dean-boese-universe

[dean-boese-universe]

This episode we have so much to talk about, that we barely have time to talk about the episode.  We discuss Mrs. O'Leary's cow, the movie 'Near Dark', the Independence Center Mall, more stuff in Arthur's Corner, what it must have been like to be an inmate freed because of the fire and so, so much more.  We examine the histroy of the city around the time of the fire and whether or not the fire played into the rise of the Chicago Mafia in this deeply historical 'Now that's a fire!' episode of the Family Plot Podcast!

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We are joined in this episode by member of the Fam, longtime friend and writer extraordinaire Dan B. Fierce as well as Lexi Boese as we discuss the origins of four more fairy tales.  We divide & conquer as Dean takes Rip Van Winmkle, Arthur covers Jack & the Beanstalk, Dan covers the tale of Bluebeard and Laura tells us the story of Rapunzel.  Afterwards, we talk about the tales origin,what it;s based on and so, so much more in this highly cool episode of the Family Plot Podcast!

[dean-boese-universe]

What can I say about this episode?  It runs the gamut.  The main topic is the Triangle Shirtwaiste Fire and how two businessmen who were in the habit of locking doors while employees worked doomed 147 mostly immigrants and women to their deaths.  We talk the history of the company, the state of the US for workers in 1911 and the fire itself.  We also cover the trial and the legacy of the fire.  Arthur reminisces about his trip to Planet Comicon, and talks the Roblox sensation Dandy's World as we discuss why it's so important why there needs to be laws in place to protect workers in this whole lotta historical, little bit silly but a lotta bit sad episode of the Family Plot Podcast!

[dean-boese-universe]

We have so MUCH rich muchness in this episode.  A veritable souffle of things to learn and family banter!  Lexi stops by to tell us she feeels sponsored.  Gotta love our 7 year old.  Arthur lets us know about his upcoming trip to Planet Comicon in his corner and we talk about being without water as the trailer court we live in ;upgrades' their pipes.  And none of that is even the show topic!!!  Ever heard of Starlite?  Not Starlink, Starlite?  (Pay attention bunkie).  It's an incredible compound that if it was put on an egg, and an acetylene torch was then used on the egg, it would remain cool to the touch, completely uncooked.  It could be spread over a human hand and if exposed to flame or heat, the hand remained unharmed!  Or what about a grenade used in the days of the Babylonian empire that would burn on top of water and even couldn't be put out with water?  This was Greek Fire!  We discuss Sylphium, Mithridatium, Nepenthe, flexible glass, the Lycurgus Cup, Damascus Steel, Stradivarius Violins and Roman Cement, all amazing inventions, or plants that were in common usage in their time that have become simply lost to history.  So come on in, sit down a spell and learn about some cool inventions with us!!!

[dean-boese-universe]

So in the 17th Century, in Rome, Giulia Tofana led a group of women who made devotional oils, cosmetic liquids and of course, poison.  This poison was a famed untraceable and undetectable poison for it's time and it was dubbed Aqua Tofana.  4 doses they said, could put any man in his grave.  It was a way for women, who could not get a divorce to get out of some very bad situations and over 20 years, these women claimed to have killed over 600 men,  We discuss the poison, the time, the place and famous folks who felt they were victims of this strange brew.  We also talk bodily autonomy, the trend 'Make Aqua Tofana Great Again', Dandy's World, The Princess Bride, (Princess Buttercup has entered the chat), iocaine powder and just plain being decent to one another in this, wait, they REALLY did that episode of the Family Plot Podcast!

[dean-boese-universe]

In this episode we cover the life of actress, comedienne and producer, Lucille Ball.  We talk about her life, her time with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, her time as the queen of Television and the legacy she left behind.  We talk her marriage to Desi and her second husband Gary Morton.  We talk her time as the head of Desilu studios, shows she discovered and her legacy today.  Plus in Arthur's corner we talk more Dandy's World, and we talk about Arthur's latest foray into voice acting thanks to Edward October and so much more including the family banter you all love!  So stop procrastinating and start listening to your new favorite episode of the Family Plot Podcast!

[dean-boese-universe]

What an episode!  This week we go back to 1839 to attend the birth of a young Black man named Robert Smalls.  We watch him grow and learn how he loved the sea, how he came to work on a Coinfederate Navy Ship called the Planter and how, in the dead of night, he stole that ship, picked up his family and the families of his crewmates and guided the ship to the Union Blockade and in doing so became a hero.  He later bought his former 'master's' home and became a member of Congress in this man we love learning, never judge a book by it's cover or a man by his skin color episode of the Family Plot Podcast!

[dean-boese-universe]

There is so much to this episode!  First, Cam Sully of the Jacked Up Review Show joins us as we talk ancient Gods and Goddesses from different cultures around the world.  Is Ishtar the goddess of the worst movie ever?  Maybe.  We also discuss gods of homosexuality and 'filthy' sex.  We also talk some of the Gods holidays.  Plus, Valentines at Cirilla's with cats.  It'll mean more when you listen to the episode.  Plus we talk Josh Gates, computer connection issues (thanks Comcast) and so much more in this giant burrito of love episode, so good you just have to shove it in your ears...or something like that!  Enjoy!

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Whole lotta love going on in this episode!  Arthur talks being trans in these interesting times in his corner as well as Invader Zim, the Moomans and snow days.  Dad gets so excited he bleeps himself, and he is the only one who knows what a rimshot (hint it's NOT dirty), Laura talks reading smut, we celebrate being a family AND discuss the life of British mystery writer Agatha Christie and her strange 10 day disappearance in this little bit historical and whole lotta family episode of the Family Plot Podcast!

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Another episode that is just so full of goodness, you'll wonder how we were able to pack it all into one episode!  We go to Salem for this one, specifically the Gardner-Pingree House, which was once owned by Captain Joseph White.  White was a a fair bit unsavory due to some of his business practices as a captain, but once he retired, he was murdered by four men who frankly, were not criminal masterminds by any stretch of the imagination.  We talk his life, his murder, his murderers and their trial.  They even had a special prosecutor, a celebrity lawyer of his time, Daniel Webster.  We also talk how the former Captain became a ghost haunting his former home in this little bit spooky, whole lotta true crime historical episode of the Family Plot Podcast!  Plus we crammed in a whole lot of love.  Trigger Warnings for Suicide and mentions of slavery.  

[dean-boese-universe]

We have an episode so chockful of goodness you won't believe it.  We are joined by Brenda from the Horrifying History Podcast as we discuss the life of Ernest Hemingway.  We meet his parents, his family, his children and his many wives.  We look into his fascinating life, the things he did as a soldier and a sportsman, his life as both a journalist and a writer.  We also talk about his many injuries, how they impacted his life and writing and so much more in this heavy on discussion episode of Ernest Hemingway.

[dean-boese-universe]

In this episode, we are joined by Edward October of Octoberpod AM, a retro horror podcast for bold individualists!  He voices the elevator of history for us as we get down to discussing the treasure of Tolosa.  We talk about it's origins, where it might have come from, how much it would be worth and the sad fate of any who seemed to possess the treasure for any length of time.  We meet some interesting historical personages and ask the all important question...is it still out there?  Check it out!  Let's Learn something?

[dean-boese-universe]

In this episode, we look back at the life and times of John F. Kennedy.  We talk about what life was like for the Kennedy's, how he grew up, how he injured his back and dealt with the pain of that the rest of his life.  We discuss his travels and how a strap in his teeth and a carved coconut made him a hero.  We are joined in this episode by the amazing and funny Keb Pound of the  Stupid History Minute and we of course discuss Kennedy's presidency, the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis and briefly discuss Kennedy's assassination in this biography of an American President and an American Icon.

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In this episode, we revisit the subject of our second episode, the Catacombs.  The empire of the dead lying beneath the streets of Paris.  We discuss their odd and unique history, the stories of those who have become lost there, crimes that occured within, we talk cataphiles and cataflics and so much more as we go down in the Underground and find out just how interesting this place really is.  Also, while Dean is talking about ugly Americans he quotes an old Howie Mandel bit.  Credit where credit is due and all that.  So come along on this magical and occasionally smelly trip beneath the streets of Paris to find out what, if anything, lurks in the dark in the Empire of the Dead! https://family-plot-podcast.creator-spring.com/

[dean-boese-universe]

Our first episode of 2025 where we do a review of our year in 2024 including topics, guests and surprises and we look ahead to 2025 and what we have planned for the coming year.  We also take time to share our love for each other and our listenership as a whole.  Long live the Fam!  So come ride along with us on this memorable and lovable review of the year that was and the year that will be! https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10161888972758614&set=gm.2011260299347366&idorvanity=934906080316132

[dean-boese-universe]

This episode we celebrate Christmas!  Our special guest is Lexi, the youngest member of our Family making her podcast debut at 7!  We each take turns picking a favorite movie and a favorite Christmas song (well two songs and a spoken word piece.  We discuss their history and what they mean to us.  We also discuss whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie?  All this and some special greetings from special friends (including our good friends at Witches Talking Tarot who not only give us a swell Christmas message but they DO NOT behave, which is, admittedly, part of why we love them) in this very special Christmas episode of the Family Plot Podcast!

[dean-boese-universe]

In this episode, we dig into the end of World War II to discuss Operation Paperclip, what began by the German government as an attempt to overturn their fortunes as they were losing the war, eventually became a brain drain as America (among others) tried to hire brilliant scientific minds like Wernher Von Braun away form the Nazi regime.  We also discuss Bob Berdella, pangolins, Bob Newhart and why Operation Paperclip was so very controversial in this man, we did WHAT? episode of the Family Plot Podcast! Note from Dean:  At some point, during the episode, I say something about Hitler not playing Risk when he was a kid.  It was a phrase from a MUCH longer bit by British comedian Suzy Izzard and I do not believe I properly credited him within the show itself, so I DEFINITELY want to credit him here.  Credit where credit is due and all that.