Sofa King Podcast

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Episode 608: Stan Lee: The King of Comics Oct 12, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the life, creations, and comic books of the one and only Stan Lee. He was born Stanley Martin Lieber and shortened his name to save it in case he ever wanted to quit comics and write a real novel. Thankfully, this never happened. Stan Lee created (or co-created) some of the greatest comic characters of all time. More than that, however, he made them humans. Reading an early Marvel comic was like becoming part of a large family, and this was all thanks to the style and marketing genius of Lee. His story takes him from a depression-era street-kid to a US Army propaganda film maker alongside Dr. Seuss, to the face of one of the greatest fictional universes ever created. Give this one a listen and then shout out a hearty, “Excelsior!” Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/media-figure/stan-lee https://www.forbes.com/sites/robsalkowitz/2021/01/21/new-stan-lee-bio-true-believer-shatters-the-myths-surrounding-the-marvel-icon/?sh=466a963b3361 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Lee https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/71299/10-amazing-fantastic-incredible-facts-about-comic-book-writer-stan-lee https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/authors/stan-lee-net-worth/ Marvel Characters and Comics That Stan Lee Created (insider.com)

A Sofa King Classic: Andrei Chikatilo Oct 05, 2021

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This episode of the Sofa King Podcast explores the grisly killing spree of the most famous Soviet serial killer, Andrei Chikatilo, aka “The Butcher of Rostov.” Between 1978 and 1990, he was thought to have killed a total of 56 people throughout the USSR, and he was responsible for one wrongful execution and several suicides. This was an especially interesting case because the investigation was hampered by the Soviet government who publicly claimed there was no such thing as a Russian serial killer and that this was a sickness only the decadent West could catch. Andrei Chikatilo fits many of the key ingredients of serial killers—he had a major illness as a child, an oppressive mother, sexual dysfunction, high intelligence, and of course a cold cunning. He grew up in Stalin’s Ukraine during the massive food shortages and famines that his regime caused, and Chikatilo also lived with the shame of a father who was captured by the Germans during WWI (it was a major taboo for them). The worst part was that his childhood hydrocephalic condition caused him to wet his bed well into his later years and kept him from being able to get an erection. The sexual frustration and humiliation of his childhood years twisted him into a monster and killer. So who were his targest? He mostly liked underage girls, but he would take anyone. He wasn’t that picky. All of his targets met the same horrible end. He would stab them at least 20 times, using the knife as a surrogate penis. He would tie them up, stuff leaves and dirt in their mouths, and ejaculate on them as their death struggle sexually excited him. He would also cut off body parts and even bite off nipples. Yes, he was really crazy and horrible. So, how did he eventually get caught if the government didn’t publicly admit he existed? What lead to him being called the “Forest Strip Killer?” How did he father children if he could never get an erection? Why would Andrei Chikatilo gouge out the eyes of his victims? What body parts would he nibble on? Listen, laugh, learn.

Episode 607: The Aztecs: A Sacrificed Society Oct 01, 2021

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we travel back in time and look at the Aztec people. They were the largest empire in the history of Mesoamerica. They were famous for being amazing warriors, and they were equally famous for their religious sacrifice. You see, they thought the sun would only keep burning if it was fed blood, so sometimes they scarified 80,000 humans a year! This culture dominated their region in only fifty short years, and their advances in agriculture, art, and trade have never been rivaled. So what brought them down? How fast was their fall? Who was Montezuma, and did he really swear to get revenge? This one gets good and bloody! Listen, laugh, learn. Visit our Sources: https://www.ushistory.org/civ/11d.asp https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/unearthing-the-secrets-of-the-aztecs/ https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/aztec-civilization/ https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-americas/aztecs https://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/2016/09/aztecs-interesting-facts/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztecs

Episode 606: Hindenburg Disaster: The Hubris and The Humanity Sep 28, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we discuss the fiery crash of the Hindenburg. Its last moments were made famous by the grainy black and white footage and the scream, “Oh the humanity!” The ship was very interesting before that, however. It was built in Germany and was almost immediately commandeered for Nazi propaganda. It was even named after the guy who made Hitler the chancellor. After it flew around Germany to pump up the father land, it became a luxurious way for the elite to cross the Atlantic. It made ten flights to New Jersey in its first year and was ready to do more when disaster struck. It exploded on landing. Some say it was sabotage and even have a suspect. Others think it was because, you know, it was a giant cotton sack filled with explosive death gasses. We’ll let you be the judge. Visit Our Sources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/80th-anniversary-hindenburg-disaster-mysteries-remain-180963107/ https://www.livescience.com/58959-hindenburg-crash.html https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/609624/hindenburg-disaster-facts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LZ_129_Hindenburg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgWHbpMVQ1U https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/interiors/ Oh The Humanity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ2qP4wd4LE

Episode 605: The Kelloggs: Saint and Sadist Sep 24, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we ask a simple question. What do female genital mutilation and corn flakes have in common? The answer is Kellogg’s. The beloved breakfast giant is known for cereal and pop tarts, but the brothers who laid the foundation of the company are worth looking at. Many people have heard of W.K. Kellogg, the founder of the corporation. However, not as many have heard of his somewhat sadistic brother J.H Kellogg. He thought masturbation was the cause of most health problems and used everything from tying kids down to scarring female genitals with acid as a cure. And then he invented corn flakes. How did all of this come together, and what exactly was the Battle Creek Sanitarium? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Keith_Kellogg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Harvey_Kellogg https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/almanac/people/hall-of-fame/detail/w.-k.-kellogg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellogg%27s https://blog.truffleshuffle.co.uk/2015/07/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about%E2%80%A6kelloggs/ https://www.forbes.com/companies/kellogg/?sh=5d16aa986de2 https://plain.recipes/recipe/127195/nuttose https://chestofbooks.com/food/recipes/Dishes/Nuttose-Recipes.html http://www.fourpoundsflour.com/history-dish-mondays-protose/

Episode 604: Silkwood: Plutonium and Murder? Sep 21, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the death of Karen Silkwood. Silkwood worked at the Kerr-McGhee fuel plant in Oklahoma. She made plutonium pellets for nuclear fuel, and she discovered safely issues with workers being irradiated. The weird thing is, she started to get positive hits for alpha radiation she wasn’t exposed to. It even followed her home making it into her bologna in the fridge! After a union meeting, while on the way to a rendezvous with a New York Times reporter, Silkwood died. She was found dead in a car crash with a stomach full of Quaaludes. Was she a sex crazed drug addict as the corporation wants people to believe? Was she murdered to silence her as many reporters believed? Why does one reporter think her assassination tied to a plutoniuum pipeline that fed the CIA, MIA, and the Mossad? How did her bologna become radioactive? So many questions… Visit Our Sources: https://time.com/3574931/karen-silkwood/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Silkwood https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/karen-silkwood-dies-in-mysterious-one-car-crash https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/reaction/interact/silkwood.html https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1981/4/13/conspiracy-pbibt-is-a-bizarre-story/ https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/karen-silkwood-the-case-of-the-activists-death-52287/

Episode 603: Larry Flynt: Filthy Smut and Free Speech Sep 17, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we peel back the covers of the king of pornography (and free speech), Larry Flynt. He was famous for, well, a lot of things. One of them was the Hustler brand magazine, casino, and sex shop. But he was equally famous for having several outlandish fights with the U.S. Supreme Court. There was also the time he was shot and paralyzed by a racist serial killer outside of a court house. His magazine crossed many lines, from depicting rapes as sexual fantasies to overt racism and anti-Semitism. However, he is said to have won one of the biggest victories that secured American free speech, and was an early advocate of gay marriage. His stunts are legendary, from sending copies of every issue of his smut mag to every member of Congress all the way to publishing nude photos of Jackie Onassis Kennedy. Larry Flynt, love him or hate him, helped to define our times. Visit Our Sources: https://www.vice.com/en/article/qkbzjx/larry-flynt-profile-2016 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Flynt https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/larry-flynts-wild-life-porn-424687/ https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/ceos/larry-flynt-net-worth/ https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1436/larry-flynt https://www.wearethemighty.com/lists/5-surprising-facts-about-army-and-navy-veteran-larry-flynt/

Episode 602: Bob Ross: Art and Afros Sep 14, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the art, fame, life, and death of Bob Ross. He is known for his paintings of happy little trees and Peapod the pet pocket squirrel, but this guy led a very interesting life. From a sergeant in the army to an international media icon, Ross saw a lot in his life. His shows are still watched world-round, even though they are decades old. But of course they’re watched! His hypnotic whisper and smooth painting techniques cured depression and made people feel good about their lives. But life wasn’t all happy clouds. His wife died of cancer, and he had business partners (one of whom was a retired CIA agent) who allegedly took advantage of him and stole his name on his death bed. If you love art and afros, give this one a listen. Visit Our Sources: Netflix Documentary: Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, and Greed https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/102372.Bob_Ross https://www.biography.com/artist/bob-ross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ross biography.com/news/bob-ross-biography-facts https://allthatsinteresting.com/bob-ross-biography https://www.npr.org/2016/08/29/490923502/the-real-bob-ross-meet-the-meticulous-artist-behind-those-happy-trees

A Sofa King Classic: Ed Gein Sep 10, 2021

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This episode takes a look at the ghastly life of Ed Gein, the Plainfield Butcher. Gein was the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho as well as the serial killer Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs and Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre. How can one man be the genesis all of these horrific film characters? Give us a listen to find out. Gein was born at the turn of the century to a wildly religious zealot of a mother and an alcoholic father who worked tanning animal skins when he wasn’t drunk (spoiler alert, the skin tanning comes in useful later in Gein’s life…). As Gein grew up, he came to idolize his domineering mother and lived with her, never having gone on so much as one a date, until her death when he was 39 years old. Gein’s mother died shortly after she had a stroke thought to be induced by the death of Gein’s older brother Harold (who died under rather mysterious circumstances). Once alone, Gein earned the reputation as “Weird Eddy” the guy who lived alone in an empty farmhouse. He drifted through town doing odd jobs and even babysitting for people, until in 1957, when he was arrested for the murder of Bernice Warden, the clerk at the general store. She was shot on the first day of hunting season, and when police investigated Gein’s home, they discovered a trove of horrors. Since his mother’s death, Gein had killed several people, robbed dozens of graves, and had a house of trophies. Horrible, horrible trophies. Warden’s body was hanging in a shed, being cut apart like a deer. What the police found in the house itself was even more mind blowing. Noses in a box, masks made from human faces, a “Woman suit” made from the skin of several women, a belt made of nipple, female genetalia tucked in pairs of man-sized panties, you name it. How many people did Gein kill? How many graves did he rob? Why did he do it? What other trophies did he keep? We try to get to the bottom of it in this episode, and you can get the bonus feature of Dave and Brent freaking out on air while Brad shows them pictures of some of Gein’s trophies—pictures they consciously decided not to Google while they were doing their research.

A Sofa King Classic: H.H. Holmes Sep 07, 2021

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Whats up Holmes? Another Classic while we try not to die. See you soon. This episode of the Sofa King Podcast examines the horrible history of H.H. Holmes, the Beast of Chicago. This man is considered the first true serial killer in American history, killing people all over the country in the late 1800’s (estimates are as high as 200 victims). Born Herman Webster Mudgett, Holmes was a smart child who had a penchant for operating on animals and had a bad run in with a human skeleton and a group of bullies. He graduated high school at 16 years of age and went to University of Michigan Medical School where he earned his medical doctorate. Oh, and while he was at U of M, he also figured out a way to claim life insurance policies on the school’s cadavers and disfigure and operate on them in secret. Holmes was a conman who made the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of dollars on insurance schemes, often getting money paid out for his own murder victims. What makes Holmes truly unique, however, is his Murder Castle. After buying a pharmacy in Chicago (after presumably killing off the previous owners who go mysteriously “missing”), he build a massive three story hotel in Chicago in time for the World’s Fair. It is such a big building that locals called it “The Castle.” While he ran his pharmacy from the ground floor and let guests stay on the second, the third story and the basement were where he was allowed to kill in horrible ways. The Castle was infamous for doors that led to nowhere, dead end stair cases, soundproof rooms, chutes to deposit bodies into the basement, ether pumped through gas pipes to various rooms, an acid pit and several kilns to dispose of bodies in the basement, and even a bank vault he would use to slowly kill people through asphyxiation. Though he preferred blond women and children, Holmes killed them all, often selling their skeletons and organs to medical schools! How did he get brought down by a horse? Who was Benjamin Pietzel, and why did Holmes have to kill three of his children? Why was he buried ten feet deep and encased in concrete after he was hanged for his crimes? Listen, laugh, learn.

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