PODCAST · society
Bunkum and Ballyhoo
by Patrick W. Reed
A podcast about bullsh*t - join your host, author and professional wrestling historian Patrick W. Reed, as he takes a look back at the lives and lies of some of history's greatest showmen, con artists, grifters, hustlers and bullsh*tters of all kinds, from pro-wrestling to politics, and from sideshows to pseudoscience.
Episodes
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The Third Eye Of Dr. Lobsang Rampa
Bunkum & Ballyhoo enters the word of 20th century mysticism, with the 1956 release of The Third Eye, the immensely successful autobiography of the Tibetan Lama, T. Lobsang Rampa, giving an unprecedented look at the customs, culture, and ritual practices of a land almost inaccessible to the west,...
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The Von Erich Curse
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns to the world of professional wrestling, as host, historian and author Patrick W. Reed tells the story of what happens when the make-believe world of professional wrestling becomes all too real - it's a story of obsession, toxic masculinity, and unimaginable grief. From…
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Emergency Episode: "Conformity Gate" - The Phony Finale of Stranger Things
In an impromptu and unscripted emergency episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo, host Patrick W. Reed considers the emergent pop culture conspiracy theory that the final series of Stranger Things hid within it a series of clues revealing the existence of a secret additional episode - taking into account…
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The Mandela Effect, Conspiracy & The Dangers Of Weaponised Ignorance
In a bumper edition of Bunkum & Ballyhoo, historian and author Patrick W. Reed uses examples from his own memory to example one of the internet's favourite bizarre beliefs, the timeline-hopping, detail-altering mischief of the Mandela Effect. It's an exploration that takes in personal history…
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The Autobiography of Howard Hughes
In the world of literary scandal, there have always been books filed under "non-fiction" that are better positioned elsewhere in the library. In this episode, historian Patrick W. Reed looks at one notorious example - Clifford Irving's authorised "autobiography" of the world's most famous…
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The Cottingley Fairies
A return to the Fortean and the supernatural, and to the eminently gullible world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as Bunkum & Ballyhoo explores the story of fairies photographed in a Yorkshire garden, and how one of England's most famous authors made them a media sensation. Selected Bibliography &...
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The Psychic Mafia
Bunkum and Ballyhoo returns for its third series, as author and historian Patrick W. Reed looks at the phenomenon of True Believer Syndrome, through the story of the spiritualist medium M. Lamar Keene, his stranger than fiction true life story, and his fears of being stalked by who he called "The...
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The Afterlife Of The Highgate Vampire - The Secret Ingredient Is Nazis! (The Highgate Vampire, Part 2)
Part two of a double-header on the story of The Highgate Vampire takes a closer look at the principle players - David Farrant, and Reverend Sean Manchester - to explore the background of two extraordinary characters, the unsavoury and unsettling beliefs that so often lurk behind the irrational…
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Does A Vampyre Walk In Highgate? (The Highgate Vampire, Part 1)
Series two of Bunkum & Ballyhoo closes out with the extraordinary story of the Highgate Vampire - a supposed supernatural phenomenon that haunted one of London's great cemeteries in the 1970s, and the ongoing feud between the two duelling occultists and vampire hunters at its heart. Are we ever...
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Grey Owl Is Not What He Seems
Bunkum & Ballyhoo explores the life and complicated legacy of the voice of the Canadian wilderness, an early vocal spokesman for conservation, environmentalism, and native rights; Grey Owl, and the thorny issue of cultural appropriation. NOTE:This episode contains historical quotations which some...
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The Life & Times Of The Great Antonio
Bunkum & Ballyhoo host Patrick W. Reed returns to the familiar territory of professional wrestling history to uncover the true story behind one of wrestling's most infamous matches, and to shed light on the story of the wrestler, strongman, and legendary Montreal eccentric, The Great Antonio, and...
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Carlos Kaiser, Brazil's Phantom Footballer
Bunkum & Ballyhoo explores the highs and lows of the footballing career of Brazilian soccer superstar Carlos Kaiser - 13 years, 10 teams, and zero goals. In fact, he never even made it on to the pitch. Selected Sources: Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never To Play Footballby Rob Smyth Kaiser…
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Frank Searle, Monster Hunter Extraordinaire
Bunkum & Ballyhoo takes its first cautious steps into the murky waters of Cryptozoology as it visits the shores of Loch Ness, and the caravan of its most notorious monster hunter Frank Searle to learn whether the camera truly never lies. Selected Sources Loch Ness: They Created A Monster…
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The Deadliest Man Alive & The Secret Of The Dim Mak
Bunkum & Ballyhoo returns for Series 2 and Episode 1 takes a look at a legend of comic book ad pages - this is the story of the wild claims and even wilder life of the self-proclaimed Deadliest Man Alive, the Master Of The Dim Mak and the Dance Of Death, Count Dante, and his Black Dragon Fighting...
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Episode 6 - Claude Cahun & Marcel Moore, Jersey's Anti-Nazi Queer Icons
Episode 6 of Bunkum & Ballyhoo rounds up a season on World War 2-related bullshit by looking at when lies and propaganda can be used for good, exploring the lives and times of the revolutionary queer surrealist artists Claude Cahun & Marcel Moore, and how they stood up to Nazi oppression in...
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Episode 5 - Halloween Special: The Martian Invasion of 1938
Episode 5 is a spooktacular Halloween special looking at Orson Welles' infamous Halloween 1938 radio production of War Of The Worlds, and the stories of mass panic and chaos when the American public believed that the Martians really were coming - or did they? Audio Sources: War Of The Worlds by...
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Episode 4 - The Hitler Diaries
Episode 4 of Bunkum & Ballyhoo looks at one of the most notorious hoaxes of the 20th century - the Hitler Diaries; how a clumsy forgery fooled the world's press and one of England's most respected historians, why sometimes a lie only needs a particularly enthusiastic believer to take flight, and...
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Episode 3 - The War Magician
Episode 3 of Bunkum & Ballyhoo is a look at the magician Jasper Maskelyne, the claims that his magical prowess was employed in the fields of camouflage and espionage in World War 2, and why looking critically at the mythmaking around a dead old magician is still important in 2024. Audio Sources:...
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Episode 2 - Eric "Panther" Pleasants
Episode 2 of Bunkum and Ballyhoo once again looks at an intersection between professional wrestling and dubious politics, with the stranger than fiction story of how Norfolk professional wrestler Eric "Panther" Pleasants went from wrestling in Jersey to fighting for Hitler. Audio Sources: The…
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Episode 1 - South Africa's Masked Marvel
In the very first episode of Bunkum & Ballyhoo, professional wrestling historian Patrick W. Reed looks at The Masked Marvel, a South African wrestling superstar whose legacy outside the ring was far grizzlier than any punishment he inflicted inside it.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A podcast about bullsh*t - join your host, author and professional wrestling historian Patrick W. Reed, as he takes a look back at the lives and lies of some of history's greatest showmen, con artists, grifters, hustlers and bullsh*tters of all kinds, from pro-wrestling to politics, and from sideshows to pseudoscience.
HOSTED BY
Patrick W. Reed
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Bunkum and Ballyhoo have?
Bunkum and Ballyhoo currently has 20 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Bunkum and Ballyhoo about?
A podcast about bullsh*t - join your host, author and professional wrestling historian Patrick W. Reed, as he takes a look back at the lives and lies of some of history's greatest showmen, con artists, grifters, hustlers and bullsh*tters of all kinds, from pro-wrestling to politics, and from...
How often does Bunkum and Ballyhoo release new episodes?
Bunkum and Ballyhoo has 20 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Bunkum and Ballyhoo?
You can listen to Bunkum and Ballyhoo 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 Bunkum and Ballyhoo?
Bunkum and Ballyhoo is created and hosted by Patrick W. Reed.
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