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The Land Of Odd: A History Podcast
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The Land Of Odd: A History Podcast

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Ever wish that history was taught in a way that was, we don't know, fun, engaging, worthy of a late night conversation over left-over pad thai? (Warm Bodies reference, wut, wut!). Say no more. The Land of Odd is a history podcast where we delve into all things bizarre, macabre, inspiring, and astonishingly absurd. All the debacles the text book left out (aka, the cool stuff aka the stuff you should know)? We've found 'em and we're taking you along for the ride.
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In 1887, Welsh-American explorer, Henry Morton Stanley, journeys to Africa for what may be his final expedition, the search for Emin Pasha, governor of the province of Equatoria.  Thirty years before, Stanley began his career by searching for someone else, the famed explorer David Livingstone.  On his adventures, his conduct makes him a controversial figure, one who believes in a means to an end.  His success draws the attention of Leopold II, king of Belgium, orchestrator of what will become the Congo Free State.  Ultimately, Stanley's efforts are a driving force behind the Scramble for Africa and the injustices that will occur in the CFS will lead to one of the first uses of the phrase "crimes against humanity."Follow The Land of Odd: A History Podcast on Instagram at landofoddpodcast.  If you have a story you'd like to hear covered, send an email to landofoddpod@gmail.comSources:Baumeister, Roy F. and John Tierney.  "Henry Morton Stanley's Unbreakable Will."  Smithsonian Magazine, December 2011, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/henry-morton-stanleys-unbreakable-will-99405/Hochschild, Adam.  King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa.  Mariner Books, 1999.Jeal, Tim.  Stanley: The Impossible Life of Africa's Greatest Explorer.  Yale University Press, 2008. Rutherford, Marcus.  "Should Henry Morton Stanley's Statue Be Pulled Down?"  The Spectator, 7 August 2021, https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/should-henry-morton-stanley-s-statue-be-pulled-down/Severin, Timothy.  "The Making of An American Lion."  American Heritage, vol. 25, issue 2, February 1974, https://www.americanheritage.com/making-american-lion?page=5 Smith, Judy Pollard.  Don't Call Me Lady: The Journey of Lady Alice Seeley Harris.  Abbott Press, 2014.
People of Odd, there are changes afoot.  We apologize for the lack of new episodes  these past few weeks (in this message, Delia explains what's been happening behind the scenes).  Bottom line is: going forward, the podcast will be a solo project (wishing Savanah all the best with her escape from Shawshank aka the state of Florida) and new episodes will be airing on Thursdays (biweekly, until I, Delia, can stack up enough episodes to make it weekly again).   I am also considering making more changes to the show, like having background music (How do you guys feel about that?  Let me know on Instagram).  Thank you, guys, for your support and remember, there's no place like Odd!
On August 9, 1898, in Dover, Delaware, Mary Elizabeth Dunning receives a package with a note that reads, "Love to yourself and baby. - Mrs. C."  With the note is a box of chocolates and so begins a macabre tale of adultery, jealousy and obsession that would ultimately end in a murder that was the first of its kind - the first to be committed long-distance, by U.S. mail.Follow The Land of Odd on Instagram at landofoddpodcast.Sources:Cavendish, Richard.  “The Pony Express.”  History Today, vol. 60, no. 4, April 2010, https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/pony-express#:~:text=The%20riders%20were%20paid%20%2425,every%2075%20to%20100%20miles. Culp, Betsey.  “A Splendid Little Murder.”  The San Francisco Flier, December 1998, https://people.well.com/user/sfflier/Botkin.html Dowd, Katie.  “Murder by Mail: The Story of San Francisco’s Most Infamous Female Poisoner.”  SFGate, October 2016, https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/San-Francisco-murder-poison-Cordelia-Botkin-9880884.php#photo-11358614 “Dunning Sent to Jail for Refusing to Answer a Question.”  The San Francisco Examiner, 20th December 1898, p. 1.  Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/457463951/?terms=cordelia%20botkin “Fighting For Her Life:  Mrs. Botkin Builds a Wall of Legal Technicality.”  The San Francisco Call, 28th August 1898, p. 16.  Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/81005937/?terms=cordelia%20botkin Gallagher, Winnfred.  “A Brief History of the United States Postal Service.”  Smithsonian Magazine, October 2020, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/brief-history-united-states-postal-service-180975627/ History.com Editors.  “Transcontinental Railroad.”  History, September 2019, https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/transcontinental-railroad “Mrs. Botkin’s Battle Begins.”  The San Francisco Chronicle, 28th August 1898, p. 32.  Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/27601362/?terms=cordelia%20botkin “Mrs. Botkin Plans a Desperate Defense.”  The San Francisco Chronicle, 26th August 1898, p. 9.  Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/image/27599501/?terms=cordelia%20botkin&match=1 “The Confederate Postal System.”  Smithsonian, https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/a-nation-divided/the-confederate-postal-system Segrave, Kerry.  Dying for Chocolate: Cordelia Botkin and the 1898 Poisoned Candy Murders.  Exposit Books, 2020. 
Born in the shadow of the Great Depression, World War II, and the Korean War, Catherine "Kitty" Genovese grew up knowing four things - hard work, family, compassion, and the importance of humor in everyday life.  It was her knack for working with people that made her a natural at the bar and restaurant scene and her dream was to own an establishment of her own.  On March 13, 1964, though, her dreams would come to a tragic end.  In Kitty's case, though, there would be one thing in abundance, one thing that should have saved her - bystanders.  Sadly, also in abundance was a phrase the police would hear over and over - "I didn't want to get involved."Follow us on Instagram at landofoddpodcast.  If you have a story that you want us to cover or a connection to history that you want to share, email us at landofoddpod@gmail.com.Sources:Abate, Carolyn.  “History of 911:  America’s Emergency Service Before and After Kitty Genovese.”  Independent Lens.  19 January 2017.  https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/history-of-911-americas-emergency-service-before-and-after-kitty-genovese/  Gansberg, Martin.  “37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police; Apathy at Stabbing of Queens Woman Shocks Inspector.”  The New York Times.  27 March 1964, https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/27/archives/37-who-saw-murder-didnt-call-the-police-apathy-at-stabbing-of.html  McFadden, Robert.  “A Model’s Dying Screams Are Ignored At the Site of Kitty Genovese’s Murder.”  The New York Times.  27 December 1974.  https://www.nytimes.com/1974/12/27/archives/a-models-dying-screams-are-ignored-at-the-site-of-kitty-genoveses.html  McFadden, Robert.  “Winston Moseley, Who Killed Kitty Genovese, Dies in Prison at 81.”  The New York Times.  4 April 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/05/nyregion/winston-moseley-81-killer-of-kitty-genovese-dies-in-prison.html  Nilsson, Jeff.  “The Murder of Kitty Genovese, 50 Years Later, Questions Remain.”  The Saturday Evening Post.  6 March 2014.  https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2014/03/the-murder-of-kitty-genovese-50-years-later-questions-remain/  Pearlman, Jeff.  ”Infamous ’64 murder lives in heart of woman’s ‘friend.’”  The Chicago Tribune.  12 March 2004.  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-03-12/news/0403120260_1_winston-moseley-catherine-kitty-genovese-gay-bar  Pelonero, Catherine.  Kitty Genovese: A True Account of a Public Murder and Its Private Consequences.  Skyhorse, 2016. Rasenburger, Jim.  “Kitty, 40 Years Later.”  The New York Times.  8 February 2004.  https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/08/nyregion/kitty-40-years-later.html  The Witness.  Directed by James Solomon.  FilmRise, 2016.
In 1804, Eunice Hawley was twenty-six, petite and strikingly beautiful  with a temper and a will to match.  Yet, due to her family's debts, she was a spinster.  Then came James Chapman, a merchant who was fifteen years her senior.  The two had nothing in common, but James could give her security if nothing else and Eunice did what many women did back then - she settled.  After five years of marriage and three children, though, James' alcoholism intensified and would become too much for Eunice to bear.  Abandoning his family to indulge in his vices, James would cross paths with a religious group known as the Shakers.  Little did Eunice know that this meeting would lead to a kidnapping, a one-of-a-kind campaign in the New York legislature, and a decades-long debate on the subjects of women, divorce, and custody.  In the end though, Eunice reminds us of our favorite faux-Bible passage: "Don't try me" - Mom, 24:7Follow us on Instagram at landofoddpodcast or if you have a story you want us to cover or a connection to history that you want to share, email us at landofoddpod@gmail.comDe Wolf, Elizabeth.  "The Mob at Enfield."  American Communal Societies Quarterly, vol. 4, issue 2, 2010, pp. 80-86, https://digitalcommons.hamilton.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1139&context=acsq.Norton, Mary Beth.  "Eunice Hawley Chapman: At War with the Shakers."  The Society of the Hawley Family, 17th September 2010, https://hawleysociety.org/eunice-hawley-chapman/.Woo, Ilyon.  The Great Divorce.  Atlantic Monthly Press, 2010.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that around the town of Alton, Hampshire, UK, the most famous celebrity is the one and only Jane Austen.  However, about a mile and a half from her historic home is another landmark - the grave of Fanny Adams.  Today, the phrase "Sweet Fanny Adams" means, simply, "nothing" (EX: "I know Sweet Fanny Adams about that").  But who was Fanny Adams and how did her name become linked with the phrase we know today?  The truth is that the story of Fanny Adams is as tragic as it is disturbing.  On August 24th 1867,  eight-year-old Fanny was abducted and murdered by a man named Frederick Baker.  Not long after, a macabre rumor began circulating that ultimately gave way to the phrase, which even today, overshadows a crime that shook this small town for its depravity and the loss of a life that had barely begun.Follow us on Instagram at landofoddpodcast or, if there's a story you want us to cover or a personal connection to history that you want to share, email us at landofoddpod@gmail.comSources:Carney, Ann.  “Sweet Fanny Adams:  How a Horrific Child Murder became English Slang.”  The Crime Wire, The Arena Media Brands, LLC, 20th January 2023, https://thecrimewire.com/multifarious/Sweet-Fanny-Adams-The-Murder-of-an-Innocent-Child Curtis Museum.  “Local History: The True Story of Sweet Fanny Adams.”  Hampshire Cultural Trust, https://www.hampshireculture.org.uk/sites/default/files/inline-files/FannyAdams.pdf  Driscoll-Woodford, Heather.  “The seasonal Guildford guy riots.”  BBC, 30th October 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/surrey/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8308000/8308764.stm  McCloskey, Keith.  Killed a Young Girl, It Was Fine and Hot: The Murder of Sweet FA.  Keith McCloskey, 2016. Talbot, Lucy Coleman.  “Sweet Fanny Adams.”  Death and the Maiden, 24th August 2016, https://deadmaidens.com/2016/08/24/sweet-fanny-adams/  Thorpe, Peter.  “The gruesome origin of ‘Sweet Fanny Adams.’”  History Answers, Future Publishing Limited Quay House, 14th October 2015, https://www.historyanswers.co.uk/people-politics/the-gruesome-origin-of-sweet-fanny-adams/  “Who Was Sweet Fanny Adams?”  Hampshire Geological Society, https://www.hgs-familyhistory.com/2014/10/sweet-fanny-adams/ 
On August 21, 1955, fourteen-year-old Emmett Till arrived in Money, Mississippi to visit his uncle and his cousins.  Four days later, the boys would take a drive to a grocery store owned by a white couple, Roy and Carolyn Bryant.  To this day, the interaction between Till and Carolyn Bryant is disputed, but it's said that Till, a Chicago native unaccustomed to the deep South, allegedly whistled at Bryant.  This would spur the events of August 28th, when Roy Bryant and his accomplices arrived at the home of Till's uncle, forced Till into their vehicle, and drove him to a barn in the town of Drew.  There, they committed the horrific crime that months later would inspire a brave woman on a  Montgomery bus to take a stand - by sitting down -  and a movement to the "solid rock of brotherhood" that would resonate for decades to come.Main Source:Tell, Dave.  Remembering Emmett Till.  University of Chicago Press, 2019.
"I can't quite tell my age . . . but I guess I must be about fifty eight or fifty nine years old."  So begins the story of the life of Henrietta Wood, a story which she told in 1876 to a reporter named Lafcadio Hearn.  Born into slavery, Henrietta would be sold for the first time at the age of sixteen to a man named Henry Forsyth.  It was her third owner, however, a Frenchman named William Cirode and his family who would set Henrietta on a path towards a "sweet taste of liberty," a brief period of freedom, then cruelly conspire to have that liberty stolen away.  The man they hired to do so was Zebulon Ward, a name that Henrietta would remember when she was kidnapped and sold downriver to the nightmarish world of the cotton fields.  Henrietta's resilience, however, would keep her alive and her determination to see Zebulon Ward pay his due would ultimately remind us that "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice."Follow us on Instagram at landofoddpodcast or, if there's a story you want us to cover or you have a connection to history that you want to share, email us at landofoddpod@gmail.comMain Source:McDaniel, W. Caleb.  Sweet Taste of Liberty:  A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America.  Oxford University Press, 2019.
In 1964, at the age of 39, Michael Ferrero added vegetable oil to a chocolate paste known as gianduja (jaan-doo-yah) and created something sensational that we know today as . . . Nutella.  In the following years, Ferrero would oversee the creation of multiple big-name brands, but it wasn't until 1982 that he would invent the chocolate treat that bears his name - Ferrero Rocher.  Despite Savanah's IBS and Delia's diverticulitis, they discuss their love of chocolate (with Savanah, it's more of an obsession) and Savanah's collection of wrappers and how, one day, they'd make her a billionaire!
By 1986, Neerja Bhanot's life was looking up - literally.  At just twenty-two, her beauty and poise had earned her a modeling contract with some of India's most recognizable brands and her second job as a lead flight attendant for Pan Am Airlines would have her seeing the world.  Good looks was not Neerja's only quality, however, nor would it be her greatest.  A survivor of an abusive marriage, she'd faced danger before and escaped, but not once did she foresee the danger that would befall her - and 300 plus passengers - on the morning of September 5, 1986.  While at a stop in Karachi, Pakistan,  Neerja and her colleagues would look out the window to see four airport security personnel boarding their plane - with guns.  What would ensue was a standoff during which Neerja's leadership and quick-thinking would save lives and make her the youngest - and only female - recipient of the Asoka Chakra, India's highest recognition for an act of bravery.Sources:Ash, Lucy.  “India’s Dowry Deaths.”  BBC News, 16 July 2003, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/3071963.stm  Bahuguna, Ankush.  “The Story of Neerja Bhanot – The Girl Who Punched Terrorism in the Face and Became a Hero India Would Never Forget.”  MensXP, Mensa Brand Technologies Pvt. Ltd, 21 January 2016, https://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/29128-the-story-of-neerja-bhanot-the-girl-who-punched-terrorism-in-the-face-and-became-a-hero-india-would-never-forget.html  Bhowmick, Barsha Nag.  ”National Girl Child Day:  Why Many Indians Still Prefer Sons Over Daughters.”  The Times of India, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd., 24 January 2022, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/life-n-style/national-girl-child-day-why-many-indians-still-prefer-sons-over-daughters/  Cho, Nam and Jade Lawson.  “After increase in assaults, flight attendants are saying enough is enough.”  ABC News, ABC News Internet Ventures, 10 December 2021. Devadas, David.  “Dowry-related Deaths Break Religious, Caste and Geographic Barriers.”  India Today, Living Media India Limited, 30 June 1988, https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19880630-dowry-related-deaths-break-religious-caste-geographical-barriers-797424-1988-06-29  Green, Patricia.  “Neerja Bhanot: The World’s Bravest Flight Attendant.”  Simply Flying, 19 October 2022, https://simpleflying.com/neerja-bhanot-story/  Kapoor, Vandita.  “The Incredible Story of Neerja Bhanot – Indian Flight Attendant Who Saved 360 Lives.”  The Better India, 19 December 2015, https://www.thebetterindia.com/40218/neerja-bhanot-flight-attendant-hijack-bravery/  Mahapatra, Dhananjay.  “No Arrests Under Anti-Dowry Law Without Magistrate’s Nod.”  The Times of India, Bennet, Coleman, and Co. Ltd, 3 July, 2014, https://timesof
In 1941, just prior to the outbreak of World War II, Josefina Guerrero couldn't be happier.  She was the wife of a prominent doctor, whom she adored, and the mother to an infant daughter.  One day, Josefina (Joey to her friends) would look in the mirror and see a blemish, like an insect bite, on her cheek.  This was no ordinary blemish, however, and it was accompanied by headaches and numbness, the tell-tale signs of a disease so ancient that its most famous depiction is in the Bible.  When Joey heard the word "leprosy" she was devastated, but rallied her spirits to become the most unassuming member of the Philippine resistance during the Japanese occupation.  Afterall, who would think someone with leprosy could be a spy?  From the mountains of Manila to a remote area of Louisiana called Carville, which housed the federal leprosarium of the United States, Joey would spend years speaking out against the stigma and ostracization of those afflicted with this disease - and live to the see the miracle of a cure.Follow us on Instagram at landofoddpodcast or, if there's a story that you want us to cover or if you have a connection to history that you want to share, email us at landofoddpod@gmail.comSources:Bancroft, Colette.  “Ben Montgomery’s ‘Leper Spy’ an extraordinary true story of WWII.”  Tampa Bay Times, 21 September 2016.  Tampa Bay Times, https://www.tampabay.com/features/books/ben-montgomerys-leper-spy-an-extraordinary-true-story-of-wwii/2294553/?outputType=amp  Brennert, Alan.  Molokai.  St. Martin’s Griffin, 2004. Covey, Herbert C.  “People with leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) during the Middle Ages.”  The Science Journal, vol. 38, no. 2, June 2001, pp. 315-321. Kalisch, Philip A.  “The Strange Case of John Early, a Study of the Stigma of Leprosy.”  International Journal of Leprosy, vol. 40, no. 3, 1972, pp. 291-305. Miller, Kelli.  “Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease).  WebMD, WebMD LLC, 12 November 2022, https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/leprosy-symptoms-treatments-history  Molokai.  Directed by Paul Cox, performances by David Wenham, Peter O’Toole, Kris Kristofferson, and Sam Neill.  Era Films, 1999. Montgomery, Ben.  The Leper Spy: The Story of an Unlikely Hero of World War II.  Chicago Review Press, 2016. Ramirez, Jose P.  Squint: My Journey with Leprosy.  The University Press of Mississippi, 2009. Sundem, Garth.  “10 Oldest Known Diseases.”  How Stuff Works, How  Stuff Works, Accessed 6 March 2023, https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/10-oldest-known-diseases.htm  Tsukiyama, Gail.  The Samurai’s Garden.  St. Martin’s Griffin, 1992. White, Neil.  In the Sanctuary of Outcasts.  William Morrow Paperbacks, 2010.
We're back for part 2 of Tupac and Savanah gets into the start of his career with promotor, Leila Steinberg, and the meet-up with his long-time manager, Atron Gregory.  Tupac's career as a rising musician occurred right alongside his starring roles in films such as Juice and Poetic Justice.  Towards the end of his life, however, he would be plagued by scandals which coincided with a budding friendship (and eventual rivalry) with rappers, Christopher George Latore Wallace and Sean Love Combs a.k.a Biggie Smalls and P. Diddy.  Ultimately, all roads would lead to Vegas where on the night of September 7, 1996, he was shot by an unknown assailant, a crime that remains unsolved to this day.Follow us on Instagram at landofoddpod (www.instagram.com/landofoddpod).  Also, if you have a story that you want us to cover, leave it in the comments or email us at landofoddpod@gmail.com.Source:Pearce, Sheldon.  Changes: An Oral History of Tupac Shakur.  Simon and Schuster, 2021.
Savanah's back, guys, and this week, she's bringing you the story of one of the most inspiring and influential musicians of all time - Tupac Shakur.  In this episode, Savanah covers his early life from his birth as Lesane Parish Crooks in 1971.  The son of Black Panther activists, the boy who would eventually be known as Tupac grew up with a keen awareness for racial injustice, but also nurtured a curiosity for the world and its art.  From the stage to the studio, he cultivated a talent for acting, language, and song-writing.  This would ultimately lead to his career as one of the defining artists of the 90s and the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry which in turn would set the stage for one of the greatest unsolved crimes in history.  Hold on to your seats, guys, because this one is a two-parter and it kicks off with Delia (a 90s kid's) first question to Savanah which is "Were you even alive?"Source:Pearce, Sheldon.  Changes: An Oral History of Tupac Shakur.  Simon and Schuster,          2021.
Savanah is out this week, guys, (let's just say IBS sucks), but our friend, David, is back for another episode and we're doing something a little different.  Instead of covering just one story, Delia is bringing you the story behind four words and phrases that you've probably heard of, but will be shocked to discover where they came from.  For example, why do we say, "paint the town red" or "caught red-handed?"  How did a Roman emperor inspire a phrase that means to be caught by surprise?  Or, what does the story of one woman's famous ride have to do with a term we use for voyeurism?  Also, how did an 18th century German baron become associated with a term from the dark side of mental health?  Lastly, what Norwegian politician lent his name to a word that is synonymous with traitor?  Find out in this episode, guys, where you'll also find out that David AND Savanah both need an M. Night Shyamalan watch party to happen NOW!Follow us on Instagram at landofoddpodcast and if you have a story from history that you want us to cover, email us at landofoddpod@gmail.com.Sources:Asher, Richard.  “Munchausen’s Syndrome.”  The Lancet, vol. 257, no. 6650, 10 February 1951, pp. 339-341.“Caracalla – The Cruel Emperor #22 Roman History Documentary Series.”  Youtube, uploaded by The SPQR Historian, 12 April 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaXeBSjInls&t=1042s&ab_channel=TheSPQRHistorian Chisholm, Hugh, editor. "Leofric".  Encyclopedia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 1911. Daniel, Albert.  “Norway’s Traitor: The Story of Vidkun Quisling.”  Life in Norway, Life in Norway, 4 January 2023, https://www.lifeinnorway.net/vidkun-quisling/  Dunstan, William E.  Ancient Rome.  Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield, 2011. Dahl, Hans Fredrik.  Quisling: A Study in Treachery.  Cambridge University Press, 2008. Gregory, Julie.  Sickened: The True Story of a Lost Childhood.  Bantam, 2004. “Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Freiherr von Münchhausen, the Baron of Lies.”  German Culture, German Culture, Accessed 19 February 2023, https://germanculture.com.ua/famous-germans/munchhausen-the-baron-of-lies/ Kettler, Sarah.  “The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother.”  Biography, Hearst Magazine Media, Inc., 3 June 2021, https://www.biography.com/crime/gypsy-rose-blanchard-mother-dee-dee-murder “Vidkun Quisling: The Man Who Sold His Country to the Third Reich.”  Youtube, uploaded by Biographics, 9 September 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZO-jEDVStA&ab_channel=Biographics  WebMD Editorial Contributors.  “Munchausen Syndrome.”  WebMD, WebMD LLC, 28 September 2022, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/munchausen-syndrome  White, Francis.  “Lady Godiva: Anglo-Saxon Noblewoman or Medieval Legend?”  History Answers, Future Publishing Limited Quay House, 14 July 2015, https://www.historyanswers.co.uk/medieval-renaissance/lady-godiva-anglo-saxon-noblewoman-or-medieval-le
Savanah's on vacation, guys, so our friend, David, is filling in for this week's episode and boy is this one a doozy!  On February 16, 1980, Arne Cheyenne Johnson awoke to a sore throat and other symptoms that led to him calling out of work.  This would seem run-of-the-mill, but Arne and his fiance, Debbie Glatzel, had spent the last seven months enduring something so unusual, they didn't dare speak of it outside a very tight circle of family and friends.  Back in July, while helping Arne and Debbie move into their dream rental, Debbie's 11-year-old brother, David, claimed to have seen the figure of an old man - an entity - who told him to "Beware."  This would start a chain reaction of allegedly paranormal events that would involve not only the church, but the most famed paranormal investigators of the day - Ed and Lorraine Warren.  It was these events that the Warrens, the Johnsons, and the Glatzels would claim led to the crime that inspired a  defense that was the first of its kind in America: not guilty by reason of . . . demonic possession.To view photos from our episodes, follow us on Instagram at landofoddpodcast (or enter the URL www.instagram.com/landofoddpodcast in your browser).Also, if you have a topic that you want us to cover or a connection to history you want to share (i.e. a history of your hometown, a visit to a landmark, a family heirloom, an ancestor), write to us at landofoddpod@gmail.com.Sources:Baranski, Lynn.  "In a Connecticut Murder Trial, Will (Demonic) Possession Prove Nine-Tenths of the Law?"  People, 26 October 1981, https://people.com/archive/in-a-connecticut-murder-trial-will-demonic-possession-prove-nine-tenths-of-the-law-vol-16-no-17/.  Accessed 5 February 2023.Brittle, Gerald.  The Devil in Connecticut.  Graymalkin Media, LLC, 2021.Clendinen, Dudley.  "Defendant in a Murder Puts the Devil on Trial."  The New York Times, 23 March 1981, p. B1.Darling, Lynn.  "By Demons Possessed."  The Washington Post, 13 September 1981, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/09/13/by-demons-possessed/3479fa6b-eee3-4233-a2fc-b9defa403504/.  Accessed 5 February 2023.Piro, John.  “Brookfield Man Sues Over ‘Demon Book.’”  Religion News Blog, 10 October 2007, https://www.religionnewsblog.com/19687/devil-in-connecticut.  Accessed 5 February 2023.
In this episode, guys, Delia brings you the story of Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker whose heroism is the stuff of legend.  At 4' 11", Irena wasn't an imposing figure.  However, from a young age, she was taught to see the good in everyone and to always give help to those in need.  Her pursuit of a degree in social work would lead to her meeting and falling in love with a man named Adam Celnekier - a Jew - and a lifelong connection to the Jewish community who looked around nervously at the rising presence of antisemitism leading up to World War II.  When Irena witnessed the passage of laws that rendered the Jews "Untermenschen" or "subhuman," and the forced relocation of Jews to the Warsaw Ghetto, she sprang into action as a leading member of the resistance and vowed to save as many Jews, and their children, as she could.  With the help of friends, Irena would smuggle and relocate over 2,500 children, but when the Gestapo caught wind of her activities, Irena would prove that bravery can exist in the smallest of people and in the long shadow of evil, goodness can shine through.Follow us on Instagram, guys, at landofoddpodcast or follow the link www.instagram.com/landofoddpodcastAlso, we're still seeking Listener Tales (we know you're out there!), so if you have a connection to something in history that you want to share, email us at landofoddpod@gmail.com.Source:Mazzeo, Tilar J.  Irena's Children: A True Story of Courage.  Gallery Books, 2017.
It's Savanah's turn this week, guys, and we're diving into the story of Bridget Bishop.  Bridget was born in England sometime during the 1630s, but immigrated to a small American town in Massachusetts called . . . Salem.  Bridget married several times and became a business owner alongside her third husband, Edward Bishop.  Things seemed cool until 1692 when five young girls accused Bridget of witchcraft and kicked off what would become the infamous Salem Witch Trials.  When all was said and done, 20 people would be found guilty and put to death leaving us with the burning question: did Bridget's accusers truly believe she was a witch or did they all just have an ulterior motive?Remember to check out our Instagram page, guys, at landofoddpodcast or follow the link: www.instagram.com/landofoddpodcastAlso, if you guys want to suggest a topic for a future episode or have a connection to history that you want to share in a Listener Story, reach us at landofoddpod@gmail.com.
We're back for part 2 of the Hall-Mills Murders and if you thought part 1 was wild, just wait till you hear this.  We left off with the indictment and the jury deciding not to bring the case against Edward's wife, Frances Hall, to trial.  As we promised, there WILL be a trial, but it would take four years and one determined newspaper editor named Philip Payne to bring this case roaring back to life.  With the help of William Randolph Hearst and his tabloid, the New York Daily Mirror, Phil would launch an investigation of his own and uncover tales of bribery, coverups, and finally a piece of physical evidence - a fingerprint.  Also, our girl, Jane Gibson, makes an appearance in ultimate style and a revelation made almost fifty years later sheds a bit of light on a 100-year-old case that has you wondering, "Where's the movie adaptation???"Sources:Beckerman, Jim.  “A NJ cold-case that’s still hot:  How the Hall-Mills Murders Fascinated the nation.”  Northjersey.com, www.northjersey.com, 14th September 2022, https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/09/14/hall-mills-murders-case-location-nj-100-years/66060247007/. Kunstler, William.  The Hall Mills Murder Case: The Minister and the Choir Singer.  Rutgers University Press, 1980. Geary, Rick.  Lover’s Lane:  The Hall Mills Mystery.  NBM Publishing, 2012. Pompeo, Joe.  “A Sensational Murder Trial in the Newly Founded New Yorker.”  The New Yorker, Conde Nast, 13 September 2022, https://www.newyorker.com/books/double-take/a-sensational-murder-trial-in-the-newly-founded-new-yorker Pompeo, Joe.  Blood and Ink: The Scandalous Jazz Age Double Murder That Hooked America on True Crime.  William Morrow, 2022. Schecter, Harold.  “The Hall Mills Murder Trial, 1926: A consideration of death.”  The Yale Review, The Yale Review, 1 April 2019, https://yalereview.org/article/hall-mills-murder-trial-1926.
It's all about true crime this week, guys!  Delia tells Savanah the story of the Hall-Mills Murders, a story rife with scandal, tragedy, and downright bonkery.  The night of September 14th, 1922, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Reverend Edward Hall received a phone call from one Mrs. Eleanor Mills, a housewife and member of the choir at the church of St. John the Evangelist.  He said goodbye to his wife, Frances, and maid, Louise, and left - never to be seen alive again. Two days later, a gruesome discovery on the outskirts of town would lead to more questions than answers and bolster the rise of a new kind of journalism in America: the tabloid.To view photos from this episode, follow us on Instagram at landofoddpodcast or follow the URL:www.instagram.com/landofoddpodcastSources:Beckerman, Jim.  “A NJ cold-case that’s still hot:  How the Hall-Mills Murders Fascinated the nation.”  Northjersey.com, www.northjersey.com, 14th September 2022, https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/09/14/hall-mills-murders-case-location-nj-100-years/66060247007/. Kunstler, William.  The Hall Mills Murder Case: The Minister and the Choir Singer.  Rutgers University Press, 1980. Geary, Rick.  Lover’s Lane:  The Hall Mills Mystery.  NBM Publishing, 2012. Pompeo, Joe.  “A Sensational Murder Trial in the Newly Founded New Yorker.”  The New Yorker, Conde Nast, 13 September 2022, https://www.newyorker.com/books/double-take/a-sensational-murder-trial-in-the-newly-founded-new-yorker Pompeo, Joe.  Blood and Ink: The Scandalous Jazz Age Double Murder That Hooked America on True Crime.  William Morrow, 2022. Schecter, Harold.  “The Hall Mills Murder Trial, 1926: A consideration of death.”  The Yale Review, The Yale Review, 1 April 2019, https://yalereview.org/article/hall-mills-murder-trial-1926. 
The Origins of Jazz

The Origins of Jazz

2023-01-0826:16

In this episode, Savanah takes the reins (trying to spell that word reminded Delia of Tik Tok videos explaining why English is so hard!).  We go over a short history on the origins of jazz from its roots in slavery to a growth spurt in the Big Easy (New Orleans!) where musicians like Buddy Bolden and Nick La Rocca shaped jazz into what we know today.  Savanah shares her upbeat recommendations for those wanting to delve into the genre for the first time (and, naturally, Delia has a very grim one).(As a sidenote, Delia doesn't mention this in the episode, but alligator?  It tastes like chicken, but rubbery).If you have a story from the odd side of history that you want us to cover, reach out to us on our Instagram page at landofoddpodcast or follow the URL:www.instagram.com/landofoddpodcast
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