In 1887, Welsh-American explorer, Henry Morton Stanley, journeys to Africa for what may be his final expedition, the search for Emin Pasha, governor of the province of Equatoria. Thirty years before, Stanley began his career by searching for s

People of Odd! (Changes to the pod and new scheduling)

Jun 22nd, 2023 4m 20s

People of Odd, there are changes afoot. We apologize for the lack of new episodes these past few weeks (in this message, Delia explains what's been happening behind the scenes). Bottom line is: going forward, the podcast will be a solo proje

The Curious Case of Cordelia Botkin

Jun 22nd, 2023 1h 19m

On August 9, 1898, in Dover, Delaware, Mary Elizabeth Dunning receives a package with a note that reads, "Love to yourself and baby. - Mrs. C." With the note is a box of chocolates and so begins a macabre tale of adultery, jealousy and obsessi

The Murder of Kitty Genovese and the Origins of the Bystander Effect

May 18th, 2023 1h 36m

Born in the shadow of the Great Depression, World War II, and the Korean War, Catherine "Kitty" Genovese grew up knowing four things - hard work, family, compassion, and the importance of humor in everyday life. It was her knack for working wi

The Divorce of Eunice Hawley Chapman

May 3rd, 2023 1h 11m

In 1804, Eunice Hawley was twenty-six, petite and strikingly beautiful with a temper and a will to match. Yet, due to her family's debts, she was a spinster. Then came James Chapman, a merchant who was fifteen years her senior. The two had

Sweet Fanny Adams (The Origins of Words and Phrases, Vol. 2)

Apr 17th, 2023 1h 22m

It is a truth universally acknowledged that around the town of Alton, Hampshire, UK, the most famous celebrity is the one and only Jane Austen. However, about a mile and a half from her historic home is another landmark - the grave of Fanny Ad

The Murder of Emmett Till

Apr 10th, 2023 51m 38s

On August 21, 1955, fourteen-year-old Emmett Till arrived in Money, Mississippi to visit his uncle and his cousins. Four days later, the boys would take a drive to a grocery store owned by a white couple, Roy and Carolyn Bryant. To this day,

The Kidnapping of Henrietta Wood

Apr 3rd, 2023 1h 46m

"I can't quite tell my age . . . but I guess I must be about fifty eight or fifty nine years old." So begins the story of the life of Henrietta Wood, a story which she told in 1876 to a reporter named Lafcadio Hearn. Born into slavery, Henrie

The Founding of Ferrero Rocher

Mar 27th, 2023 30m 42s

In 1964, at the age of 39, Michael Ferrero added vegetable oil to a chocolate paste known as gianduja (jaan-doo-yah) and created something sensational that we know today as . . . Nutella. In the following years, Ferrero would oversee the creat

The Bravery of Neerja Bhanot, the Heroine of Pan Am Flight 73

Mar 20th, 2023 37m 52s

By 1986, Neerja Bhanot's life was looking up - literally. At just twenty-two, her beauty and poise had earned her a modeling contract with some of India's most recognizable brands and her second job as a lead flight attendant for Pan Am Airlin

The Patience of Josefina Guerrero, the Spy with Leprosy

Mar 13th, 2023 1h 51m

In 1941, just prior to the outbreak of World War II, Josefina Guerrero couldn't be happier. She was the wife of a prominent doctor, whom she adored, and the mother to an infant daughter. One day, Josefina (Joey to her friends) would look in t

The Extraordinary Life and Unsolved Murder of Tupac Shakur (Part 2)

Mar 6th, 2023 1h 11m

We're back for part 2 of Tupac and Savanah gets into the start of his career with promotor, Leila Steinberg, and the meet-up with his long-time manager, Atron Gregory. Tupac's career as a rising musician occurred right alongside his starring r

The Extraordinary Life and Unsolved Murder of Tupac Shakur (Part 1)

Feb 27th, 2023 47m 6s

Savanah's back, guys, and this week, she's bringing you the story of one of the most inspiring and influential musicians of all time - Tupac Shakur. In this episode, Savanah covers his early life from his birth as Lesane Parish Crooks in 1971.

Why Do We Say That? (The Origins of Words and Phrases, Vol. 1)

Feb 20th, 2023 1h 7m

Savanah is out this week, guys, (let's just say IBS sucks), but our friend, David, is back for another episode and we're doing something a little different. Instead of covering just one story, Delia is bringing you the story behind four words

The Trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson (aka "The Devil Made Me Do It" Case)

Feb 13th, 2023 1h 13m

Savanah's on vacation, guys, so our friend, David, is filling in for this week's episode and boy is this one a doozy! On February 16, 1980, Arne Cheyenne Johnson awoke to a sore throat and other symptoms that led to him calling out of work. T

The Inspiring Tale of Irena Sendler, the Woman Who Saved 2,500 Children from the Holocaust

Feb 6th, 2023 1h 15m

In this episode, guys, Delia brings you the story of Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker whose heroism is the stuff of legend. At 4' 11", Irena wasn't an imposing figure. However, from a young age, she was taught to see the good in everyone

Bridget Bishop, the First Victim of the Salem Witch Trials

Jan 30th, 2023 38m

It's Savanah's turn this week, guys, and we're diving into the story of Bridget Bishop. Bridget was born in England sometime during the 1630s, but immigrated to a small American town in Massachusetts called . . . Salem. Bridget married severa

The Hall-Mills Murders (Part 2)

Jan 22nd, 2023 1h 37m

We're back for part 2 of the Hall-Mills Murders and if you thought part 1 was wild, just wait till you hear this. We left off with the indictment and the jury deciding not to bring the case against Edward's wife, Frances Hall, to trial. As we

The Hall-Mills Murders (Part 1)

Jan 15th, 2023 1h 35m

It's all about true crime this week, guys! Delia tells Savanah the story of the Hall-Mills Murders, a story rife with scandal, tragedy, and downright bonkery. The night of September 14th, 1922, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Reverend Edward Ha

The Origins of Jazz

Jan 8th, 2023 26m 16s

In this episode, Savanah takes the reins (trying to spell that word reminded Delia of Tik Tok videos explaining why English is so hard!). We go over a short history on the origins of jazz from its roots in slavery to a growth spurt in the Big

Kidnapped by the Circus: The Incredible True Story of George and Willie Muse

Jan 1st, 2023 1h 58m

Hope you guys had a safe and happy holiday! We're ringing in the new year with the story of George and Willie Muse. Born to a mother who was a black sharecropper at the turn of the 1900s, George and Willie were like other boys except for one

The Origins of Jazz - Part 1

Dec 26th, 2022 24m 31s

We hope everyone is rejoicing (or recovering from) this holiday season. It's Savanah's turn as host, guys! In this mini-pod, Savanah gives Delia a brief history of jazz and it's roots in the Big Easy - New Orleans! Someway, somehow, we find

The Donner Party (Part 2)

Dec 18th, 2022 1h 34m

We're back for part two of the Donner Party, guys! In this part, the snow shoe group continues on their grim odyssey to Johnson's Ranch and we find out what Patrick Dolan suggested that they do. Meanwhile, things at the lake camps spiral into

The Donner Party (Part 1)

Dec 11th, 2022 2h 5m

Welcome to the Land of Odd pod, guys! In our debut episode, Delia takes Savanah to the year 1846 when the Graves family of Illinois leaves everything they've known for the far off place of California (which was, at that time, part of Mexico!).

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