Passing Notes with Ashley and Shanda

Ashley and Shanda discuss their favorite episodes from Season 1. Ashley gives a brief history of the origin of the Caesar Salad and talks about a prank in the United Kingdom known as the Gnome Liberation Front. Shanda gives more details about Sam Brown who made an appearance as a minor character in a couple of episodes; then she talks about Roland the Medieval Flatulist who entertained people with musical farts.

Shanda discusses the hydrogen gas leak that plagued NASA engineers during the mid-1990s and an effect way to detect the invisible and highly combustable gas was to use basic straw brooms. Ashley recounts an accident at the Tokai, Japan uranium conversion plant that exposed three technicians to high doses of gamma and neutron radiation.

Ashley recounts the stories of two children, Ryan Hammond and James Leininger, who remember their past lives, lists a few statistics discovered by Dr. Jim Tucker and Dr. Ian Stevenson, then discusses potential theories as to how these memories are possible. Shanda tells the story of Dorothy Louise Eady, who as a teenager in Britain began to remember her life in ancient Egypt where she was a lover of Pharaoh Seti; then, in the 1931 at age 27, moved to Egypt and helped archeologists with her memories of her past life.

Shanda discusses how the Jackalope, a half rabbit half antelope creature, was created by taxidermist Douglas Herrick and his brother in 1932, which helped make their town of Douglas, Wyoming a tourist attraction, and evolved in a folklore that traveled around the world. Ashley talks about the monstrous octopus know in Norwegian folklore as the Kraken, whose tales of its colossal size and aggressive nature when attacking ships may have been exaggerated stories based on the real animal known as the giant squid.

Shanda talks about murderess Belle Gunness who lured men to her La Porte, Indiana farm from 1884 to 1908, possibly faked her death by setting her house on fire, and is responsible for 14 confirmed murders. Ashley recounts the story of Judy Buenoano who committed arsenic poisoning, arson, another arsenic poisoning, drowning, insurance fraud, and attempted murder from 1971 to 1983, and after she was caught became the first woman in 150 years to be executed in Florida.

Shanda discusses pirate and successful smuggler Jean Lafitte and how he helped General Andrew Jackson win the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 in exchange for a pardon for him and his brother Pierre Lafitte. Ashley recounts the history of the expensive and exclusive Metairie Cemetery which was developed in 1872 by Charles T. Howard after he was snubbed by society, along with the tragic tale of Josie Arlington, a wealthy madam who was also snubbed, whose tomb is located in Metairie Cemetery but is occupied by another family.

Ashley recounts the scandal surrounding Volkswagen clean diesel marketing campaign and how emissions testing on vehicles made from 2009-2015 to compete with hybrid vehicles led to some surprising and criminal results. Shanda discusses how King Camp Gillette’s invention of safety razors for at-home use in 1901 led to advertising that shaped how society viewed body hair on women and how it impacts people’s perceptions still today.    

Ashley discusses the complex system of hormone cycles, physical accommodations, and precise timing that make human reproduction seem like a miracle. Shanda talks about what our muscles are capable of, including feats of hysterical strength and whether or not they are strong enough to crush your own bones or bite off your finger like a baby carrot.

Shanda recounts the long history of the ambitious cross-Florida canal project that took decades and millions of dollars to build but was ultimately abandoned until Marjorie Harris Carr fought for it to be reused as a nature greenway. Ashley tells the story of how the small amusement park of Geauga Lake grew into a destination attraction with the addition of SeaWorld Ohio through the 70s, 80s, and 90s with its height being in 2001 when it was owed by SixFlags; but it was unable to maintain its success after being bought by Cedar Fair in 2004.

Ashley talks about how Dutch sailors discovered the dodo on the island of Mauritius in 1598 and by 1662 it was extinct; however, during that time it is believed that a few animals were brought back to Europe although few remains exist. Shanda discusses the types of mammoths that inhabited much of North America, Asia, and Europe during the last ice age and how climate change ultimately led to their extinction.

Shanda recounts The Great Stink of 1858 in which the River Thames reached levels so low that the entire city of London was plagued with a stench of human waste bad enough the government shut down. Ashley discusses the unique qualities of Siberia’s Lake Baikal, that not only contains 23% of the earth’s surface freshwater but is also home to over 3,500 species of plants and animals, 80% of which are endemic to the region, the most famous being the Nerpa Seal.

Ashley recounts the tragic sinking of the beloved SS Edmund Fitzgerald during a massive storm on Lake Superior as it traveled from Duluth, MN to Detroit, MI in 1975, killing all 29 crew members on board. Shanda tells the story of how a storm off the coast of South Africa caused the cruise ship Oceanos to take on water and sink in 1991; luckily, no one died despite the crew abandoned ship and leaving the rescue of the remaining 571 passengers on the shoulders of entertainers Moss and Tracy Hills.

Special guest Felix Sung makes his podcast debut talking about his favorite NFL player, Chicago Bears Quarterback Justin Fields. Then Shanda recounts the dangerous early days of college football and how the bloodbath of Hamden Park between the Harvard and Yale teams almost caused football to be banned entirely. Lastly, Ashley discusses the beginnings of the NFL and how some of the first teams, such as the Columbus Panhandles, Decatur Staleys, and Green Bay Packers, got their seemingly ridiculous names.

Shanda discusses the Superman curse in which people believe that anyone working on a Superman movie could be subject to ill-fortune and even death. Ashley recounts how William Henry Harrison’s victory at Tippecanoe may have led to a curse that killed future presidents every 20 years.

Are there drugs in Halloween Candy? The ladies discuss at the top of the show. Then, Ashley tells the story of Irish woman Margorie McCall, who in 1705 died of a fever, was quickly buried, dug up by grave robbers, and jarred out of her coma when her finger was cut off to steal a valuable ring. Finally, Shanda recounts the fascinating life of American writer Ernest Hemingway and the multiple ways he almost died throughout his life include two airplane crashes in the course of a week.

Shanda recounts the tale of the Belgian convent known as the Poor Clares, who when they discovered their convent was going to be closed down by the church, sold the building and went on a spending spree buying a mansion and luxury cars. Ashley tells the story of the young bisexual, sword fighting, French noble named Julie D’Aubigny, whose scandalous love affair with a merchant's daughter landed both girls in a convent where Julie stole a corpse, set a bed on fire and fled as fugitive in the name of love.

Ashley discusses the gruesome death of General Custer and how Custer’s Last Stand was brought about by exaggerations of gold in the Indian Territories of the northern plains and broken promises to the people living in that region. Shanda recounts the arrest, trial, and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg who were accused of being Soviet spies in the 1950s; however, the most damning testimony was from Ethel’s own brother.

Ashley tells the story of Quaker abolitionist Benjamin Lay and how this odd looking eccentric caused quite a stir in the 1700s with his public displays of protest. Shanda recounts the 1989 United Way fundraising balloon launch in Cleveland, OH that not only caused many disruptions around the city but also cost the organization a lot of money in lawsuits.

Shanda discusses the history of the still active Italian Mafia known as the 'Ndrangheta, whose criminal acts, secret sects, power struggles, and infighting led to multiple wars that killed hundreds of people. Ashley tells the story of Ma Barker, the notorious matriarch of the Barker-Karpis Gang that terrorized St. Paul, MN under orders of a corrupt police chief in the the 1930s; however, an FBI coverup may have altered her story.

Ashley recounts the accomplishments and independent spirit of abolitionist, suffragette, civil war surgeon, POW, and women’s rights activist Dr Mary Walker. Shanda discusses Anna May Wong,  the Asian American Actress of the early 1900s, whose career spanned several decades and countries, despite a constant battle against stereotyping and racism in casting.

Shanda discusses the logistical nightmares and bizarre performance times at the original Woodstock in 1969. Ashley gets riled up about how the ignorance and greed of the promoters of Woodstock 1999 led to riots and destruction.

Ashley recounts the tale of the Donner Party’s journey west in 1846 and how their decision to take a “shortcut” led to them getting trapped by snow in the mountains forcing them to resort to extremes for survival. Shanda tells the story of how William George Crush and the Katy Railroad planned a staged train crash that brought 50,000 spectators to a pop up town in rural Texas in 1896; unfortunately, the publicity stunt went horribly wrong.

Shanda tells the story of a slot machine that doesn’t payout for over 20 years. Ashley recounts the incredible lives of entertainment duo Siegfried and Roy.

Ashley recounts the life and accomplishments of the Wild West’s most successful lawman, Bass Reeves. Shanda tells the fascinating story of Sitting Bull, Annie Oakley, and their unlikely friendship.

Shanda discusses the incestuous marriages within the royal families of Europe and how the centuries of inbreeding impacted the health and prosperity of the lineages. Ashley lists Pornhub's top searches of 2021 and offers suggestions as to what could have caused those trends.

Ashley gets riled up about how movie producer Harvey Weinstein used his position of power to assault women in Hollywood. Shanda lightens the mood by listing a few hilarious examples of how Steven Segal is a ridiculous and not nice person.

Shanda tells the story of people in the Middle Ages who were struck by the dancing plague that led them to dancing for days and weeks on end. Ashley discusses multiple examples of mass hysteria in the workplace and what may have caused such occurrences to take place.

Shanda recounts the incredible story of how Finnish soldier Aimo Koivunen survived the harsh Russian tundra during World War II with a little help from some military grade methamphetamine. Ashley discusses the use of elephants as an instrument of war throughout history and how their use changed with the introduction of heavy artillery.

Ashley recounts events leading to the creation of Pepperidge Farm and the success of its founder Margaret Rudkin. Shanda tells the wild story of abolitionist and founding member of the Republican Party of Kentucky Cassius Marcellus Clay.

Shanda discusses the claims made by cab drivers about ghostly passengers who disappear suddenly while enroute to a destination. Ashley recounts the long history and paranormal activity at the Ohio State Reformatory, also known as the Mansfield Reformatory.

Ashley lists wild facts about the relatively unknown burlesque dancer Carrie Finnell and how she influenced the evolution of the American scene in the 1920s and 30s. Shanda tells the captivating story of Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod, better known as Mata Hari, a Dutch exotic dancer who was convicted of espionage during World War I.

Shanda recounts the mysterious comments and lyrics by the Beatles hinting that Paul McCartney may be dead and how fans were convinced that he was replace with a look-alike. Ashley discusses the phenomenon known as the Mandela Effect, in which large masses of people remember the same event although it never happened, lists some examples, and gives possible explanations as to the cause.

Ashley tells the story of journalist Nelly Bly’s attempt to beat Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days, as she traveled by boat and train around the world in 1889. Shanda recounts the 1964 solo flight of Geraldine “Jerrie" Mock and the race to be the first woman to fly around the world.

Shanda tells the story of tennis legend Dick Williams and his incredible recovery after barely surviving the sinking of the Titanic which left his legs severely frostbitten. Ashley recounts the tragic accident that caused young Glenn Cunningham to have horribly burnt and mangled legs; however, his determination led him to be one of the greatest middle distance track stars of the 1930s.

Ashley recounts the fire that brought down the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Big Top tent and killed many innocent people in Hartford, CT in 1944. Shanda discusses the events leading up to the devastating train crash in 1918 that killed many employees of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus.

Shanda discusses the suspicious behavior of Lizzy Borden surrounding the death of her father and stepmother. Ashley tells the story of 11 year old Mary Bell and the two murders she committed only a few months apart.

Ashley lists interesting trivia and her favorite parts of the western parody Blazing Saddles (1974) written and directed by Mel Brooks. Shanda recounts the troubles of working with live animals to make Roar, also known as “most dangerous movie ever made.”

Ashley talks about the Kiwi bird of New Zealand and all the oddities that make this adorable little bird so unique. Shanda discusses the conservative efforts, carrion competitors, and cultural significance of the gigantic California Condor.

Shanda recounts how Louis XIV’s health scare caused the anal fistula fashion trend within his court. Ashley discusses how toy fads throughout the decades led to the sometimes violent frenzy of holiday shopping.