The Muck Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 203: Malocchio | Anton Cermak Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

Hillary and Tina cover the murder of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak.

Anton Cermak, a beacon of hope for many, arrived in the U.S. from the Czech Republic, shaping a remarkable political career. BUT, tragically, his journey met a sudden and violent end when he was gunned down.

Sources
Hillary's Story
Britannica
Anton J. Cermak

Chicago Public Library
Mayor Anton Joseph Cermak Biography

The Chicago Tribune
90 years ago, the father of Chicago’s political machine died after being struck by an assassin’s bullet intended for FDR--by Ron Grossman
The shooting of Anton Cermak--by Peter Kendall

The New York Times
Anton Cermak's Life

WBEZ Chicago
Anton Cermak: Chicago’s first ‘Boss’--by John R. Schmidt

Wikipedia
Anton Cermak
Giuseppe Zangara

Photos
Anton Cermak--public domain via Wikipedia
Anton and FDR--via Chicago Tribune
Giuseppe Zangara Mugshot--from FL Dept. of Corrections/Public Domain via Wikipedia
Old Sparky--by Jack Spottswood via Florida Memory

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Episode 202: Bologna Pony | The New England Christmas Ban Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

Tina and Hillary cover when Christmas was banned in New England.

Bigger cities in early America observed Christmas . BUT when celebrations went too far, New England Puritans banned the holiday for years.

Sources
Tina's Story
Atlas Obscura
The Long-Banned Tradition of Mummering in Newfoundland Is Making a Comeback--by Sarah Laskow

Colonial Williamsburg
Wassailing through History--By Robert Doares

History
Saturnalia
When Massachusetts Banned Christmas

Mass.gov
Massachusetts Law Banning Christmas

Wassailia
The History of Wassailing

Why Christmas
The History of Wassailing and Mumming

Wikipedia
Cotton Mather

Photos
William Bradford taking toys from Pilgrims on Christmas Day--via WBUR
Public Notice Banning Christmas--via Medium

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Special Episode: Fun Times on Patreon Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

Happy Thanksgiving, Mucksters! This week we have taken the weekend off to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family and friends. So, we are sharing with you two of our exclusive Patreon episodes. We have a lot of fun on Patreon each week. If you subscribe you can listen to us play games, take trivia quizzes, and answer your questions. If you are interested in supporting our podcast each month, please join us at: https://www.patreon.com/themuckpodcast.
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The two episodes we shared this week are the game F, Marry, Kill and Finish the Song Lyrics quiz. We hope you enjoy it!

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Episode 201: Debbie Downer | The Ghost Town of Centralia, Pennsylvania Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Hillary and Tina cover the Ghost Town of Centralia, Pennsylvania.

The town of Centralia, Pennsylvania was once a bustling mining community. BUT after a series of failures culminated into a never-ending mining fire, Centralia turned into a modern-day ghost town.

Sources
Hillary's Story
All That's Interesting
Inside The Eerie Ghost Town Of Centralia, Pennsylvania That’s Been On Fire Since 1962--By Katie Serena

Artillary Magazine
Graffiti Highway: Crude and Sophisticated; Now Gone Forever--by Anthony Ausgang

Atlas Obscura
Centralia

The Travel
The Fires Continue: What Centralia Looks Like Today--by Lilliana Tedesco

The Travelling Blizzards
Visiting Centralia, PA & the Abandoned Graffiti Highway

Wikipedia
Molly Maguires

Photos
Danger Sign in Centralia, PA--via Legends of America
Smoke Rises from Crack in the Road--by Don Emmert via Business Insider
Sinkhole in 1981--via PennLive
Graffiti Highway--by Laurie Lobbregt
via Artillery
Centralia, PA in the 1960’s--via Legends of America

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Episode 200: Blood, Sweat, and Tears | Race Riot on USS Kitty Hawk Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

Tina and Hillary cover the race riot aboard USS Kitty Hawk.

The USS Kitty Hawk race riot shook the Navy, highlighting deep racial divides. BUT when black sailors faced charges, while white ones walked free, it exposed a painful injustice within the ranks.

Sources
CNN
US aircraft carrier, site of a 1972 race riot at sea, on way to scrapyard--by Brad Lendon

Military History Now
The Kitty Hawk Race Riot — Inside the Eruption of Violence That Engulfed a U.S. Navy Carrier

The Navy Times
Race riot at sea — 1972 Kitty Hawk incident fueled fleet-wide unrest--by Mark Faram

Naval Musem
Article B: USS Kitty Hawk: A Riot for Equal Rights
The USS Kitty Hawk Riot, October 1972

San Diego Reader
USS Kitty Hawk

Wikipedia
USS Kitty Hawk riot

Photos
USS Kitty Hawk--from US Navy via Military History Now
Executive Officer Commander Benjamin Cloud--via Patrick Murfin Blog

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Episode 199: Where's the Money, Lebowski? | Russell Williams Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

Hillary and Tina cover Royal Canadian Air Force Wing Commander Russell Williams.

Royal Canadian Air Force Wing Commander Russell Williams had a high-flying career. BUT as his confessions unravel, shocking crimes come to light, revealing a hidden and sinister side.

Sources
BBC
Pilot Russell Williams's graphic murders shock Canada--by Lee Carter

CBC
Col. Russell Williams timeline

CBS News
Canadian Commander Gets Life for Murders

The Crime Wire
Russell Williams: Confessions of a Deviant Colonel--by Rupert Taylor

Government of Canada
Ranks and Appointments

The Mob Reporter
Col. Russell Williams — Brilliant police interrogation and confession

NBC News
Canadian commander by day; sexual predator, killer by night

The Star
Life and times of Col. Russell Williams--By Raveena Aulakh , David Bruser , Katie Daubs

Vice
He Was a Top Officer in the Military, and Also a Serial Killer--by Patrick Lejtenyi

Wikipedia
Russell Williams (criminal)

Photos
Russell Williams--photo by Bill Tremblal/The Independent via durhamregion.com
Russell poses in stolen lingerie--from Rueters handout via Rueters
Jessica Lloyd--from CBC via CBS News
Marie-France Comeau--from CBC via CBS News

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Episode 198: Bro Code | Thomas B. Evans, Jr. Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

Tina and Hillary cover former US House Representative from Delaware, Thomas B. Evans.

US House Rep Thomas B. Evans, Jr. seemed like a typical politician. But he found himself entangled with a pinup Playboy model lobbyist, sparking rumors of her using unconventional tactics.

Sources
Tina's Story
Orlando Sentinel
QUAYLE AND PAULA PARKINSON

PBS Think Tank
Corruption, Then and Now--with Ben Wattenberg

University of Virginia Alumni Page
THOMAS B. “TOM” EVANS JR.

UPI
Parkinson says she slept with six congressmen
Relax, congressmen. Lobbyist-Playboy model Paula Parkinson says she's got...

The Washington Post
The Paula Parkinson Story--by Rudy Maxa
Return From the Slough of Scandal--by Lois Romano

Wikipedia
Thomas B. Evans, Jr.

Photos
Thomas B. Evans, Jr.--from Congressional Pictorial Directory (Public Domain via Wikipedia).
Paula Parkinson--via New York Post
Dan Quayle in House of Representatives----from Congressional Pictorial Directory (Public Domain via Wikipedia).

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Episode 197: Vampire Style | Huey Long Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

Hillary and Tina cover former Louisiana Governor and US Senator, Huey Long.

Huey Long, the charismatic yet controversial Louisiana Governor and US Senator, wielded power with strong-arm tactics. BUT his story takes a dark turn when he's assassinated, leaving behind a complicated legacy.

Sources
Hillary's Story
The Atlantic
When Demagogic Populism Swings Left--by Annika Neklason

Britannica
Huey Long

Gale
FBI File on Huey Long

History
Huey Long

Huey Long Website
Huey Long Biography

JSTOR Daily
Huey Long: A Fiery Populist Who Wanted to Share the Wealth--by Peter Feuerherd

Library of Congress
U.S. Senator Huey Long, the political "Kingfish" of Louisiana

PBS
Huey Long Documentary

Time
The Strange Career of Assassinated Louisiana Politician Huey Long--by Jennifer Latson

United States Senate
Huey Long: A Featured Biography

Wikipedia
Huey Long

Photos
Huey Long--by Harris & Ewing (Public Domain via Wikipedia)
Huey Long Grave at Louisiana Capitol--by Frank McMains via Country Roads Magazine

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Episode 196: Honest Dick | James "Honest Dick" Tate Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Tina and Hillary cover former Kentucky State Treasurer, James "Honest Dick" Tate.

Kentucky State Treasurer James Tate was known for his honesty. But when he vanished with a stolen fortune, he triggered a nationwide manhunt proving that even the most trustworthy can have a hidden side.

Sources
Frank the Magazine
James ‘Honest Dick’ Tate: Frankfort’s most honest of dishonest men--by Roger Barlow

Lexington Herald-Leader
Fraudulent legacy of Ky. treasurer ‘Honest Dick’ Tate--by Stuart W. Sanders

Kentucky Historical Society
Tate Impeachment

Roots Web
Kentucky: A History of the State--by Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 5th ed., 1887,
Franklin Co.

Photos
James "Honest Dick" Tate--Unknown Author (Public Domain via Wikipedia)
Kentucky Treasury Scales--from Emma Guy Cromwell; KHS Collection via Kentucky Historical Society

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Episode 195: Sick AF | Vikki Kittles Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

Hillary and Tina cover animal hoarder Vikki Kittles.

Vikki Kittles, known for animal hoarding and abuse and spent years avoiding consequences. BUT ultimately her actions led to the creation of protective laws.

Sources
Hillary's Story
The Astorian
Kittles collects animals again

The Florida Bar
ANIMAL HOARDING IN FLORIDA: ADDRESSING THE ONGOING ANIMAL, HUMAN, AND PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS--by Gregg Riley Morton

Orlando Sentinel
GOING TO THE DOGS

The Seattle Times
Woman In Animal Case Freed

Sun Sentinel
BROWARD FUGITIVE FOUND IN ANIMAL-FILLED VAN
MANORS WOMAN CHARGED WITH KEEPING A HORSE IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD

Photos
Vikki Kittles--via Animal Legal Defense Fund
Kittles Newspaper Article--via Animals 24/7/photo editor Beth Clifton

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