The Anxiety Encyclopedia

Diseases, aggression, and bird strike, oh my! Sources: https://www.ncwildlife.gov/species/canada-goosehttps://www.audubon.org/magazine/10-fun-facts-about-canada-goosehttps://www.audubon.org/news/learn-tell-cackling-goose-canada-goosehttps://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/waterfowl/canada-geese/https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/a-minnesota-towns-love-hate-relationship-with-giant-geesehttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/goose-attack-leaves-ottawa-cyclist-shaken-and-scarred-1.2686751https://aviancontrolinc.com/blog/federal-regulations-need-know-getting-rid-canadian-geesehttps://bird-x.com/blog/goose-attack/https://wildlifehelp.org/solution/district-columbia/canada-goose/how-deal-aggressive-geese/94https://www.popsci.com/diy/avoid-getting-attacked-by-a-goose/https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/05/rochester-canada-geese-management/629916/https://www.goosemasters.com/blog-post/what-diseases-are-associated-with-geesehttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16638-e-coli-infectionhttps://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/canada-goose'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_strikehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeju_Air_Flight_2216https://www.britannica.com/topic/US-Airways-Flight-1549-incidenthttps://www.cnn.com/2024/01/07/travel/miracle-on-the-hudsonhttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/why-china-is-using-guard-geese-to-uphold-its-zero-covid-policy

Katharine tells Lorien about those big, dangerous, goofy, majestic (?) river horse. Sources: https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/general-animals/ten-hippo-facts/https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/hippohttps://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/hippopotamus https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7416829/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c869jj5dy4qo https://thewildsource.com/should-you-fear-hippos-on-safari-debunking-the-deadly-hippo-myth/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/south-african-killed-by-pet-hippo/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/14/pet-hippo-humphrey-kills-owner https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/19/niger-hippo-attack-deaths https://www.britannica.com/animal/hippopotamus-mammal-species/Pygmy-hippopotamus https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/hippo-attack-avoid-survive-paul-templer 

Lorien learned a lot of rodent-related facts she doesn't like. She shares them with Katharine. Sources: Sourceshttps://www.instagram.com/p/DYPeDuARj29/https://www.instagram.com/laurel__bristow/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthohantavirushttps://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/hantavirus-pulmonary-syndrome/symptoms-diagnosishttps://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/hantavirus-pulmonary-syndrome/treatmenthttps://www.nmhealth.org/publication/view/general/5072/https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/data-research/cases/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/surveillance/index.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/media/pdfs/2025/01/HantavirusBrochure-508.pdfhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andes_virushttps://thepreamble.com/p/the-daily-brief-may-15-2026https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/about/andesvirus.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/14/health/hantavirus-outbreak-quarantine.htmlhttps://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/14/cdc-no-us-hantavirus-cases-people-monitored.htmlhttps://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/14/hantavirus-cruise-ship-outbreak-where-is-it-what-to-know.html

A Katharine classic! Sources:-       https://www.merriam-webster.com/slang/manosphere-    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manosphere#:~:text=The%20manosphere%20is%20a%20varied%20collection%20of,that%20feminists%20promote%20misandry%20(hatred%20of%20men). -       https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2026/03/world/expose-rape-assault-online-vis-intl/index.html-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamergate-       https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64125045-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Tate-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Enlightenment-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_Going_Their_Own_Way-       https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/aug/26/men-going-their-own-way-the-toxic-male-separatist-movement-that-is-now-mainstream-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickup_artist-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_rights_movement-       Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere, 2026, Netflix.

Lorien tells Katharine about mystery mushrooms, magic mushrooms, and mushroom foraging (and reveals that the hunter/gatherer gene skipped her). Sourceshttps://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a70698051/mushroom-bizarre-hallucination/https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260121-the-mysterious-mushroom-that-makes-you-see-tiny-peoplehttps://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Psilocybin-2020.pdfhttps://calpoison.org/about-magic-mushrooms-psilocybin-safetyhttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/308850#summaryhttps://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/psychoactive-psilocybins-evolution-in-magic-mushrooms/https://www.beckleyretreats.com/blog/types-of-psychedelic-mushroomshttps://food52.com/story/6306-eugenia-bone-on-mushrooms-myths-and-foraginghttps://food52.com/story/20860-an-illustrated-guide-to-mushroom-foraging-10-earthy-savory-recipeshttps://food52.com/story/20860-an-illustrated-guide-to-mushroom-foraging-10-earthy-savory-recipeshttps://barebonesliving.com/blogs/gardening-foraging/foraging-for-mushrooms-a-complete-guide?srsltid=AfmBOoojEexVoJOsvnKbJRLZO04G53F-0SldhYROYYivS88zdLBz3qVQhttps://melissaknorris.com/podcast/5rulesforforagingwildedibles/?srsltid=AfmBOood16NZQUcHRepd1lL60a10Pk1P8mc3Cm2j0wkz7qpHMTW6x4Mkhttps://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/how-to-hunt-mushrooms/https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/02/deadly-mushroom-arrives-canada/581602/https://www.npr.org/2025/12/10/nx-s1-5639775/death-cap-mushrooms-californiahttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/four-dead-and-three-receive-liver-transplants-after-eating-death-cap-mushrooms-in-californiahttps://www.npr.org/2025/07/07/nx-s1-5451735/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-sentence

Like much of the country of late, Katharine has space on the brain. Sources:https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-an-asteroid-caused-extinction-of-dinosaurs.htmlhttps://today.ucsd.edu/story/an-asteroid-doesnt-have-to-hit-earth-to-cause-catastrophe https://www.space.com/astronomy/asteroids/the-powerful-new-rubin-observatory-just-found-11-000-new-asteroids-and-measured-tens-of-thousands-morehttps://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/asteroids/https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/asteroid-hits-earth.htmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelyabinsk_meteorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunguska_eventhttps://www.esa.int/About_Us/50_years_of_ESA/Asteroids_The_discovery_of_asteroidshttps://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/facts/https://www2.tulane.edu/~sanelson/Natural_Disasters/impacts.htmhttps://www.planetary.org/articles/how-astronomers-rank-dangerous-asteroids-and-what-that-means-for-you

Lorien has discovered another reason not to go hiking. Also, Lorien says she's not going to give away the ending to a 130-year-old short story and then immediately does, so spoiler alert, we guess.

Join us on the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe as Katharine tells Lorien about trains. Sources:https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clye22ljxw4ohttps://www.reuters.com/world/europe/train-crashes-against-crane-southeastern-spain-tve-reports-2026-01-22/ https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/safest-places-sit-traveling-train-044500726.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHXlCiTsDI1W-HQMT2Srzg7Sxt1XD5M05UpxS5RF67Wq7aszfKgg42IDI83-5rK0oH6xUGuVASRQAZHyV6bw8JgnmtpvOSlhFBE0yw5CTtBDYRxFjJykTwuBQ4WUkBFQWREmPQWJ1Z9LjLRH0HN-cJh16Enq_83S4fZj2X1bPO-h https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_rail https://getthetiger.com/blog/5-deadliest-train-crashes-in-united-states-history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Sri_Lanka_tsunami_train_wreckhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balvano_train_disasterhttps://journalistsresource.org/economics/comparing-fatality-risks-united-states-transportation-across-modes-time/ https://www.bustle.com/articles/83287-are-trains-safer-than-planes-statistics-are-clear-about-which-mode-of-transportation-is-safest https://www.history.com/articles/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-trains https://www.intrans.iastate.edu/news/trains-a-history/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport https://www.propublica.org/article/train-derailment-long-trains https://usafacts.org/articles/are-train-derailments-becoming-more-common/ https://www.aar.org/issue/freight-rail-pedestrian-driver-safety/#! https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2024/railroads-and-regulators-must-address-the-dangers-of-long-trains-report-says/ 

Lorien tells Katharine about a group that dares to ask the question: what if the only laws that count are the ones I like? Sources ​https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/sovereign-citizens-movement/​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudolaw​https://web.archive.org/web/20141102010820/http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/sovereign_citizens_plaster_courts_with_bogus_legal_filings/​https://www.domprep.com/articles/a-violent-surge-sovereign-citizens-vs-government-authority/#:~:text=Precise numbers of SovCits can,who have committed violent crimes.​https://everytownresearch.org/report/armed-extremism-primer-sovereign-citizens/​https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/moorish-sovereign-citizens/​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moorish_sovereign_citizens​https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7513757/​https://everytownresearch.org/report/armed-extremism-primer-sovereign-citizens/​https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/www.sog.unc.edu/files/Sov citizens quick guide Nov 13.pdf​https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/sovereign-citizens-movement/​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Nichols​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_bombing​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudolaw​https://aeon.co/ideas/here-comes-pseudolaw-a-weird-little-cousin-of-pseudoscience​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vexatious_litigation​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waukesha_Christmas_parade_attack

This episode is more filling and less toxic than a Tide pod. Sources: Sources:https://www.npr.org/2022/09/22/1124252556/nyquil-chicken-challenge-fda-warninghttps://www.healthline.com/health/dont-eat-tiktoks-nyquil-chicken#talking-safe-usehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/09/07/paquis-one-chip-challenge-removed-from-shelves-following-teens-death/https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/worcester-street-renamed-to-honor-teen-who-died-after-one-chip-challenge/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Chip_Challenge https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-teenagers-eat-tide-pods-2018013013241 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumption_of_Tide_Pods https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51742854 https://injury.research.chop.edu/blog/posts/skull-breaker-challenge-and-concussions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_challenge https://academic.oup.com/jbcr/article-abstract/37/4/e395/4582201?redirectedFrom=PDF https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benadryl_challenge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_and_ice_challenge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackout_challenge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Whale_Challenge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momo_Challenge_hoax 

Lorien gives Katharine a quick and dirty history lesson on the largest island in the world for...absolutely no specific reason at all...Sources: Sources: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-administration-mulls-payments-sway-greenlanders-join-us-2026-01-08/https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-advisers-discussing-options-acquiring-greenland-us-military-is-always-an-2026-01-06/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-administration-mulls-payments-sway-greenlanders-join-us-2026-01-08/https://apnews.com/article/denmark-us-trump-greenland-talks-1b783621cbbbc1218986151be9c6836chttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposed_United_States_acquisition_of_Greenland#:~:text=During World War II, the,persuade the US to leave.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposed_United_States_acquisition_of_Greenland#cite_note-clingendael20202-73https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_the_Red's_Landhttps://www.norden.org/en/information/facts-about-greenlandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Greenlandhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/10/denmark-pm-says-sorry-to-greenland-inuits-taken-for-heartless-social-experimenthttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18249474#:~:text=982 - Greenland discovered by the,Age as temperatures fall significantly.https://www.britannica.com/place/Greenland/Historyhttps://japan.um.dk/en/about-denmark/greenland/history-and-culturehttps://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/who-owns-greenland-history-explained/https://www.tuftsdaily.com/article/2025/02/through-indigenous-eyes-the-colonial-history-of-greenland-and-why-it-mattershttps://apple.news/ALJhys51gS6eo8NSJkb5uPw

Katharine tells Lorien about types of flooding; Lorien (kind of) tells Katharine the plot of the 2006 movie Flushed Away. Sources:https://www.weather.gov/phi/FlashFloodingDefinition https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-two-types-floods  https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/the-dangers-of-floodwater https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/many-effects-flooding/ https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/august-25/yangtze-river-peaks-in-china https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/hurricane-katrina.htm https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/07/the-deadliest-floods-in-u-s-history/ https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-watch-warning https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Pacific_Northwest_floods https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-31/the-johnstown-flood https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/great-mississippi-river-flood-1927 https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/13/us/camp-mystic-flooding-texas 

Like a raccoon stealing shiny trash or a squirrel collecting nuts for the winter, Lorien has been collecting small anxieties to sustain her through the winter months. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloidhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quicksandhttps://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2005/09/29/1471116.htmhttps://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2010/08/terra_infirma.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_quicksandhttps://westsidesalvage.com/grain-entrapment/https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Archimedes-principle/599600https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-quicksand-and-how-to-escape-it-4163374https://wildlandtrekking.com/blog/is-quicksand-real/https://ksltv.com/local-news/hiker-rescued-after-hours-stuck-in-quicksand-in-arches-national-park/855476https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_nuthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selenium#Toxicityhttps://www.mdlinx.com/article/a-popular-nut-with-a-dangerous-toxin/11MiGRAzCC4OCfxOUU3wjLhttps://www.mdlinx.com/article/a-popular-nut-with-a-dangerous-toxin/11MiGRAzCC4OCfxOUU3wjL#LFC_Sourceshttps://www.cdc.gov/angiostrongylus/about/index.htmlhttps://www.news-medical.net/health/Rat-Lungworm-Disease-in-Hawaii.aspxhttps://www.biisc.org/pest/rlw/https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2023/12/18/stressed-snails-rat-lungworm/https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/rat-lungworm-disease-detected-on-kauaʻi/https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/rat-lungworm-disease-detected-on-kauaʻi/https://www.usf.edu/health/public-health/news/2024/cc-ladder-safety-march-2024.aspxhttps://www.americanladderinstitute.org/page/NationalLadderSafetyMonthLadderAccidentsintheHomeArePreventablehttps://www.americanladderinstitute.org/page/BasicLadderSafetyhttps://rosenjustice.com/blog/common-fall-from-ladder-injuries/#Statistics_on_Ladder_Accidentshttps://www.ehstoday.com/safety/news/55262291/ladder-incidents-have-decreasedhttps://blog.ansi.org/ansi/common-causes-ladder-incidents/#:~:text=Missing the last step and,and top of the ladder.https://www.readersdigest.in/features/story-i-survived-falling-in-quicksand-127478https://people.com/i-survived-getting-partially-swallowed-by-quicksand-on-the-beach-8667623

Katharine tells Lorien a story all about how important it is to stay on schedule and have a supply list. Sourceshttps://www.history.com/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-donner-party https://www.nps.gov/cali/learn/historyculture/donner-reed-party.htm https://www.britannica.com/topic/Donner-party https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/donner-party-cannibalism-nation-west https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Party 

Lorien, too tired for anything truly terrible, tells Katharine about a mysterious, anonymous, unsolvable set of puzzles. Sources: ​⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada_3301⁠⁠​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steganography⁠⁠​https://www.npr.org/2014/01/05/259959632/the-internets-cicada-a-mystery-without-an-answer⁠⁠​https://web.archive.org/web/20131125232546/​http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/10468112/The-internet-mystery-that-has-the-world-baffled.html⁠⁠​https://www.fastcompany.com/3025785/meet-the-man-who-solved-the-mysterious-cicada-3301-puzzle⁠⁠https://web.archive.org/web/20150920023142/​http://mentalfloss.com/article/31932/chasing-cicada-exploring-darkest-corridors-internet⁠⁠​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_reality_game⁠⁠​https://web.archive.org/web/20170802043935/​https://blog.threatstack.com/cicadas-security-part-2-when-a-verified-pgp-key-takes-you-on-a-trip-to-the-desert⁠⁠​https://mashable.com/archive/us-navy-codebreaker-game⁠⁠​https://apple.news/AMScMZtd3RAeKfsks16t3jA⁠⁠​https://www.archive.vtmag.vt.edu/sum15/ology.html⁠⁠​https://www.the-independent.com/tech/masonic-conspiracy-or-mi6-recruitment-tool-internet-mystery-cicada-3301-starts-up-again-9044049.html⁠⁠​https://theface.com/life/cicada-3301-the-codebreakers-still-working-on-the-internets-strangest-mystery⁠⁠​https://clevcode.org/cicada-3301/⁠​https://www.truesec.com/hub/blog/dissecting-the-cicada⁠⁠​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ransomware_as_a_service⁠⁠​https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/cicada-ransomware-what-you-need-know⁠⁠​https://www.ibm.com/think/news/has-blackcat-returned-as-cicada3301⁠⁠​https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2024/08/20/selling-ransomware-breaches-4-trends-spotted-on-the-ramp-forum/⁠⁠​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darknet​https://vocal.media/history/cicada-3301-the-internet-s-greatest-mystery⁠⁠​https://www.alaricstephen.com/main-featured/2016/9/18/the-cryptic-crossword-that-recruited-for-bletchley-park⁠​https://www.schoolreaders.org/post/could-you-have-been-a-bletchley-park-codebreaker

Katharine teaches Lorien all about cracking and packing, monstrous political cartoons, and shapes. That's right, it's that sexiest of topics: Gerrymandering! Sources:https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/gerrymandering-explained https://www.history.com/articles/gerrymandering-origins-voting https://www.npr.org/2025/10/21/nx-s1-5577000/north-carolina-redistricting-trump https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HSI-pf8MumE https://www.gilderlehrman.org/news/elbridge-gerry-and-original-gerrymander https://www.npr.org/2025/11/18/nx-s1-5604412/redistricting-midterm-election-texas https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/19/texas-redistricting-maps-supreme-court-whats-next/ https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/11/17/indiana-legislative-leaders-dodge-discussing-redistricting-pressure/ https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/utah-judge-rejects-republican-drawn-congressional-map-adopts-alternative-creating-democratic-leaning-district https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymandering-voting-maps-congress-trump-2ba53ae1f492f8e293f0fa261604e8c6

Lorien tells Katharine about a tragedy of gigantic proportions. Sources: The Story of the Titanic: As Told by Its Survivors, Lawrence Beesley, Archibald Gracie, Commander Lightoller, Harold Bride, ed. Jack Winocour.https://www.history.com/articles/titanichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanichttps://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/titanic-tragedy-caused-by-fire-not-iceberg-claims-journalist/news-story/ef1bb657d02d64cd5f94cff4f361b4a7https://www.rd.com/list/titanic-survivors-what-happened-to-them-next/

Katharine tells Lorien about a seasonally appropriate phobia, and then grants her an honorary doctorate that they're sure is legit. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_clown_sightings#:~:text=The%202016%20clown%20sightings%20were,stunt%20for%20a%20horror%20film. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21835-coulrophobia-fear-of-clowns https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-weird-reason-were-afraid-of-clowns/ https://time.com/4518456/scary-clown-sighting-attack-craze/ https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/oct/31/the-great-clown-panic-of-2016-a-volatile-mix-of-fear-and-contagion#:~:text=It%20began%20in%20the,for%20adults%20and%20children%20alike. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/10/03/merrimack-college-lockdown-reports-blame-armed-clown-sightings/91511098/ https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/clown-mask-prank-may-have-led-to-deadly-stabbing-of-teen/ https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2016/09/nine_clown_arrests_so_far_in_a.html https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2016/11/02/man-recounts-halloween-night-attack-at-hands-of-costumed-mob/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne_Gacy 

It's October! So Lorien tells Katharine some theatre ghost stories. Sources: https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/watch-listen/feeling-superstitious-ghost-lights-and-whistling-backstage/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_light_(theatre)#cite_note-1https://www.nida.edu.au/news/ghost-lights-asks-the-world-to-interact-and-keep-the-spirit-of-theatre-alive/https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/a-ghost-light-has-brightened-the-stage-for-more-than-a-month-at-the-royal/article_600d04b1-5859-54f9-a8ce-ac35da5f4483.htmlhttps://www.news-press.com/story/entertainment/2020/08/12/covid-florida-ghost-lights-keep-burning-at-theaters-in-fort-myers-naples-cape-coral/5500672002/https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/entertainment/article/leave-ghost-light-me-age-old-theatre-tradition-illuminating-sydneys-stages-during-coronavirus-erahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Amsterdam_Theatrehttps://www.wnyc.org/story/ghost-olive-thomas/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Thomashttps://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2020/3/25/the-history-of-the-ghost-lighthttps://ny.curbed.com/2016/10/19/13333506/haunted-nyc-palace-theatre-broadwayhttps://afterthefinalcurtain.net/2020/10/31/haunted-theatres/https://www.americantheatre.org/2019/10/31/5-tales-of-haunted-theatres-to-give-you-a-fright/https://www.americantheatre.org/2016/10/31/phantoms-of-the-theatre/https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/kimo/history-of-the-kimo/kimo-history/ghosthttps://www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal/15197249/?locale=en-UShttps://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-kimotheatre/https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/is-albuquerques-kimo-theatre-haunted/https://www.legendsofamerica.com/nm-kimotheatre/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KiMo_Theaterhttps://www.reddit.com/r/Theatre/comments/1c8swcr/appeasing_the_theater_ghosts/

Katharine channels her inner Sarah Koenig to answer serious questions about a wild animal sighting.Sources: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/gray-wolf https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/the-wolf-that-changed-america-wolf-wars-americas-campaign-to-eradicate-the-wolf/4312/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaun_Ellis_(wolf_researcher)https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livewith.wolves#:~:text=Don't%20run%2C%20but%20act,using%20the%20wildlife%20encounter%20form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDhIkoigl-Q https://wolf.org/wolf-info/factsvsfiction/are-wolves-dangerous-to-humans/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_attack#:~:text=Wolf%20attacks%20are%20injuries%20to,predatory%2C%20agonistic%2C%20and%20defensive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenrir 

Lorien takes Katharine back to the 1900s for a story of bad science, good journalism, and...soliciting blood at a child' s birthday party. Sourceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wakefieldhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancet_MMR_autism_fraudhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa021134https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/revealed-mmr-research-scandal-7ncfntn8mjqhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8481583.stmhttps://briandeer.com/mmr/lancet-summary.htmhttps://www.democracynow.org/2025/1/31/andrew_wakefield_vaccinehttps://pauloffit.substack.com/p/the-rfk-jr-playbookhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/us/politics/rfk-science-vaccines.htmlhttps://www.brookings.edu/articles/rfk-jr-s-history-of-medical-misinformation-raises-concerns-over-hhs-nomination/https://www.nytimes.com/article/rfk-conspiracy-theories-fact-check.htmlhttps://ca.news.yahoo.com/rfk-jr-doesn-t-medical-142823533.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.htmlhttps://www.idsociety.org/ID-topics/infectious-disease/measles/know-the-factshttps://www.statnews.com/2025/02/03/vaccine-autism-rfk-jr-how-science-proves-vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/https://apple.news/AV5bUl2rwQr-Y3oS_9JmG9Qhttps://apple.news/AkXiB-2SYSIax-BASG39_3whttps://apple.news/AkXiB-2SYSIax-BASG39_3whttps://www.startribune.com/cdc-leaders-who-resigned-said-rfk-jr-undermined-vaccine-science-risking-lives/601463373

Katharine has big concerns about tiny plastics.Sources: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/microplastics-everywhere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microplastics https://apple.news/AlNT07D-cT-K1KiKXlFz1Lw https://www.wired.com/story/this-startup-promises-to-clean-your-blood-of-microplastics-clarify-clinics/ 

Lorien gives Katharine TMI (too much information) on TMI (Three Mile Island). Sourceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_Nuclear_Generating_Stationhttps://www.nrc.gov/reactors/power/pwrs.htmlhttps://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-power-reactors/nuclear-power-reactorshttps://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/meet-oklo-the-earths-two-billion-year-old-only-known-natural-nuclear-reactorhttps://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-power-reactors/nuclear-power-reactors#fuelling-a-nuclear-reactorhttps://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/plans-for-new-reactors-worldwidehttps://www.npr.org/2024/09/20/nx-s1-5120581/three-mile-island-nuclear-power-plant-microsoft-aihttps://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/3mile-isle.html#tmiviewhttps://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/decommissioning/power-reactor/three-mile-island-unit-2.htmlhttps://www.kpbs.org/news/2019/sep/20/three-mile-island-nuclear-power-plant-shuts-down/https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/03/save-three-mile-island-what-a-difference-40-years-makes.htmlhttps://local21news.com/news/local/history-of-three-mile-islandhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1405170/?page=5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Mile_Island_accidenthttps://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/publications/magazines/bulletin/bull51-1/51102744649.pdfhttps://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/ines.pdfhttps://web.archive.org/web/20160814210605/https://www.facingsouth.org/2009/04/investigation-revelations-about-three-mile-island-disaster-raise-doubts-over-nuclear-plant-shttps://wx1.ans.org/pi/resources/sptopics/tmi/faq.phphttps://www.newsweek.com/do-people-still-work-three-mile-island-live-middletown-pennsylvania-netflix-1704265https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/nuclear-power-plants.phphttps://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-nuclear-energy-the-science-of-nuclear-powerhttps://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-nuclear-energy-and-why-it-considered-clean-energyhttps://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/nuclear-power-and-the-environment.phphttps://www.nrc.gov/waste/high-level-waste.htmlhttps://greenamerica.org/fight-dirty-energy/amazon-build-cleaner-cloud/10-reasons-oppose-nuclear-energyhttps://greenamerica.org/fight-dirty-energy/amazon-build-cleaner-cloud/10-reasons-oppose-nuclear-energyhttps://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/5-fast-facts-about-spent-nuclear-fuel

Katharine tells Lorien not about that one other podcast but about the red scare in the US in the 1920s, 40s, and 50s (we were a little busy in the 1930s). Sources: Sources:https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-democrats-enemies-within-rcna175628https://www.newsweek.com/trump-reacts-zohran-mamdani-nyc-mayor-primary-win-2090781https://apnews.com/article/trump-communist-judges-tariff-china-russia-cae626a3699a5411841f646a847c2c7b https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/retread-scare-trump-and-other-republicans-evoke-another-era-by-calling-democrats-communists https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/12/trump-rally-vermin-political-opponents/ https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/mccarthyism-red-scare#:~:text=%5BThe%20American%20Heritage%20Dictionary%20gives,in%20order%20to%20suppress%20opposition.%5D https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/mccarthy-more-than-just-a-man/#:~:text=For%20several%20years%20before%20Joseph,Supreme%20Court%20Justice%2C%20William%20O. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_R._Murrow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcuYybbehAo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism 

Lorien and Katharine explore all the cutesy ways we talk about email scams; Katharine plans her own Ocean's 11; she's Danny Ocean. Sources: Sources https://www.phishing.org/what-is-phishinghttps://www.phishing.org/history-of-phishinghttps://www.ibm.com/think/topics/social-engineeringhttps://www.ibm.com/think/topics/business-email-compromisehttps://www.proofpoint.com/us/threat-reference/spear-phishinghttps://www.upguard.com/blog/types-of-phishing-attackshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanvardi/2016/02/08/how-a-tech-billionaires-company-misplaced-46-7-million-and-didnt-know-it/?sh=33fec58550b3https://us.norton.com/blog/emerging-threats/cybersecurity-statisticshttps://www.bluevoyant.com/knowledge-center/8-phishing-types-and-how-to-prevent-themhttps://www.checkpoint.com/cyber-hub/threat-prevention/what-is-phishing/https://www.websterfirst.com/blog/what-the-2024-ftc-data-tells-us-about-scam-trends/#:~:text=Fraud continues to be a,compared to the previous year.https://www.paubox.com/blog/elara-caring-phishing-attack-exposes-100000-patients-datahttps://www.bluevoyant.com/knowledge-center/8-devastating-phishing-attack-examples-and-prevention-tipshttps://www.hempsteadny.gov/635/Famous-Phishing-Incidents-from-Historyhttps://www.securityweek.com/us-government-is-investigating-messages-impersonating-trumps-chief-of-staff-susie-wiles/https://www.cybsafe.com/value/simulated-phishing/

Katharine takes Lorien on a spinning, potentially uninspected ride. Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveling_carnival#:~:text=A%20traveling%20carnival%20(American%20English,after%20a%20period%20of%20time.https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2022/07/carnival-ride-safety https://nypost.com/2024/10/29/world-news/horror-moment-gondola-cars-detach-from-fairground-ride-10-hur/ https://people.com/11-year-old-reportedly-stuck-on-carnival-ride-20-minutes-8716075 https://www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/1977/Urgent-Warning-Issued-On-Zipper-Amusement-Park-Ride https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/05/carnival-ride-tips-over-washington-oak-harbor/74309510007/ https://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/05/17/ctv.martin/ https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2016/08/24/424278.htm https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-three-girls-injured-tenn-ferris-wheel-accident-released-hospital-n628836 https://www.nbc4i.com/news/no-criminal-charges-to-be-filed-in-ohio-state-fair-ride-accident/ https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/06/us/ohio-state-fair-ride-collapse https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/risky-rides-carnival-workers-grueling-hours-may-threaten-safety-n186966 https://sdlawyers.com/the-dangers-of-fair-rides-what-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=Staying%20Safe%20on%20Fair%20Rides&text=Inspect%20Before%20You%20Ride%3A%20Observe,instructions%20given%20by%20ride%20operators. 

Lorien tells Katharine about the baffling human tendency to do danger for fun. (Also, as a fun little bonus: Lorien immediately says the very normal word "bull" weirdly and then spends the next hour spiraling and somehow saying it a little bit different all of the many times she says it.) Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullhttps://www.runningofthebulls.com/bull-runner-center/safety/?srsltid=AfmBOoqBg7P-QgNONFWhlM5-NGdB73f-TQuPsh7Xu89ZbN_kVbp-z2NHhttps://www.runningofthebulls.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_ridinghttps://web.archive.org/web/20040227232211/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0225_040225_TVbullrider.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullfightinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull-leapinghttps://www.ksat.com/news/local/2024/06/05/he-loved-living-life-bandera-family-shares-memories-of-peter-de-luna-after-tragic-bull-riding-death/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Fighting_Bullhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_of_the_bullshttps://adequatica.medium.com/hemingway-in-spain-6a9118d7dfb3https://www.runningofthebulls.com/history-of-the-bulls/running-of-the-bulls-deaths/?srsltid=AfmBOopQPOehZB1_HmrRB2xTwyvBHPh5jrWTlHUZUZMK28fCrnP7WVcbhttps://defenders.org/sites/default/files/publications/MX-wolf-attack-data-infograph.pdfhttps://www.runningofthebulls.com/bull-runner-center/official-rules/https://www.sanfermin.com/en/running-of-the-bulls/things-you-should-know-before-taking-part-in-the-running-of-the-bulls/https://www.sanfermin.com/en/running-of-the-bulls/quick-guide-what-is-the-running-of-the-bulls/https://www.bullrunpamplona.com/blog/runners-guide-to-navigating-pamplonas-dangerous-bull-run-route/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/07/06/spain-running-bulls/455039001/https://amigoenergy.com/blog/running-of-the-bulls-history/https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2020/09/23/not-everyone-lives-tell-encounter-bull/3492958001/

Katharine tell Lorien about a few crimes that shaped the collective consciousness. Lorien knows the names of more serial killers than she wishes to. Sources:-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_danger-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moors_murders-       https://www.salon.com/2023/10/21/what-80s-kids-also-remember-on-stranger-danger-satanic-panic-and-generations-of-trickle-down-fear/-       https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-25/etan-patz-milk-carton-kids-goes-missing-       https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/july-27/adam-walsh-is-abducted-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Adam_Walsh-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Johnny_Gosch-       https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2023/12/us/johnny-gosch-missing-iowa-boy-cec-cnnphotos/-       https://victimsofcrime.org/child-sexual-abuse-statistics/-       https://books.google.com/books?id=krE1y1SC3uEC&q=9780470471944&pg=PR11#v=onepage&q=9780470471944&f=false 

Lorien takes a real meta approach to this week's topic by completely overwhelming herself with information on how overwhelmed most people are by information. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_overloadhttps://www.npr.org/2010/11/29/131671951/information-overload-is-not-unique-to-digital-agehttps://hbr.org/2011/03/information-overloads-2300-yeahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_loadhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wps.20617https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201103-cognitive-load-theory-explaining-our-fight-for-focushttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-021-09624-7https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/information-overloadhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/24-hour_news_cyclehttps://www.axiapr.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-the-24-hour-news-cyclehttps://mvcurrent.com/9837/opinions/how-the-24-hour-news-cycle-is-harmful/https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2799812https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/growing-healthy/how-social-media-impacts-mental-health-and-changes-brain-activity-and-what-dohttps://www.unc.edu/posts/2023/01/03/study-shows-habitual-checking-of-social-media-may-impact-young-adolescents-brain-development/https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/information-overloadhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34877645/https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/mental-health/what-is-digital-overload?srsltid=AfmBOoqAc7rXoSgWyWt8W0c9wEi3vCvwyZlEIE0cYLajgLBJyMmQY6pShttps://www.talktoangel.com/blog/effective-ways-to-manage-digital-overloadhttps://shift.com/blog/news/the-dark-side-of-tech-overload-and-burnout/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21670811.2022.2048187https://www.resiliencelab.us/thought-lab/digital-overloadhttps://novaterratherapy.com/signs-you-may-be-experiencing-digital-overload/https://www.inspirahealthnetwork.org/news/healthyhttps://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-deep-dive-the-time-we-spend-on-social-media-living/brain-rot-explained-how-digital-overload-affects-your-mindhttps://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-deep-dive-the-time-we-spend-on-social-mediahttps://www.oberlo.com/statistics/how-much-time-is-spent-with-different-forms-of-mediahttps://www.statista.com/statistics/278544/time-spent-with-media-in-the-us/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42614-zhttps://news.rpi.edu/2024/03/13/information-overload-personal-and-societal-dangerhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-01833-8.epdf?sharing_token=oLDOEjbfhdJ36GPOjzULNdRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0NFoDk3diBFFDQnQAR9f7F12B2POV316p8OIj4GaoUzDBn9C139OmraLmxvtLa7ELMk6GaQiKhUNPgZYFQyPk9wGln-DtJuGOoaTHDEX0FHqq1isgG2q8As9M7fjRlu2tE=https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/cant-pay-attention-youre-not-alone

Like Moana, the line where the sky meets the sea calls Lorien and Katharine, but they find the voice terrifying. Sources: -       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decompression_sickness-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuba_diving-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_diving-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Boyton-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Spence_(frogman)-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreck_diving#:~:text=Wreck%20diving%20is%20recreational%20diving,a%20part%20of%20the%20dive. -       https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/03/03/dredging-up-the-ghostly-secrets-of-slave-ships-       https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/divers-recover-ancient-shipwreck-that-sank-2600-years-ago-off-the-coast-of-spain-180985778/-       https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8j7g3e9yvlo-       https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/shark-attack-verde-island-philippines-b2706861.html-       https://www.scuba.com/blog/the-history-of-scuba-diving/?srsltid=AfmBOopWvEFy5UhGKt1emocewMbB7yqU-Ieu9ZSrQ6TvSF2OvHf4CJ-K-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diving_hazards#The_diving_environment

Lorien tells Katharine about rattlesnakes. Katharine assumes New Mexico is carpeted in them. Sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/trailrunning/comments/v1j7k6/what_to_wear_to_protect_against_rattlesnakes/?rdt=34400https://www.britannica.com/animal/rattlesnakehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/stereoscopic-vision#:~:text=Stereoscopic vision refers to the,3D) images and thus depth.https://www.denverhealth.org/blog/2017/01/rattlesnake-bite-preventionhttps://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/1621-tips-to-help-you-stay-safe-and-avoid-conflict-with-rattlesnakes.htmlhttps://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/teach-me/invisible-rattlesnakeshttps://calpoison.org/about-rattlesnakeshttps://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/snake-bites#:~:text=All snakebites should be considered,past venomous snakebites and therapyhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/2xjRKUta2YM63r14TfX5zT?si=4775791cfd664304https://open.spotify.com/episode/5FLM2gLO5YtgOEPwTBE5me?si=tL68CE-qQmKGg9gmfNNNwAhttps://www.healthline.com/health/rattlesnake-bite#timelinehttps://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/life/2024/03/23/rattlesnake-bites-tips-symptoms-prevention/72900851007/#https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/life/2024/03/23/rattlesnake-bites-tips-symptoms-prevention/72900851007/#https://peecnature.org/rattlesnake-safety/#:~:text=Be aware of your surroundings,pants is a good idea.https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Rattlesnakes#:~:text=Rattlesnakes are found in almost every part,deserts, and they are also capable swimmers.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_handling_in_Christianityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Went_Hensley#Deathhttps://www.messynessychic.com/2017/11/22/americas-last-snake-handling-cults/

Katharine takes Lorien on a 100 year historical tour of US mass deportations. Sources:-       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UEhMDAlX1Y-       https://www.history.com/articles/great-depression-repatriation-drives-mexico-deportation-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Act_of_1924-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Repatriation-       https://www.history.com/articles/operation-wetback-eisenhower-1954-deportation-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback-       https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/exiled-obama-administrations-horrifying-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Act-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks-       https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/10/02/u-s-deportations-of-immigrants-reach-record-high-in-2013/-       https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/obama-record-deportations-deporter-chief-or-not-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_administration_family_separation_policy-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_presidency_of_Donald_Trump#Immigration-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportation_in_the_second_presidency_of_Donald_Trump-       https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-administration-says-it-will-pay-immigrants-in-the-u-s-illegally-1000-to-self-deport-       https://www.migrationpolicy.org/content/explainer-immigrants-and-us-economy#:~:text=Overall%20Economic%20Growth%20and%20Impacts&text=The%20foreign%20born%20also%20start,companies%20were%20founded%20by%20immigrants. 

Nothing could be scarier to Lorien than a forever unsolved mystery. Just tell her! Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_shiphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Dutchmanhttps://www.kingmanyachtcenter.com/an-october-ghost-story-mary-celeste/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/abandoned-ship-the-mary-celeste-174488104/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Nsjh_QeUL-whttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Celestehttps://www.iflscience.com/are-ghost-ships-really-traveling-the-world-s-oceans-with-no-one-aboard-to-crew-them-67071https://www.historyextra.com/period/general-history/ghost-ships-famous-stories-list/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Joyita

None of these are the fever Peggy Lee was singing about. Sources:-       https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/25/health/congo-mystery-illness/index.html-       https://www.wired.com/story/race-to-identify-drcs-mystery-illness-slowed-by-us-aid-cuts-democratic-republic-congo-usaid/-       https://www.science.org/content/article/mysterious-congo-outbreak-likely-linked-contaminated-water-researchers-say-       https://www.cbsnews.com/news/congo-mystery-disease-deaths-who-investigation-deepens/-       https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mystery-disease-congo-what-we-know/-       http://abcnews.go.com/Health/cdc-monitoring-unknown-disease-congo/story?id=119395101-       https://www.cbsnews.com/news/congo-war-m23-rebels-rwanda-goma-un-warns-gang-rape-summary-executions/-       https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/ebola#:~:text=What%20is%20Ebola%3F,leaks%20from%20small%20blood%20vessels. -       https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/about/index.html-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola-       https://www.cdc.gov/ebola/outbreaks/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/history/chronology.html-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hot_Zone-       https://newshour-classroom-tc.digi-producers.pbs.org/uploads/app/uploads/2014/09/Excerpt-from-The-Hot-Zone-for-PBS-NewsHour-Education-Random-House.pdf-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marburg_virus_disease 

Lorien talks about literal ticking time bombs. Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unexploded_ordnancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_explosionhttps://apple.news/AT8BA2xInTWeIMDQUDcddTAhttps://www.epa.gov/fedfac/military-munitionsunexploded-ordnancehttps://www.icrc.org/en/law-and-policy/explosive-remnants-warhttps://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24441427https://abcnews.go.com/International/160-unexploded-bombs-world-war-ii-found-childrens/story?id=118724569https://abcnews.go.com/International/160-unexploded-bombs-world-war-ii-found-childrens/story?id=118724569https://www.hi.org/en/news/landmines--22--more-victims-in-one-year#:~:text=Published on 20 November, the,of the victims were civilians.https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/04/1135252

Black mold, and radon, and asbestos, oh my! Sources:-       https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24862-black-mold-       https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323419#Symptoms-of-black-mold-exposure-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stachybotrys_chartarum-       https://www.webmd.com/lung/can-black-mold-kill-you-       https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/radon-and-health#:~:text=Radon%20is%20a%20radioactive%20gas,and%20produces%20further%20radioactive%20particles. -       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radon-       https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/millions-in-u-s-exposed-to-dangerous-radon-study-finds/-       https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/radon-the-odorless-invisible-threat-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos#:~:text=Asbestos%20(/%C3%A6s%CB%88b,%2C%20asbestosis%2C%20and%20lung%20cancer.-       https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tysonbottenus/black-mold-growing-toxic-brain-vacation-       https://www.asbestos.com/news/2025/01/10/raging-california-wildfires-may-spread-toxic-asbestos/-       https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/protect-your-family-exposures-asbestos-       https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/how-toxic-mold-cost-one-austin-family-their-home-health/   

In this podcast we hate otters but we love octopuses. Sources:https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/the-many-plurals-of-octopus-octopi-octopuses-octopodeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalopod_attackhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkorokamuihttps://www.ibtimes.com/8-foot-octopus-wrestles-diver-calif-coast-rare-encounter-caught-camera-video-1556415https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_blue-ringed_octopushttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/01/new-york-staten-island-ferry-octopus-attack-fake-monumenthttps://nycurbanlegends.com/octopus-disasterhttps://octonation.com/are-octopuses-dangerous/https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/giant-pacific-octopushttps://www.mysticaquarium.org/animals-and-exhibits/our-animals/giant-pacific-octopus/https://oceanconservancy.org/wildlife-factsheet/giant-pacific-octopus/https://www.livescience.com/55478-octopus-facts.htmlhttps://www.livescience.com/animals/octopuses/octopuses-rewire-their-brains-to-adapt-to-different-ocean-temperatureshttps://www.si.com/more-sports/2021/10/12/seattle-kraken-octopus-wrestling-daily-coverhttps://blog.animalogic.ca/blog/octopus-wrestling-the-lost-and-ancient-sport

Art imitates life imitates art. Sources:-       https://www.stylist.co.uk/books/handmaids-tale-true-story/130001-       https://www.penguin.co.uk/discover/articles/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-testaments-real-life-inspiration-       https://www.businessinsider.com/handmaids-tale-based-on-real-world-origins-history-events-2019-8#the-forced-separation-of-mothers-and-children-continues-to-occur-in-modern-society-10-       https://www.history.com/news/chamberlain-kahn-act-std-venereal-disease-imprisonment-women-       https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/mary-webster-witch-hadley-survives-hanging/-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Webster_(alleged_witch)-       https://www.history.com/news/magdalene-laundry-ireland-asylum-abuse-       https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/22/us/roe-v-wade-overturned-2-years/index.html-       https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/conservatives-rebranding-pro-life-abortion-1235018370/-       https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/19/nx-s1-5312115/margaret-carpenter-indictment-telemedicine-abortion-louisiana-mail-mifepristone-misoprostol-       https://jessica.substack.com/p/republicans-are-redefining-miscarriage-       https://jessica.substack.com/p/after-trump-pardons-clinic-attackers-       https://time.com/7269263/bills-punishing-people-seeking-abortions/-       https://academic.oup.com/book/25660/chapter-abstract/193101621?redirectedFrom=fulltext-       https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/25/roe-v-wade-abortion-christian-right-america 

Lorien takes Katharine on a historical journey to a politically tense time they are not currently living through; in the process, Lorien Slendermans* *A verb meaning to become so engrossed in a topic that the presenter speaks for far longer than the usual duration of the podcast .Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_Doctrinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War#cite_note-1https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/cubanmissilehttps://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/the-bay-of-pigshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisishttps://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/cuban-missile-crisishttps://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/cuban-missile-crisis

They're not America's road rage therapists, so Katharine and Lorien would like to drag race you to the start of this episode .Sources: -       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_rage-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggressive_driving-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermittent_explosive_disorder-       https://www.webmd.com/women/features/root-cause-of-road-rage-       https://aaafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/202309_2022-AAAFTS-American-Driving-Survey-Brief_v3.pdf-       https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/10/health/road-rage-survival-tips-wellness/index.html-       https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/driving-advice/aggressive-driving/#:~:text=Examples%20of%20road%20rage%20are,Ramming-       https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1998/08/road-rage-versus-reality/377156/-       https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gunman-who-killed-las-vegas-mom-four-road-rage-search-n699301 https://abcnews.go.com/US/las-vegas-road-rage-shooting-victims-kids-regret/story?id=36702212-       https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/15/593917420/road-rage-driver-who-killed-ex-nfl-player-sentenced-to-30-years-prison-       The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things. Barry Glassner, 1999.

Katharine does not leave five minutes into the podcast even though she briefly threatens to. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locked-in_syndromehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559026/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1300432/I-lay-paralysed-unable-speak-18-months--familys-unyielding-loved-brought-true-miracle.htmlhttps://www.unilad.com/community/life/richard-marsh-locked-in-syndrome-experience-218594-20241119https://brainandspinalcord.org/faqs/abi/how-many-people-are-diagnosed-with-locked-in-syndrome-each-year/https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23003-ponshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasher_(software)https://www.science.org/content/article/locked-patients-can-follow-their-noseshttps://www.technologyreview.com/2022/03/22/1047664/locked-in-patient-bci-communicate-in-sentences/https://theconversation.com/what-is-locked-in-syndrome-the-extraordinary-stories-that-help-us-understand-this-rare-condition-236371https://www.buzzfeed.com/kelley_greene/locked-in-syndrome-survivor-jake-haendel

And now for something completely different. Sources ​-https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/coverstory/apocalypse-meow-how-a-cult-that-believes-cats-are-divine-beings-ended-up-in-tennessee/article_78fc2367-5596-5a7a-ad8e-edae8c83a594.html​-  https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article101133487.html​“The Curious Case of… The Doomsday Cat Cult” Season 1, Episode 5. Aired February 17, 2025. 

Lorien tells Katharine about when the Queen of Crime became the center of a real-life mystery. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_fugue https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/22836-dissociative-fugue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Christie https://psychcentral.com/disorders/dissociative-fugue-symptoms#treatment https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article167733012.html  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/dissociative-fugue-psychogenic-fugue https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/mental-health-disorders/dissociative-disorders/dissociative-identity-disorder  https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-fugue https://www.medicoverhospitals.in/diseases/fugue-state/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201203/dissociative-fugue-the-mystery-of-agatha-christie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pale_Horse# https://www.rosecalendars.co.uk/news/the-strange-disappearance-of-agatha-christie/ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/books/agatha-christie-vanished-11-days-1926.html https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Curious-Disappearance-of-Agatha-Christie/ https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/stories/police-report-disappearance-agatha-christie/

The golden retrievers of the open sea!Sources:-       https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/orca-       https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/facts-about-orcas/  -       https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/07/science/orcas-salmon-hat-puget-sound/index.html-       https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/02/us/mother-orca-tahlequah-calf-dead.html-       https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/orcas-puget-sound-salmon-hats-killer-whales-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_orca_attacks-       https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/killer-whale-spain-play-1.7220869-       https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230626-why-are-orcas-suddenly-ramming-boats-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca_attacks#Captive_orca_attacks-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamu-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilikum_(orca)-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keiko_(orca)-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby_Doll-       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaWorld 

Lorien takes Katharine on a deep dive into the deep sea. The temperatures are low; the pressure is high; the creatures are weird!Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abyssal_zonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagic_zonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_snowhttps://brainly.com/question/43407759#https://www.hofmannlawfirm.com/faqs/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-hypothermia-in-cold-waterhttps://sciencestruck.com/interesting-facts-about-abyssal-zonehttps://www.sciencing.com/animals-abyssal-ecosystem-19407/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-21520404Dumbo octopus image from:https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/logs/apr28/apr28.htmlhttps://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/abyssal-creatureshttps://www.livescience.com/59474-lizard-fish-is-deepest-living-superpredator.htmlhttps://www.nausicaa.fr/en/the-ocean-magazine/14-things-you-just-have-know-about-abyss#https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/how-the-ocean-works/ocean-zones/abyssal-zone/https://www.wri.org/insights/deep-sea-mining-explainedhttps://www.pewtrusts.org/en/about/news-room/opinion/2025/01/15/the-world-currently-lacks-the-ability-to-govern-deep-sea-mining

Katharine gives Lorien a conversation starter, sure to be the hit of any tailgate parties for the big game this weekend. Sources: -       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_traumatic_encephalopathy -       https://medicine.iu.edu/expertise/traumatic-brain-injury/what-is-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy#:~:text=Chronic%20Traumatic%20Encephalopathy%2C%20or%20CTE,concussions%20and%20repetitive%20head%20impacts -       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_concussion_committee -       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennet_Omalu -       https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/sports/cte-bennet-omalu/#:~:text=But%20across%20the%20brain%20science,about%20the%20disease%2C%20according%20to -       https://www.npr.org/2024/09/23/nx-s1-5121019/nfl-players-cte-survey -       https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/former-nfl-players-denied-compensation-for-brain-trauma#:~:text=In%20a%20landmark%202015%20settlement,joined%20Amna%20Nawaz%20for%20more.  -       https://en.as.com/nfl/what-are-the-most-famous-cte-cases-in-nfl-history-n-3/ -       https://www.npr.org/2021/12/14/1064130612/phillip-adams-nfl-player-killed-6-people-cte#:~:text=An%20ex%2DNFL%20player%20who,himself%20had%20CTE%2C%20doctors%20say&text=Tom%20Gannam%2FAP-,Former%20San%20Francisco%2049ers%20cornerback%20Phillip%20Adams%2C%20pictured%20in%20this,this%20year%20before%20killing%20himself. 

Lorien takes Katharine on a colorful journey that starts in 12th century England. Sources: https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/The-Green-Children-of-Woolpit/# https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_children_of_Woolpit https://apple.news/A2Km6WVxITYiK1T1n-CQvlg https://www.pajiba.com/tv_reviews/maxs-love-has-won-cult-documentary-and-death-by-colloidal-silver.php https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyria https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_uses_of_silver#Other_uses https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/colloidal-silver-what-you-need-to-know https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/colloidal-silver https://bartonchronicle.com/silver-woman-tells-story/ https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-779/colloidal-silver https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/colloidal-silver/faq-20058061 https://www.vice.com/en/article/covid-19-is-bringing-back-one-of-the-oldest-and-strangest-fake-cures/ https://www.wired.com/story/does-colloidal-silver-work/

Katharine tells Lorien not to panic. No, really! Sources: -       https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html -       https://apple.news/ALclU32DPQdi3sPHqzJwLew -       https://apple.news/AGOdB_coeQLO4N1Rh1t9RrA -       https://apple.news/A_Vmb2mUnS7Gd2jPKSG4KyA -       https://apple.news/AWjCbgbaYSFeyJUXVRSPvrA -       https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2025/01/03/hhs-awards-306-million-avian-flu-monitoring-and-preparedness-funding.html -       https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/signs-symptoms/index.html -       https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/362527/bird-flu-100-million-chickens-dead-risk-humans -       https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/avian-timeline/index.html -       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian_influenza#:~:text=Epidemiology-,History,the%20H5%20and%20H7%20subtypes.  -       https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/10/health/california-child-bird-flu/index.html -       https://apple.news/AMccHRIRvShq3Q0tllA31cg  

Lorien tells Katharine why we should do our best to keep polio outbreaks in the past. Sources: https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/13/health/kennedy-lawyer-fda-polio-vaccine/index.html https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/health/aaron-siri-rfk-jr-vaccines.html https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/polio/ https://www.wptv.com/politics/youre-not-going-to-lose-the-polio-vaccine-trump-says-of-rfks-controversial-policies https://www.cdc.gov/polio/about/ https://www.cdc.gov/polio/vaccines/index.html https://www.statnews.com/2024/12/27/polio-vaccine-rfk-jr-lawyer-petition-revoke-approval-reaction-from-indian-americans/ https://www.statnews.com/2022/07/21/n-y-state-detects-polio-case-first-in-the-u-s-since-2013/ https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/12/17/polio-vaccine-history/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Salk https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/p/polio-poliomyelitis.html https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination/history-of-polio-vaccination https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2205164/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_lung https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Lillard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Alexander_(polio_survivor) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/polio-iron-lung-survivors-photos-lives-inside-ventilators-a8070881.html

Don't lick the walls! Sources: -       https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354717 -       https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-a-doctor-discovered-us-walls-were-poisonous -       https://nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/thisleadiskillingus/index.html -       https://www.epa.gov/archive/epa/aboutepa/lead-poisoning-historical-perspective.html -       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning -       https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lead-poisoning-hemorrhoid-treatment-california-death/ -       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_water_crisis