PODCAST · history
Borrowed Bones
by Sarah Sexton
Families build you up, tear you down, and sometimes drag you into something truly unhinged. Borrowed Bones unearths the bizarre, toxic, and fascinating stories of family dynamics gone sideways. From the macabre to the just plain strange, we’re digging deep to uncover the skeletons hiding in the closets of history, culture, and beyond.
Episodes
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The Earp Family: Part 1
The Earp brothers are remembered as one of the most infamous brothers of the Old West, but there is much more to their story than Wyatt Earp and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. In Part 1, we dig into the Earp family history, the personalities, relationships, and family dynamics that helped shape...
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The Walgreen Family
The Walgreen family attempted to create a larger than life "neighborhood pharmacy" for millions of people. What started as an honest family business, eventually turned into a multi-billion-dollar company that was knocked down by scandal. Listen to hear the rise and fall(ing) of Walgreens.…
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Borrowed Words 6
Etymology of words and phrases from the hippie era. Shout out to the YouTube channel: Crooked Timber Sources: Groovy Lingo, Origin of Groovy, Groovy, Rise and Fall of the Groove, Origin of Far Out, Merriam-Webster Far Out, Cliche Dictionary, Phrase Finder, Britannica-Hippie, Hippie Etymology…
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Jekyll Island: Part 2
Don't put away your tin foil hats just yet! We are getting into what happened at Jekyll Island, what the outcome was of that secret meeting, and how we are still feeling the effects today. Listen to hear how the American public pushed back against the big banking families, no longer regarding JP...
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Jekyll Island: Part 1
We're throwin' on our tinfoil hats and digging into the secret meeting that helped shape America’s banking system and the families tied to it. From gold-backed chaos and economic crashes to billionaires controlling the economy, we talk about how a handful of powerful families allegedly rigged the...
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Borrowed Words 5
Rest your bones and hang out with us as we talk about the origins of eponymous words. Sources: Teddy Bear, A Brief History of the Cardigan, The Evolution and Impact of the Cardigan, Fahrenheit and the Birth of Precision Thermometry, Origins of Masochism , Britannica-Masochism , Marquis de Sade…
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Las Poquianchis: The Gonzalez Valenzuela Sisters
We follow the Gonzalez Valenzuela sisters of Mexico, known as Las Poquianchis, from a violent upbringing to a brothel network that authorities link to trafficking, torture, and mass murder. Sources: Mexico Daily News, Mexico: Sisters of Shame, Las Poquianchis sisters: Mexico’s most notorious…
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The Licata Family Axe Murders
A respected Tampa, FL family is found butchered by an axe and the only survivor is an adult child, Victor, sitting in clean church clothes with blood stains underneath. Why did Victor slay his family? Was it hereditary mental illness? Or was it a drug fueled murder spree? Listen to hear how the...
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The Wright Bros. (and sister).
Everyone knows the Wright brothers. Almost nobody knows the sister who kept the whole operation running. Katharine Wright packed the trunks, managed the politics, and got erased anyway. Listen to hear the Wright family story. Sources: Wright Family Bio, Wright Family History, Wright Family…
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The Carman Family Deaths
The Netflix documentary, "The Carman Family Deaths" only scratches the surface of their family deaths. Listen to hear how a high status, New England family can ruin themselves from within. Sources: US Department of Justice, The Keene Sentinel , Rita's Obituary , John's Obituary , Biography.com,...
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The Weems Family
John Weems' determination to free his family from slavery is one of trust, cooperation, and human ingenuity, spawning from the most desperate of situations. Listen to hear how John Weems and the underground railroad raised money and awareness to ensure the entire Weems family found freedom....
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Borrowed Words 4
From sailors’ ropes to Paris bartenders, our language gets tipsy in this Borrowed Words episode. We highlight popular drinking words and phrases on the biggest bar night of the year! Sources: Snopes.com , Factcheck.com, OED.com, Dictionary.com, Learnreligions.com, phrases.org,...
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The (almost) First English Family in America
A colony vanishes, a single word carved in wood, and a baby named Virginia Dare. Did the Roanoke colony assimilate, starve, or flee the storm? Support the show E-Mail the show at [email protected] Molly Bz Cookies - Promo Code: Bones Get Good Feels Cannabis Seltzer - Promo Code…
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The Blue Fugates
The blue Fugates of Kentucky were a family like none other. Donning either pale white or blue skin, this Appalachian family stood out. Listen as we walk through the Fugate family line, dispelling untruths, and telling the whole story. Sources: Painting of the Fugates Howstuffworks.com,...
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The Fox Sisters
Maggie and Kate Fox sparked the American seance craze after their older sister Leah, turned a parlor prank into a booming business model that still haunts today’s mediums and paranormal shows. Listen as we explain how the Fox sisters communicated with the dead. Sources: History.com…
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The Licari Family and the Unknown Number
We get into "Unknown Number: The High School Cat Fish ,” documentary that dives into a cyberstalking scandal that blindsided families and friends in small town, Beal City, MI Sources: The Cut, Cole's MLive Article, MLive, MLive, MLive, MDOC, Forbes Support the show E-Mail the show at...
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Borrowed Words 3
Ever wonder why we say “graveyard shift” or “trick or treat”? Listen as we unravel the eerie origins of words and phrases we say every spooky season. Sources: Wordsmarts.com, Graveyard Shift, BetterWordsOnline.com, MentalFloss.com, Phrases.com, WordOrigins.com, LoveToKnow.com, TheExplain.com,...
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The Brothers Grimm: Part 3
As we reach the final chapter in our Brothers Grimm trilogy, we follow Jacob and Wilhelm through their golden years at the University of Berlin. We see how these scholarly siblings who have already transformed folklore collection into a science, continue to make history even in their twilight...
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The Brothers Grimm: Part 2
The second part of our Brothers Grimm series follows Jacob and Wilhelm through their publication of fairy tales and their groundbreaking academic work during a turbulent period in German history. Sources: Britannica.com, The Gottingen Seven, National Endowment for the Humanities, Grimm's Law...
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The Brothers Grimm: Part 1
The Brothers Grimm bathed in wine, lived in castles, and had doves nesting under their beds. Their real lives were as fantastical as the fairy tales they collected. Embark on this three-part story about Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, with our first guest, my twin sister, Samantha! Sources: "The…
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The Ngogo Chimpanzees
In the heart of Uganda's Kibale National Park lies a remarkable story of family politics, power struggles, and territorial conflicts that mirror human societies in startling ways. The Ngogo chimpanzee community is the largest known chimpanzee group in the world. It provides a window into the...
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The Yates Family
Andrea Yates' story isn't just about a mother who killed her children—it's about mental healthcare failures, religious extremism, and societal pressure on mothers. What can we learn 20+ years later? Sources: Yates Family Memorial Site, Biography.com, Time.com, NYPost.com, PsychiatryOnline.org,...
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The Twining(s) Family and Tea Company
Three hundred years of ethical business seems almost impossible in today's world, yet the Twining family tea empire stands as a remarkable exception to our cynical expectations. Sources: Which Came First? Tea or Coffee?, Twinings Tea, Witheridge Historical Archive, Livery Committee, Catherine of...
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The Watts Family Massacre
A seemingly picture-perfect family is shattered when Chris Watts decided he wanted another life. Shan'ann Watts was willing to work on their marriage, showing her love for her husband via Facebook videos and posts. However, that wasn't enough for Chris. A happy marriage on social media...isn't...
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Borrowed Words 2
Our second installment of Borrowed Words has us talking about past presidents, prohibition, and admitting that sometimes, we just don't know. Sources: Sentence Stack, Bored Panda, Library of Congress, Symbolism and Metaphor, Word Origins, Phrase Finder, The Cooking Facts, Flavor Inside,...
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The Most Dysfunctional Family in America: Part 3
The nightmarish saga of the Sexton family reaches its heartbreaking conclusion as they flee from Indiana to Florida. Packed into a cramped camper and paranoia mounting as authorities close in, tragedy strikes before their arrest. Sources: The Winnebago Man Sommer Sanchez "House of Secrets" by...
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The Most Dysfunctional Family in America: Part 2
The Sexton family saga continues as Eddie Lee and May are on the run from officials, clinging to their children and claims of innocence. Evidence amasses against them at home as the children who refused to run away, tell their stories. Support the show E-Mail the show at...
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The Most Dysfunctional Family in America: Part 1
Eddie Lee and May Sexton resided in a house on Caroline St. in Canton, OH with their 12 children. Eddie Lee ruled his home with an iron fist. Often turning sibling against sibling. Eventually taking his family on the run from the authorities; when they were caught, each sibling slowly revealed…
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Sawney Bean and the Bean Brood
Alexander "Sawney" Bean and his 48-member family lived in a cave in Scotland. Never conforming to societal norms, this family met an unfortunate end...or did they? Sources: The Story of Sawney Bean and His Clan of Cannibal Killers The Jacobite Rebellion Famines of the Middle Ages The Legend of…
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The Demon House
When Latoya moves into a home in Gary, IN with her three children and her mother, the family quickly experiences strange happenings. The family would not last one year in the house before they move out claiming demons are possessing all of them. Sources: Dcgary.com , National Catholic Register ,...
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Shirlee Fields: A Window into Jonestown
Bay City, Michigan native, Shirlee Fields, made her way out west upon graduating high school and eventually found herself in the wilds of Guyana. Hoping and trying for a better future, Shirlee and her family followed Jim Jones into Jonestown and never returned. We follow Shirlee's story, allowing...
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Borrowed Words
Join us as we relax, sit back, and talk about the etymology of words and phrases. Sources: https://www.ef.edu/blog/language/english-words-with-strange-origins/, https://go2tutors.com/15-everyday-phrases-with-surprising-historical-origins/,...
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The Galvin Family: Part 2
The second and final part to the Galvin Family saga. The Galvin family struggled with mental illness when 6 out of the 12 children were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Sources: https://galvinfamilytrust.org/, https://robertkolker.com/, https://lindsaymarygalvinrauch.com/,...
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The Galvin Family: Part 1
A family of 12 children struggles with mental illness when 6 of the boys are diagnosed with schizophrenia. Support the show E-Mail the show at [email protected] Molly Bz Cookies - Promo Code: Bones Get Good Feels Cannabis Seltzer - Promo Code: Bones Patreon MERCH! BorrowedBones...
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Ma Barker and the Karpis-Barker Gang
Ma Barker, the ultimate "boy mom" and her sons were among the last of the wild west outlaws. Sources: https://vault.fbi.gov/barker-karpis-gang/bremer-investigation-summary/Bremer%20Investigation%20Summary%20Part%2001%20%28Final%29 https://www.uspis.gov/history-spotlight-2023/kate-ma-barker...
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The Hatfield and McCoy Feud
The most infamous family feud in American history. Sources: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hatfields-and-McCoys https://today.uconn.edu/2019/09/hatfield-mccoy-feud-carries-lessons-today/ https://www.allergy-associates.com/?p=942 https://hatfieldmccoy.substack.com/p/anatomy-of-a-hog-trial...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Families build you up, tear you down, and sometimes drag you into something truly unhinged. Borrowed Bones unearths the bizarre, toxic, and fascinating stories of family dynamics gone sideways. From the macabre to the just plain strange, we’re digging deep to uncover the skeletons hiding in the closets of history, culture, and beyond.
HOSTED BY
Sarah Sexton
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Borrowed Bones have?
Borrowed Bones currently has 36 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Borrowed Bones about?
Families build you up, tear you down, and sometimes drag you into something truly unhinged. Borrowed Bones unearths the bizarre, toxic, and fascinating stories of family dynamics gone sideways. From the macabre to the just plain strange, we’re digging deep to uncover the skeletons hiding in the...
How often does Borrowed Bones release new episodes?
Borrowed Bones has 36 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Borrowed Bones?
You can listen to Borrowed Bones on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Borrowed Bones?
Borrowed Bones is created and hosted by Sarah Sexton.
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