Ep 65 The Flaming Dr. Pepper: Spontaneous Combustion in Music, History, and Medicine

What does Incubus’s “Pardon Me” have to do with spontaneous human combustion? This episode uses the song’s fiery imagery as a jumping-off point to explore one of history’s most disturbing medical myths. From 19th-century literature to modern pop culture, we examine why spontaneous human combustion fascinated—and frightened—people for centuries, before breaking down the real forensic explanation behind the phenomenon. Myth, music, and medicine collide to reveal what’s actually burning beneath the story. 🔗 Sources & Further Reading Incubus – “Pardon Me” background https://www.last.fm/music/Incubus/_/Pardon+Me/+wiki https://www.loudersound.com/news/incubus-reflect-sold-out-new-york-shows-after-9-11-2025 Encyclopaedia Britannica – Spontaneous Human Combustion https://www.britannica.com/story/is-spontaneous-human-combustion-real Smithsonian Magazine – The Science Behind SHC https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/science-behind-spontaneous-human-combustion-180957512/ IFLScience – Wick Effect Explained https://www.iflscience.com/the-science-behind-spontaneous-human-combustion-65480 Levi-Faict & Quatrehomme, So-Called Spontaneous Human Combustion Journal of Forensic Sciences (2011) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21392004/ Palmiere et al., Ignition of a Human Body by a Modest External Source Forensic Science International (2009) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19410396/ DeHaan, Sustained Combustion of Bodies Journal of Forensic Sciences (2012) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02190.x Cocktail- https://www.liquor.com/recipes/flaming-dr-pepper-shot/ Episodes every Monday ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.