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Benjamin Franklin III: Mistresses May 01, 2023

Show notes

3 of 7. Secret Franklin papers unpublished by the State Department are read directly. Woman and men paid money to watch Benjamin Franklin just walk down the street; smothered him with kisses: and he advised his own grandson on the most pleasing attributes to look for in a lady he would choose to make his mistress. We discuss wildly different reactions of notables like Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson to Franklin’s behavior around the ladies, and: of their behavior around him. The master diplomat secures open French military support and attempts to negotiate an end to the American War for Independence with British Commander General William Howe over a game of chess. Professor of World History Joe Wojie is joined by American historians Britnee Smith, Ted Sisco, and Toni Levitt. With guest Neil Ronk, Chief Historian and Director of Christ Church Preservation Trust Philadelphia. https://www.grimphilly.com/podcast - podcast home page. https://www.patreon.com/grimphilly - support this show.

*Episode Corrections:

(1) Former Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died both on the 4th of July, 1826 on the 50th anniversary of adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

(1) William Temple Franklin, the grandson of Benjamin Franklin, received a letter of advice on selecting a mistress from his grandfather as private correspondence prior to the bequeathment of additional papers for publication left to him in his grandfather's will.

Benjamin Franklin II: William Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

2 of 7. AKA Traitor William. Benjamin Franklin’s illegitimate son William was dragged from New Jersey by Revolutionary authorities, locked away for treason, and exiled after the war. Ben wrote him out of his will twice, refused him reconciliation, and raised his illegitimate son’s illegitimate son: Temple. Join Grim Philly historians as we flesh-out everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Benjamin Franklin’s illegitimate son William Franklin: soldier, son, politician, loyalist. And, a little on the importance to Franklin of the game of chess. Historians Joe Wojie, Britnee Smith, and Ted Sisco are joined by Neil Ronk, Director of Christ Church Preservation Trust, Philadelphia. And joining remote from Boston is Lauren Krupinski, NPS Historian from Franklin sites there.

Benjamin Franklin I: Bones Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

1 of 7. The bodies of dozens of dead woman, men, and children stolen from their graves were discovered hidden in Benjamin Franklin’s basement in 1998 sparking modern inquiries and investigations. World-famous for his lightning experiments; contemporaneous anatomists and scientists were inspired to electrify the bodies of hanged criminals attempting to charge the dead with life. Inspired by Dr. Franklin; Mary Shelly has Dr. Frankenstein in her novel do the same. Join historians from Grim as we open our three and a half hour audio-biography on Philadelphia’s own Benjamin Franklin: including the young founder’s arrival to Philadelphia at the age of seventeen, falling smitten with his future common-law wife Deborah Reed, and stories of the most riveting body-snatching and electrical experiments you may just have ever heard. Historians Joe Wojie, Britnee Smith, and Ted Sisco are joined by Neil Ronk, Director of Christ Church Preservation Trust, Philadelphia. And joining remote from Boston is Lauren Krupinski, NPS Historian from Franklin sites there.

Ethically Impossible II Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

Part 2 of 2. Doctors on the payroll of The United States government infected thousands of patients in a mental health asylum secretly in off-shore black-ops experiments that they'd built a hospital and laboratory specifically for in the jungles of Guatemala. World History and American History Professors Joe Wojie and Britnee Smith investigate primary source materials and are joined by Ethics Professor Tim Collins and Historians Ted Sisco and Adam Iessi in this, second part 2 of Ethically Impossible. For your kind support of this show please visit patreon.com/grimphilly For our schedule of live events in Philadelphia visit grimphilly.com For free back episodes and to subscribe please visit grimphilly,com/podcast

Ethically Impossible I Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Human experiments by the U.S. government on orphans, lepers, and in a foreign mental asylum saw doctors smearing gonorrhea puss in patients eyes', vaginas and rectums; forcing them to drink ground up chancroid from glass beakers, and forcibly restraining them when they ran away. John's Hopkins University, Bristol Meyer Squibb. Johnson & Johnson, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the government of the United States now face billion-dollar lawsuits, currently. Historians Joe Wojie and Britnee Smith are joined by Ethics Professor Tim Collins and Historians Ted Sisco and Adam Iessi. Consider supporting this podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/grimphilly See our calendar of live events in Philadelphia grimphilly.com Back episodes available free at grimphilly.com/podcast

Rasputin V: Penis and Prophecy Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

The most famous willy in Russia was worshiped in Paris and traded hands after his death; finding a new home in the Erotica Museum in Petersburg as a fertility talisman today. The visions and prophecies of Rasputin are examined through primary source material in his own hand and that of others. The Russian Revolution, abdication of the Tsar Nicholas II, last days and death of the royal family, and the end to the 300 year reign of the Romanov Dynasty are discussed. Historians Joe Wojie and Britnee Smith are joined by historians Ted Sisco and Cassie Coxon. Join our Patreon to be an awesome cool friend of the show at patreon.com/grimphilly See our schedule of live events in Philadelphia including history and ghost tours at grimphilly.com Listen to back episodes at grimphilly.com/podcast

Rasputin IV: Killing Rasputin Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

Source material on the murder of Rasputin are scrutinized within the context of what has become a larger folklore surrounding the man who could not be killed. Rasputin’s murder, autopsy, funeral, burial; and memoirs of his daughter Maria and the assassin Felix Yusupov are examined. As are conspiracies to kill Tsarina Alexandra and Tsar Nicholas II within the backdrop of a burgeoning Russian Revolution and Return of Vladimir Lennon in the final days of The First World War. Historians Britnee Smith, Ted Sisco, and Joe Wojie are joined by Historian Cassie Coxon of Penn State University. Support the show on patreon.com/grimphilly Live event information at grimphilly.com

Rasputin III: A ClusterF#k of Alliances – Causes of The First World War – Bonus Banter Nov 28, 2022

Show notes

Schlieffen Plan, Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, and the complex system of European alliances leading in to World War One and the height of power and eventual downfall of Grigori Rasputin are discussed; with both serious and lighter moments of reflection. Historians Britnee Smith, Ted Sisco, and Joe Wojie are joined by Historian Cassie Coxon of Penn State University. Support the show on patreon.com/grimphilly Live event information at grimphilly.com

Rasputin II: Evil Genius Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

Part 2 of 5. Man with the Dragon Tattoo. Rasputin displays his private parts at a Moscow restaurant feeding rumors of espionage and an affair with Tsarina Alexandra Romanov amidst anarchy, assassination, royal incest, and Bloody Sunday according to Ochrana secret police reports at the dawn of WWI as his political power grows. Tsar Nicholas II begins his reign in blood and mediocrity as his hatred of The Japanese grows. Historians Britnee Smith, Ted Sisco, and Joe Wojie are joined by Historian Cassie Coxon of Penn State University. Support the show on patreon.com/grimphilly Live event information at grimphilly.com

Rasputin I: Mad Monk Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

Part 1 of 5. BDSM Church of the Sacred Whip. The name Rasputin stirs often images of a dark evil wizard; a gothic monk in black with powers of necromancy and the devil. Or more often; a mystic—stabbed, shot, beat, poisoned, and drowned—who could not be killed. The wandering holy man captivated the last tsars of Russia. Led a sex-cult of sorts. Woman adored him. Most hated him. Journalists, assassins, and the secret police followed him, everywhere, he went. This is the comprehensive 5-part story of the illiterate stinky peasant who defied every odd to become one of the most powerful, revered, ultra-sexy, and hated figures in late imperial Russia. Of the socio-political backdrop of World War One, the Russian Revolution, and myths and truths of the complexities of the period. And of the man: Grigory Rasputin, and his enduring mark on the Romanov Dynasty; on Russia; and on history. Historians Britnee Smith, Ted Sisco, and Joe Wojie are joined by Historians Cassie Coxon (Penn State University) and Morgan Haller (Villanova University). Support the show on patreon.com/grimphilly Live event information at grimphilly.com

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