P. T. Barnum: The Prince of Humbugs and the Greatest Show on Earth

Step inside the ring with pplpod as we examine the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum, the legendary American showman who blurred the lines between entertainment, education, and exploitation. While best remembered today for the circus that bears his name, Barnum actually did not enter the circus business until he was 60 years old. In this episode, we trace his journey from a small-business owner in Connecticut to the proprietor of Barnum’s American Museum in New York City, where he attracted millions with curiosities like the "Fiji mermaid" and the performing sensation General Tom Thumb.

We dig into the complex and often controversial tactics Barnum used to build his empire, known as "humbugs". We discuss his early exploitation of Joice Heth, an enslaved woman he exhibited as George Washington’s 161-year-old nurse, and contrast this with his high-culture promotion of "Lind mania" for the Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind, a risky venture that netted him a fortune equivalent to millions today.

Beyond the spectacle, we explore Barnum’s roller-coaster financial life, including bankruptcy, public humiliation, and devastating fires that destroyed his museums. We also reveal a side of Barnum often lost to history: the politician and philanthropist. Tune in to hear about his tenure as the Mayor of Bridgeport and a Connecticut legislator where, despite a past involving enslavement, he famously spoke in favor of the 13th Amendment and the abolition of slavery. Join us for the story of the man who, despite the famous misattribution, likely never said, "there's a sucker born every minute".