Notorious Narratives

We know a lot of stories about Ben Franklin and his role in many of America's most historic founding moments. But in the earth below his London home there are secrets that may change the way we view one of America's favorite sons. This is the story of The Bones in Ben's Basement.

In this episode Robin will tell you the tale of Olive Ann Oatman. If you haven't heard of her don't feel bad, but hers is a story dripping with Wild West intrigue.

Countless atrocities took place during Imperialist endeavors but some of the most horrible were committed in the Belgian Congo. In this episode, Jen will tell you the true story of Heart of Darkness.

The Trail of Tears is a term used to describe the route that was traveled during the forced removal of over 100,000 Native Americans in the Southeast to what would be called "Indian Territory" in what is today, Oklahoma. The trip was brutal and not well supplied, The harsh reality of starvation, disease and exposure along the trip meant that many would never arrive in their new home. In this episode, Robin tells you one of American history's most shame-filled stories, that of The Trail of Tears. For ad free and exclusive content become a Patron.

After the death of her husband and the rape of her daughters, Queen Boudica would not lie down and allow the Romans to take her land, her people. In this story, Robin introduces us to the warrior queen who rallied an army to fight against the Roman invasion. For ad free and exclusive content become a Patron.

Curiosity is natural, and humans are just as curious as any other animal. In the late 19th century as travel and exploration boomed the curiosity about how other cultures lived turned quickly to spectacle. What began as curiosity quickly turned into pure exploitation as humans were stolen from villages and forced into camps where they would perform their daily lives and rituals for American and European audiences to gawk at. In this episode, Jen will tell us the story of the shameful history of human zoos. For ad free and exclusive content become a Patron.

While most of us know Julia Child as the great television cooking personality she had quite an interesting start to her career. In this episode, Robin introduces us to the Julia that most do not know, one who's road to the kitchen was paved with espionage and science. For ad free and exclusive content become a Patron.

This week in Part Two of our look into Civil War POW camps we will learn about the most notorious of the camps: Andersonville. In this savage and lawless place almost a third of prisoners lost their lives to starvation, disease and violence. For ad free and exclusive content become a Patron.

For the next two episode we are going to take a deep dive into two of the worst Civil War prisoner camps, one Union and one Confederate. The starvation, disease and violence that took place in these camps are horrifying. In this episode we will focus on Camp Douglas, just outside of Chicago, this camp saw more death than most civil war battles. For ad free and exclusive content become a Patron.

In the 1920s a German architect named Herman Sorgel had a plan change the landscape of Europe, Asia and Africa. On the heels of such massive undertakings as the Hoover Dam and the TVA, Sorgel envisioned a land where a system of dams and bridges would connect Europe and Africa, emptying the Mediterranean and providing unlimited hydroelectric power to Europe. While this may sound like madness the dream of Atlantropa was real, and Sorgel was taken seriously by many at the time. In this episode, Robin tells us the story of Atlantropa, and it is up to you to decide if it was genius or madness. For ad free and exclusive content become a Patron.

Noor Inayat Khan was raised in a unique household. Her father, who was Indian royalty was also a musician, writer and yoga instructor. She spent her childhood traveling Europe and spent much of her youth in Paris, finally settling in Great Britain. So when England was looking for those who could work behind enemy lines in Paris, Noor stepped up. In this episode, Jen will tell you the story of the Indian princess who turned spy for England. For ad free and exclusive content become a Patron.

At this point in history it should come as no surprise that rich white men like to push their beliefs on to everyone and anyone that they can. In this episode, Robin tells one such tale. This is the story of Fordlandia.

In the early 18th century medical care left something to be desired, that is without question. So it is not surprising that female reproductive health was something of a mystery, a science shrouded in legend and superstition. In this episode, Jen tells us the strange tale of Mary Toft, a woman whose womb made fools of men. Warning: the subject matter discussed in this episode is very explicit, not the language, but the nature of the story itself. For ad free and exclusive content become a Patron.

They say that absolute power corrupts absolutely, but what if the power you possess is imbibed with piety and sacrifice? In this episode, Jennifer will introduce you to a young woman named Margaretta Peter. She was religious and captivating and was her own worst enemy. This is the story of her crucifixion.  For early episodes, ad free and exclusive content for as little as become a Patron.

As WWII came to a close the world slowly became aware of the true cost of the war. There was the immense loss of life, shelter and sense of safety. But there was also the massive loss of culture in the form of art, artifacts and texts. In this episode, Robin will introduce you to those who have such a passion for art that they put their lives on the line to save these lost and stolen artifacts.

This is a story of obsession and infatuation, of a man who would not be told no. Carl Tanzler or Carl von Cosel (depends on who you ask) was promised in a childhood vision that he would find a soul mate, with pale skin and dark hair, and the vision of this woman steered much of his adult life. His desire to possess this ultimate ideal love pushed him to do unthinkable things. This is the story of Elena & Carl: Even the Grave Didn't Stop Him.

In March of 1911 New York City saw it's deadliest industrial disaster to date. This story is heartbreaking; a tale of immigration, strife, and greed. In this episode Robin tells us the story of The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and how 18. minutes changed the face of worker safety.

He came in the night, to strike fear in the heart's of all of the citizens of the small Illinois town of Mattoon. The year was 1944, WWII was raging, but the headlines told a very different story. A dark and disturbing tale of a "phantom" who slipped gas into people's homes, causing illness and paralysis. In this episode Jen will tell you the Notorious Narrative of The Mad Gasser of Matoon.

Black magic, cannibalism, serial killers: this episode has it all. In this episode Robin introduces us to Peter Niers: The Medieval Boogie Man. For ad free and exclusive content become a member of The Society of The Torch and Glass.

In this episode, Jen tells us a story of a robbery, a writer and a scoundrel. This is the story of Arthur Conan Doyle's search for justice for the wrongfully accused. For ad free and exclusive content become a member of The Society of The Torch and Glass.