Wiki Walks

Hey, I Can See the Rockies Losing from Here! What if I told you America’s pastime owes its stats, structure, and even that infamous “K” to a tea-drinking Englishman? Step up to the plate for a story that’s part baseball, part British invasion, and entirely unexpected. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Chadwick_(writer)

The Most Ridiculous Plane Crash Survivor EVER Discover the crazy story of Juliane Koepcke, whose plane was hit by lighting, leading to her getting yeeted out of the cabin where she had a 10,000-foot plunge into the Amazon strapped to her seat, only to survive and endure venomous insect bites and botfly larvae, and emerging from the jungle to become a groundbreaking scientist still alive today. htt...

A "Mini Pearl Harbor" Leads to The Most Important Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment History If you or someone you know has ever been affected by cancer, then I think you'll really enjoy this episode. A most unfortunate secret bombing disaster in WW2 became the origin of the most important tool we have in the fight against cancer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_John_Harvey Sidenote:...

This Founding Father Makes Benjamin Franklin Look Like Mother Theresa Discover the wild and scandalous life of Gouverneur Morris, the " Penman of the Constitution ," whose contributions to America were as legendary as his escapades in public, uh, romance, vengeful dismemberment, peg-legged diplomacy, and fatal self-surgery. Insane life, why didn't we learn about this guy in history c...

That's a Man, Baby! The first woman to ever receive a pension for her service in the US Armed Forces was a Revolutionary-era woman named Deborah Sampson...who actually spent her entire military career pretending to be a man named Bob.

A Killer Whale of a Time For over eight decades, a massive killer whale known as Old Tom, along with his skilled and loyal pod of orcas, forged an incredible partnership with a family of whalers in Australia to dominate the Aussie coast.

Saving Private Ryan's Inspiration They were five brothers who enlisted together to serve in World War II, only to all tragically perish aboard the same ship, leaving their Iowa family devastated and prompting a new military policy to prevent such a concentration of family sacrifice.

Can't Say I Blame 'Em They turned their guns on the American colonies in exchange for a chance at freedom and land of their own. Over 200 years later, the villages founded by these enslaved Black soldiers who fought for the British in the War of 1812 still exist today as a unique ethnic community in Trinidad. Merikins -- Wikipedia

Georgia Tann...just the worst She was a woman who preyed on the desperate and poor, stealing their children to sell to wealthy families for massive profits. By the time her black market baby ring was exposed, Georgia Tann had torn apart over 5,000 families, subjecting the children to unimaginable cruelty and abuse. Prepare to have your heart broken by this shockingly dark chapter of American histo...

Reusable Pills? Back in the day, it was not uncommon for people to swallow a pill made from the semi-metallic element, antimony, in an effort to absolutely fill their britches to detoxify their intestines. Once they did that...they'd reuse that same pill. It could even be passed down as an heirloom for the grandkids to use one day. Grossssssss. Antimony Pills -- Wikipedia

Episode Notes A trash fire sparked an underground inferno that forced the evacuation of Centralia, Pennsylvania, turning it into a poisonous gas-filled ghost town. Oh, and it will probably keep burning for hundreds of years. Yikes! Centralia, Pennsylvania Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wik...

Episode Notes President James Garfield was shot twice by an absolute mad-lad, Charles Guiteau, but however terrible his assassin was, he was nothing compared to President's doctor. Everything he tried made things a million times worse, including shooting beef and opium up the President's fanny. This tragic story just keeps on giving in the worst ways imaginable. The Assassination of James Garfield...

Episode Notes The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War, involved 500,000 square miles of Mexican territory, including vast stretches of deserts. And what better animal to explore this new land than with imported camels. Many of whom were then set free to roam the Southwest for decades to come. United States Camel Corps Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter W...

Episode Notes Mascara might seem like your run-of-the-mill beauty staple, but the history of it goes back thousands of years, and the most well-known brand today came about through sheer happenstance. Mascara Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks

Episode Notes Mountain explorers, shipwreck survivors, and polar explorers have all claimed to have either seen a person or heard a voice, often providing helpful information on how they should escape their situation. Third Man Factor Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks

Episode Notes In 1952, a young Pre-President submariner named Jimmy Carter was tasked with preventing a nuclear meltdown that threatened Canada and the Northern US...in person. Jimmy Carter Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks

Episode Notes Patients with Anton Syndrome are often found describing people or surroundings that are not present, or walking into objects, though they will continue to deny that they cannot see even when presented with evidence otherwise. Anton Syndrome Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wiki...

Episode Notes That soft buzzing in your neck might sound alarming, but it's actually just the normal sound of blood flowing through your jugular vein. Listen to understand the harmless causes behind "the hum" and learn when it could indicate a more serious issue. Venous Hum Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.p...

Episode Notes The Oxford English Dictionary is the gold-standard of all English language dictionaries. However, its most prolific contributor, a surgeon/War Hero/psychotic murderer, did so from a place you'd least expect it. W.C. Minor Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks

Episode Notes The battle over which electrical current would be used in our growing nation was between AC and DC, however, in this war for business, the initial causality was the first man to ever be executed by electric chair. It did not go well. William Kemmler Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com...

Episode Notes Hymie Weiss was a Prohibition-era mob boss in Chicago with a serious death wish. Not many people earn the distinction of being the only man Al Capone feared. And for good reason, too. Hymie Weiss Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks

Episode Notes The most expensive signature in the world, after only William Shakespeare, belongs to a little known politician from Georgia. Outside of one autograph, he didn't really do that much relative to his peers. And that's exactly what makes it so valuable today. Button Gwinnett Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: ht...

Episode Notes In an era where the Great Depression drove people to all sorts of stunts and gimmicks to make ends meet, not only did Plennie Wingo travel further than anyone else, he did it backwards. Plennie Wingo Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks

Episode Notes Everyone associates Henry Ford with the automobile and the invention of the assembly line, but you also have the American businessman to thank for most of your cherished backyard cookouts. Kingsford Charcoal Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks

Episode Notes Also called ‘hunter’s stew’ or ‘hunter’s pot’, the perpetual stew was both novel yet extremely simplistic: take what you’ve got in your kitchen and chuck it into a pot and simmer, replenishing the liquid when necessary. In some cases, these stews would cook for HUNDREDS of years. Perpetual Stew Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contr...