EPISODE · Mar 17, 2026 · 48 MIN
Snake Oil | The Wild West's Biggest Scam
from Things I Learned Last Night · host Jaron Myers and Tim Stone
Dive into the fascinating history of America's most famous 'snake oil salesman,' Clark Stanley. In this episode, we unpack the story of the 'Rattlesnake King,' who rose to fame at the 1893 World's Fair by peddling a miracle cure that contained no snake oil at all. We explore the remedy's true origins with Chinese railroad workers, Stanley's fraudulent marketing tactics, and how his empire of fake medicine crumbled with the rise of the FDA. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in medical history, marketing scams, and how history repeats itself with the modern supplement industry. Plus, stick around for a hilariously awkward story involving a therapist, a case of mistaken identity, and the phrase, 'I'm not Todd.' Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today! Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://tilln.com/support Episode link: https://tilln.com/snakeoil Support TILLN & Join The Mailing List: https://linktr.ee/tillnpodcast Watch this next: Painless Parker - https://youtu.be/oZznFw6GwlI?si=iOIhRWUaxp8d_37x Text TILLN to 66866 to become a patron and gain access to ad-free episodes, the exclusive discord, and earn discounts on TILLN Merch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Dive into the fascinating history of America's most famous 'snake oil salesman,' Clark Stanley. In this episode, we unpack the story of the 'Rattlesnake King,' who rose to fame at the 1893 World's Fair by peddling a miracle cure that contained no snake oil at all. We explore the remedy's true origins with Chinese railroad workers, Stanley's fraudulent marketing tactics, and how his empire of fake medicine crumbled with the rise of the FDA. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in medical history, marketing scams, and how history repeats itself with the modern supplement industry. Plus, stick around for a hilariously awkward story involving a therapist, a case of mistaken identity, and the phrase, 'I'm not Todd.' Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today! Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://tilln.com/support Episode link: https://tilln.com/snakeoil Support TILLN & Join The Mailing List: https://linktr.ee/tillnpodcast Watch this next: Painless Parker - https://youtu.be/oZznFw6GwlI?si=iOIhRWUaxp8d_37x Text TILLN to 66866 to become a patron and gain access to ad-free episodes, the exclusive discord, and earn discounts on TILLN Merch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Snake Oil | The Wild West's Biggest Scam
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