Rotten to the Core

Rotten to the Core

Welcome, my darlings, to the enchantingly sinister history podcast that weaves dark tales of humanity's most infamous characters and events. This award-winning podcast shall bewitch you with wickedly captivating stories of true crime and the shadowy corners of history, exploring the twisted desires that drive these rotten souls to the brink of infamy. Hosted by the delightfully devious queer queen, Joshua Waters.

Episodes

October 17, 2024 18 mins

Delve into the twisted tales of Queen Ranavalona I with me in the latest episode of Rotten to the Core! Discover the truth behind the 'Mad Queen of Madagascar' and the lessons her story holds for us today. 

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Scandal. Fame. Controversy. Dive into the life of Jerry Lee Lewis. Let’s discover the shocking truths behind his music career and personal life, from controversial marriages to fleeing from the IRS, this episode has it all. Don't miss out!

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June 23, 2024 21 mins

Have you ever wondered how a young boy grows up to become a controversial communist leader? Join us on this week's episode of Rotten to the Core as we delve into the life and controversial legacy of Mao Zedong, history’s most successful killer.

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June 17, 2024 19 mins

🏳️‍🌈 On this Pride Special episode, we reflect on Matthew Shepard's story and its impact on the continued fight against hate. Join me in remembering and advocating for a world filled with love and acceptance. As well as see what his killers think about their rotten actions today. #PrideMonth #MatthewShepard #LoveWins #EraseHate

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June 11, 2024 24 mins

Magic mirror on the wall, who is the most Rotten one of all?

From her glory days on ‘Smallville’ to the sinister secrets of NXIVM—join us as we unravel the twisted story of Allison Mack. Learn valuable lessons from her downfall on the latest #RottenToTheCore. Listen today!

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June 2, 2024 20 mins

The man in our lesson today, Idi Amin, wasn’t only a rotten dictator; he was a literal cannibal, and one of his favorite ways to have his enemies killed was with a hammer to the head. 

Sadly to say, the hammer was one of the more merciful ways Idi had people murdered. Which I can’t even wrap my head around. 

Let’s peer into his mysterious life and see all the rotten things that this horrible man did to those around him.

Ma...

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May 26, 2024 19 mins

The man in our lesson today, Pol Pot, was a Cambodian dictator communist who orchestrated the Cambodian genocide of over two million humans. No one was safe under his leadership. It didn’t matter if you were Christian, non-religious, rich, or poor. 

All to create a society based on agriculture that he was hopeful would turn into a fully communist one. 

How did he do that? By enslaving as many people as he could and forcing...

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May 20, 2024 23 mins

All dogs bark, who would ever think that there was something nefarious behind their cute little faces? 

David Berkowitz, that’s who! He murdered six people and wounded seven others with a gun in New York City in 1977, and it all stemmed from a barking black lab who David believed was the literal Devil. 

Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the most rotten one of all? 

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May 13, 2024 23 mins

I first heard about Madame LaLaurie from American Horror Story Coven, my favorite season. Played by Kathy Bates, she gave the character depth and eventually some humanity. There was even a point when I felt sympathy for the character.

The real Delphine deserves no sympathy, though! After researching her for this lesson, I learned that she really was a heartless monster.

It’s no wonder people claimed that she was a demon.

I...

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May 5, 2024 17 mins

Today’s lesson is about a man you’ve probably never heard of. He is yet another failed dictator who committed countless crimes against humanity and died before he could face judgment, Slobodan Milosevic, The Butcher of the Balkans.

He was the former President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, along with other leaders, started a deadly war that I hadn’t even heard of but was a living nightmare for those unfortunate...

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April 28, 2024 22 mins

We have covered devils, monsters, kings, queens, and even a witch or two. But one thing we haven’t learned about is an angel…an Angel of Death, that is.

That was the nickname of one of the cruelest doctors in all of history, Josef Mengele, the SS member who was like something out of a nightmare.

Unfortunately, he was a flesh and blood man. In more ways than one!

Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the most rotten one of all?

...

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April 22, 2024 24 mins

We all have egos, but the ego of a true king is unparalleled. It can be dangerous, reckless, and often deadly. This is especially true if you were one of his wives.

King Henry VIII was a terrible king who used manipulation, intimidation, and England's money to nearly bankrupt his kingdom. Along the way, he killed thousands of people, including two of his wives.

Let's take a closer look at his history and learn about the li...

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April 15, 2024 24 mins

Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary!

The story of Bloody Mary has become a popular legend. She is often depicted as a vengeful spirit named Mary who haunts people who say her name three times while looking into a mirror.

Queen Mary I was the first ruling Queen of England. She was a devout Catholic and wanted to restore Catholicism in England, which had become Protestant under her father, King Henry VIII.

She was determin...

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April 7, 2024 23 mins

I absolutely love planning and organizing events. I take great pride in being able to control every aspect of the process and bring my vision to life. I am a stickler for efficiency and always aim to find the most effective way to execute my plans. I leave no stone unturned and always have backup plans in place, just in case something unexpected happens.

It never occurred to me that there was a dark side to planning, and o...

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March 31, 2024 25 mins

Timothy McVeigh, the topic for our lesson today was what my biggest fear for my adult life would be: a man who grew up in a rural town, with his grandma as one of his only friends, who turned into a horribly rotten man and eventually hurt a lot of innocent people.

He is responsible for the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, and today, we will learn all about his life, find out what inspired him, and hopef...

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March 24, 2024 29 mins

Our lesson today is about a spoiled bully brat of a boy who grew to become the dictator of Cuba and was responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of his people. 

He may have wanted the best for his people, but he went about getting it in every wrong way imaginable. 

So, let's refer to my mirror and learn all about the life of Fidel Castro—our Rotten Man of the Week. 

Magic mirror on the wall, who is the most rotten o...

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March 17, 2024 21 mins

In this lesson, we will delve into the life of a man who held some troubling beliefs about women.

As we peel back the layers of his story, we'll uncover some shocking truths about his treatment of his family.

Despite his artistic brilliance, his loved ones were seen as nothing more than suffering muses who existed solely to inspire his creative masterpieces.

Get ready to discover the rotten side of a celebrated artist, Pab...

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March 10, 2024 32 mins

If there is one thing I loathe, it's entitlement! I am happy to assist you with anything, but when someone demands and expects it, you can see yourself out!

The villainous character in our lesson today is the embodiment of entitlement and the originator of sadism - the Marquis de Sade!

Get it, Sade, Sadism! Here my Baptist traumatized butt just thought it was from Satan!

I never imagined sadism was born from a spoiled aris...

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March 3, 2024 19 mins

Do not shed any tears for the devil, for he is not real. The true embodiment of wickedness resides within the human heart and is shown to us by my magical mirror.

The man in our lesson today was so vile that he was given the nickname Dr. Satan. But even the devil wasn't as cruel and conniving as this man.

Throughout his life, he engaged in deceitful, fraudulent, and violent behavior, leading up to his untimely demise by gu...

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February 25, 2024 23 mins

E equals MC squared, but Albert Einstein's actions made him equal to or greater than Rotten!

As I gazed into Albert's life, the phrase "ignorance is bliss" kept popping into my head, but I quickly realized that bliss doesn't teach us much.

We can learn a lot from one of the greatest minds of all time, even from his mistakes.

No, I’m not talking about his hair or preference for open-toed leather sandals.

I am determined to ...

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