Sofa King Podcast

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we turn our eyes to the heavens and talk about Solar Flares. These nasty little critters blast off of the sun in eleven year cycles and can wreak havoc with high tech equipment. In the past, people didn’t care much about this phenomenon. For one, they didn’t have telescopes to see them, and even once they did, they just didn’t matter. But now, living in a world of satellites, GPS, cell phones and radio waves, these bursts of electromagnetic energy could really do some damage to our tech and even society at large. What was the biggest solar flare ever detected? Do people on earth die due to the Solar Flares? How much money did a Solar Flare cost Elon Musk when his Starlink satellite program got slammed by a flare? What is the real danger of them, and do you need to become a prepper? Listen, laugh, learn? Visit Our Sources: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/solar-flares-radio-blackouts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_flare https://www.livemint.com/news/world/solar-storm-to-strike-earth-tomorrow-expect-mobile-gps-satellite-disruptions-11658224464966.html https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/What_are_solar_flares https://www.space.com/solar-flares-effects-classification-formation https://www.spaceanswers.com/solar-system/five-amazing-facts-about-solar-flares/ https://www.space.com/12584-worst-solar-storms-sun-flares-history.html Deaths Per Year Article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at MTV. This little upstart cable channel first aired in 1981with very little content but a big dream. It fulfilled those dreams and then some. There would be no 1980s culture without MTV. The music, the fashion, the videos, all of it was first seen here. It low-key launched the careers of people like Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Spike Jonez, and John Stewart. It gave us Madonna’s sexy lace, Prince’s swagger, hair metal, music news, and Beavis and Butthead. This one will be a walk down memory lane and an exploration of one of the greatest cultural juggernauts of the past forty years. Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mtv-launches https://www.mtvpress.com/networks/mtv-history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV https://theconversation.com/40-years-of-mtv-the-channel-that-shaped-popular-culture-as-we-know-it-165365 https://www.everything80spodcast.com/the-history-of-mtv/ https://watchmojo.com/video/id/9782 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Concert_Hall Videos before MTV The Very First Two Hours of MTV.

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the king of the chase scene, Burt Reynolds. Reynolds gave us classic movies such as Smokey and the Bandit, Cannonball Run, and Hooper and became an icon and sex symbol for decades. From the disturbing Deliverance to the porn-heavy Boogie Nights, he ended having a wide range as an actor. He fell off the scene for a while and had a resurgence and Oscar nomination in the late 90s. What director did he hate working with? What did Marlon Brando say about Burt Reynolds? Why did he turn down the role of James Bond when Sean Connery quit the franchise? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/actor/burt-reynolds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Reynolds https://burtreynolds.com/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/burt-reynolds-dead-deliverance-boogie-nights-star-was-82-831093/ https://dos.myflorida.com/cultural/programs/florida-artists-hall-of-fame/burt-reynolds/ https://fanbuzz.com/racing/people/burt-reynolds-net-worth/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/68855/10-surprising-facts-about-burt-reynolds https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_and_the_Bandit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cannonball_Run#Original_race

On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the greatest actors of all time, Christopher Lee. This legend played Dracula and was in little known film series such as James Bond, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars. What’s more impressive is that in WWII he became a spy, a Nazi hunter, and a member of the infamous SOE—The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. After he mastered spy craft and acting, he also mastered thrash metal music, becoming the oldest musician to ever break the Billboard Top Twenty with his song “Jingle Hell.” You know his face and his rolls, but you don’t know Christopher Lee and his crazy back story. Visit Our Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/11/christopher-lee https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/christopher-lee-3395.php https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Lee https://gizmodo.com/22-incredible-facts-about-the-life-and-career-of-sir-ch-1710917366 https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Christopher_Lee

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall. This wall was both a symbolic and physical barrier between Soviet and Western ideals for over 30 years. After WWII, Germany was divided into four parts, each run by a different nation. Berlin was divided as well, and it served as the most important border-crossing and battle ground for the Cold War. After thousands of citizens fled the Soviet-let East, they built The Berlin Wall which divided the city in two. Hundreds were killed as guards had orders to shoot to kill, but eventually, the wall came down. What accidental press conference helped destroy the wall? Who was Harald Jager, and what part did he play? What does a mine field, archery, and fake planes have to do with one family’s escape? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: History Channel’s Take https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-was-the-berlin-wall-and-how-did-it-fall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_the_Berlin_Wall https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall https://www.thoughtco.com/the-berlin-wall-28-year-history-1779495 https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/berlinwall https://time.com/5720386/berlin-wall-fall/

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the wonderful world of ants. Experts suggest that there are up to ten quadrillion ants alive on the planet, roughly 25% of all life on earth. They are highly organized, intelligent, social, and…creepy. They talk to each other via sound and pheromones. Ants grow crops, they go to war, and they even farm aphids to milk them for honeydew. Their size, scale, venom, and strength is wildly divergent. Their nests and colonies are so complex that they baffle architects, so they are sure to baffle the three of us. If you want to hear if Brent thinks they are machines, give this one a listen! Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/insects/ant-facts/ https://www.toptenreviews.com/the-worlds-most-dangerous-ants https://canyouactually.com/researchers-poured-10-tons-of-cement-into-this-ant-metropolis-then-dug-it-up/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusociality Aphids and Honeydew Ant Colony in Cement Aluminum Ant Colony Casts

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about Satan. It only made logical sense for our 666th episode to talk about Lucifer, the Prince of Lies. So where do his origins begin? As with most Christian beliefs, he starts pre-Christianity as a series of malevolent gods and human adversaries who merge to one supernatural baddie. He is never physically described in the Bible, and he is not even said to be the actual snake that tempts Adam and Eve. The modern idea of a giant red, horned beast with a tale comes from centuries of Christian evolution, not much of which is canonical. But he remains one of the most important beings in human mythology, a figure of evil and deceit, bent to topple god and destroy all that’s good. And he’s not even running for president… Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-the-devil https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan https://www.livescience.com/56341-where-did-satan-come-from.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/deathof.htm https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-is-your-soul-worth-2013-9 https://allthatsinteresting.com/moloch https://owlcation.com/humanities/The-Crossroads-a-liminal-setting-for-occult-and-supernatural-activities https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/003463739208900402?journalCode=raeb

This is one of the largest public government retractions and alleged cover-ups that exist in the realm of conspiracy theory. The actual facts are that a press release came out from the US Air Force on July 8, 1947, claiming a “flying saucer” crashed thirty miles outside of Roswell. Then, on July 9, the Air Force changed their story and infamously said it was a weather balloon. The story pretty much died down from there until 1978 when UFOlogist and author, Stanton Fieldman, reopened the case and gave it national attention. So what really happened on the sheep ranch outside of Roswell? Was it as the first witness William “Mac” Brazel claimed with his simple description of a debris field? Was it what the later alleged witnesses claimed—wild stories of metal with memory, substances that couldn’t be broken or burned, and a mysterious light-weight I-Beam that had purple unidentified glyphs scrawled on it? Why did the Air force change their story? What is Project Mogul, and why might the Air Force have made up a story of alien craft just to cover up this real-world project? And what about the supposed mangled alien bodies pulled from the wreckage or the threatening Men In Black? Well, I guess you’ll just have to listen to find out.

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the truly gonzo life of the one and only Hunter S Thompson. Thompson was a journalist who became famous for his crazed drug-fueled antics and anti-authority stance. Born in Louisville, Kentucky to a middle class family, his father died while he was a teenager, and his mother was left very poor and became an alcoholic. During this time, Thompson started writing, and he had such a skill for it, he was allowed to join an elite writing group normally left for the wealthy. He also fell in with a bad crowd and started experimenting with drugs and started committing crimes ranging from shoplifting to vandalism to robbery. The robbery landed him in jail, and the judge said he could go to prison or join the military. Thompson decided on the Air Force. He career there was short, and he was discharged in two years for lack of discipline and subordinating other airmen. Once out, he began his career as a journalist, working as a copy boy for Time Magazine. Eventually, he started to get stories to cover, and he landed a big one in 1965 when The Nation hired him to do a story on the Hell’s Angels. Hunter S. Thompson ended up spending a year on the road with the motorcycle club, documenting their lifestyle in his unique literary style. The resulting book was a smash hit, and it gave him enough money to buy his compound called Owl Creek and opened up the door to an impressive (if not unorthodox) career as a journalist. His next big piece was an article called “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved," which was where the term Gonzo Journalism got coined. The story was less about the race and more about Thompson’s personal time spent at the race. It led to his next huge success, which was when Sports Illustrated sent him to cover the Mint 400 race in Las Vegas. This lead to his masterpiece, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Hunter S Thompson covered everything from Richard Nixon to his own race to be sheriff of Aspen, Colorado. He even got stranded in Vietnam during the evacuation of Saigon! His stories are wild and varied and pretty hard to believe. What happened when he went to Zaire to cover the Foreman/Ali fight? What was his political platform when he ran for office? What did a typical day of drug use look like for him? Why did he kill himself at the end, and what strange things happened at his funeral? Listen, laugh, learn. Kentucky Derby Article: http://grantland.com/features/looking-back-hunter-s-thompson-classic-story-kentucky-derby/

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about Sputnik. Sputnik was the first man-made satellite to ever orbit the earth, and it started the Space Race and made the Cold War grow even hotter. It was designed by the Soviet Union using a system of interlocking governmental agencies. Sputnik was far ahead of its time, and it freaked America (and the rest of the world) out. The response was the formation of NASA and DARPA and the race to the moon. Why was public reaction positive, even for most Americans? How did a dog turn the tide on the Soviet win? What impact did it have on the world? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sputnik-launched https://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/sputnik https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1 https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/sputnik-and-space-race https://www.space.com/17563-sputnik.html https://history.nasa.gov/sputnik-timeline.html Cool Sputnik Video

On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the Grandfather of Glam, David Bowie. He was hands down one of the most important artists of his life time, experimenting with every new style of music and instrument out there. He was one of the main influencers on the androgyny of the 1980s, and his most famous persona, Ziggy Stardust, was a creature that made fun of itself. He was an often obsessed artists who would create a bizarre musical character and inhabit it on and off stage (even hiding his urine from wizards at one point. Honestly.). Listen to this one as we talk about one of the greatest singer songwriters of all time. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/musician/david-bowie https://www.davidbowie.com/about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie https://stacker.com/stories/13641/david-bowie-life-story-you-may-not-know https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/522704/15-fascinating-facts-about-david-bowie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thin_White_Duke#Controversy Bowie and Crosby Video Ferrel and Reilly Video Cool Bowie Video

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the sinking of The Kursk. The Kursk was a Russian nuclear sub and was declared “unsinkable.” However, a constantly declining military budget let their navy start to fall apart. On Aug 12, 2000, during a massive fleet-wide training exercise, the ship fell silent. Well, not exactly silent since seismographs on the other side of the world reported two explosions, one equaling a 4.2 on the Richter Scale. What followed was an epic failure in the Russian Navy’s response, the government’s inactivity, and Vladimir Putin’s callous nature. Everyone on The Kursk died, and their corpses were only discovered by foreign divers since the Russians couldn’t do it themselves. This is a sad story of a government and bureaucracy that left its sailors to die. Visit Our Sources: https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a23494010/kursk-submarine-disaster/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kursk_submarine_disaster https://www.rferl.org/a/the-kursk-catastrophe-a-lesson-for-putin-is-fading-from-russian-attention-20-years-later/30778500.html https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-coronavirus-and-the-kursk-submarine-disaster https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=82260&page=1 https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=82720&page=1 Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RL_UdWCPlw Raising The Kursk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQJ6IMREvz8

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the most famous structures on planet earth—The Great Sphinx of Giza. The Sphinx is old. It is really old, but nobody knows exactly how ancient it is. Popular beliefs put it at 4500 years old, built by the Pharaoh Khafre. Others say it was built by that pharaoh’s father, Khufu. Yet others claim it was discovered by Khufu and is centuries older than either of them. This monument has been subject to vandalism, erosion, and centuries buried under the sand. Was there any truth to Edgar Cayce’s predictions about hidden Atlantean artifacts? What is the water erosion theory, and how does that potentially change the age of the Sphinx? How far is it from the nearest Pizza Hut? Listen, laugh, learn? Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-egypt/the-sphinx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Sphinx_of_Giza https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx_water_erosion_hypothesis https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/uncovering-secrets-of-the-sphinx-5053442/ https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-great-sphinx-closed-eyes-really

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one or the boldest cult leaders to ever live—James Strang. He proclaimed himself the King of Beaver Island in Lake Michigan, and from there, he ran an empire of lumber theft, polygamy, and even piracy across The Great Lakes. He wrote diaries in a made up language (that took a century to decode), forged documents and holy artifacts to help take power within the Mormon Church, and even became a member of the House of Representatives. Oh, and there was that one time he hid his second wife by dressing her as a boy and saying she was his cousin. If you like cults, this one has it all! Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Strang https://leelanau.com/remembering-king-strang-of-beaver-island/ https://www.michiganradio.org/arts-culture/2020-07-24/new-book-documents-the-life-of-james-jesse-strang-self-professed-mormon-monarch-of-beaver-island https://mynorth.com/2009/03/beaver-islands-king/ https://www.ranker.com/list/james-strang-mormon-king-of-beaver-island/genevieve-carlton https://www.wpr.org/most-audacious-con-man-youve-never-heard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voree_plates#Script_used_on_the_plates

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the loudest voices of Generation X, Henry Rollins. He was the front man for the epic punk band Black Flag and later the front man for the Rollins Band. He was in icon of the 80s and 90s, known for his temper, tattoos, and timbre. Henry Rollins sang against the establishment and fought against what was corrupt in society; he fought against his fans at concerts, too, leading to a reputation as a hot head. He became equally famous for his spoken word and lectures as his music, and he helped voice the rage and frustration of his generation with an eloquence that few possessed. Visit Our Sources: https://bigthink.com/people/henryrollins/ https://www.notablebiographies.com/newsmakers2/2007-Pu-Z/Rollins-Henry.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Rollins https://blabbermouth.net/news/henry-rollins-has-never-regretted-his-decision-to-stop-making-music https://www.grammy.com/artists/henry-rollins/6739 https://www.comedydynamics.com/catalog/henry-rollins-keep-talking-pal/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM7oxuOLIiw

Daves not here man ... Classic This episode peels back the lid on the very popular conspiracy theory involving the use of fluoride in municipal drinking water. The common conspiracy theories get pretty crazy and talk about Communist plots and argue that Nazis used sodium fluoride to keep prisoners of war and concentration camp victims docile. We talk about those theories and whether they have been debunked or not, but we also look at more credible historical and scientific facts. One fact is that fluoride is a byproduct of enriching uranium and making aluminum, and it is a highly corrosive and toxic substance in concentration. Evidence obviously indicates that in very, very small amounts it helps prevent tooth decay. But in moderate to large amounts, it is a poison. (So much so that just after 9/11 the NSA expressed concern about terrorists hijacking unprotected fluoride trucks and using them to poison entire towns). How much is too much fluoride? How much is in the water you drink? How can you filter it out of your water, and what bottled water can you buy to avoid it? Is it even a big deal? Good questions. We answer those and cover everything from calcified pineal glands to mind control on this one, while we did deep into the concerns about fluoride. Most Western nations refuse to use it in their water supply for fear of over-saturation, and even the EPA in the US has recently lowered the levels it allows in drinking water due to nationwide cases of dental fluorosis. Do we only drink it because nobody has a means to dispose of this potentially toxic chemical? Do the health benefits outweigh the risks? Does it even really help our teeth when we drink it? We cover all this ground and much more. This one will make you want to wear a tinfoil hat and also realize that fluoride is a byproduct of your tin foil hat!

Daves not here man..... On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we look at a guy who may be the worst Brit to ever live, Jimmy Savile. Jimmy Savile was a media personality and radio host (think Ryan Seacrest or Dick Clark in the States). He had a hit-maker radio and tv show that every musician wanted to be on. He also had a BBC television series that made the dream of ill children come true. He was knighted by the Queen of England and the Pope. That all sounds pretty awesome, right? Well, he was also a serial rapist, pedophile, and necropheliac. A year after he died in 2011, over 500 victims came forward to discuss their trauma. They ranged from 5 to 75 years old at the time of the crime. Most of them were physically or mentally ill at the time of the abuse. There were dozens of rapes. Oh, and most people think none of this ever came to light because of a cover up that may have gone as high up as the Prime Minister or the Royal family, both of whom he was close to. So how did a crappy meta-celebrity become such a monster and mega rapist? It was his “charity work.” He would hold fund raisers and give money—millions of pounds—to hospitals, children’s schools, and mental hospitals. This would ingratiate Jimmy Savile with the board of directors and give him access to the hospital at all hours as a major donor. Then, he would rape, fondle, and abuse patients, relatives of patients, and everyone he could get his hands on. He’d feel up people hours after major surgery and rape people who were too mentally ill to know any better. He’d also sneak into the morgue and give oral sex to dead bodies (something called gamaroosh…see, you learn something new every day) and pose them in sexual acts to take photos with them. And steal their glass eyes. And then, he’d brag about it to the hospital staff. How this sicko got away with such a range of heinous crimes for 50 years is hard to imagine, unless, of course, it was being covered up for him. So, was Jimmy Savile part of an international sex trafficking scheme as many people allege? Was he a lone shooter? Was he just the luckiest rapist in the UK, or did he go out of his way to hide the truth? Why did the BBC bury the story of Jimmy Savile’s sexual assault after he died? How many times were the police tipped off over the years? Who was Clair McAlpine, and how did her suicide almost bring him down in the 1970s? Listen, laugh, learn as we talk about someone who couldn’t have died soon enough. Sex Timeline: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jun/26/jimmy-savile-sexual-abuse-timeline

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we look at the achievements, impacts, and allegations against the original Hip-Hop mogul, Russell Simmons. A young Simmons fell in love the new art form of rap and immediately took charge of the genre’s future. He signed Kurtis Blow from his dorm room on to a label that didn’t exist, and he hustled every DJ in New York until he got him a record deal. From there, he created Def Jam records and was architect to the success of acts such as Run-DMC, The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, and LL Cool J. He produced movies, reinvented stand up, created a fashion line, and put poetry slams on the map. In 2018, he stepped down from all of his corporate ties due to multiple sexual assault claims. Even under that dark shadow, Simmons stands out as a cultural titan that every rap mogul since has imitated. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/musician/russell-simmons https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/russell-simmons-40 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Simmons https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/russell-simmons-sexual-assault-allegations-a-timeline-202515/ https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/13/arts/music/russell-simmons-rape.html https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/russell-simmons-net-worth/

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about phobias. Everyone is afraid of something, but that doesn’t make it a phobia. A phobia is technically a form of anxiety disorder that lasts more than 6 months. These can be common and reasonable things like snakes or spiders, or truly bizarre things like a fear of belly buttons or a fear of long words. What causes Phobias to exist? How many people suffer from Phobias? Is there a genetic component? How do we cure them? What are the most ridiculous Phobias we came across? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/phobias https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/specific-phobias https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobia https://www.verywellmind.com/list-of-phobias-2795453 https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-interests/health/article/top-10-most-bizarre-phobias/ https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/phobias/related/weird-phobias/ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-01/ten-of-the-most-common-phobias/6439210

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the best looking man in a bow tie, Pee-Wee Herman. Pee-Wee is played by the comedic actor Paul Reubens, and though he seems like an inevitable and overnight success, he worked on his comedy and this character for well over a decade before he blew up in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. He went to Cal Arts to study acting (alongside The Hasselhoff, I might add), and ended up working with the improve troupe The Groundlings. There, he slowly developed Pee-Wee with help from Phil Hartman. His stage show exploded in popularity after it was picked up by HBO, and then it was on to a film and a hit Saturday morning kid’s show. So, why did Paul Reubens quit the show? What happened when he was caught in a porno theater? How did he help start the career of Lawrence Fishburn and Tim Burton? What’s he up to now, and can we expect more Pee-Wee? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://hollywoodmask.com/actors/paul-reubens-wife-gay-personal-life.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pee-wee_Herman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Reubens https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Paul_Reubens https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/pee-wee-hermans-dark-reboot-paul-reubens-is-ready-stage-a-comeback-1273962/ https://nypost.com/2021/11/16/pee-wee-hermans-comeback-paul-reubens-viral-ask-lands-gig/ https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-comedians/paul-reubens-net-worth/

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we hit you with some cryptozoology and talk about the Beast of Exmoor. This creature has been spotted thousands of times since the 1970s. It gained popularity in 1983 when a farmer lost almost 100 sheep in the course of three months. It got so bad that the British Royal Marines were deployed in “Operation Beastie” to try and kill or find forensic evidence. The descriptions are remarkably similar and seem to be some sort of a great cat that looks to be roughly seven feet long. It is lean and powerful and can easily jump over six foot fences. So what is this creature? An unknown great cat? It could be a freed pet, but it’s been there too long for such a creature’s lifespan. So what do the experts say? What are the sightings like? How are prey killed? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Exmoor https://new-cryptozoology.fandom.com/wiki/Beast_of_Exmoor https://www.thebestofexmoor.co.uk/blog/beast-of-exmoor/ https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/a38691826/beast-of-exmoor-big-cat-spotted/ https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/five-times-beast-exmoor-spotted-1854988 https://occult-world.com/beast-of-exmoor/ Monsterquest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMfFdEl65mA

On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we look at the man single handedly responsible for the popularity of Area 51 and gray aliens, Bob Lazar. In 1989, he gave a sensational interview to reporter George Knapp. In it, he talked about his time in an facility called S4 and his work figuring out how alien space craft worked. There were 9 flying saucers there, and they used Element 115 to distort space-time and fly using gravity. It became a worldwide phenomenon that impacted everything from X-Files to Independence Day and even the classic video game X-Com. In 2018, film maker Jeremy Corbell tracked down Bob Lazar to interview him all over again for his hit documentary. If you’re into grays and UFOs or still just believe The Truth is Out There, you don’t want to miss this one. Visit Our Sources: https://www.vice.com/en/article/j5zvj7/ufo-technician-bob-lazar-speaks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Lazar https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2021/06/01/ufos-the-pentagon-and-the-enigma-of-bob-lazar/ https://science.howstuffworks.com/space/aliens-ufos/bob-lazar.htm https://intechbearing.com/blogs/news/getting-closer-to-element-115 https://www.vice.com/en/article/evjwkw/bob-lazar-says-the-fbi-raided-him-to-seize-area-51s-alien-fuel-the-truth-is-weirder https://tubitv.com/movies/610453/bob-lazar-area-51-flying-saucers

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we try our hand at the Guinness Book of World Records. This childhood favorite started back in 1955 when there was no such thing as the internet, and encyclopedias only covered serious topics. It was launched by Sir Hugh Beaver who worked at Guinness, and he hired the McWhorter brothers to write it. One of them was assassinated by the IRA, but the show must go on. The Guinness Book of World Records became a sensation (and became a world record holder itself for most books sold). Their museums opened worldwide, the book was translated into languages all around the world, and television shows spawned everywhere. How did they change their business model to stay in business? What does it take to become a Guinness record holder? Who holds the most records? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinness_World_Records https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-guinness-book-of-records-debuts https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/showcase https://www.business-standard.com/about/what-is-guinness-book-of-records https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/how-to-set-or-break-a-world-record https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/side-gigs/guinness-world-record/ https://www.scoopwhoop.com/news/weirdest-guinness-world-records-that-actually-exist/ https://www.quora.com/Is-there-a-world-record-for-number-of-concussions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_McWhirter#Assassination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashrita_Furman https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/Images/GWR-Evidence-Guide-2018_tcm25-486431.pdf https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/hall-of-fame/

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at one of the worst environmental catastrophes of the modern era, the Bhopal Disaster. The Indian city of Bhopal was home to a Union Carbide Corporation chemical company. They made pesticides using a very lethal substance called MIC gas. On December 2nd, 1984, 40 tons of this deadly concoction burst into the air over the city of a million people. It killed between 3,000 and 15,000 people and has led to massive long-term health issues for the victims and their children. Of course the corporation ducks its head and tries to blame someone else, as does the Indian Government. If you want to hear about a heartbreaking tale of corporate laziness leading to what one court considered mass homicide, this is the one for you! Visit Our Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/dec/08/bhopals-tragedy-has-not-stopped-the-urban-disaster-still-claiming-lives-35-years-on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/12/bhopal-the-worlds-worst-industrial-disaster-30-years-later/100864/ https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-069X-4-6 https://www.bhopal.org/continuing-disaster/the-bhopal-gas-disaster/union-carbides-disaster/

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we bring you the best radio broadcast ever—The War of the Worlds. On October 30th, 1938, the legendary Orson Welles created a radio show for CBS based on the novel, The War of the Worlds. The show was unique, using cutting-edge sound design and special audio effects more than any other broadcast. Coupled with good acting, and a lack of commercial interruptions (like a real news broadcast), it freaked out the nation. Some accounts say that people panicked, stormed government buildings, and loaded up their shotguns ready for a Martian invasion. Others state that it wasn’t that bad, but the newspaper industry blew it out of proportion. So, what happened that night? Why did Welles and his cast get locked in a room in the studio for hours after? Why did cops storm the studio? What did Welles say about it the next day, and what was Hitler’s reaction? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/welles-scares-nation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Worlds_(1938_radio_drama) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/infamous-war-worlds-radio-broadcast-was-magnificent-fluke-180955180/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mercury_Theatre_on_the_Air https://www.space.com/war-of-the-worlds-radio-broadcast-deepfake-podcast https://home.csulb.edu/~plowentr/warworlds.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crPGFZiFjfs https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/10/30/241797346/75-years-ago-war-of-the-worlds-started-a-panic-or-did-it

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look into the largest police scandal in LAPD history. It was called the Rampart Scandal, named after a police station in a bad part of LA. In the mid-90s, when gang violence was at its worst, the police developed CRASH units, designed to arrest gang members by any means necessary. This lead to the Rampart CRASH team becoming the epitome of corruption. They shot people and lied about it, robbed a bank, planted evidence, stole cocaine from the evidence locker, and sold drugs. They were tied directly to the criminal enterprise that was Death Row records when it was run by Suge Knight. Oh, and they very well might have killed Biggie Smalls. This is a wild tale of corruption, greed, and cops who were no different than the gangsters they were charged to capture. Visit Our Sources: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/lapd/scandal/cron.html https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2161&context=faculty_scholarship https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-01-21/ghost-rampart-lapd-gang-scandal https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/05/21/bad-cops https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/lapd/later/streets.html https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/lapd/later/reports.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_P%C3%A9rez_(police_officer) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Resources_Against_Street_Hoodlums https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rampart_scandal https://vimeo.com/428307871 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVBZ3YF800c https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAPD_Rampart_Division

On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we look at the animal that even makes Indian Jones’ skin crawl—snakes. Found through all of human mythology, this slithery mother can represent medicine and healing or Satan and destruction. It is an animal so radically different than humans, that it might as well be an alien. It has senses we can’t imagine, is a ruthless killer, and is a primal fear in much of the human population. So, what are the most deadly snakes? Where are they found? What exactly is snake wine, and where (and why) do you drink it? What country has the most snake deaths, and why is antivenom one of the craziest medicines to produce? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/adder https://www.livescience.com/deadliest-snakes.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes_in_mythology https://www.history.com/news/snake-symbol-history-mythology

This episode of The Sofa King Podcast is Part One of our discussion on the life, politics, policies, and death of the amazing John Fitzgerald Kennedy. JFK was one of the most beloved president of the United States, and his administration was often considered to be the “Golden Age” of America that many people called Camelot. Kennedy was the son of a wealthy business man who had alleged ties to the mob and illegal alcohol-running during prohibition. His legitimate businesses, however, set the Kennedy family up for a life of prosperity and prestige. JFJ, also known as Jack, was a sickly child and had chronic back problems through his life. He also was a screw-up at school, more interested in pranks and flirting than his formal education. All that changed, however, when he was at Harvard, and he wrote a book called Why England Slept which explored why Great Britain was unprepared for the Nazis. He used his family’s connections to let him join the Navy (something he couldn’t have done because of his back condition), and he became a war hero, saving members of his crew in pretty amazing ways in the battle of the Pacific on his boat PT-109. After the war, he married Jackie Bouvier and served time in both the House of Representatives and the Senate before finally becoming president in 1960. While president, he did pretty amazing things, helping the poor, creating the Peace Corps, and even writing the Civil Rights Act. However, he also tried to have Fidel Castro overturned by the CIA’s failed Bay of Pigs invasion, heated up the cold war, and dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Aside from his policies and the crazy era of his presidency, Jack was also known for having affairs with women. From white house employees to Marilyn Monroe and even Judith Campbell Exner (who was the mistress of Sam Giancana, the mob boss for The Chicago Outfit), he slept around. So, if you want to know about JFK, his affairs, his decision, why he was a war hero, and who he upset over the years (and possibly pushed to assassinate him), give this one a listen. Stay tuned for part two, where we talk about his assassination and the theories surrounding it. Thanks to our special guest Doctor Randal Beeman.

On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we explore one of the bloodiest chapters in the history of New England, the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Trials are a complex phenomenon that coupled puritanical fanaticism with fear of not only the devil, but life in the new world. The laws that led to the persecution of witches in New England date back to 1484, when Pope Innocent VIII wrote a papal bull called Summis Desiderantes Affectibus (Latin for “Desiring with supreme ardor”). This proclamation said that witches were real and were servants of the devil, and from there, witch-hunting mania was born. A few years later, The Malleus Maleficarum (aka “The Hammer of Witches”) was written by the Catholic clergyman Heinrich Kramer (and possibly a partner, the Dominican Friar Jacob Sprenger). Sprenger and Kramer were both given power by the pope to hunt and kill anyone they deemed a witch. While this sounds like the stuff of really cool video games, it more like rampant sexism and murdering women who didn’t adhere to norms of society. This backdrop of persecution for witches (especially female ones) is what the people living in Salem Village grew up in, back in 1692. At this time, 9-year-old Elizabeth Parris and 11-year-old Abigail Williams (the daughter and niece of Salem Village’s minister, Samuel Parris) started having “fits,” which included violent screaming outbursts and physical contortions of the body. Paranoia spread very rapidly, and eventually, three people were arrested as witches—a slave, an old person, and a homeless beggar. The slave, Tituba, confessed to being a witch and signing “the black man’s book,” and the witch paranoia spread. So, how many people were eventually arrested for witches? How many were killed? What methods did they use to kill them? What made the witch mania stop? Why did it get so bad in Salem Village? What brought the Salem Witch Trials to a close, and how did it involve two key literary figures and a political scandal? Listen, laugh, learn.

On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we discuss the wild career of the most famous pirate in history, Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard. Teach was thought to have been born in Britain but moved to Jamaica as a child. From there, he became a privateer (a pirate who worked for England) through Queen Anne’s War. After that, he used his naval skills to become one of the wildest pirates ever to set foot in the Caribbean. Teach was recruited after the war by a pirate named Captain Benjamin Hornigold, and in a very short time, he was promoted to run his own ship in this pirate fleet. Blackbeard earned his stripes and his nickname under Hornigold, and when the senior pirate retired from the life, Blackbeard was left in charge of the ships. He ran his new fleet based on fear of his growing reputation—he even lit his hair on fire before battle to look more fearsome. From there, Blackbeard went on to capture and recruit several ships, adding to his flotilla’s strength. One man, Stede Bonnet (The Gentleman Pirate) was convinced to join instead of run his plantations. Together, they accomplished one of the great feats of pirate history and took a full frigate and flagship from France. They renamed it Queen Anne’s Revenge, armed with 250 men including ex-slaves, and loaded 40 cannons on it. From that ship, Blackbeard ran a two year terror campaign, capturing over 30 ships and being a general scourge of civilized society. Unlike the typical stereotype of a pirate only being in remote waters, Blackbeard spent much of his time sacking the east coast the United States. He once famously held an entire town captive for a prolonged period of time until he could get the mayor to give his fleet medicine he needed (to cure an STD?). The story of Blackbeard is a story of allies turned enemy, cunning piracy, amazing naval tactics, and stunning victories. He died in battle, and the details of his death prove he was the badass that his reputation said he was. Listen, laugh, learn.

Mind Control, influence, and propaganda are the focus of this episode of the Sofa King Podcast. We talk about how governments and corporations try to make us loyal to their product/country using techniques that date back well before World War II. Derren Brown, the British mentalist and psychological manipulator is a prime example that we talk about. And of course, what Sofa King episode would be complete without a conspiracy? This episode’s is the CIA program from the 1950s-1970s known as MK Ultra. What was MK Ultra, and how did the maniuplate us? Tune in and find out. Some of our key topics this episode are mind control, propaganda, advertising, MK Ultra, the CIA, Derren Brown, mentalism, the propaganda/public relations master Edward Bernays, and the documentary film maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and her work documenting the Taliban.

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at one of the worst prison events in recent history, the Attica Prison Rebellion. Attica Prison, in upstate New York, was infamous for its cruel staff and correctional officers. Prisoners were given one roll of toilet paper per month, inadequate food, and were even beaten and tortured by guards. Racism was rampant, and after a fight in one yard, prisoners had said enough. They rushed some guards and took control of parts of the prison. After a well-organized negotiation and hostage situation, Governor Rockefeller ordered troops to fire, killing prisoners and hostages indiscriminately. This story has ties ranging from the black panthers to John Lennon to Richard Nixon. It’s a wild, tragic ride. Visit Our Sources: https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2021/09/08/attica-prison-riot-50-years-later/5509972001/ https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/attica-prison-uprising/ https://allthatsinteresting.com/attica-prison-riot https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/riot-at-attica-prison https://www.npr.org/2021/10/27/1049295683/attica-prison-documentary-stanley-nelson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attica_Prison_riot What really happened during the Attica Prison Rebellion - Orisanmi Burton - YouTube

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the real gangster of West Coast hip hop, Suge Knight. Though his nickname comes from his sweet childhood nick name of “Sugar Bear,” he turned into a real monster. He started by managing a few rappers and then created Death Row Records which had some of the biggest names in West Side rap. He famously fueled the East/West rap war and was behind the wheel when Tupac was shot. What are the theories surrounding his involvement? What was RAMPART, and how was he involved with corrupt LAPD officers? Did he kill Biggie Smalls? Why did he run over two men in 2017, and how long is his prison sentence based on that killing? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/musician/suge-knight https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suge_Knight https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1079761477/snoop-dogg-now-owns-death-row-records https://wealthygorilla.com/suge-knight-net-worth/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rampart_scandal#Rampart_ties_to_Death_Row_Records Who Actually Killed Tupac Shakur - YouTube

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we look at the ultimate form of sports entertainment—Roman Gladiators. Everyone pictures these brave, bloodthirsty men performing for the crowd and emperor, but there is a lot more to their tale. For one, a lot of them were slaves or prisoners of war. Another thing is, they became crazy popular, becoming the celebrities of their era. There is still graffiti in places about girls in love with gladiators! There were no gladiators without the crowds, and we talk about the scope of gladiatorial games as well as how politicians used them in corrupt ways to sway the politics of the empire! Visit Our Sources: https://www.historyextra.com/period/roman/who-were-roman-gladiators-famous-spartacus-crixus/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-roman-gladiators https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/gladiators/gladiators.html https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/5-fast-and-furious-facts-about-the-lives-of-gladiators https://www.bbc.com/news/education-29723384#:~:text=Roman%20gladiators%20had%20a%20diet,University%20of%20Bern%20in%20Switzerland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_gladiator_types

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the all-time greats of comedy, Dave Chappelle. He is most famous for his super-successful sketch comedy show, Chappelle’s Show. He is even more famous for walking away from the show in the middle of season three while $50 million dollars were on the table! He uses comedy as a scalpel and cuts deep, often being controversial, sometimes being offensive. With five Emmy’s, three Grammy’s, and a Marc Twain award under his belt, this small town family-man keeps innovating and shocking the world. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/performer/dave-chappelle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Chappelle https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73863/15-fun-facts-about-chappelles-show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwyeYmXjD1A https://www.looper.com/266269/the-real-reason-dave-chappelle-quit-his-sketch-show/ Dave Chappelle says fan boycott of his show worked, agrees to terms with Comedy Central - mlive.com

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we look at one of the worst ecological disasters of all time, the wreck of the Exxon Valdez. In March of 1989, the massive ship struck Bligh Reef in Alaska, and over 11 Million gallons of crude oil dumped into the once-pristine Prince William Sound. Hundreds of bald eagles and seals, thousands of otters, and hundreds of thousands of sea birds died as a result. The cleanup crews developed illnesses due to the chemicals used to scrub the beaches. The ship’s captain, Joe Hazelwood was accused of being drunk at the time of the crash, but as more evidence came out, Exxon seemed to be the real villain here. Go green with this one as you listen, laugh, and learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/exxon-valdez-oil-spill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill DAARP Page https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/03/remembering-the-exxon-valdez-oil-spill/100703/ https://www.livescience.com/44314-exxon-valdez-spill-anniversary-facts.html https://usa.oceana.org/exxon-valdez-oil-spill-facts/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Hazelwood

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at Jodi Arias, and the murder of Travis Alexander. If you dig true crime, you probably already know this story since it was a media sensation. This couple had a very strange and tumultuous relationship, ranging from wild phone sex to conversions to Mormonism. Jodi Arias was so intense that Travis’ friends even called an intervention about it to try to get them to break up. Eventually, they did break up, but the phone sex (and real sex) kept happening alongside slashed tires and hacks to Facebook accounts. It all eventually leads to a stolen handgun, mystery gas cans, and a murder most foul. Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/jodi-arias https://murderpedia.org/female.A/a/arias-jodi.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Travis_Alexander https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lj4MO1ZfhU https://www.the-sun.com/news/4456994/jodi-arias-travis-alexander-murder-case-new-show-details/ https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jodi-arias-lifetime-cellmate-secrets https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/crime-history/5-essential-things-to-know-about-the-jodi-arias-case

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we hit you with a crazy recipe—take one part cryptid and one part UFO encounter, bake in the Kentucky summer, and you get the Hopkinsville Goblins. The case of the Hopkinsville Goblins is one of the most important in all of UFOlogy because it establishes the details that a great many UFO cases follow for years after. It is, in fact, the genesis of the term “little green men,” even though the Goblins weren’t thought to be green. So, what exactly happened in Hopkinsville that is still studied to this day? Back in August of 1955, two families were staying in a small, homemade house in the woods of Kentucky. There were a total of 11 of them (5 adults, 4 children, and 2 carnies) at the house when things went sideways. One member of the house went outside to draw some water from the pump and saw what he called a flying saucer that showed every color in the rainbow. He told everyone this, and they dismissed it as a shooting star. (A highway patrol officer reported similar lights in the sky a few hours later, unbeknownst to each other). About an hour after, everyone heard noises outside and went to investigate. Since the dog was freaking out, they took their guns and saw the Goblins. They were allegedly about 2 or 3 feet tall with large glowing eyes. They had atrophied legs but buffed upper bodies, and they walked with a strange gait that looked as if they were underwater (and some witnesses said they were floating off the ground). The two men fired at the first Goblin, hit it dead center, and reported a sound like a bullet striking metal. The Goblin fell back and retreated into the woods, and this was the start of a four hour campaign of fear and bullets. The Goblins started to claw at the roof and pop up into windows and scratch at the door. The families fired over 100 rounds at them and eventually packed it up headed into town to get the police. The cops had heard tell of the fire fight, so they weren’t taking any chances. A total of 16 officers from three police and military unit went to investigate. They confirmed in all 16 of their reports that the house was damaged as if something was trying to get in. The police also heard strange things in the trees and saw the weird lights. Eventually, the cops left, and about 45 minutes later, the Goblins were back to terrorize some more. The families left for the night, and it all hit the media. The next day, they gave their one and only interview to a local radio host, and they described the creatures. This is an odd case because it predates UFO hysteria, and the witnesses stood nothing to gain. They hated the attention it brought them and after later investigations were conducted, their story turned out to be one of the most consistent in UFO/Cryptid lore. So, what were these Goblins? Were they a great horned owl as many suggested? Was it a circus monkey painted silver (yes, that’s a theory). Were they all tripping balls on some chemical or drug? What connections do these creatures potentially have to the Mothman? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit our Sources: https://themothman.fandom.com/wiki/Kelly%E2%80%93Hopkinsville_encounter https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Hopkinsville_Goblins https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Kelly%E2%80%93Hopkinsville_encounter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly%E2%80%93Hopkinsville_encounter https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00336/full http://www.kellyky.com/

In this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we look back in time and talk about the little-known but awesome Christmas mutiny at West Point Military Academy known as the Eggnog Riots. On Christmas Eve back in 1826, roughly 90 students at this military school got loaded on spiked eggnog and caused problems. Major problems. They tore up buildings, threatened lives, shot guns at people, and even hit people with logs! What lead to this gross dereliction of military decorum? You might say whiskey (and you’d be right), but there were other ingredients as well. To begin with, West Point was a ramshackle school that let anyone in, and after a bad couple of wars, Congress funded it to become the bastion of officer training it is today. The man who did this was Sylvanus Thayer. Aside from being considered the father of West Point (and sounding very much like someone who would battle Harry Potter), he was also a harsh disciplinarian. He created draconic rules that included a zero tolerance no-alcohol and tobacco policy, and he whipped the cadets into shape by giving them virtually no freedoms. They couldn’t leave campus; they couldn’t cook food. And did I mention that they couldn’t drink? So, the year of his liquor ban, the cadets decided to have a wee party, and they paid a sentinel to look the other way while they crept across the Hudson River and bought some whiskey. Five gallons or so. On Xmas eve, they started drinking their heavily spiked Eggnog, and the Eggnog Riots were born. Much of the mayhem involves a military history instructor who kept creeping in on the parties to break them up. He arrested Jefferson Davis (yes, the guy who went on to become the president of the Confederacy), and we talk about Davis’ drunken youth quite a bit. After a lot of whiskey-fueled dickery, the professor finally started to break up the party in earnest, and the cadets decided to arm themselves with blades and pistols and kill him for ruining their fun (like you do). And the Eggnog Riots were off and running. What happened next in the Eggnog Riot was a night of madness. They hit another officer with a log and left him unconscious in a stair well; they ran around brandishing swords and pistols. They smashed windows, tore about the dorm, and readied themselves for war against the Army soldiers they thought were coming. So, how did the participants in the Eggnog Riots try to kill the professor and what went wrong in the attempt? What kept Jefferson Davis from getting court-martialed? How many students ended up getting arrested? Why did they tear down the dorm that hosted the party, and how was the new dorm designed so this would never happened again? Listen, laugh, learn. Good Article on It: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/egg-nog-its-all-fun-and-games-until-someone-starts-a-holiday-riot-180949281/#dShz66KYUWk6APy1.99

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we explore the eternal life of mummies. Everyone can picture the linen wrapped Egyptian kings, and most people know about curses and have nightmares of them coming back to life. However, it was more than kings. Middle class and poor Egyptians were mummified as were millions of pets. However, Egypt doesn’t have the only mummies. They are a global phenomenon, from the mummies of Guanajuato to the Ice Man and bog mummies. Why did they think there was a curse in the tomb of King Tut? What was the process for Egyptians? How did Buddhists self-mummify while they were still alive? If you’re curious about these perfectly preserved people, give this one a listen. Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-the-mummy https://www.si.edu/spotlight/ancient-egypt/mummies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummy https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mummies https://www.livescience.com/mummification.html https://www.factretriever.com/mummy-facts https://littlethings.com/lifestyle/mummies-facts https://www.history.com/news/is-the-curse-of-king-tut-real https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_pharaohs#Deaths_popularly_attributed_to_Tutankhamun's_curse

On this episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the child abduction and murder that changed everything—the case of Adam Walsh. Adam Walsh went missing in 1981 in a Sears store while he was playing Atari 2600 games in the toy department. Sixteen days later, his head was found in a drainage ditch by two wandering fishermen. This case is very interesting for many reasons. First, it was confessed to by Ottis Toole, but he confessed and recanted over and over. Some people then thought it was done by Jeffery Dahmer. Then, the police screwed up in a major way, so the case was unsolved for decades. However, a light came from all this darkness. That light was Adam Walsh’s father, John Walsh. John went on a crusade to change laws and bust criminals. This lead him through the halls of congress and onto a 24 season run of America’s Most Wanted, catching over 1000 criminals and changing the game. Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adam-walsh-is-abducted https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Adam_Walsh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Walsh_(television_host) https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/40-years-later-adam-walshs-abduction-and-murder-not-forgotten-in-south-florida/2508053/ https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/07/27/adam-walsh-murder-changed-florida-and-the-us/ https://nypost.com/2021/09/04/woman-believes-adam-walshs-killer-kidnapped-her/ https://time.com/4437205/adam-walsh-murder/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Most_Wanted

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we travel back in time and talk about the one and only Cleopatra. She was the queen of Egypt, but she wasn’t just there because she inherited it. In fact, she had to continuously earn her throne by killing members of her own family and constantly going to war with Rome. She famously seduced Julius Caesar and had his children. She was in Rome when he was assassinated, but she made it back to Egypt. When Mark Antony took control in Rome, she hooked up with him as well, having an epic romance of war, betrayal, suicide, and poison. Game of Thrones got nothing on the story of Cleopatra! Visit Our Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/cleopatra https://www.history.com/news/10-little-known-facts-about-cleopatra https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/egypt-history/facts-cleopatra-vii/ https://medium.com/exploring-history/ten-interesting-facts-about-cleopatra-most-people-dont-know-9e6e4efce94b

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we cover the Tuskegee Airmen. This was the first ever all black air squadron, and they battled not just Nazis and the Axis, but good old American racism. Nobody in the army wanted black pilots, but the NAACP and Eleanor Roosevelt convinced people otherwise. They started to train at Tuskegee University and became a highly decorated part of World War II. What battles did they fight just for the chance to go to war and die? What was the Freeman Field Mutiny, and how might it have gotten Tuskegee Airmen shot by their own men? How does the UFO hunting Project Blue Book tie in? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/tuskegee-airmen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Airmen https://www.tuskegee.edu/support-tu/tuskegee-airmen https://www.military.com/history/the-tuskegee-airmen.html https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/458979/tuskegee-airmen/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/643566/tuskegee-airmen-facts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman_Field_mutiny#The_protest_at_Freeman_Field

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the life, loves, ups, and higher ups of Madonna. Her impact on 1980s culture can’t be overstated. Her videos, sound, and fashion made the entire Gen X imitate and want her. She has always been a master of branding and self-promotion. When being a sex symbol was getting old, Madonna would piss off the Catholic church, and when that got old, she’d drop a book full of lesbian sex pictures to draw the spotlight back on her. She’s had a crazy love life, is one of the bestselling female artists of all times, and manages to constantly be the queen of controversy. Come for the music, stay for the S&M phot shoots! Visit Our Sources: https://www.biography.com/musician/madonna https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna https://www.forbes.com/profile/madonna/?sh=1c2bde1c27ac https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/7000438/inside-madonnas-relationships-from-toyboy-lovers-to-rock-legends/ https://www.datingcelebs.com/who-is-madonna-dating/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/651771/madonna-music-facts https://www.biography.com/news/madonna-like-a-virgin-vmas-1984 https://theindustryobserver.thebrag.com/when-madonna-leaked-a-fake-version-of-her-album-to-thwart-pirates/

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about the madness and genius of Vincent van Gogh. Surely, you know him as one of the most important artists in all of human history. Because he was. But his life was filled with love, friendship, disaster, prostitutes, depression, art, and absinthe. His father was a priest, and his mother a painter, and he himself tried to become a minister before turning to art (and prostitutes). He didn’t touch a canvas until he was 30 years old, and his demons haunted him firmly enough that he tried to kill himself several times and spent a year in an insane asylum at St. Remy, where van Gogh painted some of his most important works. His story is an amazing, uplifting, tragic tale of family, art, and suicide. Visit Our Sources https://www.biography.com/artist/vincent-van-gogh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh https://www.biography.com/news/vincent-van-gogh-biography-facts https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/21-facts-about-vincent-van-gogh

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we talk about one of the biggest forces in popular culture history, Dennis Rodman. Of course he was a basketball player and part of both the infamous Bad Boys of the Detroit Pistons as well as the game changing comeback of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. But this unique man is so much more than that. He is a troubled man, battling depression and a sense of loneliness and insecurity which drove him to greatness. He was a friend to the LGBTQ community and AIDS support in the 1990s when that was rare. He broke social conventions, married himself in a wedding dress, dated Madonna, ignored his children, and somehow became friends with North Korea’s Kim Jung Un. His is a life you will want to hear about! Visit Our Sources: 30 For 30, ESPN: Rodman, Better or Worse https://www.biography.com/athlete/dennis-rodman https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2018/06/12/a-brief-guide-to-dennis-rodmans-long-weird-history-with-north-korea/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Rodman https://wealthygorilla.com/dennis-rodman-net-worth/ http://www.mindofmodernity.com/14-unique-facts-that-you-probably-didnt-know-about-dennis-rodman/ https://tvovermind.com/dennis-rodman/

In this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we give you some true crime and talk about the Dating Game Killer. Rodney James Alcala was a serial rapist and killer. Some people think he is the second most prolific killer in American history, even though he was only convicted for five counts. He posed as a photographer and would lure young women into his van and take naked photos of them. Many were never seen again until the photos were released by police desperate to close cold cases. He was a bachelor on the Dating Game in 1978 and actually won the contest! What ended up happening with the girl who picked him as the perfect bachelor? How many people do police think he may have killed? What happened when he literally questioned himself on the witness stand? How is he connected to Sammy David Jr and Dean Martin? Listen, laugh, learn. Visit Our Sources: Dating Game Video Here https://murderpedia.org/male.A/a/alcala-rodney.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Alcala https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/rodney-alcala-the-dating-game-killer-dead-1201827/ https://the-line-up.com/rodney-alcala-the-dating-game-killer-victims

On this episode of the world famous Sofa King Podcast, we talk about a very unique rock star and UFO hunter, Tom DeLonge. DeLonge founded Blink 182 when he was 16 years old and after a few years, they were a massive band. While they toured in vans early on, he started to read books on UFOs, and his true life obsession was born. Cut to a couple decades later, and DeLonge is the founder of the To The Stars Academy of Arts and Sciences. This is a group of ex spies from the CIA, physicists, parapsychologists, and even engineers from Skunk Works. They collect videos and physical evidence of UFOs and even got the Pentagon to officially acknowledged that some of the craziest UFO footage of all time was real. We talk a lot about some of the UFOs from episode 446, Modern UFOs. Go back and revisit that one to really focus in how intense this former frontman’s endeavors have become. Visit Our Sources: https://home.tothestarsacademy.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_DeLonge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_the_Stars_(company) https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a37532754/tom-delonge-interview-2021/ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/inside-tom-delonges-ufo-obsession-blink-182-turmoil-50572/ https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/tom-delonge-ufo-video-pentagon-release-blink-182-994370/ https://www.history.com/shows/unidentified-inside-americas-ufo-investigation/cast/tom-delonge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqHn4vSSuro

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we look at the rise and fall and rise again of the one and only Martha Stewart. Right when she was bigger than Oprah (worth $1.2 billion), the SEC busted her for insider trading and sent her to jail for almost a year. But the story of her constant drive to build up her brand, image, and companies, she bounced right back. This is the story of a middle class girl who turned a teenage modeling career into one of the most savvy media companies in the world. Plus, she’s friends with Snoop Dogg! How did she and Snoop meet? What happened that took her to jail? Who wins in the Superfight between her and Oprah that we play at the end of the episode? Listen, laugh, and learn. Visit Our Sources: Snoop on Martha Stewart Living for the first time. Ghost Spoof. Titanic Spoof. https://www.biography.com/business-figure/martha-stewart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Stewart https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/21/entertainment/martha-stewart-anthony-hopkins-hannibal-lecter-intl-scli-gbr/index.html https://www.prevention.com/beauty/a38830927/martha-stewart-cbd-muscle-cream/ https://www.marthastewart.com/274830/the-martha-timeline https://www.insider.com/facts-martha-stewart-2018-7 https://www.inc.com/larry-kim/20-bizarre-facts-you-never-knew-about-martha-stewart.html https://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionals/071415/how-martha-stewart-built-media-empire https://www.insider.com/timeline-martha-stewart-snoop-dogg-friendship-2021-2

On this episode of the Sofa King Podcast, we back in time to World War Two and talk about the horror and honor that defined the London Blitz. In September of 1940, Hitler had lost the Battle of Britain, which was battle for air superiority over England. As a result, he decided to use bombing as a terror tactic to break Britain’s will before he invaded their country. However, it didn’t quite go as he planned. The Brits proved to be amazingly resilient, surviving some of the worst war conditions in the world. Tons of bombs were dropped every night, and entire neighborhoods vanished to explosives and fires. But the Brits carried on. Through the Blitz, they hid the Underground tubes, planted victory gardens, shagged each other, and got ready for another day of war. If you like the war, Britain, history with a side of bad jokes, give this one a listen. Visit Our Sources: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-blitz-begins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blitz https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-blitz-around-britain https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/history-of-the-battle-of-britain/the-blitz-the-hardest-night/ https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/virus-and-blitz/608965/ https://www.historyextra.com/period/second-world-war/the-blitz-what-happened-how-many-died-blitz-meaning/ https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-evacuated-children-of-the-second-world-war