Before HIV, before chlamydia, there was syphilis — the original venereal villain. In this episode, Robert and Anna take you on a wild ride through the scandalous history of syphilis: from Columbus and the French pox to mercury treatments, Mad King George, and the Tuskegee Study. We’ll cover the myths, the science, and the utter insanity of how people used to “treat” it.
Spoiler: “A night with Venus, a lifetime with mercury” wasn’t just a poetic phrase — it was a death sentence.
You’ll learn:
- How syphilis reshaped Europe
- Why some people raised a pinky as a secret sign
- Which historical icons may have had it
- The difference between chancre and shanker (seriously)
- And why it still matters right now — including the massive rise in congenital syphilis
This isn’t your high school health class. This is the raw, ridiculous, and real story of the STI that just won’t die.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.