Sofa King Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 618: Tonya Harding: The Princess Vs. The Piece of Crap Nov 16, 2021

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On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we shine a light on one of the biggest scandals of the 90s and explore Tonya Harding and the infamous knee-capping incident. If you don’t know this story, it’s pretty crazy. It involves hit men attacking ice skaters, abusive mothers, abusive husbands, sex tapes, Reebok endorsements, and women giving interviews with birds on their shoulders. Tonya Harding was an ice skating prodigy who basically had a group of hit men and her ex-husband try to break the knee of her biggest competition for the Olympics. Her name was Nancy Kerrigan, and she was struck with a retractable baton on the way to competition in Detroit. This led to one of the biggest media explosions of all time. Harding’s level of involvement has always been in question, and Kerrigan went on to win at the Olympics but the tale is a wild one. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/athlete/tonya-harding https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonya_Harding https://www.biography.com/athlete/nancy-kerrigan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Kerrigan https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/i-tonya-what-you-need-to-know-about-tonya-harding-and-nancy-kerrigan-120857/ https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/i-tonya/ https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/psg-attack-aminata-diallo-tonya-harding-explained

Episode 617: William Bonin: The Freeway Killer Nov 12, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we do some true crime and talk about William Bonin. He was called the Freeway Killer, and he was a true monster. His childhood ticked all the boxes of a future madman, and his time in Vietnam didn’t help any. Eventually, he became a serial rapist of under-aged boys, and then he devolved to murder. He had a sick cabal of other murderers he’d hang out with. Bonin also had a legit murder van. So, how did his one act of kindness lead to his downfall? How many did he kill in total? What his method of murder? What did he eat for a last meal? Warning—this is a pretty rough one. Listen, laugh, and learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/capital-punishment/inmates-executed-1978-to-present/william-george-bonin/ https://allthatsinteresting.com/william-bonin https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b1/bonin-william.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bonin https://www.thoughtco.com/serial-killer-william-bonin-973136

Episode 616: Nike: Success, Sneakers, and Sweatshops Nov 09, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about Nike. It is known around the world as the juggernaut of athletics. In fact, within a decade of opening, they controlled the majority of the sports equipment market. They were founded by a home-town coach and his student in Oregon. But they exploded into one of the most important corporations of a generation. Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman ran Nike. They helped create Michael Jordan, invented sneaker culture, and made us all want to “just do it.” They also cashed in on child labor, ran sweat shops, and help destroy the environment. If you want to hear the history and dark side of Nike, give this one a listen. Visit Our Sources: https://interestingengineering.com/the-extraordinary-history-of-nike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc. https://thesolesupplier.co.uk/news/why-is-nike-called-nike/ https://www.thestreet.com/lifestyle/history-of-nike-15057083 https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73277/14-things-you-might-not-know-about-nike https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike_sweatshops https://www.newidea.com.au/nike-sweatshops-the-truth-about-the-nike-factory-scandal https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/31500/sneakerheads-brief-history-sneaker-collecting

Episode 615: The Amish: A Perfectly Strange Religion Nov 05, 2021

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we look at the Amish. This uniquely American religious sect is most common in Pennsylvania but found throughout the Midwest. They famously avoid all technology, including electricity and the cell phone, but even down to running faucets for their baths. One thing they are famous for is a rite of passage called a Rumspringa. It allows teens to experience the world and get their freak on, partying, drinking, and doing things the church forbids. Once that is done, they get baptized in the local Amish church and leave the heathen world behind. From barn raising to the Ordnung laws and the truth of the Amish Mafia, this one has it all! Visit Our Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_people https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5455572 https://www.history101.com/amish-facts/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m64X1hMCJoE https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/03/13/more-us-catholics-are-considering-leaving-church-over-sex-abuse-crisis-poll-says/ https://www.npr.org/2014/08/24/342474911/a-growing-backlash-against-amish-exploitation-in-pennsylvania https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URprZKBJa9g Meet the Amish 1 of 4 - First experience on an aeroplane - YouTube

Episode 614: Snoop Dogg: For Shizzle my Nizzle! Nov 02, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the one and only Snoop Dogg. This is a true rags to riches story. He was born as Calvin Broadus to a poor single mom in Long Beach. Through an amazing talent as a freestyle rapper and a lifelong career, he has grown to be a media mogul worth over $150 Million. However, his life as a rapper almost ended as soon as it started since he was arrested for a gang murder just after recording his first album with Dr. Dre. He was acquitted and went to create some of the all-time greatest lyrics in all of rap. With a smooth and unique voice and style, Snoop Dogg ended up befriending Martha Stewart, hosting the Olympics, creating a line of weed, and turning Colonel Sanders Vegan. His story is as unique as his rap style, and by the end of this you’ll know what’s his mutha fu*king name! Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/musician/snoop-dogg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoop_Dogg https://wealthygorilla.com/snoop-dogg-net-worth/ https://www.phactual.com/15-bizarre-facts-about-snoop-dogg/ https://www.factinate.com/people/30-facts-about-snoop-dogg/ https://thebeet.com/snoop-dogg-beyond-meat-tailgate/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/snoop-doggs-raves-vegan-kfc/ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/snoop-dogg-weed-line_n_56433db1e4b06037734701bf

Episode 613: Gurkha: Real World Super Soldiers Oct 29, 2021

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we fill you in on one of the most badass special forces units in the world, the Gurkha. These soldiers come from Nepal and have been involved in every war around the world since they formed in 1814. They are a strange mix of mercenaries and soldiers loyal to the British crown. We will tell you some of their tales of epic battle from both world wars, train robberies, and fights with the Taliban. This small group of warriors are considered the best of the best from their days battling the East India Company, to their time in the modern middle east. Visit Our Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-10782099 https://www.gwt.org.uk/about-the-gurkhas/gurkhas/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurkha https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/gurkhas https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-06/bravest-of-the-brave-who-are-the-fierce-gurkhas/9839746 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2kxdSIq8Es https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5CmGy5I_GU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2y63RtDDYQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8pIJglsYUE

Episode 612: The Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God Oct 26, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the cult known as The Church of the First Born of the Lamb of God and its insane leader, Ervil LeBaron. LeBaron was called the Mormon Manson after a crazy trail of murder, sex, suicide, and corruption. This group is like many cults with a charismatic leader who has sex with lots and lots of members. In this case, though, the members were sister-wives. And in this case, there was murder. So much murder! LeBaron killed his brother to take control of the cult, tried to kill his other brother, burned a town to the ground, killed his own daughter, and even murdered himself if such a thing is possible. This story is crazy, and the amount of twists, death, and turns rivals any cult we can think of. Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ervil_LeBaron https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_First_Born_of_the_Lamb_of_God https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38526255 https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/who-is-ervil-lebaron-and-how-is-his-family-connected-to-mexico-cartel-massacre https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/17/obituaries/ervil-lebaron-utah-polygamist-is-found-dead-in-his-prison-cell.html https://www.vice.com/en/article/gyz9y7/what-we-know-about-the-mormon-family-massacred-in-mexico https://www.vice.com/en/article/nn4knz/the-mexican-mormon-war-full-length

Episode 611: The Subway Vigilante: Racism or Justice? Oct 22, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about a true crime case. This is the story of Bernard Goetz, the Subway Vigilante. On December 22, 1984, Goetz was surrounded by four young men on a subway train who started asking him for five dollars. He thought he was being mugged, pulled out a revolver and shot all four of them. The aftermath saw him hailed as a hero and a villain, a vigilante and a racist. It is a complicated case all bound up with race, violence, gun control, and a New York city crime spree. If you like true crime, you’re gonna like this one. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/bernhard-goetz https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/subway-vigilante-turns-himself-in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_New_York_City_Subway_shooting https://www.famous-trials.com/goetz https://www.distractify.com/p/bernhard-goetz-now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbViU73txB0

Episode 610: Order Octopoda: Earthly Aliens or Freaky Fish? Oct 19, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the most insane and alien creature that lives the planet Earth—the octopus. The amazing animals of Order Octopoda are smarter than a dog, and they have three hearts and 9 brains! That’s right, they have a main brain and then a different brain for each of their 8 arms. They use tools, create weapons out of other animals’ body parts, spew ink, and can become invisible at will. An octopus can remember faces, and they even hold grudges against some of their scientists and zoo keepers. They are unlike any other animal on earth, and some scientists even suggest they are aliens who landed on earth millions of years ago. Give this one a listen to find out why! Visit Our Sources: https://biogeoplanet.com/why-do-octopuses-have-9-brains-8-arms-3-hearts-and-blue-blood-surprising-facts/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/octopuses-keep-surprising-us-here-are-eight-examples-how.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abRPaXgJGQg https://aquarium.org/exhibits/giant-pacific-octopus/ https://www.livescience.com/55478-octopus-facts.html https://www.livescience.com/41924-smart-octopus-facts.html https://biogeoplanet.com/how-smart-are-octopuses/ https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/123479-trending-science-do-octopuses-come-from-outer-space

Episode 609: Operation Condor: State Sanctioned Terror Oct 15, 2021

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about an international terrorist conspiracy known as Operation Condor. This horrible operation was set up by eight South and Central American countries. It was responsible for the death, detention, assassination, murder, and disappearance of tens of thousands of people across multiple borders. People were even assassinated in Washington, D.C. And, of course, the CIA was involved. The whole thing was part of a strategy used by dictators such as Augusto Pinochet to keep power and destroy leftist thought. How much did the US know? How much was it involved? Which country had it worst? What was the Dirty War? How were most of the bodies disposed of? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://medium.com/exploring-history/operation-condor-u-s-and-latin-americas-dirty-war-d59a7cfff77c https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Condor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_War https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/sep/03/operation-condor-the-illegal-state-network-that-terrorised-south-america http://www.cels.org.ar/especiales/plancondor/en/#una-asociacion-ilicita-para-reprimir-opositores http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/chile/operation-condor.htm

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