Just A Story: Urban Legend Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep 22: Nazis, I Hate Those Guys Apr 18, 2016

Show notes

Once upon a time, armored knights searched the world for sacred relics, and stories of their quests became legend and lore. Centuries later, noble scholars would follow in the footsteps of these most romantic heroes. Though, any Spielberg and Lucas collaboration would probably bust enough blocks to annihilate a game of Tetris, the pair of pop culture juggernauts found a truly magical formula with the titular character, Indiana Jones and the films based on his adventures. By combining classical errant knight plots with the all-American swagger of a bad boy academic who hated Nazis, they ensured that no one would be able to resists the charms of their hero, and maybe, just maybe, they granted this fictional character the immortality promised by the relics he pursued. But there aren't really badass archeologists trotting the globe and shooting up bandits, right? The Nazis didn't give a hoot about the holy grail, did they? Join us this week, as we track down the surprising true stories behind the Indiana Jones franchise

Ep 21: Deal With The Devil Apr 10, 2016

Show notes

Music doesn't make sense. We, as humans, respond to the essential emotion in notes and melodies without analysis or forethought. It's a natural, innate language that we all seem to speak. Or is it? Only humans seem to possess this natural affinity for music. Sure, birds sing, but they don't *preform*, their songs are lingual substitutes. We are the only ones who choose to sing when we don't need to. We are also the only ones who can lie, bargain with gods, fret over the state of our immortal soul or troll others on the Internet. So this whole music thing has always made people... Nervous. Music, in some ways, seems unnatural; and if you've ever seen any portrayal of life before ~yesterday, you'll know that all unnatural things are... Of the devil. There is a long association between musicians and the devil; (yes, even before Charlie Daniels said so). This week we will take a look at why that might be. From Paganini to Robert Johnson we'll explore what master musicians have gotten in return for selling their souls. So, join us at the crossroads as we ask, what's the connection between the Faustian bargain and the gods of music

Ep 20: You Are What You Eat Apr 02, 2016

Show notes

Weight loss schemes and health trends seem to dominate our social media feeds. Pictures of food are second only to cat videos and inflammatory political rants. Whether you're trying to do battle with the scale, purify your digestive track and character through abstaining from (or introducing) certain types of food, or just trying to find the secret to that elusive idea of a healthy lifestyle, there's a plan being peddled to suit your needs. Fad diets aren't new. No, in fact, it seems that as soon as people weren't producing their own food, advice on what to eat began to flow freely and persistently. Some of the suggestions became so prevalent, despite their outlandish nature, that they can only be called, 'urban legends'. This week we focus on extreme diets, colorful charlatans and despicable dietitians as we dive into the wonderful world of weight loss. We'll meet the man behind the breakfast cereal, Dr. Kellogg; check into Starvation Heights under the care of Linda Hazzard; and see what happens when unrealistic standards of thinness and beauty effect susceptible populations. Join us as we look at everything from outlandish dieting advice, to the real and serious effects of eating disorders Also, check out our historical storytelling podcast Audio Dime Museum: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/audio-dime-museum/id1096211271?mt=2

Ep 19: Step Right Up To The Audio Dime Museum Mar 27, 2016

Show notes

Curiouser and Curiouser It is American tradition, but what is it? Before the three ring circus, before the 1932 cult classic "Freaks", before American Horror Story ... There was the dime museum. Join us this week, as we explore the storied history of these compendiums of curiosity and ask what legacy they've left behind. Step right up for a grand tour of the birthplace of innumerable urban legends. As we begin our new experimental, historical storytelling podcast, Audio Dime Museum, we invite you all to learn why we find these palaces of the bizarre so fascinating, and why we just can't look away. To Step Inside the Audio Dime Museum: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/audio-dime-museum/id1096211271?mt=2

Ep 18: You Can't Go Home Again: The Vanishing Hitchhiker Mar 21, 2016

Show notes

You can't go home again. From Dorothy to Odysseus to the guy scream-singing "One of Us" in the car next to you during your hour long commute, people spend a lot of time and effort trying to make their way home. The idea of being stopped mid-journey, of never making it home, seems to have had a very long history in fables. One could argue, this is evidence that that fear has had an equally lengthy history in our collective consciousness. That's exactly what we argue in this episode. Examining the urban legend, 'The Vanishing Hitchhiker' we dig in to the fear of never making it home, and the many ways this has been expressed over time. From people who have made hitchhikers vanish, like Edmund Kemper, to mysterious unsolved cases like the orange sock murders, to the historical legends associated with roadside phantoms around the country; we look at the many and varied roots and the constant evolution of this modern myth Special Guest Story Teller: Erik Rivenes of the Most Notorious! Podcast Check out his amazing true crime podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/most-notorious!-true-crime/id1055044256?mt=2

Ep 17: Gotta Get Back In Time Mar 12, 2016

Show notes

Whether wishing we could un-say that thing, or contemplating theoretical physics; we can't help but be fascinated by the notion of time travel. Inspiring such iconic pop culture franchises as Back To the Future, Planet of the Apes, Doctor Who, Quantum Leap, and Star Trek, the idea of visiting the future or the past seems to present limitless possibilities for storytelling. This week we take a look at the scientific theories that fuel these flights of fancy. Join us as we do our best to find the roots of our desires for, or fears of, wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey adventure Oh Boy!

Ep 16: 27 Club: Burn Out Or Fade Away? Mar 06, 2016

Show notes

Rock and roll. The devil's music. Destroyer of youth and molder of the juvenile delinquents. From hip-cropping television appearances to record burning protests, the good people (whoever that's supposed to be) have been trying to censor the attitudes and prevalence of rock music. And the stars started dying. Young and rebellious, the heroes of counter-culture became victims to their lifestyles in alarming numbers beginning in 1969. After the deaths of such notables as Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones), Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison (The Doors) all occurred while the musicians were aged 27, an irresistible coincidence was noted by fans the world over. With the suicide of grunge icon Kurt Cobain occurring at the same age over twenty years later, 'The 27 Club' officially became the stuff of urban legend. We take a look at what early death does for the legacy of a rockstar and ask the question, is it really better to burn out than to fade away? Check out Twitter to find our 27 club playlist

Ep 15: Writing On The Wall Feb 28, 2016

Show notes

Remember your first night away from home? Not at camp, Not at a slumber party, but really on your own? What advice were you given about safety? How many times did you check the deadbolt? How long did it take you to get used to the sounds of the house? This week we look at the fears that come with moving away from home, and the stories we make up to make ourselves feel safe. Kids, especially young women, are told that if they're just good enough, pure enough, afraid enough; they'll be safe. Logic follows, then, anyone who gets hurt was asking for it. Using the roommates from the classic urban legend, "Aren't You Glad You Didn't Turn on the Lights" as a case study we look at the way media and society cast female victims as Madonna or whore, and learn a real life cautionary tale. (Brought to you by mass murderer Richard Speck and the letter 'm'.)

Ep 14: Ouija: What The Eyes See, The Mind Believes Feb 21, 2016

Show notes

Somewhere between the way things were, and the way they are, there was a hope; no, there is a hope, that there's more to life than meets the eye. But, long before news of scientific discoveries were embedded between posts like '18 Things Only Girls With Curly Hair Will Understand' and 'Hedgehogs: Our New Cute Obsession' and updates for tech devices appeared every other day, there was a sense of wonder and possibility attached to each advance and understanding. Is it so difficult to think that early 20th century imaginations might turn attentions to the boundary between the life and death, expecting that the same science that brought electric lighting to their home or sent their messages across oceans via telegraphs might contact those just beyond the veil? These are the origins of the Ouija board. The swirling chaos that defined that era is full of characters and controversy. The Spiritualist movement pitted master magician Harry Houdini against the master of mystery, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the fallout was and is incredibly entertaining. Join us as we examine how and if this board works, and take a look at one of the greatest intellectual feuds in modern history.

Ep 13: A Psycho's Best Friend Is His Mother Feb 13, 2016

Show notes

Surely, yes, surely, Norman, Mother, and the horrors of the Bates Motel are merely eccentric imaginings of a darkly gifted mind, right? However unbelievable this Freudian field day seems, it's based on a true story. Just as Hitchcock's film, Psycho, initiated the country (and truthfully, the world) into the age of suspenseful, cerebral horror thrillers; the story of its origin generated a national curiosity about abnormal psychology and its role in creating the modern monsters later dubbed 'serial killers'. Unbelievable from inspiration to publication, from publication to production, from production to marketing, and from marketing to reception this film is a landmark of cinema and storytelling. Join as we take a look at the way Psycho redefined the way Americans saw movies, and the way Ed Gein changed the way we saw the guy next door. Guest Story Teller Diane Student from History Goes Bump Podcast https://itun.es/us/YfOR2.c

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Just A Story: Urban Legend Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected