Sofa King Podcast

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Episode 650: Snakes: On A Mothaf*ckin’ Podcast! Apr 12, 2022

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On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we look at the animal that even makes Indian Jones’ skin crawl—snakes. Found through all of human mythology, this slithery mother can represent medicine and healing or Satan and destruction. It is an animal so radically different than humans, that it might as well be an alien. It has senses we can’t imagine, is a ruthless killer, and is a primal fear in much of the human population. So, what are the most deadly snakes? Where are they found? What exactly is snake wine, and where (and why) do you drink it? What country has the most snake deaths, and why is antivenom one of the craziest medicines to produce? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/adder https://www.livescience.com/deadliest-snakes.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes_in_mythology https://www.history.com/news/snake-symbol-history-mythology

A Sofa King Classic: JFK Part One Life Apr 08, 2022

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This episode of The Sofa King Podcast is Part One of our discussion on the life, politics, policies, and death of the amazing John Fitzgerald Kennedy. JFK was one of the most beloved president of the United States, and his administration was often considered to be the “Golden Age” of America that many people called Camelot. Kennedy was the son of a wealthy business man who had alleged ties to the mob and illegal alcohol-running during prohibition. His legitimate businesses, however, set the Kennedy family up for a life of prosperity and prestige. JFJ, also known as Jack, was a sickly child and had chronic back problems through his life. He also was a screw-up at school, more interested in pranks and flirting than his formal education. All that changed, however, when he was at Harvard, and he wrote a book called Why England Slept which explored why Great Britain was unprepared for the Nazis. He used his family’s connections to let him join the Navy (something he couldn’t have done because of his back condition), and he became a war hero, saving members of his crew in pretty amazing ways in the battle of the Pacific on his boat PT-109. After the war, he married Jackie Bouvier and served time in both the House of Representatives and the Senate before finally becoming president in 1960. While president, he did pretty amazing things, helping the poor, creating the Peace Corps, and even writing the Civil Rights Act. However, he also tried to have Fidel Castro overturned by the CIA’s failed Bay of Pigs invasion, heated up the cold war, and dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Aside from his policies and the crazy era of his presidency, Jack was also known for having affairs with women. From white house employees to Marilyn Monroe and even Judith Campbell Exner (who was the mistress of Sam Giancana, the mob boss for The Chicago Outfit), he slept around. So, if you want to know about JFK, his affairs, his decision, why he was a war hero, and who he upset over the years (and possibly pushed to assassinate him), give this one a listen. Stay tuned for part two, where we talk about his assassination and the theories surrounding it. Thanks to our special guest Doctor Randal Beeman.

A Sofa King Classic: Salem Witch Trials Apr 05, 2022

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On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we explore one of the bloodiest chapters in the history of New England, the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Trials are a complex phenomenon that coupled puritanical fanaticism with fear of not only the devil, but life in the new world. The laws that led to the persecution of witches in New England date back to 1484, when Pope Innocent VIII wrote a papal bull called Summis Desiderantes Affectibus (Latin for “Desiring with supreme ardor”). This proclamation said that witches were real and were servants of the devil, and from there, witch-hunting mania was born. A few years later, The Malleus Maleficarum (aka “The Hammer of Witches”) was written by the Catholic clergyman Heinrich Kramer (and possibly a partner, the Dominican Friar Jacob Sprenger). Sprenger and Kramer were both given power by the pope to hunt and kill anyone they deemed a witch. While this sounds like the stuff of really cool video games, it more like rampant sexism and murdering women who didn’t adhere to norms of society. This backdrop of persecution for witches (especially female ones) is what the people living in Salem Village grew up in, back in 1692. At this time, 9-year-old Elizabeth Parris and 11-year-old Abigail Williams (the daughter and niece of Salem Village’s minister, Samuel Parris) started having “fits,” which included violent screaming outbursts and physical contortions of the body. Paranoia spread very rapidly, and eventually, three people were arrested as witches—a slave, an old person, and a homeless beggar. The slave, Tituba, confessed to being a witch and signing “the black man’s book,” and the witch paranoia spread. So, how many people were eventually arrested for witches? How many were killed? What methods did they use to kill them? What made the witch mania stop? Why did it get so bad in Salem Village? What brought the Salem Witch Trials to a close, and how did it involve two key literary figures and a political scandal? Listen, laugh, learn.

Black Beard: A Sofa King Classic Apr 01, 2022

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On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we discuss the wild career of the most famous pirate in history, Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard. Teach was thought to have been born in Britain but moved to Jamaica as a child. From there, he became a privateer (a pirate who worked for England) through Queen Anne’s War. After that, he used his naval skills to become one of the wildest pirates ever to set foot in the Caribbean. Teach was recruited after the war by a pirate named Captain Benjamin Hornigold, and in a very short time, he was promoted to run his own ship in this pirate fleet. Blackbeard earned his stripes and his nickname under Hornigold, and when the senior pirate retired from the life, Blackbeard was left in charge of the ships. He ran his new fleet based on fear of his growing reputation—he even lit his hair on fire before battle to look more fearsome. From there, Blackbeard went on to capture and recruit several ships, adding to his flotilla’s strength. One man, Stede Bonnet (The Gentleman Pirate) was convinced to join instead of run his plantations. Together, they accomplished one of the great feats of pirate history and took a full frigate and flagship from France. They renamed it Queen Anne’s Revenge, armed with 250 men including ex-slaves, and loaded 40 cannons on it. From that ship, Blackbeard ran a two year terror campaign, capturing over 30 ships and being a general scourge of civilized society. Unlike the typical stereotype of a pirate only being in remote waters, Blackbeard spent much of his time sacking the east coast the United States. He once famously held an entire town captive for a prolonged period of time until he could get the mayor to give his fleet medicine he needed (to cure an STD?). The story of Blackbeard is a story of allies turned enemy, cunning piracy, amazing naval tactics, and stunning victories. He died in battle, and the details of his death prove he was the badass that his reputation said he was. Listen, laugh, learn.

Mind Control and Propaganda: A Sofa King Classic Mar 30, 2022

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Mind Control, influence, and propaganda are the focus of this episode of the Sofa King Podcast. We talk about how governments and corporations try to make us loyal to their product/country using techniques that date back well before World War II. Derren Brown, the British mentalist and psychological manipulator is a prime example that we talk about. And of course, what Sofa King episode would be complete without a conspiracy? This episode’s is the CIA program from the 1950s-1970s known as MK Ultra. What was MK Ultra, and how did the maniuplate us? Tune in and find out. Some of our key topics this episode are mind control, propaganda, advertising, MK Ultra, the CIA, Derren Brown, mentalism, the propaganda/public relations master Edward Bernays, and the documentary film maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and her work documenting the Taliban.

Episode 649: Attica Prison: Rebellion, Rockefeller, and Regret Mar 25, 2022

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at one of the worst prison events in recent history, the Attica Prison Rebellion. Attica Prison, in upstate New York, was infamous for its cruel staff and correctional officers. Prisoners were given one roll of toilet paper per month, inadequate food, and were even beaten and tortured by guards. Racism was rampant, and after a fight in one yard, prisoners had said enough. They rushed some guards and took control of parts of the prison. After a well-organized negotiation and hostage situation, Governor Rockefeller ordered troops to fire, killing prisoners and hostages indiscriminately. This story has ties ranging from the black panthers to John Lennon to Richard Nixon. It’s a wild, tragic ride. Visit Our Sources: https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2021/09/08/attica-prison-riot-50-years-later/5509972001/ https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/attica-prison-uprising/ https://allthatsinteresting.com/attica-prison-riot https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/riot-at-attica-prison https://www.npr.org/2021/10/27/1049295683/attica-prison-documentary-stanley-nelson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attica_Prison_riot What really happened during the Attica Prison Rebellion - Orisanmi Burton - YouTube

Episode 648: Suge Knight: Putting the Death in Death Row Mar 22, 2022

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the real gangster of West Coast hip hop, Suge Knight. Though his nickname comes from his sweet childhood nick name of “Sugar Bear,” he turned into a real monster. He started by managing a few rappers and then created Death Row Records which had some of the biggest names in West Side rap. He famously fueled the East/West rap war and was behind the wheel when Tupac was shot. What are the theories surrounding his involvement? What was RAMPART, and how was he involved with corrupt LAPD officers? Did he kill Biggie Smalls? Why did he run over two men in 2017, and how long is his prison sentence based on that killing? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/musician/suge-knight https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suge_Knight https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1079761477/snoop-dogg-now-owns-death-row-records https://wealthygorilla.com/suge-knight-net-worth/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rampart_scandal#Rampart_ties_to_Death_Row_Records Who Actually Killed Tupac Shakur - YouTube

Episode 647: Gladiators: On Death, Politics, and Celebrity Mar 18, 2022

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we look at the ultimate form of sports entertainment—Roman Gladiators. Everyone pictures these brave, bloodthirsty men performing for the crowd and emperor, but there is a lot more to their tale. For one, a lot of them were slaves or prisoners of war. Another thing is, they became crazy popular, becoming the celebrities of their era. There is still graffiti in places about girls in love with gladiators! There were no gladiators without the crowds, and we talk about the scope of gladiatorial games as well as how politicians used them in corrupt ways to sway the politics of the empire! Visit Our Sources: https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/who-were-roman-gladiators-famous-spartacus-crixus/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-roman-gladiators https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/gladiators/gladiators.html https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/5-fast-and-furious-facts-about-the-lives-of-gladiators https://www.bbc.com/news/education-29723384#:~:text=Roman%20gladiators%20had%20a%20diet,University%20of%20Bern%20in%20Switzerland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_gladiator_types

Episode 646: Dave Chappelle: The Scalpel of Satire Mar 15, 2022

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the all-time greats of comedy, Dave Chappelle. He is most famous for his super-successful sketch comedy show, Chappelle’s Show. He is even more famous for walking away from the show in the middle of season three while $50 million dollars were on the table! He uses comedy as a scalpel and cuts deep, often being controversial, sometimes being offensive. With five Emmy’s, three Grammy’s, and a Marc Twain award under his belt, this small town family-man keeps innovating and shocking the world. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/performer/dave-chappelle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Chappelle https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73863/15-fun-facts-about-chappelles-show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwyeYmXjD1A https://www.looper.com/266269/the-real-reason-dave-chappelle-quit-his-sketch-show/ Dave Chappelle says fan boycott of his show worked, agrees to terms with Comedy Central - mlive.com

Episode 645: Exxon Valdez: Nuts! Mar 11, 2022

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we look at one of the worst ecological disasters of all time, the wreck of the Exxon Valdez. In March of 1989, the massive ship struck Bligh Reef in Alaska, and over 11 Million gallons of crude oil dumped into the once-pristine Prince William Sound. Hundreds of bald eagles and seals, thousands of otters, and hundreds of thousands of sea birds died as a result. The cleanup crews developed illnesses due to the chemicals used to scrub the beaches. The ship’s captain, Joe Hazelwood was accused of being drunk at the time of the crash, but as more evidence came out, Exxon seemed to be the real villain here. Go green with this one as you listen, laugh, and learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/exxon-valdez-oil-spill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill DAARP Page https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/03/remembering-the-exxon-valdez-oil-spill/100703/ https://www.livescience.com/44314-exxon-valdez-spill-anniversary-facts.html https://usa.oceana.org/exxon-valdez-oil-spill-facts/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Hazelwood

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