Best Inquisitive Beast Podcasts (2025)

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Beasts and Believers: A History of Werewolf Trials in Early Modern Europe 58:56

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7d ago58:56

58:56

Spooky Series. Episode #3 of 4. In 1220 CE, St. Francis of Assisi tamed a ferocious werewolf terrorizing Gubbio, Italy—transforming "Brother Wolf" from savage beast to peaceful townsperson. But why did Christianity need to conquer the wolf? For millennia, werewolves have stalked the boundaries between civilization and savagery, humanity and monstro…

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You're Bound to Die: The Long History of the American Murder Ballad 1:24:28

21d ago1:24:28

1:24:28

Spooky Series. Episode # 2 of 4. If you look through recordings of country, western, and folk music ranging from the 1920s and 1930s through to present, you’ll notice a theme: songs about crime, murder, and executions are ever-present. From Grayson & Whittier’s recording of the centuries-old ballad “Rose Connelly” in 1927, to Lloyd Wilson’s “Stagge…

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Suffer a Witch to Live? Religious Conflict and Witchcraft Persecutions; or, No One Expects the Inquisition 54:17

1M ago54:17

54:17

Spooky Szn Episode #1 of 4. How would you expect the Spanish Inquisition to treat a confessed witch? Does the suggestion conjure visions of fire, torture, and lots of murdered women? You aren’t alone - but this is a history we definitely need to unpack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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Yellow Rose of Texas: Myth-making and Race in the 19th Century 49:25

2M ago49:25

49:25

Women's History, Episode #4 of 4. Today we're exploring one of Texas's most enduring legends - the story of the "Yellow Rose of Texas" and her supposed role in the Battle of San Jacinto. We are going to unravel the myth of “The Yellow Rose of Texas.” We will explore the woman at the heart of the tale, Emily D. West, who was a free woman of color wo…

1
Whispers and Wives' Tales: A History of Women & Gossip in Premodern Society 58:30

2M ago58:30

58:30

Women Series. Episode #3 of 4. Dale Spender, a feminist literary scholar, wrote in 1980: “It is not surprising to find that there are no terms for man talk that are equivalent to chatter, natter, prattle, nag, bitch, whine, and of course, gossip, and I am not so naive as to assume that this is because men do not engage in these activities. It is be…

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Women and Slavery: How Harriet Jacobs Revealed Women's Experience of American Enslavement 1:19:34

3M ago1:19:34

1:19:34

Women Series. Episode #2 of 4. In 1861, one of the most powerful slave narratives in American history was published under the title, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, written by Harriet Jacobs and edited by the famous abolitionist, Lydia Maria Child. The memoir unflinchingly recounts the unique experience that enslaved women faced in the Ameri…

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Sati: The Virtuous Woman, the Chaste Wife, and the Immolated Widow in Colonial and Postcolonial India 55:55

3M ago55:55

55:55

Women's History, Episode #1 of 4. In 1987, the last reported instance of sati threw India into a maelstrom of furious debate and conflict following the ritual suicide of Roop Kanwar after her young husband’s death. Nearly 150 years earlier, British colonial officer Lord William Bentinck passed a prohibition on sati in British India. As Roop Kanwar’…

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The Pansy Craze 40:00

4M ago40:00

40:00

Love in the Lav series. Episode #4 of 4. The late 1920s birthed what would become a defining cultural phenomenon—the "pansy craze"—when LGBTQ+ culture burst into mainstream American entertainment from the late 1920s through the early 1930s. The smoky haze of Prohibition-era speakeasies provided the perfect backdrop for drag queens, called "pansy pe…

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Ep. #66: Kurt Cobain Forever In Bloom With Kelly Catlin 1:31:32

4M ago1:31:32

1:31:32

This week on Bright Brainz, I sit down with Kelly Catlin, author of "Kurt Cobain: Forever in Bloom". The book, released on what would have been Cobain’s 58th birthday, offers a humanizing look at the Nirvana frontman—far beyond the usual “tortured artist” narrative. Kelly draws on intimate interviews and untold stories to paint a fuller picture of …

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Anne Lister's Search for a "Great Love": Reading the Diaries of the First Modern Lesbian 1:12:05

4M ago1:12:05

1:12:05

Love in the Lav Series. Episode #4 of 4. Today, we’re telling the story of Anne Lister’s life in her own words with a special emphasis on her search for a “great love.” But along the way, we’ll also try to give you some examples of why her diaries have been deemed the most important documents in LGBTQ+ history. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis…

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Female Husbands, or People Have Always Transed Gender 1:01:25

4M ago1:01:25

1:01:25

Averill's Book, Love in the Lav Series, Episode #2 of 4. In 1746, Charles Hamilton, a doctor, married Mary Price in Wells, England. Hamilton was a traveling doctor, selling patent medicines and dubious medical advice, and had met Mary when staying in a rented room. After the wedding, Mary joined Charles in traveling and selling cures for a couple o…

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Just Friends: The Ladies of Llangollen 51:59

5M ago51:59

51:59

Love in the Lav Series, Episode # 1 of 4. Sarah Ponsonby and Eleanor Butler, colloquially known as the Ladies of Llangollen, lived together in North Wales for 51 years in a cottage that they renovated and designed to suit their tastes, on an estate where they built gravel footpaths wending through perfectly lush gardens planted with all manner of s…

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Ep. #65: Privacy Under Siege, How To Stay Safe Online In 2025 1:03:34

6M ago1:03:34

1:03:34

In this eye-opening episode, Isaac welcomes back Jeremy Duffy, a 16-year veteran of the NSA, for a deep dive into LifeSec—a real-world approach to staying safe online in an age where digital threats are everywhere. Drawing from his extensive background in operational security, Jeremy breaks down how everyday internet users can protect themselves ag…

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Ep. #64: Bigfoot And Other Hidden Beasts With Ty Alexander 59:37

6M ago59:37

59:37

Is Bigfoot real — or something far stranger? In this thrilling episode, Isaac sits down with author Ty Alexander to dive deep into the mysterious world of cryptids, sparked by Ty’s gripping new novel Monstrous, which follows an escaped Yeti terrorizing Red Oak National Park. From Bigfoot and the Mothman to the Yeti itself, they explore chilling sig…

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The Tuskegee Syphilis Study: Medical Ethics & Race 49:12

6M ago49:12

49:12

Disability Series, #4 of 4. The Tuskegee Syphilis Study was an ethically problematic, to say the least, medical research project conducted in Alabama. Officially titled “The Effects of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male,” this government-sponsored research project was conducted by the United States Public Health Service in Macon County, Alabama, …

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Ep. #63: Before The Ban: The Truth About TikTok’s Takedown 1:05:11

6M ago1:05:11

1:05:11

Recorded last year before the TikTok ban but more relevant than ever—this electrifying conversation dives deep into the digital battleground that is social media regulation. Isaac and cohost Verum Visand sit down with cultural commentator and social media strategist Quinn Que to unpack the political, cultural, and economic forces driving the U.S. c…

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Cripping Contagion: A Long History of Epidemics as Mass-Disabling Events 1:01:20

6M ago1:01:20

1:01:20

Disability Series. Episode #3 of 4. Since the advent of epidemiology (the study of infectious disease, its spread and prevention), humanists and scientists have been able to study mass-disabling events related to epidemic disease, especially prior to widespread vaccination. For example, the WHO has estimated that more than 20 million people who wou…

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The Section 504 Sit-In: The Protest that Demanded Civil Rights for Disabled Americans 1:12:33

7M ago1:12:33

1:12:33

Disability Series. Episode #2 of 4. In 1973, Richard Nixon signed the Rehabilitation Act, a bill intended to increasing hiring, extend rehabilitation services and increase assistance programs for Americans with disabilities. In the wake of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, politicians and activists discussed the bill in ex…

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Sexuality and Psychiatry 57:34

7M ago57:34

57:34

Disability Series, Episode #1 of 4. How and when scientists, doctors, and society started conceiving of the physical and emotional components of same-sex desire as a psychiatric condition of the mind? This was neither an ancient belief nor a postmodern (aka, post-1950) one, and it wasn’t an exclusively American phenomenon either. Rather, the classi…

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Ep. #62: Cracking The Case, A Sister's Journey With OSINT To Reunite Her Family 1:02:53

7M ago1:02:53

1:02:53

In this gripping episode of Bright Brainz, we dive into the world of digital sleuthing with Cricket, an open source intelligence (OSINT) powerhouse who cracked a 25-year-old family mystery wide open. Cricket takes us on an emotional and electrifying journey as she recounts how she used nothing but public records, digital breadcrumbs, and sheer dete…

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Ep. #61: Beyond Borders: The Human Side Of US Immigration Policy 1:02:43

7M ago1:02:43

1:02:43

In this powerful follow-up conversation, Isaac reconnects with Jose (Ep. #55), a former undocumented immigrant who became a U.S. citizen through military service. Together, they dive deep into the heated debate surrounding immigration in America today. Jose shares raw and personal insights from his own journey, shedding light on the struggles undoc…

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Ep. #60: Is Big Brother Watching? An Insider’s Take on the NSA 53:50

8M ago53:50

53:50

In this gripping episode, Isaac sits down with former NSA employee Jeremy Duffy to uncover the truth about life inside one of the world’s most secretive agencies. Jeremy shares his remarkable journey—from working dead-end jobs to landing a role at the NSA through a federally funded program—where he taught Operations Security and witnessed firsthand…

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Ep. #59: DARPA, Taylor Swift, And The War For Your Mind With Paranoid American 1:19:12

8M ago1:19:12

1:19:12

On this episode of Bright Brainz, Isaac sits back down with Paranoid American for a mind-bending deep dive into the shadowy intersections of DARPA, military technology, and pop culture. Could global superstars like Taylor Swift be strategically used to influence the masses? Is AI-generated content already being weaponized for psychological warfare?…

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Ep. #58: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs With Paloma Chiara 20:14

8M ago20:14

20:14

In this episode of Bright Brainz, Isaac sits down with life coach Paloma Chiara to dive into the power of mindset and how self-limiting beliefs can keep us from reaching our full potential. We explore practical strategies for breaking free from these mental barriers—whether through brainstorming, meditation, journaling, or powerful affirmations. Pa…

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Ep. #57: Drugs, History, And The Mind; A Deep Dive With Skye Hawthorne 1:13:39

8M ago1:13:39

1:13:39

Isaac sat down with Skye Hawthorne, host of The podcast “Drug Cultures”, for a deep dive into the complex world of psychoactive substances. They explored the historical and cultural significance of psychedelics, debated their potential benefits and risks, and examined how substances like alcohol have shaped societies throughout history. The convers…

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Executive Orders, Dog Whistles, and the Lavender Scare 1:04:10

8M ago1:04:10

1:04:10

Crime & Punishment Episode #4 of 4. In the late 1940s and 1950s, alongside the better known “Red Scare” that targeted alleged internal political enemies - American Communists - the US government led a crusade against gay men and women in the military and civil service. During the “Lavender Scare,” thousands of people were fired or forced from their…

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Ep. #56: Decriminalized – An EMS on the Frontlines of Portland’s Drug Crisis 1:21:55

9M ago1:21:55

1:21:55

In this gripping episode of Bright Brainz, we sit down with former EMS worker Colton Perry, who served in San Francisco and Portland—the latter during the controversial period when all drugs were decriminalized. Colton’s firsthand experience on the streets gives us a raw, unfiltered look at what happens when a city experiments with radical drug pol…

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The Sleepy Lagoon Trial and Zoot Suit Riots: Los Angeles's Season of Violence During WWII 43:25

9M ago43:25

43:25

Crime and Punishment Series. Episode #3 of 4. In the summer of 1943 the city of Los Angeles erupted into what has become known as the Zoot Suit Riots, where roving bands of white servicemen beat and stripped Mexican American youth of their distinctive zoot suits. The riots took place amidst the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial- a case characterized by th…

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The Unjust Execution of the Dakota 38 58:35

9M ago58:35

58:35

Crime & Punishment, Episode #2 of 4. In 1862, as the Civil War raged across the fields of the south, another American war was coming to an end: the Dakota War, a conflict between the Dakota people and American settlers in Minnesota. Though the United States military won a decisive and punishing victory over the Dakota, they weren’t satisfied: Colon…

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Ep. #55: Growing Up Undocumented With Jose 1:57:46

9M ago1:57:46

1:57:46

Were Baaaaaack! In this compelling episode, Isaac and guest co- host Verum chat with formally undocumented immigrant Jose and dive deep into the raw, unfiltered realities of undocumented immigration in the United States. Through powerful personal stories and hard-hitting discussion, they uncover the struggles, sacrifices, and triumphs of those who …

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From Respectability to Ruin to Ripper Victim: The Whitechapel Murders and the Precarity of Poverty in Victorian London 58:01

9M ago58:01

58:01

FIXED! Crime and Punishment Series. Episode #1 of 4. In 1850, a bright-eyed eight-year-old girl walked across London Bridge in her carefully maintained school uniform. Her teachers called her promising; her siblings found her delightful. No one could have predicted that decades later, she would die violently in Mitre Square, known to history only a…

Inquisitive Beast Podcasts

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The Gilesy Project

The Gilesy Project

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Bright Brainz

Isaac Walker

1
Dig: A History Podcast

Recorded History Podcast Network

1
Beasts and Believers: A History of Werewolf Trials in Early Modern Europe 58:56

1
You're Bound to Die: The Long History of the American Murder Ballad 1:24:28

1
Suffer a Witch to Live? Religious Conflict and Witchcraft Persecutions; or, No One Expects the Inquisition 54:17

1
Yellow Rose of Texas: Myth-making and Race in the 19th Century 49:25

1
Whispers and Wives' Tales: A History of Women & Gossip in Premodern Society 58:30

1
Women and Slavery: How Harriet Jacobs Revealed Women's Experience of American Enslavement 1:19:34

1
Sati: The Virtuous Woman, the Chaste Wife, and the Immolated Widow in Colonial and Postcolonial India 55:55

1
The Pansy Craze 40:00

1
Ep. #66: Kurt Cobain Forever In Bloom With Kelly Catlin 1:31:32

1
Anne Lister's Search for a "Great Love": Reading the Diaries of the First Modern Lesbian 1:12:05

1
Female Husbands, or People Have Always Transed Gender 1:01:25

1
Just Friends: The Ladies of Llangollen 51:59

1
Ep. #65: Privacy Under Siege, How To Stay Safe Online In 2025 1:03:34

1
Ep. #64: Bigfoot And Other Hidden Beasts With Ty Alexander 59:37

1
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study: Medical Ethics & Race 49:12

1
Ep. #63: Before The Ban: The Truth About TikTok’s Takedown 1:05:11

1
Cripping Contagion: A Long History of Epidemics as Mass-Disabling Events 1:01:20

1
The Section 504 Sit-In: The Protest that Demanded Civil Rights for Disabled Americans 1:12:33

1
Sexuality and Psychiatry 57:34

1
Ep. #62: Cracking The Case, A Sister's Journey With OSINT To Reunite Her Family 1:02:53

1
Ep. #61: Beyond Borders: The Human Side Of US Immigration Policy 1:02:43

1
Ep. #60: Is Big Brother Watching? An Insider’s Take on the NSA 53:50

1
Ep. #59: DARPA, Taylor Swift, And The War For Your Mind With Paranoid American 1:19:12

1
Ep. #58: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs With Paloma Chiara 20:14

1
Ep. #57: Drugs, History, And The Mind; A Deep Dive With Skye Hawthorne 1:13:39

1
Executive Orders, Dog Whistles, and the Lavender Scare 1:04:10

1
Ep. #56: Decriminalized – An EMS on the Frontlines of Portland’s Drug Crisis 1:21:55

1
The Sleepy Lagoon Trial and Zoot Suit Riots: Los Angeles's Season of Violence During WWII 43:25

1
The Unjust Execution of the Dakota 38 58:35

1
Ep. #55: Growing Up Undocumented With Jose 1:57:46

1
From Respectability to Ruin to Ripper Victim: The Whitechapel Murders and the Precarity of Poverty in Victorian London 58:01