PODCAST · society
Idiopathic
by Daryl and Sarah
Welcome to Idiopathic, where the strange and unknown meets science, medicine, and a bit of curiosity. "Idiopathic" means a condition with no known cause—just like the stories we explore. From prophetic powers to reincarnation, hauntings to urban legends, cryptids to conspiracies, we'll explore what might really be behind the weird and unusual stories out there. Subscribe to Idiopathic for medical mysteries, haunted histories, and maybe even sharpen your eye for examining the eerie along the way!
Episodes
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E41.2 Gene Otto: Robert the Doll (Part 2)
Last week we started in on the story of Gene Otto and Robert the Doll with our #1 fan-- Sarah's Mom. Some theories were thrown out there for the reasons why this doll generally eeks the heck out of people, and possibly why it might also appear to move and cause mischief at times. Today, we…
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E41.1 Gene Otto: Robert the Doll (Part 1)
Gene Otto was born in 1900 in the Florida Keys, he passed away in the 1970's after a life spent making art. What he's probably best known for though, isn't his art but his childhood and lifelong companion: Robert. See, Robert was a nearly 4 foot tall stuffed doll and like many toys of this era,...
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E40 Annaliese Michel: Posession on Trial (Special)
Today, we're getting into a chilling tale that inspired the 2005 film "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." In 1976, a young German woman named Anneliese Michel faced a harrowing ordeal marked by visions, voices, and seizures. Convinced she was possessed, her family turned to the Catholic Church for an...
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E39.2 Roland Doe: Exorcisms (Part 2)
Last week we covered the story of Roland Doe, the account that inspired a movie that still scares the hell out of me-- the Exorcist. The exorcist movie is based on a book by the same name written by William Peter Blatty. According to him, the novel was based on the accounts recorded by a catholic...
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E39.1 Roland Doe: Exorcisms (Part 1)
William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist was released in 1973. Audiences all over were shocked, some even had visceral responses to it. Reports of people fleeing mid-film, fainting, or vomiting in the theaters were shared widely. The Exorcist book and subsequent film aren't just the products of a...
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E38.2 Ronnie DeFeo: Amityville Horror (Part 2)
Last week, we heard about the sagas occurring in Amityville NY between 1974 and 1976-- a murder so horrible that it's almost preferable to believe it's the work of demonic posession and a haunting so off the walls that it's been turned into books, movies, documentaries, and goodness only knows…
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E38.1 Ronnie DeFeo: Amityville Horror (Part 1)
November 13th, 1974. A quiet suburban street in Amityville, Long Island. Inside the DeFeo home, six members of the DeFeo family lay lifeless, victims of a brutal massacre. The prodigal son of the DeFeos, Ronnie, is the only one left standing. This was just the beginning though as a chilling tale…
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E37 Bridget Bishop: Salem Witch Trials (Revision Special)
The Salem witch trials of 1692 were a series of events in colonial Massachusetts during which a wave of fear and paranoia led to the accusation, trial, and execution of 20 people (mostly women) for charges of witchcraft. The trials began when a group of young girls claimed to be possessed by...
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E36.2 Enfield Haunting: Poltergeist Activity (Part 2)
Last week we learned of the Enfield Poltergeist case, wherein two preteen sisters, along with their family were tormented by an unwelcome and rather destructive entity. They were investigated, reported on, and plenty of evidence was offered up for proof of the paranormal. Skeptics, however…
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E36.1 Enfield Haunting: Poltergeist Activity (Part 1)
Keeping in theme with the SPR investigations tie, this week we're going to cover another of their cases. Today's adventure takes place in 1970's Enfield London. Unlike the last few stories where the characters actively called upon spirits-- these folks were tormented by them unwillingly. Between...
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E35.2 Helen Duncan: Spiritualist & Witch? (Part 2)
In part one of the story of Helen Duncan, we learned about her life and the events that possibly lead up to her being considered one of the last women to be imprisoned under the Witchcrafts Act of 1735. Quite a feat, considering she lived nearly two hundred years after it was enacted! So did…
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E35.1 Helen Duncan: Spiritualist & Witch? (Part 1)
When we last met, we reported on the Philip the Ghost Experiment. In that story, we mentioned the Toronto Society for Psychical Research. They were the folks who were responsible for heading up the experiment. What we didn't mention was that there are Societies for Psychical Research (SPR) all…
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E34 Season 2! (Trailer)
We're Baaaaaack! We took some time away, but don't worry, we haven't left for good.
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E33.2 Philip Aylesford: The Ghost Experiment (Part 2)
In part one we learned about Philip Aylesford and the Ghost Experiment, a study that was done in the 1970’s not to prove the existence of the paranormal, but to disprove that paranormal experiences were anything but our own human minds interacting with… something? Well, the experiment’s results...
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E33.1 Philip Aylesford: The Ghost Experiment (Part 1)
Philip Aylesford’s life story is a tragic one taking place in 17th-century England. The English Civil War was raging at that time and consisted of a conflict that saw the Royalists fighting to preserve the monarchy under King Charles I against the Parliamentarians. The war ended in disaster for…
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E32 The Urantia Book: Part 2 (Special)
Last week, we learned how celestial beings visited Chicago Illinois through the words of a man who was sleep talking. And from his nocturnal ramblings, the Urantia Book was created. Though the authorship of this book is still debated today, the text itself is not really widely known– which seems...
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E31 The Urantia Book: Part 1 (Special)
Somewhere between 1924 and 1955, celestial beings visited Chicago Illinois through the words of a man who was sleep talking. From his nocturnal ramblings, the Urantia Book was compiled. Though the authorship of this book is still debated today, the text itself is not really widely known– which...
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E30.2 Queen Mary I: Bloody Mary (Part 2)
In part one of our exploration into the Bloody Mary ritual we talked about Queen Mary I of England’s tragic life and bloody reign. See, Queen Mary is one of the more likely (at least in my opinion) figures that would’ve inspired this urban legend– but slumber parties have been terrified by her...
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E30.1 Queen Mary I: Bloody Mary (Part 1)
You’ve heard the stories. Stand in front of a mirror, lights dimmed, and chant her name: "Bloody Mary… Bloody Mary… Bloody Mary." If you dare complete the ritual, she’ll appear—a vengeful spirit, bloodied and terrifying, reaching out from the glass to haunt your waking days. For decades, the…
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E29 Brief Concept Exploration: Paranormal Geology (Short)
For years, we’ve struggled to connect paranormal reports with a scientific explanation. And honestly, we’ve mostly failed at it. Here at Idiopathic, we like to explore the more human side of things– the medical explanations for the strange and paranormal events recorded throughout our history. A...
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E28.2 Houska Castle: Gateway to Hell (Part 2)
In part 1 of today’s show, we visited Houska Castle in the Czech countryside. This imposing structure, rumored to have been built in the 1200’s is no ordinary castle– for starters, it seems to have been built not to keep invaders out, but to lock something.. In. Rumors also have it that the…
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E28.1 Houska Castle: Gateway to Hell (Part 1)
Perched on a lonely hilltop, near Lake Máchovo, nestled deep within the forests north of Prague, lies Houska Castle. Is it the largest castle? No. Is it the most beautiful castle? Also, No. So what gives? Houska is different. It’s an early gothic castle that had been rebuilt sometime during the...
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E27 Brief Concept Exploration: Cults and Conspiracies (Short)
Peanut Butter and Jelly, Bert and Ernie, Cults and Conspiracies– some things in this world are just natural pairings. We’ve talked about both cults and conspiracies on this show many times, but we haven’t ever really given them their day in the spotlight. Well, today is that day. And yes, cults…
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E26.2 Linda Kasabian: Manson Family Murders (Part 2)
In the shadows of one of history's darkest cults, Linda Kasabian stood at the edge of a nightmare. She was drawn into the twisted web of the Manson Family, a group whose name is forever stained with blood. But when the time came to cross the final threshold, something inside Linda resisted. She…
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E26.1 Linda Kasabian: Manson Family Murders (Part 1)
Linda Kasabian, was born and raised in 1950’s New England. Like many of her generation, she went on to become part of the counterculture hippie movement of the later half of the 1960s. By the summer of 1969, she was 20 years old and a young mother, with a husband who had practically abandoned…
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E25 Brief Concept Exploration: Forensic Autopsy (Short)
You've seen it on TV, right? Those crime shows where they zoom in on a tiny blood spatter or some weird-looking bruise and suddenly, bam, they know exactly what happened. But have you ever stopped to think about the actual people behind that drama? I’m talking about forensic pathologists. These…
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E24.2 Lyudmila Dubinina: Dyatolov Pass (Part 2)
In part one of our adventure into the Dyatlov Pass incident, we got to set the scene for our main character, Lyudmila Dubnina and her fateful companions. In January 1959, amongst the Ural Mountains, nine experienced mountaineers were driven from their tent in the middle of the freezing cold night...
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E24.1 Lyudmila Dubinina: Dyatolov Pass (Part 1)
In the heart of Russia's desolate Ural Mountains lies Kholat Syakhl, a peak that’s as covered in snow as it is mystery and dread. Locally known to the Mansi people as the "Dead Mountain," its name is a reminder of the terrible events that unfolded there. In 1959, a group of young, experienced...
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E23 Brief Hystory: Hysteria (Short)
For centuries, women's bodies have been treated as mysteries, often blamed for inexplicable ailments. Today we’ll talk about the origins of hysteria, the dangerous treatments endured, and the lasting impact these misconceptions have had on healthcare. Get ready to question everything you…
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E22.2 Gloria Ramirez: Poisoning at Riverside Hospital (Part 2)
On the last episode of Idiopathic, we learned about the case of Gloria Ramirez– a 31 year old mother with cancer who was brought into the Riverside General Hospital in February of 1994. Unfortunately, Gloria would not make it through the night. Her visit to the hospital that night would not be so...
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E22.1 Gloria Ramirez: Poisoning at Riverside Hospital (Part 1)
Here at idiopathic, we’re big fans of the strange and unexplained, particularly when it comes to paranormal. But sometimes, the most haunting accounts come from situations that hit much closer to home. They’re modern and contain details that seem like they could easily happen to any of us.…
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E21 Brief Concept Exploration: Venn Diagram of the Undead (Short)
Today folks, we have a fun one for you. After talking about the differences and similarities between zombies, mummies, and vampires over several weeks, I thought heck– why not explore them deeper! Then, dear friends, I stumbled into a goldmine of insights into what these monsters are, what they...
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E20.2 Clairvius Narcisse: Zombies (Part 2)
On our last episode of Idiopathic, we visited 1980’s Haiti. As Angelina Narcisse, went about her daily routine, she found herself looking into a face she thought she might never see again in this life - her brother Clairvius, who had been buried in 1962. Now, that alone could be brushed off by…
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E20.1 Clairvius Narcisse: Zombies (Part 1)
When you think about a zombie, what do you imagine? The brainless undead walking amongst us? A reanimated corpse with rotting flesh shuffling toward you? Some sort of lifeless being coming for brains– or worse– to make you a zombie too? Today’s adventure begins in L’Estere Haiti in 1980, where...
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E19 Brief History: Medicinal Cannibalism (Short)
For centuries, the human body wasn't just a patient in medicine, it was also a bizarre ingredient in the medicine itself. Imagine a doctor looking at your ailments and reaching not for antibiotics, but for a vial of… mummy powder? Yep, you heard that right. For centuries, ground-up mummies were…
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E18.2 Elizabeth Bathory: The Blood Countess (Part 2)
Last episode, we started our exploration of Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman of immense wealth and power. She was also accused of unspeakable acts of torture and murder for reportedly over 600 women. Her alleged crime spree would etch her name in infamy as the "Blood Countess." Tales of...
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E18.1 Elizabeth Bathory: The Blood Countess (Part 1)
Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian noblewoman of immense wealth and power, stands accused of unspeakable acts. Descendant of royalty and aunt to a king, Bathory's life took a dramatic turn in 1610. She was charged with the torture and murder of hundreds of young women, a crime spree that would etch…
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E17 Brief History: Germ and Terrain Theories (Discussion)
In our recent exploration on the Curse of King Tut’s tomb, Sarah brought up something called Terrain Theory. Being who I am, I wanted to learn more– what it was, its pros and cons, and of course its history and well, let’s just say was I in for a science drama rabbit hole. So, Sarah and I chatted…
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E16.2 Mercy Lena Brown: New England Vampire Panic (Part 2)
Last time on Idiopathic, we ventured to Exeter, Rhode Island, when fear (yet again) overtook a small New England town. This time, it was the 1800’s and People were dying. Their loved ones believed the deceased weren't just gone, but coming back from the beyond to prey on the living. One case in...
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E16.1 Mercy Lena Brown: New England Vampire Panic (Part 1)
In our very first set of episodes, we discussed the Salem Witch Trials and the subsequent hanging of Bridget Bisop, you heard how the people of Salem turned against one another in a vicious (and perhaps biologically induced) string of accusations, trials, and eventual murder. Two hundred years...
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E14.2 5th Earl of Carnarvon: Curse of King Tuts Tomb (Part 2)
Last week, we started to crack the code on the tomb of Tutankhamun and the curse of the Pharaohs. And just a little reminder, this curse supposedly is what took down the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, the aristocrat who bankrolled its excavation. Years of sifting through sand and dodging the scorching...
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E14.1 5th Earl of Carnarvon: Curse of King Tuts Tomb (Part 1)
Some claim that in 1922 when King Tut’s tomb was discovered, an ominous warning was found engraved on its edifice: “Death Shall Come on Swift Wings To Him Who Disturbs the Peace of the King…” Was it just a warning, a terrible curse unleashed, or complete fabrication? Well, forget your tweed…
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E15 Brief Concept Exploration: Mummification (Short)
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become…. a mummy? No, no.. this isn’t about the birds and the bees folks, though Sarah did finally get around to having that talk with me and whoa. Today– I’m talking about the science and history of human and animal corpse preservation. Join me as we…
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E13 Brief Concept Exploration: Collective Unconscious (Short)
Have you ever felt eerily connected to a story– not because you enjoyed it– but because it felt strangely familiar even though you couldn't place its origins? Or perhaps you've woken from a dream so thick with symbolism that it made the DaVinci Code look like childs play? Carl Jung, a pioneer in...
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E12.2 Dorothy Eady: Reincarnation (Part 2)
Last week, we talked about the life of Dorothy Eady, also known as Omm Sety, a fascinating case claiming evidence of reincarnation. Dorothy seemed like any other child until a fall at age three. From that point on, things got strange. Dorothy developed an uncanny connection to ancient Egypt. She...
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E12.1 Dorothy Eady: Reincarnation (Part 1)
Have you ever heard of someone claiming to remember a past life? Dorothy Eady, also known as Omm Sety, is a fascinating case that's been explored in documentaries and books for years. Born in England at the start of the 1900s, Dorothy seemed like any other child until a fall at age three. Doctors...
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E11 Brief Concept Exploration: Sleep Demons (Short)
Imagine drifting into sleep, only to find that you’re suddenly trapped in a surreal nightmare. Your body is frozen, unable to move or scream for help, but you’re awake– you know it, because you can still see your cozy bedroom surrounding you. As you struggle against invisible restraints, you…
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E10.2 The Hmong: Sleep Paralysis (Part 2)
**Sound Quality Improvements Currently Underway** As a reminder from last week, we’re going to continue our discussion on sleep paralysis. A strange experience that is eerily known by cultures the world over. It comes by a variety of names and faces, but one constant remains– the terror that it...
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E10.1 The Hmong: Sleep Paralysis (Part 1)
**Sound Quality Improvements Currently Underway** "The nightmare generally seizes people sleeping on their backs, and often begins with frightful dreams, which are soon succeeded by a difficult respiration, a violent oppression on the breast, and a total privation of voluntary motion. In this…
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E9 Brief Concept Exploration: Anomalous Experiences
In the quiet recesses of our minds, there exists a realm where reality blurs and the unexpected emerges. It is a space where anomalous experiences, the walkings of ghosts, guardian angels, near death experiences, and the like, take root– even in the minds of those otherwise deemed mentally and...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Idiopathic, where the strange and unknown meets science, medicine, and a bit of curiosity. "Idiopathic" means a condition with no known cause—just like the stories we explore. From prophetic powers to reincarnation, hauntings to urban legends, cryptids to conspiracies, we'll explore what might really be behind the weird and unusual stories out there. Subscribe to Idiopathic for medical mysteries, haunted histories, and maybe even sharpen your eye for examining the eerie along the way!
HOSTED BY
Daryl and Sarah
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Idiopathic have?
Idiopathic currently has 62 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Idiopathic about?
Welcome to Idiopathic, where the strange and unknown meets science, medicine, and a bit of curiosity. "Idiopathic" means a condition with no known cause—just like the stories we explore. From prophetic powers to reincarnation, hauntings to urban legends, cryptids to conspiracies, we'll explore what...
How often does Idiopathic release new episodes?
Idiopathic has 62 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Idiopathic?
You can listen to Idiopathic 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 Idiopathic?
Idiopathic is created and hosted by Daryl and Sarah.
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