The Morbid Curiosity Podcast

A history podcast for the morbidly curious. From serial killers to ghosts, ancient remains to obscure medical conditions, let us satisfy your curiosity. (Some episodes may not be appropriate for children. Listener discretion is advised.)

Changing Fortunes: A History of Highgate Cemetery 06/14/2025

Changing Fortunes: A History of Highgate Cemetery Originally released for Patrons on Feb 13, 2023. "Highgate cemetery was one of the first large garden cemeteries built during the industrialization of London. Over the years it's had its ups and downs, from being a sought-after luxury cemetery to an abandoned, overgrown haunt of tramps and adolescents. It was even the scene of a possible vampire sighting. In this episode we discuss the history of Highgate." /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/36812630

Buried Alive: Taphophobia & Safety Coffins 05/30/2025

Buried Alive: Taphophobia & Safety Coffins Between the late 18th and early 20th century, the fear of premature burial was intense. This fear was spurred by both real incidents and magnification of the issue by newspapers and public interest groups. Many inventive ideas arose to deal with the issue, one of which was the security coffin. In this episode we discuss where this fear came from and the many devices created to aid the mistakenly buried. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/36783470

Jack the Ripper: Evidence and Suspects 05/13/2025

Jack the Ripper: Evidence and Suspects This episode is part 2 of a 3-part series, originally published on May 18th 2023. "In this episode, we discuss the evidence from the Jack the Ripper case, including, letters, photos, and personal accounts from the Metropolitan and City of London police. We also dive into the many suspects that have been proposed over the years, which range from escaped asylum inmates to royalty." /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/36451020

Anna Essinger: The Teacher Who Defied Hitler 04/24/2025

Anna Essinger: The Teacher Who Defied Hitler When you need a glimpse of hope in the most dire circumstances, there is Anna Essinger, a school teacher who was able to pull her whole school full of Jewish pupils out of Germany. Essinger taught and cared for hundreds of Jewish refugees, quietly and peacefully resisting the Nazi party throughout World War II. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/36290730

Archaeology of the Titanic 04/11/2025

Archaeology of the Titanic Originally posted on Patreon on July 14, 2023. "In this episode, we discuss the archaeological and scientific work that has been done at the RMS Titanic wreck site, from its discovery in 1985 to the more recent and unfortunate expedition undertaken by OceanGate. We strive to remain sensitive and respectful, while also giving the most up-to-date and factual information about these expeditions." /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/36093185

Crazy Sally, Bonesetter of Epsom 03/28/2025

Crazy Sally, Bonesetter of Epsom Bone-setting was the strength-based art of resetting broken bones, dislocations, and bad backs. In the 1730s, one of the most prolific and effective bonesetters was Sarah Mapp, also known as Crazy Sally. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/35902610

The Lost Colony of Roanoke - MCP Remastered 03/13/2025

The Lost Colony of Roanoke - MCP Remastered Originally published as 'Lost' on Nov 14, 2016, this remastered episode was published on Patreon on June 18th, 2024. "Before the colony of Jamestown, another colony attempt was made on Roanoke Island. After several years and many unfortunate events, the people and the village seemingly disappeared. The Colony of Roanoke is known as the Lost Colony, and it's not as lost as you might think." /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/35555315

Elements of Alchemy 03/03/2025

Elements of Alchemy Alchemy is an ancient practice combining mysticism with scientific observation in order to explain and manipulate the natural world. Secrecy was a large part of alchemy and the use of codes and ciphers was common. Several substances were especially important to Alchemists, and in this episode, we dive into these legendary ingredients. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/35486640

Ghost Hunting Equipment 02/12/2025

Ghost Hunting Equipment Originally posted on Patreon on Feb 10, 2024 'In this episode, Hallie looks into how technology used by ghost hunters actually works, what its detecting, and how that information is interpreted by investigators.' /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/34863935

Dybbuk 01/21/2025

Dybbuk The Dybbuk is a malevolent possessing spirit that originates in 16th century Jewish folklore. How does this concept end up part of modern paranormal belief? In this episode, Hallie discusses the origins of dybbuk, how to exorcise one from a human, and if the original being could even possess a box. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/34798560

Possession 01/10/2025

Possession Originally published on Patreon on Oct. 11, 2023 'In this episode, we discuss spirit possession from a multitude of angles. What it is, the variations that occur, the history of reports, and the possible scientific explanations for it. We also touch on why its so hard to test any of these theories.' /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/34752440

Terra Nova: The British Antarctic Expedition 12/30/2024

Terra Nova: The British Antarctic Expedition CW: Death of humans and animals During the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, Robert Falcon Scott made two attempts to reach the South Pole. His second attempt was his last. In this episode, Hallie tells the story of the 1911 race to the South Pole, the adventure and the tragedy. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/34652500

Dark Tourism 12/13/2024

Dark Tourism Originally posted on Patreon on Jan 11, 2024. In this episode, Hallie explores the many aspects of Dark Tourism - visiting places with macabre and haunting histories - as well as the types of locations this practice encompasses. CW: Discussions of enslavement, genocide, incarceration, suicide, and exploitation. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/34424770

Scurvy 11/29/2024

Scurvy A disease associated with pirates and explorers, scurvy was a constant threat to humans without access to fresh fruit and vegetables. In this episode we discuss the symptoms, the long quest to discover the cause, and tales of disasters and recoveries of those who suffered from scurvy. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/34197615

Ouija Boards 11/14/2024

Ouija Boards Originally posted on Patreon on March 11, 2024. As we're exploring tools used by ghost hunters and mediums, let's take a look at the Ouija board, a mass produced version of the talking board, which was born out of the impatience of Spiritualists attending seances in the late 1800s. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/33937992

Halloween Special: 'Perfect Skin' by L.J. Stanton 10/31/2024

Halloween Special: 'Perfect Skin' by L.J. Stanton Happy Halloween! In celebration, Hallie is proud to present Perfect Skin, a short horror story, written exclusively for the MCP by author L.J. Stanton. This audiobook will be free for everyone for two weeks. After that, it will only be accessible to patrons of the MCP. CW: Body horror, pregnancy horror, birth horror /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/33594462

The Salem Witch Trials pt. 2 - Executions 10/23/2024

The Salem Witch Trials pt. 2 - Executions In the beginning of 1692, young women in Salem village began experiencing strange symptoms, which were soon blamed on witchcraft. The girls began accusing neighbours of bewitching them, escalating the situation. More and more young women became afflicted and more townsfolk were accused. 19 people were eventually executed. In this second instalment, Hallie discusses the criminal trials, the executions, and the rise and fall of the power of the afflicted. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/33563262

The Salem Witch Trials pt. 1 - Accusations 10/09/2024

The Salem Witch Trials pt. 1 - Accusations In the beginning of 1692, young women in Salem village began experiencing strange symptoms, which were soon blamed on witchcraft. The girls accused three women of bewitching them, but instead of resolving the case, the matter only escalated. More young women were afflicted and more townsfolk were accused, and 19 people were eventually executed. In this first instalment, Hallie discusses what was going on in Salem when accusations began to fly, who was afflicted, who was accused, and who was hearing the cases. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/33353842

The Witch's Door - Ryan Matthew Cohn and Regina Marie Rossi 09/23/2024

The Witch's Door - Ryan Matthew Cohn and Regina Marie Rossi In this special spooky season episode, Hallie interviews Ryan Matthew Cohn (Oddities) and Regina Marie Rossi (Oddities Flea Market) about their upcoming book The Witch's Door. They talk exploded skulls, provenance, ethical collecting and more! The book is part personal history and part examination of specific objects from their massive oddity and curiosity collection. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/33065892

A Cosy Witchy Mystery: An Interview with Bad Viking Games 09/09/2024

A Cosy Witchy Mystery: An Interview with Bad Viking Games MCP host Hallie sites down with John and Rob Donkin, also known as Bad Viking Games, to discuss thier cozy mystery game Strange Horticulture. You are the owner of horticultural shop in the bleak town of Undermere. Many of the plants you stock can heal or harm. When murder strikes, you are dragged into a web of intreague involving witches, cults, and many toxic plants. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/32859657

The Tyburn Tree: Public Execution in England 08/28/2024

The Tyburn Tree: Public Execution in England CW: Detailed descriptions of execution methods and corpse desecration Before 1868, executions in England were held in designated public spaces. One of these was famous due to its long history as a place of death and for the large number of criminals that could be executed at once. That place was Tyburn and its infamous execution apparatus was known as the Tyburn Tree. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/32769307

Lizzie Borden (MCP Remastered) 08/09/2024

Lizzie Borden (MCP Remastered) "Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done she gave her father 41." Or did she? In this epic remaster of the MCP's very first episode, we go over the details of the murder case against Lizzie Borden, and discuss what might have happened in Fall River on Aug 4th, 1892. The original epiosde was released on July 31, 2016 and was titled 'An Axe to Grind.' Please enjoy this remasterd and updated version! /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/31924017

Freak Shows 07/29/2024

Freak Shows During the Victorian era, the display of differently abled humans, termed the Freak Show, was a hugely popular form of entertainment. Today this form of entertainment is nearly taboo, but the morbid fascination with disability and physical differences remains. Let's discuss why. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/32325647

Plants That Fight 06/27/2024

Plants That Fight It may come as a surprise, but most plants aren't very friendly. Like most creatures, they survive by defending themselves against predators, parasites, and pathogens. Some have developed quite extreme defence mechanisms, and they are subject of this episode. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/31909817

Lobotomy 05/22/2024

Lobotomy CW: animal experimentation, mental illness, suicide, non-consensual surgical procedures, malpractice and abuse in mental health facilities. One of the most infamous procedures from the era of psychosurgery is the Lobotomy. From the beginning there was criticism that lobotomy was too unpredictable and invasive to treat mental illness. Despite this, the procedure was marketed as a miracle cure and thousands of vulnerable people were subjected to it, with and without their consent. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/31394562

The Bloody Benders 04/25/2024

The Bloody Benders The 1870s were a rough time in Kansas. Travelers and settlers on the frontier struggled against the odds to make even a modest living. The Bender family had a unique method of survival: murder. CW: forced relocation, murder of adults and children, suicide /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/30976608

Pentridge Prison 03/27/2024

Pentridge Prison CW: Torture, Rape, Execution, Racism, Self-Harm, and Suicide Colonial Australia was used by the British to house prisoners in the late 1800s. Pentridge Prison began as a stockade in 1851 and grew into one of the most infamous prisons in Victoria, both for its size and the brutality of the punishments suffered by its inmates. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/30558033

Ghost Theory 02/21/2024

Ghost Theory Have you ever wondered why paranormal investigators use certain devices to detect ghosts? It all has to do with theories about what ghosts are. In this episode, we explore theories about ghosts throughout history. Is there room for the possibility that they exist? Maybe. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/30057258

The Chivruay Tragedy 01/28/2024

The Chivruay Tragedy Often called the Dyatlov Pass Incident of the 70s, the Chivruay Pass Tragedy has similar elements: 10 students go hiking in the snowy Russian mountains and are later found frozen to death. They also share a cloud of mystery and intrigue that may or may not be true. /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/29684293

Gryla & the Midwinter Monsters of Iceland 12/24/2023

Gryla & the Midwinter Monsters of Iceland For this winter holiday special, Hallie dives into the folklore of Iceland to talk about the terrifying creatures of midwinter. Who are they, what are their origins , and what has become of them in the modern era? /episode/index/show/mcpod/id/29193398

The Morbid Curiosity Podcast

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