Shows
GREG T. LiVEHoliday Chaos, New Year’s Plans & Big Mercedes News for 2026 | GREG T. LiVE Ep. 46Greg T Live – Episode 46 Filmed at Ray Catena Mercedes-Benz in Edison, New Jersey, Episode 46 wraps up the holidays and looks ahead to the new year — with plenty of laughs, family stories, and big automotive news.Greg T and Garrett Vogel reflect on how the holidays change as kids get older. Greg shares how daughters Jade and Ella (18 & 16) now sleep in on Christmas morning, a far cry from the early-morning gift rush of years past. Greg also talks about celebrating both Christmas and Hanukkah, blending traditions from his...
2026-01-0251 min
Priority TalkElla Cooke's families tributeThe parents of Ella Cooke of Mountain Brook, Alabama—who was murdered near Brown University—share more about their daughter and the central role her Christian faith played in her life. Greg reads their moving obituary and raises questions about why police have not yet identified the person responsible.
2025-12-1805 min
Priority TalkGreg Davis Monday Commentary - Dec 15, 2025Greg opens the show and provides updates on two targeted shootings since the last edition of Priority Talk. First, he addresses the mass shooting in Australia that targeted Jews celebrating Hanukkah on a public beach. He then discusses the shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island that claimed the life of Ella Cook of Mountain Brook, Alabama. In response to these tragedies, Greg urges listeners to be spiritually prepared—to be ready to die by making Jesus Lord of their lives.Greg briefly covers the death of Rob Reiner and his wife allegedly by the...
2025-12-151h 07
Find Your FilmElla Thomas On "Know Mercy," Producing An Indie Film, And Love For "Desperation Road"Producer/actress/screenwriter Ella Thomas talks about her new film "Know Mercy." She also talks about her work in the features "Desperation Road" and "Nightbitch."
Follow Ella Thomas on Instagram and Facebook.
Check out the Video Version of my Ella Thomas interview on Deepest Dream or on YouTube.
Timestamps
(0:00) - Intro
(11:35) - Ella Thomas
Know Mercy is available on Digital (including Amazon). Support our Podcast by purchasing through our Amazon links and/or SiteStripe (we receive a slight commission).
Deepest Dream Socials & Info :
1. Facebook
2025-03-0545 min
The Performance PsychcastThe Performance Psychcast - Episode 45 - Helping Fitness Coaches From a Psychological Perspective - Ella Whitcomb-KhanHello everyone and welcome to another episode of the Performance Psychcast. Today we are very fortunate to be speaking with Ella Whitcomb-Khan, who you may remember from episode 22. Ella is currently completing her Professional Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology at LJMU. She works within the fitness industry, applying exercise psychology to support fitness coaches to enhance client retention and adherence. https://www.instagram.com/thefitnesspsych_?igsh=MW4xdDRycGlybTRkcw== https://www.linkedin.com/company/skilledcoachclub/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellawhitcomb-khan?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm...
2024-06-1035 min
Relative DisastersThe 1975 Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Episode 85)Re-upload.
Join us as Ella explains the events of a fateful night that sent a crew of 29 to the bottom of the largest freshwater lake in North America. We'll discuss shipping tonnage, the incredibly dangerous weather systems of the Great Lakes, and talk a little about Gordon Lightfoot's haunting tribute to the disaster.
This episode was taken down due to a copyright concern; we'd quoted some lyrics from Lightfoot's song in the initial version of this episode. Those quotations have been removed and I'm glad to be able to...
2024-02-211h 03Relative DisastersThe Toba Supereruption of 74TYA (Episode 125)Greg and Child Unit A explore one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of all time, and why a simultaneous massive decrease in the human population may be a case of correlation, not causation.
2024-01-2919 minRelative DisastersFuschia - The Man, The Color, the Mystery (Extended Sidebar 06)Ella takes a dive into color theory and the bizarre history of Fuschia - the color and the man it was named for. And why it may not be a real color at all.
2023-12-1116 minRelative DisastersThe Ourang Medan Ghost Ship (Extended Sidebar 05)On this extended sidebar, Ella brings us the story of the Ourang Medan, a ghost ship found floating in the middle of the pacific with the entire crew dead. Or was it never found, its only survivor finding his way to a barely-inhabited atoll and living just long enough to relay how his whole crew had perished due to some unknown force? Or was it found in the straits of Indonesia, with the deceased crew all staring upward in abject horror? It's a creepy story with a fairly mundane truth living in its center.
2023-11-2720 min
Bowjunky archery podcastElla Gibson to DartonBJM's Greg Poole is joined by World Archery #1 ranked female compound archer and 2023 Kings of Archery champion Ella Gibson. Greg & Ella discuss her recent change from Hoyt to Darton with her world debut at the KOA. Ella also discusses the quick shoot off and how the emotions where different then a "usual" shoot off that takes many more ends of shooting.
2023-11-151h 06Bowjunky archery podcastElla Gibson to DartonBJM's Greg Poole is joined by World Archery #1 ranked female compound archer and 2023 Kings of Archery champion Ella Gibson. Greg & Ella discuss her recent change from Hoyt to Darton with her world debut at the KOA. Ella also discusses the quick shoot off and how the emotions where different then a "usual" shoot off that takes many more ends of shooting.
2023-11-151h 06Relative DisastersThe 1975 Heroism of Oliver Sipple (that ruined his life) (Episode 120)Join us for our last episode of the season, wherein Ella and Greg discuss how a selfless act of heroism led to the ruination of a man's personal life. We'll discuss how to NOT be a good friend, the state of human rights in 1975, and how far society's come since then - and how far we still have to go.
Also, Ella has an announcement.
Correction: In the episode, Greg stated that Mr. Sipple's middle name was William; it was actually Wellington. Thanks to an attentive listener for the correction!
2023-10-2344 minRelative DisastersThe Dare Stones (Extended Sidebar 01)Join Ella and Greg while they talk about one of the weirdest (and most obvious) scams in American archaeology - the Dare Stones!
2023-10-2318 minRelative DisastersMagic the Gathering's Combo Winter of 1998 (Episode 117)A few notes; one, this is an extremely nerdy episode. Two, our recording circumstances were a little tricky (with a very persistent cricket intent on co-hosting), so the audio quality is a little less than I'd like with background noise.
With Ella on a well-deserved break, Greg and his friend Carson talk about something near and dear to their nerdy hearts - the time the card game Magic: The Gathering nearly collapsed because of a failure in recognizing a flaw in game design. Join us as we talk about game design, the delightfully geeky...
2023-09-111h 02Relative DisastersLiu Bang and the Founding of the Han Dynasty (Episode 112)Liu Bang was a man who had a good life and then had a really bad day. How he handled that bad day led to the creation of one of China's most important dynasties and reshaped China's history - join us as we talk about executions, how legal systems based on fear are not sustainable, and lacquer. Lots of lacquer.
Also, Greg's fighting a cold this week, so expect a few background sniffles.
Sources:
Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE
2023-08-0739 minRelative DisastersThe Dilberito (Episode 110)In 1999, Scott Adams used his beloved-at-the-time character Dilbert to market... a line of microwaveable burritos.
Join us as we take a look at bizarre marketing, the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals, and cooking with gelatin, plus an insight into weird foods that Ella and Greg enjoy.
2023-07-2440 minRelative DisastersThe 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks (Episode 103)In July of 1916, five swimmers at the Jersey Shore were attacked by a shark. Four suffered fatal wounds and the fifth required two months in the hospital to recover. The "New Jersey Man-Eater" was front-page news across the country, and the attacks are still a subject of debate, scrutiny, and speculation. On this episode, Ella talks about the five attacks, the sharks who may (or may not) have been responsible, and the beach dangers much more likely to cause a fatal accident.
Love the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
2023-06-0525 minRelative DisastersThe 1896 St. Louis / East St. Louis Tornado (Episode 102)In 1896, the cities of St. Louis and East St. Louis were enjoying an economic boom that led to skyscrapers, mansions, and a 'tornado-proof' bridge connecting the two cities. That progress was unfortunately paused at the end of May, when an F4 tornado went straight through the downtowns of both cities.
On this episode, Ella and our special guest host discuss architecture, bridges, tornado damage, and a building made of popsicle sticks.
Love the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sources for this episode incl...
2023-05-2948 minRelative DisastersThe 1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire (Episode 101)On Memorial Day weekend of 1977, an event space and nightclub in Southgate, Kentucky, called the Beverly Hills Supper Club caught fire at around 8:50 in the evening. Within minutes, the building was fully engulfed and beginning to collapse, and 165 people were dead and dying.
In this episode, Ella tells the story of the tragic and very preventable Beverly Hills fire.
Love the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Main sources for this episode include:
“Inside the Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire”, by R. Eliott, 2010
"R...
2023-05-2236 minRelative DisastersThe 1992 Hurricane Iniki (Episode 100)Join us for our 100th episode (!) as we journey to the lovely beaches of Hawaii... except they're not so lovely when being battered by 145-MPH winds. We're talking about the monetarily-costliest (and human-least-costliest) hurricane to strike Hawaii, 1992's Iniki. We'll be examining the failures - and difficulties - in tracking the storm, the weird mix of weather conditions that led to its formation, Greg's favorite global-weather pattern, Jurassic Park, and chickens! Lots of chickens.
Thanks for sticking with us for one hundred episodes! We wouldn't be doing this if you weren't listening, so our most heartfelt thanks...
2023-05-1545 minRelative DisastersThe Witch and The Weather (Episode 94)In the hills of Tennessee, there is nestled a village that has some of the strangest weather on the planet - and the locals believe a legendary witch could be the cause. Come join Greg as he takes Relative Disasters on a road-trip; we'll discuss weather, the natural and supernatural, and the proper way to take a walk in the woods.
This episode took a lot of help to put together, so a big thank-you to our wonderful friends who helped us with the travel, logistics, and recording devices: Adrian, Anders, Carson, Catherine, Doug...
2023-04-0140 min
Your Life: The Mix TapeELLA VADAY • Your Life: The Mixtape - Episode 56On episode 56, Greg is joined by actor, singer, and Drag Race UK Season 3 Star ELLA VADAY!!!Ella Vaday aka Nick Collier, Is an English Drag Queen, film, TV and theatre actor. The self-proclaimed “drag beast from the East” made history on the TV global franchise becoming the only queen to win four challenges and never place in the bottom!Ella Vaday has become renowned as a strong voice of expression for many young individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. Nick & Ella Vaday have become a strong advocate encouraging their followers to lead with their individuality.Ell...
2023-03-3029 minRelative DisastersThe Dangers and Deaths of Action Park (Episode 86)With Ella going nine rounds with Covid this week, please welcome our special guest-hosts: Greg's family! Join us as we talk about Action Park, the now-legendary New Jersey destination that promised great family fun... with a side-menu of skull fractures, skin abrasions, and - in six tragic cases - death. How this park stayed open - and how it ever opened in the first place - will be explored. Make sure your safety belt is fastened for this one!
Love the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
...
2023-02-0655 minRelative DisastersLeser v Garnett and attempts to repeal the Nineteenth Amendment (Episode 78)We're headed back to court again for a look at the 1922 Leser v Garnett supreme court decision! Join us as we discuss how women's right to vote has been a really weird issue in the US, what kind of folks were trying to prevent them from voting in the first place, and how is this stuff still going on today? Also, Greg's dog really wanted to be on the podcast this week, so listen for her tappy-toes in the background.
Love the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
2022-10-0337 minRelative DisastersThe Beast of Gévaudan (Episode 66)In the late 1760s, rural France was terrorized by a beast. Appearing suddenly out of the rocky, forested hills of Gévaudan province, it would seize a victim and disappear, leaving only blood and mangled bodies behind. With an estimated victim count of at least 60, mostly small children, the Beast of Gévaudan was certainly real; but what exactly was it?
On this episode, we're talking wolves, dogs, and wolf-dogs, along with hyenas, lions, politics, hunting, King Louis XV, and religious fervor in pre-Revolution France.
Love the show? Support us on Patreon, at...
2022-07-111h 03
Relative DisastersThe 1883 Eruption of Krakatoa (Episode 65)In the summer of 1883, the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra were rocked by a volcanic eruption more destructive than any other in recorded human history. When the tiny, uninhabited island of Krakatoa erupted, it sent a plume of ash and gas 17 miles into the sky, created a 2,500-foot-tall pyroclastic cloud, and wiped out settlements thirty miles away with a series of deadly tsunamis. The eruption was so loud it was heard 5,000 miles away, and it sent so much debris into the atmosphere that it created a four-year-long global volcanic winter.
On this episode, we're talking plate t...
2022-07-0451 minRelative DisastersThe Ottawa Sewer Explosions of 1929 & 1931 (Episode 64)In the first quarter of the twentieth century, the city engineers of Ottowa, Ontario, designed a sewer line that was so full of combustible material and so poorly ventilated it blew up twice, causing injuries and property damage each time.
This week, we're talking 'dark waterfalls' (so much worse than it sounds), exploding streets, DIY water piping, service station waste, natural gas on the loose, and dangerous laundry habits.
Love the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sources:
"The Ottawa Sewer Explos...
2022-06-2743 minRelative DisastersThe 1969 Stonewall Inn Riot (Episode 63)On a hot June night in 1969, the New York police raided a gay club called the Stonewall Inn. They planned to seize some under-the-counter liquor, arrest some 'loiterers', and and close down the club for a day or so. Instead, they became the catalyst for a riot that lasted for six days and sparked a massive movement towards equality for LGBTQ+ Americans.
On this episode, we're talking Joseph McCarthy, sodomy and loitering laws, the Mattachine Society's 'sip-in' protest, the Mafia, Marsha P Johnson, and what we celebrate when we celebrate Pride Month. (And happy Pride from us b...
2022-06-2145 minRelative DisastersThe K-Pg Extinction Event of 66 MYA (Episode 62)It's our most dramatic disaster ever this week, as we take a look back in time to explain what happens when an 10-kilometer-wide asteroid hits a planet with life on it. In short: the dinosaurs perish, an ice age follows global forest fires, and the air quality hit an all-time low for ten years straight. On the other hand, after the impact, mammals had the perfect conditions to become bigger and brainier, sharks survived quite nicely, and plant and insect life diversified and flourished.
On this episode we're talking asteroids, glitter, impact craters, dueling geologists, and why f...
2022-06-1339 min
Relative DisastersThe 1920 Collapse of Charles Ponzi's Scheme (Episode 61)In 1903, a young Italian man emigrated to America in hopes of finding work, love, and money. Over the following thirty years, Charles Ponzi would work dozens of jobs, form several companies, marry a very nice stenographer, and become an important (and notorious) member of the immigrant Italian-American communities he landed in.
On this episode, we're taking a deep dive into Ponzi's background and the dozens of smaller scams that informed the financial scheme he's best known for - the wild success and inevitable collapse of his Securities and Exchange Company, a fraud which caused the collapse of s...
2022-06-061h 02
Relative DisastersThe Astor Place Riot of 1849 (Episode 60)On May 10, 1849, wealthy New Yorkers set out for a night at the Astor Place Opera House to enjoy English actor William Macready's performance in "Macbeth". A few streets away, however, fans of rival American actor Edwin Forrest were preparing to 'express their opinion' at the urging of inflammatory press pieces and Tammany Hall. Before the night was out, Astor Place would be the scene of chaos, rioting, and the deaths and injuries of dozens of New Yorkers, police, and soldiers.
On this episode, we're discussing theater hooliganism, William Shakespeare, English vs. American acting styles, and how the...
2022-05-2351 min
Relative DisastersThe 1904 Wreck of the Paddle Steamer General Slocum (Episode 59)On a sunny June day in 1904, well over a thousand German-American residents of Manhattan set out for a picnic and river cruise aboard the stately P.S. General Slocum. Fourteen years old, freshly painted and polished, and enjoying a reputation as one of New York's largest and most comfortable excursion steamships, the General Slocum was also a master class in maritime safety violations, with lifeboats that couldn't be launched, life preservers that couldn't float, and a fire suppression system that relied on rotten hoses and an untrained crew. Two hours after her launch that day, the vast majority of...
2022-05-1652 min
Relative DisastersTwo Arctic Ghost Ships, the HMS Terror and the SS Baychimo (Episode 58)It's an Arctic Ghost Ship Double-Header! First up is the HMS Terror, which carried Sir John Franklin's 1845 expedition all the way to King William Island in the very far north of Nunavut, Canada, before freezing into the pack ice and being abandoned; and in the second half, we've got the SS Baychimo, a cargo freighter lost in pack ice off the coast of Alaska in 1931. Although they were abandoned at either end of the Arctic and nearly a century apart, both the Terror and the Baychimo were repeatedly spotted - and in some cases, boarded - by locals multiple...
2022-05-0940 min
Relative DisastersDisco Demolition Night (Episode 57)On a hot July evening in 1979, thousands of Chicagoans gathered in Comisky Park for a double-header between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. After a lackluster season, White Sox owner Bill Veeck was hoping to fill seats with a promotion called "Disco Demolition Night", in which spectators could get a discount ticket if they brought a disco record to be blown up by local radio celebrity Steve Dahl.
On this all-American episode, we're discussing the national game (baseball) and the national music (rock 'n roll, baby), along with riot police, disco, explosions, radio talk shows, b...
2022-05-0251 min
Relative DisastersThe Demon Core Incidents of 1945-1946 (Episode 56)Who knew that a ball of plutonium could be dangerous? We were surprised too!
At the end of World War II, the United States' Manhattan Project was left with an extra plutonium core, intended for an atomic bomb that was never built. What does one do with a subcritical ball of plutonium? Experiment, of course. At Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, scientists and physicists performed a number of criticality studies and tried out various neutron reflector materials on "Rufus".
On this episode, we're discussing the Los Alamos Laboratory, proper use of a flathead screwdriver, la...
2022-04-2540 min
Relative DisastersThe Peel Island Lazaret (Episode 55)This week it's a public health special on a topic you probably don't need to worry too much about: leprosy. Today it's treated with a three-drug cocktail, but in 1892 Queensland, Australia, it was so feared that the government made Peel Island, off the cost of Brisbane, into a leper colony. Here, sufferers from across the state would be housed, treated, and kept isolated from the general population until they died. Of course, from the moment the first patients arrived ... nothing went smoothly.
On this episode, we're getting into healthcare architecture, uninhabited islands, Hansen's Disease, some incredibly racist...
2022-04-1851 min
Relative DisastersThe Donora Smog of 1948 (Episode 54)We just can't seem to stay away from the beautiful (and dangerous) state of Pennsylvania! Today we're visiting a town called Donora, where in October of 1848 the weather and the local zinc factory combined to create a blanket of yellow smog that lay over the town for five full days. Unfortunately for the citizens of Donora, this particular smog wasn't just smelly and impossible to drive in, but loaded with poisonous fluorine. 20 people died in the event, and an estimated 6,000 residents were injured before heavy rains were able to clear the air.
On this episode, we're talking a...
2022-04-1251 min
Relative DisastersThe Jersey Devil Attacks of 1945 (Episode 53)In the summer of 1945, as World War II was drawing to a close, a number of unusual animal attacks occurred in and around the town of Erehwon, New Jersey, on the American east coast. Miles away from their nesting ground in the Pine Barrens wilderness, a pair of Jersey Devils were spotted circling a playground, 'befouling' a public library, burning down a barn, scaring campers, and, in the most serious incident, attacking and carrying away a 10-year-old child.
On our annual Special Episode, we're talking about the rare North American amphibian 'Ineptias mendax' - commonly known as t...
2022-04-011h 00
Relative DisastersThe American Locust Plague of 1874 (Episode 52)In the spring of 1874, a plague of locusts descended on the American Midwest in a swarm so vast it blocked the sky for miles before it settled down and beginning to eat...everything. Farmers and homesteaders fought back with blankets, coal tar, and fire, with exactly zero success. By the first frost that autumn, an estimated 120 billion Rocky Mountain Locusts had destroyed hundreds of thousands of square miles of farmland.
On this episode, we're talking grasshoppers vs. locusts, high-protein snacks, an anti-locust fungus, disaster relief, and some pretty incredible hopping muscles.
Love t...
2022-03-2832 min
Relative DisastersThe Flooding and Drying of the Salton Sea (Episode 51)In 1905, a backed-up canal on the Colorado River caused a years-long flood into Imperial Valley, California. The resulting deluge of freshwater, along with new advances in canal engineering and agricultural practices, became an important part of southern California's economy, allowing the land to provide fresh produce and meat to much of the Southwestern United States. The flood also created an enormous lake at the lowest point of the valley. For a long time, all was well - the valley produced huge yields of fresh food, and the "Salton Riveria" became a popular vacation spot for families from Los Angeles...
2022-03-2147 min
Relative DisastersThe 1967 Collapse of the Silver Bridge (Episode 50)On the December 15 evening rush hour in 1967, traffic was heavy on the Silver Bridge, a 40-year-old suspension bridge connecting the states of Ohio and West Virginia. When a single link broke on the bridge's suspension system, none of those drivers had time to react - and within 20 seconds, dozens of cars and trucks had toppled into the icy Ohio River as the bridge collapsed. 64 people fell in the river, and 46 of them died, in the deadliest bridge failure in US history.
On this episode, we're talking suspension bridge design - the good, the bad, and the non-redundant...
2022-03-1439 min
Relative DisastersThe 1889 Johnstown Flood (Episode 49)In the late spring of 1889, southern Pennsylvania's South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club was gearing up for another summer of luxurious hiking, boating, and swimming, when an unexpected rainstorm dropped 10 inches of water on their pristine mountain getaway. The resulting rise in the club's lake, Lake Conemaugh, spelled disaster for the dam holding it back. And with the failure of the dam came the horrific flood in the valley below, a flood which took out railroad bridges, knocked over factories, tore houses off their foundations, and wiped out downtown Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in less than an hour.
In t...
2022-03-0757 min
Relative DisastersEddie the Eagle and the 1988 Winter Olympics (Episode 48)In the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, a British ski jumper named Michael Edwards competed with enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and optimism. It had been a lifelong dream to compete in the Olympics, and he made the most of it, soaring to ... dead last in every event in which he competed. On this episode, the story of "Eddie the Eagle", skiing in England (it's harder than you think!), Olympic glory, Finnish pop music, and the joy of achieving your dreams and finding your niche.
Love the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
2022-02-2831 min
Bowjunky archery podcastEuropean indoor champion Ella GibsonBJM's Greg Poole is joined by Great Britain's Ella Gibson to discuss her 2022 European indoors championship win. Greg & Ella also talk about how she got started in archery and her journey from bare bow the top of the women's compound archery.
2022-02-231h 19Bowjunky archery podcastEuropean indoor champion Ella GibsonBJM's Greg Poole is joined by Great Britain's Ella Gibson to discuss her 2022 European indoors championship win. Greg & Ella also talk about how she got started in archery and her journey from bare bow the top of the women's compound archery.
2022-02-231h 19
Relative DisastersThe 1902 Mt. Pelée Eruption (Episode 47)In the spring of 1902, Mt Pelée, a volcano on the Caribbean island of Martinique, began behaving a little strangely. First, there was the overwhelming stink of sulphur. Then, steam eruptions became visible, and ash began to fall. Next were snake attacks, mudslides, flash floods, tsunamis, and smallpox. At the foot of the volcano, in the town of St Pierre, people were torn between evacuation ... and voting in the upcoming election, in which Progressive and Radical candidates were facing off for a seat in French Parliament. On this episode, we're getting into why politics and volcanoes should never mix. ...
2022-02-221h 00
Relative DisastersThe 1992 "Hot Coffee" Lawsuit (Liebeck vs. McDonald's Restaurants) (Episode 46)On a chilly February morning in 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck ordered a 49-cent cup of hot coffee from a McDonald's drive-through. When she opened the top to add cream and sugar, the flimsy cup spilled 190-degree coffee into her lap, resulting in excruciatingly painful 3rd degree burns.
Mrs. Liebeck sued for gross negligence, asking McDonald's to improve their cups, lower the temperature of their dangerously hot coffee, and pay her $20,000 worth of medical bills; McDonald's countered with...$800. After a week-long trial, the jury found McDonald's responsible and awarded Mrs. Liebeck two days' worth of the fast-food giant's coffee...
2022-02-1440 min
Relative DisastersThe 1955 Le Mans Crash (Episode 45)The Le Mans 24, one of auto racing's oldest and most dangerous endurance races, has seen its share of fatal accidents over the past 100 years. That's thanks to mixed surfaces, sharp corners and curves, unpredictable weather, and very, very fast driving for hours at a time. Spectators at Le Mans expect to see the cutting edge of automotive technology from all the major European carmakers PLUS expert driving skills, and most years they get exactly that.
In the 1955 race, however, the delicate balance of speed, skill, and conditions failed, causing a single-car crash that snowballed into the worst a...
2022-02-0833 min
Relative DisastersThe 1985 Death of Cocaine Bear (Episode 44)In this episode, we're tackling one of the great wildlife stories of all time: Cocaine Bear. We'll get into the finer points of drug laws, a quick history of cocaine (a key ingredient in both shampoo and children's medicines!), the socioeconomic ramifications of Reagan's "War on Drugs", and the adrenaline-seeking hi-jinks of Drew Thornton II. But the real star of our story is the 175-pound black bear who stumbled upon a duffel bag of cocaine in the Georgia wilderness and ... ate it.
Love the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
2022-01-3133 min
Relative DisastersThe 1872 Mystery of the Mary Celeste (Episode 43)In December 1872, the American brigantine 'Mary Celeste' was found drifting hundreds of miles off the coast of Portugal - with not a living soul aboard, and no sign whatsoever of what had caused her crew and passengers to abandon ship. On this episode, we cover Mary Celeste's history of bad vibes all the way from her maiden voyage (where the captain died) to her final sinking (where the captain was convicted of insurance fraud). We'll also talk about who was aboard in 1872, what they were carrying, and the High Court of Gibraltar's investigation into the incident. And along the...
2022-01-2446 min
Relative DisastersThe 27 BCE Roman Invasion of Kush (Episode 42)Strap on your sandals and join us for a trip to the Nubian kingdom of Kush, where, in 27 BCE, the rapidly expanding Roman Empire bit off slightly more than it could chew. This isn't a story of legions marching into battle - instead, this is the tale of Queen Amanirenas, the one-eyed warrior queen who stopped the might of the Roman war machine with courage, strategy, and a handful of golden arrows. On this episode, we're getting into archery vs. siege engines, matrilinear lines of succession, The Candaces, and why an amazingly preserved bust of Cesar Augustus (glass eyes...
2022-01-1734 min
Relative DisastersThe Donner Party Disaster of 1846-1847 (Episode 41)In the spring of 1846, a group of 90 would-be settlers left Independence, Missouri, for new lives in California. Led by James Reed and George Donner, the group planned to head west by covered wagon as quickly and comfortably as possible, using the Oregon and California trails. But after being delayed by bad directions, a murder trial, an endless desert 'shortcut', and crippling losses, the Donner Party reached the last leg of their journey weeks behind schedule, only to be stopped by an early snowstorm in the Sierra Nevadas. Trapped by below-freezing temperatures and twenty feet of snow, they settled in...
2022-01-101h 08
Relative DisastersThe Relative Successes of 2021 (Episode 40.5)It's the end of our first season! To celebrate, we're answering all your invasive and highly personal questions, spilling the tea on what went wrong with our least-favorite episode, bickering over who had the best research finds, and going over suggestions for next year. See you in 2022!
Love the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sources for this episode include:
Greg's specific and detailed memories of 2021
Ella's vague and questionable recollections of 2021
2021-12-1441 min
Relative DisastersThe 1979 Fall of the Skylab Space Station (Episode 40)Get a glass of Tang and join us for a lofty episode on America's first space station: Skylab! When NASA launched the project in 1973, it heralded a new era of space exploration and scientific progression - one that was still, unfortunately, subject to the law of gravity. When Skylab's orbit began to fail in 1978, NASA engineers found that they couldn't quite aim it for the ocean the way they'd hoped - and they also couldn't quite predict where the flaming tons of wreckage might crash down. Cue the bookies, Chicken Little parties, 'Skylab Repellant Spray', and a slew of...
2021-12-0731 min
Relative DisastersThe 1863-1864 Sinkings of the Submarine "H. L. Hunley" (Episode 39)This week, we're off to Charleston, South Carolina, where at the height of the American Civil War a secret weapon was launched into Charleston Harbor. It wasn't a very good weapon - in fact, it killed three times as many of its own crew members than enemy sailors - but it was an example of cutting-edge wartime technology that wouldn't be attempted again until World War 1. In sinking the Union ship 'Housatonic', the Confedarate ship 'H.L. Hunley' became the world's first successful combat submarine; however, when it failed to surface after this victory, it became a long, weird...
2021-11-3056 min
Relative DisastersThe 1919 Black Sox Scandal (Episode 38)Hear the crack of the bat, the munching of cracker-jack, and the calls of the (possibly corrupt) umpire as we take you back to the scandalous 1919 World Series of Major League Baseball! On this episode, we invite our dear listeners to meet a cast of excellently-named conspirators, their gambling buddies, their dreams of unimaginable wealth, and what led to their ultimate downfall; and spoiler alert, it's not just unbridled greed. Grab your glove, toss a few pitches, and settle in for the tale of the so-called Black Sox - what actually happened, plus the myths and legends of a...
2021-11-1648 min
Relative DisastersThe 1980 Lake Peigneur Disaster (Episode 37)On a quiet November morning in 1980, a drilling crew making an exploratory borehole in the middle of Lake Peigneur, Louisiana, ran into a problem: their drillbit got stuck at 12,000 feet down. Although they didn't know it, this would be the first sign of an industrial accident on a massive scale, one that would flood a mine, drain a lake, cause a 150-foot waterfall, set off a geyser, and a begin a natural gas explosion. This week, we invite you to grab a salty snack, make sure your safety drills are up-to-date, and join us for a deep dive (sorry...
2021-11-1144 min
Open Loops with Greg Bornstein: Conversations That BendStrippers, Twin Flames, and Manifesting Your Life Partner with Ella Ayana, The Love MagnetIf you enjoy this podcast, please rate this show and leave a review! Even a few words will help. Just go to ratethispodcast.com/openloopsTo catch Open Loops LIVE, make sure you follow our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OpenLoopsPodLike Open Loops? Buy Greg a cup of coffee here to show your supportDo you believe in true love? Do you believe in soul-mates? Do you believe....in strippers? Ella Ayana, former adult dancer, twin flame enthusiast, and spiritually attuned "Love Magnet" works with people to magnetize their lif...
2021-11-042h 08
Relative DisastersThe Halifax Explosion of 1917 (Episode 36)On a quiet December morning in 1917, a Norwegian passenger ship was speeding through the Narrows, just outside Nova Scotia's Halifax Harbor, when it collided with a French freighter packed full of TNT, guncotton, and fuel. The resulting explosion flattened most of the harbor-facing district of Halifax, caused a tsunami and a fire, and killed or injured upwards of ten thousand people. On this episode, we're looking at the causes of the accident and explosion, the heroism of the railway workers and firefighters who averted even greater loss of life, the loss of the Mi'kmaq settlement of Turtle Grove and...
2021-11-0257 min
Relative DisastersThe 1945 Collapse of Fordlandia (Episode 35)This week, we're road tripping with Henry Ford's worst idea: a Brazilian rubber plantation the size of New Jersey, where he planned to clear the Amazonian rainforest, grow hundreds of thousands of rubber trees, and introduce the locals to American-style efficiency. Join us for the lowdown on Ford's obsession with efficiency, the ideal 1920s company town, soccer & square dancing, a riot over canned vegetables, and the incredible run of bad luck that plagued the project from its inception onward.
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sou...
2021-10-2642 min
Relative DisastersThe 1909 City Government Election of Zion, Illinois (Episode 34)Grab a handful of Brazil nuts and a glass of buttermilk, and join us for the tale of a knock-down, drag-out election between the dictator of a small town and the citizens who want him and his cronies out of office. The 1909 election in Zion, Illinois should have been a straightforward democratic vote, but it turned into something much, much more. On this episode, we've got it all: voter suppression and oppression, a collection of con artists and their grifts, millions of dollars in stolen and misappropriated funding, Flat Earthers run amok, and how the town of Zion came...
2021-10-1958 min
Relative DisastersThe 1956 Filming of "The Conqueror" (Episode 33)It’s mushroom clouds over Hollywood in this episode, as we immerse ourselves in the tale of the 1956 making of “The Conqueror”, an 'historical' epic based on the life of Genghis Khan. Produced by Howard Hughes on the largest budget in RKO Studios’ history, the picture starred A-list actors John Wayne and Susan Hayward, and was shot in beautiful Snow Canyon, Utah. That location happened to be right next door to the Nevada Proving Grounds, where an aggressive series of nuclear test detonations was ongoing; but is that really what caused the cancer deaths of a quarter of the cast and...
2021-10-1250 min
Relative DisastersRelative Disasters, Episode 33 - The Filming of The Conquerer, 1956Editor's Note: The audio in this episode is really, really bad. Ella and I tried recording in a new location and it backfired horribly! The discussion and story are (hopefully) good, but the audio is not. Thank you for your patience, and we'll be back to our old respective recording areas for the next episode.
Bibliography coming soon!
2021-09-2849 min
Relative DisastersThe Black Monday Hailstorm of 1360 (Episode 32)Come with us back to the Hundred Years' War, with a battle not between opposing armies but against (apparently) God. In the red corner: The English army of Edward the Third! In the blue corner: Lightning, freezing temperatures, 55-MPH winds, and hailstones bigger than your fist! The Black Monday Hailstorm of 1360 caused more deaths and injuries than any previous "battle" in the Hundred Years' War - come sit with us for a bit and find out why and how.
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
So...
2021-09-2326 min
Relative DisastersThe 1956 Wreck of the S.S. Andrea Doria (Episode 31)The luxury liner SS Andrea Doria made the voyage from Italy to America a hundred times without incident, and earned rave reviews from her wealthy passengers, who loved her modern décor and fabulous food. On her hundred-and-first trip, however, a cascade of poor decisions, design flaws, and bad luck ended in her sinking just off the coast of Massachusetts. On this episode, we take you through one of the worst maritime disasters of the 20th century, and attempt to explain why so many experienced divers are still risking their lives trying to salvage the wreck.
2021-09-1354 min
Relative DisastersThe Reign of Emperor Norton I, Emperor of the United States, 1859-1880 (Episode 30)In this episode, we take a look at one man's personal disaster that led to a wonderful figure from American history - Emperor Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico. We'll discuss dogs, congress, a certain bridge, anti-Chinese racism of the mid-1800s, and we'll take a deep dive in to the truth of Norton's life as well as his posthumous mythology!
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sources:
The Emperor Norton Trust
http://emperornortontrust.org
...
2021-09-0639 min
Unraveling ...a knitting podcastGreg's Wimpy CalvesIn Episode 115, Greg and Pam discuss hands, calves, and eyes. Many thanks to theknitworker Tracy for the intro! SPONSORS We are Knitcrate Ambassadors! Are you the kind of knitter who would enjoy receiving a surprise package of yarn in the mail every month? Then you need to sign up for a Knitcrate subscription. Every month, you will receive a selection of curated yarn, a pattern specifically paired to use with the yarn, and a treat. Use code KD20 at checkout for 20% off your first package when you sign up for a subscription. LISTEN TO...
2021-09-0458 minRelative DisastersThe Kentucky Cave Wars and the 1925 Death of Floyd Collins (Episode 29)Down for a vist to the world's largest cave system? In this episode, we look at the discovery and development of what is now known as the Mammoth–Flint Ridge Cave System, in the US state of Kentucky. These days, it's owned by the federal government and overseen by the National Park Service; but a hundred years ago, caverns and entrances to the system, as well as unconnected caves, were owned by private landholders, small corporations, and a railroad. With American tourists eager to visit, competition for their dollars escalated to lawsuits, sabotage, and deceptive-to-untruthful advertising - and rivalries be...
2021-08-2554 minRelative DisastersThe Rapid Decline of Sharks, 1970-Now (Episode 28)Come join us in the water! On this episode, we explore how sharks are being driven to extinction and why that matters for humanity. We talk about Jaws, Megalodon, amiable sharks, human-left-foot-soup, and which shark Greg would go swimming with! Sit back, relax, and keep an eye on your toaster - that thing's gonna kill you.
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sources:
Alarming Decline in Shark Populations Points to Need for Stricter Conservation Measures by Rachel Hopkins and KerriLynn Miller
ht...
2021-08-0253 minRelative DisastersThe Biosphere 2 Missions of 1991 and 1993 (Episode 27)In the early 1990s, a privately funded ecology experiment took place in the Arizona desert. Sealing humans inside with thousands of carefully selected plants, animals, and insects, the Biosphere 2 missions sought to show that people could survive and thrive in a contained ecosystem - if they could just get over the sleep apnea, cockroaches, orange skin, constant hunger, and difficult interpersonal relationships.
On this episode of Relative Disasters: what went right in Biosphere 2? What went terribly wrong? And what does Steve Bannon (yes, THAT Steve Bannon) have to do with any of it?
2021-07-2455 min
Relative DisastersRelative Disasters, Episode 27 - The "Biosphere 2" Missions of 1991 and 1993In 1991, eight people and nearly 4000 carefully chosen other organisms (plus cockroaches and invasive ants) were sealed inside a $200 million dollar vivarium in the Arizona desert, with the object of surviving in a completely closed ecological system. Over the following two years and twenty minutes, they endured hunger, paranoia, bad weather, depression, and less-than-flattering media reports; they also proved that humans could work together while hating each other, and pioneered some extremely efficient agricultural systems. Join us as we examine the Biosphere 2 project from the inside out, with special sidebars on Biospherian ants, anticapitalism sabotage, community theater people, oxygen problems...
2021-07-2244 minRelative DisastersThe 1629 Mutiny/Shipwreck of the "Batavia" (Episode 26)This episode focuses on the wreck of the ship Batavia off the coast of Australia and the horrific mutiny that followed. Join us for a discussion of stupid plans, intrepid heroes, and what happens when you let a psychopath take charge of a group of people. We'll take a few sidebars into the Dutch East India company, a torturous method of execution, and the moronic reason behind a major change in maritime law. All in all, a fun time for everyone.
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
2021-07-1456 minRelative DisastersThe Peshtigo Fire of 1871 (Episode 25)In this episode, we look at the events surrounding the Great Peshtigo Fire - the deadliest wildfire in American history. If you’ve never heard of it, that’s probably because it took place the same day as the Great Chicago Fire, on October 8, 1871. Unlike the blaze in Chicago, however, conditions surrounding the Peshtigo fire turned it into a phenomenon known as a firestorm – a debris-laden flaming tornado that swept over the town of Peshtigo and surrounding communities at horrific speeds and temperatures, ultimately killing at least 1500 people (and possibly as many as 2500). We’ll give you some eyewitness accounts...
2021-07-0752 minRelative DisastersThe Great Diamond Hoax of 1872 (Episode 24)Join us in the somewhat-settled/somewhat-Wild West of the United States for a tale of a diamond mine that doesn't exist, the gleeful embarrassment of some of the biggest names in finance and politics of the late 1800s, and the unlikely twist of fate that exposed the whole scheme. It's an episode where the "hero" leads a double-life and the criminal masterminds settle down for quiet lives. Step behind the uncut stones for the unvarnished truth in this glittering episode of Relative Disasters!
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/Rela...
2021-06-2939 minRelative DisastersBlack Sunday on Bondi Beach, 1938 (Episode 23)Grab a swimsuit and top off your sunscreen - we're off to Australia's beautiful Bondi Beach! In this episode, we're looking at the events of February 6, 1938, when a series of rogue waves dragged 250 beachgoers - many of whom couldn't actually swim - past the headlands and into the Pacific Ocean. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the lifeguards and bystanders, plus new surf lifesaving devices and training in the latest resuscitation methods, all but five of the victims survived. Of course, since this is an Ella episode, we'll be doing a few sidebars on her mild obsessions with wool...
2021-06-2337 minRelative DisastersThe North American Video Game Crash of 1983 (Episode 22)In this episode, we go back to the 80's and talk about how the nascent video game industry in North America was nearly wiped out by a series of bad decisions and hubris. We'll visit Atari, Pac-Man, E.T., and a landfill in New Mexico.
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sources:
The Ultimate History of Video Games by Steven Kent
Video Games Industry Comes Down To Earth by N.R. Kleinfield
-New Y...
2021-06-1543 minRelative DisastersThe Dancing Plague of 1518 (Episode 21)In medieval Strasbourg, during a period of unimaginable suffering and poverty, a mania took hold. Infected people were gripped by the compulsion to dance in the streets until they dropped senseless from exhaustion - or died. When the strange illness began to spread, the city took a series of steps to help the afflicted, culminating in a thirty-mile trek to seek the intervention of an obscure saint who may or may not have been angry at the city's sinful lifestyle. On this episode, we look at the time period leading up to the dancing plague, possible causes, how it...
2021-06-1048 minRelative DisastersThe Extinction of the Dodo, 1598-1662 (Episode 20)We're off for some birdwatching this week, with a deep dive into everyone's favorite extinction story, the dodo. Big, flightless, beaky, and laying only a single egg at a time, dodos were doomed from the moment Dutch merchants settled on the island at the turn of the sixteenth century. We lay out how and why the population dwindled, with extensive sidebars into how they tasted (not good), what they looked like (uninspiring), where the last few scraps of dodo remains are today (in museums and in court), and, most crucially, how likely they are to being revived through cloned...
2021-05-2739 minRelative DisastersThe Lake Nyos Explosion of 1986 (Episode 19)We're off to the African country of Cameroon this week to talk about the Lake Nyos tragedy, in which a small, rural crater lake exploded on a calm August evening. The eruption released a cloud of toxic gas that swept down into the valley below, killing every aerobic organism within a 15 kilometer radius - including at least 1750 people living in the villages of Nyos and Subum. We discuss the potential causes of the eruption; the incredible rescue and cleanup management; and Cameroon's efforts to de-saturate the lake, prevent another event, and move 20,000 displaced villagers back home. We'll also touch...
2021-05-1947 minRelative DisastersThe "Gimli Glider" Plane Non-Crash of 1983 (Episode 18)This week we're headed to Canada to discuss the story of Air Canada Flight 143, which ran out of fuel 40,000 feet above rural Manitoba in July of 1983. What should have been a crash was narrowly averted by a pair of skilled pilots, a handful of algebra, and a landing site on a decommissioned airstrip in Gimli - which happened to be packed with Canadian car enthusiasts watching a racecar rally. Along the way, we'll talk about the Canadian air-traffic industry's imperial-metric changeover, how to up-cycle an old Air Force base, and - most importantly - how to turn a Boeing 767...
2021-05-1040 minRelative DisastersThe Casey Jones Train Crash of 1900 (Episode 17)In episode 17, we're heading to Vaughn, Mississippi, to look at the infamous wreck of Engine 382. We'll discuss John Luther "Casey" Jones, the engineer at the controls of 382, his career in the railroad industry, and his actions leading up to the wreck, with sidebars on speeding freight trains, the banana business, the Chicago World's Fair, train whistles, and all the Casey Jones songs. We'll also take a look at how Wallace Saunders and Simeon T. Webb publicized the story of the wreck, and our first Special Guest Star (spoiler: it's our Dad) will share his expertise on railroad culture, express...
2021-04-2154 minRelative DisastersThe Jonestown Massacre of 1978 (Episode 16)Content Warning: this episode concerns an act of extreme violence: mass murder and mass suicide, including the murder of children. Please feel free to skip this episode if that's going to be hard for you to hear.
In this episode, we examine the life of American cult leader and mass murderer Jim Jones. We'll take a look at his strong beliefs in racial equality, and how this promising beginning descended into drug addiction, cultism, paranoia, power, and violence as we attempt to answer the question: how dangerous can blind faith be? As we learn from the events...
2021-04-121h 05Relative DisastersThe Jones-Liddell Feud, 1847-1870 (Episode 15)This week, it's a self-inflicted and completely unnecessary disaster - one that took fourteen lives over the course of nearly thirty years, and outlasted the American Civil War. We'll be covering the 1847 argument between two very rich and deeply unlikeable Louisiana planters, Charles Jones and St. John Richardson Liddell, that led to the feud, and digging into the unbelievable pettiness of the following bloodshed. Related sidebars include an overview of how the legal system treated the feud's murders and lynching, Jones and Liddell's involvement in the Civil War, and the surprising career of one of the feud's few survivors...
2021-04-0844 minRelative DisastersDr. Henry Jones, Jr. and the Ark of the Covenant Incident of 1936 (Episode 14)This week, we're looking at the amazing life of Dr. Henry Jones, Jr. and his discovery of the Ark of the Covenant! This one's got it all - guerilla archaeology, Nazis, and a prize of biblical proportions. We'll talk about the history of the Ark, its disappearance from the historical record, and its re-emergence and re-discovery in the 1930s. Nearly everyone directly involved with the project died in a mysterious explosion which took place at the opening of the Ark in 1936; we'll discuss what little is known of that, and take a look at the amazing life of Dr...
2021-04-0149 minRelative DisastersOperation Highjump and the crash of the George One, 1946 (Episode 13)Add some ice to your drink and travel with us to Antarctica! This week we're talking about the US Navy's 1946 Operation Highjump, which sought to map Antarctica under the command of Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd Jr. We'll discuss the mission, the technology, the major players, and the horrific crash of the George One, a seaplane caught in 'the worst weather on planet Earth'. Three of the crew died on impact; we'll deep-dive into the story of the six survivors, and how they were rescued after two well-below-freezing weeks on a remote glacier.
Enjoy t...
2021-03-251h 02Relative DisastersThe Pre-Poyais Life of Gregor MacGregor, 1786-1821 (Episode 4 Addendum)A little something to tide you over while we prepare the next episode! Here's Greg's quick look at look at the early life of the walking disaster Sir Gregor MacGregor, creator of the Poyais Scheme and swindler of hundreds.
Intrigued? For a complete bibliography and the full disaster rundown, please see Episode 04 - The Poyais Scheme.
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
2021-03-1748 minRelative DisastersThe Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 (Episode 12)Stroll with us down to Boston's North End and take a deep breath: do you smell something sweet? In Episode 12, we go over the 1919 industrial accident that resulted in a tsunami of molasses - over 2 million gallons - pouring down the street at 30 miles per hour, killing 21 Bostonians and a number of horses. We'll discuss what exactly happened, what was responsible (anarchists? capitalism? Prohibition? bad luck?), and why there was a huge, poorly-designed, poorly built storage vat of molasses sitting around in the North End in the first place. We'll also tackle the critical question of how the molasses g...
2021-03-1144 minRelative DisastersThe Destruction of Pompeii / The Mt. Vesuvius Eruption of CE 79 (Episode 11)In this episode, we discuss the stories of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the ancient Roman cities buried by the CE 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Join us as we go over new research on the causes of death during the eruption; the geology that makes the area particularly unsafe; the last adventure of Pliny the Elder; and how a man's brain turned to glass after being exposed to the heat of a pyroclastic surge. We also take a look at how Pompeii has fared since being excavated, with a sidebar on Stray Dog Management.
Enjoy the s...
2021-03-0151 minRelative DisastersProduction of Disney's "The Kingdom of the Sun", 1994-2000 (Episode 10)In Episode 10, we swan-dive into the most ambitious and expensive film ever abandoned by Walt Disney Studios. Join us as Greg dissects the creative and administrative failures of "Kingdom of the Sun". We also get into the creation (and suppression) of its' making-of documentary, "The Sweatbox", the wasted Sting songs, and the phoenix that rose from the ashes of "Kingdom" - everyone's favorite talking-llama buddy comedy, "The Emperor's New Groove".
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sources for this episode include:
The Sweat...
2021-02-2150 minRelative DisastersThe Mona Lisa Heist of 1911 (Episode 9)Episode 9 is Ella's love letter to the Mona Lisa. Join us for highlights of the painting's 500-year history, including time spent in a royal bathroom and at Napoleon's bedside, and the 1911 theft that propelled it from 'relatively obscure example of Renaissance portraiture' to 'global media darling'. We'll get into the events of the theft, how the criminal was caught, and where she was concealed for two years (hint: under the thief's dirty socks).
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sources for this...
2021-02-1449 minRelative DisastersThe Life of Timothy Dexter, 1747-1806 (Episode 8)In Episode 8, our disaster is a person: Lord Timothy Dexter, the most-disliked person in the history of Malden, Massachusetts. We discuss The Malden Informer of Deer's rags-to-riches social ascent, his uncanny (diabolical?) good luck in business, his eyesore of a house, his terrible marriage, his publishing venture ("A Pickle for the Knowing Ones") and his two funerals, only one of which was a practical joke on his neighbors. Tune in and hear how it all unfolded, with a little help from whales, mittens, stray cats, Bibles, and the basement mausoleum that haunts both our nightmares.
2021-02-0554 minRelative Disasters"The Lawn Chair Larry" Flight of 1982 (Episode 7)In Episode 7, we discuss the flight of Larry Walters, a California truck driver who decided, one pleasant Saturday in July 1982, to tie a few dozen weather balloons to a lawn chair and go for a quick float over the Mojave desert. The idea worked...but not quite as expected, sending Larry's airship, "Inspiration 1", into federally-controlled airspace over LAX before crashing into a quiet suburban neighborhood. We'll discuss cluster ballooning (both intentional and accidental), the design and current location of "Inspiration 1" , Larry's balloon obsession, and the amazing luck that led to his safe landing. It's our most uplifting episode yet!
2021-02-0339 minRelative DisastersThe Jiajing Earthquake of 1556 (Episode 6)In Episode 6, we talk about the third-deadliest natural disaster of all time: the massive earthquake that occurred in Shaanxi, China, during the Ming Dynasty. We'll cover why it occurred, what exactly happened, and what was going on with the Jiajing Emperor at the time, as well bonus sidebars on soil liquefaction, royal scandals, where to find loess, and why you wouldn't want to be in a yaodong during an earthquake (but, if you're Ella, why you might want to live in one during non-quake times).
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patr...
2021-01-2742 minRelative DisastersThe Dyatlov Pass Incident of 1959 (Episode 5, Remastered)Episode 5 takes us to the windy, isolated, and very cold Ural Mountains to discuss the mysterious deaths of nine hikers. We will cover the hike, the hikers, and the evidence left behind; we'll also take a look at several of the most persuasive theories surrounding the incident, including Yetis, the KGB, the weather, the wind, secret Soviet weapons testing, and - why not? - wolverine attack.
(Remastered 1/30/23.)
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sources for this episode include:
"Dead Mountain...
2021-01-211h 04
Greg DelaGreg Dela Presents: CONNCT Radio #017Greg Dela Presents: CONNCT Radio #017
1) Greg Dela - Seek Yourself (VIP Edit)[FOUND FREQUENCIES]
2) Denise Deluxe - Rave Together [THE EARTH MUSIC]
3) MADDOW ft. Manela - Alone [BRING THE KINGDOM (HEXAGON)]
4) Jake Alva & BrageAndre - Weight Off [SNIPPET]
5) Peter Luts - Get Down Low [VOYAGER REC.]
6) SWAYLÓ - Ascension [SELF RELEASED]
7) Charles B & Justmylørd - Dance With You [SKINK]
8) Lj Mase The Dobberman Club ft. Ella X - Be There [SIRUP]
9) C-Fast - Sunshine & Happiness [C-FUTURE RECORDS]
CHILLOUT
10) Tinitus - Hot Club [U'RE GUAY RECORDS]
11) Going Deeper & Valiant - All To You [FUTURE HOUSE MUSIC]
TRACK OF THE WEEK
12) lo...
2021-01-191h 00Relative DisastersThe Poyais Scheme of 1822 (Episode 4, Remastered)In Episode 4 we take a ride with swindler Gregor McGregor all the way to the beautiful tropical country of Poyais. You'll hear all about investment bubbles, South American political movements, the tried and true military strategy of running quickly away from the enemy, and how a Scottish con man convinced thousands of people to sink their life savings into shares of an imaginary South American paradise.
*Note from Greg: As our long-time listeners know, the original audio for this episode was corrupted. I've done my best to make it listenable, but our levels are...
2021-01-1344 minRelative DisastersThe Centralia Coal Seam Fire Collapse of 1981 (Episode 3, Remastered)In Episode 3 we go to Centralia, Pennsylvania to explore a disaster that's much bigger than it looks from downtown. You'll hear all about mine fires, the slow and dangerous death of Centralia, and how failures at the city, county, state and federal levels started and worsened an enormous underground fire - one that's expected to burn for the next 250 years.
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
"How an Underground Fire Destroyed an Entire Town", Morton, E., for Slate. 2014.
"Centralia, Pennsylvania: Hell on Earth!", Bo...
2020-12-3156 minRelative DisastersMansa Musa and the Cairo Economic Crash of 1324 (Episode 2, Remastered)Our second episode is all about the economic crash that hit Cairo in 1324. You'll hear all about The World's Richest Man Ever - Mansa Musa, King of the Mali Empire - and his spending habits, what to shop for in a trade economy, why salt was once as valuable as gold, where to go to school in Timbuctu, and exactly how many $10000 hot dogs it takes to cause an economic crisis.
(Remastered 1/30/23)
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
2020-12-1445 min
Relative DisastersThe London Tornado of 1091 (Episode 1, Remastered)Our first episode is all about the monster tornado that hit London in 1091. You'll learn all about TORRO Scale Zero, how stormchasers in the US memorialized Bill Paxton, the Benedictine historians Florence and William, the safest part of St. Mary-le-Bow Church in Cheapside, how much a Norman helmet weighed, and what medieval London (probably) smelled like.
Enjoy the show? Support us on Patreon, at www.patreon.com/RelativeDisastersPodcast.
Sources for this episode include:
"Extreme Weather: Forty Years of the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO)", Doe, R. K., 2015
...
2020-12-0540 min
Boiling Point PodcastBoiling Point - Episode 088 - Kelly Lawson and ELLAFrom Consuming to Sharing
Introducing Kelly Lawson and ELLA
We have all heard the comment from the closest, “I have nothing to wear.” In fact, the average American woman spends approximately $300 per month on fashion items. In less than a month, 51% of these items go unworn or unused. This means that women are making a fashion investment of $250,000 in their lifetime without any type of return of investment. This week’s boiling point guest, Kelly Lawson, is seeking to change the trend and connect like-minded women by way of their closets.
A short time ago...
2016-03-1428 min