Robert (@productofnfld)

Strange Truths and Tall Tales: Product of Newfoundland

History EN ↓ 30 episodes

We tell all kinds of stories from Newfoundland, Canada but the ‘strange and unusual’ is our sweet-spot. You’ll hear true-life accounts of death-defying courage, tales of horrible sea monsters and stories of murderous mummers. Alongside the history and folklore, we chat with modern-day storytellers who stop by to talk about their work. It’s a bit like ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not’ meets ‘Entertainment Tonight.’ Strange bedfellows? Definitely. It’s fun though. So, spend some time with us unravelling ‘the yarns that knit ya'.

Author

Robert (@productofnfld)

Episodes

Rant, Roar and Riot 13.04.2023 5:43

This is the story of a riot at the Colonial Building in St. John's, NL that grabbed headlines around the world. Read the blog post: Rant, Roar and Riot… Like True Newfoundlanders

Duels, Ghosts and Nose-Pulling in Newfoundland 25.03.2023 11:19

In March 1826 two soldiers stationed in St. John’s, NL squared off in a pistol duel. One of them died. This is the story of that event… and the ghost story it spawned. Get more content here: Duels Ghosts and Nose-Pulling in Newfoundland

Sheila's Brush 11.03.2023 9:26

Most Newfoundlander's can probably tell you Sheila's Brush is a March snowstorm but who Sheila is, and how the storm got named after her are trickier questions.  This episode digs into the mystery around Shiela's Brush. For more info check out the blog post What The Heck is Sheila's Brush ?

Francis Pickmore's Worst Winter. Ever. 26.02.2023 8:26

Winter in Newfoundland can be truly, awful; it’s cold and wet and even in the 21st century it can be miserable. That said, the winter of 1818 set the standard for just how bad a Newfoundland winter can get. Disasters, homelessness and extreme weather set the stage for a winter so bad Newfoundland's governor, Francis Pickmore, wound up going back to England in a barrel of rum. More info including,...

Digging Into The Brigus Tunnel 25.09.2022 4:59

Was the Brigus Tunnel built for pirates? Smugglers? Not quite. In 1860, a captain and a Cornish miner used gunpowder to blast through rock—all to unload codfish. Explore the real history (and tall tales) behind one of Newfoundland’s most fascinating heritage sites. Keywords: Brigus Tunnel, Newfoundland history, cod fishery, pirate legends, Canadian heritage, maritime folklore Read more at: https:...