Episodes
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100: John Hunter and Charles Byrne
On June 1, 1783, a 7'7" Irishman named Charles Byrne died of tuberculosis and complications with giantism. Eagerly awaiting his death was a man regarded as England's greatest surgeon, who was competing with others in the medical community to earn the opportunity of dissecting such a rare medical...
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99: Victor Hugo: An Erotic Life
On June 24, 1801, Victor Hugo was conceived on the peaks of the Vosges Mountains. It's unclear whether this is pertinent to him writing The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories, brought to you by...
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98: The Death of King Charles II
February 2 of 1685, Charles II, King of England, woke up feeling a little under the weather. What followed was perhaps the most aggressive case of "good intentions, poor execution." Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories…
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97: Radithor
After the discovery of atomic decay, radioactive medicines were soon stocked in drug stores across the world. Today's episode centers on "Radithor," a radioactive patent drug consumed by famed semi-pro golfer Eben Byers; who would go on to be known as "a guy you absolutely shouldn't look up on...
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96: Honey Mummies
The mellified men, also known as human mummy confections, were a legendary medicinal substance created by steeping a human cadaver in honey. Join us as we unravel another Bipin Banger History Mystery! Cock and Bull is a primary source on The Dollop. It's also a somewhat-weekly history podcast…
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95: Sokushinbutsu
The Japanese climate is not exactly conducive to mummification. There are no peat bogs, no arid deserts, and no alpine peaks perennially encased in ice. The summers are hot and humid. Between 1081 and 1903, at least 17 monks managed to mummify themselves. Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 Pic 4 Cock and Bull is…
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94: Tarrare "The Bottomless Pit"
CONTENT WARNING: ANIMAL CRUELTY, EATING DISORDERS In the early 1780s, a family of French famers made the awful, and no-doubt difficult decision to abandon their son. The boy was incredibly skinny, had angel-fine hair, and an insatiable appetite--able to eat his weight in beef. Unable to afford…
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93: William Buckland's Buffet
Famed geologist and paleontologist William Buckland was among the most energetic and eccentric Deans to ever pass through the halls of Oxford. Not only did he help name the fist-ever dinosaur, but he also played a role in discrediting the Biblical Flood Theory, and... and... checks notes ... And…
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92: Dr. Messenger Monsey
Nathan and Spencer take it down a notch from last week by talking about a silly 18th century doctor who longed for the life of a fancy boy. Midway through the episode we refer to a pair of pictures. Picture 1, and Picture 2. Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable...
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91: Pruitt Igo
In 1952, construction began on a public housing project in North St. Louis, Missouri. 33 apartment buildings--a herculean spending project in the name of urban renewal. By 1972, they would famously be demolished on television. There’s much more to the story. Pruitt-Igoe was not proof of a Cold…
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90: Charles Hatfield, "Moisture Accelerator"
In December, 1915, the San Diego City Council agreed to pay a pale, homespun-gentleman $10,000 if he could make it rain. His name was Charles Hatfield, and the self-proclaimed "Moisture Accelerator" would be blamed for the most devestating flooding in California's recorded history. Cock and Bull…
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89: The Great Bone Plundering
After the Great Iconoclasm destroyed innumerable holy relics, the Catholic Church had to figure out a way to replace them. When vineyard workers unveiled a crypt that had been untouched for nearly 15 centuries, the church had its answer. Our podcast is an independent show, free of network...
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88: Heinrich Schliemann and the Hunt for Troy
After nearly three years of intermittent hiatus, Cock and Bull is back for our triumphant ROAD TO 100! New episodes every Tuesday, starting right here with German businessman / amateur archeologist Heinrich Schliemann. Our podcast is an independent show, free of network restrictions and paid...
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87: The Holy Prepuce
Recorded after a six month gap and released another six months after that! Don't call it a comeback, but Nathan and Spencer talk about the elusive artifact dubbed "The Holy Prepuce," also known as the foreskin of Jesus Christ. Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable...
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86: Pellegrino Ernetti's Photo of Jesus
Nathan and Spencer explore the life and legacy of Father Pellegrino Ernetti, and his miraculous invention dubbed "The Chronovisor." Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories, brought to you by Spencer Foust (@BalraagTheOrc), and...
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85: St. Columba and The War For The Book
Nathan and Spencer talk about Saint Columba, a gaelic historical figure with a slew of impossibly tall tales to his name. Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories, brought to you by Spencer Foust (@BalraagTheOrc), and Nathan, a...
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84: Quattlebaum's "Quadro-Tracker"
Episode Notes In 1993, a used-car salesman named Wade Quattlebaum had a harmless idea that spiraled into a scam worth millions. Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories, brought to you by Spencer Foust (@BalraagTheOrc), and…
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83: Julius Wagner-Jauregg's "Pyrotherapy"
Episode Notes Nathan and Spencer crank up the heat and talk about an old-fashioned remedy for mental illness. Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories, brought to you by Spencer Foust (@BalraagTheOrc), and Nathan, a sophisticated...
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82: "Garbo," International Man of Mystery
I uploaded this before Nov 3. Hope your post-election life is going alright. <3 Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories, brought to you by Spencer Foust (@BalraagTheOrc), and Nathan, a sophisticated text-to-speech program. You…
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81: Dr. Cade's Guinea Pig Piss Piñatas
Nathan and Spencer are joined by Brittany, guest host, who teaches the brothers all about Dr. John Cade. Cade, throughout the 1940s, single-handedly cornered the jar and guinea pig markets of Australia. Why? We're still not 100% certain, but he'd argue it was science. Cock and Bull is a...
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80: Woollard and Carmichael, "Ball Busters"
Nathan and Spencer have a... well, frankly uncomfortable discussion about organs. Sensitive, external--did I say sensitive?--organs. Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories, brought to you by Spencer Foust (@BalraagTheOrc), and...
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79: Joseph Barcroft, "Mr. Freeze"
Nathan and Spencer discuss the long and dangerous life of Irish doctor Joseph Barcroft. In one expeditious career, Barcroft explored the front lines of war, dizzying heights, and frigid lows. Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true...
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78: Nicolai Minovici "The Hangman"
To celebrate the debut of Blunderphonics Season 2, Jack Derbak sits down with Spencer Foust for a discussion about Romania's tattoo-obsessed physiologist Nicolai Minovici. Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories, brought to you…
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77: Johann Ritter's Shocking Experiments
Nathan and Spencer have a little extra free time for some reason. In this week's episode, the brothers have a down-to-Earth discussion about the 18th-century origins of one particular fetish. Also, super sorry for the sounds of mouse-clicks in the background on this one. Cock and Bull is a...
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76: Santorio Santorio the Weight Watcher
Nathan and Spencer have a little pow-wow about a (supposedly) real human being named Santorio Santorio. First and last name. Would I lie to you? Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories, brought to you by Spencer Foust...
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75: John Stapp's Need for Speed
Nathan and Spencer are stirred from their eternal slumber to talk about one man's thirst for high speeds and hard stops. Cock and Bull is a somewhat-weekly history podcast about unbelievable characters and shockingly true stories, brought to you by Spencer Foust (@BalraagTheOrc), and Nathan, a...
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74: Wilhelm Reich's "Sex Box"
Nathan and Spencer lock themselves in a closet for two hours, testing the limits of brotherly bonds and the viability of this podcast.
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73: Johann Dippel of Castle Frankenstein
Nathan and Spencer discuss the man behind the myth: Johann Conrad Dippel, "learned-boy of Castle Frankenstein."
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72: Hastein and Björn Ironsides
Spencer and Ben tell a 1200-year-old tale: a journey from the edge of the world, to the walls of the Mediterranean's mightiest capital.
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Episode 71: The Piltdown Man
Spencer and Ben discuss the life of Charles Dawson and his most famous discovery: Piltdown Man. This is potentially the easiest name Spencer has repeatedly mispronounced.
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Episode 70: Sigmund Freud
Nathan and Spencer discuss the father of psychoanalysis: a coke-addicted Sigmund Freud.
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Episode 69: Corporal Wojtek the Soldier Bear
Nathan and Spencer talk about Wojtek, the Syrian brown bear that fought alongside Polish soldiers in WWII.
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Episode 68: China's Last Eunuch
CONTENT WARNING: Genital Mutilation. Nathan and Spencer return to talk about the last Chinese Eunuch: Sun Yaoting. Thanks to Driftless Pony Club for allowing us to use the song "There Were Buffalo on the Ark" off the album Cholera. For the first time in 60-something episodes we forgot to thank...
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Episode 67: A Dress To Die For
Nathan and Spencer talk about Scheele Green and Paris Green: two dyes that had their fair share of casualties in the Victorian Era. Special thanks to Andy for the topic suggestion!
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Episode 66: Augusta Fullam and Henry Clark
Nathan and Spencer dust off the podcasting equipment to debut their newest ASMR history venture, sponsored by Conan "Big Caucasian Hands" O'Brien. This week's ep. is actually about poison, and love affairs--if you're actually keeping track.
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Episode 65: William "Banana Bill" Sheffield
Oops. Uh oh. We did this one in the same room. Whoopsie! Anyway, here's 45 minutes of a 3-hour-recording. It's about a judge who became a Mormon after battling the Pope in the court of law. Also, bananas? It's an ordeal.
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Episode 64: Hydrazine vs. TB
We're back! A month-long hiatus has brought an interesting story to light: the tale of a WWII Nazi chemical compound that America put through some... interesting experiments.
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Episode 63: Times Beach, Missouri
Nathan and Spencer break down the decades-long incident known as the Times Beach Disaster.
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Episode 62: Rollercoasters For Christ
Nathan and Spencer discuss LaMarcus Thompson's crusade against sin in the United States.
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Episode 61: Gregor MacGregor's Big Scheme
Nathan and Spencer talk about Scotsman Gregor MacGregor and his brilliant mosquito-filled scheme.
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Episode 60: Lord Timothy Dexter
Nathan and Spencer talk about a lucky tradesman with an eccentric lifestyle. Support Cock and Bull by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/cockandbull Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required.
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Episode 59: Eel Grabbing
Nathan and Spencer discuss a surprisingly violent day of eel grabbing.
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Episode 58: WWI's Mulan
Nathan and Spencer talk about Dorothy Lawrence, the only known English woman to serve on the front lines of World War One.
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Episode 57: The Polygraph Superhero
Nathan and Spencer discuss William Marston, an American Psychologist with ties to a cultural icon.
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Episode 56: Stubbins Ffirth and the Yellow Fever
David and Nathan discuss Stubbins Ffirth, the doctor that tried to crack the case on the infamous Yellow Fever. CONTENT WARNING: It's just gross. Support Cock and Bull by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/cockandbull Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own...
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Episode 55: Agatha Christie Vanished
Nathan and Spencer discuss the disappearance of famed muder-mystery-writer Dame Agatha Christie.
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Episode 54: John Paul Jones
Nathan and Spencer rattle off a tale about American Naval Captain John Paul Jones, and all of his cool / not so cool escapades.
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Episode 53: They Nuked Him Twice
Nathan (Evan) and Spencer (Spencer) discuss Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the (un)luckiest man in all of Japanese history. This one requires you to laugh through a very dark event, so bare with the chuckles and goofs.
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Episode 52: Evander Berry Wall
Nathan and Spencer switch seats to talk about Evander Berry Wall: King of the Dudes.
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Episode 51: Digby Tatham-Warter
Nathan and Spencer return from their two-month-sabbatical, and discuss World War 2's own tiger-hunting Marry Poppins: Digby Tatham-Warter.