The Strange History Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Penguin Poop, Duck Necrophilia, and Bra Gas Masks: The Most Ridiculous Ig Nobel Prizes in Science History May 04, 2025

Show notes

From penguin poop trajectories to bras that double as gas masks, the Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate the strangest achievements in science — the kind that make you laugh first and think later. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy dives into the weird and wonderful world of bizarre academic research, including duck necrophilia, fart-scent detection, robot poop cleaners, and why you shouldn’t trust overconfident idiots (science says so!). Discover the history behind the Ig Nobels, meet the wildest winners, and learn why silly science might just save the world — or at least keep us laughing along the way.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

Key West: Ghosts, Chickens & Corpse Roommates Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

In this bizarrely tropical episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy dives into the sun-drenched insanity that is Key West — an island where the mayor once seceded from the U.S. with a loaf of Cuban bread, Ernest Hemingway’s ghost lives with six-toed cats, and a man kept his dead lover as a roommate... for seven years. Oh, and the chickens have lawyers. You’ll laugh, gasp, and probably check your closet for haunted dolls. Packed with polydactyl felines, pie politics, and the world’s only bathtub navy, this episode is your ultimate guide to the strangest corner of America. Listen now... or risk a letter from Robert the Doll.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

Coincidence? I Think Not! 12 Bizarre Historical Twists Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy dives into twelve jaw-dropping historical coincidences that are so weird, they sound made up. From twins living eerily parallel lives, to founding fathers syncing their final exit, to a war that couldn’t seem to leave one poor guy’s house alone — these real-life stories will make you laugh, gasp, and maybe side-eye the universe just a little. Perfect for fans of the mysterious, the absurd, and the historically uncanny. Come for the facts, stay for the sass.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

The Woman Who Refused to Die: The True Story of the Manchester Mummy Apr 13, 2025

Show notes

In 18th-century Manchester, Hannah Beswick lived a life of wealth and quiet dignity—but was consumed by one terrifying fear: being buried alive. After witnessing her brother narrowly escape premature burial, Hannah made an unusual demand in her will… one that led to her becoming one of the most bizarre and haunting figures in British history. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we explore the chilling true story of the Manchester Mummy. From the medical anxieties of the Georgian era to ghost sightings in Victorian museums, this tale blurs the line between life, death, and what happens when you try to cheat the grave.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

The Skinners of Victorian London: Clothes Thieves, Fog Crimes & Exile to Australia Apr 06, 2025

Show notes

Step into the fog-shrouded streets of 19th-century London and uncover the chilling true stories of the Skinners—criminals who stripped their victims of clothes and dignity. From the notorious London Fog Thieves to the Hansom Cab Strippers and the feared Shoreditch Skinner, this episode explores one of history’s strangest crime waves. Learn how these bizarre thieves operated, the brutal punishments they faced—including public floggings, prison ships, and forced transportation to Australia—and how Victorian society dealt with public humiliation and shame. A darkly fascinating journey through the shadows of crime and punishment in the 1800s.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

Baby Farming, Victorian Crimes & Wives for Sale: Strange Victorian History Mar 30, 2025

Show notes

Step into the dark and bizarre world of Victorian England in this episode of The Strange History Podcast. Host Amy explores unsettling stories of baby farming, where unwed mothers handed their babies over to sinister caretakers with tragic consequences.
Discover the shocking case of Maria de Roux and Frederick George Manning, whose murder case scandalized London, and the curious history of husbands auctioning their wives like livestock. Plus, dive into the mystery of Sir Roger Tichbourne and the strange punishments handed down by the Victorians for even the smallest of crimes. From mistaken identities to murder most foul, these tales will leave you questioning what was really happening behind the closed doors of Victorian society.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

The Great New England Vampire Panic: How Tuberculosis Sparked a Supernatural Scare Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

In this spine-tingling episode, we uncover the bizarre yet true story of the Great New England Vampire Panic. From the infamous case of Mercy Brown in Rhode Island to the eerie vampire graves of Griswold and Jewett City, we explore how a deadly tuberculosis outbreak fueled supernatural hysteria across 19th-century New England. Learn how families dug up their deceased loved ones, burned organs, and even drank the ashes—all in a desperate bid to stop a supposed undead menace. Plus, we dive into the science behind tuberculosis, the development of the first vaccine, and how medical advancements finally put an end to the region’s most chilling mass hysteria. Tune in for a fascinating mix of history, folklore, and dark humor!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

Echoes of the North: The History Behind Norse Gods, Ragnarok, and the Viking Afterlife Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

Dive into the fascinating world of Norse mythology and Viking history in Echoes of the North. Explore the real historical roots of Odin, Loki, and Hel, uncover the truth behind Ragnarok, and learn how the Vikings viewed the afterlife. Discover the legends, rituals, and beliefs that shaped Scandinavian culture and still echo in modern storytelling.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

The Bizarre and Delicious History of Chocolate: Gods, Scandals, and War Mar 16, 2025

Show notes

Chocolate has been more than just a sweet treat—it has been currency, medicine, a symbol of power, and even a cause of scandal. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy dives into the wild journey of chocolate from its ancient Mesoamerican roots to its role in European luxury, wartime rations, and modern-day obsession. Discover why the Aztecs worshiped cacao, how chocolate almost got a bishop killed, and why it was once banned for women. Plus, hear about chocolate’s dark ties to slavery and the surprising origins of Nutella. Grab a snack—this episode is as rich as the history it explores!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

Feast, Famine, and Murder: The Shocking History of Diet's and a Murder Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

From Victorian-era vinegar cleanses to Hollywood’s obsession with liquid meal replacements, Feast or Famine takes you on a fascinating journey through history’s most bizarre and extreme fad diets. Discover the real stories behind cigarette diets, the Sleeping Beauty weight-loss method, and the infamous cabbage soup craze.
We’ll also dive into one of the most shocking scandals in diet history—the murder of Dr. Herman Tarnower, creator of the Scarsdale Diet. This best-selling weight-loss plan promised rapid results but became infamous after Tarnower’s lover, Jean Harris, shot and killed him in a fit of rage. The case captivated the nation and added a true-crime twist to the world of dieting. Whether it’s the deadly dangers of extreme diets or modern-day trends like celery juice cleanses, this episode uncovers how diet culture has evolved—and why quick-fix solutions never seem to go away.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.
🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?
Submit your ideas for The Strange History Podcast
Follow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Audible
New episodes regularly. History gets weird here.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Strange History Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected