The Morbid Curiosity Podcast

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes seizures, but throughout history, it was thought to be caused by demonic possession, angry gods and evil spirits. In this episode we discuss what Epilepsy is, and its medical and social history.

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."  

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.

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."

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.

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."

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.

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."

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.

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.'

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. 

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.'

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.

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.

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.