Best Rob Fiasco Podcasts (2025)

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Corvallis man found cows make lousy boat engines 9:13

Play Pause

2d ago9:13

9:13

The “Genius of Corvallis” hoped his cattle-powered riverboat would give the upper-Willamette sternwheelers a run for their money; and so it did, so long as it didn't try to go upstream... (Corvallis, Benton County; 1850s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1706c.cow-powered-riverboat-hay-burner-448.html)…

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Alcoholic shipmate drank snake-preserving whiskey 9:20

3d ago9:20

9:20

Stranded for the winter on Sauvie Island, the members of Nathaniel Wyeth's trading post struggled to get enough to eat. But for some of them, the greater problem was finding something to drink. (Sauvie Island, Multnomah and Columbia County; 1830s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1707d.townsend-lizard-liquor-453.html)…

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Schemers’ plans to exploit Multnomah Falls failed 10:28

4d ago10:28

10:28

Original owners of the falls tried for years to log it, but the steamship and railroad moguls were making a lot of money on excursion trips, so they blocked the scheme, preserving the falls for today's park. (Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County; 1890s, 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1707e.fight-for-multnomah-falls-4…

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Shanghai tunnels mostly a myth...or are they? 11:07

5d ago11:07

11:07

In the glory days of Portland shanghaiing, sailors were 'helped back aboard ship' on the city streets; there was no need for a tunnel to sneak them down to the docks. But the tunnels under the saloons and streets were useful for lots of other shanghaiing-related activities ... (Portland, Multnomah County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://…

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Tarzan fans are grateful for gold miner’s failure 8:48

6d ago8:48

8:48

Had Edgar Rice Burroughs and his brothers been successful with their Snake River gold dredge, Ed likely would never have had the time or inspiration to start writing “John Carter of Mars,” “At the Earth's Core” and “Tarzan” books. (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1503b.edgar-rice-burroughs-in-oregon.html)…

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Episode 556 - Up In Yo Face 1:01:58

7d ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Even though the weather and John's camera are both having technical difficulties, Chris, Rob and John manage to give some book recommendations and make it even easier to become a guest on the show. They also price out some pieces of Highmark Stadium that you will be able to buy and figure out what the heck Aphantasia is. Finally, they produce songs…

1
Riverboat party turned out to be shanghaiing trick 11:44

9d ago11:44

11:44

One fine day in October of 1891, a teenage boy named Aquilla Ernest Clark left the farm in Scappoose where he’d been working, headed for Portland. He was going to see the sights and maybe show himself a good time for a few days.He wandered around the waterfront, taking drinks here and there and probably taking a hand in a card game or two; then, wh…

1
Skipper doubled down on a bad bet ... and lost it all 9:40

10d ago9:40

9:40

ONE GRAY OCTOBER day in 1898, three British ship captains were sitting in the parlor of the Seamen’s Rest, a sort of YMCA for sailors located in the bustling port of Tacoma. They were in a betting mood. One of them, although he didn’t know it, was gambling with his life. All three skippers captained full-rigged windjammers. They were H.A. Lever of …

1
Bad recording technique led to FBI investigation 11:16

11d ago11:16

11:16

Portland band The Kingsmen recorded the song quickly and cheaply, and the words they were singing were unintelligible. But when the song became a hit, fans started guessing at the lyrics ... and some of them had rather dirty minds.... (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1312d-louie-louie-kingsmen-fbi-investigation.html)…

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P-town’s rabbi got in gun fight at President’s hotel 11:05

12d ago11:05

11:05

Oct. 1, 1880, was a very big day in Portland.For the first time in the history of the city or the state, a sitting President of the United States had come to visit. President Rutherford B. Hayes had arrived in Portland the night before and was staying in the Esmond Hotel, the nicest in Portland at the time, on the corner of Morrison and Front stree…

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Shipwrecked sailors had to paddle 200 miles to safety 8:43

13d ago8:43

8:43

While the captain of the Emily G. Reed was sadly reporting the loss of 11 brave mariners, four of the missing were adrift, desperately bailing water out of a damaged and leaky lifeboat. Destination: Puget Sound. (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1503a.shipwreck-emily-g-reed.328.html)…

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Episode 555 - Bring Beyotch Back 1:00:17

14d ago1:00:17

1:00:17

After the trains of thought finally find their tracks, Chris, Rob and John discuss John's recent college football experience, Rob and John audition (sort of) for Pop Culture Jeopardy! and they consider some Thanksgiving themed cocktails you might enjoy as well. Finally, they find out how much they do or do not know about their own bodies courtesy o…

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City-bus-powered cable car scheme was epic flop (Part 2 of 2) 7:08

16d ago7:08

7:08

IF THE IDEA of cable car service to Timberline Lodge strikes you as a not particularly bad one, you’re not alone. Over the years since the Wyler group proposed the glass-and-steel mountaintop skyscraper, several proposals have been floated for cable-car service up the mountain. So far, only one has been built, and it was an immediate and colossal f…

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Timberline could have been a gaudy skyscraper (Part 1 of 2) 8:29

17d ago8:29

8:29

HIGH UP ON the side of Mount Hood, Timberline Lodge has over the years become an Oregon icon. Its rustic, WPA-financed design and construction strike most visitors as a good fit for the state’s general reputation for woodsy civility. But had it not been for a particularly persnickety U.S. Forest Service manager, Timberline might have looked a lot d…

1
Outlaw Bill Miner’s first train robbery was a fiasco 9:24

18d ago9:24

9:24

Fresh from a 20-year stretch in the pen, the famous stagecoach robber known as 'The Gray Fox' found the world had changed and he would now have to learn to rob trains instead. His learning curve started in Portland and ended in disaster. (Troutdale, Multnomah County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1311b-bill-miner-trai…

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Taming of the Rascal: Chambreau’s redemption (Part 2 of 2) 12:30

19d ago12:30

12:30

After blowing his chance at a prosperous, respectable life in the Tygh Valley, the gambler and liquor man roared through frontier life as a keeper of rowdy saloons and bawdy joints before a Temperance crusader changed his life. (Part 2 of 2) (Wasco, Baker, Multnomah County; 1850s, 1860s, 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/…

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A crooked gambler’s-eye view of frontier Oregon (Part 1 of 2) 9:36

20d ago9:36

9:36

French-Canadian gambler started out as one of the most scurrilous rascals in the state, then reformed his ways and became one of its most earnest and effective reformers. This is the story of his early years. Part 1 of a 2-part series. (Lower Willamette River, Clackamas County; 1840s, 1850s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/131…

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Episode 554 - Arequipa Feels Good 57:51

21d ago57:51

57:51

After Chris, Rob and John sell shoutouts for money, they discover that Chris needs sleep, but Rob is apparently an expert. Also, Rob schedules something for his butt and Desecrator is available on the secondary market. Those two are not related (or are they?). Finally, they round out the episode by building up their confidence with an elementary sc…

1
Was suspicious death in ‘boneyard’ really murder? 10:20

23d ago10:20

10:20

The coroner ruled Thomas McMahon's death an accident, and everyone moved on. But the testimony of witness Eliza “Boneyard Mary” Bunets was suspicious and contradictory. Could she have gotten away with murder? (Portland, Multnomah County; 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1311a-did-boneyard-mary-murder-thomas-mcmahon.html)…

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'Mother of Oregon History' earned praise, but little money (Part 2 of 2) 8:50

24d ago8:50

8:50

Legendary author Frances Fuller Victor fell on hard times in the late 1870s. She never quit, but after she took a job writing for Hubert Howe Bancroft, he took credit for the books she wrote. (St. Helens, Columbia County; 1880s, 1890s, 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1504a.frances-fuller-victor-part2.333.html)…

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Legendary Oregon author started with poetry, pulps (Part 1 of 2) 8:51

25d ago8:51

8:51

Frances Fuller Victor became the founding mother of all Oregon history, and one of its most important writers of all time. By the time she arrived in the Beaver State, she was already a well-known writer. (St. Helens, Columbia County; 1860s, 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1503e.frances-fuller-victor-part1.332.html)…

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Supreme Court: Slavery is legal, but only for sailors 16:50

26d ago16:50

16:50

In May of 1895, on the old San Francisco waterfront, four sailors signed onto the four-masted barkentine Arago for a voyage to Valparaiso, Chile (“and thence to such other foreign ports as the master might direct, and thence to return to the United States”) via Astoria. By the time they got to Astoria, the four of them had had enough of conditions …

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Lafe Pence’s crazy plan: Wash mountain into lake 10:00

27d ago10:00

10:00

He might have accomplished it, too, but he lost friends when he tried to claim water rights to Bull Run, and when his primary investors went bankrupt in a bank panic, he was forced to give up the scheme and leave town. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1502d.lafe-pence-guild-lake-scheme.327.ht…

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Episode 553 - Can't Cherry-Pick It 1:01:27

28d ago1:01:27

1:01:27

Hang with Chris, Rob and John as they drop some references only long time listeners will get, get excited for the Android release of Sora and look forward to the upcoming Megadeth album. Also, Chris's laptop and sewer are now both up to snuff, Rob is done with fitness rings (which leads to a larger DPIN conversation) and John reviews a Tubi Origina…

1
Oregon's Modern Prometheus: The forced-sterilization advocate (Part 3 of a 3-part series on Bethenia Owens-Adair) 8:50

1M ago8:50

8:50

THE YEARS JUST after the discovery of germ theory were a great time to be a mainstream physician. By understanding, for the first time, the true vectors of disease, doctors suddenly found they were able to make real and undeniable changes in patient outcomes. But understanding those vectors — microbes — did something else too.... (Astoria, Clatsop …

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Oregon's Modern Prometheus: The Pioneer 'Lady Doctor'(part 2 of a 3-part series on Bethenia Owens-Adair) 10:27

1M ago10:27

10:27

It was a remarkable start to an even more remarkable career — the more so as Bethenia was over 30 years old when she launched it. It was also not a “second act” career, but a fourth — she’d been a wife, then a teacher, then a hat-shop entrepreneur, and now a physician. She had seen much of the world, and conquered more than most. (Portland, Multnom…

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Pioneer ‘lady doctor’ was Oregon's 'Modern Prometheus': Part 1 of 3-part series on Bethenia Owens-Adair 12:05

1M ago12:05

12:05

In Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, Shelley tells the story of a brilliant and gifted scientist-physician who reaches too far in his quest for knowledge, and dares to lay his hands on the power that rightly belongs only to the gods: that of the creation of life. Oregon history has its own Modern P…

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How the War of 1812 changed Oregon's fate (Part 2 of 2) 10:54

1M ago10:54

10:54

Yesterday, in Part One of this story, we had just gotten to the part where the Tonquin had been blown up, marooning the Astorians on the far side of the continent. But the damage done by the Tonquin and its captain, Jonathan Thorn, went far beyond the loss of the ship. Thorn’s bargaining style had not only cost the expedition its ship and stranded …

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How Oregon almost became part of Canada once, eh? (Part 1 of 2) 9:40

1M ago9:40

9:40

For most people today, the story of the original colony of Astoria is remembered — if it’s remembered at all — as a dismal failure. It was an ill-equipped party sent out by a rich guy in New York, which failed and was forced to sell out at fire-sale prices to the British.And yeah, that’s all kind of true … but the most interesting thing about Fort …

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Episode 552 - Down The Drain 1:03:41

1M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

After Chris, Rob and John give some birthday shout-outs, they take a look at Jamestown BPU's new Community Fiber, discuss the National Comedy Center acquiring the Stiller & Meara archives and peep the November Playstation Plus freebies. They also ponder what it would be like to peer into alternate timelines. Finally, they take an 80's pop culture q…

1
Vigilantes overreached with murder of ‘rustler’ 8:46

1M ago8:46

8:46

Everyone thought John Hawk was stealing cattle, and he refused to talk about it. So one night, a group of cattlemen snuck into his camp and assassinated him — and were shocked by the frontier community's response. (Joseph, Wallowa County; 1870s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1310d-john-hawk-murder-by-vigilantes.html)…

1
Bold bandits robbed train 3 miles from Roseburg 8:07

1M ago8:07

8:07

The job got off to a bad start when the fireman escaped and sprinted for the nearby town. The main suspect in the robbery quickly left town, and a few months later was killed in a streetcar holdup in Washington. (Roseburg, Douglas County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1502c.roseburg-train-robbery-jack-case.326.html)…

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Cow Creek train robbers were liberal with the dynamite 8:12

1M ago8:12

8:12

The “Baritone Bandit” led a small group of desperados with a large cache of dynamite, and they got away with a good bit of loot from the Douglas County robbery. But one of the passengers saw behind the bandit's mask ... (Cow Creek Canyon, Douglas County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1502b.cow-creek-train-robbery.325.…

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Oregon crooks have always loved their dynamite 11:18

1M ago11:18

11:18

Extortionists, jailbreakers, safecrackers, jealous lovers and even truant students have, throughout the early years of Oregon history, found high explosives a powerful aid to their nefarious schemes. (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1501d.crime-and-dynamite.html)By Finn J.D. John

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How to rob trains with dynamite: Tips from a pro 10:14

1M ago10:14

10:14

Award-winning criminal mastermind/ motivational speaker Blackie DuQuesne shares a few key insights for aspiring train robbers on how to avoid “n00b mistakes” on a railroad heist. (1890s, 1900s, 1910s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1501c.how-to-rob-trains-with-blackie-duquesne.html)…

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Episode 551 - Hang Out In Your Mouth 59:58

1M ago59:58

59:58

Chris, Rob and John master the art of breathing, take a look at what your wiener says about your heart and give you some dog grooming tips. They also agree that switching time is stupid, argue for the metric system and discuss their go-to Halloween movies and/or TV shows. Enjoy!!!By Chris Wilson, Rob Fiasco, John Raycroft

1
‘Prepaid shanghaiing’ plot went off the rails — fatally 11:16

1M ago11:16

11:16

The sailor wanted to quit, but the captain didn't want him to; so he deposited a $60 'blood money' bonus with the British consul, as a reward if shanghaier Jim Turk could swindle him back aboard. Unfortunately, they killed him in the attempt. This kicked off a three-act courtroom drama oddly reminiscent of a Three Stooges episode. (Portland, Multno…

1
Old Oregon loggers, millworkers were tough characters 8:35

2M ago8:35

8:35

For workers in the 'bad old days' of working in the woods and in janky, underengineered sawmills, the occasional loss of a finger or two just came with the territory. (Garibaldi, Tillamook County; 1930s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1904b.loggers-were-tough-guys-543.html)By Finn J.D. John

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When the Confederate flag flew over Oregon soil 8:16

2M ago8:16

8:16

Smithfield rebels' gesture of defiance on the main stagecoach route caused shock and outrage, but nobody was outraged enough to risk being shot over it; so the flag waved there until federal troops arrived and confiscated it. (Franklin, Lane County; 1860s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1502a.rebel-flag-over-oregon.324.html)…

1
Lava Lake murders still officially unsolved, but ... 9:16

2M ago9:16

9:16

The evidence against Charles Kimzey was circumstantial, but police had the goods on him for an attempted murder the year before, so he was sent up the river on a life stretch. But clearly two men had done the killing -- and no one ever really got a line on who his partner might have been. (Big Lava Lake, Deschutes County; 1920s) (For text and pictu…

1
Missing trapper’s mom suspected foul play 10:21

2M ago10:21

10:21

Ed Nickols hadn't wanted to spend the winter by himself at the remote cabin, because he'd made a dangerous enemy in a former coworker who turned out to be an escaped convict. So Roy Wilson and Dewey Morris spent the winter there with him ... and all three disappeared halfway through it. (Lava Lake, Deschutes County; 1920s) (For text and pictures, s…

1
Episode 550 - Two Feet Of Heartburn 1:01:29

2M ago1:01:29

1:01:29

Chris, Rob and John catch up as they discuss city driving, homeowner hacks and TV rights for Monday Night Football. They also have a little fun with Sora by OpenAI, Ray Reviews "The Substance" and Rob has a movie in his future. FInally, they look over "NHL Weird Eats", which really should have been a longer list. Enjoy!!…

1
Lawyer schemed to steal land by shanghaiing its owner 10:03

2M ago10:03

10:03

Astoria shyster L.G. Carpenter coveted Darius Norris's valuable acreage on Long Beach Peninsula. So he got the police chief to arrest Norris on bogus charges, swindled him into signing over his property, and shanghaied him off out of town on a sailing ship. (Astoria, Clatsop County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1903b…

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'Oregon's Native Stepson' Hoover saved millions from starving to death 10:35

2M ago10:35

10:35

When World War I broke out, Herbert Hoover was the world's most successful mining engineer. He abandoned all that to build an organization to feed the starving, first in Belgium and then throughout war-torn Europe. (London, UK; 1910s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1702c.herbert-hoover-in-belgium-431.html)…

1
Lonely Newburg orphan grew up to be President 7:37

2M ago7:37

7:37

He arrived in Oregon at age 9, and people called him “Poor Little Bertie.” He left Oregon for good to go to college at Stanford when he was 17. But Herbert Clark Hoover remained a member of the Salem Quaker church until his death. (Newburg, Yamhill County; 1880s, 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1702b.herbert-hoover-rais…

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Mayor’s wife gave him a real election-day surprise 10:12

2M ago10:12

10:12

Laura Starcher and her friends were fed up with the halfhearted, desultory service they were getting from city government. So they got organized, ran for all the public offices, and won ... much to the chagrin of the defeated mayor: Starcher's husband. (Umatilla, Umatilla County; 1910s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1903d.um…

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Skunk’s pelt would be best admired from far away 11:48

2M ago11:48

11:48

Clarence the logger was running a trapline as a side hustle. One day, he decided a passing skunk would look great on his stretching rack, and impulsively seized the skunk with his bare hands. This did not turn out to be one of Clarence's better ideas. (Garibaldi, Tillamook County; 1930s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1904a.t…

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Episode 549 - Check It Off Your List 1:02:10

2M ago1:02:10

1:02:10

After they follow up on the follow ups, Chris, Rob and John seem to string together the following things in some sort of coherent conversation: chili weather, drive by coffee, Doug Allen and seagulls. It's impressive really. Finally, John takes us through his recent West Coast Adventure. Enjoy!!By Chris Wilson, Rob Fiasco, John Raycroft

1
‘12 Angry Men’ couldn’t have happened in Oregon 9:08

2M ago9:08

9:08

At Jake Silverman's trial, 11 jurors wanted him to hang, but couldn't convince the lone holdout to change his vote. So voters changed the law and made Oregon the only state in the country where you could be convicted on a 10-2 vote. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1993) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1809e.1812.silverman-verdict…

1
The life and death of a P-town gangster and moll 8:59

2M ago8:59

8:59

It had been an accident, but small-time Portland crook Jimmy Walker had shot Rose City crime boss “Shy Frank” Kodat. Unfortunately for Jimmy, he picked the wrong friend to run to for help. (Portland, Scappoose; Multnomah and Columbia County; 1930s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1310c-jimmy-walker-gangland-murder.html)…