Idiopathic

You've seen it on TV, right? Those crime shows where they zoom in on a tiny blood spatter or some weird-looking bruise and suddenly, bam, they know exactly what happened. But have you ever stopped to think about the actual people behind that drama? I’m talking about forensic pathologists. These are the real-life CSI folks, except instead of just looking cool under pressure, they're dealing...

In part one of our adventure into the Dyatlov Pass incident, we got to set the scene for our main character, Lyudmila Dubnina and her fateful companions. In January 1959, amongst the Ural Mountains, nine experienced mountaineers were driven from their tent in the middle of the freezing cold night where they ultimately perished. Their bodies weren’t found for weeks (in some cases months) later and...

In the heart of Russia's desolate Ural Mountains lies Kholat Syakhl, a peak that’s as covered in snow as it is mystery and dread. Locally known to the Mansi people as the "Dead Mountain," its name is a reminder of the terrible events that unfolded there. In 1959, a group of young, experienced hikers ventured into this icy wilderness, seeking adventure. But their expedition turned int...

For centuries, women's bodies have been treated as mysteries, often blamed for inexplicable ailments. ​​Today we’ll talk about the origins of hysteria, the dangerous treatments endured, and the lasting impact these misconceptions have had on healthcare. Get ready to question everything you thought you knew about female anatomy and psychology. We'll get to see how hysteria was used as a too...

On the last episode of Idiopathic, we learned about the case of Gloria Ramirez– a 31 year old mother with cancer who was brought into the Riverside General Hospital in February of 1994. Unfortunately, Gloria would not make it through the night. Her visit to the hospital that night would not be so quickly forgotten. As the medical team worked on Gloria, they started noticing some strange things. Gl...

Here at idiopathic, we’re big fans of the strange and unexplained, particularly when it comes to paranormal. But sometimes, the most haunting accounts come from situations that hit much closer to home. They’re modern and contain details that seem like they could easily happen to any of us. Today’s story is one of those. Gloria Ramirez checked into a California hospital in early 1994. The events th...

Today folks, we have a fun one for you. After talking about the differences and similarities between zombies, mummies, and vampires over several weeks, I thought heck– why not explore them deeper! Then, dear friends, I stumbled into a goldmine of insights into what these monsters are, what they reflect, how they eat, think, live– oh wait. .maybe not that last one. Up first, we’re going to lighten...

On our last episode of Idiopathic, we visited 1980’s Haiti. As Angelina Narcisse, went about her daily routine, she found herself looking into a face she thought she might never see again in this life - her brother Clairvius, who had been buried in 1962. Now, that alone could be brushed off by easy explanations, but the villagers around them recognized Clairvius too. And the conclusion for them wa...

When you think about a zombie, what do you imagine? The brainless undead walking amongst us? A reanimated corpse with rotting flesh shuffling toward you? Some sort of lifeless being coming for brains– or worse– to make you a zombie too? Today’s adventure begins in L’Estere Haiti in 1980, where we’ll get to explore the adventures of Clairvius Narcisse and his run-ins with a Haitian Sorcerer. Join u...

For centuries, the human body wasn't just a patient in medicine, it was also a bizarre ingredient in the medicine itself. Imagine a doctor looking at your ailments and reaching not for antibiotics, but for a vial of… mummy powder? Yep, you heard that right. For centuries, ground-up mummies were all the rage in medicine, believed to be a magic bullet against everything from the common cold to t...

Last episode, we started our exploration of Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman of immense wealth and power. She was also accused of unspeakable acts of torture and murder for reportedly over 600 women. Her alleged crime spree would etch her name in infamy as the "Blood Countess." Tales of blood baths intended to preserve her beauty have permeated popular culture in her name, but w...

Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman of immense wealth and power, stands accused of unspeakable acts. Descendant of royalty and aunt to a king, Bathory's life took a dramatic turn in 1610. She was charged with the torture and murder of hundreds of young women, a crime spree that would etch her name in infamy as the "Blood Countess." Legends surrounding Bathory are as gruesome as...

In our recent exploration on the Curse of King Tut’s tomb, Sarah brought up something called Terrain Theory. Being who I am, I wanted to learn more– what it was, its pros and cons, and of course its history and well, let’s just say was I in for a science drama rabbit hole. So, Sarah and I chatted a bit and decided that we thought this would be a great special topic to cover in its own episode. So...

Last time on Idiopathic, we ventured to Exeter, Rhode Island, when fear (yet again) overtook a small New England town. This time, it was the 1800’s and People were dying. Their loved ones believed the deceased weren't just gone, but coming back from the beyond to prey on the living. One case in particular stood out: Mercy Lena Brown. Why? They dug her up, not to destroy her, but to save her br...

In our very first set of episodes, we discussed the Salem Witch Trials and the subsequent hanging of Bridget Bisop, you heard how the people of Salem turned against one another in a vicious (and perhaps biologically induced) string of accusations, trials, and eventual murder. Two hundred years later, not far from Salem, in Exeter Rhode Island, something similar erupted. This small farm-based commu...

Last week, we started to crack the code on the tomb of Tutankhamun and the curse of the Pharaohs. And just a little reminder, this curse supposedly is what took down the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, the aristocrat who bankrolled its excavation. Years of sifting through sand and dodging the scorching desert sun paid off in a big way in 1922. Howard Carter (funded by Lord C.) unearthed the nearly untouche...

Some claim that in 1922 when King Tut’s tomb was discovered, an ominous warning was found engraved on its edifice: “Death Shall Come on Swift Wings To Him Who Disturbs the Peace of the King…” Was it just a warning, a terrible curse unleashed, or complete fabrication? Well, forget your tweed jackets and stuffy museums – today’s is a story of an eccentric aristocrat, a relentless archaeologist, and...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become…. a mummy? No, no.. this isn’t about the birds and the bees folks, though Sarah did finally get around to having that talk with me and whoa. Today– I’m talking about the science and history of human and animal corpse preservation. Join me as we travel the globe, from the arid deserts of Egypt to the frozen peaks of the Andes, as we uncover the secrets...

Have you ever felt eerily connected to a story– not because you enjoyed it– but because it felt strangely familiar even though you couldn't place its origins? Or perhaps you've woken from a dream so thick with symbolism that it made the DaVinci Code look like childs play? Carl Jung, a pioneer in the world of psychology, would tell you that's the collective unconscious chiming in – a va...

Last week, we talked about the life of Dorothy Eady, also known as Omm Sety, a fascinating case claiming evidence of reincarnation. Dorothy seemed like any other child until a fall at age three. From that point on, things got strange. Dorothy developed an uncanny connection to ancient Egypt. She spoke of past life memories as a temple priestess and a specific location. As an adult, she moved there...

Have you ever heard of someone claiming to remember a past life? Dorothy Eady, also known as Omm Sety, is a fascinating case that's been explored in documentaries and books for years. Born in England at the start of the 1900s, Dorothy seemed like any other child until a fall at age three. Doctors thought she was gone, but miraculously, she came back. From that point on, things got strange. Dor...

Imagine drifting into sleep, only to find that you’re suddenly trapped in a surreal nightmare. Your body is frozen, unable to move or scream for help, but you’re awake– you know it, because you can still see your cozy bedroom surrounding you. As you struggle against invisible restraints, you notice something stirring as sinister figures start to emerge from the shadows. One of these figures could...

**Sound Quality Improvements Currently Underway** As a reminder from last week, we’re going to continue our discussion on sleep paralysis. A strange experience that is eerily known by cultures the world over. It comes by a variety of names and faces, but one constant remains– the terror that it brings to our darkest hours. In our first ever set of episodes on the salem witch trials, sleep paralysi...

**Sound Quality Improvements Currently Underway** " The nightmare generally seizes people sleeping on their backs, and often begins with frightful dreams, which are soon succeeded by a difficult respiration, a violent oppression on the breast, and a total privation of voluntary motion. In this agony they sign, goral, utter indistinct sounds and remain in the jaws of death, till, by the utmost...

In the quiet recesses of our minds, there exists a realm where reality blurs and the unexpected emerges. It is a space where anomalous experiences, the walkings of ghosts, guardian angels, near death experiences, and the like, take root– even in the minds of those otherwise deemed mentally and physically sound. Picture it like this: you're alone in the silence, yet you can't shake the feel...