Sofa King Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 568: Barefoot Bandit: A Sasquatch Ninja? Mar 30, 2021

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we bring you a strange brew of True Crime and talk about the Barefoot Bandit. If you aren’t from the Pacific Northwest, you may not have heard about this kid, but it’s quite a ride! The Bandit, named Colton Harris Moore, was a teenager who went on an international crime spree. His crimes? Breaks-ins to survive out in the woods, mostly. But then there were a few dozen cars. Oh, and the airplanes that he taught himself how to fly and to steal. Oh, and a crazy boat chase in the Bahamas! The Barefoot Bandit came from a very rough, broken home, and he started to live out in the woods as young as the age of 7. He started to break into vacation homes to survive, something that carried on through his teens. This guy was a genius, evading police endless times by escaping in the woods like a sasquatch ninja. He started on Camano Island in Washington, and eventually was being chased by cops, feds, and an army of organized bounty hunters. What led the Barefoot Bandit to his final stolen airplane destination of the Bahamas? How did the locals treat him there? How did he learn to fly? Why didn’t he wear shoes? What’s up with the guy named Harley Davidson Irownwing? Listen, laugh, learn? Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colton_Harris_Moore https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/barefoot-bandits-dreams-crushed-when-feds-force-stop-to-his-flight-school-fundraiser/ https://mynorthwest.com/1381710/colton-harris-moore-barefoot-bandit/? https://www.heraldnet.com/news/colton-harris-moore-asks-judge-to-shorten-supervised-release/ https://www.heraldnet.com/news/judge-says-no-to-ending-sentence-early-for-barefoot-bandit/ https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/sheriff-notorious-barefoot-bandit-struck-spearfish-airport/article_62d4ba92-7e1c-11df-ab0e-001cc4c002e0.html Documentary: Fly Colt Fly

Episode 567: Mao Tse-tung: Starvation, Sex, and Slaughter Mar 26, 2021

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we look at the man who most historians call the worst tyrant of all time, Mao Tse-tung. Was he worse than Hitler? Yes. Was he worse than Stalin or Kim Jung Il or Saddam Hussein? Way worse. How? Well, his horrible Great Leap Forward killed upwards of 60 million Chinese due to starvation, overwork, disease, or flat out murder. He forced parents to bury their own children and purged entire classes of people, all to make China a world power. He was born the son of a farmer and excelled in school, but he was forced to quit and work on the farm. When he was old enough, he left and went to school in another town where he was exposed to new communist teachings. He rose through the ranks of the Chinese Communist Party due to his diligence. Eventually, the leader of China died, and the new chairman, Chiang Kai-shek, was against Mao’s party. There was a brutal war where Mao led a guerilla squad of 200,000 men against him, but it was squashed and led to something called The Long Walk. Eventually, thanks to an allegiance during World War II, Mao rose to real power, eventually becoming the top man in the China. Once in power, he started the Great Leap Forward, which lead to the worse man made famine in the history of the earth and destroyed China’s economy. This made him unpopular, but he led the Cultural Revolution, which basically turned him into a god king. Oh, and as god king, he got really freaky with sex. Really freaky. Underage girls, modified beds, banging his own guards, venereal diseases, you name it. What was the deal with his 14 year old mistress? How did Stalin scientifically evaluate Mao’s poop, and what did it do politically? How did he get Soviet premiere Khrushchev to wear children’s water wings and have a meeting in a pool? What was the result of only brushing his teeth by swishing tea around in his mouth? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/political-figure/mao-tse-tung https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/china-mao/ http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/inside.china/profiles/mao.tsetung/ https://www.heritage.org/asia/commentary/the-legacy-mao-zedong-mass-murder http://factsanddetails.com/china/cat2/sub6/item71.html https://listverse.com/2017/03/01/10-filthy-facts-about-the-private-life-of-chairman-mao-tse-tung/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_2FZ-V_4zs

Episode 566: Whitley Strieber: Conman or Communion? Mar 23, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the king of alien abduction, Whitley Strieber. Strieber was the author of Communion and several other books about his famous abduction experiences, implants, and encounters with Men in Black. It is his writing that has given us the narrative of a typical abduction, what a gray alien is, and even set the stage of X-Files back in the 1990s. But is it on the level, or was it all a hustle to sell books? Though he had strange encounters even as a child (something typical for abductees), his big experience was when he was taken by “The Visitors” in 1985. A bunch of small, strong aliens (different than the grays), dragged him roughly from his house and jabbed a needle in the back of his skull and did medical experiments. He thought it was a dream, but bruises and a swollen ear in the morning said otherwise. Through the years, he went through hypno therapy to recall all the horrible events that happened every time The Visitors paid a call to him. Eventually, he came to be able to defeat his fear the paralysis and converse with these beings. All the while, he had strange encounters with Men In Black, a bizarre conversation that existed outside of time with Master of The Key, and became the poster child for all things alien. Or, of course, none of it happened at all, and he is gaming the world. Either way, it is a wild story, so give it a listen and decide if he’s an alien abductee or an artist of the con. Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitley_Strieber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communion_(book) huffpost.com/entry/communion-author-whitley-strieber_n_943681 https://allthatsinteresting.com/alien-abductions/3 https://gen.medium.com/he-was-supposed-to-be-the-next-stephen-king-then-the-aliens-came-afd7195e0b49 https://realitysandwich.com/strange_case_whitley_strieber_1/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0HfikqH1-8

SOFA KING CLASSIC: Chupacabra – Return of the Q-tip lady Mar 19, 2021

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One last classic episode release before we get back to business. Thank you for being patient. If you want to learn more about the mysterious Chupacabra, listen to this episode of the Sofa King Podcast. In this episode, we delve back into the realm of cryptozoology and discuss the possibility and reality of this allegedly elusive creature. First getting international media attention in 1995 with the discovery of 8 dead sheep in Puerto Rico (which were not eaten but apparently had their blood drained), the Chupacabra literally means “goat sucker.” Within the first year, 200 alleged incidents were reported in Puerto Rico alone. So many animals were found dead that the national guard was called in to search the area looking for the mysterious killer. Since then, the Chupacabra has apparently morphed. Experts claim there are two types, a reptilian type (typically seen in Latin America and the Caribbean) and a canid type (typically seen in the United States). We examine the likelihood of an unknown creature existing in the jungles down south (it’s pretty high, actually…) and then turn our attention to the American version since there is a lot of photographic evidence and video footage. We even explore a pretty awesome video from Texas in which a pretty awesome couple captures a live Chupacabra. And of course, we can’t cover something as controversial in conspiracy theory circles as this without touching a little bit on UFOs and wacky theories of genetic animal hybrids created by beaming new DNA into an organism with electricity. Oh, and there’s also the case of voodoo queen Marie Laveau and the New Orleans Grunch (it involves a Devil Baby and testicles, so you don’t want to miss that). So what’s the bottom line? Is the Chupacabra real, a hoax, a case of mistaken identity? Listen, laugh, learn.

SOFA KING CLASSIC: Nikola Tesla – Laser Pigeon Lover Mar 18, 2021

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As per listener request, this week’s Sofa King Podcast covers the life and inventions of Nikola Tesla. Born in Croatia in 1856, he was the archetype of the mad scientist. We start the episode with a look at his feud and relationship Thomas Edison. At the heart of this rivalry was a race to provide New York city with electricity. Edison backed DC current, and Tesla wanted the innovative AC current we used today, even though the technology didn’t exist at the time. From George Westinghouse to JP Morgan, Tesla had support from the biggest financiers of his time and created the power plant at Niagara Falls that still provides power to much of New York. However, Tesla is also known for much more ambitious and crazy inventions. He beat the guy who supposedly invented the radio by inventing it first and did the same with X-rays. He built the famous Tesla Coils, the first remote control robot, a frequency oscillator that could supposedly destroy a building and split the earth in two. From weather control to free wireless energy (out of his Wardenclyffe Tower), and from a permanent aurora borealis to making the earth a giant battery, Tesla thought big and built bigger. And yes, we even discuss his famous death ray. So, if you want to know why so many conspiracy theories tie to Tesla and his inventions, give this one a listen.

SOFA KING CLASSIC: MISSING 411 – STRANGE DISSAPEARENCES Mar 16, 2021

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Due to scheduling issues we bring you a Sofa King Classic that most of you may not have heard. Man have we changed. Check it out. We explore the “Missing 411,” the name given to mysterious and creepy disappearances in national parks and national forests in the US and Canada. In this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we rap about the research, data, and findings of author and investigator David Paulides. Paulides (whom we simply call palates for most of the episode) was approached by Park Rangers from the National Park Service and told that rangers in every park have seen strange disappearances that have creepy similarities and pushed him to investigate. He did. In fact, he researched for over 7,000 hours and wrote five books, meticulously cataloging the official missing-person and police reports of all these cases, and the findings do show some strange data patterns. What is so strange about these disappearances? Well, the people who go missing, often take off their clothing and shoes, even in freezing cold weather. Also, they are found (dead or alive) within areas where search crews looked several times, defying typical search patterns. Often, they are children, as young as 2 years old, who are somehow found miles away or several thousand feet higher in elevation (something impossible for a child that young to pull off). There are other creepy elements as well—they go missing in the middle of large groups, they say creepy things seconds before disappearing, and often bloodhounds and cadaver dogs refuse to search for them or find no trail at all, even though people know exactly where the trail started. We look at several specific cases that show the above, and we do our best to debunk them. With some it is quite easy, with others, not so much. So, is Paulides simply reading data points that are pure coincidence and exaggerating them? Is there something truly mysterious happening? Can it all be explained through human nature? What is the link to Bigfoot, and why does it piss Brad off so much? Listen, laugh, learn.

Episode 565: Billie Holiday: The First Lady of Jazz Mar 12, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the life, drugs, music, and drugs (so many drugs) of Billie Holiday. She is considered one of the all-time greats of American music and jazz, but she had a troubled past. Billie worked in brothels as a child and was repeatedly raped and sold through early sex trafficking by the same madam her mother worked for. Through all this, her love of music and dedication to the craft got her off the streets and into singing. At 16, she was singing in clubs in New York, and by 18 she was working for Benny Goodman. However, along the way she became addicted to drugs, big time. Meanwhile, a horrible man named Harry Anslinger was in charge of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. He was a racist and thought blacks, jazz, and drugs were ruining America. When he couldn’t literally bring down all of jazz music (which he tried to do), he put all his efforts on bringing down Billie Holiday. She battled his agents and her own demons through her tumultuous life. Give this one a listen for all the corrupt-Fed, heroin-fueled details! Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/musician/billie-holiday https://www.biography.com/news/billie-holiday-facts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Holiday https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/01/drug-war-the-hunting-of-billie-holiday-114298 https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/billie-holiday https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/62880/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-billie-holiday

Episode 564: Shao Lin Warrior Monks: The Brutal Buddhists Mar 09, 2021

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On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the Warrior Monks of Shao Lin. Yes, there is a real Shao Lin Temple, and yes it still exists. 400 monks are allowed to train there, and supposedly 100 are warrior monks, dedicated not just to studying Buddha but also perfection of Kung Fu. In this episode we talk about the history of the Shao Lin Temple. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and often the Warrior Monks saved emperors and defended villages. There is a lot of mythology and mysticism surrounding this place, and it all seems to have a grounding in the truth of history. We examine several documentaries about modern day Shao Lin Kung Fu taught at the temple and look at the truths and secrets of this holy order. Visit Our Sources: https://www.learnreligions.com/warrior-monks-of-shaolin-4123247 https://blackbeltmag.com/15-popular-beliefs-about-training-at-shaolin-temple https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-shaolin-monks-195814 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaolin_Kung_Fu https://www.tripsavvy.com/brief-history-shaolin-temple-1495708 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaolin_Monastery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDR31_nh70Q&t=1357s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHUewEWi9SE&t=281s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbow21FKJS4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chan_Buddhism#Bodhidharma

Episode 563: Ellis Island: The Golden Doorway or an Island of Tears? Mar 05, 2021

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On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the most important point of arrival to the United States for more than 60 years, Ellis Island. This small (mostly manmade) island near New York City is famous for admitting ancestors of roughly 40% of all Americans. It was where the mass influx of Irish came during the potato famine, where Jews escaped prosecution, and the Italian Mob became a New York City Import. What happened there, and why did some call it the Island of Tears? Ellis Island started as, believe it or not, an island. Eventually, the Dutch bought it catch shellfish, and eventually it became known as Gibbet Island, named after the wooden posts where dead pirates were hung to death and displayed for incoming ships to see. Nice one. Eventually, a man named Samuel Ellis bought it, and after another immigration center closed in 1890, Ellis Island became the go to destination for incoming immigrants from the East. It served as both a processing center for paperwork, a health and legal screening center, and a detainment center for those not free to enter the united states. So, is it true that the workers there messed up everyone’s names and renamed entire families? How many people died on the island due to medical reasons (it might surprise you!)? How did the admission process differ between rich and poor? Who was kept out by default? Was Ellis Island a Golden Doorway or an Island of Tears? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/ellis-island https://time.com/5752116/ellis-island-immigration-detention-center/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_Island https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldman-immigration-and-deportation-ellis-island/ https://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-ellis-island

Episode 562: Eliot Ness and The Untouchables Mar 02, 2021

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Born in Chicago, Eliot Ness was a smart, officious child. He dressed well and always did his homework—so much so, that his nickname in high school was Elegant Mess. His brother in law was a fed, and he inspired the young Eliot to become a federal investigator as well. Shortly after college, he joined the Treasury Department. He ultimately landed a job in the Prohibition Bureau battling mobsters and bootleggers. Once the president decided to stop Al Capone in Chicago, The US District attorney hired Eliot Ness on the spot. Many federal agents were corrupt or downright evil (such as Kinky Thompson), so they needed someone with integrity. Ness read the files of every agent and assembled his super team of The Untouchables. They resisted bribes and took the war to Capone, eventually forcing him to import liquor instead of make his own. While their lives were threatened regularly, they stayed the course and brought Capone down. After that, Ness moved to Ohio and cleaned up the 10th largest city in America, Cleveland. It had the worst traffic deaths, most drunk driving, most corrupt police force, most corrupt city officials, and a big mob problem. He turned all that around, though once the city was clean and safe, the populace seemed to turn on him for his efforts. What did he do that made the residents so mad? What was up the Torso Murders, and how did Ness deal with this serial killer? What happened to him later in life? What happened the one time he and Capone actually met face to face? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/law-figure/eliot-ness https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Ness https://www.atf.gov/our-history/eliot-ness https://www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/collections/eliot-ness/ https://strandmag.com/10-additional-surprising-facts-about-eliot-ness/ https://www.alcoholproblemsandsolutions.org/corruption-during-prohibition-of-alcohol/ https://www.alcoholproblemsandsolutions.org/prohibition-bureau-bureau-of-prohibition/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Torso_Murderer

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