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recorded January 21, 2026 This week we delve back into history to look at the Pinkertons. Were they detectives, or paid thugs for supervillains? I was surprised by the answers. Pinkerton's own presentation of history another (better) podcast on the Pinkertons

recorded January 7, 2026 It's a new year! Time to make new plans, and build excitement for the next build, next adventure! We're going to make some resolutions, and have the best darn 2026 whether we like it or not!

recorded December 24, 2025   It's the night before Christmas, and we're streaming our end of year wrap-up! We want to hug all our supporters and start plans for next year. Jack and the fam are back to celebrate and we look forward to a new year.

recorded December 10, 2025 Did you ever wonder about that line about “scary ghost stories” in the Christmas carol “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”? Well, we’re gonna tell y’all all about that glorious Victorian Christmas tradition! Besides Dickens' Christmas Carol, what other stories have you heard of? Lets see if we can find any.  Christmas Ghosts: A Victorian Tradition Christopher Lee tells the story of a loud hotel neighbor. In the Bleak Mid-Winter: Must-Read Ghost Stories for Christmas

recorded November 26, 2025 Before Steampunk November, organizers were approached by Big Media asking about the "Steampunk Lifestyle." What does that mean, to Big Media or to us? How does steampunk play a part in your life on a regular or daily basis? 

recorded November 12, 2025 Steampunk November is the longest running steampunk event in Texas. And it's in three days!! Sheriff Natalie McTavish joins us for a pre-fest hang out. What changes will there be this year? What are you looking forward to? How will we tea duel? Frankenstein  The Thief and the Cobbler  Powers of Darkness (Dracula) 

recorded October 29, 2025 It's the last show before Halloween! Let's finish off a season of cults and strange societies with Madame Blavatsky and her occult/religious movement, Theosophy. We discuss the questionable origin story, and how Theosophy has influenced modern culture. Theosophical Society on Wikipedia Madame Blavatsky: a seeker of truth — and a fraud Henry Steel Olcott: Timeline of an Occult Pioneer William Quan Judge: A Biographical Sketch Annie Besant on BBC.co.uk Jiddu Krishnamurti on Wikipedia

recorded October 15, 2025 This Mid-October we welcome researcher Bekah June back to talk about about esoteric secret societies and strange luminaries of the time. Thax reveals the secrets of the Freemason (not real super secrets, tho.) Jack picks it up as three Masons create the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn for more occultism than the Masons offered. Political intrigues and infighting commence! Freemasons Grand Lodge of Texas Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn   More work from Bekah June Voicemails of the Unexplained Ms. June's published work on Amazon

recorded October 1, 2025 Tonight we celebrate the coming of October, our favorite month! Also the rapture that didn't happen on Tuesday a week past. Yeah, for real. I guess. What is the rapture, anyway? Also, since we're sliding that way, horrific religious cults of the 1800's! A warning. Some may find this episode disturbing. Listen at your own risk.   Edmund Creffield and the Brides of Christ Frank Sandford and the Shiloh Compound Cult of Margaretta Peter

recorded September 17, 2025 No topic this week. Instead lets hang out and have a good old school show and tell! We haven't done one of these in months, so we're all over the place.  Nautilus is still the greatest SP show we've seen in a long time. Wednesday the new season has its problems, but we still think it's a good watch.  O. Henry a turn-of-the-century author from Austin, Texas Perfect Creature a vampire B movie with great SP setting Steampunk Banditos: Sex Slaves of Shark Island Thax read the free first chapter, and it was better than it had any right to be. Is this an actual good read?

recorded September 3, 2025 This week we celebrate the American laborer that keeps the wheels of industry turning. But what was it like at a time when labor drove the actual industrial revolution? TLDR, it was a horror show of course! We go from the Poor Law of 1834 to workhouses, to manufacturing fire in a locked building, to labor safety laws and the value of unions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_Law_Amendment_Act_1834 https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Victorian-Workhouse/ https://www.osha.gov/aboutosha/40-years/trianglefactoryfire https://workerorganizing.org/premajority-unionism/unions/history/

recorded August 20, 2025 Tonight we begin an exploration of the tawdry underbelly of repressed Victorian society, venturing into what is not discussed in polite society. We approach Victorian drug use, medical and recreational, of opium, cocaine, and cannabis. The Steampunk Doctor: Practicing Medicine in a Victorian Mechanical Age Drugs in Victorian Britain Opium in Victorian Britain Opium Use in the 19th Century Busted: How Cocaine went from Friend to Fiend in the 19th Century How Marijuana Was Used In Victorian England Cannabis Britannica: The Rise and Demise of a Victorian England Wonder-Drug

recorded August 6, 2025 This week we are joined by Bekah June, host of cosmic horror series "Voicemails of the Unexplained." She is also a veteran steampunk, and into weird paranormal conspiracies so this should be a fun chat. Bekah's web page, Default Theory Productions Voicemails of the Unexplained Bekah's TikTok Bekah's previous project, Tales of a Broken Reality Turning the Table: A Look at The Victorian Supernatural Obsession

recorded July 23, 2025 Musician and steampunk presenter, Addisyn Madd joins us this week as we discuss the passing of an idol and the steampunk track at Delta H Con this last weekend. Delta H Con is a diverse fandom convention catering to Anime fans and cosplayers, tabletop and online gamers, and general geek love. This year Delta H committed a full panel room to steampunk for the whole weekend! Apologies for the sound quality. It was out of our control. That's showbiz. Addisyn Madd Mr. Madd at Delta H Con

recorded July 9, 2025 Ready to add beautiful accessories to glow up your kit? Steampunk options in jewelry are vast, but some draw the eye for being so over the top ridiculous it turns you into a steampunk influencer! Let's talk about jewelry and steampunks and stuff! I could not find the etsy listing for the Cheez Whiz Steampunk pendant, and that's a real shame. But I do have this: https://www.clippingworld.com/ugly-jewelry/ Jack is really into raccoons, so... Raccoon Ring Handcrafted by Doctor Gus