Scilly Isles.” Star Tribune. April 18, 1986. https://www.newspapers.com/image/188704902/?match=1 “The breakdown of 1641-2.” UK Parliament. https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/parliamentaryauthority/civilwar/overview/the-breakdown/ Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Isles of Scilly". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Dec. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/place/Isles-of-Scilly-islands-England-United-Kingdom Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Bishops’ Wars". Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Jun. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/event/Bishops-Wars Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Long Parliament". Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Jun. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Long-Parliament Daniel Lysons, Samuel Lysons, 'The Scilly Islands', in Magna Britannia: Volume 3, Cornwall( London, 1814), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/magna-britannia/vol3/pp330-337 Davids, R.L. and A.D.K. Hawkyard. “SEYMOUR, Sir Thomas II.” The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-155. 1982. Accessed online: https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/seymour-sir-thomas-ii-1509-49 “Dutch Proclaim End of War Against Britain's Scilly Isles.” New York Times. April 18, 1986. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/18/world/dutch-proclaim-end-of-war-against-britain-s-scilly-isles.html “The Execution of Charles I.” Historic Royal Places. https://www.hrp.org.uk/banqueting-house/history-and-stories/the-execution-of-charles-i/ “History of the Duchy.” Duchy of Cornwall. https://duchyofcornwall.org/history-of-the-duchy.html “The History of the Islands.” The Islands’ Partnership. https://www.visitislesofscilly.com/experience/things-to-do/history-and-heritage/the-history-of-the-islands “Holidays in the Isles of Scilly.” Manchester Evening News. Jan. 24, 1984. https://www.newspapers.com/image/927198725/?match=1&terms=isles%20of%20scilly “Isles of Scilly.” Duchy of Cornwall. https://duchyofcornwall.org/newton-park-estate.html#:~:text=A%20group%20of%20over%20200,residential%20buildings%20on%20the%20islands. Johnson, Ben. “The 335 Year War – The Isles of Scilly vs the Netherlands.” Historic UK. March 11, 2015. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-335-Year-War-the-Longest-War-in-History/ Ohlmeyer, Jane H.. "English Civil Wars". Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Dec. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/event/English-Civil-Wars “Roy Duncan 1948 – 2014.” Council of the Isles of Scilly. Aug. 25, 2014. “Prehistoric communities off the coast of Britain embraced rising seas- what this means for today's island nations.” Bangor University. November 5, 2020. https://www.bangor.ac.uk/news/archive/prehistoric-communities-off-the-coast-of-britain-embraced-rising-seas-what-this-means-for-today-s-island-nations-44529#:~:text=By%2012%2C000%20years%20ago%2C%20the,smaller%2C%20engulfed%20by%20rising%20seas. Lysons, Daniel and Samuel Lysons, 'The Scilly Islands', in Magna Britannia: Volume 3, Cornwall( London, 1814), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/magna-britannia/vol3/pp330-337 Penhallurick, R.D. “Ancient and Early Medieval Coins from Cornwall & Scilly.” ROYAL NUMISMATIC SOCIETY SPECIAL PUBLICATION NO. 45. London. 2010. https://www.academia.edu/355282/Ancient_and_Early_Medieval_Coins_from_Cornwall_and_Scilly Sawyer, Katherine, PhD. “Scilly’s Hidden History.” Isles of Scilly. https://www.visitislesofscilly.com/home/blog/scillys-hidden-history#:~:text=Scilly%20was%20first%20visited%20by,as%20a%20lack%20of%20predators. Young-Brown, Fiona. “The World’s Longest War Only Ended in 1986.” Atlas Obscura. Jan. 19, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-worlds-longest-war-only-ended-in-1985 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A traveler in Vang Vieng, Laos writes a letter to a fellow traveler. This essay was edited by Lenora Todaro and originally appeared in Off Assignment. 

In 1912, the small town of Louisburg, Kansas, was rocked by the shocking murder of its postmaster, unraveling a scandalous tale of betrayal and unanswered mysteries that linger to this day.Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateInfo on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScreamInfo on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TVIN THIS EPISODE: When you think of bleak, mysterious murders with a Gothic hue, a small town in early 20th century Kansas is not the first thing that springs to mind. Neither is a postmaster, for that matter. Well, think again. *** Not everything creepy that happens to someone can be classified as paranormal or otherworldly. In fact, a majority of the things that give us goosebumps and set our hair up straight are totally explainable… but that doesn't mean they aren't terrifying. We'll look at some true stories from people who had some creepy experiences that while scary, were not of supernatural origin. *** One girl seemed to be able to move things with the power of her mind. Another girl seemed to have the strength of a dozen men. Were they charlatans, mere entertainers, or were their powers derived from something supernatural? *** AND MORE!CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Show Open00:03:02.701 = The McElheny Murder Mystery00:22:16.154 = Creepy Things This Side of Normal00:55:14.239 = The Electric Girl And The Georgia Wonder01:12:39.244 = The Randonautica Dead Body01:19:04.703 = Show CloseSOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Randonautica Dead Body” posted at The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/af5u7h9w“The McElheny Murder” from Strange Company: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2bx9jwep“Creepy Things This Side of Normal” by Michelle Nati for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/brsf4rhe“The Electric Girl and the Georgia Wonder” by Romeo Vitelli for Providentiahttps://weirddarkness.tiny.us/awuppu2n; and Tony Wolf for Atlas Obscura https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/54npznbjWeird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: September 13, 2021SOURCES PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/postmasterpistolingTRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/msdvpf5a

Sasquatch is Southern. And its cultural and economic impact in Appalachia is sizable.Appalachia is Bigfoot territory. In a big way. Today, we give you a taste of The Broadside, a podcast produced by WUNC in Durham, NC. In this episode, you'll hear about the mythical beast's legend, lore and sizable economic impact in the region. And follow one reporter's journey through the mountains and foothills of western North Carolina in search of Sasquatch. Featuring Emily Cataneo, reporter for The Assembly. Check out Emily's story on Appalachian Bigfoot culture at The Assembly here. .

Overtourism is a buzz word of late, but not a good one. We've all read about the cities and regions being overrun by tourists, who might be damaging natural or historical sights, or making an area unaffordable for its original residents to stay in. In this episode of The Thoughtful Travel Podcast, I speak with three guests with an interest in overtourism and ask for their thoughts. First up, I speak with Dylan Thuras of Atlas Obscura. Dylan's whole website and podcast are based around encouraging people to learn about, and visit, less popular, more obscure places, so he's been thinking about overtourism and its opposite, undertourism, for many years. I then chat with Jamie Burr, who specialises in marketing for responsible tourism businesses, and therefore also has a significant interest in overtourism and how we might deal with it. Finally, Chris Christou from The End of Tourism podcast talks about some future alternatives for tourism, speaking from the example of his home of Oaxaca in Mexico, that may be one way to mitigate the problems of overtourism. Links: Dylan Thuras - Atlas Obscura podcast https://www.atlasobscura.com/podcast Jamie Burr - https://jamieburr.com/ Chris Christou - The End of Tourism podcast - https://www.theendoftourism.com/ Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/333 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes the taste of a Meyer lemon so special? And why is there a secret society in Louisiana that holds a giant omelet festival every year? This week our friends at the The Atlas Obscura Podcast — which celebrates the world's strange and wondrous places — bring us stories that answer each of those questions. First up, professional taster Mandy Naglich tells us the twisty history of the Meyer lemon, from the eccentric man it's named after to the role it played in a citrus epidemic. Then we visit Abbeville, Louisiana, to eat that giant omelet, and learn about the French culture and history preserved in that town.The Sporkful production team includes Dan Pashman, Emma Morgenstern, Andres O'Hara, Nora Ritchie, and Jared O'Connell. Special thanks to host Dylan Thuras and the rest of the Atlas Obscura Podcast team: Amanda McGowan, Julia Russo, Katie Thornton, Johanna Mayer, Doug Baldinger, Chris Naka, Kameel Stanley, Manolo Morales, Baudelaire, Gabby Gladney, Alexa Lim, Casey Holford, and Luz Fleming. The Atlas Obscura theme music is by Sam Tindall. Transcript available at www.sporkful.com.Right now, Sporkful listeners can get three months free of the SiriusXM app by going to siriusxm.com/sporkful. Get all your favorite podcasts, more than 200 ad-free music channels curated by genre and era, and live sports coverage with the SiriusXM app.

One of our favorite episodes from Atlas Obscura. Producer Alexa Lim visits a collection of natural aromas in Berkeley, California. She gets a whiff of some of the world's lesser known smells, and stumbles down the rabbit hole of the hidden world of scents. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

In this episode... making sense of dream premonitions; how to engage in spirit flight and dream travel - and the need for tethering when you do so; how to begin working with your ancestors in your dreams;  how to receive signs and strengthen your intuition, plus the consequences of NOT listening to your intuition; what to do when you get dream messages for someone else; and the number one thing you need to in order to receive dream messages. All with special guest Autumn Fourkiller. Join us!**********************************FIND OUT MORE ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTSHermit Year Workshop Series with Amanda Yates Garcia via her Mystery Cult platform on Substack. Get the replay when you subscribe as a Yearly or Founders Member.  You can also subscribe to her newsletter for free (!) at www.amandayatesgarcia.substack.comMuses and Guides: Working with Ritual & Poetry to Activate Creative Potential Workshop (Edinburgh, Scotland, UK) - with Amanda Yates Garcia and Rebecca Sharp. A daylong workshop on July 26, 2025 on bringing your spiritual work into your creative practice. Find out more via the link above.Homework Club offers creative people strategies for keeping their projects and practices a priority with monthly webinars, worksheets, live QnA's, accountability pods, and actual homework (that you'll never be graded on. Ever!). If you're an artist or writer looking for structure, support and community, check out Carolyn's project - Homework Club -with with arts consultant and author, Beth Pickens.Midwives of Invention will help you get unstuck in your writing, with Ann Friedman and Jade Chang.**********************************FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST AUTUMN FOURKILLERAutumn Fourkiller is member of the Cherokee Nation, writer and dream analyst. Her work and dream interpretations can be found in NY magazine's the Cut, Longreads, Atlas OBscura and many other places. Autumn also is the Tin House Writing Workshops communications coordinator, and summer scholar and was the 2022 fellow for Ann Friedman Weekly, you can subscribe to her Newsletter Dream Interpretation for Dummies via the link in the show notes.Find her on Instagram: @autumnfourkillerWebsite: autumnfourkiller.comSign up for her newsletter, Dream Interpretation for Dummies**********************************FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE MISSING WITCHES DECK OF ORACLESFrom Missing Witches authors Risa Dickens and Amy Torok comes a magical new deck featuring 52 of history's most inspiring witches.The Missing Witches Deck of Oracles pulls 52 figures—from Zora Neale Hurston to Hildegarde to Mayumi Oda and more—and presents their stories in potent and poignant spells that restore, inspire, and empower.Users may pull a card or spread a day—or find what works for them—to discover each historical witch and the guidance they offer. Each card features a unique illustration along with a simple message on one side; the other shares each witch's story along an insight, prompt, or meditation.The deck invites those new to and experienced with the craft to connect with witches living and legend and offers a uniquely rich experience for discovery, self-reflection, meditation, divination, and daily ritual.The Missing Witches Deck of Oracles is out now. North Atlantic Books is offering listeners 30% off (plus free shipping) on the deck with code MISSING at www.northatlanticbooks.com now through December 31, 2024. This offer is limited to recipients with U.S.-based mailing addresses only.**********************************Learn More About Your Host Amanda Yates GarciaTo join Amanda's MYSTERY CULT on Substack click here.To order Amanda's book, "Initiated: Memoir of a Witch" CLICK HERE.Amanda's InstagramTo book an appointment with Amanda go to www.oracleoflosangeles.com*********************************Original MUSIC by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs**********************************Get in touch with sponsorship inquiries for Between the Worlds at betweentheworldspodcast@gmail.com.CONTRIBUTORS:Amanda Yates Garcia (host) & Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs (producer, composer). The BTW logo collage was created by Maria Minnis (tinyparsnip.com / instagram.com/tinyparsnip ) with text designed by Leah Hayes. Learn More About Your Host Amanda Yates GarciaTo join Amanda's MYSTERY CULT on Substack click here.To order Amanda's book, "Initiated: Memoir of a Witch" CLICK HERE.Amanda's InstagramTo book an appointment with Amanda go to www.oracleoflosangeles.com*********************************Original MUSIC by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs**********************************Are you an artist or writer looking for structure, support and community? Check out Carolyn's project - Homework Club -with with arts consultant and author, Beth Pickens:Homework Club offers creative people strategies for keeping their projects and practices a priority with monthly webinars, worksheets, live QnA's, accountability pods, and actual homework (that you'll never be graded on. Ever!). Make 2024 a BIG PROJECT year - first month free with code: YourArtMind Your Practice is our podcast.You can visit https://www.bethpickens.com/homework-club for more details or listen wherever you stream Between the Worlds.**********************************Get in touch with sponsorship inquiries for Between the Worlds at betweentheworldspodcast@gmail.com.CONTRIBUTORS:Amanda Yates Garcia (host) & Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs (producer, composer). The BTW logo collage was created by Maria Minnis (tinyparsnip.com / instagram.com/tinyparsnip ) with text designed by Leah Hayes.

Merry Christmas Day from The Dark Oak! Christmas traditions run deep in every culture and every family. In America, the legend of St Nicholas reigns supreme. But it turns out that Santa Claus is only one of the many fables, legends and haunts that come alive around the celebration of Christmas. So, today I present to you, The Monsters of Christmas. Join us for discussions of The Tomten, The Yule Family (including the Yule boys and the Yule Cat), Mari Lwyd, Belsnickel, Krampus, and more!   Sources: December 15). The Monsters of Christmas. Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/monsters-of-christmas Palmer, A., & Palmer, A. (2021, December 20). Mari Lwyd, or “Caroling with Zombie Horses”: A Christmas Story - Weird Little Worlds Press. Weird Little Worlds Press -. https://weirdlittleworlds.com/mari-lwyd-or-caroling-with-zombie-horses/ Little, B., & Little, B. (2023, December 12). Meet Krampus, the Christmas devil who punishes naughty children. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/news/krampus-christmas-legend-origin   Join The Dark Oak Discussion: Patreon The Dark Oak Podcast Website Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok Youtube This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Today, we're sharing an episode from our friends at Terrestrials, a Radiolab spinoff show for families that explores strangeness on Earth. In this episode, host Lulu Miller visits some of our planet's most magical tree stumps – which are anything but dead.   Plus: Cast your vote in Radiolab's quasi-moon naming contest! Voting is open until January 1.

Writer and friend of the show Colin Dickey tries to destroy Dylan's holiday cheer with arguments about why Christmas is actually full of monsters from around the world. (Just a note for parents listening with little ones, Dylan and Colin talk frankly about Santa and his surrounding lore.)  Check out Colin's Atlas Obscura column, Eerie Feeling. 

Like many parts of travel, in recent years I've started to rethink some aspects of museum that I just took for granted in my early years of travel. In this episode, I chat with three guests on a variety of aspects of the ethics of museums, which all gave me great food for thought. First up, I spoke with Chris Christou, who articulates some of the key ethical issues many museums face, especially those that are focused on archaeological artefacts - some of which might not have been acquired in the most ethical of ways! Next, Dylan Thuras of Atlas Obscura tells me about his particular interest in medical museums, and some of the questions surrounding these, and includes an interesting example of a museum he visited in Mexico. Artist Carol McQuaid highlights a recent art gallery scandal involving MONA in Tasmania, Australia, which she had the opportunity to visit recently. While chatting galleries, I was reminded of my recent experience at the Manchester Art Gallery in England, which has recently had a significant rethink of how they run their displays. Links: Chris Christou - The End of Tourism podcast - https://www.theendoftourism.com/ Dylan Thuras - Atlas Obscura podcast https://www.atlasobscura.com/podcast Atlas Obscura article about the Mummies of Guanajuato - https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museo-de-las-momias-de-guanajuato Carol McQuaid - https://www.theillustratedvagabond.com/ Carol’s World Voyage Sketchbook - https://www.theillustratedvagabond.com/shop/p/illustrated-vagabonds-world-voyage-sketchbook-pre-sale Catherine’s article about the Ladies Lounge in Mona - https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/mona-ladies-lounge-high-tea-inside-the-secretive-new-womenonly-experience-20220530-h243zx.html Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/329 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House.The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that's a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you'd like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. I have recently launched a newsletter. You can subscribe to it at thememorypalacepodcast.substack.com. This is a special bonus episode of the podcast sharing a particularly good interview I did with the folks at Atlas Obscura. 

This week, we're presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico. Rising singer-songwriter Andrea Cruz shares how she fell in love with folk music as a young girl in Aibonito. We hear about how the plants, birds and animals of Puerto Rico have shaped the fabric of her work, and the profound ways in which her art connects her to the island she calls home. Hollywood film director Miguel Arteta recalls his colorful childhood in Río Piedras, shares the Puerto Rican role model who inspired him to pursue a creative career, and teases his upcoming project, which is set on the island of birth.Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts.

This week, we're presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico.   Oscar-nominated screenwriter and playwright José Rivera shares with us his rich memories, both old and new, of his time in Puerto Rico: of spiders, thunderstorms and a deep sense of community in his childhood town of Espino. We hear about the joy of watching one of his plays performed in Santurce alongside the family members who inspired it, and how the island has been a constant source of inspiration that has enriched so much of his work.  Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts. 

Narrated by Luis Guzmán, Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico pairs stories from some of the Island's most exciting musicians, including Los Rivera Destino, Pachyman, and Andrea Cruz, with major artists outside of music, such as Hollywood film director Miguel Arteta, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jose Rivera, author Jaquira Diaz, and legendary EGOT Rita Moreno. Listeners will get to know Puerto Rico's incredible towns, cities, beaches, rainforests, mountains, bars, and dance clubs that not only shaped their work but ultimately influenced global culture. Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico is a production of Talkhouse and Atlas Obscura, presented by Discover Puerto Rico. Tap here to subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we're talking about Boston's LGBTQ history and identity with Joan Ilacqua of The History Project, a community archive, repository, historical society, and museum for the local queer community. This is a complex story, and we get into everything from gay marriage legalization (it happened here first!), to "Boston marriages," to the city's first pride parade, to its current queer hot spots.Plus, my wild night at Kowloon.Marriages begin at Cambridge City Hall. Tastykake's Butterscotch Krimpets. Atlas Obscura on Boston Coolers.Have feedback on this episode or ideas for upcoming topics? DM me on Instagram, email me, or send a voice memo.Send us a textPremium Q Moving & Storage: Get free boxes and 10% off your move by clicking HERE or call 781-730-6180 for a quote. Boston Choral Ensemble presents "Northern Light" at 6 p.m. on December 7 at Old South Church (Copley Square, Boston). Advance tickets: $25 general admission; $15 students/seniors; $10 children; $0 EBT card holders. All additional tickets after the first two can be purchased for $10. For more information, visit bostonchoral.org.

Narrated by Luis Guzmán, Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico pairs stories from some of the Island's most exciting musicians, including Los Rivera Destino, Pachyman, and Andrea Cruz, with major artists outside of music, such as Hollywood film director Miguel Arteta, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jose Rivera, author Jaquira Diaz, and legendary EGOT Rita Moreno. Listeners will get to know Puerto Rico's incredible towns, cities, beaches, rainforests, mountains, bars, and dance clubs that not only shaped their work but ultimately influenced global culture. Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico is a production of Talkhouse and Atlas Obscura, presented by Discover Puerto Rico. Tap here to subscribe.

For years, the organizers of the Annual Val Verde BeatleCon have been emailing Sir Paul McCartney (played by Pat Cassels), begging him to perform at the Con at the Verde Dome. This year, for the 48th iteration, it actually worked! Geoff “The Angry Man” Garlock and Whisp Turlington broadcast live from backstage at BeatleCon, running down all the performers and sitting down for an interview with a legendary, Paul McCartney! Macca at Sea: Instead of stories about Hamburg or Liverpool, McCartney shares some of his favorite stories about the sea! Election Recap: It was Election Day in Val Verde yesterday and Whisp and Geoff are still reeling from the results. Freejack: Who knew that Geoff and Whisp would bond with Paul McCartney over their love for the 90's film, “Freejack.” “I would take a Rutle!”: Sometimes when you're at the end of your rope, you'd love for a Rutle to come around! Especially at BeatleCon! This episode is sponsored by: Wish You Were Beer Shetland Creameries Shitbox Airlines Guest Starring: Pat Cassels (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Atlas Obscura, CollegeHumor) Love 108.9 The Hawk? HERE'S WHERE TO GET IT ALL & HOW TO HELP! Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple, or whatever you listen on! Give a five-star review on Apple Podcasts! Get official merch: http://tee.pub/lic/goodrockshirts Early access & bonus shows: https://patreon.com/1089thehawk Follow us on social media: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, Threads Learn more & sign up for our mailing list: https://1089thehawk.com

This week and next, we're presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico. The Río Piedras-based comedy band Los Rivera Destino talk about their musical childhoods, how making a music video in Bayamón changed their lives and careers forever, and the extremely unlikely place that has become their source of inspiration. Award-winning author Jaquira Díaz shares how salsa, bacalaítos and coquís defined her time growing up in the east coast towns of Humacoa and Fajardo. We also hear the wild story her grandmother told about aliens in El Yunque, and Jaquira describes the incredible sense of adventure she feels every time she explores the island.Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts.

Today and tomorrow, we're presenting Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico.  Legendary actress, singer, dancer and EGOT winner Rita Moreno shares memories of sugar cane, coquís and parrandas during her idyllic childhood in Humacao and Juncos. We hear about her recent trips back with Lin-Manuel Miranda, and how she almost turned down West Side Story because of her loyalty to the island. Dub star innovator Pachy García (aka Pachyman) opens up about growing up in Guaynabo's vibrant reggae scene, the integral role Puerto Rico plays in his music now that he lives in Los Angeles, and the “unmistakable breeze” that greets him every time he comes back home to the island.Subscribe to Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico wherever you get your podcasts.

Darkness Syndicate members get the commercial-free version with all artwork created for the YouTube and podcast thumbnails: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/vat86pdzIN THIS EPISODE: Everyone knows about Dracula. Most everyone has seen at least one film starring the undead blood-sucker, or has read the novel by Bram Stoker. But only the real fans of Dracula know about the real people and true stories that inspired Bram Stoker to create the character.SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…BOOK: “Transylvania Superstitions” by Emily Gerard: https://amzn.to/3vsAqrsBOOK: “Carmilla” by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: https://amzn.to/3cw291IHistory.com, Ranker.com, AtlasObscura.com, InternationalHero.co.uk, HowStuffWorks.com, Universtiy of Iowa's Victorian Wiki, Google Books, HistoryIreland.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mnrpdm36,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/eeypjjz3, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4et6ysvs,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5bcstakc, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/53vbu5dr, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bhd6f7yv,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y36n7y9v, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2nc96tjx, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2848x4mkWeird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library.= = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: March 16, 2021CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/vampiricorigins/

EPISODE #1118 MASTERS OF MACABRE COLLECTING In this episode, Richard steps into the eerie world of The Witch's Door, the latest book by Ryan and Regina Cohn. Known for their love of the macabre, Ryan and Regina take listeners on a journey through their lives as collectors of strange and mysterious artifacts. From an early fascination with anatomy and “exploded skulls” to encounters with objects like a ritualistic kapala skull, their passion for unusual relics only grew. The story begins with the haunting “Witch's Door,” discovered in the chaotic apartment of their late friend, former NYPD sergeant and secretive collector, Nick Parmesan. Unraveling Nick's disordered trove, Ryan and Regina delve into the ethics, artistry, and allure of collecting oddities that straddle the line between life and death. Join us as we explore the strange, beautiful, and haunting world behind The Witch's Door. GUESTS: Ryan Matthew Cohn is an artist, curator, art collector, and the Oddities Flea Market cofounder. His artwork has been exhibited at the Museum of Arts and Design, Armour-Stiner Octagon, House, Copro Gallery, Last Rites Gallery, Morbid Anatomy Museum, Roq La Rue Gallery, and more. His curatorial work has appeared in Playboy, Revolver, and The New York Times, as well as in films such as Wonderstruck and The Greatest Showman. Between 2010 and 2014, Ryan was featured as one of the stars on the Discovery Channel show Oddities, and he currently appears on the web series Antiques and Their Afterlives on Atlas Obscura. Regina Marie Rossi is the co-founder and producer of the Oddities Flea Market, a traveling high-end art market, which expanded from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Manhattan, and beyond under her leadership. In 2016, she collaborated with her husband, Ryan, to curate Brooklyn's House of Wax, a bar, museum, and event space like no other. With a background in high-end fashion, Regina brings glamour and elegance to her exhibits and events. Ryan and Regina live in Connecticut with their cat, three dogs, and a growing collection of rare art, oddities, and other ephemera. The Witch's Door is their first book. WEBSITE: https://theodditiesfleamarket.com BOOK: THE WITCH'S DOOR: Oddities & Tales from the Esoteric to the Extreme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm/

In the 1930s and 1940s, a young Black woman named Bessie Stringfield decided she'd strike out on her own and hit the road – and ended up crisscrossing the United States eight times, and becoming the first Black woman to ride a motorcycle through each of the lower 48 states. If she ran out of money, she'd join a circus. If she couldn't find a place to stay, she'd sleep out under the stars. Read more about Bessie Stringfield in this Atlas Obscura article by Natalie Zarrelli. Check out the work of cartoonist Joel Christian Gill online.

Darkness Syndicate members get the commercial-free version, plus all thumbnail art created for YouTube and the podcast: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckjbbjfWARNING: This episode uses the politically incorrect word “negro” to describe black Americans. It is not my own choice of language, nor is it my opinion, as it is only used when I am directly quoting what someone wrote or said at the time the events took place. No offense is intended.IN THIS EPISODE: You wouldn't think this would be Weird Darkness material, but there is an unsolved mystery here more than 130 years in the making. Dissecting the human nervous system is a taxing task—and in some cases, very little is known about the people whose bodies wound up on anatomists' tables. In 19th-century Philadelphia, an anatomist dissected and mounted a human nervous system. Now researchers are trying to figure out whose remains are stretched out in a glass case.  And it's proving to be quite difficult. SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Mysterious Body Donation of Harriet Cole” by Jessica Leigh Hester for AtlasObscura:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/uw699kaWeird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library.= = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: April 27, 2021CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/harrietcole/

Charles Nessler is usually credited with inventing the permanent wave in the early 1900s. And he made a huge fortune from it, while also bolstering a huge beauty industry. Research: Bedi, Joyce. “GERMANY | Charles (Karl) Nessler.” Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. Smithsonian National Museum of American History. June 3, 2021. https://invention.si.edu/node/29205/p/732-germany-charles-karl-nessler Hellman, Geoffrey T. “Profiles: Hair Scientist.” The New Yorker. April 29, 1933. https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1933-04-29/flipbook/020/ Larkin, Theresa. “From straight to curly, thick to thin: Here's how hormones and chemotherapy can change your hair.” MedicalExpress. Jan. 14, 2024. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-straight-curly-thick-thin-hormones.html “115 Years of Long-Lasting Curls: The History and Rebirth of the Perm.” Estetica Magazine. Feb. 8, 2022. https://www.esteticamagazine.com/2022/02/08/111-years-of-long-lasting-curls-the-history-and-rebirth-of-the-perm/ Marsden, Rhodri. “Rhodri Marsden's Interesting Objects: The Nessler Permanent Wave Machine.” The Independent. Oct. 9, 2015. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/features/rhodri-marsden-s-interesting-objects-the-nessler-permanent-wave-machine-a6674081.html “Modern Living: The Great Wave.” Time. Feb. 5, 1951. https://time.com/archive/6825188/modern-living-the-great-wave/ Morton, Ella. “The Alarming Aesthetics of Jazz Age Perm Machines.” Atlas Obscura. Aug. 2, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-alarming-aesthetics-of-jazz-age-perm-machines Nessler, Charles. “The Story of Hair.” New York. Bonni and Liveright. 1928. Nessler, Charles. “A New or Improved Method of and Means for the Manufacture of Artificial Eyebrows, Eyelashes and the like.” UK Patent Office. Accessed via Google: https://patents.google.com/patent/GB190218723A/en “Nessler, Invented Permanent Wave.” New York Times. January 24, 1951. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1951/01/24/88426426.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 “A Revolutionst Dies.” Life Magazine. Feb. 5, 1951. Accessed online: https://books.google.com/books?id=50sEAAAAMBAJ&q=nestler#v=onepage&q=nessler&f=false Sheen, Maureen. “Story of Us, 1910-1920: Do the Wave.” American Salon. Jan. 20, 2016. https://www.americansalon.com/products/story-us-1910-1920-do-wave See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.