30 Morbid Minutes

There are over 200 known cases where people have been found burned to death with no discernible cause. These cases have contributed to the theory of spontaneous human combustion, the idea that a person can catch fire and burn alive with no external ignition source. And, while it's regarded as a pseudoscience by the field at large, large enforcement and coroners around the world still use spontaneous human combustion as an official cause of death. We try to separate fact from fiction in this burning mystery, examining theories like the "wick effect." Go to http://bombas.com/30mm and use code 3mm for 20% off your first purchase. Go to http://babbel.com/30mm to get up to 55% off your subscription. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bills of Mortality originated in the late sixteenth century as a way for parish networks to track weekly plague outbreaks. Eventually, over time, this medical journal evolved to become a standard practice, documenting annual mortality statistics. Much of the terminology and disease nomenclature used is now considered vastly outdated by today's medical standards. In this episode, Elyse and Jessica go through the list of causes of death, trying to explain and translate with historical context. Go to http://lectricebikes.com to make this your most adventurous year yet. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp - go to http://betterhelp.com/30MM to get 10% off your first month. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A sky burial is a funerary practice in which the body of a deceased person is prepared, placed, and left exposed in a place of high elevation so that vultures and other scavenging birds will consume it and carry the deceased's soul to the heavens. In this episode we explore the history and theological origins of sky burials, who practices it, and why this unique burial rite is in decline. Go to http://babbel.com/30MM to get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription. Go to http://dietsmoke.com and use code 30MM to get 20% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica and Elyse return January 10th with even more morbid history and topics to make your head think and skin crawl! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Mariana Trench is the deepest location on earth and widely unexplored. The harsh conditions make it impossible for shallow ocean life to exist, and chartered explorations are a challenge, even with the most advanced submersible technology. Only 27 people have descended into its depths, including film director, James Cameron. We investigate the unusual creatures that dwell within the deep, and what happens if a journey into the trench goes wrong. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp — go to http://betterhelp.com/30MM to get 10% off your first month. Go to http://masterlcass.com/30mm to get 15% off an annual membership! Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A chair. A doll. A painting. Relatively innocuous, but ask a paranormal expert and you might hear otherwise. In this episode we learn the history behind some of the world's most notoriously cursed and dangerous objects and artifacts, alleged to carry evil and malice beyond what we could imagine, including Robert the Doll, Busby's Stoop Chair, The Crying Boy Painting, and King Tut's Tomb. Go to http://hellofresh.com/30mm65 and use code 30mm65 to get 65% off plus free shipping. Go to http://everlywell.com/30mm to get 20% off an at-home lab test. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ritualistic human sacrifice was a common practice in early and classical cultures. While we know it was done to earn the blessings of the gods, many scholars and archaeologists point to the underlying ways that human sacrifice served to enforce social control. In this episode, we take a walk down world history's morbid memory lane of sacred slaughter, to see how different civilizations did the deed. Go to http://lectricebikes.com to save up to $150 on a 2.0 eBike purchase. Go to http://uncommongoods.com/30MM for 15% off. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spooky enthusiasts rejoice, it's the most wonderful time of year: Halloween season! No better time than now to dive into the history behind America's most morbid holiday; how it started, where certain traditions like trick-or-treating come from, and how Halloween has evolved and popularized into more than just a commercial candy and costume fest. Go to http://rothys.com/30mm to get $20 off your first purchase. Go listen to Tales From the Stinky Dragon wherever you get your podcasts! Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Time can be a truly scary concept. In this episode, we investigate the personification of time, through imagery and art. We talk about chronophobia, the fear of time, and how Doomsday Clocks and Millennium Clocks exacerbate that fear. We take a look at what some of the world's richest people and most advanced scientific minds are doing to stop the progression of time. And finally, we examine how external forces like technology and the COVID pandemic have distorted our relationship with time, warping an already fragile mental construct. Go to http://shadyrays.com and use code 30MM to get 50% off 2 or more pairs of polarized sunglasses. Go listen to Tales From the Stinky Dragon wherever you get your podcasts! Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The average lifespan of someone diagnosed with CTE is just 51 years. Promising athletic careers have been cut short, and lasting legacies have been marred by this debilitating neurodegenerative disease. We investigate the effects of CTE and repetitive head trauma, and how contact-heavy sports like football and wrestling are navigating the connection between the two. Go to http://hellofresh.com and use code 30MM65 for 65% off plus free shipping! Go to http://uncommongoods.com/30mm for 15% off your next gift. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The modern funeral industry capitalizes on stigmas about death, creating a deliberate air of mystery and secrecy around how funeral homes operate. We go inside the unspoken practices of morticians, and debunk some of the myths and tall tales surrounding the post-mortem process. Go to http://shadyrays.com and use code 30MM to get 50% off 2 or more pairs of polarized sunglasses. Go to http://lectricebikes.com to get $100 off any eBike purchase. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes the most dangerous place to be in the Victorian Era was inside your own home, thanks to the overwhelming number of chemicals and toxins that were in everyday use and objects. We unravel how substances like gas, lead, arsenic, formaldehyde and mercury, infiltrated and poisoned the nineteenth century home, and could be found en masse in products like children’s toys, beauty products, wallpaper, and even food. Go to http://rothys.com/30MM to get $20 off your first purchase. Go to http://shadyrays.com and use code 30MM for 50% OFF 2+ pairs of polarized sunglasses. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Podcasting's death-obsessed duo returns with all-new episodes and topics, this September 6th. First up: Hidden Killers of the Victorian Era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Overflowing cemeteries and rampant disease forced 18th century Parisians to find a new place to inter the dead; the Paris Catacombs, a series of abandoned mining tunnels running 200 miles beneath the city. We cover the circumstances that led to the creation of this mass tomb, learn about the enthusiasts known as "cataphiles," the past and presence perils of this macabre landmark, and more. Go to http://dietsmoke.com and use promo code 30MM for 20% off. Go to http://lectricebikes.com to get $100 off any eBike purchase. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a renewed interest in and demand for exorcists worldwide, we’re looking at the Vatican’s relatively new “exorcist school,'' and what it takes to become a fully-fledged exorcist. Plus, how an exorcism is performed, and the Roman Rite, a text that serves as the official guidebook. We’re also investigating who can request an exorcism and why, and the dangerous stigmas surrounding religious cleansing. Go to http://everlywell.com/30mm to get 20% off an at-home lab test. Go to http://betterhelp.com/30MM to get 10% off your first month! Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

History’s obsession with being prematurely buried alive, and what to do if you do find yourself six feet underground with no escape. We look at how this became a very real problem in the Victorian Era, and some of the inventions created to prevent unintentional dirt naps. Go to http://solostove.com and use promo code 30MM to get $10 off on top of summer sales. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Exploring the origins of the modern tombstone and what the future of memorial monuments might hold. Plus, we break down the anatomy of epitaphs, and share some of history’s most bizarre and funny ones. Go to http://betterhelp.com/30MM to get 10% off your first month! Go to http://functionofbeauty.com/30mm to get 25% off your first order. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cloning was once considered the stuff of science fiction. Now, to many, it’s the future and the natural evolution of humanity’s progress, survival, and experimentation as a species. To others, it’s an abomination; playing god. In this episode of 30 Morbid Minutes we’re diving into the background of and types of cloning, the ethical questions, and how much the science has changed in the last thirty years. Go to http://everlywell.com/30mm to get 20% off an at-home lab test. Go to http://dietsmoke.com and use promo code 30MM for 20% off. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reincarnation, the belief that the soul takes on another form after bodily death, is a cornerstone of many religions. Would you change your life choices if you knew your karma would follow you, even after death? We explore the notion of death and rebirth, and investigate stories of young children who claim to remember details of their past lives. Go to http://lectricebikes.com and use code 30 MM to get a free foldable, mountable bike lock with any bike purchase. Go to http://betterhelp.com/30MM to get 10% off your first month! Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of history’s most sadistic and violent rulers, Vlad the Impaler earned his reputation and nickname by driving stakes through the bodies of thousands (yes, thousands), mostly enemies, some friends. Legend and myth have also come to associate Vlad as one of the inspirations for the eponymous villain of Bram Stoker’s Dracula – but is this entirely the case? We dive into the history of Vlad’s penchant for revenge, his tyrannical rule, and his lasting impact on popular culture. Go to http://babbel.com/30MM to get 60% off your subscription. Go to http://solostove.com and use code 30 MM for $10 off their 4th of July Sale discounts. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Disney controls its family friendly image with an iron, four-fingered fist, but even the all-seeing Mouse House can’t anticipate every casualty – including the tragic deaths of park visitors or staff. Between 2006 and 2020, more than 20 people have met their end while at Florida’s Magic Kingdom, and countless others have died in fatal incidents at other parks around the globe. We investigate the main causes while attempting to debunk some infamous myths and rumors. Go to http://betterhelp.com/30MM to get 10% off your first month! Go to http://everlywell.com/30mm to get 20% off an at-home lab test. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back with new, morbid episodes, starting June 21. Topics this season include Death at Disney, Vlad the Impaler, Reincarnation, Buried Alive, Making an Exorcist, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In August 1912 while on a family camping trip, four-year-old Bobby Dunbar wandered away from his family’s tent, presumed dead or kidnapped. Almost eight months later, “Bobby” was found, but many remained suspicious of his true identity and the circumstances of his disappearance. Would you know if your child was replaced by a look-a-like? Plus, sometimes hearing voices in your head might save your life, not unlike the case of a woman who self-diagnosed her own brain tumor. Go to http://dietsmoke.com and use promo code 30MM for 20% off. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we cover the alleged haunting and possession that plagued Latoya Ammon and her family, residents of the 200 Demons House, and the series of exorcisms that transpired. Plus, we’re on a mission of decomposition, as we break down the very real and very messy phenomenon known as exploding coffin syndrome. Go to http://lectricebikes.com and use code 30MM to get a foldable, mountable bike lock with any bike purchase. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Doctors are notorious for their sloppy penmanship, but did you know that sometimes handwritten prescriptions are so illegible that it’s caused patients to get the wrong medication, causing adverse reactions and on the rare occasion, death? Plus, in the truest example of a kangaroo court, history is littered with cases of animals being tried in court like people, and on occasion, sentenced to execution. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Exploring caves is a fun hobby and pastime for many, however, unforeseen accidents and environmental shifts can cause nightmare scenarios, and even death. In this episode we cover the tragic history of Utah’s now closed Nutty Putty Cave. Plus, we embrace the sting of the Existential Slap, and what it means to confront the end of life. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are near death experiences a glimpse into the afterlife or a complex neurological event? Perhaps both? We step into the light and explore our own mortality. Go to http://babbel.com/30MM to get 60% off your subscription. Go to http://betterhelp.com/30mm to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp! Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An estimated 200 people die every year while taking a cruise. As a result, ships and their crews have developed intricate systems, code words, and protocol in the event a passenger dies on board. Still, dire complications can arise out on the open water, and not all deaths are by natural causes… Go to http://betterhelp.com/30MM to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Go to http://dietsmoke.com and use promo code 30MM for 20% off. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We explore the history of the Ouija Board; how it evolved from an otherworldly communication tool of Spiritualists and mediums, to a Hollywood phenomenon, to a bright pink party toy. Plus, we examine homicide cases where the Ouija Board has been used as a defense, and how the board actually works. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Go to http://betterhelp.com/30MM to get 10% off your first month of BetterHelp. Go to http://babbel.com/30MM to get 60% off your subscription. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We discuss the last meals of death row prisoners in the United States. Where, when, and why the tradition started, how last meals have evolved, and what the standards and practices are today. Plus, some of the more unique and bizarre requests. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Go to http://surfshark.deals/30MM to get 83% off and 3 extra months free. Go to http://dietsmoke.com and use promo code 30MM for 20% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Grave robbing is a crime that still occurs around the world today. We dig (pun intended) into the motivations of body snatchers and tomb treasure trawlers, and research classical and modern methods of deterrence used. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over 200 climbers have lost their lives attempting to summit Mount Everest. The majority of the dead are still on the mountain, frozen in time, their bodies serving as both landmarks for aspiring hikers, and a solemn reminder of what can happen during a climb gone wrong. We investigate the dangers of climbing Everest, how human remains are brought down from the mountain, the tragic history of the Sherpa, and more. Follow us on Social: https://twitter.com/elysewillems https://twitter.com/JessicaVasami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? What really is it? We dive into the scientific causes as to how and why sleep paralysis occurs. But is it all in our minds? Throughout the ages different cultures have crafted their own explanations for this terrifying nighttime phenomenon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mortality skyrocketed during the Victorian Era, creating a culture obsessed with death and mourning. We explore the causes and the creepy customs and superstitions that developed during this period, plus the concept of a “good death.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A dark journey into the morbid, creepy, and unexplained, pulled from history and the headlines of today. Hosted by Jessica Vasami and Elyse Willems. March 28th on Rooster Teeth FIRST and March 29th on Spotify, Apple, and podcast platforms everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices