Caustic Soda

With a heavy heart and in honour of our good friend Mr. Dr. Greg Bole we present a very special episode: "The End." The process and smells of dying, semelparity, animal grief, famous last words, weird wills, and Greg's final plans and wishes. The post The End with Mr. Dr. Greg Bole appeared first on Caustic Soda.

Almost six years to the day of our first ever podcast, Mike, Toren, Joe and Kevin are bringing their journey through the absolute worst the world of science, history, and pop culture has to offer to an end. Veteran Guestpert Dr. Rob joins us for the first two hours of our massive farewell episode. We cover almost every […] The post Fanfare Finale appeared first on Caustic Soda.

The caustic look at elephants continues with elephant attacks, beehive fences, Jumbo, Topsy's execution, plus news and pop culture! The post Elephants, Part 2 of 2 appeared first on Caustic Soda.

Yvonne Morrin joins Kevin, Toren, and Joe to talk elephants, starting with a mammoth pop-quiz and a ton of caustic elephacts: musth, the Phajaan ritual, and elephant artificial insemination. Part 1 of 2. The post Elephants, Part 1 of 2 appeared first on Caustic Soda.

Caustic Hosts Joe, Toren, and Kevin get thirsty discussing the causes and effects of droughts including tumblefirenados, the Syrian Civil War, Indian and Chinese famines, the California Water Wars, Lake Karachay, a super-dry extremophile, the horrors experienced in Virginia's Jamestown Colony, "shade ball" debunking, plus pop culture! The post Droughts appeared first on Caustic Soda.

Carnivorous plants, strangling kelp, giant hogweed, gympie-gympie, falling saguaros, manchineel trees, coconuts, and more! The post Killer Plants appeared first on Caustic Soda.

Kevin, Joe, and Toren conclude Caligula's history, an exploration of explanations for his behavior, plus pop culture! Music: "The Killing Type" by Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra The post Caligula, Part 2 of 2 appeared first on Caustic Soda.

Kevin, Toren, and Joe discuss Evil Dude in History Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, aka "Caligula". Part 1 of 2 -- the early years and rise to power. The post Caligula, Part 1 of 2 appeared first on Caustic Soda.

Allan Newell rejoins the hosts with his firefighter helmet on to discuss the seven motives of arsonists, Herostratus, the Happy Land Fire, the Clarence Roberts mystery, the Sydney Ghost Train Fire, the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, Operation Backfire, the Pillow Pyro, the Mary Pang Warehouse Fire, and more! The post Arson appeared first on Caustic Soda.

Joe, Toren, and Kevin "check out" the caustic side of libraries, including both Melvil Dewey's classification system and the man himself, the librarian who took over China, librarian sex habits, "for sex see librarian", the Brave Sage of Timbuktu, plus news and pop culture. Recorded at the Vancouver Public Library's Inspiration Lab! The post Libraries appeared first on Caustic Soda.

Toren, Kevin, and Joe discuss mines of every description including naval mines, helicopter mines, fougasses, nuclear mines, the Camp Bonifas Golf Course and mine-detecting flowers. Plus what to expect when you step on a blast mine. Music: “Oooh-oh-Boom!” by Benny Goodman with Martha Tilton Charity O’ The Week: International Campaign to Ban Landmines Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuKp-ctLGI4

The podcast marathon continues as Dr. Katie, Joe, Toren, and Kevin talk about the Badwater Ultramarathon, the Canadian Death Race, Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope, and Oscar Pistorius’ career and deadly Valentine. Music: “We’re on the Other Side Now” by Magdalen Charity O’ The Week: The Terry Fox Foundation (Buy “Terry” here!) Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1QOtPDAAeY

Dr. Katie Marshall is back with Joe, Toren, and Kevin to talk about the horrors of running. They compare human and animal running speeds, the horrors the running inflicts on your body (plus some benefits), the man vs. horse marathon, the beer mile, and the “Ride and Tie”. Music: “Flee!” by The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets Links Man vs. Horse Marathon The Beer-Every-Mile SF Half Marathon: 13 Beers in 13 Miles Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e6h4zLC5U8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6I2-YP42rs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKf1eTzmK14

Season seven of Caustic Soda begins with pathogenic fungi, prototaxites, spelunker’s lung, fungal eye and yeast infections, magic mushrooms, the death suit, and cordyceps. Plus news and pop culture! Music: “Baby’s There’s Mold Outside” by Toren and Louise the hyphae are long – Baby there’s mold outside the filaments strong – Baby there’s mold outside it’s turning me green – and fuzzy and sometimes white like some old fruit – it’s in the shower and the sink you find it in penicillin, other mold can make you illin’ they use it to make some cheese – pass the gorgonzola please releasing their spores – they’re gonna get doled out Baby there’s mold outside Images  

Joe, Toren, and Kevin ring in the end of another season of Caustic Soda with a look at the arbitrary time of year we chose as the end. We&#8217;ll look at how calendars work, new year around the world and in history, plus the dangers of drunk walking and a cork injury PSA! Music: &#8220;Sexist Bullshit&#8221; by The Doubleclicks Charity O&#8217; The Week: Links Siberian Underwater Tree Fireworks Truck Explosion Photos Images <img width="150" height="150" src="https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?resize=150%2C150&#38;ssl=1" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?resize=150%2C150&#38;ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?resize=300%2C300&#38;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?resize=1024%2C1024&#38;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?resize=550%2C550&#38;ssl=1 550w, https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?resize=500%2C500&#38;ssl=1 500w, https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?resize=225%2C225&#38;ssl=1 225w, https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?resize=200%2C200&#38;ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?resize=600%2C600&#38;ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?zoom=3&#38;resize=150%2C150&#38;ssl=1 450w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" data-attachment-id="4856" data-permalink="https://causticsodapodcast.com/2015/12/28/new-year/the-stonehaven-fireballs-december-31-2014-picture-by-colin-rennie/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?fit=1460%2C960&#38;ssl=1" data-orig-size="1460,960" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{&#34;aperture&#34;:&#34;0&#34;,&#34;credit&#34;:&#34;PRESS AND JOURNAL&#34;,&#34;camera&#34;:&#34;&#34;,&#34;caption&#34;:&#34;The Stonehaven Fireballs - December 31, 2014.\r\nPicture by COLIN RENNIE&#34;,&#34;created_timestamp&#34;:&#34;0&#34;,&#34;copyright&#34;:&#34;ABERDEEN JOURNALS LTD&#34;,&#34;focal_length&#34;:&#34;0&#34;,&#34;iso&#34;:&#34;0&#34;,&#34;shutter_speed&#34;:&#34;0&#34;,&#34;title&#34;:&#34;The Stonehaven Fireballs - December 31, 2014.\r\nPicture by COLIN RENNIE&#34;,&#34;orientation&#34;:&#34;0&#34;}" data-image-title="The Stonehaven Fireballs &#38;#8211; December 31, 2014. Picture by COLIN RENNIE" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/causticsodapodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/stonehaven-newyear-2015.jpg?fit=800%2C800&#38;ssl=1" /> Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsskF3u-QoM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqYchj3hii8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl6y6k_1X6Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znwh41szei4

Comedian Adam Pateman joins us to discuss diving accidents, dead whale carcasses, losing one&#8217;s sense of smell, cannibalism on the Franklin Expedition, a doomed expedition to Africa, plus which is the lesser of two evils &#8211; being sprayed with skunk water or being pelted with frozen paintballs? Music: &#8220;Out of Line&#8221; by Aphasia ( Soundcloud &#124; YouTube &#124; Facebook ) Links Adam Pateman Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adhGYqdjIsg &#160;

Dr. Rob is back for for a Caustic Anatomy Class on kidneys! We&#8217;ll cover kidney disease, hear Toren&#8217;s own kidney stone story in full detail, the largest kidney stones ever reported, kidney stones in history, the effects of kidney-blows, plus news and pop culture! Music: &#8220;Kidney Stone Song&#8221; by Stacy Pearcy Links James Lafond &#8211; What does a kidney punch do? Willem Kolff, Doctor Who Invented Kidney and Heart Machines, Dies at 97 Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZj7H8sfkR0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqKOYQcGojU

Vigiles, Sombra Negra, Jonathan Idema, Bernhard Goetz, The Lavender Panthers, the Fierce Missouri Bald Knobbers and Anonymous hacktivism, and more! Music: &#8220;Power Up&#8221; by The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets Images &#160;

Our caustic look at hurricanes concludes with hurricane hunters, Hurricane Katrina, Typhoon Haiyan, the insultingly nitpicky appearance of the 1970 Bhola Cyclone In The News, plus pop culture! Part 2 of 2. Music: &#8220;Maxine, We&#8217;re Alive&#8221; by A Lovely War Links A Lovely War on Soundcloud International Business Times: Worst Storm Ever Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-SnxC-BkPo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKng-2JaqJU

Kevin, Toren, and Joe are back to talk about Big Wind: hurricanes! We&#8217;ll cover the biggest and most destructive ever, including the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, plus a Public Service Announcement, the Great Hurricane of 1780, and Galveston, Texas in 1900. Part 1 of 2. Music: &#8220;Goin&#8217; Down to Dunwich&#8221; by The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiFFfFMFCU0

Hippo attacks and how to avoid them, hippo castration, hippo ranching, hippo news and pop culture. Music: Gayla Peevey Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeCCr2mQKpk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKQ_coXOKgg

Dr. Rob Tarzwell is back with Joe, Kevin, and Toren to discuss epilepsy. We&#8217;ll look at the science of the condition, what to do if you witness a seizure, notable epileptics in history, a seizure while falling 10,000 feet, plus news and pop culture! Music: &#8220;Worst Superpower Ever&#8221; by The Doubleclicks Charity O&#8217; The Week: AbleGamers Links November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month (in the USA &#8212; Canada&#8217;s is March!) Did you know Snow White&#8217;s Dopey had epilepsy? Play it your way: how Twitch lets disabled gamers earn a living online Mackenseize on Twitch Images Videos https://youtu.be/55QUQHm2B5A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOe9cxkxJTU&#038;t=329

Author Don Debrandt joins Toren, Kevin, and Joe to discuss golems of all varieties in our 2015 Hallowe&#8217;en special. Music: &#8220;Postmodern Prometheus&#8221; by Invasives from their album Robot Stink Charity O&#8217; The Week: Links Ironwood Vol. 1 (NSFW!) Ironwood Vol. 2 (NSFW!) Images

While Toren and Kevin were at the HP Lovecraft Film Festival, Joe was at VCON 40 talking &#8220;Time Travel&#8221; with Eric Fell, Barbara Beall, Joe Haldeman and Mr. Dr. Greg Bole! Music: &#8220;Out of Line&#8221; by Aphasia Links Work Done For Hire &#8211; Joe Haldeman on Amazon &#8220;Hands Off&#8221; by Edward E. Hale on archive.org Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iQuhsmtfHw &#160;

Celebrated actor Jeffrey (Re-Animator, Star Trek DS9) Combs joins Toren, Kevin and guest-host Warren Banks to talk bad books, space warfare, ghosts, film set accidents, plus a very special Lesser of Two Evils! Music: &#8220;Strange&#8221; by The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets Images &#160;

Joe, Kevin, and Toren discuss the denial of Galileo&#8217;s look-for-yourself findings, Ebin Byers&#8217; &#8220;Radithor&#8221; addiction, &#8220;Deutsche Physik&#8221;, yet another evil tobacco cover-up, AIDs denialist Christine Maggiore, the Flat Earth Society, climate denial and conspiracy theories. Music: &#8220;Deniers (Demo Version)&#8221; by Information Society Links Big Tobacco wins fire marshals as allies in flame retardant push RationalWiki on NaturalNews.com Medical Science Advocacy Toronto Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_nWp6ZHA2Q

Toren, Kevin, and Joe continue discussing Prisons with Riker&#8217;s Island, Diyarbakir Prison, Gitarama Central Prison, Camp 22, The Shining Path, For-Profit Prisons and the Kids for Cash Scandal, plus news and pop culture! Music: &#8220;Lonesome Jailhouse Blues&#8221; by the Delmore Brothers Images &#160;

Toren, Joe, and Kevin lock themselves up in the studio to discuss locking people up in prisons, prison garb, panopticons, prison slang, a &#8220;So You&#8217;re Going To Prison&#8221; PSA, the Prison Rape Elimination Act, The London Bridewell, Prison Hulks, The Separate System and the Stanford Prison Experiment. Music: &#8220;In The Jailhouse Now&#8221; by Gene Autry Links 7 Horrifying Things You Didn&#8217;t (Want to) Know About Prison Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYcOl33-mI0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XN2X72jrFk

Kevin, Toren and Joe continue their look at the Nazi doctor Josef &#8220;Angel of Death&#8221; Mengele with his post-war movement  plus news (yes, news!) and pop culture. Music: &#8220;Moments Unaware&#8221; by Gavin Kade Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=167yT9JX0_Y

Kevin, Toren, and Joe are back in Evil Dudes in History with a two-part look at Josef Mengele. In this episode it&#8217;s his life and the horrors he perpetrated, from his early days in the SS to his terrible experiments at Auschwitz, to fleeing the country as the Allies close in. Intermission: &#8220;And I&#8217;ll Not Die&#8221; by Death Day Cabaret Images &#160;

War elephants, anti tank dogs, moose cavalry, carrier pigeons, donkey bombs, rocket cats, bear moats, bee hive missiles, explosive rats, the PDSA Dickin Medal and the dolphin arms race. Plus pop culture. Music: &#8220;Pigeon Walk&#8221; by Jimmie Lunceford and his Orchestra (1937) Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw0Ojx7OgUM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gbPIyCuGTA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lv_vd30s5s&#038;feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6yAaqH1YJ4 https://youtu.be/60iXsD-ilVI

Bed-wetting treatments, urine in the animal kingdom, the urine wheel, uromancy, phosphorous alchemy &#38; urine therapy. Plus when is it safe to drink your pee? Music: &#8220;All That Glitters is Not Gold&#8221; by Dinah Shore Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2OdA7DUOAQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQoiE-hfqFY