Carter's Condensed History the Podcast: Recent Episodes
Marissa Kohn and Carter Thompson
Take a journey through history with Carter and Marissa! Every episode is a whirlwind tour of the world's peculiar histories and unsolved mysteries, with murders, mayhem, ghosts, and gadgets, it's sometimes sweet and always condensed.
First, Marissa unravels a tale of William Howard Taft! From a secret society Fight Club at Yale, to the myth of being stuck in a bathtub, his legend looms larger than life and ends with some surprising twists. Then, Carter reports on the BBC hoax that bamboozled a nation! The Spaghetti Farmers of Switzerland harvest noodles right from the trees in a farm-to-table process that starts out as a joke and ends up teaching Brits a valuable lesson: you can’t believe everything you hear!
This week, check into a haunted hotel for Spring Break! First, Carter remembers the Alamo and pays a visit to San Antonio’s Menger Hotel. A successful brewery leads to a booming hotel business, and entertains a host of notables who never check out. Bump into Teddy Roosevelt in the bar, a mysterious maid in the hall, or a former guest in your bedroom! Then, Marissa introduces us to Norman G. Baker, a radio host who dabbles in medicine. His questionable treatments lead to suffering, death, and a charming neo-gothic resort hotel. Guests take in the mountaintop views while a charlatan fills them full of watermelon seeds and carbolic acid.
This week, it’s all about workplace tragedies! First, birthday boy George Spencer Millet gets kissed to death by his coworkers. A freak accident at the offices of the Metropolitan Insurance Company leads to a murder investigation. Then, Carter takes us to Minneapolis for an explosive night shift at the Washburn A Flour Mill when the largest mill in America found out the hard way just how flammable flour can be.
First, Carter gives us the evolution of St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in the United States. From small beginnings in colonial Florida to redcoats in New England wearing green. The town of Troy, NY erupts in a deadly night of violence as prejudice meets Irish pride. Then, Brooklynites have no patience for an interrupted parade. Next, Marissa introduces us to the man, the myth, the legend: St. Patrick! Abducted by Irish pirates, the mysteriously wealthy son of a deacon has some divine visions and endures a pretty miserable mission to convert Ireland as his new recruits end up in chains.
Inspired by the Murdaugh murder trial, this week unravels some high-profile homicides of the past! First, Marissa talks us through “The Crime of the Century,” as Evelyn Nesbit, Harry Thaw, and Stanford White find themselves in a murderous ménage à trois on top of Madison Square Garden. Then, Carter takes us to a gated community in Connecticut for the “Mischief Night” murder of Martha Moxley. The Kennedys and their cousins find themselves playing a gory game of golf.
Spring-boarding off the colorful tall tales of George Santos, this week’s episode takes a look at some historical liars! First, Carter sells us the schemes of Charles Ponzi, a swindler so successful that he became the namesake of a scam. Then, Marissa introduces us to Calamity Jane, and the facts and fictions of her life in the Wild West!
Don’t walk under a ladder or venture out into the cornfield at night, it’s Friday the 13th! First, Marissa walks us through the superstitions and supposed origins of the unluckiest day. Strong female leaders make an unholy alliance with the Devil and start handing out curses! Then, Carter introduces us to an unlucky pair of lovers found murdered in New Jersey, in a scandal that rocked one church congregation and captivated the nation. “The Pig Woman” testifies from a courtroom hospital bed in a tabloid tale that’s almost too good to be true!
This week, it’s all about very British scandals! Before Harry and Meghan caused a royal rumpus, “The Firm,” was putting out fires across Europe. Two trials become a who’s who of naughty nobles in these scandalous tales of the upper crust. First, Marissa introduces us to a murderous courtesan named Marguerite Alibert—with ties to King Edward—who took inspiration from an operetta and became a Merry Widow. Then, Carter opens up the explicit diary of Margaret Campbell, the Duchess of Argyll, whose private polaroids became front page news in a classic tale of spousal revenge.
This week, it’s a smorgasbord of 10 New Year’s Eve fun facts, events, and inventions. Put on your red underwear and grab your traveler’s checks as Carter and Marissa take a tour of some of the famous (and infamous) landmarks of the holiday. The New Year’s Baby makes an appearance alongside Richard Nixon! The ancient Babylonians set some resolutions fit to print in The Times of London! Let a tall, dark, and handsome man cross your threshold at midnight and pass some legislation that goes into effect because it’s a whole new year!
Christmas Eve came early for the devotees. First off, it’s a hard candy Christmas for Vincent van Gogh. Marissa walks us through the Christmas Eve where his ear became the most disturbing Secret Santa gift ever. Then, Carter takes us to an unforgettable Christmas Eve party at the White House. It’s 1929, the stock market has just crashed, and now the West Wing is on fire. Join the Hoovers for an epic party where everyone gets lit.
A Christmas episode about Santa’s less-friendly friends! First, Marissa takes us on an Alpine adventure with Saint Martin who performs some mediocre miracles and gets mixed up with some devilish horned creatures. The Krampus gets an invitation to the holiday party and eventually teams up with St. Nicholas for some festive whipping. Next, Carter takes us down the chimney for a tour of the history and folklore of unexpected and unwelcome magical visitors who like to crawl down your fireplace. Demon birds, ghostly cannibals, and a kindly old Italian woman might fly down your flue this holiday.
It’s beginning to look a lot like capitalism! First, Carter explains how commercialization created Christmas. Marketing departments invented cherished traditions, department stores invented Santa, and copywriters created some of our most popular carols. Then, Marissa takes the horrors of commerce to a new level as “Arsenic Green” becomes the festive look to die for and Victorians pay the ultimate price for fashion.
A holiday special! First, Carter breaks down the myths of the Mayflower, and how a group of Plymouth descendants are responsible for popularizing the “lost cause” of the “First Thanksgiving.” Then, Marissa unfolds the remarkable life of Maria Tallchief—America’s first Prima Ballerina—a Native American who revolutionized ballet.
Step up to the polls, it’s Election Day! First, Carter debates the wild history of American voting practices. Your vote isn’t secret, everyone’s drunk, and the winner buys dinner. Vote for George Washington and he’ll give you a 1/2 gallon of liquor! Then, Marissa gets candid about candidate Boss Tweed. New York is on fire and the roughest gang in the city is the fire department. There’s corruption and embezzlement, as the politics spin wildly out of control.
This week, Carter and Marissa have a fun-sized assortment of scary tales in honor of Halloween! Marissa shines a flashlight on the game of Bloody Mary, while Carter turns up the gaslight on a haunted prospective nun. Then, there’s a ghost (and Tom Brady?) in Anderson Cooper’s firehouse, and a head in the crisper drawer of The Ice Box Murders. Finally, hop aboard as Marissa takes the train to Salt Lake City for the tale of the ghostly Purple Lady, and buckle your seatbelt as Carter spins the twisting tale of the cursed apartment of Lombard Street.
Join Carter and Marissa for their scariest and most extensively documented stories yet. First, Carter will whisk us away on a Hawaiian vacation, but in true Carter fashion, the Airbnb is haunted. Welcome to the Kaimuki house where a series of mysterious murders in the 1940s gives birth to a Kasha with an unquenchable thirst for dead bodies. Then, Marissa takes us on the crazy train to Georgia to say “what’s up” to the Surrency family. Most of their belongings are up in the air but that won’t stop them from making corn on the cob for hundreds of curious guests. Pull up a seat and watch out for flying brickbats and mystery biscuits.
First, Carter takes us to Massachusetts, 1679, in a dress rehearsal for the Salem trials, as witch hysteria sweeps through Newburyport. Flying shoes and prying neighbors become the talk of the town as a sailor, a magic chimney, and a cobbler’s wife come together in the trial of Elizabeth Morse. Then, Marissa introduces us to “Diana of the Dunes,” Alice Mabel Gray, a free-spirited intellectual with bad taste in men. She’s either a witch or an environmentalist, as a media frenzy throws a wrench in her plans to live off the grid.
Buckle up as Marissa takes us to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, with the tale of the “Golden Eagle,” a murderous car that fell in love with a Sea Witch and gets in a fight with group of church-goers. Then, Carter takes us from Delhi to London as the cursed Delhi Purple Sapphire (Amethyst?) is stolen during The First Indian Revolution and brings death, destruction, and ghosts to everyone in its path.
First, Carter takes us to Scotland where The Palace of Holyrood House is the setting for the Murder of David Rizzio. Queen Mary, her husband, and her garage band get caught up in a salacious tale of sex, suspicion, and explosions that haunts the palace to this day. Then, Marissa recounts the haunting love affair of Victoria and Albert. After his untimely death, some mediums get involved and their marriage continues beyond the grave, with ghostly gossip about the real nature of the Queen’s intimate relationship with John Brown.
If the world was ending you’d come over, right? This episode, Carter and Marissa take us back to 1910 and the mass hysteria surrounding the reappearance of Halley’s Comet, as the world held its breath while we passed through its tail. It was the apocalyptic social event of the season, with panic and parties around the globe. Season Finale! Stay tuned for more stories coming very soon!
In honor of Marissa’s birthday, this episode is a dive into the hosts celebrity birthday twins! First, Carter races through the life of James Dean, a fast-rising star with a need for speed. Then, Marissa pulls back the veil on Mata Hari, a prospective kindergarten teacher who became an exotic dancer, and wound up entangled in espionage.
First, Carter covers the breaking news of the identity of The Somerton Man! Researchers have identified Charles Webb as the figure in the mysterious case, and one professor even found love along the way. Then, call the babysitter and put on your vintage Dior as Marissa unravels the disappearance of Joan Risch!
This week, hop on a D,F,N, or Q train to Coney Island! Grab a hot dog and sit on the Wonder Wheel while Carter gives you an in-depth history of the parks. It’s a roller coaster of vice and virtue, dreams and disasters. Then, Marissa visits her favorite side-show act that saved the lives of over 6,500 babies.
Marissa and Carter are off to America’s first beach retreat. First, Marissa takes Route 6A to the Barnstable House. Often called The House of 11 Ghosts, this location boasts full-body apparitions of all ages. Next, hop on the ferry to Provincetown with Carter where he discovers the Black Flash. Is it an animal? Is it two kids in a trench coat? Listen to not find out!
It’s all scary Americana in this Independence Day episode! First, Carter takes us to Mount Vernon for some presidential overkill when George Washington dies a violent death and nearly becomes the first President to turn into a zombie. Then, Marissa takes us on a romantic getaway where a rowboat, a tennis racket, and a pregnant mistress try to find “A Place in the Sun” but end with the tragic murder of Grace Brown.
Say gay! It’s a special episode in honor of Pride month! First, Carter takes us on the Sayville Ferry to explore every nook and cranny of Fire Island. Watch out for pirates as we wander through the Meat Rack, before we spill some tea about The Tea Dance. Then, Marissa introduces us to a “Strange Sisterhood of lady sculptors” as we meet Emma Stebbins and her lesbian lover in the heart of Central Park. There’s lots of pride (and a little prejudice).
For better or for worse, it’s wedding season! Grab a plus-one and RSVP to the most opulent weddings in history. First, it’s a destination wedding in Monaco! Carter opts for fish when Hollywood Princess Grace Kelly ties the knot. Then, Marissa goes for beef, attending the White House wedding of Presidential Princess, Alice Roosevelt.
As a summery treat, this episode is all outtakes! The stories that were cut for time, the historical tangents that were just too tangential, and all the asides that a true fan would love. The history is sweet and condensed, with stories picked up and dusted off from the cutting room floor.
Carter and Marissa ruin your Memorial Day weekend with some spooky stories! First, Marissa opens up the lake house and finds skeletons in the closet at the Summerwind mansion. Then, Carter goes to the beaches of Australia with the mysteriously well-dressed Somerton Man.
This episode is a real hatchet job! To start, Carter tells us the story of murderess Martha Place, the first woman sent to the electric chair. Then, Marissa unfolds the tale of the Villisca axe murders and the terrible fate of the Moore family and Stillinger girls.
Spinning out from a brief recap of the Met Gala, Carter and Marissa go from Kardashian to Kennedy! First, Marissa gives us the history of Marilyn’s birthday suit by Jean Louis (and Bob Mackie!) and her rumored relationship with a president. Then, Carter lays out the homoerotic friendship of JFK and Lem Billings, and how a secret prep school love note started a lifelong intimate friendship.
First, Carter takes us to the Hollywood Canteen and picks up a hitchhiker on the way to the mysterious murder of Georgette Bauerdorf. Then, Marissa heads to Paris for an appointment with Dr. Marcel Petiot, but discovers that many of his patients ended up floating in the Seine.
It finally happened! Carter and Marissa chose the same subject: the intoxicating Queen Victoria. First, Marissa gets the party started with Victoria’s coked up coronation. Then, Carter hooks us up with the Queen’s dealer and shows us laudanum is a cure all.
First, Marissa takes us to Pennsylvania Dutch country where home renovations uncover creepy surprises in the walls. Then, Carter tells us the story of accused witch, Hannah Cranna, who leveraged her witchy reputation to extort her neighbors.
Take a terrifying roadtrip with Carter and Marissa. First stop? Fairfax County, Virginia, where Carter tries to catch a glimpse of the Bunny Man. Then it's off to High Point, North Carolina, where Marissa picks up a pale hitchhiker in the rain.
Which came first, the rabbit or the egg? We begin with Marissa explaining how a Christian celebration got mixed up with farm animals. Then, Carter walks us through the grand history of the Fifth Avenue Easter Parade—how it changed fashion forever, and why it remains one of New York’s signature sartorial social events.
Light three candles and buckle up! As a special treat, this episode contains strange audio interference, which may or may not be the ghosts of Carter’s haunted apartment. Sorry, not sorry. First, Carter talks of the seances in the White House, when Jane Pierce and Mary Todd Lincoln both tried to make contact with the dead. Then, Marissa recounts the exorcism of Anna Ecklund (Emma Schmidt), and her decades-long battle with some inner demons.
First, Marissa takes us on a trip to the mall to discover the origin story of the mid-century shopping centers that would dominate commerce for decades. Then, Carter introduces us to Judith Jones, the remarkable editor who plucked the writings of Anne Frank and Julia Child out of the discard pile.
First, Carter goes to the menswear department to uncover the sensational murder of Elma Sands that shocked New York in 1799. Then, Marissa takes us to Broadway where we learn of the ghosts of the Belasco Theatre. Disclaimer: Don’t listen if you’re one of our cousins. ;)
First, Carter takes us to Ireland with the tale of Loftus Hall, where a handsome houseguest makes an unforgettable game night. Then, Marissa uncovers some closets full of baby bones at Ohio’s Franklin Castle.
Marissa and Carter dish about the real history of the hottest historical drama on television! First, Marissa tells us the larger-than-life family drama of one of the show’s Newport filming locations, The Elms. Then, Carter dives into the real life of Mamie Fish, her gay best friend, and some of the wildest parties New York has ever seen.
First, Carter tells us about the mysterious case of Owen Parfitt, an aging English man who vanished in plain sight. Then, Marissa does some investigative journalism to figure out what’s happening at the Courtney Cox house.
Marissa and Carter are California dreaming! First, Carter serves up the story of Black Bart, professional outlaw and amateur poet. Then, Marissa explains how the children of California were enlisted to destroy an insidious WWI foe.
First, Marissa takes us to Newton, Massachusetts where a young girl’s imaginary friend has some famous friends and some expensive requests. Then, Carter tells the Haunted Hollywood tale of the Jean Harlow house and its spooky connection to another blonde bombshell.
First, Carter tells of the incredible life of Mary Ellen Pleasant as she shapes her own destiny and becomes one of the first black American businesswomen. Then, Marissa shares the story of the black battalion of women from the “Six Triple Eight” and their remarkable heroism in WWII.
Marissa and Carter try to honor American presidents, but they can’t resist some juicy stories. First up, Carter dishes about three disastrous Presidential inaugurations. Then, Marissa reveals explicit love letters from the worst president in American history.
Happy Valentine’s Day! First a tale of the love of money as Carter unravels the story of the Shrigley abduction, where a rising politician comes up with a wild fundraising scheme. Then, Marissa tells of the inseparable bond between two of the world’s great artists, Klimt and Flöge.
Learn Marissa and Carter’s Love languages in this special Valentine’s episode! First Marissa’s star crossed lovers, Franz Liszt and Caroline, ruin each other’s lives and we’re all better for it. Then Carter’s ill fated lovers take a life and a few boats in an international high-speed chase with Scotland Yard.
Open your drawers and pull out the Oneida! Carter explains why all your best silverware was probably made by a polyamorous sex cult. Then, shut those Shaker cabinets, as Marissa tells us how Mother Ann Lee shook up the religious scene with some simple gifts.
Carter and Marissa take us back to their roots exploring abandoned cities in the state they abandoned. First, Carter tells us about the Hawaiian community of Iosepa on the salty plains of the West Desert. Then, Marissa regales us with a tragedy involving miners and minors in the coal mines of Latuda!
Carter and Marissa go to LA and bring back some souvenirs! First up, Carter tells us how actor John Barrymore has the last laugh with a creepy surprise for Errol Flynn. And then Marissa debates canceling the tragic figure, “Fatty” Arbuckle.
There’s a ghost in the basement in Sullivan, Maine! Carter introduces us to Nelly Butler, America’s first ghost, and we’ve been running up the basement stairs ever since. Then Marissa takes us on a tour of America’s oldest, most haunted zoo, where it’s not just the animals that go bump in the night.
The sexiest ghosts in New York! A corrupt mayor, a ventriloquist’s dummy, and an attractive mysterious man in a cloak haunt The West Village! A tragically beautiful showgirl named Olive hangs around the New Amsterdam Theatre long after the curtain comes down.
Carter investigates the origins of Auld Lang Syne, but the story of Guy Lombardo takes an unexpected turn toward a Hollywood disaster and the estate of Tupac Shakur. Then, Marissa recounts how New York really dropped the ball when the city moves their raucous party uptown! Strap on your diaper, we’re headed to Times Square!
One Tree, Two Tree, Red Tree, Blue Tree! The Rockefeller Center tree grows from humble construction site decor to an American icon. Then, the creepy tale of a child bride’s Christmas hallucinations becomes a beloved ballet sensation the world over, thanks to the horrors of the Russian Revolution!
There’ll be scary ghost stories when Marissa retells “The Mistletoe Bride,” where a game of hide-and-go-seek goes terribly wrong. Carter regales us with tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago, when the most wonderful time of the year included murder, looting, and sex.
Hold your horses, Carter explores the meaning and history of “Jingle Bells,” and how a drinking song about drag racing became a Christmas classic. Then, hold onto your drinks as Marissa questions if it’s really that “cold outside,” baby.
In their quest to dazzle children, Macy’s makes a series of terrifying missteps while parading down Broadway. And the surprising modern history of the presidential tradition of pardoning the Turkey.
Marissa takes her kids to Murder Park and spies on the haunted neighbors. Then Carter spends his birthday with the daughter of a sea merchant who’s unrequited love and staunch obedience lead to a lonely life and afterlife.
A young Washington Irving mingles fact with fiction to create a worldwide literary sensation in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Using wacky pseudonyms and wild publicity stunts, he borrows the actual story of the van Tassel family of Tarrytown and the unfortunate death of a Hessian soldier beheaded during the Battle of White Plains to produce America’s first published ghost story. Then, a unique architectural style inspires a cult and more, as we reconstruct the history of the hauntingly beautiful and beautifully haunted octagonal Armour-Stiner house of Irvington, NY.
Burr… it’s cold in here! There must be some ghosts in the atmosphere! A mansion in upper Manhattan is haunted by an upwardly mobile widow (who may or may not have murdered her husband with a pitchfork). Then, not-so-dear Theodosia Burr’s Christmas Vacation is commandeered by Pirates.
Things in Scranton go off the rails, with a haunted morgue and some superstitious baseball players, but the scariest part of the train-station-turned-hotel might be the partial destruction of the Tiffany Skylight! Meanwhile, the Baleroy mansion is haunted by a little boy and a helpful old lady, but watch out for the red mist named Amanda!
A series of puzzling disappearances near Bennington, Vermont in the late 1940s remains unexplained! A haunted estate becomes a college campus and the horrors of homework aren’t the only thing keeping students up all night.
The Tragic story of the Lemp family of St. Louis, with orgy caves full of beer, children hidden in attics, and the spending spree of the Lavender Lady! The riotous ghosts of the Missouri State Penitentiary continue to spook, with Fast Jack and Firebug Johnson serving a much longer sentence than 20 years to life.
Boston gets wicked spooky as we unravel the tale of Medium Margery Crandon. Was this seance-loving socialite talking to ghosts or was she one of the greatest illusionists of the 20th century? We also check-in on Charles Dickens, John Wilkes Booth, and the mysterious ghosts of the Omni Parker House!
Elevator Operator Betty Lou Oliver has a terrible day at work but still manages to set a world record! Chaos ensues when a plane crashes into the Empire State Building, and the tragic death of Evelyn McHale, captured by a young photographer, continues to fascinate and influence artists.
We start with some Better Homes and Hauntings of Newport! We’ve got dark shadows and “Dark Shadows,” then some haunted students and some haunted furniture. The Ghost Ship Sea Bird rolls into town with nobody onboard, but the stove is still running, sparking a maritime mystery that still baffles us today!
There’s a Washer, a Dryer, and Ghost in-Unit! Shoes that walk themselves, a ghost in search of good skin care regimen, and a mysterious shadowy man, but nothing is scarier than the thought of finding a new apartment!
Take a journey through history with Carter and Marissa! Every episode is a whirlwind tour of the world's peculiar histories and unsolved mysteries, with murders, mayhem, ghosts, and gadgets, it's sometimes sweet and always condensed.