30 Morbid Minutes

Some of England's worst criminals met their end at the Tyburn Gallows, an infamous site at which the public could purchase tickets to attend executions. This episode explores the origins of hanging-style executions, the different methods, how the act has evolved, the theatrics behind the practice, and how – at least in England – capital punishment has since come to be abolished. Go to http://lectr...

From dress fires to corrosive skin treatments, the women living during the nineteenth century subjected themselves to harmful and horrific procedures, all in the pursuit of a warped beauty influenced by the Tuberculosis-inspired "Consumptive Chic" look. We explore the fashion and beauty trends that were not only toxic, but sometimes deadly. Go to http://shadyrays.com and use code 30MM for 50% off...

There are over 200 known cases where people have been found burned to death with no discernible cause. These cases have contributed to the theory of spontaneous human combustion, the idea that a person can catch fire and burn alive with no external ignition source. And, while it's regarded as a pseudoscience by the field at large, large enforcement and coroners around the world still use spontaneo...

Bills of Mortality originated in the late sixteenth century as a way for parish networks to track weekly plague outbreaks. Eventually, over time, this medical journal evolved to become a standard practice, documenting annual mortality statistics. Much of the terminology and disease nomenclature used is now considered vastly outdated by today's medical standards. In this episode, Elyse and Jessica...

A sky burial is a funerary practice in which the body of a deceased person is prepared, placed, and left exposed in a place of high elevation so that vultures and other scavenging birds will consume it and carry the deceased's soul to the heavens. In this episode we explore the history and theological origins of sky burials, who practices it, and why this unique burial rite is in decline. Go to ht...

Jessica and Elyse return January 10th with even more morbid history and topics to make your head think and skin crawl! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Mariana Trench is the deepest location on earth and widely unexplored. The harsh conditions make it impossible for shallow ocean life to exist, and chartered explorations are a challenge, even with the most advanced submersible technology. Only 27 people have descended into its depths, including film director, James Cameron. We investigate the unusual creatures that dwell within the deep, and...

A chair. A doll. A painting. Relatively innocuous, but ask a paranormal expert and you might hear otherwise. In this episode we learn the history behind some of the world's most notoriously cursed and dangerous objects and artifacts, alleged to carry evil and malice beyond what we could imagine, including Robert the Doll, Busby's Stoop Chair, The Crying Boy Painting, and King Tut's Tomb. Go to htt...

Ritualistic human sacrifice was a common practice in early and classical cultures. While we know it was done to earn the blessings of the gods, many scholars and archaeologists point to the underlying ways that human sacrifice served to enforce social control. In this episode, we take a walk down world history's morbid memory lane of sacred slaughter, to see how different civilizations did the dee...

Spooky enthusiasts rejoice, it's the most wonderful time of year: Halloween season! No better time than now to dive into the history behind America's most morbid holiday; how it started, where certain traditions like trick-or-treating come from, and how Halloween has evolved and popularized into more than just a commercial candy and costume fest. Go to http://rothys.com/30mm to get $20 off your fi...

Time can be a truly scary concept. In this episode, we investigate the personification of time, through imagery and art. We talk about chronophobia, the fear of time, and how Doomsday Clocks and Millennium Clocks exacerbate that fear. We take a look at what some of the world's richest people and most advanced scientific minds are doing to stop the progression of time. And finally, we examine how e...

The average lifespan of someone diagnosed with CTE is just 51 years. Promising athletic careers have been cut short, and lasting legacies have been marred by this debilitating neurodegenerative disease. We investigate the effects of CTE and repetitive head trauma, and how contact-heavy sports like football and wrestling are navigating the connection between the two. Go to http://hellofresh.com and...

The modern funeral industry capitalizes on stigmas about death, creating a deliberate air of mystery and secrecy around how funeral homes operate. We go inside the unspoken practices of morticians, and debunk some of the myths and tall tales surrounding the post-mortem process. Go to http://shadyrays.com and use code 30MM to get 50% off 2 or more pairs of polarized sunglasses. Go to http://lectric...

Sometimes the most dangerous place to be in the Victorian Era was inside your own home, thanks to the overwhelming number of chemicals and toxins that were in everyday use and objects. We unravel how substances like gas, lead, arsenic, formaldehyde and mercury, infiltrated and poisoned the nineteenth century home, and could be found en masse in products like children’s toys, beauty products, wallp...

Podcasting's death-obsessed duo returns with all-new episodes and topics, this September 6th. First up: Hidden Killers of the Victorian Era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Overflowing cemeteries and rampant disease forced 18th century Parisians to find a new place to inter the dead; the Paris Catacombs, a series of abandoned mining tunnels running 200 miles beneath the city. We cover the circumstances that led to the creation of this mass tomb, learn about the enthusiasts known as "cataphiles," the past and presence perils of this macabre landmark, and more. Go to h...

With a renewed interest in and demand for exorcists worldwide, we’re looking at the Vatican’s relatively new “exorcist school,'' and what it takes to become a fully-fledged exorcist. Plus, how an exorcism is performed, and the Roman Rite, a text that serves as the official guidebook. We’re also investigating who can request an exorcism and why, and the dangerous stigmas surrounding religious clean...

History’s obsession with being prematurely buried alive, and what to do if you do find yourself six feet underground with no escape. We look at how this became a very real problem in the Victorian Era, and some of the inventions created to prevent unintentional dirt naps. Go to http://solostove.com and use promo code 30MM to get $10 off on top of summer sales. Follow us on Social: https://twitter....

Exploring the origins of the modern tombstone and what the future of memorial monuments might hold. Plus, we break down the anatomy of epitaphs, and share some of history’s most bizarre and funny ones. Go to http://betterhelp.com/30MM to get 10% off your first month! Go to http://functionofbeauty.com/30mm to get 25% off your first order. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https:...

Cloning was once considered the stuff of science fiction. Now, to many, it’s the future and the natural evolution of humanity’s progress, survival, and experimentation as a species. To others, it’s an abomination; playing god. In this episode of 30 Morbid Minutes we’re diving into the background of and types of cloning, the ethical questions, and how much the science has changed in the last thirty...

Reincarnation, the belief that the soul takes on another form after bodily death, is a cornerstone of many religions. Would you change your life choices if you knew your karma would follow you, even after death? We explore the notion of death and rebirth, and investigate stories of young children who claim to remember details of their past lives. Go to http://lectricebikes.com and use code 30 MM t...

One of history’s most sadistic and violent rulers, Vlad the Impaler earned his reputation and nickname by driving stakes through the bodies of thousands (yes, thousands), mostly enemies, some friends. Legend and myth have also come to associate Vlad as one of the inspirations for the eponymous villain of Bram Stoker’s Dracula – but is this entirely the case? We dive into the history of Vlad’s penc...

Disney controls its family friendly image with an iron, four-fingered fist, but even the all-seeing Mouse House can’t anticipate every casualty – including the tragic deaths of park visitors or staff. Between 2006 and 2020, more than 20 people have met their end while at Florida’s Magic Kingdom, and countless others have died in fatal incidents at other parks around the globe. We investigate the m...

We're back with new, morbid episodes, starting June 21. Topics this season include Death at Disney, Vlad the Impaler, Reincarnation, Buried Alive, Making an Exorcist, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 In August 1912 while on a family camping trip, four-year-old Bobby Dunbar wandered away from his family’s tent, presumed dead or kidnapped. Almost eight months later, “Bobby” was found, but many remained suspicious of his true identity and the circumstances of his disappearance. Would you know if your child was replaced by a look-a-like? Plus, sometimes hearing voices in your head might save your...