Digest

The episode begins with a brief introduction to the podcast "The Butterfly King," a World War II murder mystery podcast hosted by Becky Milligan. The host encourages listeners to join her in unraveling the truth behind the death of King Boris of Bulgaria. The episode then features a series of listener stories, each offering a glimpse into unique and often unexpected experiences. One listener shares a story about their great-grandfather's encounter with pirates in the early 1700s, involving a buried body, stolen livestock, and a scrimshaw ring given to the young boy as a gesture of thanks. The ring was passed down through generations until it disappeared, only to be found years later in a drawer in the listener's grandfather's study. Another listener recounts a story about their great-aunt's grandfather, Hugh Devlin, who died under suspicious circumstances. His obituary stated that he died from carbolic acid poisoning, which he mistakenly took for cold medicine. The listener's great-aunt believes that her grandmother may have been involved in his death. A listener shares a harrowing experience on Highway 1 in Big Sur, California, where they encountered a massive sinkhole that had opened up on the road, narrowly avoiding driving into the abyss. The incident led to a road closure and stranded hundreds of people overnight. Another listener recounts their childhood experience flying alone at the age of 10. Their father, an air traffic controller, arranged for them to fly to Florida to visit their grandmother, but due to a flight change, he was unable to accompany them on the return flight. The listener recounts their anxiety navigating the airport and encountering a stranger who turned out to be their father's co-worker. A listener shares a story about their mother's failed lie detector test when applying for a job at Radio Shack in the 1970s. The test was triggered by her honest answer about stealing peanuts as a child and her past use of marijuana. Finally, a listener shares a story about their family's Australian Shepherd, Monty, who accidentally ran away from home and ended up at a dental clinic. Monty's charming personality and ability to calm anxious patients led to him becoming an unofficial therapy dog at the clinic.

Outlines

00:00:00

Listener Stories: From Pirates to Therapy Dogs

This episode features a collection of listener stories, ranging from a family heirloom passed down through generations to a dog who became a therapy animal.

00:01:03

Lost and Found Pirate Treasure

A listener shares a story about their great-grandfather's encounter with pirates in the early 1700s, involving a buried body, stolen livestock, and a scrimshaw ring given to the young boy as a gesture of thanks. The ring was passed down through generations until it disappeared, only to be found years later in a drawer in the listener's grandfather's study.

00:07:53

Suspicious Death and Obituary

A listener shares a story about their great-aunt's grandfather, Hugh Devlin, who died under suspicious circumstances. His obituary stated that he died from carbolic acid poisoning, which he mistakenly took for cold medicine. The listener's great-aunt believes that her grandmother may have been involved in his death.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the main topic of "The Butterfly King" podcast?

  "The Butterfly King" is a World War II murder mystery podcast that investigates the death of King Boris of Bulgaria in 1943.

• What is the significance of the scrimshaw ring in the listener's story?

  The scrimshaw ring is a family heirloom that was passed down through generations. It represents a connection to the listener's past and a unique encounter with pirates.

• What is the listener's great-aunt's theory about her grandfather's death?

  The listener's great-aunt believes that her grandmother may have been involved in her grandfather's death by intentionally giving him carbolic acid instead of cold medicine.

• What happened to the listener on Highway 1 in Big Sur?

  The listener encountered a massive sinkhole that had opened up on the road, narrowly avoiding driving into the abyss. The incident led to a road closure and stranded hundreds of people overnight.

• Why did the listener's father send them on a flight alone at the age of 10?

  The listener's father, an air traffic controller, was unable to accompany them on the return flight due to a flight change. He decided to send them alone, instructing them to tell anyone who asked that they were 14 years old.

• What happened to the listener's mother during her job interview at Radio Shack?

  The listener's mother failed a lie detector test due to her honest answer about stealing peanuts as a child and her past use of marijuana.

• How did Monty become a therapy dog at the dental clinic?

  Monty accidentally ran away from home and ended up at a dental clinic. His charming personality and ability to calm anxious patients led to him becoming an unofficial therapy dog at the clinic.

Show Notes