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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Boxed for a Better Life – Podcast #203

Published on September 11, 2023

Posted in: Escape and Survival, Love & Marriage, Podcast

In 1901, Johann Beck was deeply in love with his fiancé Johanna but jobless in Germany. They dreamt of a new life in the U.S., but funds were scarce. Johann's ingenious plan to cross the Atlantic changed everything. Was love able to conquer all?

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The Kid Is Not My Son – Podcast #198

Published on June 7, 2023

Posted in: Hoaxes, Love & Marriage, Money & Financial, Podcast

A young boy could inherit millions until his father suspects he isn’t the dad. A true story that involves deceit, attempted blackmail, international law, forged papers, a deceased lawyer, and more!

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Dubious Advice – Podcast #197

Published on May 18, 2023

Posted in: Love & Marriage, Podcast

Something NEW! for the podcast: A look at advice columns and how they have evolved over time. Have the questions and responses changed over the past century? Some of the responses are sure to make you laugh.

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Frasier, the Sensuous Lion – Podcast #196

Published on May 3, 2023

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Love & Marriage, Podcast

Frasier was a decrepit old circus lion whose best days were far behind him, or at least that was what his caregivers believed. While he wasn’t much to look at, he proved popular with the lionesses.

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1937: Miss Stumpf to Become Bride of Mr. Zumpft (Footnote)

Published on April 28, 2023

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

Alida Stumpf didn't have to change her last name by much when she married Frederick Zumpft in 1937.

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The Love Pirate – Podcast #194

Published on April 3, 2023

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Love & Marriage, Podcast

In 1923, Kathleen Morrell was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of her own children. Why? Simply because all of her children were illegitimate.

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1964: Woman Anonymously Mails Boyfriend $500 (Footnote)

Published on March 14, 2023

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Love & Marriage

A 19-year-old had the brilliant idea of mailing her boyfriend $500, thinking he would use it to marry her. It did not go as planned...

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1937: Dog Found to Have Ring Lost Three Years Earlier (Footnote)

Published on March 10, 2023

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Footnotes to History, Love & Marriage

For three long years, Mrs. David Hann searched for her wedding ring. Then, one day, her dog spat it up. Where had it been all this time?

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1967: Dead Elephant Her Valentine

Published on March 7, 2023

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

Would you give a dead baby elephant to your significant other for Valentine's Day? Well, this Oregon man did...

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A Severed Relationship – Podcast #192

Published on March 6, 2023

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Love & Marriage, Podcast

Ouch!!! The ghastly true story of Bertha Boronda who, in 1907, took a straight razor and sliced off her husband Frank’s penis. Did he survive?

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1930: Kissing Ban Proposed (Footnote)

Published on March 3, 2023

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Love & Marriage

A 10-year ban on kissing was proposed to slow the spread of tuberculosis. Could it work?

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1957: Doctor’s Stained-Glass Struggle Against Daughter’s Marriage

Published on February 28, 2023

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

A man objects to his daughter's marriage to her high school teacher by hurling stones at St. Patrick's cathedral's stained-glass windows.

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1928: Couple Waits 60 Years to Marry

Published on February 24, 2023

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Love & Marriage

It's never too late to marry one's sweetheart, even if they have to wait 60 years to do so.

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1904: The Match Head Man: A Strange Tale of Addiction

Published on February 21, 2023

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Law & Order, Love & Marriage, Tidbits

A woman complains that her husband has been eating match heads since their honeymoon and wants to know what can be done about it.

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1927: Every Kiss Takes 3 Minutes From Lovers’ Life Span (Footnote)

Published on February 17, 2023

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Love & Marriage, Science, Technology & Medicine

Can kissing really shorten one's life? That's what students at Western State College concluded.

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Recent Podcast Episodes

Retrocast #20 – Podcast #204
September 20, 2023
Retrocast #19 – Podcast #202
August 15, 2023
Back Into the Woods – Podcast #201
August 2, 2023
Mississippi Bans Sesame Street – Podcast #200
July 17, 2023
Bonus Episode: I Am a Guest on the Off Exit 10 Podcast
July 5, 2023
Retrocast #18 – Podcast #199
June 21, 2023
The Kid Is Not My Son – Podcast #198
June 7, 2023
Dubious Advice – Podcast #197
May 18, 2023
Frasier, the Sensuous Lion – Podcast #196
May 3, 2023
Retrocast #17 – Podcast #195
April 19, 2023

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