Fantastic History

Ignaz Semmelweis is remembered by history as a pioneer of prophylaxis, a champion of sanitation and a David standing against the Goliath of antiquated and incorrect theories on how disease formed and spread. But in his time, he was simply a doctor who wanted to save mothers' lives who were dying in his maternity clinic. Through his hard work and the adoption of his techniques, he saved millions of...

The "Battle" of May Island is a testament to desire for more power and speed at the cost of reason. The Royal Navy's K-Class submarines were supposed to be the next evolution in naval combat, but they were difficult to control, miserable to be inside of and prone to errors. On what was supposed to be a training exercise in the North Sea, a small error resulted in one of the most catastro...

In part two of our look into the Trials of the Century, we have an insane government-versus-unions case that features several Fantastic History alumni. Then, Sarah discusses a Massachusetts-based case (BUM BUM BUM) that caused riots around the world - more than once! Follow us on Instagram & TikTok for extra content and updates! Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail....

In this episode, we look at five famous hoaxes that rocked science to the core. Follow us on Instagram & TikTok for extra content and updates! Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Please subscribe and leave a review! Sources https://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i9/Crystal-Skulls-Deemed-Fake.html https://archive.archaeology....

This week, Sarah presents the first in a series of episodes covering some of the court cases that were dubbed "The Trial of the Century" in the 1900s. First up, the murder of architect Stanford White by Harry Thaw, the heir of a coal and rail baron. This story had all the earmarks of a sensational public scandal including a gorgeous young woman, passion, jealousy, and folks being super m...

Our second Pinkerton Detective Agency episode sees agents hunting down notorious outlaws in the wild west. Follow us on Instagram & TikTok for extra content and updates! Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Please subscribe and leave a review! Sources: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/james-jesse/ h...

2023 is a wrap, so join us as we look back at some of our favorite moments of the podcast from the past year. Follow us on Instagram & TikTok for extra content and updates! Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Please subscribe and leave a review! Music featured: Sneaky Adventure Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com ) Look B...

While these days eggnog is a divisive holiday treat, never has it been more contentious than in 1826, when a secret Christmas Eve party in the barracks of West Point Academy spiraled very, very far out of control. Follow us on Instagram & TikTok for extra content and updates! Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Please...

It's less Happy Holiday and more Bah Humbug as we explore the several possible inspirations for the covetous old sinner from Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Follow us on Instagram & TikTok for extra content and updates! Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Please subscribe and leave a review! Sources https://earlyb...

We have a very special guest this week: BFF of the podcast, librarian Melanie Terrill! Though children have known Alice in Wonderland for generations, not many know the story of the man behind the novel or the girl who may have inspired it. Bonus: it's also about math! Follow us on Instagram & TikTok for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at Fan...

If “He Had It Coming” is your favorite song from Chicago, then boy, do we have an episode for you! This week, Sarah shares the eerily similar stories of Giulia Tofana and Baba Anujka, two legendary serial killers separated by centuries who nevertheless shared a goal: killing other women’s abusive husbands. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Ema...

The Monty Hall Problem is one of the most famous puzzle in probability. But what is less famous is the woman who made it famous on the pages of Parade Magazine. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Please subscribe and leave a review!...

There have been many times throughout history where crime does in fact pay. Claude Duval saw such an opportunity while serving in the court of King Charles II and, oh boy, did he ever run with it! This week, Sarah tells the story of a gentleman robber who charmed his way onto the very first most wanted list in Restoration England - and into the hearts of the ladies. Email us with questions/suggest...

In Episode 69, we dive into the most ambitious experiment of Dr. John Lilly into the communication between humans and dolphins, which was mired by drug abuse, cosmic divinations, sexual scandal but all funded by the US government. But please, your kids can sit this one out. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions...

Happy Halloween! Sarah aims to scare your socks off this week with a few true tales of terror including the Enfield Monster, the grim magic of the Pennsylvania Dutch, and an exorcism gone wrong. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Ple...

Today we explore the complicated legacy of a man whose inventions fed the world and caused a horrific genocide. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Please subscribe and leave a review! Sources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvknN89Jo...

An alleged witch who became a ghost who was involved with an occultist who was hand-picked to replace the devil himself: true stories don’t get more Halloweeny than that of Dublin’s Darkey Kelly. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Pl...

Today we talk about inventions that kill and their well-meaning inventors. Including Franz Reichelt, Alfred Nobel and Thomas Midgley Jr. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Please subscribe and leave a review! Sources https://www.bbc....

This week, Sarah brings a hearty dose of death positivity into October with the help of some actual newspaper articles from the Victorian era. From real life ghost stories to one widow’s zany worst day ever, this episode truly has it all. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fan...

Sarah is in prison, both figuratively and literally, and tortured with an episode about implications and paradoxes surrounding infinity, supertasks and Zeno of Elea. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Please subscribe and leave a rev...

Handle with care - or the world ends. This week, Clay shares two stories of men who found themselves in the unpleasant position of having to make a decision with the fate of humanity in balance. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Stickers available Here ! Ple...

Hedy Lamar - known as both “the most beautiful woman in the world” and “the mother of WiFi” - was more than meets the eye. This week, Sarah presents the story of a Golden Age actress who was also a brilliant inventor. Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic History Sticke...

Harriet Tubman is famous for helping slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad, but this is only part of her story. During the Civil War, Harriet Tubman started out as a civilian volunteer with the Union Army cooking and caring for ex-slaves and later, she was tasked with leading a group of spies into the Confederacy. But that is not all and you will have to listen to hear the full...

Long before phishing emails and ransomware, conmen had to make their living the old fashioned way: smooth talking and forged documents. This week, Sarah shares the buckwild bananas story of legendary scammer, George C. Parker! Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at FantasticHistoryPod@gmail.com Fantastic Histo...

This week we talk about the infamous Glico-Morinaga Case. What started as a kidnapping and ransom turned into a mass panic in Japan after poisoned candy hit grocer store shelves. The culprit was the Monster with the 21 Faces. But who was it and was it one person or many? Follow us on Instagram & Twitter for extra content and updates! We’re @FantasticHPod Email us with questions/suggestions at...