Borrowed Bones

Sarah Sexton
  • 4.8 (13)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Families build you up, tear you down, and sometimes drag you into something truly unhinged. Borrowed Bones unearths the bizarre, toxic, and fascinating stories of family dynamics gone sideways. From the macabre to the just plain strange, we’re digging deep to uncover the skeletons hiding in the closets of history, culture, and beyond. 

  1. DEC 17

    The Weems Family

    John Weems' determination to free his family from slavery is one of trust, cooperation, and human ingenuity, spawning from the most desperate of situations. Listen to hear how John Weems and the underground railroad raised money and awareness to ensure the entire Weems family found freedom.  Sources: BlackPast.org , Weems The People, WorldHistory.org, Archives of Maryland, The Shadow on the Household, Railroad Ties, Anna Maria Bio, HeritageMontgomery.org  Support the show E-Mail the show at BorrowedBonesPodcast@proton.me Molly Bz Cookies - Promo Code: Bones Get Good Feels Cannabis Seltzer - Promo Code: Bones MERCH! BorrowedBones Instagram

    44 min

  2. NOV 26

    Borrowed Words 4

    From sailors’ ropes to Paris bartenders, our language gets tipsy in this Borrowed Words episode. We highlight popular drinking words and phrases on the biggest bar night of the year!  Sources: Snopes.com , Factcheck.com, OED.com, Dictionary.com, Learnreligions.com, phrases.org, English.stackexchange.com, therealdill.com, Silvercircledistillery.com  Support the show E-Mail the show at BorrowedBonesPodcast@proton.me Molly Bz Cookies - Promo Code: Bones Get Good Feels Cannabis Seltzer - Promo Code: Bones MERCH! BorrowedBones Instagram

    21 min

  3. NOV 20

    The (almost) First English Family in America

    A colony vanishes, a single word carved in wood, and a baby named Virginia Dare. Did the Roanoke colony assimilate, starve, or flee the storm?  Support the show E-Mail the show at BorrowedBonesPodcast@proton.me Molly Bz Cookies - Promo Code: Bones Get Good Feels Cannabis Seltzer - Promo Code: Bones MERCH! BorrowedBones Instagram

    57 min

  4. NOV 12

    The Blue Fugates

    The blue Fugates of Kentucky were a family like none other. Donning either pale white or blue skin, this Appalachian family stood out.  Listen as we walk through the Fugate family line, dispelling untruths, and telling the whole story.    Sources: Painting of the Fugates  Howstuffworks.com, DNAexplained.com, Historycollection.com, Blue People of Troublesome Creek,  Ancestral Findings, MCMSNJ.net , More DNA stuff Support the show E-Mail the show at BorrowedBonesPodcast@proton.me Molly Bz Cookies - Promo Code: Bones Get Good Feels Cannabis Seltzer - Promo Code: Bones MERCH! BorrowedBones Instagram

    53 min

  5. NOV 5

    The Fox Sisters

    Maggie and Kate Fox sparked the American seance craze after their older sister Leah, turned a parlor prank into a booming business model that still haunts today’s mediums and paranormal shows. Listen as we explain how the Fox sisters communicated with the dead.  Sources: History.com, HeadStuff.org, National Women's Historical Society, Archive.org, Original Report of the Hydesville Haunting , The Fox Sisters and the Birth of Spiritualism, NYHeritage.org  Support the show E-Mail the show at BorrowedBonesPodcast@proton.me Molly Bz Cookies - Promo Code: Bones Get Good Feels Cannabis Seltzer - Promo Code: Bones MERCH! BorrowedBones Instagram

    1h 6m

  6. OCT 17

    The Licari Family and the Unknown Number

    We get into "Unknown Number: The High School Cat Fish ,” documentary that dives into a cyberstalking scandal that blindsided families and friends in small town, Beal City, MI  Sources: The Cut, Cole's MLive Article, MLive, MLive, MLive, MDOC, Forbes Support the show E-Mail the show at BorrowedBonesPodcast@proton.me Molly Bz Cookies - Promo Code: Bones Get Good Feels Cannabis Seltzer - Promo Code: Bones MERCH! BorrowedBones Instagram

    1h 18m

  7. OCT 8

    Borrowed Words 3

    Ever wonder why we say “graveyard shift” or “trick or treat”? Listen as we unravel the eerie origins of words and phrases we say every spooky season. Sources: Wordsmarts.com, Graveyard Shift, BetterWordsOnline.com, MentalFloss.com, Phrases.com, WordOrigins.com, LoveToKnow.com, TheExplain.com, UncoverWords.com, Etymonline.com, MerriamWebster.com, History.com Support the show E-Mail the show at BorrowedBonesPodcast@proton.me Molly Bz Cookies - Promo Code: Bones Get Good Feels Cannabis Seltzer - Promo Code: Bones MERCH! BorrowedBones Instagram

    40 min

  8. OCT 1

    The Brothers Grimm: Part 3

    As we reach the final chapter in our Brothers Grimm trilogy, we follow Jacob and Wilhelm through their golden years at the University of Berlin. We see how these scholarly siblings who have already transformed folklore collection into a science, continue to make history even in their twilight years.  Sources: The German Fairytale Route, The Romantic Movement, The Polar Star,  Hans Christian Andersen, Frankfurt National Assembly, Grimms Fairytales  Support the show E-Mail the show at BorrowedBonesPodcast@proton.me Molly Bz Cookies - Promo Code: Bones Get Good Feels Cannabis Seltzer - Promo Code: Bones MERCH! BorrowedBones Instagram

    44 min
See All (26)

4.8
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Families build you up, tear you down, and sometimes drag you into something truly unhinged. Borrowed Bones unearths the bizarre, toxic, and fascinating stories of family dynamics gone sideways. From the macabre to the just plain strange, we’re digging deep to uncover the skeletons hiding in the closets of history, culture, and beyond. 

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Sexton
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Borrowed Bones
  • Show Website
    Borrowed Bones

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