From Victorian-era vinegar cleanses to Hollywood’s obsession with liquid meal replacements, Feast or Famine takes you on a fascinating journey through history’s most bizarre and extreme fad diets. Discover the real stories behind cigarette diets, the Sleeping Beauty weight-loss method, and the infamous cabbage soup craze.

We’ll also dive into one of the most shocking scandals in diet history—the murder of Dr. Herman Tarnower, creator of the Scarsdale Diet. This best-selling weight-loss plan promised rapid results but became infamous after Tarnower’s lover, Jean Harris, shot and killed him in a fit of rage. The case captivated the nation and added a true-crime twist to the world of dieting. Whether it’s the deadly dangers of extreme diets or modern-day trends like celery juice cleanses, this episode uncovers how diet culture has evolved—and why quick-fix solutions never seem to go away.

Like and Subscribe:
Apple 

Spotify

IHeart

Audible

This episode of The Strange History Podcast was lovingly crafted with the help of ElevenLabs.io — the magical technology that gives Amy her time to sleep, eat, work and spend time with her dog Jack. While some might say she sounds too good to be true, we assure you, Amy is absolutely a real person… who just happens to have access to studio-grade AI vocal cords and an unnatural ability to pronounce “necromancy” without flinching. Any resemblance to an AI is purely coincidental — and mildly flattering. Dan the announcers name is really Bill and Patrick, the fake ad guy who thinks he is funny? well he is questionable at best. So yes, AI was used but the people are real and the shinanigans are.... well.... shinanigans.