Dark History

Hi friends, happy Wednesday!  How the *HELL* are we at *ANOTHER* Joanie’s episode already?! I feel like we *JUST* did the last one… like… a week ago. Anyway… I’m so excited. I *LOVE* the Joanies. It’s just such a fun way to recap the season, revisit my favorite episodes and brush up on some wild cocktail facts that you may have forgotten about. I appreciate you for coming by, and tune in next week...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! In the US, we have The Kennedys, but here are so many other families in history that are just as rich and influential. Sometimes more. And over in Ireland… they have the Guinness family. Yes, that Guinness. The beer your ex boyfriend loved… a little too much. Also the people who somehow became responsible for those World Record books? But when I started to get into it…...

Over the last hundred years, some WILD stuff has gone down in the world of genetics. Did you know that Stalin was once approached to be a sperm donor to create a perfect baby? Or that Jeffrey Epstein had a secret plan to create a squad of genius children on a mysterious ranch in New Mexico? Or that one man created a sperm bank that ONLY accepted “donations” from Nobel Prize winning scientists? Wel...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! If you know me, you know I’m obsessed with death. Between Dark History and Murder  Mystery & Makeup, it comes up *all* the time. But recently, I realized when people talk about death, they only talk about the event leading up to death--not what happens after. If you’re in America, dying isn’t necessarily about being remembered. It’s very freaking stressful. And… ex...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! I stumbled upon this wild story around 3am the other day. It's about Claire Sylvia, who faced serious heart issues and underwent a successful heart transplant. However, upon waking up, she suddenly craved beer and Chicken McNugget, things she had never really enjoyed. It turned out her donor, upon investigation, had a deep love for both. The more Claire learned about h...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Some of us loved Prom. Some of us thought it was stupid. Some of us didn’t even go. But why do we even do it? And when did Prom start? Turns out… the roots of this high school tradition goes back centuries and involves something *VERY* controversial. This is the Dark History of… Debutante Balls & Prom. I appreciate you for coming by, and tune in tomorrow for more D...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday!  Gossip has played a *VERY* important role throughout history. It brings us together and makes us feel like we know our favorite celebrities or people in power, but it can also tear us apart. But who paved the way for gossip to be what it is today? Well, this is the Dark History of Gossip. I appreciate you for coming by, and tune in tomorrow for more Dark History.  Wan...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Look… I grew up in the early 2000s. I essentially had a Blue Ultra Monster glued in my hand at all times. And to be honest… I have no clue where energy drinks even came from.  So what is the story? Who invented them? And why are we so obsessed with caffeine? Well friends… I found some answers.  I appreciate you for coming by, and tune in next week for more Dark History...

Hi friends, happy Tuesday! Once upon a time, bedtime stories were straight-up R-rated. Kids were being tucked in to tales about cannibalism, SA, body mutilation, and so much more. And the best part is, these stories are still around… but disguised… as your favorite *Disney* movies. That’s right, some of your favorite childhood memories have absolutely *horrific* origin stories.  I appreciate you f...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Everything you think you know about women in America’s Wild West is *WRONG.* I feel like we’ve been convinced that women back then were just quietly knitting, churning butter and popping out kids left and right. But THESE ladies? They were rough… they were tough… and they were smart and rebellious. And their legacies are just as complex as the men. I appreciate you for...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Do you know the other woman who was a huge force behind the Underground railroad? I know what you're thinking, and no… I’m not talking about Harriet Tubman. Turns out there's another person we rarely talk about. And the Underground Railroad is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her accomplishments. I appreciate you for coming by, and tune in next week for mor...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! People put their lives in the hands of doctors every day, but what if those doctors aren't so trustworthy? We've got a pair of crazy stories for you today...  Dr. Max "Feelgood"  Jacobson, who spent his career injecting politicians and Hollywood elite with his "feelgood" amphetamine vitamin cocktail till they were hooked, and Dr. Conrad Murray, the man who gave Michael...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! I recently came across this story about something called “The Lavender Scare.” I was like omg… first of all, what a beautiful name. Sounds nice, what is it? And turns out, it was a government sponsored witch hunt, hellbent on ruining the lives of millions of gay people in America… and nobody really talks about it. If you were targeted in the Lavender Scare, your life w...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! The Challenger disaster is considered one of the worst tragedies in American history. It’s seared into our minds. But do we have any idea what went wrong? Like… why did it happen and who is responsible? So friends… I dug deep and found some answers. And lemme tell ya… I got some questions for NASA. I appreciate you for coming by, and tune in next week for more Dark His...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Did you know one of America’s deadliest riots actually started inside a theater in New York. But instead of a drunk senator causing the chaos--I'm looking at you, Lauren Boebert--it was caused by two actors, with decades of beef between them. And this beef turned into blood in the streets...and I *NEVER* hear anyone talking about it! I appreciate you for coming by, and...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! The story of the Kennedy’s has been so romanticized by the media over the years. People are *obsessed* with them. I personally have never understood it, because I just assumed they were like an old money family that wiggled their way into politics and partied their life away because they could. But no… they were so much more than that. I appreciate you for coming by, a...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Never in history has there been a more unappreciated animal than the pigeon. Most people think they are just disease infected rats with wings. Right? But actually, pigeons were our companions for centuries. All they wanted to do was help us send our silly little messages and stop wars, and what did they get in return? A whole lot of injustice, that's for sure. I apprec...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Now, before the Olympics were a thing, it was really just a bunch of Greek competitions about testing physical limits. They had no fancy ass equipment or Nike sponsorships. But since then, a lot of people have been abused, and  cities have been destroyed. And apparently, people like you and I pay for the Olympics to exist!? Are they even uniting and inspiring us? And w...

Hi friends, happy almost St. Patty’s Day! I’ll be honest with you… it’s hard to shock me anymore. So when I tell you that this story that I found *SHOOK ME* to my core… you know it’s for real. While I was looking into lesser-known Irish history, I kept reading about these things called the Magdalene Laundries. And while something like “laundry” seems innocent enough, this story is anything but tha...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Remember Beanie Baby Mania? It was INSANE. Everyone thought these things would be worth thousands. And then outta nowhere, Furby showed up and completely changed the game, terrorizing kids and adults alike with those creepy little eyes and phrases. If you’re a 90s kid like me, chances are you had one of these iconic toys. But what if I told you the fads that had our pa...

Hi friends, happy Thursday! Did you know the person who paved the way for the invention of Wifii was one of the most controversial actresses in Hollywood? I know. Random! Today’s episode is about the one, the only, Hedy Lamarr. It turns out, we owe Hedy A LOT. Without her advancements in film and technology, the world would be a VERY different place… She came (onscreen), she saw (war), she conquer...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Despite what some people may say, birth is not a problem that needs solving–it's a natural journey that we just need guidance to help us get through (And of course, doctors, midwives, doulas…you get it). As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized how scary and borderline traumatizing childbirth can be. But not only that… how downright dangerous it is! So on that note, let’s g...

Hi friends, happy Valentine's Day! Maybe it’s all the social pressure, but personally, Valentine’s Day is not my favorite holiday. And I know I’m not alone in that. Sometimes it feels like Valentine’s Day is just one big scam. Like, why is there only *ONE DAY* to show people we love them? Where did all this pressure come from?! Well turns out, Valentine’s Day has a super surprising backstory… I ap...

Hi friends, happy Thursday Welcome to the Dark History podcast. It’s no secret that the FBI has had a bad reputation for spying, sleuthing, and watchlists. But where did it all begin? At some point, the FBI went from just keeping an eye on people to actively trying to ELIMINATE them. They had their sights set on an up-and-coming inspirational leader from within a growing American movement, and the...

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! Welcome to the Dark History podcast. There’s always all this talk about who REALLY has the power in America. So I did a little digging, and discovered a not-so-great guy named J. Edgar Hoover–made famous for his 48-year racist reign over the FBI. And just as we thought, the guys pulling the strings ARE, in fact, also confiscating our nudes! Go figure. Between all the s...