Episodes

  • Henrietta Lacks: Immortality Exploited and Reborn

    Henrietta Lacks: Immortality Exploited and Reborn
    Jun 8 2022
    Henrietta Lacks wasn't looking for immortality. She was looking to be healed, and was exploited by her doctors. Today we share a story of lives saved and diseases cured and the fight for justice and recognition, and the immortal cells of Henrietta Lacks.
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    56 mins
  • Ray Kurzweil and the Singularity of Endless Optimism

    Ray Kurzweil and the Singularity of Endless Optimism
    Jun 2 2022
    41 mins
  • Sokushinbutsu: Self Mummification

    Sokushinbutsu: Self Mummification
    May 25 2022
    Listeners, usually our episodes are about greedy individuals searching for immortality to satisfy their own need for glory. Rarely do we get to share a story of those who are seeking eternity in an attempt to benefit their own version of the greater good. Today might just be that tale.
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    37 mins
  • The Real Nicholas Flamel

    The Real Nicholas Flamel
    May 18 2022
    We're back, intrepid listeners. This week, dive into the real Nicholas Flamel, from his bookbinding-youth, to studies of alchemy to his empty grave.
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    55 mins
  • Diane de Poitiers: Liquid Gold

    Diane de Poitiers: Liquid Gold
    Dec 3 2021
    Adhamy, Amir. “What Did a Lady-in-Waiting Actually Do?” HistoryExtra, 26 Nov. 2020, www.historyextra.com/period/what-did-lady-ladies-in-waiting-do-role.Akingswhore. “Akingswhore.” A King’s Whore, 1 Feb. 2018, akingswhore.tumblr.com/post/170353396161/diane-de-poitiers-3-sep-1499-25-apr.Andy. “Everything You Need to Know About Edible Gold Leaf.” Cooked Best, 15 Feb. 2021, cookedbest.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-edible-gold-leaf/#:%7E:text=Uses%20of%20Edible%20Gold%20leaf%3A,-Edible%20gold%20leaf&text=The%20gold%20leaf%20flakes%20add,or%20in%20pre%2Dfab%20flakes.Author, Guest. “Beauty Secrets of a Royal Mistress.” DC on Heels, 17 Feb. 2015, dconheels.com/2015/01/30/beauty-queen.Bates, Claire. “Dying to Look Good: French King’s Mistress Killed by Gold Elixir of Youth.” Mail Online, 22 Dec. 2009, www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1236916/Dying-look-good-French-kings-mistress-killed-gold-elixir-youth.html.Beck, Shari. Portrait in Black and White: Diane De Poitiers in Her Own Words. Bloomington, IN, iUniverse Booksellers, 2011.Biller, Lauren Davis And Diana. “7 Ways That People Died Trying To Become Immortal.” Io9, 16 Dec. 2015, io9.gizmodo.com/7-ways-that-people-died-trying-to-become-immortal-1691947345.Burkovski, Amanda. “Henry and Diane: A Love/Sad/Fantastic Story Illustrated With the Character’s Real Portraits.” Medium, 15 Nov. 2019, medium.com/@AmandaBurkovski/henry-and-diane-a-love-sad-fantastic-story-27d255735225.Carley, Claudia Suzan. “Diane de Poitiers vs. Catherine de Medici.” WordPress.Com, 14 Oct. 2015, castlesandcoffeehouses.com/2015/06/15/diane-de-poitiers-vs-catherine-de-medici.CeeGunn. “Jousting Rules in Medieval and Modern Times.” HowTheyPlay, 19 Mar. 2021, howtheyplay.com/misc/Medieval-Jousting-Rules.Charlier, Philippe. “A Gold Elixir of Youth in the 16th Century French Court.” The BMJ, 16 Dec. 2009, www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b5311.full.---. “Fatal Alchemy: Did Gold Kill 16th Century French Courtesan And Favorite Of Henri II.” British Medical Journal, Dec. 2009, www.bmj.com/bmj/section-pdf/186428?path=/bmj/339/7735/Diagnosis.full.pdf.Climans, Kyle. “Extravagant Facts About Diane de Poitiers, Royal Mistress.” Factinate, 29 Jan. 2021, www.factinate.com/people/facts-diane-de-poitiers.Cloud, Amanda. “Gender Roles of Women in the Renaissance.” Cedarcrest.Edu, Cedarcrest.edu, www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/eng/lfletcher/shrew/acloud.htm. Accessed 13 Apr. 2021.Consort, Newberry. “Queen of the Arts: Catherine de’ Medici.” The Newberry Consort, 25 Feb. 2019, www.newberryconsort.org/queen-of-the-arts-catherine-de-medici/#:%7E:text=When%20Catherine%20moved%20to%20France,sons%2C%20be%20trained%20in%20dance.Context Travel Contributors. “Royal Rivalry: Diane De Poitiers and Catherine De Medicis.” Context Travel, 2 Mar. 2020, www.contexttravel.com/blog/articles/royal-rivalry-diane-de-poitiers-and-catherine-de-medicis.DA SOLLER, CLAUDIO. “THE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN MEDIEVAL IBERIA: RHETORIC, COSMETICS, AND EVOLUTION.” Faculty of the Graduate School University of Missouri-Columbia, 2005, pp. 1–201, mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/4175/research.pdf.Delors, Catherine. “Diane De Poitiers Returns to Her Grave… « Versailles and More.” Versailles and More, 2010, blog.catherinedelors.com/diane-de-poitiers-returns-to-her-grave.Dhwty. “A Mistress with the Midas Touch: Her Hunger for Gold Would Be the Death of Her.” Ancient Origins, 13 Feb. 2018, www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/mistress-midas-touch-her-hunger-gold-would-be-death-her-009589.“Diane De Poitiers...Three Cold Baths a Day and a Perfectly Disciplined Body...the Beauty Secrets That Made the Ladies of the Court Enragees.” Vogue | The Complete Archive, 1 Oct. 1969, archive.vogue.com/article/1969/10/01/diane-de-poitiersthree-cold-baths-a-day-and-a-perfectly-disciplined-bodythe-beauty-secrets-that-made.Dovey, Dana. “No Fairy Tale: Tiny Bacteria Spin Gold From Toxic Heavy Metals.” Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2018, www.newsweek.com/gold-bacteria-heavy-metal-toxic-798615.Encyclopedia.com Contributors. “Diane de Poitiers (1499–1566) | Encyclopedia.Com.” Encyclopedia, 2020, www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/diane-de-poitiers-1499-1566.Enviromental Protection Agency. “Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Without Mercury.” US EPA, 16 Nov. 2020, www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/artisanal-and-small-scale-gold-mining-without-mercury#:%7E:text=In%20many%20countries%2C%20elemental%20mercury,mercury%20to%20obtain%20the%20gold.Food and Drug Administration. “Edible Gold Leaf FDA Certificates. Host Your next Event, Style Your Menu and Make a Memorable Experience for Your Guests.” Ediblegold.Com, 2019, ediblegold.com/fda.html.GardensOnline Pty. Ltd. “Chateau de Chenonceau.” GardensOnline, Gardens Online, 2021, www.gardensonline.com.au/inspiration/gardensoftheworld/show_92.aspx.Greenberg, Jake. “...
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Rasputin: The Man Who Can't Be Killed

    Rasputin: The Man Who Can't Be Killed
    Nov 26 2021
    Works CitedAzar, Helen. “TIME TRAVEL WITH ROMANOV FAMILY: CHILDREN’S ISLAND.” Theromanovfamily.Com, 18 June 2015, www.theromanovfamily.com/the-alexander-palace-and-park.Ball, Jacqueline. “Should Dogs Be Prescribed for Chronic Pain? | Physician’s Weekly.” Www.Physiciansweekly.Com, Physician's Weekly, 14 Oct. 2014, www.physiciansweekly.com/should-dogs-be-prescribed-for-chronic-pain/#:%7E:text=Research%20shows%20that%20being%20in,often%20results%20from%20chronic%20pain.Bezrutczyk, Destiny, and Theresa Parisi. “Speedball (Heroin & Cocaine) Abuse And Recovery.” Addiction Center, 30 Mar. 2021, www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/heroin/speedball.Biographics. “Grigori Rasputin: The Devil Incarnate.” YouTube, uploaded by Simon Whistler, 21 Jan. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZOHQwzA0bM.Biography. “Rasputin.” Biography, 13 Dec. 2019, www.biography.com/political-figure/rasputin#:%7E:text=After%20failing%20to%20become%20a,his%20political%20influence%20was%20minor.Bouchard, Anthony. “The Science Behind How Cyanide Kills You.” LabRoots, 13 Sept. 2017, www.labroots.com/trending/videos/11035/the-science-behind-how-cyanide-kills-you.Clinical Knowledge Network. “Cupid’s Chemical Addiction – the Science of Love | Clinical Knowledge Network.” CKN, Clinical Knowledge Network Queensland, 2017, www.ckn.org.au/content/cupid%E2%80%99s-chemical-addiction-%E2%80%93-science-love#:%7E:text=High%20levels%20of%20dopamine%20and,eat%20and%20can’t%20sleep.Cohut, Maria. “Simply Being with Someone You Love Can Lessen Physical Pain.” Medical News Today, 28 Aug. 2019, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326168#Partners-presence-can-reduce-acute-pain.Cult of Weird. “Rasputin’s Penis: The Mythical, Magical Manhood of Russia’s Mad Monk.” Cult of Weird, 5 Feb. 2021, www.cultofweird.com/curiosities/rasputin-penis.Cutler, Max. “5 Times Rasputin Should Have Died.” Parcast, 9 Aug. 2016, www.parcast.com/blog/2016/8/9/5-times-rasputin-should-have-died.Dennison, Tracy, and Steven Nafziger. “Micro-Perspectives on 19Th-Century Russian Living Standards.” Social Science History Association, 2017, pp. 1–50. web.williams.edu, web.williams.edu/Economics/wp/nafzigerMicroLivingStandards_WilliamsWorkingPaper_Nov2007.pdf.Dickinson, Sophie. “Grigori Rasputin Myths Busted: Murder, Height, and Where Is His Penis?” Metro, 21 Feb. 2021, metro.co.uk/2021/02/21/grigori-rasputin-myths-busted-murder-height-and-where-is-his-penis-14115851.Ėtkind, Aleksandr. “Russian Sects Still Seem Obscure.” Kritika: Explorations in Russian and Eurasian History, vol. 2, no. 1, 2001, pp. 165–81. Crossref, doi:10.1353/kri.2008.0056.Harkup, Kathryn. “Poisoned, Shot and Beaten: Why Cyanide Alone May Have Failed to Kill Rasputin.” The Guardian, 9 May 2017, www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2017/jan/13/poisoned-shot-and-beaten-why-cyanide-may-have-failed-to-kill-rasputin.Harris, Carolyn. “The Murder of Rasputin, 100 Years Later.” Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/murder-rasputin-100-years-later-180961572.Hasic, Albinko. “5 Myths and Truths About Rasputin.” Time, 29 Dec. 2016, time.com/4606775/5-myths-rasputin.Heatherington, Kimberley. “History on Screen: The Fall of the Romanov Dynasty at the Russian Embassy Carmel Institute of Russian Culture & History Hosts Screening of Silent Film Masterpiece.” American University, American University Washington DC, 4 Mar. 2018, www.american.edu/cas/carmel/news/the-fall-of-the-romanov-dynasty.cfm.“How Not To Die From A Stabbing.” YouTube, uploaded by BBC Three, 21 Dec. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Jx3EsdFGQ.Janos, Adam. “What Was It Like to Die of Cyanide Poisoning at Jonestown?” A&E, 26 Feb. 2018, www.aetv.com/real-crime/jonestown-how-did-it-feel-to-die-of-cyanide-poisoning.Keim, Brandon. “How Love Makes (Some) Pain Go Away.” Wired, 3 June 2017, www.wired.com/2011/06/love-reduces-pain.Lindsay Holiday. “Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna Romanov of Russia.” YouTube, uploaded by Lindsay Holiday, 12 Jan. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KHlajTb4OE.Medicosis Perfectionalis. “Cyanide Poisoning.” YouTube, uploaded by Medicosis Perfectionalis, 21 Jan. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbkYCrLXHNk.---. “Cyanide Poisoning Diagnosis and Treatment.” YouTube, uploaded by Medicosis Perfectionalis, 22 Jan. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMMsSzGXJ9A.“Morphine (Injection) | Michigan Medicine.” University of Michigan Medicine, www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/d00308v1. Accessed 2 Apr. 2021.Myers, Steven Lee. “‘Rasputin’ Unravels the Myths of the ‘Mad Monk.’” The New York Times, 29 Dec. 2016, www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/books/rasputin-biography-douglas-smith.html.National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH). “CDC | Facts About Cyanide.” Center For Disease Control, Center For Disease Control, 4 Apr. 2018, emergency.cdc.gov/agent/cyanide/basics/facts.asp.Omidi, Maryam. “Cult of the Weird: Six of Russia’s Strangest Museums....
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Elizabeth Bathory, aka It Gets Way, Way Worse

    Elizabeth Bathory, aka It Gets Way, Way Worse
    Nov 19 2021

    Theunissen, Steve, and Jack Cole. Performance by Simon Whistler, Elizabeth Bathory – The ‘Blood Countess,’ Biographics, 1 Nov. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N3TSPZoY1o&lc=UgxS9zTiN2xi2FfEzel4AaABAg.

    Bon, Scott A. “The Unique Motives of Female Serial Killers.” Psychology Today , 24 June 2019, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201906/the-unique-motives-female-serial-killers.

    Craft, Kimberly L. "INFAMOUS LADY:THE TRUE STORY OFCOUNTESS ERZSÉBET BÁTHORY". Independent , 2009.

    “Elizabeth Báthory.” Serial Killers Wiki, serialkillers.wikia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thory.

    “Elizabeth Báthory.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Mar. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_B%C3%A1thory.

    Fox, James Alan, and Jack Levin. “Multiple Homicide: Patterns of Serial and Mass Murder.” Crime and Justice: The University of Chicago Press, vol. 23, 1998, pp. 407–456., doi:https://www.jstor.org/stable/1147545.

    “Hungarian Countesses' Torturous Escapades Are Exposed.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 13 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bathorys-torturous-escapades-are-exposed.

    The Infographics Show, director. Serial Killer Who Killed Over 500 People - The Blood Countess, The Infographics Show, 2 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUQAEtPmxBA.

    Jewell, Tim. “The Macdonald Triad: Can 3 Behaviors Predict a Serial Killer?” Edited by Timothy J Legg, Healthline.com, 24 Mar. 2020, www.healthline.com/health/macdonald-triad.

    Kettler, Sara. “Elizabeth Bathory.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 21 May 2020, www.biography.com/crime-figure/elizabeth-bathory.

    KYTKA. “Watch This: Bathory: Countess of Blood.” Everything Czech, 16 Nov. 2017, www.tresbohemes.com/2017/11/watch-bathory-countess-blood/#:~:text=Following%20her%20trial%2C%20one%20of,or%20bear%20her%20name%20anywhere!

    “The Legend of Elizabeth Báthory: The Blood Countess.” Medical Bag, 14 Jan. 2019, www.medicalbag.com/home/features/grey-matter/the-legend-of-elizabeth-bathory-the-blood-countess/.

    Scary Night Visit to Elizabeth Bathory’s Castle, Researchers, 1 May 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Afj2siQnJM.

    Sharma, Pankaj. “Elizabeth Bathory: 10 Things You'll Learn About Her in Hungary.” TheTravel, 3 Nov. 2019, www.thetravel.com/elizabeth-bathory-history-education-hungary-travel/.

    Shelat, Amit E. “Muscle Function Loss: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 4 Feb. 2020, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003190.htm.

    Sherman, Elisabeth. “Did Elizabeth Bathory, The ‘Blood Countess," Actually Deserve Her Nickname?” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 25 Mar. 2020, allthatsinteresting.com/elizabeth-bathory-true-story#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20reports%20and,feast%20on%20their%20exposed%20skin%3B.

    Slovakia From Above, director. Cachtice Castle - Ruins of Cachtice Castle - The Bloody Lady of Čachtice, Slovakia From Above , 25 Feb. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QqGernWjns.

    Ugc. “Ruins of Cachtice Castle.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 17 Nov. 2009, www.atlasobscura.com/places/ruins-cachtice-castle.

    White, Conan. The Countess That Bathed In The Blood Of Her Victims! . Performance by Chris Kane, The Countess Who Bathed In The Blood Of Her Victims, Simple History, 8 Oct. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdwVmbhCvs8. 

    https://www.abc15.com/lifestyle/blood-facials-what-are-they-are-why-do-people-get-them

    https://shareably.net/bizarre-beauty-trends-you-wont-believe-real/

    https://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/news/a14931/kim-kardashians-vampire-facial/

    https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+a+dermapen&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjrsNGtgOjwAhVVHs0KHWfXDjcQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1440&bih=732
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    54 mins
  • The Terracotta Legacy of the Dragon Emperor

    The Terracotta Legacy of the Dragon Emperor
    Nov 12 2021

    All That's Interesting. “Meet The Most Well-Preserved Mummy In Human History.” All That's Interesting, All That's Interesting, 28 Feb. 2020, allthatsinteresting.com/xin-zhui-lady-dai.

    China Travel Blog, director. Virtual Tour to Terracotta Warriors Museum-兵马俑-HD | China Travel Vlog. China Travel Blog, YouTube, 12 Oct. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRMRJxvQfyE.

    Gannon, Megan. “China's First Emperor Ordered Search For An Immortality Elixir .” Live Science , 27 Dec. 2017, www.livescience.com/61286-first-chinese-emperor-sought-immortality.html#:~:text=China's%20First%20Emperor%20Ordered%20Official%20Search%20for%20Immortality%20Elixir,-By%20Megan%20Gannon&text=The%20first%20emperor%20of%20China%2C%20Qin%20Shi%20Huang%2C%20wanted%20to,China's%20Xinhua%20news%20agency%20reported.

    Harris, Shannon, and Radu Alexander. Performance by Simon Whistler, Qin Shi Huang: The First Emperor of China, Biographics , 4 Feb. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2FUmD1pyVM.

    History.com Editors. “Great Wall of China.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 24 Aug. 2010, www.history.com/topics/ancient-china/great-wall-of-china.

    Katz, Brigit. “2,000-Year-Old Texts Reveal the First Emperor of China's Quest for Eternal Life.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 29 Dec. 2017, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/2000-year-old-texts-reveal-first-emperor-chinas-quest-eternal-life-180967671/.

    Minghua, Huang. “The 'Hundred Entertainments'; China's 2,000-Year-Old Tradition of Acrobatics.” UNESDOC, United Nations, 1988, unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000077031.

    Oliver, Mark. “How the Search for Immortality Killed the First Emperor of China.” Ancient Origins, Ancient Origins, 15 June 2018, www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/search-immortality-killed-emperor-china-0010207.

    Pham, Larissa. “Https://Www.theparisreview.org/Blog/2019/12/18/a-Figure-Models-Brief-Guide-to-Poses-through-Art-History/.” The Paris Review , 18 Dec. 2019, www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/12/18/a-figure-models-brief-guide-to-poses-through-art-history/.

    Tombs and Ancestors, The British Museum, 2000, www.ancientchina.co.uk/tombs/home_set.html.

    Translations, Day. “How Many Languages Are Spoken in China?” Day Translations Blog, Day Translations, 2 Sept. 2020, www.daytranslations.com/blog/languages-spoken-china/.

    YongYu, Lee. 

    China's First Emperor - Qin Shi Huang The Dragon Emperor

    . Performance by Steven Kamer, 

    China's Dragon Emperor: Architect of the Afterlife 

    , Smithsonian Channel, 18 Apr. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg1SGA3zYx8. 
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    52 mins