Episode 33- When the Mississippi Ran Backwards: The New Madrid Quakes

In this episode the hosts, drinking and joking their way through the Midwest, discuss the 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes that shook the central United States. They cover dramatic accounts — the Mississippi flowing backwards, ground liquefaction swallowing settlements, sand volcanoes, widespread aftershocks, and the mysterious, intraplate cause of the quake. The conversation mixes humor and disbelief with historical detail, touching on Native American reactions, the quakes massive geographic reach, and the lingering uncertainty about how — and whether — such an event could happen again.