The Bygone Society Show

Episodes

1. 13

   Buried Alive

   “Such is the condition of humanity, and so uncertain is men’s judgment, that they cannot determine even death itself.” - Pliny the Elder In the 18th and 19th centuries, a specter haunted the minds of the living—it lingered in limbo, where darkness weighs heavy, and the air is thin. If found in…

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   Jun 14, 2024

   17m
2. 12

   Episode 12: The Lost Colony of Roanoke

   When you take a look at our longstanding history, mankind can point to endless examples of our march towards progress and daring endeavors. We’ve risen from the ashes like a Phoenix, emerged from the depths of oppression, and brought in new dawns upon vast empires. The rise of great people and...

   Nov 24, 2023

   21m
3. 11

   Episode 11: The Legend of the Mothman

   In the misty, rolling hills and deep hollows of Appalachia, is a land steeped in rich tradition and enduring tales. But make no mistake; these are not mere stories; they are the lifeblood of this place, a deep-rooted connection that transcends time, binding its people to the land and the secrets…

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   Oct 25, 2023

   17m
4. 10

   Ep 10: The Bearer of Burdens

   Picture this… You’re in a dimly lit room. There’s a hushed gathering of mourners. The air is heavy with the scent of tears and smoldering incense, its tendrils of gray smoke curling like a restless spirit. At the center of the room is a solitary figure, he’s cloaked in tattered garments and...

   Oct 1, 2023

   14m
5. 9

   Bizarre Tales from The Bowery

   There are certain places that emerge as profound markers in history, anchoring the narratives of generations past and of those yet to come. These places are more than just geographical coordinates on a map; they’re repositories of memory, vessels of experience, and a type of conduit for the…

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   Aug 31, 2023

   20m
6. 8

   Episode 8: The Sea Giveth and the Sea Taketh Away

   The sea is a captivating and unpredictable force. It offers abundant resources, sustenance, and trade routes to countless civilizations throughout history, fostering prosperity, cultural exchange and reprieve. But it also demands respect. The sea’s duality serves as a reminder of nature’s power,...

   Aug 2, 2023

   12m
7. 7

   Episode 7: Lady in the Water

   Women and water. What is it about “women and water” that holds such power over the whole of society? There’s a mystique that has fascinated us…petrified us…drawn us in. Water as a traditional symbol of femininity is an ancient theme that dominates literature and the arts in nearly every corner of...

   Jun 16, 2023

   17m
8. 6

   Episode 6: Radium Girls Part 2

   In part one of Radium Girls, we found out that U.S. Radium Corporation in New Jersey commissioned an independent study to test the effects of chronic radium exposure, only after hundreds of young women working as dial painters fell ill and died. The study’s results were clear: The workers were...

   May 12, 2023

   14m
9. 5

   Episode 5: Radium Girls Part 1

   There was a time, exactly 100 years ago, when the naturally occurring radioactive metal — radium — was thought to be a medical marvel that promised restored health, the eradication of cancer and a youthful glow to boot. Its safety was tested by scientists, its use cases vouched and recommended by...

   Feb 17, 2023

   12m
10. 4

    Episode 4: The Man Who Survived Doomsday

    On May 8, 1902, Mont Pelée, an active volcano that formed the north end of the island of Martinique, erupted, engulfing the city of Saint-Pierre in superheated gas, ash and rock in just three minutes. The swift and sudden explosion would turn out to be the deadliest in the twentieth century. To...

    Jan 19, 2023

    14m
11. 3

    Episode 3: Hotel Monte Vista

    A warning for listeners: This episode talks about explicit and disturbing material, including murder-suicide and sexual abuse. Please, take care while listening. One Tuesday night in 2006, 28-year-old Zack Bowen, an Iraq War veteran, stuffed a hand-written note in his front pocket and nervously...

    Dec 4, 2022

    15m
12. 2

    Episode 2: The Trunk Murderess Part 2

    At the end of part 1, Winnie Ruth Judd gave her first and only public confession about the murder of her two friends, Anne and Sammy, while awaiting her execution at the Arizona State Prison. The confession led to her lover, Jack Halloran’s indictment, but as you may recall, Ruth pleaded not…

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    Oct 19, 2022

    16m
13. 1

    Episode 1: The Trunk Murderess Part 1

    Today’s story takes place in Phoenix, Arizona, 1931 - two years deep into the Great Depression. Once considered a one-horse-town, the city had doubled in size as it neared 20 years of statehood and withstood economic hardships better than most. On the surface, the Valley of the Sun was inhabited…

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    Sep 16, 2022

    31m