Episodes

  • The Truth Behind the Spanish Inquisition

    The Truth Behind the Spanish Inquisition
    Aug 24 2025
    The Spanish Inquisition, infamous for torture and executions, targeted Jews, Muslims, heretics, and alleged witches from 1481 to 1834. While it did use torture and executions, the scale was smaller than often believed—about 1,300 death sentences from 87,000 trials. Its methods were more regulated than other European courts, and its dark reputation was amplified by anti-Spanish propaganda. Still, it was responsible for unjust deaths and mass expulsions, leaving a lasting legacy of fear and intolerance.

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    10 mins
  • Decapitation: Consciousness, Execution, and Science

    Decapitation: Consciousness, Execution, and Science
    Aug 17 2025
    Exploring the history and science of decapitation, this episode examines whether consciousness persists after beheading. Historical anecdotes and modern studies suggest loss of awareness within seconds due to oxygen deprivation. Despite debates over humane execution methods and head transplants, evidence shows quick loss of consciousness post-decapitation. Today, decapitation is rare, mainly practiced in Saudi Arabia, and head transplants remain theoretical.

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    9 mins
  • The Antarctic Doctor Who Operated on Himself

    The Antarctic Doctor Who Operated on Himself
    Aug 10 2025
    In 1961, Soviet doctor Leonid Rogozov, stranded at a remote Antarctic base, developed acute appendicitis. With no way to evacuate and facing certain death if untreated, Rogozov performed a self-appendectomy, guiding two assistants and operating on himself in excruciating conditions. His survival led to stricter medical screening for polar explorers and inspired mandatory appendectomies for future isolated missions, including space travel.

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    7 mins
  • The New London School Explosion: America's Deadliest School Disaster

    The New London School Explosion: America's Deadliest School Disaster
    Aug 3 2025
    On March 18, 1937, a natural gas explosion destroyed New London School in Texas, killing around 294 people—mostly children—in the worst school disaster in US history. The tragedy, caused by a gas leak from an unodorized line, led to new safety laws requiring odorants in natural gas, stricter building codes, and improved emergency preparedness in schools nationwide. The event left a lasting scar on the community and transformed public safety regulations.

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    12 mins
  • Libby, Montana: The Hidden Asbestos Tragedy

    Libby, Montana: The Hidden Asbestos Tragedy
    Jul 27 2025
    Libby, Montana, once thriving on vermiculite mining, became the site of one of the worst environmental disasters in US history. From 1920 to 1990, thousands were exposed to asbestos-contaminated dust, resulting in over 2,400 asbestos-related diseases and 700 deaths. Despite early warnings, WR Grace concealed the risks to protect profits. Decades later, cleanup continues, but the community still faces the devastating health consequences of corporate negligence.

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    10 mins
  • Stalin’s War on the Kulaks: The Tragedy of Dekulakization

    Stalin’s War on the Kulaks: The Tragedy of Dekulakization
    Jul 20 2025
    In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Stalin launched a brutal campaign to eliminate the kulaks, land-owning peasants, as part of Soviet collectivization. Nearly half a million died and millions were deported or displaced. The policy shattered rural society, led to famine, and left deep psychological scars, as families were torn apart and communities destroyed. Dekulakization consolidated Stalin’s power, demonstrating the regime’s willingness to use terror against perceived class enemies.

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    11 mins