Digest

The podcast begins with the hosts introducing themselves and announcing the start of their seventh season, which will cover a wide range of topics, including long COVID, neuroviruses, the supplement industry, and IVF. The episode then delves into the story of Karen Kelgera, one of the hosts of "My Favorite Murder," who describes her recent flight to Italy and the bizarre meals she encountered due to jet lag. The hosts then discuss the murder of Greg Smart and the subsequent trial of his wife, Pamela Smart, exploring the details of the case and the media's intense coverage. The main focus of the episode shifts to the story of Larry Walters, a truck driver who achieved his lifelong dream of flying by attaching himself to a lawn chair with weather balloons. The hosts explore his childhood fascination with balloons, his service in the Vietnam War, and his eventual decision to take flight. They discuss the cost of his project, his family's concerns, and the meticulous preparations he made for his flight. The episode then recounts the launch of Larry's flight, his ascent to a height of 16,000 feet, and the unexpected challenges he faced, including losing his glasses, his BB gun, and experiencing a rapid descent. The hosts describe his desperate attempts to control his descent and his bizarre landing in someone's backyard. Finally, they discuss the aftermath of his flight, his questioning by police, and the lasting impact of his story on popular culture.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Podcast Announcement

The podcast hosts, Erin Welch and Erin Amman Updike, introduce themselves and announce the start of their seventh season, which is now a weekly show. They highlight the diverse topics they will be covering, including long COVID, neurovirus, the supplement industry, and IVF.

00:00:39

My Favorite Murder: Jet Lag and Bizarre Flight Meals

Karen Kelgera, one of the hosts of "My Favorite Murder," describes her recent flight to Italy and the bizarre meals she encountered. She recounts a boiled beef dish on a bed of beets and a strange combination of leftovers, highlighting the disorienting effect of jet lag.

00:15:20

The Murder of Greg Smart and the Trial of Pamela Smart

The hosts discuss the murder of Greg Smart and the subsequent trial of his wife, Pamela Smart. They delve into the details of the case, including the involvement of teenage boys, Pamela's alleged affair with one of them, and the media's intense coverage of the trial.

00:51:10

The Story of Lawn Chair Larry Walters

The hosts tell the story of Larry Walters, a truck driver who achieved his lifelong dream of flying by attaching himself to a lawn chair with weather balloons. They explore his childhood fascination with balloons, his service in the Vietnam War, and his eventual decision to take flight.

01:03:03

Lawn Chair Larry's Flight: Preparations and Launch

The episode covers Larry Walters' preparations for his flight, including the cost of his project, his family's concerns, and the meticulous process of securing his lawn chair to the ground and inflating over 40 weather balloons. It also describes the launch of his flight and his initial ascent.

01:09:41

Larry's Ascent and Unexpected Challenges

The episode details Larry's ascent to a height of 16,000 feet, the unexpected challenges he faced, including losing his glasses, his BB gun, and experiencing a rapid descent. It also describes his desperate attempts to control his descent and his bizarre landing in someone's backyard.

01:20:02

Aftermath and Legacy

The episode discusses the aftermath of Larry Walters' flight, his questioning by police, and the lasting impact of his story on popular culture. It also mentions the donation of his lawn chair to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some of the topics that will be covered in the seventh season of "This Podcast Will Kill You"?

  The seventh season will explore a wide range of topics, including long COVID, neurovirus, the supplement industry, IVF, and more.

• What is the story of Pamela Smart and the murder of Greg Smart?

  Pamela Smart was convicted of being an accomplice to the murder of her husband, Greg Smart, after allegedly orchestrating the crime with teenage boys. The case was widely publicized and sparked controversy due to the media's intense coverage and the alleged sexual relationship between Pamela and one of the boys.

• How did Larry Walters achieve his dream of flying?

  Larry Walters, a truck driver, attached himself to a lawn chair with weather balloons and took flight. His bizarre stunt captured the imagination of America and became a popular news story.

• What were some of the challenges Larry faced during his flight?

  Larry faced several challenges, including losing his glasses, reaching a dangerously high altitude, losing his BB gun, and experiencing a rapid descent.

• How did Larry's flight end?

  Larry's flight ended with him dangling just a few feet above the ground in someone's backyard in Long Beach. He was helped down by the homeowner, an airline pilot.

• What was the lasting impact of Larry Walters' flight?

  Larry Walters' flight became a popular cultural phenomenon, inspiring a movie, a musical, and a documentary. His story serves as a testament to human will and the pursuit of dreams.

Show Notes