A Popular History of Unpopular Things Kelli Beard

Join Kelli as she goes over the tale of Liver-Eating Johnson, a mountain man in the early 19th century American frontier who became legendary for how he avenged the murder and scalping of his Flathead indigenous wife. A book, called Crow Killer, really popularized his life - so much so that it was turned into a movie, Jeremiah Johnson, released in 1972 and starring Robert Redford.

But is this a true story? Or is it just an embellished legend of a mountain man?

Let's look at the (abridged) story, then look at some efforts at debunking this classic wild west tale of struggles, survival, murder, revenge, and liver-eatin' in the American frontier.

Only light cannibalism this time :)

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Intro and Outro music credit: Nedric
Find him on all streaming services and YouTube, and check out his newest album, Sparrow Factory! 
A Little Bit de TodoA Little Bit de Todo is a podcast about a little bit of everything, for curious minds...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify
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Join Kelli as she dives into the world of the Freemasons, Secret Societies, Religious Tension, Political Conflict, and... pugs?

In 1738, Pope Clement XII issued a papal bull denying any Roman Catholics from joining the Freemasons. It was a targeted hit at the religious and political tensions surrounding two sects of the Freemasons - the Jacobite Lodge and the Hanoverian Lodge - who argued over their main religious identity and political affiliations. But as a result of the papal bull, Catholics were no longer allowed to join any Freemason group.

So, to get around this, the Order of the Pug was formed - a para-Masonic group that allowed the elite of Europe to still engage in Freemason-esque rituals, fellowship, and life... but without the threat of excommunication.

But the Order of the Pugs operated as it sounds - it was very focused on dogs. Collars, barking, and all. And it got weird.

This episode doesn't have death, destruction, blood, gore, violence, or cannibalism... but it's certainly a strange story!

Support me on my Patreon - your support helps keep this podcast going!
A Popular History of Unpopular Things Patreon

Follow the APHOUT YouTube channel!

Intro and Outro music credit: Nedric
Find him on all streaming services and YouTube, and check out his newest album, Sparrow Factory!
A Little Bit de TodoA Little Bit de Todo is a podcast about a little bit of everything, for curious minds...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify
Support the Show.

Join Kelli as she tells the story of Levi Boone Helm, a frontiersman-turned-outlaw who committed murders across the West at the height of the California Gold Rush. But that's not all this serial killer did - he was also a cannibal. And he bragged about it.

It's another mid-19th-century tale of the dark side of western expansion. With lots of cannibalism.

So let's dive into the historical context of the time to see if we can place Boone Helm in his contextual place, the American West during westward expansion.

Support me on my Patreon - your support helps keep this podcast going!
A Popular History of Unpopular Things Patreon

Follow the APHOUT YouTube channel!

Intro and Outro music credit: Nedric
Find him on all streaming services and YouTube, and check out his newest album, Sparrow Factory!
A Little Bit de TodoA Little Bit de Todo is a podcast about a little bit of everything, for curious minds...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify
Support the Show.

Join Kelli as she goes over a trial from the peak years of Early Modern Europe's so-called werewolf panic - the trial of Peter Stumpp, the Werewolf of Bedburg. Peter confessed to all kinds of horrible, evil, depraved things. As a result, he was executed on the breaking wheel in a particularly gross and bloody fashion.

But was he actually guilty? Was he a murderer? Or was he tortured into confessing as a scapegoat for the times?

Let's dive into the historical context and available primary source data to learn about Peter Stumpp, the Werewolf of Bedburg Germany, and see how much truth there is to these heinous acts.

Support me on my Patreon - your support helps keep this podcast going!
A Popular History of Unpopular Things Patreon

Follow the APHOUT YouTube channel!

Intro and Outro music credit: Nedric
Find him on all streaming services and YouTube, and check out his newest album, Sparrow Factory!
A Little Bit de TodoA Little Bit de Todo is a podcast about a little bit of everything, for curious minds...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify
Support the Show.

Join Kelli as she talks about the inspiration for the Silent Hill games and movies - the ghost town of Centralia! In 1962, a fire set the underground coal mines on fire, and they've been burning to this day. Experts believe that the fires will continue to burn underneath Centralia for another 250 years!

While Silent Hill and its scares don't exist, the horrors inflicted on Centralia may be even scarier...

Support me on my Patreon - your support helps keep this podcast going!
A Popular History of Unpopular Things Patreon

Follow the APHOUT YouTube channel!

Intro and Outro music credit: Nedric
Find him on all streaming services and YouTube, and check out his newest album, Sparrow Factory!

Sources referenced:
Fire Underground: The Ongoing Tragedy of the Centralia Mine Fire by David DeKok
A Little Bit de TodoA Little Bit de Todo is a podcast about a little bit of everything, for curious minds...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify
Support the Show.

Join Kelli as she takes a look at a historic killer - Lizzie Borden - who was accused of killing her father and stepmother with a hatchet in 1892. But despite everything pointing toward her, she was acquitted by the jury. Kelli offers up an explanation as to why she was not found guilty of a crime she most likely committed, and it (of course) has to do with the historical context! What was life like in New England in 1892? And how did that contribute to her acquittal?

Support me on my Patreon - your support helps keep this podcast going!
A Popular History of Unpopular Things Patreon

Follow the APHOUT YouTube channel!

Intro and Outro music credit: Nedric
Find him on all streaming services and YouTube, and check out his newest album, Sparrow Factory!

Sources referenced:
The Trial of Lizzie Borden: A True Story by Cara Robertson
A Little Bit de TodoA Little Bit de Todo is a podcast about a little bit of everything, for curious minds...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify
Support the Show.