Shadows & Schemes

The untold stories of mystery, power, corruption, and hidden agendas.

Episodes

Decapitation: Consciousness, Execution, and Science

August 17, 2025 • 8 mins

Exploring the history and science of decapitation, this episode examines whether consciousness persists after beheading. Historical anecdotes and modern studies suggest loss of awareness within seconds due to oxygen deprivation. Despite debates over humane execution methods and head transplants, evidence shows quick loss of consciousness post-decapitation. Today, decapitation is rare, mainly practiced in Saudi Arabia, and head tran...

Mark as Played

The Antarctic Doctor Who Operated on Himself

August 10, 2025 • 6 mins

In 1961, Soviet doctor Leonid Rogozov, stranded at a remote Antarctic base, developed acute appendicitis. With no way to evacuate and facing certain death if untreated, Rogozov performed a self-appendectomy, guiding two assistants and operating on himself in excruciating conditions. His survival led to stricter medical screening for polar explorers and inspired mandatory appendectomies for future isolated missions, including space ...

Mark as Played

The New London School Explosion: America's Deadliest School Disaster

August 3, 2025 • 12 mins

On March 18, 1937, a natural gas explosion destroyed New London School in Texas, killing around 294 people—mostly children—in the worst school disaster in US history. The tragedy, caused by a gas leak from an unodorized line, led to new safety laws requiring odorants in natural gas, stricter building codes, and improved emergency preparedness in schools nationwide. The event left a lasting scar on the community and transformed publ...

Mark as Played

Libby, Montana: The Hidden Asbestos Tragedy

July 27, 2025 • 10 mins

Libby, Montana, once thriving on vermiculite mining, became the site of one of the worst environmental disasters in US history. From 1920 to 1990, thousands were exposed to asbestos-contaminated dust, resulting in over 2,400 asbestos-related diseases and 700 deaths. Despite early warnings, WR Grace concealed the risks to protect profits. Decades later, cleanup continues, but the community still faces the devastating health conseque...

Mark as Played

Stalin’s War on the Kulaks: The Tragedy of Dekulakization

July 20, 2025 • 10 mins

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Stalin launched a brutal campaign to eliminate the kulaks, land-owning peasants, as part of Soviet collectivization. Nearly half a million died and millions were deported or displaced. The policy shattered rural society, led to famine, and left deep psychological scars, as families were torn apart and communities destroyed. Dekulakization consolidated Stalin’s power, demonstrating the regime’s wil...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us

Shadows & Schemes

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Decapitation: Consciousness, Execution, and Science

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}The Antarctic Doctor Who Operated on Himself

The New London School Explosion: America's Deadliest School Disaster

Libby, Montana: The Hidden Asbestos Tragedy

Stalin’s War on the Kulaks: The Tragedy of Dekulakization

Popular Podcasts

Decapitation: Consciousness, Execution, and Science

The Antarctic Doctor Who Operated on Himself