Laughs from the Past (History/Comedy Podcast)

120. Historical Sleuths | The Ice Valley Mystery Apr 27, 2021

This season of Laughs from the Past is presented by Kushy Dreams. Go to https://kushydreams.com and use promo code 'LAUGHS' for 20% off your next order

A local man and his daughters are out hiking in a remote section of what’s known as the Ice Valley. Noting an unusual burning smell, they investigate a few meters off the trail - and come across a frightful discovery: a woman's body, charred, and wedged between a rock pile.

119. Historical Sleuths | The Medieval Dancing Plague Apr 20, 2021

This season of Laughs from the Past is presented by Kushy Dreams. Go to https://kushydreams.com and use promo code 'LAUGHS' for 20% off your next order

Christmas Eve of 1021 would mark the first recorded instance of the mysterious medieval dancing plague, a malady that would continuously pop up and subsequently disappear throughout medieval Europe for the next 500 years. And on today’s episode of Laughs from the Past, we’re going to find out exactly what drove these devious dancers.

118. Historical Sleuths | The Theft of the Irish Crown Jewels Apr 13, 2021

This season of Laughs from the Past is presented by Kushy Dreams. Go to https://kushydreams.com and use promo code 'LAUGHS' for 20% off your next order

Get ready for an absolute roller coaster of a tale! In today’s episode of Laughs from the Past, we’re going back to early 20th century Dublin, Ireland where we’ll investigate the unsolved and enduring case of the stolen Irish Crown Jewels.

117. Historical Sleuths | Tamam Shud Case Apr 06, 2021

This season of Laughs from the Past is presented by Kushy Dreams. Go to https://kushydreams.com and use promo code 'LAUGHS' for 20% off your next order

In this episode of Laughs from the Past, we’re going to venture into the outback and take a look at one of the more profound John Does in police history - the notorious Tamam Shud case.

116. Historical Sleuths | The Mystery of Cicada 3301 Mar 30, 2021

This season of Laughs from the Past is presented by Kushy Dreams. Go to https://kushydreams.com and use promo code 'LAUGHS' for 20% off your next order.

In today’s episode of Laughs from the Past, we’ll investigate the mysterious organization known as Cicada 3301 that popped up around 2012 only to vanish without a trace after five years of cryptic, coded messages.

115. Historical Sleuths | The Disappearance of the Mary Celeste Mar 23, 2021

This season of Laughs from the Past is presented by Kushy Dreams. Go to https://kushydreams.com and use promo code 'LAUGHS' for 20% off your next order

We’ll spend the first half of today’s episode telling the story of the mysterious disappearance of Mary Celeste, and then we’ll put our detective hats on and conduct an investigation of our own.

114. Heists | The 300 Million Yen Robbery Sep 01, 2020

300 million Yen stolen from a Japanese bank.

Who do you think did it?

The obvious answer for many would be to point to a group like the Yakuza. A large, dangerous transnational crime syndicate with the capability of stealing this much money from a highly secure Japanese bank in the streets of Tokyo.

But as we’ve learned throughout this season, some of the most daring heists have been performed by some of the most surprising people.

113. Little Laughs | How a Drunk Baker Survived the Titanic Aug 20, 2020

Charles Joughin was arguably the last person aboard the Titanic when it sank into the frigid waters of the North Atlantic ocean on April 15, 1912. Yet somehow, the ship’s chief baker survived for hours in the subzero temperatures until he found a lifeboat.

What allowed him to stay so calm and live through one of history’s biggest disasters? To answer that, we have to go into the detail of what Joughin experienced on that fateful day.

112. Heists | The Great Train Robbery Aug 18, 2020

There was nothing remarkable about the train traveling from Glasgow. The 12 cars powered by a single diesel locomotive made up a mobile post office known as the Up Special. It was carrying postal staff who sorted mail and packages en route to London as it had done every night without incident for 125 years. It was completely unremarkable -- that is, until the night of Aug. 8, 1963.

111. Little Laughs | The Unbelievable Story of Juan Pujol García Aug 13, 2020

After World War II, a critical MI5 spy named Juan Pujol Garcia faked his own death, keeping it secret for almost four decades. And that’s not even the most interesting thing about him.

Welcome to Little Laughs, and today we’re talking about the unbelievable story of Spanish nationalist turned amatuer spy turned top British intelligence agent, Juan Pujol García.

110. Heists | First US Bank Robbery Aug 11, 2020

For the fifth episode of the 'Heists' season, we are taking back in time to an episode from the first season of Laughs from the Past. Let's take a look at the first bank robbery in U.S. history.

109. Little Laughs | War Animals Aug 06, 2020

Humans have enlisted animals to help fight their wars since prehistoric times, and some of the world’s earliest historical sources tell of battles between ancient warlords in horse-drawn chariots. Dogs and horses were probably the first animals used in war, and many are still used today. But, an even wider range of creatures have been used to fight human battles throughout history. Today we will discuss some of the most bizarre historical uses of animals in war.

108. Heists | The Great Brinks Robbery Aug 04, 2020

The perfect pilferage. The stickup of the century. The heist of all history.

Call it what you want, every true thief dreams of that one flawless, in-and-out, set-for-life job. And on January 17, 1950, for one night in Boston, it all came together.

Months of meticulous planning. Perfectly made custom keys. Ingenious outfits. This robbery had it all.

In episode four of our heists season, we’ll tell the story of the Great Brinks Robbery of 1950. Who was involved? How did they pull off the near-perfect theft? And what happened afterwards?

107. Little Laughs | Cher Ami: The Hero Pigeon of WWI Jul 30, 2020

In 1918, a division of U.S. troops found themselves caught behind German lines. They were trapped, helpless and unable to call for backup. The only thing that could save them was a bird. Cher Ami, a carrier pigeon, became remembered as a hero of World War 1.

106. Heists | Mona Lisa Heist Conspiracy Jul 28, 2020

You don’t have to be an art historian to be familiar with Mona Lisa. It’s the most famous painting in the world.

But why is this painting so popular? Maybe because it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci and maybe because of her mysterious smile.

It was painted in the early 16th century but it was made famous worldwide thanks to a daring burglary over 100 years ago. Vincenzo Peruggia was the man responsible for making the Mona Lisa what it is today.

105. Little Laughs | The Race to the South Pole Jul 23, 2020

It was mid-January 1912, and the 43-year-old Royal Navy officer was nearly 800 miles into a journey to one of the last unexplored places on the globe: the South Pole. Scott’s five-man party had already endured brushes with blizzards and frostbite during their trek. They were now less than 80 miles from the finish line, but a single question still loomed over their progress: would they be the first group of men in history to reach the South Pole, or the second?

104. Heists | The Great Gold Robbery of 1855 Jul 21, 2020

In 1855, Wild West outlaws were in their prime. Cowboys had been looting banks and trains for decades now and the art of the heist was being forged. Across the pond, some Brits were catching on to the evolving world of thievery and decided to craft their own plot.

The goal? To break into the South Eastern Railway train in London, steal the 1 million dollars worth of gold on board, and escape the scene leaving no trail of a robbery. Let’s find out if they were able to pull it off, in today's episode on “The Great Gold Robbery of 1855”.

103. Little Laughs | The World's Dumbest Naval Attack Jul 16, 2020

At the start of the 20th century, the Russo-Japanese War would break out as the result of both trying to expand their empires. Striking first, Japan would corner and defeat the Russian Far Eastern Fleet in Port Arthur in modern day China.

In response to this resounding defeat, Tsar Nicholas II authorised an unbelievable proposal from his government. Forty-five ships from the Russian Baltic Fleet would sail 18,000 miles around the world from its bases in northern Europe to defeat the Japanese navy and relieve the trapped Russian ships.

From the outset the expedition was doomed to failure, rendering it one of the greatest naval follies of history.

102. Heists | Thomas Blood Steals the Crown Jewels Jul 14, 2020

The Crown Jewels of England and Scotland. Passed down over 800 years of monarchy, they continually represented the power and stability of the English crown.

The ultimate heist material.

In 1671, Thomas Blood would attempt just this, in one of the most infamous heist attempts in history, Blood’s cunning long con would end in one explosive day. In our inaugural episode of Laugh from the Past’s heists season, we’ll tell the story of an attempt to steal the most invaluable objects in the western world.

101. Little Laughs | How an Acrobat Survived the Hindenburg Crash Jul 09, 2020

May 6th, 1927 in Manchester, New Jersey the LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and crashed into the earth. Of the 97 passengers, 62 survived, but only one survived by hanging onto the side of the craft as it plummeted to the ground. That man happened to be a gymnast and acrobatic. This is the story of Joseph Spah.

100. 100th Episode Special | Best of Laughs from the Past Jul 07, 2020

We made it! From the civil war to unanswered mysteries to famous children, wacky cults, the wild west, and much more we've reached 100 episodes. In this 100th episode special, we reminisced on some of the greater moments from Laughs from the Past History.

99. Little Laughs | Lobster Boy: Circus Performer Turned Murderer Jul 02, 2020

It all began with the birth of William Stiles in 1805. A rare genetic defect, called ectrodactyly, caused the boys’ fingers and toes to become fused together to form ‘claw-like extremities’. This condition would persist across generations of the Stiles family, who would learn to capitalize on their misfortune by joining the circus, profiting off popular freakshows. Their success and reputation continued to grow into the mid 1900’s, that is until Grady Stiles (or Lobster Boy) would single handedly tarnish the Stiles Family reputation, leaving him with a bullet in his head.

98. Wild West | The O.K. Corral Jun 30, 2020

The Shootout at the O.K Corral is perhaps the most classic tale of cops and robbers in the Wild West. Yet, over 100 years later our memory of that day is often romanticized and there is still much up for debate. Were the Earp brothers truly noble lawmen who sought to tame the Wild West OR merely brutal vigilantes who committed a small-town a massacre?

97. Little Laughs | The Voynich Manuscript Jun 25, 2020

Imagine you were chilling in the 1400s. It’s the midst of the dark ages, and your life is probably pretty dull. Because of the bubonic plague, average life expectancy has now dipped to below 40, and you want to leave a lasting impact on the world. A mysterious legacy that will leave generations of people obsessively studying your work, with no solution in sight.

The result? The Voynich Manuscript.

96. Wild West | Butch Cassidy Jun 23, 2020

The most successful train robber of the Wild West. Leader of the “Wild Bunch.” Originator of the Hole-in-the-Wall Hideout.

Butch Cassidy, truly a Wild West legend in life, and death. But perhaps there’s even more to his story than meets the eye.

In today’s episode of Laughs from the Past, we’ll dive into the remarkable story of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, two of the most successful, well-liked, and ingenious outlaws of the Wild West.

95. Little Laughs | Vassilis The Uncatchable Jun 18, 2020

Zeus. Poseidon. Apollo. Athena. These are the legendary gods of Greek mythology. But there’s one more you’ve never heard of.

He’s known as The Uncatchable. A modern-day criminal Robin Hood. His name is Vassilis Palaiokostas, and he is the only person in history to break out of maximum-security prison. Twice. Using a helicopter. And he’s still on the run.

94. Wild West | The Bloody Benders Jun 16, 2020

October of 1870 in Labette County, Kansas was a curious time. If you had passed through, you would have likely met a family of spiritualists known as the Benders. They operated a general store along the Great Osage trail. Travelers could stop by for goods, a meal, or even spend the night. It was, for many, quite the welcome sight.

But what was truly happening inside that seemingly warm general store, staffed by a welcoming family always offering to take in travelers, was much darker.

93. Little Laughs | Project Coldfeet Jun 11, 2020

Welcome to Little Laughs! The new series where we take shorter dives into historical stories that are just as bizarre. It's the same Laughs from the Past you love, condensed into 20 minute episodes. Today’s inaugural episode dives into the wild story of Cold War era CIA invention and the true tale of its first and only use in the Arctic.

92. Wild West | The Bascom Affair Jun 09, 2020

In the mid 1800’s, there was growing conflict between Apache Tribes and American settlers that were moving deeper into the Southwest region. These tensions would eventually boil over and result in a 75 year period of raids, battles and abductions called the Apache Wars. Yet, the relationships between the Apaches and incoming settlers wasn’t always hostile. In today's episode, we’ll take a look at what is widely considered the sole spark of the Apache Wars, the Bascom Affair. A story of lies, incompetence, and bloodshed.

91. Wild West | Jesse James & The Great Northfield Raid Jun 02, 2020

Jesse James may be the most prolific outlaw in America’s history, but he did not act on his own. Accompanied with his brother, Jesse formed the infamous James-Younger gang that would wreak havoc on banks and trains from Texas to Minnesota, and everywhere in between. In less than a decade the gang would unleash a barrage of over 20 robberies, netting a profit of over 200k dollars. That’s 4.5 million in today’s money. However, all of this would come to an end during the Great Northfield Raid, where the gang discovered that Minnesotans fight back.

90. Wild West | America's First Serial Killer May 26, 2020

In today’s episode of Laughs From The Past, we’ll dive into a little-talked about story of Mexican-American relations and a violent frontier society—culminating in a murderous spree that sent the people of the Colorado Territory into a panic in the spring of 1863.The Wild West was truly wild. Welcome to America’s first serial killer, folks.

89. Wild West | Annie Oakley May 19, 2020

If you had visited the Darke County Infirmary around 1869, you would probably not have spared a second glance at the dark-haired, unassuming 9-year-old girl many referred to as “Annie". Yet, this little girl would go on to become the national celebrity of the late Wild West. As the preeminent star of Buffalo Bull’s Wild West show, this formerly unassuming girl would go on to win numerous sharpshooting medals, performing for royalty and surging crowds alike. Get your shootin’ ears ready folks.

88. Wild West | The Donner Party (part 2) May 12, 2020

It’s the winter of 1847 in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and the Donnor party is stranded in the vicinity of Truckee Lake. The various families are separately camped in a number of old hunting cabins, with some of them separated by nearly a day’s trek

Survival is bleak.

87. Wild West | The Donner Party (part 1) May 05, 2020

On a mountain slope deep in the wilderness, a terrible scene plays out. A party of 13 people stumble through the 12-foot snow drifts, crudely fashioned snowshoes clinging to their feet as they over the snow and around the trees. The majority of them are suffering from snow blindness, barely able to see more than a few feet in front of them. Upon closer inspection an even more horrible image emerges. Various chunks of meat, frozen rock solid, are slung on people’s backs, tied to their clothing, and dragged in the snow behind them. But this is no animal meat…

86. Wild West | 'Wild Bill' Hickok Apr 28, 2020

From simple beginnings in Illinois, the legendary gunfighter would become a legend synonymous with the Wild West. James Butler ‘Wild Bill Hickok’ was a folk hero of the American Old West known for his work across the frontier as a drover, wagon master, soldier, spy, scout, lawman, gunfighter, gambler, showman, and actor. In this episode of LFTP we’ll attempt to discover if ‘Wild Bill’ was truly a wild outlaw or a misunderstood peacekeeper and learn of the raucous events that led to his eventual and mysterious demise.

85. Wild West | The Crash at Crush Apr 21, 2020

On September 15, 1896; Crush, Texas (a town created only a few weeks before) would become the second largest town in all of Texas. One week later, it would not exist. The man responsible was William Crush, a Texas railway agent, who took advantage of the lack of entertainment in Texas and came up with a new marketing scheme that would bring tens of thousands of Americans to rural Texas. It was to be a spectacular 19th Century publicity stunt with a carefree carnival atmosphere. Little did he know how explosive the event would be. It ended in explosions, flying metal and death.

84. Wild West | Sam Bass Apr 14, 2020

The Wild West is an era made famous by its many outlaws. Names like Billy the Kid, Wyatt Earp, and Calamity Jane are still remembered for their tales of robbery, gunfighting and murder. One name that is often forgotten is Sam Bass. This Indiana orphan would go on to lead the “Bass Gang”, a posse of bandits that sought to perfect the art of train robbery. Bass treated thieving as a sport, this unbreakable addiction would later prompt the “Bass War” and “Round Rock Shootout” where Texas Rangers and the Bass Gang face one another head to head.

83. Wild West | The Alamo Apr 07, 2020

Some call it a cruel massacre. Others term it a heroic last stand. Some argue it was the ultimate sacrifice that helped to inspire the Americans to victory in the Texas-American War.

All of it may be up for debate.

But what we do know is that the Battle of the Alamo was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution—and its legacy continues to live on in American minds today. In the second episode of our Wild West season, we’ll dive into the Texas Revolution, the legendary characters defending the Alamo, and the bloody last battle of the fort.

82. Wild West | Billy The Kid Mar 31, 2020

A cattle rustler, cowboy, gambler, horse thief, outlaw, and murderer, Henry McCarty—better known as Billy the Kid—epitomizes the Wild West era. With at least 8 “confirmed” murders before his untimely death at only 21, an orphan born in the Irish slums of New York City rose to become one of the most notorious figures of the Wild West. In the first episode of our Wild West season, we’ll examine how Billy the Kid went from robbing Chinese laundromats to becoming one of the most sought-after gunslingers of the era.

81. Cults | The Source Family Mar 24, 2020

The story of a hippie cult centered around a Los Angeles vegetarian restaurant sounds destined for infamy, but the Source Family has largely remained unknown. The countercultural tale of Father Yod , his restaurant on Sunset Boulevard, and his rock band-turned-cult remains one of the most fascinating anecdotes of the new age. However, it begs the question: How does a group of hippie vegans become a free-loving cult who will follow their leader anywhere... except off a cliff?

80. Cults | The Branch Davidians Mar 17, 2020

The Branch Davidians may be one of the longest-running cults on our list, established in the early 1930’s. After decades of shifting power, the Davidians would find themselves bunkered down in their commune in Waco, Texas. FBI and ATF agents charged their grounds firing assault rifles, hoisting ladders onto the roof, throwing tear gas grenades, and crushing their cars with tanks. On this episode, we will find out what led up to this all-out war in the middle of nowhere Texas.

79. Cults | People's Temple Mar 10, 2020

One of the most infamous cult-related events to ever occur involves a man named Jim Jones and his new religious movement termed, “The Peoples Temple”. This racially focused, communist cult claimed to reach a massive 20,000 members and could gather as many as 3,000 members with as little as 6 hours notice. As they grew in size and scope they were forced to accommodate as they bounced around in California before landing in Guyana in 1974. It was here that the United States experienced the single greatest loss of American civilian life until 9/11.

78. Cults | Aum Shinrikyo (Aum Supreme Truth Cult) Feb 11, 2020

Aum Shinrikyo, have you ever heard of them? This Japanese doomsday cult was founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984 and was operating as recently as 2005. This dangerous and massive cult brought together the ideals of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and most importantly yoga. To no surprise, they also took part in their fair share of hallucinogenic drugs. However, they would later begin creating their own, not so fun, drugs that would dismantle their group and land 16 members the death penalty. Im Jake blah blah blah

77. Cults | Heavens Gate Feb 04, 2020

People often ask, “What could make cults more interesting than they already are?”. Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles certainly had a good answer to that question and they turned their idea into a reality through the Heavens Gate Cult. The cult made famous through their journey to board an extraterrestrial spacecraft in 1974. Evil space aliens, ancient astronauts and flying saucers.

76. Cults | The Manson Family Jan 28, 2020

The Manson Family was a desert commune and cult active in California in the late 1960s and early 1970s which was led by Charles Manson. The group consisted of approximately 100 of his followers who lived an unconventional lifestyle with habitual use of hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD. So how did these sex having, drug-taking cult become a household name? In this episode, we will dive into how Charles Manson infamous cult and how one of the most absurd trials in history played out.

75. Baseball’s Greatest Legends | Dock Ellis Throws a No-Hitter on LSD Jan 14, 2020

Dock Ellis stood at the mound 6 foot 3, armed with a mean fastball. Throughout the course of his career, he suited up for 5 ball clubs and concluded his 12 years in the big leagues with a 3.46 ERA and 1 no-hitter. However, years after that no-hitter Ellis’s popularity peaked when admitted to the public that he had accomplished the feat while tripping on LSD. On this episode, we will dive into the events of that day in 1970 as well as the game 4 years later where he attempted to hit every player on the Cincinnati Reds.

74. Baseball’s Greatest Legends | The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Jan 07, 2020

When the United States entered World War II every able-bodied man was expected to volunteer for the war effort. Some of the most renowned names in baseball volunteered - Ted Williams, Stan Musial, and Joe DiMaggio all served. During these years the MLB suffered a serious loss of talent. In response, women stepped up to the plate to fill the void in professional baseball and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was founded. This league produced stars like Dorothy Kamenshek who have had a lasting impact on women’s sports.

73. Baseball’s Greatest Legends | Moe Berg:The Spy Behind Home Plate Dec 17, 2019

Moe Berg was many things. A Princeton Grad, a speaker of 10 languages and a Major League Catcher but the title that draws the most attention is likely as an undercover spy during the height of WW2. On this episode we will learn how this genius ballplayer played a massive role in Europe as a member of the OSS and how he was able to supply the United States with vital photographs from behind enemy lines.

72. Baseball’s Greatest Legends | The Secret Language of Baseball Dec 10, 2019

We were joined by Craig Calcaterra, baseball writer for NBC sports and history enthusiast, to discuss the origin of the many signs used during a baseball game.

71. Baseball’s Greatest Legends | The Great Bambino Dec 03, 2019

The Sultan of Swat, The King of Crash, The Colossus of Clout, THE GREAT BAMBINO! These are just a few of the nicknames of George Herman “Babe” Ruth. The babe terrorized the MLB for 22 seasons, accumulating 714 home runs, 2214 RBI’s, and a lifetime .342 batting average. If those numbers are too old school for you, how does 182 Wins Above Replacement and a career 1.164 OPS sound? But the Babe is remembered almost as much for his exploits off the field as his performance on it.

70. Baseball’s Greatest Legends | The Woman Who Struck Out Babe Ruth & Played For A Cult Nov 26, 2019

Jackie Mitchell was a strong woman with curves so impressive they made headlines: her nasty curveball, dubbed a “drop ball”, would win her a place in baseball history. She was one of the first women to play professional baseball and struck out two Yankee legends in an exhibition game. Yet, her career wouldn’t end there - she would later go on to pitch for a team with a literal cult following.

69. Baseball’s Greatest Legends | Gambling in Baseball Nov 19, 2019

Baseball and gambling have been intertwined from the earliest of days. In this episode, we’ll dive into two of the most notorious gambling events in baseball history. The Louisville Gray’s 1877 Scandal and The Gambling Riot of 1917.

68. Baseball’s Greatest Legends | The Dead Ball Era Nov 12, 2019

Early 20th century major league baseball had spit balls, shine balls, mud balls, emery balls, and even juiced balls - which were all a part of the well known dead ball era.

67. Baseballs Greatest Legends | The Myth of the Man Behind Baseball Nov 05, 2019

Have you ever heard of Abner Doubleday? Despite having baseball stadiums named after him, we will find that Doubleday had nearly zero contribution to the sport we love. So who was Abner Doubleday, where did this myth evolve from and who really did invent baseball?

66. Backfires | The Fall of Blockbuster Sep 10, 2019

It will go down as one of the biggest missed opportunities in the boardroom: Blockbuster deciding not to buy Netflix.

65. Backfires | Prohibition in The United States Aug 27, 2019

Prohibition is one of the biggest backfires in American history. Everything and everything went wrong.

64. Backfires | Rockefeller and the Cannibals Aug 20, 2019

Q: What happens when the wealthiest of the civilized world meet the poorest of the primitive world?

A: Some crazy shit.

63. Backfires | Ten Cent Beer Night at the Cleveland Indians Game Aug 13, 2019

The Indians hosted a 10-cent beer night in 1975 and it was mayhem. The bases were stolen. Fights were had. Streakers streaked. The game had to be forfeited.

62. Backfires | Scottish Border Reivers Invade England Aug 06, 2019

Scottish border reivers invaded England in 1349, during the height of the Black Death. They believed it to be Gods punishment upon the English, and saw an opportunity to strike while the English population dwindled. It didn't pan out.

61. Backfires | The NBA-ABA Merger Jul 30, 2019

In 1976, The National Basketball Association (NBA) merged with its rival, the American Basketball Association (ABA). This move transitioned 4 successful franchises, the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Ner York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs into a single league and began to fill the void in areas not served by the 10-city NBA. The NBA used the ABA’s ability to market players and created a more fast-paced entertaining game. Little did they know they would be paying a price for this deal over the next 30+ years.

60. Backfires | The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand Jul 23, 2019

In 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne, began a trip to Bosnia-Herzegovena. Who could have known that one wrong turn from his driver is what would ultimately lead to his assassination that day. This lone lethal bullet launched a series of events that had never been seen before. In the end, 17 million people would die as 32 countries across the globe battled it out. This may be the most extreme backfire of all time.

59. Backfires | The Assassination of Julius Caesar Jul 16, 2019

In the year 44 BC, Julius Caesar, Rome’s self-proclaimed, ‘Dictator For Life’ was assassinated by his very own Senate. The assassins celebrated as the Roman Empire was finally free of Caesar, who they saw as the ‘unstable dictator bringing the downfall of Rome’. To their surprise, the citizens of Rome did not share this distaste for the once ruler. In the end, the Senate's actions decided the fate of their own lives as well as the entire Roman Empire.

58. Backfires | Ghengis Khan Destroys the Khwarazmian Empire Jul 09, 2019

Ghengis Khan is often thought of as the most brutal and savage of all ancient conquerors. He rose to power by uniting the nomadic tribes of East Asia and launching gruesome invasions. However, this reputation did not scare Inalchuq, the governor of the Khwarazmian Empire. For when Ghengis sent a caravan of men carrying goods for trade, Inalchuq ordered his army to attack. This decision backfired like no other.

57. Backfires | The Great Hanoi Rat Massacre of 1902 Jul 02, 2019

Find out what happened when the French tried to civilize Hanoi by building a sewage system that became a breeding ground for rats who went on to overtake the city.

56. Children in History | King Tut Jun 25, 2019

King Tut reigned from 9 years old until his death at 19. His successors erased him from all the history books but in 1922 his tomb was found and his legend grew.

55. Children in History | The Little Giants of Montterey (1957 LLWS) Jun 18, 2019

Today we talked about the 1957 little league team from Monterrey, Mexico. They didn't even know the Little League World Series existed but went on to win the whole damn thing.

54. Children in History | The Ride of Sybil Ludington Jun 11, 2019

Nearly everyone has heard of the midnight ride of Paul Revere. That's mainly because Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem about it soon after it happened. But far fewer people know that two years later a sixteen-year-old girl rode much farther of rougher roads. Alone and unarmed, Sybil Ludington raced through the night for freedom.

53. Children in History | Warsaw Girls Basketball Breaks Boundaries Jun 04, 2019

This was one of the cooler stories we've done. The triumph of a girls basketball team going from 0 support from anyone to parades and pep rallies. Guaranteed chills.

52. Children in History | 12-Year-Old World War Two Soldier May 21, 2019

Calvin Graham lived a fast life. At 12 years old he was sent to the Pacific theatre to fight against the Japanese army.

51. Children in History | 15 Year Old Professional Baseball Players May 14, 2019

World War II touched everything - even baseball. When shiploads of major league players went off to war, President Franklin Roosevelt thought about stopping professional baseball until the war ended. But then he decided the game meant too much to too many people to take it away. The games went on, and major league baseball scouts looked in unusual places for players. Including junior high school. During this time two 15-year-old kids made their debut as professional baseball players.

50. Children in History | Saved By A Game of Marbles, James Forten Story May 07, 2019

in 1776, the year the Declaration of Independence was signed, one of every six Americans was of African ancestry. Ninety-nine percent of them were slaves. James Foretn was one of about two hundred free blacks living in Philadelphia. He was fourteen years old in 1780 when he fought against the British.

49. Children in History | The Newsboys Strike of 1899 Apr 30, 2019

In 1899 Pulitzer and Hears, the two kings of the newspaper world started charging the newsboys more for their paper thinking the children couldn't do anything to stop it. They were wrong. The kids formed a union and went on strike.

48. Historical Mysteries | DB Cooper Apr 23, 2019

A man hijacked a plane. Demanded cash. Then jumped out of the plane and was never seen again. It's the most fascinating heist and mystery going. We talked about the crime, the search, and the suspects.

47. Historical Mysteries | Escape from Alcatraz Apr 16, 2019

They say no prisoner ever successfully escaped from Alcatraz. We don't believe them.

46. Historical Mysteries| Who Shot Huey Long Apr 09, 2019

He was a superstar of Depression Era politics, a fiery speaker known as “The Kingfish.” His name was Huey Long. He was a national figure, and there was serious talk of a run for the Presidency in 1936. He was fatally wounded by a gunshot on September 8th, 1935. Many believe an opponents son murdered him. Others say it was his bodyguard who accidentally shot him.

45. Historical Mysteries| The Hagley Wood Murder Apr 02, 2019

One Sunday morning in April 1943, during the dark days of WW2, four teenage boys found the remains of a woman inside the hollow base of a Wych Elm tree. After years of silence, word began getting out that the women was a Nazi spy! Or a witch!

44. Historical Mysteries| Why did Benedict Arnold Turn Traitor? Mar 26, 2019

We all know that Benedict Arnold is a synonym for traitor these days. But do we know who Benedict was and why he turned traitor? Some historians think we'll never know the true motivation.

43. Historical Mysteries| Did Pocahontas Save John Smith? Mar 19, 2019

According to John Smith, he was captured and prepared to be slaughtered by Chief Powhatan and the Tsenacommacah tribe when just at the last moment, 11-year-old Pocahontas jumped on top of his body to save his life.

42. Historical Mysteries| Was Amelia Earhart A Spy Mar 12, 2019

The theories that surround the disappearance are endless. We're focusing more on the mission than the disappearance. Did FDR use the trip around the globe as a spy mission?

41. Historical Mysteries| How did Meriwether Lewis Die? Mar 05, 2019

In September 1806 Meriwether Lewis along with William Clark received a hero's welcome as he entered St. Louis. At 33, Lewis was a national hero. Just three years later he was dead, shot twice in a small cabin in the Tennessee wilderness. Who shot him has been one of the longest lingering murder mysteries in American history.

40. Historical Mysteries| Were the Rosenbergs Guilty? Feb 26, 2019

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were American citizens who spied, with others, for the Soviet Union and were tried and convicted, They were the only spies executed during the Cold War and some question whether their sentence was fair.

39. Historical Mysteries| How Did Davy Crocket Die? Feb 19, 2019

Davy Crocket was a politician and famous American Frontiersman. After losing an election he fled to Texas to join the revolution and soldiers protecting the Alamo. We know that he died in the battle of The Alamo but we don't know how.

38. Historical Mysteries| The Tunguska Event Feb 12, 2019

On 30 June 1908, an explosion ripped through the air above a remote forest in Siberia, near the Podkamennaya Tunguska river. The fireball depleted 2,000 sq km of the taiga forest, flattening about 80 million trees and no one can say for certain what it was.

37. Historical Mysteries| Who Killed The Lindbergh Baby? Feb 05, 2019

On March 1, 1932, the crime of the century was committed. Charles Lindbergh, one of the most famous men in America's son was stolen out of his crib. A ransom was paid but the baby was never returned. Two years later Bruno Richard Hauptmann was arrested, convicted and put to death for the crime but many have their doubts on what actually happened.

36. Historical Mysteries| Did Babe Ruth Call His Shot? Jan 29, 2019

The greatest legend in all of the sports. In game 3 of the world series, and the score tied up 4 runs apiece, Babe Ruth, with two strikes on him, reached out and called his shot before hitting the go-ahead home run on the next pitch. Or did he?

35. Historical Mysteries| The Lost Colony of Roanoke Jan 22, 2019

Roanoke Colony, also known as the Lost Colony, was the first attempt at founding a permanent English settlement in North America. Then the entire colony was never seen again.

34. Historical Mysteries| The Dyatlov Pass incident Jan 15, 2019

In 1959 a group of skiers were found dead in the middle of the mountain. The group was spread out. Some with brute force trauma. Some with no clothes. Some with clothes full of radiation. The tent was ripped from the inside. No one knows what happened. Until now... we figured it out.

33. The Civil War Recap & Season 3 Announcement Jan 08, 2019

A little recap of season 2 and the announcement for season 3.

32. The Civil War | Christmas & Snow Ball Fights Dec 18, 2018

The Civil War sparked Christmas as we know it. It also had a 10,000 man snowball fight take place between two regiments.

31. The Civil War | Stonewall Jackson Dec 11, 2018

Jackson is a really fun character from history. A self-aware literalist, a devout Christian and an intense warrior.

30. The Civil War | Confederate Submarines Dec 04, 2018

The Union set up a blockade around the Confederate states stopping any and all shipments from coming in. The Confederacy used Blockade runners and submarines in an attempt to get through the blockade.

29. The Civil War | Prisoners of War Nov 27, 2018

How did the prisoners of war work? What were the exchanges like? What were the conditions in POW camps? When did straws get invented?

28. The Civil War | Thanksgiving & Fist Fights Nov 20, 2018

How the Civil War helped create Thanksgiving as we know it and the other fun history surrounding the holiday. Two fistfights that took place. One in Congress between senators and one in the middle of the battle of the Wilderness.

27. The Civil War | The 3 Cigars of Antietam Nov 13, 2018

The battle of Antietam was a major turning point in the war. It led to a leadership change for the North and freedom for the slaves and it all came down to a Union soldier finding 3 cigars in a field.

26. The Civil War | Music! Music Everywhere! The Bands of the Civil War Nov 06, 2018

Robert E Lee once said, "I don't think we could have an army without music". One in every forty-one soldiers was a member of a band during the early years of the war. It was a giant touring concert!

25. The Civil War | Battle of Bull Run, Spectators & Home Invasions Oct 30, 2018

The first land battle of the Civil war was attended by civilians that walked to the field to watch. It also came to the front door of Wilmer McLean, who then moved away only to have the war catch up with him again 4 years later.

24. The Civil War| John Brown & Raid on Harpers Ferry Oct 23, 2018

Crazy terrorist or hero abolitionist? On today's episode, we talk about John Brown, his life and his raid on Harpers Ferry, which was a major spark in the Civil War beginning.

23. The Civil War | Camels, Siamese twins, Elephants, and More fun stories Oct 16, 2018

The first episode of Season 2, which will be all about the wild and bizarre stories that came from the Civil War.

In this episode, we've got camels, elephants, eagles, and Siamese twins. Instructor vs student in a battle, brothers on opposite sides, why the armies wore the colors they wore and much more.

22. Rockefeller And The Cannibals Oct 09, 2018

Q: What happens when the wealthiest of the civilized world meet the poorest of the primitive world?

A: Some crazy shit.

21. Man Masterminds the Virginia Lottery Oct 02, 2018

How did a Romanian living in Australia win the Virginia Lottery?

20. From Prostitute to Pirate, The Ching Shih Story Sep 25, 2018

An incredible journey from being a prostitute on a floating brothel to the leader of Pirate army 80 thousand people strong.

19. Operation Mincemeat Sep 18, 2018

Yet another trick play from World War Two. When the Allies invaded Europe from Africa they needed to make sure the Germans weren't expecting them. They put together an operation so crazy that it was bound to work.

18. The Incas Get Conquered Sep 11, 2018

How did a group of 200 Spaniards conquer a civilization of 80,000 people? What happened afterward? It's a pretty ridiculous story.

17. Coffee and the Pope Sep 04, 2018

Did the people demand that the Pope condemn coffee? They did! Did the Pope condemn it? Click to find out! (or wonder if you've ever seen a Catholic drinking the devil's mud, have you (you have!)

16. The Deadly Eruption of Mount Pelée Aug 28, 2018

In May of 1902, election season was heating up on the Caribbean island of Martinique. So was the island volcano, Mount Pelée. It was belching smoke and fire. The Governor feared losing if all the wealthy left town so he told everyone it was safe and put barricaded on the roads. All time bad guy move.

15. Worlds Largest Diamond Aug 21, 2018

In 1905 the worlds largest dime was found in South Africa. From there we have a story that involves a decoy, a man fainting and a dumb gift.

14. First US Bank Robbery Aug 14, 2018

In 1798, the first US Bank Robbery took place in the city of Philadephia and in the midst of a yellow fever epidemic. We've got innocent suspects, guilty parties and every shade of gray you can find.

13. The Children Crusades Aug 09, 2018

We were joined by Kaity to talk about The Children Crusade of 1212, which promises to be the least uplifting tale you will hear this month.

12. Roy Sullivan, The Spark Ranger Jul 31, 2018

Meet Roy Sullivan, AKA 'The Spark Ranger', a park ranger who was suposedly struck by lighting seven times.

11. Ben Franklin Jul 24, 2018

Was Ben Franklin a creep? Was he a fame whore? Did he invent the Rocking Chair and a musical instrument that got banned in Germany? Did he have a million pseudonyms that he did creepy stuff with? Did he mock a dead rival? Click play to find out!

10. Teddy Roosevelt Gets Shot Jul 17, 2018

Before a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Theodore Roosevelt, the presidential candidate for the Progressive Party, is shot at close range by saloonkeeper John Schrank while greeting the public in front of the Gilpatrick Hotel.

9. Mad Jack Churchill Jul 10, 2018

Mad Jack Churchill was the only man to kill another man with a bow and arrow during World War II. He walked into battle with bagpipes, a bow and arrow and a broadsword. He was the most interesting man in the world.

8. 1904 Men's Marathon Jul 03, 2018

The Men's Marathon in the 1904 Olympics was held in St Louis and was chockful of characters and wild stories. Cheating, sleeping, dogs, cars, severe illnesses and everything else you've never seen in an Olympic marathon before.

7. Shortest War In History Jun 26, 2018

When the Sultan of Zanzibar's cousin decided it was his time for glory he overthrew the Sultan and took up arms against England setting up the scene for the shortest war in history.

6. Ghost Army Of WWII Jun 19, 2018

Tricks and Pranks from WWII. Germany was fooled often by an allied special unit called the Ghost Army. The Allies also snuck laxatives into a German submarines food supply. What fun!

5. Abe Lincoln The Troll Finds Himself In A Duel Jun 12, 2018

When Abe didn't agree with a political rival he took to the paper as an anonymous troll and mocked the man. This didn't go over well and led to the future president accepting a duel.

4. Sacred Band Of Thebes Jun 05, 2018

Famed for both its fighting ability and its unusual makeup, the Sacred Band consisted of 300 soldiers who all had something in common. They were gay. This one-of-a-kind unit consisted of 150 homosexual couples.

3. Dancing Plague Of 1518 May 26, 2018

The year was 1518 and they were dancing like cockroaches on fire! But for real, they danced so much they danced themselves to death. How? When? Why??? We get into it.

2. Mike 'the Durable' Malloy May 26, 2018

It was 1932 in the Bronx. The depression was going full force and prohibition had been going on for 12 years. A couple of bar buddies decided to kill the local drunk and some money on the insurance policy. The only probably was, Mike Malloy refused to die, no matter what they did to him.

1. Four Pest Campaign May 23, 2018

In 1958 the Chinese government put a plan in motion to rid the country of four main pests. They mobilized the public to kill each and every rat, mosquito, fly, and sparrow. It did not go well.

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