History Spelunkers

History Spelunkers Podcast
  • 5.0 (2)
  • History
  • Updated Monthly

Hello friends! Welcome to the History Spelunkers Podcast. In this show we delve deep into the bowels of history in order to discover stories of the niche and obscure aspects that are so often forgotten or left out of wider narratives. Whether you are wanting to study up for a trivia competition, or are just listen to some friends talk about strange things, this is the podcast for you! We have everything from space sandwiches and American emperors, to Mormon wars and glowing cats. If any of those sounds interesting to you, hopefully you will join us as we dive down the rabbit hole!

  1. EP 55: The Lincoln Conspiracy Pt. 2

    Apr 25

    EP 55: The Lincoln Conspiracy Pt. 2

    In the thrilling conclusion of our deep dive into the Lincoln Assassination, we focus on the Manhunt for John W. Booth and the other conspirators and their historic trial. Apologies on some of the audio quality for the first couple of minutes and at the very end of of the episode; there were technical difficulties in during editing. Also content warning for description of severe medical wounds. Shownotes: Episode art: Lincoln Borne by Loving Hands, oil painting by Carl Berch depicting his eyewitness view of the transporting of President Lincoln's body away from Ford'sMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/through-the-cloudsKilling Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly and Martin DugardManhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. SwansonAssassination Vacation by Sarah Vowellhttps://fs.blog/lincolns-last-public-address/ http://livinghistoryofillinois.com/pdf_files/Trial-of-the-Assassins-and-Conspirators-for-the-Murder-of-President-Abraham-Lincoln.pdf https://lincolnconspirators.com/the-trial/may-15-1865https://www.nps.gov/rich/learn/historyculture/the-trial-of-jefferson-davis-cancelled-february-15-1869.htmhttps://www.fjc.gov/history/exhibits/circuit-court-opinions/Case-of-Davishttps://www.nps.gov/drto/learn/historyculture/fort-jefferson.htmhttps://drmudd.org/about-dr-mudd/Presidents Reagan and Carter's letters on the Dr. Mudd situation, on pages 48-60 of https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/public/2023-05/40-744-5752507-019-012-2023.pdf

    2h 1m
  2. EP 54: The Lincoln Conspiracy Pt. 1

    Apr 13

    EP 54: The Lincoln Conspiracy Pt. 1

    Welcome back to another episode of History Spelunkers! In today's episode is part one of our in depth discussion about the Lincoln Assassination, and the surrounding conspiracy leading up to the moment John Wilkes Booth pulled the trigger. Shownotes: Episode art: Benn Pitman's print of the assassination conspirators, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsEpisode music special: "The Ballad of Booth" by Stephen Sondheim from the musical AssassinsMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/through-the-cloudsKilling Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever by Bill O'Reilly and Martin DugardManhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

    1h 55m

  3. Jan 20

    EP 53: Mormon Sucession Crisis

    In this episode we revisit the Mormons and discuss how their early history caused a series of schisms which led to the plethora of so-called "Mormon denominations". These include presidential debates, a King of Beaver Island, and massive governmental raids! Shownotes: https://northernmichiganhistory.com/james-strangs-assassination/https://gtjournal.tadl.org/2015/the-murder-of-james-jesse-strang-ruler-of-the-mormon-colony-at-beaver-island-1856/Special Thanks to American Zion: A New History of Mormonism; Book by Benjamin ParkMusic is an excerpt from "All-American Prophet" from The Book Of Mormon (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2011) written by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone.Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/through-the-cloudsLDS Resource on Polygamy: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/polygamy-latter-day-saints-and-the-practice-of-plural-marriagehttps://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/mormons-polygamy/https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/06/02/church-that-traces-back-joseph/https://kutv.com/news/local/process-begins-to-select-new-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-leadershiphttps://youtu.be/W-jrlaqqw00?si=A7KOuIwPqfaSzyHchttps://youtu.be/r1ssF7PV27c?si=M4ydSZ58UlYF6S-9https://youtu.be/Fiorzo4nOwg?si=I27tylzqrVYFuoGXhttps://youtu.be/FtkYSuRY8Jc?si=w1V3au6w0ZBPWEhNhttps://youtu.be/aaDm_m9yYRQ?si=6UKiZD8KfD2_idhR

    1h 44m
  4. EP 52: Please Leave a Message After the Death

    10/30/2025

    EP 52: Please Leave a Message After the Death

    Happy Halloween! Do you believe in ghosts? Well you aren't alone a lot of people believe that those who have gone on before us occasionally come back to help us on our own journeys. The Victorians Era had a lot of people believing in it, probably because they had people who were able to directly communicate with them. So dive into today's episode to find out what the ghosts were saying. Shownotes: Episode art is an engraving of the Fox Sisters, Margaretta and Catherine are on the left and center respectively, 1852, public domain via Wikimedia Commons"This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War" by Drew Gilpen FaustAudio clip is from Episode 102 of tv show Penny Dreadful created by John LoganMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/through-the-cloudshttps://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2021/10/14/understanding-the-1920s-spiritualism-revival/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/31/why-did-so-many-victorians-try-to-speak-with-the-deadhttps://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/what-we-do/uc-in-the-community/exhibitions-and-collections/southern-spirits/history-of-spiritualismhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0XMn095fd0&ab_channel=KazRowehttps://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/hayden-maria-b-ca-1852https://iapsop.com/spirithistory/spiritualists_petition_to_congress.htmlhttps://www.weirdhistorian.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-spirit-slate-writing-and-of-course-kindred-phenomena/https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61871https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/slate-writinghttps://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/spirit-trumpets-dead-speakhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/ectoplasm-occultismhttps://www.britannica.com/science/ideomotor-effecthttps://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/11950/pg11950-images.htmlTable Turning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrYamQTDagETelegrams From the Dead (1994), PBS documentary available on Youtube via blackcentury, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk-lJJ3RdgI

    1h 59m
  5. EP 51: The Animal Avengers

    10/18/2025

    EP 51: The Animal Avengers

    Hello one and all! History Spelunkers is back with even more of the niche history content you love. In today's episode we look at a class of animals who have gone above and beyond in serving alongside their humans on the fields of war. While we thank all military animals for their service we wanted to highlight some who's tales were just too incredible to believe were true. Shownotes: Episode photo is Sgt. Stubby with his military medals. Public domain via Wikimedia commonsMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/through-the-cloudshttps://www.history.com/articles/the-last-major-cavalry-charge-70-years-agohttps://www.marines.mil/News/Marines-TV/videoid/296891/https://portal.ct.gov/MIL/MAPO/History/People/Stubby-the-Military-Doghttps://sleeplessmusingsofawellgroomedmoustachedman.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/kurt-the-wonder-doberman-one-of-many-canine-heroes/https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/2009/08/15/heroic-warrior-canines-name-put-on-memorialhttps://uswardogsheritagemuseum.org/a-dog-called-chips/https://lenatoritch.com/project/chips-the-war-dog/https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/ark:/21198/zz0002qbjphttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/7072669.stmhttps://pigeons-of-war.com/2022/10/26/pigeon-heroes-of-the-great-war-spike/https://web.archive.org/web/20131106012209/http://www.history.army.mil/news/2013/131025a_pigeon.html https://www.marines.mil/News/Marines-TV/videoid/651326/dvpTag/Animation/https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2022/11/23/the-marine-who-was-a-duck-yes-an-actual-duck/https://time.com/archive/6782570/marines-good-old-siwash/ https://time.com/4731787/wojtek-the-bear-history/https://www.britannica.com/animal/Wojtek-the-Bear

    1h 31m
  6. EP 50: A History of Football(s)

    03/12/2025

    EP 50: A History of Football(s)

    How many balls could a football foot, if a football could foot balls? In today's episode, (our 50th WOW!!) worlds collide as the jocks and the nerds meld minds and the History Spelunkers becomes a sports podcast. Some of the issues we tackle in our conversation are as follows: How old are different sports? Does it makes sense for the United States to have their own football? Is soccer the better name? Can Kelvin pronounce indigenous names? Dive down the Rabbit hole to find out!! SHOWNOTES: Episode art is a sketch of a Calcio Storico game from the 1600s, public domain via Wikimedia CommonsMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/through-the-cloudshttps://darwinshistoryofsoccer.weebly.com/history.htmlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20121225025856/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/the-game/origins.htmlHighest Scoring College Game: https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2024-09-14/georgia-tech-222-cumberland-college-0-history-weird-factsHighest Scoring College Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doZzrsDJo-4&ab_channel=JonBoisAussie Rules: https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/australian-rules-footballFirst College Football Game: https://scarletknights.com/sports/2022/7/25/sports-m-footbl-archive-first-game-html.aspxMedival Football -- Calcio Storico: https://italysegreta.com/calcio-storico/Italian Fascist Football -- Volata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie7y2DSkfW0&ab_channel=ArchivioLuceCinecitt%C3%A0Harpastrum: https://www.topendsports.com/sport/extinct/harpastum.htmEpiskyros: https://www.britannica.com/sports/ball-sports#ref265840Eton Wall Game: https://www.etoncollege.com/news-and-diary/school-news/a-most-eton-sport-the-wall-game/Gaelic Football: https://www.gaa.ie/my-gaa/getting-involved/football-history-and-evolutionRugby: https://www.britannica.com/sports/rugbyModern Mob football: https://apnews.com/article/royal-shrovetide-ashbourne-ancient-soccer-murder-880658c923b33288df42af109d25e458Austus fusion sport: https://www.topendsports.com/sport/extinct/austus.htm

    1h 46m
  7. EP 49: To Beard Or Not To Beard

    01/20/2025

    EP 49: To Beard Or Not To Beard

    That is the question every man through time has faced. In today's episode we will delve into the social, political, and economic pressures that have influenced whether or not men as a class favor hair on their face throughout history. Shownotes Episode Photo is of President Rutherford Hayes, POTUS with the longest beard, public domain accessed via Wikimedia CommonsSound clip is from an interview of the Duck Dynasty cast on Jimmy Kimmel Live show, from youtubeMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mountaineer/through-the-cloudshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-had-best-civil-war-facial-hair-180951965/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30037914https://daily.jstor.org/hair-gender-and-social-status-in-ancient-egypt/ https://uk.bulldogskincare.com/blogs/news/when-in-rome-the-ancient-history-of-traditional-shaving#:~:text=Beards%20among%20Romans%20was%20revived,out%20of%20fashion%20ever%20since.https://www.grunge.com/790046/why-ancient-egyptians-shaved-all-their-hair/ https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30037914https://www.jstor.org/stable/3829878https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9555278/https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/a-brief-history-of-beards/https://www.truefittandhill.com/blogs/journal/history-of-beards-and-facial-hairhttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/beards-mustaches-weird-historyhttps://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/stubble-and-statecraft-how-beards-grew-politicalhttps://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/1/28/21077676/beard-change-politics-beto-orourke-al-gore-david-letterman-conan-obrienhttps://www.politico.com/magazine/gallery/2015/12/politicians-with-beards-000559/?slide=0https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_hair_in_the_militaryhttps://www.wou.edu/history/files/2015/08/Walsh-Devan.pdfhttps://www.indianamuseum.org/blog-post/whiskers-for-votes-or-why-abraham-lincoln-grew-a-beard/https://medium.com/@evgeny_o/why-the-greeks-grew-a-beard-while-the-romans-did-not-5d52a91c989#:~:text=The%20Romans%20believed%20that%20a,age%20solemnly%20shaved%20it%20off.https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Barba.html

    1h 40m
  8. EP 48: For the Love of Eggnog

    12/24/2024

    EP 48: For the Love of Eggnog

    Happy Holidays, History Spelunkers! What would you do to get your booze on? Well the cadets at the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point are apparently willing to do a lot... Shownotes: Episode art: The centennial of the United States Military academy at West Point, New York. 1802-1902, 1904, Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commonshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/egg-nog-its-all-fun-and-games-until-someone-starts-a-holiday-riot-180949281/https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/university-of-virginia-riot-of-1836/

    31 min
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About

Hello friends! Welcome to the History Spelunkers Podcast. In this show we delve deep into the bowels of history in order to discover stories of the niche and obscure aspects that are so often forgotten or left out of wider narratives. Whether you are wanting to study up for a trivia competition, or are just listen to some friends talk about strange things, this is the podcast for you! We have everything from space sandwiches and American emperors, to Mormon wars and glowing cats. If any of those sounds interesting to you, hopefully you will join us as we dive down the rabbit hole!

Information

  • Creator
    History Spelunkers Podcast
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    History Spelunkers