History and Hearsay
On this podcast we discuss lesser known characters and events from history. Some of the details of these historical accounts may be debated and on this show YOU get to decided: Is it History? Or is it Hearsay?
Episodes
In the 1930s, America believed that some children were born too stupid to ever learn. If your IQ was low, the science of the day said it was hopeless—your blood was “bad.”
Thousands of orphans were locked away in institutions, labeled “feebleminded,” and forgotten. But two young researchers at an Iowa orphanage decided to test that idea… and what they discovered would tear down one of the darkest chapters in American science.
This i...
In 1927 one woman’s fate decided the future of thousands. She was labeled “feeble-minded”locked away and put on trial for her future. But recent research reveals that almost everything said about Carrie Buck was a lie—carefully crafted to push a sinister agenda.”
0:00 - Intro
0:29 - Chatty Cathy
1:19 - Eugenics in the United States
3:01 - Carrie’s Early Life
7:26 - Forced Sterilization
10:07 - Harry Laughlin
11:34 - The Trial
15:39 - Ster...
Forgotten Hero of the Civil War –Sheltered Orphans & Reinvented Hospital Kitchens | Annie Wittenmyer
In today's episode of History and Hearsay, we are discussing Annie Wittenmyer and all of the amazing work that she did! I hope you enjoy todays episode & maybe even learn something new!
~ Christina
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:32 - 3 Part Series & my cold =)
1:02 - Sarah Annie Turner
3:04 - Move to Iowa
6:23 - Annie’s life - The “Real” story
11:34 - Keokuk Ladies’ Soldiers’ Aid Society...
Valentina Vassilyeva was born in Russia in 1707 in the city of Shula, which is northeast of Moscow. She was a peasant and is said that between the years of 1725 and 1765 Valentina & her husband Feodor Vassilyeva had 69 children! There were 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets and 4 sets of quadruplets. That means she had 27 pregnancies and deliveries.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:13 - Valentina & Feodor Vassi...
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:54 - Trick -Or-Treat
5:07 - The Investigation
13:45 - The Trial and Appeals
21:37 - Lasting Effects
Sources:
https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/Common/HistoricalDocument/pdf/COTM_Oct_2021.pdf
https://abc13.com/post/1974-candyman-turned-halloween-terrifying-pasadena-texas/375883/
https://www.fwweekly.com/2024/10/23/the-man-who-killed-halloween/
https://...
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:23 - Pirate Myths
3:28 - Pirates & Privateers
7:24 - Pirate Punishments
9:47 - Pirate Attack
14:57 - The Golden Age of Piracy
18:34 - Calico Jack - John Rackman
25:31 - Anne Bonny & Mary Reed
33:12 - Blackbeard - Savage or Soft?
45:02 - Black Bart - Bartholomew Roberts
51:15 - The Golden Age Comes to an End
53:12 - Piracy & Modern Times
<...
In today's episode of History and Hearsay, we are discussing the History of Circus Freak Shows!
►Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/art/circus-theatrical-entertainment/20th-century-developments
https://childrenstheatre.org/2024/01/17/the-early-history-of-traveling-entertainment-in-the-u-s/
https://www.aaastateofplay.com/circus-history/#:~:text=Many traveling circuses in the,and the downfall of sideshows
https...
Sources:
Books: Belonging: A Memoir by Catherine Corless / My Name is Bridge by Anna Corrigan / The Adoption Machine: The Dark History of Ireland’s Mother & Baby Homes by Paul Jude Redmond How 100s of Irish babies came to be buried in a secret mass grave: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwqnwrkd1go https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/15/how-were-babies-mass-graves-discovered-in-church-run-home-in-ireland
"Magdalene La...
The Great Emu War of 1932
In Australia, farmers in Western Australia faced a massive invasion of emus that destroyed crops. The government sent soldiers armed with machine guns to combat the emu population. However, the emus proved surprisingly elusive, and the soldiers struggled to control them. Ultimately, the "war" was a failure, and the emus continued to thrive.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:29 - Emu’s in Australia
2:59 - Th...
today's episode of History and Hearsay, we are discussing Phineas Gage, his traumatic brain injury and how aginst all odds, he surived and changed the world of medicine!
►Sources:
https://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/se367/14/Readings/kean-14_phineas-gage-most-famous-patient.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1076/0964-704X(200004)9:1;1-2;FT046
https://pubmed.n...
It’s 1964 and a baby is stolen, straight from his mothers arms. 15 months later, a toddler is found and returned to his mother, but was this the WRONG baby? Instead of a happy ending, the returned child only leads to the discovery of 2 more missing children and loads of unanswered questions.
00:00 - Intro
1:07 - Taken
3:32 - The Manhunt
5:19 - The Initial Investigation
9:31 - The Founding
13:24 - Identified?
16:07 - Reunited
21:20 - Paul...
In the chaotic final days of the Vietnam War, a daring humanitarian mission unfolded — Operation Babylift. This large-scale evacuation effort, led by the U.S. government and various humanitarian organizations, aimed to airlift thousands of Vietnamese orphans out of South Vietnam and place them with adoptive families around the world. In this video, we explore the history, controversy, and lasting legacy of Operation Babylift.
0:00...
They seemed like the perfect couple: retired schoolteachers, quiet neighbors, world travelers... and secret art thieves? In this jaw-dropping true story, we uncover the shocking double life of Jerry and Rita Alter — an unassuming New Mexico couple who lived modestly, yet had a stolen $160 million painting hanging in their bedroom. For decades, no one suspected a thing.
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:57 - The Theft
4:29...
Timeline:
0:00 - Intro
0:27 - Shout out
1:27 - Summary of Pin-up Girls
3:30 - Pre-Pin Up
5:09 - The Safety Bicycle
7:51 - How the Bicycle Changed Women’s Fashion
11:37 - Public Outrage
13:34 - The Gibson Girl And Calendar Girls
16:33 -World War I & Pin-Up Propaganda
18:43 -The Petty Girl & Nose Art
21:55 -1930s-1950s:
24:13 -WWII Propaganda
29:40 -From Illustrations to Photography
33:23 - Postwar:
38:38 - 1960’s and Beyond
SOURCES:
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In today's episode of History and Hearsay, we are discussing the children who grew up on Alcatraz Island! ~ Christina
Timestamps:
0:0...
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - Content Warning + Summer Time!
1:31 - Muriel Joan Drinkwater
3:16 - Missing
5:19 - Investigation Begins
7:44 - Persons of Interest
12:09 - Harold Jones
16:34 - Cold Case & DNA Technology
20:05 - DNA Clears Potential Suspects
23:30 - New Possible Suspect
26:36 - Effects On The Family & An Unanswered Question
30:07 - Final Thoughts
Cold Trace Video - Documentary where they were testing the sound o...
0:00 - Intro
0:25 - Disclaimer & Inspo for todays episode
1:21 - The Origin of Monopoly
2:44 - The REAL Origin of Monopoly
12:49 - The History of MI9
15:33 - Christopher Clayton Hutton
20:45 - Maps & Monopoly
25:58 - Getting the games into the POW Camps
30:18 - Knowing what to look for
31:42 - Sending a message
34:08 - Other ways they snuck stuff in
35:17 - The American Effort
36:43 - Game Over
38:22 - Declassified
Sources:
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:33 - Disclaimer - Requested Solved case
1:27 - The Man On The Beach
3:49 - Police Arrive
7:14 - Autopsy
10:28 - Un-Natural Death
13:19 - The Suitcase
20:48 - New Evidence & The Inquest
23:10 - The Book
28:31 - Jilted Lover Theory
31:00 - Spy Theory
33:54 - Derek Abbott
40:11 - Derek & Colleen’s Announcement
41:50 - Identity of the Somerton...
0:00 - Intro
0:48 - Early Cutting Devices
1:43 - Childbirth & Post-Mortem Caesarian Sections
5:34 - The Symphysiotomy
8:34 - The First Chainsaws
13:25 - Caesarean section on a live woman
17:42 - Advancements in the Caesarean section
19:05 - Surviving a C-Section
21:46 -Medical Advancements
23:43 - Advances in the Chainsaw
26:14 - Chains & World War II
28:02 - Modern Chainsaw Use
SOURCES:
In today's episode of History and Hearsay, we are discussing Alsa Thompson, the 7 year old girl who confessed to being a serial killer! Baby Borgia, child serial killer?
►Sources:
https://derangedlacrimes.com/?tag=alsa-mary-thompson
https://derangedlacrimes.com/?p=7901
https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/21198/zz002cpfkp/
https://imgur.com/gallery/seven-year-old-alsa-thompson-confesses-to-murders-los-angeles-19...
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