Mortality skyrocketed during the Victorian Era, creating a culture obsessed with death and mourning. We explore the causes and the creepy customs and superstitions that developed during this period, plus the concept of a “good death.”
Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? What really is it? We dive into the scientific causes as to how and why sleep paralysis occurs. But is it all in our minds? Throughout the ages different cultures have crafted their own explanations for this terrifying nighttime phenomenon.
Over 200 climbers have lost their lives attempting to summit Mount Everest. The majority of the dead are still on the mountain, frozen in time, their bodies serving as both landmarks for aspiring hikers, and a solemn reminder of what can happen during a climb gone wrong. We investigate the dangers of climbing Everest, how human remains are brought down from the mountain, the tragic history of the Sherpa, and more.
Grave robbing is a crime that still occurs around the world today. We dig (pun intended) into the motivations of body snatchers and tomb treasure trawlers, and research classical and modern methods of deterrence used.
We discuss the last meals of death row prisoners in the United States. Where, when, and why the tradition started, how last meals have evolved, and what the standards and practices are today. Plus, some of the more unique and bizarre requests.
We explore the history of the Ouija Board; how it evolved from an otherworldly communication tool of Spiritualists and mediums, to a Hollywood phenomenon, to a bright pink party toy. Plus, we examine homicide cases where the Ouija Board has been used as a defense, and how the board actually works.
An estimated 200 people die every year while taking a cruise. As a result, ships and their crews have developed intricate systems, code words, and protocol in the event a passenger dies on board. Still, dire complications can arise out on the open water, and not all deaths are by natural causes…
Are near death experiences a glimpse into the afterlife or a complex neurological event? Perhaps both? We step into the light and explore our own mortality.
Exploring caves is a fun hobby and pastime for many, however, unforeseen accidents and environmental shifts can cause nightmare scenarios, and even death. In this episode we cover the tragic history of Utah’s now closed Nutty Putty Cave. Plus, we embrace the sting of the Existential Slap, and what it means to confront the end of life.
Doctors are notorious for their sloppy penmanship, but did you know that sometimes handwritten prescriptions are so illegible that it’s caused patients to get the wrong medication, causing adverse reactions and on the rare occasion, death? Plus, in the truest example of a kangaroo court, history is littered with cases of animals being tried in court like people, and on occasion, sentenced to execution.
Today we cover the alleged haunting and possession that plagued Latoya Ammon and her family, residents of the 200 Demons House, and the series of exorcisms that transpired. Plus, we’re on a mission of decomposition, as we break down the very real and very messy phenomenon known as exploding coffin syndrome.
In August 1912 while on a family camping trip, four-year-old Bobby Dunbar wandered away from his family’s tent, presumed dead or kidnapped. Almost eight months later, “Bobby” was found, but many remained suspicious of his true identity and the circumstances of his disappearance. Would you know if your child was replaced by a look-a-like? Plus, sometimes hearing voices in your head might save your life, not unlike the case of a woman who self-diagnosed her own brain tumor.
Disney controls its family friendly image with an iron, four-fingered fist, but even the all-seeing Mouse House can’t anticipate every casualty – including the tragic deaths of park visitors or staff. Between 2006 and 2020, more than 20 people have met their end while at Florida’s Magic Kingdom, and countless others have died in fatal incidents at other parks around the globe. We investigate the main causes while attempting to debunk some infamous myths and rumors.
One of history’s most sadistic and violent rulers, Vlad the Impaler earned his reputation and nickname by driving stakes through the bodies of thousands (yes, thousands), mostly enemies, some friends. Legend and myth have also come to associate Vlad as one of the inspirations for the eponymous villain of Bram Stoker’s Dracula – but is this entirely the case? We dive into the history of Vlad’s penchant for revenge, his tyrannical rule, and his lasting impact on popular culture.
Reincarnation, the belief that the soul takes on another form after bodily death, is a cornerstone of many religions. Would you change your life choices if you knew your karma would follow you, even after death? We explore the notion of death and rebirth, and investigate stories of young children who claim to remember details of their past lives.
Cloning was once considered the stuff of science fiction. Now, to many, it’s the future and the natural evolution of humanity’s progress, survival, and experimentation as a species. To others, it’s an abomination; playing god. In this episode of 30 Morbid Minutes we’re diving into the background of and types of cloning, the ethical questions, and how much the science has changed in the last thirty years.
Exploring the origins of the modern tombstone and what the future of memorial monuments might hold. Plus, we break down the anatomy of epitaphs, and share some of history’s most bizarre and funny ones.
History’s obsession with being prematurely buried alive, and what to do if you do find yourself six feet underground with no escape. We look at how this became a very real problem in the Victorian Era, and some of the inventions created to prevent unintentional dirt naps.
With a renewed interest in and demand for exorcists worldwide, we’re looking at the Vatican’s relatively new “exorcist school,'' and what it takes to become a fully-fledged exorcist. Plus, how an exorcism is performed, and the Roman Rite, a text that serves as the official guidebook. We’re also investigating who can request an exorcism and why, and the dangerous stigmas surrounding religious cleansing.
Overflowing cemeteries and rampant disease forced 18th century Parisians to find a new place to inter the dead; the Paris Catacombs, a series of abandoned mining tunnels running 200 miles beneath the city. We cover the circumstances that led to the creation of this mass tomb, learn about the enthusiasts known as "cataphiles," the past and presence perils of this macabre landmark, and more.
Sometimes the most dangerous place to be in the Victorian Era was inside your own home, thanks to the overwhelming number of chemicals and toxins that were in everyday use and objects. We unravel how substances like gas, lead, arsenic, formaldehyde and mercury, infiltrated and poisoned the nineteenth century home, and could be found en masse in products like children’s toys, beauty products, wallpaper, and even food.
The modern funeral industry capitalizes on stigmas about death, creating a deliberate air of mystery and secrecy around how funeral homes operate. We go inside the unspoken practices of morticians, and debunk some of the myths and tall tales surrounding the post-mortem process.
The average lifespan of someone diagnosed with CTE is just 51 years. Promising athletic careers have been cut short, and lasting legacies have been marred by this debilitating neurodegenerative disease. We investigate the effects of CTE and repetitive head trauma, and how contact-heavy sports like football and wrestling are navigating the connection between the two.
Time can be a truly scary concept. In this episode, we investigate the personification of time, through imagery and art. We talk about chronophobia, the fear of time, and how Doomsday Clocks and Millennium Clocks exacerbate that fear. We take a look at what some of the world's richest people and most advanced scientific minds are doing to stop the progression of time. And finally, we examine how external forces like technology and the COVID pandemic have distorted our relationship with time, warping an already fragile mental construct.
Spooky enthusiasts rejoice, it's the most wonderful time of year: Halloween season! No better time than now to dive into the history behind America's most morbid holiday; how it started, where certain traditions like trick-or-treating come from, and how Halloween has evolved and popularized into more than just a commercial candy and costume fest.
Ritualistic human sacrifice was a common practice in early and classical cultures. While we know it was done to earn the blessings of the gods, many scholars and archaeologists point to the underlying ways that human sacrifice served to enforce social control. In this episode, we take a walk down world history's morbid memory lane of sacred slaughter, to see how different civilizations did the deed.
A chair. A doll. A painting. Relatively innocuous, but ask a paranormal expert and you might hear otherwise. In this episode we learn the history behind some of the world's most notoriously cursed and dangerous objects and artifacts, alleged to carry evil and malice beyond what we could imagine, including Robert the Doll, Busby's Stoop Chair, The Crying Boy Painting, and King Tut's Tomb.
The Mariana Trench is the deepest location on earth and widely unexplored. The harsh conditions make it impossible for shallow ocean life to exist, and chartered explorations are a challenge, even with the most advanced submersible technology. Only 27 people have descended into its depths, including film director, James Cameron. We investigate the unusual creatures that dwell within the deep, and what happens if a journey into the trench goes wrong.
A sky burial is a funerary practice in which the body of a deceased person is prepared, placed, and left exposed in a place of high elevation so that vultures and other scavenging birds will consume it and carry the deceased's soul to the heavens. In this episode we explore the history and theological origins of sky burials, who practices it, and why this unique burial rite is in decline.
Bills of Mortality originated in the late sixteenth century as a way for parish networks to track weekly plague outbreaks. Eventually, over time, this medical journal evolved to become a standard practice, documenting annual mortality statistics. Much of the terminology and disease nomenclature used is now considered vastly outdated by today's medical standards. In this episode, Elyse and Jessica go through the list of causes of death, trying to explain and translate with historical context.
There are over 200 known cases where people have been found burned to death with no discernible cause. These cases have contributed to the theory of spontaneous human combustion, the idea that a person can catch fire and burn alive with no external ignition source. And, while it's regarded as a pseudoscience by the field at large, large enforcement and coroners around the world still use spontaneous human combustion as an official cause of death. We try to separate fact from fiction in this burning mystery, examining theories like the "wick effect."
From dress fires to corrosive skin treatments, the women living during the nineteenth century subjected themselves to harmful and horrific procedures, all in the pursuit of a warped beauty influenced by the Tuberculosis-inspired "Consumptive Chic" look. We explore the fashion and beauty trends that were not only toxic, but sometimes deadly.
Some of England's worst criminals met their end at the Tyburn Gallows, an infamous site at which the public could purchase tickets to attend executions. This episode explores the origins of hanging-style executions, the different methods, how the act has evolved, the theatrics behind the practice, and how – at least in England – capital punishment has since come to be abolished.
Our "biggest" episode yet, covering all things GIANTS. We learn how classical cultures and folklore embraced the myths and fantastical stories of giant, flesh-eating, humans; debunk archaeology's infamous giant skeleton hoaxes; and investigate real life gigantism as a medical anomaly.
Today, electroconvulsive therapy is still used to treat those struggling with severe depression, bipolar II, schizophrenia, and other treatment-resistant disorders. An estimated 100,000 people are treated annually across the U.S. Nevertheless, ECT carries stigmas due to its tarnished and sordid history, marred by inhumane and forced procedures, torture, and wild experimentation. We investigate ECT’s controversial past, how the practice has been abused, and how it’s evolved since.
Investigating the dark meaning and macabre origins behind several classic children's nursery rhymes.
A grisly foray into the history and motivation behind human skin crafting (clothes, trinkets, housewares, books), from Scythians to serial killers.
The dead might not reanimate and walk the earth, but could a parasitic fungus render humanity zombified?
In the late 1920s, a number of young women employed as dial painters at Radium Dial and similar companies died due to contact radium exposure. In this episode, we look back at the Radium Girls and the immoral business practices that cut their lives short.
France's teenage queen met her end by the hand of the revolution -- and the blade of the guillotine.
Organ theft and trafficking via the black market are insidious and illegal practices, increasing in numbers year-over-year worldwide. We discuss the causes, the regions most affected, and how transplant tourism plays a role.
In history there is not just one legend of the Screaming Mummy, but two. And creepily enough, both were found in the necropolis of Deir el-Bahri, the City of the Dead. Contemporary Egyptologists have worked to identify who these mummies were in life, and to unpack the strange and dramatic circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Scissors in stomachs. Sponges trapped, decaying inside closed wounds. Procedures that leave patients in gut-wrenching pain. We’re peeking beneath the surgical sheets to expose the sad and gory world of medical malpractice.
A city built atop cemeteries, Savannah holds up to its reputation as a haunted hub in America's South. Elyse recently visited and got to partake in the spooky culture and scene, learning some of ghost stories from the locals.
How do we explain mass societal misrememberings? The online popularization of the Mandela Effect has ushered in a vast number of conspiracy theories, from time travel, to the multiverse, to the rupture of the space-time continuum as we know it.
Investigating the rare medieval medical anomaly of "coffin birth," and its known cases.
Why do we fear? Why are people susceptible to different fears? Why do people ENJOY subjecting themselves to scary things? We ask the questions you might be too afraid to ask.
History's most infamous ship has garnered its fair share of conspiracy theories, some more outlandish than others. We separate fact from fiction as we cover the Titanic.
30 Morbid Minutes... after dark. Laugh, grimace, and react in horror at this collection of gruesome and weird coital catastrophes and deadly sex-ploits.
An iron lung, a medical device used to treat polio patients, remains an recognizable visual of the polio epidemic. Essentially, it keeps its user alive. But is this now seemingly outdated technology still used today?
The natives of Sentinel Island know nothing of the outside world, and remain primitive in their technology and way of life. Many have attempted to make contact, to varying consequences.
From Paul McCartney to Avril Lavigne, celebrity death hoaxes spread like wildfire in the Internet Age. We examine some of the more ridiculous ones, and look back at death hoaxes of notable people throughout history.
We're back, starting September 5th! And big news: once this morbid train leaves the station, it's not stopping! Going forward you'll be able to enjoy 30 Morbid Minutes week-to-week, with no breaks between seasons. 'Til death do us part,' so to speak. Check out this quick preview of what's to come.
Get to know your hosts in this funny, thoughtful, and low-key chat about what sparked the podcast, growing up gruesome, scary movies, and more. New episodes coming next week, September 12th.
Necessity may be the mother of invention, but, on rare occasions, death is the result. Some of history’s brilliant minds and go-getters were tragically killed by their own creations, as recounted in this episode.
Tragedy struck Boston’s North End neighborhood in 1919 when dozens died and hundreds were injured in a freak accident. Today, we’re slip-sliding into Boston’s Great Molasses Flood of 1919, examining the aftermath and the causes.
Operating as a guise for Ireland's so-called "wayward" women, Magdalene Asylums exploited and abused the women living and working in them, well into the late twentieth century.
Popularized during the 1930s as an alleged mental health treatment, lobotomies destroyed the lives and cognitive function of many. Today, in the United States, they're technically still legal.
Examining the real life mad doctors and their galvanic experiments that inspired one of literature's most famous monsters.
A long requested topic, examining the mass hysteria that led to accusations of witchcraft and the subsequent hangings of 19 individuals in Salem, Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693.
Prepare to lose your appetite... Soylent Green is PEOPLE!
A former EMT joins us to discuss some of the harrowing and memorable experiences in this life-saving field.
Shaun the former EMT joins us to discuss some of his harrowing and memorable experiences in this life-saving field. Part 2!
Revisit the '80s remake of the self-professed "cult classic of gooey greatness" with us, a staple of Jessica's childhood.
The thought of someone 'phrogging' -- living in you home, maybe in the crawlspace or walls -- without your knowledge or permission, is a terrifying one. We recount some of real life horror stories of this happening, and what you can do to detect unscrupulous phroggers in your home.
If other earth-like planets exist, there's a very real chance that some have developed intelligent life. If so, are our alien friends out there, but scared to communicate? Hidden from the general public by top secret government agencies? Or already living among us? We cover last July's congressional testimony, Dark Forest and Great Filter theories, and more.
From Adolphe Sax, the blighted and beleaguered inventor of the saxophone, to Ann Hodges, who holds the distinction of being the only documented human hit by a meteorite, we pour one out for history's poor souls who just can't seem to catch a break.
What began as West Virginia folklore has since evolved into a red-eyed, caked-up, wide-winged sex symbol... It's the Mothman! We discuss whether Mothman is actually the harbinger of doom, or a passive ally with a bridge obsession. Please welcome our friends and guests Christie and Heather from the Sinisterhood Podcast!
Gathering around the fire and telling ghost stories during the holiday season was extremely in vogue during the Victorian Era. We explore how a tradition of yuletide terror came to be, and the authors behind it.
Don't expect your loved ones to preserve your home like a shrine when you die -- help them with your death cleaning while you're still alive! We discuss Margareta Magnusson's seminal guide on how to organize your life and preemptively lighten the burden on your loved ones when your time comes.
Body farms allow forensic scientists and law enforcement to conduct research on decomposing cadavers, as a means to help solve future murders. Learn what happens at these facilities, and why donating your body is all the rage (spoiler, it's a green alternative!). Plus, our editor Kelly Reynolds joins us to share their process for becoming a future donor.
One half of the gruesome twosome displays her creepy and macabre wares and hairs (literally) in this special look behind the veil.
A must-listen for horror fanatics, we're celebrating the impact of scary cinematic game-changers; Scream, The Blair Witch Project, Jaws, The Conjuring, Psycho, Black Christmas and more.
Pre-written obituaries are, for better or worse, a necessary measure to keep a leg-up in today's instantaneous, around-the-clock news cycle. Media outlets craft robust memorials for politicians, celebrities, and other notable figures, sometimes decades before they actually die, even going as far as to interviewing their subjects while living.
We asked and you delivered on morbid and disturbing facts; from baby shark cannibalism, to a Latin hymn for the dead, to Canada's regulations around self-euthanasia, and more.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World hold an air of mystery and continue to capture our imaginations today. Marvels of antiquity, most were destroyed, and with them, chapters of our history and being.
Occultist and paranormal researcher Sapphire Sandalo joins us to talk about her experience with Magick, communing with the spirit world, Filipino folklore, and what it's like to investigate hauntings for a living.
A rash of creepy clown sightings reported across the U.S. sparked nationwide mass hysteria, resulting in police patrols, curfews, and locals seeing red (noses). Looking back, was this actually real terror, or case of misguided moral panic?
Ever wondered what exactly differentiates a coffin from a casket? So did we! We get to the bottom of things. Six feet under, to be exact.
How would you react if you saw a dead body that, after a year, still looked like the person had died just yesterday? What about after five years? A hundred? This type of preservation, called incorruptibility, can happen. And while some consider it a holy miracle, science tells a different story.
Have you ever had something creepy happen to you or a family member that you can’t quite explain? If you’ve got a spooky story to tell, or like hearing other people’s, then this is the episode for you.
Legend has it that La Isla des las Muñecas, a dark tourism hot spot, is where a young girl was tragically found drowned to death. The dolls that decorate the island serve as both a tribute and a warning.
A tearful goodbye from our gruesome twosome as they discuss the news that Rooster Teeth is shutting down