World-Weary Podcast

This week, the World-Weary women discuss strange science and tech! Cassiopeia looks at the gruesome experiments conducted in the search for a cure for Yellow Fever. A 1980's school teacher living in a haunted cottage communicates with a 16th century vicar and a "friend from 2109" via an early microcomputer: Violet discusses the time-warp-technology case of The Dodleston Messages.

This week, the World-Weary women question "What's in a name?" with a coincidental rivalry theme. Violet explains the conquests of the mighty samurai warlord, Uesugi Kenshin: how they came to be known as the "Dragon of Echigo" and their famous rivalry with the "Tiger of Kai". Cassiopeia looks at the 19th century's scientific "name and shame" war that started with a Prince of Botany and ended with feuding palaeontologists.

This week, the World-Weary women are back with a Spooky Somerset Special! Cassiopeia drops the local scandal on the circus magnate that demanded the return of a "Witch" skeleton to his spooky attraction, the Wookey Hole Caves. Violet investigates the dark history of the haunted beauty spot and ancient monument, Dead Woman's Ditch.

This week, the World-Weary women polish some little gems. Violet explains the out-of-this-world origins of the mind-expanding Tektites, melted glass rocks believed to be formed by asteroid impacts. Cassiopeia discovers the history of the Opal and finds out why some consider it to be a jewel of misfortune.

This week, the World-Weary women investigate history's big egos. Cassiopeia looks at the wild lifestyle of baseball legend, Babe Ruth. Violet presents the violent reign of Fu Sheng, a Former Qin Dynasty emperor who was almost erased from the history books due to his cruelty and craziness.

This week, the World-Weary women invoke the atmospheric ghost lights of East Anglian legend. Violet presents the Lantern Man: a lamp wielding spirit that lures late night travellers to their deaths in the marshy Fenlands. Cassiopeia reads a 19th century account of a wise witch and some spooky lights in Norfolk.

This week the World-Weary women tell terrible colonial tales of the rich and valuable! Cassiopeia looks at the disturbing claim that a super rich Jameson Whiskey heir paid for a young slave to be cannibalised whilst he watched and painted a watercolour of the gruesome scene. In 1608, the world's biggest ever bell sank into the mud beneath the Yangon river, Myanmar: Violet presents a lost treasure, the Great Bell of Dhammazedi.

This week, the World-Weary women take a crash course in Stranger Danger! In 1973, two children playing in a field stumble upon a robot-alien-clown: Violet introduces “Sam the Sandown Clown” and it’s possible connection to UFO activity on the Isle of Wight. Cassiopeia tackles the disturbing sightings of the “Gimp Man” currently on the loose in Somerset, UK.

This week, the World-Weary women learn a thing or two. Cassiopeia looks at Diogenes the Cynic; a crazy and controversial Greek philosopher who famously lived in a large ceramic jar. Violet presents Sankoré Madrasa, an ancient university in Timbuktu that was once home to priceless libraries and the greatest scholars in the world.

This week, the World-Weary women encounter the mightiest monsters of mythology. Violet ventures into the pitch black darkness of the Labyrinth seeking the true origins of the Minotaur myth. Cassiopeia tells the terrible legend of Lamia, a Libyan queen who transforms into a child-eating monster and a nocturnal ghost-seductress.

In this special episode, the World-Weary women catch up with wonderful fantasy author and creator of the "Birth Of The Fae" book series, Danielle Orsino. We discuss the second and third installments of the series: "Thine Eyes of Mercy" and "From The Ashes". Danielle tells us all about trying to write in Olde English, "aura-blending" and how her father inspired a slightly mischievous gnome character! Find out more about "Birth of the Fae" series at https://www.birthofthefae.com/

This week, the World-Weary women trip out on hallucinogenic happenings. Cassiopeia reads the story of a man who lost his mind, went to jail and almost died after ingesting the incredibly poisonous drug, Datura (aka Jimson's Weed). Violet looks at the archaeological discovery of a 1000 year old shamanic drug stash found at an ancient burial ground in the Andes mountains.

This week the World-Weary women bring deity drama. In 1963, a young woman claiming to be the reincarnation of an Aztec goddess creates a blood-drinking Mexican death cult: Violet presents the horrific true crime case of female serial killer, Magdalena Solis, aka The High Priestess of Blood. Cassiopeia teaches us wholesome and fascinating facts about the "wine and good-time" Greek god, Dionysus.

This week, the World-Weary women sail to strange and spooky islands. From prisons to psychiatric institutions, Cassiopeia discusses the history of Hart Island which now serves as a mass graveyard for New Yorkers. Violet looks at the series of misfortunes that have befallen the wealthy residents of Italy's cursed luxury island, Isola della Gaiola.

This week, the World-Weary women answer distress calls for rescue stories! In 1947, rescuers discover an entire ship's crew dead and "frozen in fear": Violet questions whether the Ourang Medan is simply a sailor's ghost story or if it could be based on true events. Cassiopeia tells the shocking story of the 1925 cave rescue of Kentucky-born cave explorer, Floyd Collins.

This week, the World-Weary women return to stories from the cursed isles. Cassiopeia explains the age-old tradition of Irish curses and discovers that everyone from magical blacksmiths to beggars, widows and even priests were casting curses! In 1960's Bedfordshire, a rector is tormented by "black magic" and the desecration of a 300 year old grave at a ruined church: Violet presents the true story of the cursed church of Clophill.

This week, the World-Weary women unlock stories of secret codes! Violet explores the archaeological mystery of the Phaistos Disc: can anyone decipher its spirals of ancient Minoan symbols? Cassiopeia looks at the Native American Code Talkers who developed an unbeatable secret code during World War I.

This week, the World-Weary women demand order in the court! Cassiopeia examines the Five Punishments of Ancient China and the tale of the brave daughter, Chunyu Tiying, who saved her father's life by persuading the Emperor to abolish the penalties. Violet presents the tragic story of the Greenbrier Ghost: the only known legal case in which testimony from the victim's ghost helped to convict their murderer.

This week, the World-Weary ladies tuck you into bed with charming tales of pretty princesses... or not. When the mummy of an ancient Persian princess surfaces in Pakistan's black market, its discovery looks set to re-write the history books... that is, until experts uncover a shocking secret: Violet unwraps the case of the Princess Mummy. Cassiopeia presents the legend of Cornwall's "Daisy Dog" and the tragic voyage of a Chinese princess.

This week, the World-Weary women mull over matrimonial madness. Cassiopeia discusses the problematic tradition of bride kidnappings and the tragic murder of a woman who was kidnapped three times. Violet looks at one of the grandest and most lavish royal weddings of all time: Violante Visconti and Lionel of Antwerp's wedding banquet is said to have included 30 courses of meat gilded in gold leaf!