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Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Retrocast 16 – Podcast #193

Published on March 20, 2023

Posted in: Podcast, Retrocasts

Latest episode! In this episode: a man who recorded the location of buried treasure on a record, a girl who swallowed 200 rocks, a color-blind plumber, the history of McDonald’s Big Mac, and much more!

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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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Retrocast #15 – Podcast #191

Published on February 14, 2023

Posted in: Love & Marriage, Podcast, Retrocasts

A man who eats match heads, every kiss supposedly knocks 3 minutes off of your life, a couple waits 60 years to marry, a 10-year-ban is proposed to curb the spread of tuberculosis, and much more!

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Marty, the Marijuana Mouse – Podcast #190

Published on February 2, 2023

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Humor, Podcast

The crazy true story of Marty, a mouse who was stealing marijuana and other drugs from the evidence room of the San Jose police department in 1974.

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Retrocast #14 – Podcast #189

Published on January 19, 2023

Posted in: Podcast, Retrocasts

A man claims his wife snores in Morse code, a man hitchhikes after his car is stolen and is picked up by his own vehicle, the AMA recommends those over 40 not do the Twist, and much more!

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The Newburyport Anti-Inflation Plan – Podcast #188

Published on January 9, 2023

Posted in: Money & Financial, Podcast

Inflation in the US hit 20% shortly after WW II. The government couldn’t get it under control, so the businessmen of Newburyport came up with a plan. Did it work?

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Christmas Retrocast – Podcast #187

Published on December 20, 2022

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast, Retrocasts

A special holiday Retrocast featuring 10 true stories from Christmas past, plus a holiday song recorded in 1913.

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Bad Apples #5 – The Bishop’s Wife – Podcast #186

Published on December 15, 2022

Posted in: Bad Apples Movie Review, Podcast

A review of the 1947 classic Christmas movie "The Bishop’s Wife," starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. Is it as good as “It’s a Wonderful Life?”

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200 Years of Twas the Night – Podcast #185

Published on December 5, 2022

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

Author Pamela McColl discusses the origins of the poem, the debate over who truly wrote it, and how it has gone on to be the most published and most often recited poem in the library of English literature.

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The Cryptanalyst (Part 3) – Podcast #184

Published on November 18, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Podcast

In this final installment, Marvin Lautzenhesier discusses leaving the FBI, his patents, and the giant theater organ that he installed in his house.

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The Cryptanalyst (Part 2) – Podcast #183

Published on November 3, 2022

Posted in: Fraud & Deception, Law & Order, Podcast

In this second installment, 93-year-old Marvin Lautzenheiser discusses his time as an FBI field agent, how his team finally deciphered the hollow nickel message, and offers up his opinion on the Steven Spielberg movie Bridge of Spies.

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The Cryptanalyst (Part 1) – Podcast #182

Published on October 21, 2022

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

An interview with 93-year-old Marvin Lautzenheiser, who was the lead cryptanalyst for the FBI team that deciphered the microfilm message contained in the Hollow Nickel (Podcast #168).

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The Great Los Angeles Air Raid – Podcast #181

Published on October 7, 2022

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast

The long-forgotten story of a battle that took place over Los Angeles just a few months after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. The US used all its might to shoot down the enemy planes detected overhead.

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YesterCast #1 – November 22, 1963 – Podcast #180

Published on September 22, 2022

Posted in: Podcast, Yestercast

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy was a tragic day. But what else was happening that day? This episode of the podcast discusses the offbeat, quirky, and bizarre stories of November 22, 1963.

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Bad Apples #4 – Gaslight – Podcast #179

Published on September 7, 2022

Posted in: Bad Apples Movie Review, Podcast

A review of the 1944 psychological thriller "Gaslight," starring Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, and Joseph Cotton. It is from this movie that the term "gaslighting" is derived.

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Recent Podcast Episodes

Retrocast 16 – Podcast #193
March 20, 2023
A Severed Relationship – Podcast #192
March 6, 2023
Retrocast #15 – Podcast #191
February 14, 2023
Marty, the Marijuana Mouse – Podcast #190
February 2, 2023
Retrocast #14 – Podcast #189
January 19, 2023
The Newburyport Anti-Inflation Plan – Podcast #188
January 9, 2023
Christmas Retrocast – Podcast #187
December 20, 2022
Bad Apples #5 – The Bishop’s Wife – Podcast #186
December 15, 2022
200 Years of Twas the Night – Podcast #185
December 5, 2022
The Cryptanalyst (Part 3) – Podcast #184
November 18, 2022