Messy Minded Podcast

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MIT Technology Review — https://www.technologyreview.com/Smithsonian Magazine — https://www.smithsonianmag.com/LIFE Magazine Archive — https://books.google.com/books/about/LIFE.htmlAtomic Ranch — https://www.atomic-ranch.com/Paleofuture (Smithsonian) — https://paleofuture.com/Atomic Age design resourcesOfficial Site — http://www.thevenusproject.com/Future by Design (documentary)Zeitgeist Addendum (documentary)World’s Fair Museum — https://worldsfairusa.com/WIRED — https://www.wired.com/National Archives — https://www.archives.gov/r/RetroFuturism — https://www.reddit.com/r/RetroFuturism/What did people in the 1950s and '60s think the year 2000 would look like? Flying cars? Robot maids? A kitchen that cooked dinner with the push of one shiny chrome button? A perfectly cheerful smart home that—ideally—didn’t spy on you?In this episode of Messy Minded, Jess dives into the gloriously unhinged futures we once imagined: from retro-futuristic dream houses made of plastic, to food pills that never took off, to Cold War fallout shelters disguised as cozy family retreats. We’ll wander through world’s fairs, peek inside mid-century “homes of tomorrow,” and explore how sci-fi—from The Jetsons to The Matrix—shaped the future we’re living in now (and the future we definitely aren’t).Along the way, we’ll visit the Venus Project, revisit the push-button optimism of the Atomic Age, and laugh at the predictions that aged like milk. Think of it as a guided tour through yesterday’s tomorrows — equal parts hopeful, weird, and wonderfully wrong.Curl up with your metaphorical space blanket, hop into the retro time machine, and join me for a trip to the future… as imagined by the past.Music by: SoundPlusUS Label and Mr. Lex Oleksii Bezalov for "Spark Groove", Bobby Cole for "Fifties Jukebox Moods Full" and "Milkshake Girl", Black Scorpion Music-Ali Afshar for "Matrix", "Get Ready", William Medeirosri for "Tension" , Nikita Kondrashev for "Cosy, Quirky, Comedy", Geoff Harvey for "Mischief Maker", and Audio Coffee for "Funny" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A peaceful mountain town. A newcomer with… opinions. And a story that starts quiet and ends in the kind of Appalachian mystery nobody writes down. Come wander the Smokies with me as we uncover what happens when the wrong person arrives in the right place at the worst possible time.https://shows.acast.com/messy-minded-podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/messymindedpod/https://www.tiktok.com/@messymindedpodhttps://www.youtube.com/@MessyMindedPodSources:An Abbreviated History of Gatlinburg – Gatlinburg Inn Gatlinburg – The Story of Radford Gatlin – Visit My Smokies Staff Gatlinburg History from the 1700s – Today – Elk Springs Resort Blog Team Music by:SoundPlusUS Label and Mr. Lex Oleksii Bezalov for "Spark Groove", and "Cosy Quirky Comedy"#History #AmericanHistory #Appalachia #Tennessee #SmokyMountains #Folklore #WeirdHistory #SmallTownHistory #Storytelling #MessyMinded Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever had an emotional reaction that felt way bigger than the situation? Like your body hit the panic button, and you’re not sure why?In this short and snack-sized episode of Messy Minded, Jess explores the limbic system — the emotional part of the brain involved in trauma, fear, memory, emotional regulation, and survival responses. We’ll talk about why the limbic system reacts the way it does, how it stores old emotional patterns, and how to start healing trauma gently through self-regulation, nervous system care, and patterned safety.https://shows.acast.com/messy-minded-podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/messymindedpod/https://www.tiktok.com/@messymindedpodhttps://www.youtube.com/@MessyMindedPodSources: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der KolkPsychologyToday.org (Therapist Finder)Harvard Health – Brain & Emotion OverviewYale Scientific – The Science of EmotionsNICABM – How Trauma Triggers the Nervous SystemGreater Good Science Center – Mindfulness OverviewThe Polyvagal Theory by Stephen PorgesAmerican Psychological Association – Types of TherapistsMusic by: SoundPlusUS Label and Mr. Lex Oleksii Bezalov for "Spark Groove", "Cosy Quirky Comedy", Geoff Harvey for "Lucky go lightly", Audio Coffee for "Funny" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Halloweens origin story! Ever wonder why we carve faces into vegetables, hand candy to small pirates, and light fires to celebrate the dark? Turns out, Halloween didn’t start with chocolate — it started with Samhain, a Celtic festival where the veil thinned, the fairies roamed, and people wore disguises just in case something noticed them back.In this episode, I tumble headfirst into the weird, wonderful history of Halloween — from druids and divine wars to bonfires, banshees, and the night the fairies basically handed humanity the keys to the world. Grab your pumpkin spice and a flashlight — things are about to get folklorically flammable.https://shows.acast.com/messy-minded-podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/messymindedpod/https://www.tiktok.com/@messymindedpodhttps://www.youtube.com/@MessyMindedPodSources: Encyclopædia Britannica, “Samhain” – britannica.com/topic/Samhain Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain (Oxford University Press, 1996) National Museum of Ireland, “The Festival of Samhain” – museum.ie/en-IE/Museums/Country-Life/Exhibitions/Folklife-Collections/The-Festival-of-Samhain Library of Congress, Headlines & Heroes Blog: “The Origins of Halloween Traditions” – blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions History.com Editors, “History of Halloween” – history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween Wikipedia, “Samhain,” “All Saints’ Day,” and “Cottingley Fairies” – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Day; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottingley_Fairies BBC, “The Truth About the Cottingley Fairies” – bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42456384 Leeds University Library Galleries, The Cottingley Fairies: A Study in Deception – artsandculture.google.com/story/lgVB6Ceti9WVAwMusic by: SoundPlusUS Label and Mr. Lex Oleksii Bezalov for "Spark Groove", Sosin Mykola "Halloween Spooky Eerie Music", Mykola Sosin "Mystery Mystic Mystical Music" and "Eerie - Wizard Mystery Music", MMAudio for "Chasing Faries", Hits Lab - Levgren Poltavsky " Halloween Background Music" and War Battle Military Drums", "Hunters of darkness epic and mystical fantasy music", Leigh Robinson " Alban Arthan (The Druids Christmas", scary horror creepy music, "Secret Room" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Jess explores the cursed objects, haunted legacies, and historical hexes that won’t leave us alone. Jess's co-conspirator, Lolo. joins her again to help weigh in on supernatural etiquette. In Part Two of our Halloween special on curses, we’re diving deeper into the objects and artifacts that seem to carry doom in their wake — from world-famous jewels and tunnel-side tragedies to cursed paintings and spooky dolls with reputations that span generations. We're talking about cursed objects, cursed dolls, haunted paintings, Annabelle, King Tut, the Medusa myth, and more!https://shows.acast.com/messy-minded-podcastMusic by SoundPlusUS Label and Mr. Lex Oleksii Bezalov for "Spark Groove", Geoff Harvey "Spellcraft", ProgressiveTape "Gaslight Waltz", Jerome Chauvel "Middle Eastern Desert", Nick Panek "Energetic Rockabilly Instrumental", Denis Pavlov Music "Magical Ritual Shaman Amazonian Indians", Geoff Harvey "The Secret Room". Andorios "Gypsy Moderate", "Funny and Scary", Levgen Poltavski "Scary Horror Creepy Music", Studio3D Music "Podcast music good vibe", and Dmitry Taras "Scary Horror Music". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enjoy this teaser clip that'll be in our full feature Halloween episode on Oct. 30th!Before we ever carved pumpkins, there was Jack: a trickster, a drunk, and the reason we light a candle every Halloween night. In this Messy Minded Halloween story, Jess retells the eerie Irish legend that gave us the jack-o’-lantern — and explains why some lights aren’t meant to go out.https://shows.acast.com/messy-minded-podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/messymindedpod/https://www.tiktok.com/@messymindedpodhttps://www.youtube.com/@MessyMindedPodMusic by: Sosin Mykola "Halloween Spooky Eerie Music" and SoundPlusUS Label and Mr. Lex Oleksii Bezalov for "Spark Groove" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 In this special Halloween two-parter, Jess and Lolo dive into the wild, weird world of curses — the spooky kind, the biblical kind, and the ones that sneak up on you through a mirror. Ancient Irish curses, old-school hexes, and whether you might be spiritually Teflon… or a high-risk hex magnet.Don’t miss Part 2, dropping October 23rd, with even more terrifying tales, legendary hexes, and famous spooky cursed objects.🎃 And on October 30th, tune in for our special Halloween episode packed with creepy stories to make your skin crawl.https://shows.acast.com/messy-minded-podcastSources include:Oxford Dictionary of Superstitions – Opie & TatemCursed Objects – J.W. Ocker (for haunted items and cultural fear of curses)The Penguin Guide to the Superstitions of Britain and Ireland – Steve RoudFolklore and the Supernatural – Jacqueline SimpsonHistory.com – “The Kennedy Curse”Road & Track – “The Story Behind James Dean’s Cursed Car”The Burning of Bridget Cleary – Angela BourkeIrish Folklore Commission ArchivesThe Evil Eye: The Classic Account of an Ancient Superstition – Frederick Thomas ElworthyThe Mexican American Folk Healing Tradition – Robert T. Trotter IIMagical Household – Scott Cunningham & David HarringtonFolklife Today – Salt in SuperstitionYurei: The Japanese Ghost – Zack DavissonSigns, Cures, and Witchery: German Appalachian Folklore – Gerald MilnesThe Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries – W.Y. Evans-WentzMusic by SoundPlusUS Label and Mr. Lex Oleksii Bezalov for "Spark Groove", Geoff Harvey "Spellcraft", ProgressiveTape "Gaslight Waltz", Jerome Chauvel "Middle Eastern Desert", Nick Panek "Energetic Rockabilly Instrumental", Denis Pavlov Music "Magical Ritual Shaman Amazonian Indians", Geoff Harvey "The Secret Room" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when you know too much… and the people you know too much about want you dead?In this episode of Messy Minded, I look into the dark, secretive world of witness protection — from its mob-infested origins in the 1970s to modern-day name changes, fake IDs, and lives rebuilt from scratch. But long before WITSEC existed, people were already faking their deaths, hopping trains, and vanishing into the void. So what makes the government version different — and is it actually safe?We'll explore:The history of the U.S. Witness Security Program (WITSEC)Famous cases like Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, the hitman who became a star witnessHow identities are changed, families relocated, and what it really costs to disappearHow other countries do (or don’t do) witness protectionThe myth vs. reality of witness protection in pop cultureA few truly wild stories from people who vanished before the system even existedMusic by: SoundPlusUA Label and Mr. Lex Oleksii Bezsalov for "Spark Groove", "Funny and Weird", Geoff Harvey "Mafioso"Sources & References:U.S. Marshals Service: WITSEC FactsheetGerald Shur & Pete Earley, WITSEC: Inside the Federal Witness Protection ProgramNPR: Witness Protection Program: How It WorksHistory.com: The Witness Protection Program's Secret HistoryNew York Times archive: “Gravano’s Testimony and the Fall of the Mob”The Atlantic: Disappearing Act – What It’s Like to Be in Witness ProtectionVice: Inside Witness ProtectionDon't forget to rate, subscribe, and maybe leave a five-star review if you’re not currently in hiding!https://shows.acast.com/messy-minded-podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when someone you love looks you in the eye… and insists you’re not real? In this eerie and emotional Messy Morsel, Jess explores Capgras Delusion — a rare psychological condition where the brain recognizes a face but disconnects from the feeling behind it.We’ll step into the shoes of a caregiver, unpack the neuroscience behind delusional misidentification, and talk about what (if anything) can be done when reality fractures. Along the way, we explore how this condition intersects with rare mental illness, face recognition disorder, and other psychological disorders that challenge our most basic sense of connection.Sources:Capgras Syndrome: A Review of the LiteratureJoseph M. Silva et al., 1990, Psychiatric Serviceshttps://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ps.41.4.434Three Laws of QualiaV.S. Ramachandran & William Hirstein, 1997https://www.imprint.co.uk/pdf/Ramachandran.pdfDisconnection Syndromes and Delusional MisidentificationEllis, H. D., & Young, A. W., 1990, Cognitive Neuropsychiatry(Key theory on fusiform-amygdala disconnect in Capgras)Music by: SoundPlusUA and Mr. Lex Olesii Bezalov for Spark Groove " Electro Swing", NikitaKondrahev "Cosy Quirky Comedy", Geoff Harvey "The Secret Room" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you try something with no guarantee it’ll work out? In this milestone 10th episode of Messy Minded, Jess explores the fun and inspiring stories of people who dared to take a chance — from Notables you know to normies you’ve never heard of.You’ll hear about:Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Tower, a dream of free global electricity that fizzled before its time.William Hung, the everyday guy who turned an off-key “She Bangs” audition into unexpected fame.Ella Fitzgerald, who risked humiliation in a talent show and instead scatted her way into history.Vera Wang, who pivoted careers at 40 and reinvented bridal fashion.Curtis Jenkins, a Dallas school bus driver whose small acts of kindness transformed lives.Hedy Lamarr, the Hollywood starlet whose “frequency hopping” invention became the backbone of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.John Krasinski, who almost gave up on acting until The Office found him at the last moment.Plus quirky side-quests like the Italian roots of the word fiasco and a failed synthetic rubber experiment.Jess also shares her own story of how this podcast began as just one of many curiosities. Ten episodes later, Messy Minded is still standing (and still messy af). Guest appearances by Curtis Jenkins, and Jess's friend and wine guru, Jen.This episode is about trying — whether it’s a failed invention, a career pivot, a quiet act of kindness, or a messy experiment that actually sticks. Not every attempt changes the world, but every attempt shapes a life.Music by PaoloArgento, Sigma Music Art, Geoff Harvey, Open-Music-for-videos, BackgroundMusicForVideo, Cyberwave-Orchestra, NikitaKondrashev Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plants don’t just sit there quietly photosynthesizing—they plot. Jess and guest Scott (a Master Gardener) dig into the wild science of plant communication, defense, and even fungal conspiracies. From mimosas playing peek-a-boo to trees whispering underground, you’ll never look at greenery the same way again.https://extension.umn.edu/master-gardener/become-master-gardenerMusic by Geoff Harvey, Open-Music-for-videos, BackgroundMusicForVideo, Cyberwave-Orchestra, NikitaKondrashevSound effects by: Messy Minded, Biting, "Crunchy, B.wav by InspectorJ -- https://freesound.org/s/332407/ -- License: Attribution 4.0", AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/References & Further Reading:Gagliano, M., et al. (2014). Experience teaches plants to learn faster and forget slower in environments where it matters. Oecologia.Simard, S.W. (1997). Net transfer of carbon between tree species with shared mycorrhizal fungi. Nature.Wohlleben, P. (2016). The Hidden Life of Trees. Greystone Books.Sheldrake, M. (2020). Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures. Random House.Money, N.P. (2011). The Triumph of the Fungi: A Rotten History. Oxford University Press.National Geographic (2019). Zombie fungi mind-control ants — and could help humans too.Science.org (2018). Plants can learn without brains.Stamets, P. (2005). Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World. Ten Speed Press.University of Minnesota Extension. Master Gardener Program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From foot X-ray machines and Victorian vibrators to radioactive tonics and lobotomies, this episode dives into the weird world of questionable medical treatments and the history of health fads that definitely didn’t age well.Join Jess and special guest Kate as they explore the bizarre side of medicine — including a shocking look at the Relax-A-Cizor, a guessing game of “Cure or Crap,” and the deeply tragic story of Rosemary Kennedy’s lobotomy. We’ll cover historical quackery, outdated medical beliefs, and the surprising overlap between science and pseudoscience.Whether you’re curious about old medical devices, strange cures, or just want to hear about the time people were prescribed goat testicles, this episode has something for every history nerd, true crime of medicine fan, or podcast junkie with a love for the absurd. Caution: may cause side effects such as laughter, cringing, side-eye, and a deep mistrust of Victorian physicians.Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, The Science Museum of Minnesota, NPR, Mental Floss, History.com, The Atlantic, BBC, Radiolab, ScienceDirect, The Kennedy Family Archives, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences, FDA.gov, and various academic papers and archived medical texts via JSTOR and PubMed. Special thanks to reddit user "WalkThat", and, of course, thank you to my  wittily winsome sister Kate — your wit, heart, and hilarious reactions made this episode so much better. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Messy Minded, Jess is joined by Lolo and they squelch into the haunting, weirdly well-preserved world of bog bodies — ancient humans pulled from the muck of northern Europe, skin intact, stubble visible, and sometimes... missing their nipples (don’t worry, they'll explain).We’ll explore the violent fates and mysterious rituals behind these Iron Age icons: from the towering Old Croghan Man to Clonycavan Man (who was basically the original influencer), the solemn Yde Girl, and the unsettlingly serene Tollund Man. Plus: butter barrels, blindfolds, and a surprise red carpet hair moment.The delightful Lolo — suggested the topic and sticks around to rate Iron Age survival scenarios on a scale of 1 to 5 bog bodies. It’s equal parts macabre and fabulous.If you’ve ever wanted forensic science, folklore, and fashion in one podcast? This is the episode.Glob, P.V. (1969). The Bog People: Iron Age Man Preserved. Faber & Faber.(Classic foundational text on bog bodies and ritual sacrifice theory.)Aldhouse-Green, Miranda. (2015). Bog Bodies Uncovered: Solving Europe's Ancient Mystery. Thames & Hudson.(Modern archaeological interpretations and forensic analysis.)Ross, Anne & Robins, Don. (1989). The Life and Death of a Druid Prince. Simon & Schuster.(Focused on Lindow Man and the theory of ritual triple death.)Nielsen, N.H., Lynnerup, N. et al. “The scientific study of bog bodies in the 21st century.” Antiquity, 2020.van der Sanden, W.A.B. (1996). Through Nature to Eternity: The Bog People of Northwest Europe. Drents Museum.National Geographic:“Europe’s Mysterious Bog Bodies”https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/bog-bodiesSmithsonian Magazine:“Bog Bodies Hold Secrets of the Past”https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/bog-bodies-hold-secrets-of-past-180958104The Guardian:“Secrets of the Bog Bodies”https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2003/aug/01/artsfeatures2Music by Ashot Danielyan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ancient Greeks ran naked. Modern athletes get Tinder Gold. Somewhere in between? A lot of weird stuff.This week on Messy Minded, we explore the strange evolution of the Olympics — from sacred rituals and priestesses to flaming pigeons and suspicious judging. You’ll hear about divine nudity, rigged events, Olympic ghosts, and a marathon so disastrous it involved poison and a guy in a car. Plus: honorable mentions like Abebe Bikila (barefoot legend), Eric "The Eel" Moussambani, and the one guy who literally disappeared mid-race.International Olympic Committee – https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/ancient-olympic-gamesKyle, Donald G. Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World, Wiley-Blackwell, 2014Golden, Mark. Sport in the Ancient World from A to Z, Routledge, 2004NPR – “That Time the Olympic Marathon Was a Total Disaster” – https://www.npr.org/2016/08/12/489810136/that-time-the-olympic-marathon-was-a-total-disasterGynn, Roger. The Olympic Marathon, Human Kinetics, 1996Smithsonian Magazine – “The Undefeated Life of Jim Thorpe” – https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-jim-thorpes-greatest-battle-was-not-on-the-field-180979000/National Museum of the American Indian – https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/jim-thorpeThe New York Times – “South Koreans Tell World, ‘We Have Arrived’” – https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/18/sports/the-seoul-olympics-opening-ceremony-south-koreans-tell-world-we-have-arrived.htmlUSA Today – “The Olympic doves that died for our sins” – https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/doves-olympic-ceremony-1988-seoul-fire-torchOlympic Channel – “When Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic cauldron” – https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/atlanta-1996/highlights/muhammad-aliBiography.com – Muhammad Ali profile – https://www.biography.com/athletes/muhammad-aliOlympics.com – “Abebe Bikila: Barefoot to victory” – https://olympics.com/en/athletes/abebe-bikilaTeam USA – “John Shuster Leads U.S. to Curling Gold” – https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/February/24/John-Shuster-Leads-US-To-Historic-Olympic-Curling-Goldhttps://www.npr.org/sections/thetorch/2018/02/24/588637936/team-usa-wins-its-first-ever-olympic-gold-in-mens-curlingJapan Times – “The Japanese marathon runner who went missing — for 54 years” – https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2021/07/23/olympics/summer-olympics/olympic-history/shizo-kanakuri-olympics-marathon/BBC – “Shizo Kanakuri: The man who took 54 years to finish a marathon” – https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/57914191Also thank you to Dax Shepard and Monica Padman of Armchair Expert, not only for inspiring my new odd interest, but also for years of great podcasting!Music by AudioCoffee: https://www.audiocoffee.net/, The Battle Between Scorpio And Orion.wav by LilMati -- https://freesound.org/s/507307/ -- License: Attribution 4.0NikitaKondrashev, Open-Music-for-Videos for "Spark Groove", geoffharvey for "Busy Bees", "Endevour", and "Empire of War", Coma-Meda for "Catch It" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From candlelit basements to elite forest retreats, this episode of Messy Minded dives deep into the strange, spooky, and occasionally sinister world of secret societies. Jess explores the mystics, the misfits, and the megalomaniacs who’ve operated behind closed doors for centuries — including the Rosicrucians, Bohemian Grove, the dream-walking Benandanti, and Skull and Bones. Along the way, we’ll meet scandal-prone Enlightenment bros, orgy-hosting nobles, fascist Masonic puppeteers, and a goat named Lucien.Not every secret society is harmless — and one is downright terrifying. But between the robes, rituals, and wildly conflicting origin stories, this episode asks: What makes a secret society thrive and endure?With historical facts, bad Latin, and questionable handshakes — this is one initiation you won’t regret.List of sources:Janet Oppenheim, The Other World: Spiritualism and Psychical Research in England, 1850–1914 David V. Barrett, Secret Societies: From the Illuminati to the Freemasons Smithsonian Magazine – “What Are Secret Societies, Really?” BBC – “A brief history of secret societies” History.com articles on Freemasons, Skull and Bones, and the Knights Templar Helen Nicholson, The Knights Templar: A New History Dan Jones, The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God’s Holy Warriors National Geographic – Who Were the Templars? History Extra – “Why did the Templars fall?” Christopher Hodapp, Freemasons For Dummies PBS – Secrets of the Freemasons documentary The Grand Lodge of England’s official site Atlas Obscura – “Inside the Grand Lodge of Masons” Evelyn Lord, The Hell-Fire Clubs: Sex, Satanism and Secret Societies British Heritage – “The Infamous Hellfire Club of England” Alexandra Robbins, Secrets of the Tomb: Skull and Bones, the Ivy League, and the Hidden Paths of Power Yale Alumni Magazine archives NPR – “Skull and Bones: A Secret Society That’s Not So Secret” Carlo Ginzburg, The Night Battles: Witchcraft and Agrarian Cults in the 16th and 17th Centuries JSTOR articles on dream cults and early modern witch trials Mythology.net – “The Benandanti: Good Witches of the Night” David Yallop, In God's Name: An Investigation Into the Murder of Pope John Paul I BBC News – “Italy’s shadow government” Financial Times retrospective on Italian political scandals Talbot Mundy, The Nine Unknown Ancient Origins – “The Nine Unknown: India's Most Powerful Secret Society” Alex Shoumatoff, Inside Bohemian Grove, Vanity Fair BBC – “What really happens at Bohemian Grove” Wikileaks – Bohemian Grove 2008 guest list Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do a pothole-riddled town in Minnesota, a margarita-fueled island in Florida, and a micronation with a space program have in common? They all tried to secede — seriously. In this episode of Messy Minded, Jess takes you on a road trip through America’s weirdest breakup attempts: Kinney, MN declares independence over water issues; Key West forms the Conch Republic to protest a roadblock; Hell, Michigan just wants to mess with you; and the State of Jefferson campaigns for rural pride. You’ll meet President Kevin Baugh of Molossia (long may he reign), relive the bold defiance of Sam Houston during the Texan push for independence, and detour into the Bundy family’s very real armed standoff in Oregon. There’s even Rockport’s letter to the Queen and the anarchic dream of Slab City. Plus: can you actually secede? And why does everyone want to start a country in the first place? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Nigerian princes to fake tech support, the internet is a scammer’s paradise — and we’ve all almost fallen for something.In this episode of Messy Minded, Jess explores the wild, weird world of online scams: how they work, why they work, and the real people behind the cons. We’ll cover the classics — phishing emails, romance frauds, lottery hoaxes — and dig into how these schemes have evolved over time, from laughably bad grammar to highly organized global operations.Plus, I’ll share my own experiences with scams.It’s a crash course in digital deception — with just enough paranoia to make you double-check that next email. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s be honest — we all lie. Some lies are small and polite. Others are… slightly more elaborate and involve fake résumés, secret second lives, or pretending you read the terms and conditions.In this episode of Messy Minded, Jess explores why we lie, how we lie, and what all this deception says about being human. From white lies to whoppers, from gaslighting to government spin, lying turns out to be less about evil and more about survival, social finesse, and the occasional panic response at a dinner party.We’ll break down the psychology behind lying liars, the different “colors” of lies (yes, that’s a thing), and real stories of people who took dishonesty way too far. Welcome special guest, William! No lie — it’s a good one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before Iceland became a tourist dream of volcanoes, hot springs, and cozy sweaters, it was an uninhabited island at the edge of the known world — until a few bold or lost people showed up.In this episode of Messy Minded, Jess digs into the strange, winding story of how Iceland was discovered and settled. We’ll meet Norse explorers like Ingólfur Arnarson, the man credited with founding Reykjavík, and Flóki Vilgerðarson, who brought ravens to help him navigate and then got so mad at the snow he named the entire country “Iceland.”I also talk about the Irish monks who may have gotten there first, and how land, honor, and a lot of luck shaped the island’s early history.This is a story of exile, survival, and mythology, with just a sprinkling of my own adventure stories there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.