History Obscura

Latest Episodes
Joanna Southcott's Box of Prophecy
Is the Panacea Society really holding the true Southcott Box, or was that disappointing container opened by Harry Price in the 1920s the real thing? And why didn't the world end in 2004? This week's sponsors are Athletic Greens and Ghost Town Podcast! Mus
10 Days in a Mad House, Chapter 11
More from our dear 19th-century gentlewoman, Nellie Bly, as she spies within the inner workings of New York City's Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island. This week's sponsors are Athletic Greens and EndlessInk Books! Music from Fesliyan Studios Ple
Egos & Gods of Ancient Egyptian Texts
Hear ye hear ye, as one boasts of his triumphant life in service of the great Pharoah! These tales are straight from the ancient Egyptian papyri and stone. Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show at www.patreon.com/HistoryObscura, www.buymeaco
An Historical Tour down the Uncanny Valley
Haunted dolls, masks, detailed Greek sculpture, medieval paintings and corpses all play large roles in the history of the Uncanny Valley. This episode covers Lilly from Zak Bagans' The Haunted Museum, Springheel'd Jack, Moskvin's Russian Dolls, and more.
Commited to 19th-century New York Insane Asylum, Nellie Bly's True Story
In 1880s New York, the last thing any woman wanted was to be committed to the infamous lunatic asylum at Blackwell's Island. Except for Nelly Bly, investigative reporter for Joseph Pulitzer's New York World. In this episode, we continue Bly's personal acc
The UFOs of 1967; Over Land & In Sea
The Falcon Lake Incident and the Shag Harbour UFO are two unforgettable stories from another historical year full of unidentifiable craft sightings. The UFOs of 1967 came thick and fast, and left good evidence in their wake. Music from Fesliyan Studios Pl
Witches in the News, Through the Centuries & in the Ducking Pond
Witness the ducking of a witch from the front row of the assembled villagers! This episode is all witch, all the time. Dive in (but try not to float.) Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show at Patreon, BuyMeACoffee, or Anchor! --- Support
Victorian Doctors & the Handwashing Scandal
Checking in again on the utter Filth of the Victorians...turns out things weren't any better in the rest of Europe. A feud between medical surgeons actually led to an effective boycotting of clinical sanitary codes. Music from Fesliyan Studios Pleas
A Victorian Seance with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle & Harry Houdini
The two famous friends, Houdini and Conan Doyle, had a bad falling out over a seance gone wrong. Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show at Patreon, BuyMeACoffee, or Anchor! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/historyobscura/support
We Faked the Haunting at Borley Rectory
Did a bunch of meddling kids really fool the great Harry Price, ghost hunter? Music from Fesliyan Studios Please support the show at Patreon, BuyMeACoffee, or Anchor --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/historyobscura/support