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Random Knowledge You Should Know

Random Knowledge You Should Know

By: The Oracle of St. Vincent
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 The Oracle of St Vincent, bringer of random knowledge and facts, gives you little bits of information you never knew that you needed to know... in compact little episodes for those who have a short attention span.The Oracle of St. Vincent
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Episodes
  • Hugh Williams: The Man That Lives Forever?

    Hugh Williams: The Man That Lives Forever?
    May 15 2025
    Welcome to Season 1, Episode 3 of “Random Knowledge You Should Know”. Ahoy, listeners, prepare to be swept into the stormy saga of Hugh Williams, a name that seems to defy the ocean’s wrath with eerie, almost supernatural luck! This isn’t just one man—it’s a legend tied to multiple shipwrecks across centuries, where men named Hugh Williams miraculously survived disasters that claimed countless lives. From sinking ships in the 17th century to a chilling 1940 rescue, we’re diving into ten jaw-dropping facts about this maritime mystery that’ll make you question fate, coincidence, or something stranger. Batten down the hatches for a wild ride through history’s most bizarre nautical tale!1664 Wreck Spared Only Hugh WilliamsOn December 5, 1664, a ship carrying 81 passengers sank in the Menai Strait off Wales. The sole survivor was a man named Hugh Williams, who clung to wreckage until rescued. Historical records, including parish logs, confirm this disaster, sparking the first whisper of the “Hugh Williams curse” among maritime historians and folklore enthusiasts.https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hugh-williams-shipwreck/https://hoaxeye.com/2019/08/08/the-unsinkable-hugh-williams/1785 Shipwreck Left Hugh Williams StandingOn December 5, 1785, another vessel sank in the Menai Strait, this time with 54 aboard. Once again, the only survivor was a Hugh Williams, who reportedly swam to shore. Chronicled in Welsh annals, this second coincidence fueled local legends, intriguing statisticians and sailors studying improbable survivals.https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/posts/The-unsinkable-Hugh-Williamshttps://www.history.com/news/the-strange-case-of-hugh-williams1820 Disaster Repeated the Name’s LuckOn August 19, 1820, a ship foundered in the Irish Sea near Anglesey, drowning 25 passengers—except for, you guessed it, Hugh Williams. Local records from Caernarfon note his survival, adding a third layer to the myth. Folklorists and probability experts marvel at this recurring name in maritime disasters.https://hoaxeye.com/2019/08/08/the-unsinkable-hugh-williams/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/unsinkable-hugh-williams-story-man-144735601940 Fishing Boat Rescue Defied OddsOn December 10, 1940, the British fishing boat My Lady sank off the Isle of Man with six crewmen. Five drowned, but a lone survivor, Hugh Williams, was plucked from the icy waters. Reported in the Isle of Man Times, this modern echo of the legend stunned WWII-era readers and maritime researchers.https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hugh-williams-shipwreck/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/625738/unsinkable-hugh-williamsCommon Name, Uncommon Fate in WalesHugh Williams was a popular name in 17th–19th century Wales, akin to “John Smith” today, yet its repeated link to sole survivors is statistically bizarre. Welsh genealogists, like those at Bangor University, note the name’s prevalence but can’t explain its monopoly on survival, fascinating data analysts and historians.https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/posts/The-unsinkable-Hugh-Williamshttps://www.wales.com/about/culture/hugh-williams-legend1883 Schooner Added a Twist with Two HughsOn December 10, 1883, a schooner sank off Anglesey with 27 aboard. Two survivors, both named Hugh Williams (one a passenger, one a crewman), swam to safety. This double-Hugh anomaly, logged in maritime records, deepened the myth, thrilling folklore scholars and probability buffs.https://hoaxeye.com/2019/08/08/the-unsinkable-hugh-williams/https://www.history.com/news/the-strange-case-of-hugh-williamsThanks for checking out Mr. Williams with us! Check our blog for more weird facts, strange discoveries, and updates. Check out the blog for more Oracle of St. Vincent updates.
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    10 mins
  • Random Knowledge You Should Know Podcast –This GIANT Fungus is Eating Oregon ALIVE! The World’s LARGEST Organism Will Blow Your Mind!

    Random Knowledge You Should Know Podcast –This GIANT Fungus is Eating Oregon ALIVE! The World’s LARGEST Organism Will Blow Your Mind!
    May 9 2025
    Welcome to Season 1, Episode 2 of “Random Knowledge You Should Know”. Hello and welcome, today we dive into the bizarre Humongous Fungus, the world’s largest organism! This massive honey fungus (Armillaria ostoyae) in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest is nature’s creepiest giant.World’s Heaviest Organism Outweighs Blue WhalesThe Humongous Fungus weighs 7,500–35,000 tons, dwarfing 175 blue whales (200 tons each), making it the largest living organism in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest.https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/humongous-fungus/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-largest-organism-is-fungus/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/07/29/fact-check-fake-photos-humongous-fungus-circulate-online/5365299001/Ancient Fungus Older Than Human Civilization*Aged 2,400–8,650 years, this ancient honey fungus may predate civilizations, creeping at 0.7–3.3 feet yearly in Oregon’s forest ecosystem. *Civilization may be as old as 12,800 years or more - point of debate. https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-humongous-fungus-sets-record-as-largest-single-living-organism-on-earth/https://interstellar.news/science-and-technology/the-humongous-fungus-a-remarkable-natural-phenomenon-in-oregon/Edible Autumn Mushrooms with Toxic LookalikesHoney-colored mushrooms sprout in fall, edible if cooked, but toxic lookalikes endanger foragers in Oregon’s Humongous Fungus habitat.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/humongous-fungus-oregon-malheur-national-forest/https://interstellar.news/science-and-technology/the-humongous-fungus-a-remarkable-natural-phenomenon-in-oregon/https://thinkbluemarble.com/humongous-fungus/Giant Clonal Fungus ColonySpanning 2,385 acres, this Humongous Fungus is one genetic clone, confirmed by DNA, dominating Oregon’s Malheur National Forest as a single organism.https://www.earthdate.org/the-humongous-fungus-among-ushttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-largest-organism-is-fungus/https://v-e-n-u-e.com/The-Humongous-FungusRival Giant Fungi in Washington and MichiganArmillaria colonies in Washington (1,500 acres) and Michigan (173 acres) are massive, but Oregon’s Humongous Fungus is the largest organism known.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-largest-organism-is-fungus/https://bigthink.com/the-present/humongous-fungus/Fire Suppression Fueled Fungus GrowthSince the 1930s, fire suppression preserved trees and debris, supercharging the Humongous Fungus’s spread in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest.https://bigthink.com/the-present/humongous-fungus/https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/11/14/fungus-among-us-author-names-oregons-humongous-fungus-one-grossest-places-earthhttps://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/humongous-fungus/Potentially Glowing Bioluminescent FungusSome Armillaria species glow (foxfire), hinting that Oregon’s Humongous Fungus might be a bioluminescent enigma in Malheur National Forest.https://www.earthdate.org/the-humongous-fungus-among-usFake Giant Mushroom Photos DebunkedViral images of giant mushrooms are fake; Oregon’s Humongous Fungus lurks underground, with small mushrooms in Malheur National Forest.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/07/29/fact-check-fake-photos-humongous-fungus-circulate-online/5365299001/https://thatoregonlife.com/2020/01/the-largest-organism-on-the-planet-is-right-here-in-oregon/https://interstellar.news/science-and-technology/the-humongous-fungus-a-remarkable-natural-phenomenon-in-oregon/Immortal Fungus Could Outlive HumanityThriving for millennia, the Humongous Fungus may endure unless fire or climate change stops it in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-largest-organism-is-fungus/https://www.discovery.com/exploration/armillaria-ostoyae-fungus-largest-life-form-on-earthhttps://bigthink.com/the-present/humongous-fungus/Check out the blog for more Oracle of St. Vincent updates.
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    12 mins
  • Octopuses - Things you didn't know about our ALIEN OVERLORDS Hiding in Our Oceans!

    Octopuses - Things you didn't know about our ALIEN OVERLORDS Hiding in Our Oceans!
    May 4 2025

    Greetings, you weirdos and wannabe marine biologists!

    Welcome to Random Knowledge You Should Know, the podcast that today drags you into the slimy, mind-bending world of octopuses—those eight-armed, ink-slinging freaks of the deep! From cannibalistic hookups to coconut DIY projects, these squishy masterminds are serving drama, smarts, and pure chaos.

    Grab your snorkel, brace for some serious side-eye, and let’s dive into the cephalopod circus—trust me, it’s gonna be a wild ride!
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    9 mins

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