Last week we started in on the story of Gene Otto and Robert the Doll with our #1 fan-- Sarah's Mom. Some theories were thrown out there for the reasons why this doll generally eeks the heck out of people, and possibly why it might also appear to move and cause mischief at times. Today, we continue our discussion and see if we change our minds at all. So let's jump back into the nonsense on this episode idiopathic..

Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan practices a whole-body multisystem approach to healthcare using several modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine. Dr. Kashdan also has degrees in environmental health and toxicology and is a certified mold-literate provider. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc⁠⁠

Gene Otto was born in 1900 in the Florida Keys, he passed away in the 1970's after a life spent making art. What he's probably best known for though, isn't his art but his childhood and lifelong companion: Robert. See, Robert was a nearly 4 foot tall stuffed doll and like many toys of this era, he's creepy as they come. Oh.. he's also cursed? Or a demon? I don't know, but when weird things started happening in Gene Otto's home, it was pretty easy for everyone to see the doll had something to do with it. Even after Gene passed, Robert has maintained a sort of reverence and respect amongst Key West folks, and even beyond. So how does a 1900's kid manage to avoid polio but wind up with a best friend who is a posessed doll? Well, here's hoping we find out on today's special episode of Idiopathic!

References
1. News ABC. Divers find underwater hospital, cemetery off coast of Key West. ABC News. Accessed February 21, 2025. https://abcnews.go.com/US/divers-find-underwater-hospital-cemetery-off-coast-key/story?id=99011906
2. Luhrmann TM, Alderson-Day B, Chen A, et al. Learning to Discern the Voices of Gods, Spirits, Tulpas, and the Dead. Schizophr Bull. 2023;49(Suppl 1):S3-S12. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbac005
3. Robert Eugene “Gene” Otto (1900–1974). Accessed February 14, 2025. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LH8K-CX3/robert-eugene-%22gene%22-otto-1900-1974
4. Robert The Doll: The Real Story Of Key West’s Haunted Toy. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://allthatsinteresting.com/robert-the-doll
5. Robert the Haunted Doll. Historic Houston. April 23, 2015. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://historichouston1836.com/robert-the-haunted-doll/
6. Robert’s Story | Robert the Doll. February 6, 2024. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://robertthedoll.org/story/
7. Eyman S. The legend of Otto’s doll. The Palm Beach Post. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2017/10/19/the-legend-otto-s-doll/7356820007/
8. The Story Behind the World’s Most Terrifying Haunted Doll - Atlas Obscura. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/story-behind-robert-the-doll
9. Di Natale AF, Simonetti ME, La Rocca S, Bricolo E. Uncanny valley effect: A qualitative synthesis of empirical research to assess the suitability of using virtual faces in psychological research. Computers in Human Behavior Reports. 2023;10:100288. doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2023.100288
10. Said S, Kang M. Viral Encephalitis. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed February 22, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470162/
11. Krubiner CB, Schwartz DA. Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in Pregnant Women and the Vaccine Landscape: Comparisons Between Yellow Fever, Ebola, and Lassa Fever. Curr Trop Med Rep. 2019;6(4):186-196. doi:10.1007/s40475-019-00194-x
12. Simon LV, Hashmi MF, Torp KD. Yellow Fever. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed February 21, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470425/
13. Piket C. Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1899. January 14, 2013. Accessed February 21, 2025. https://www.miami-history.com/p/yellow-fever-epidemic-of-1899
Additional Resources
Episode 6: The Human Hair Version and the Worst Social And That's Why We Drink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEuKGLJpzas
REMASTERED – Episode 15: Unboxed - Lore Podcast: https://www.lorepodcast.com/episodes/remastered15
The Curse of Robert the Doll | Episode 105 | Sinisterhood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3ZIsmDGzyE

Today, we're getting into a chilling tale that inspired the 2005 film "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." In 1976, a young German woman named Anneliese Michel faced a harrowing ordeal marked by visions, voices, and seizures. Convinced she was possessed, her family turned to the Catholic Church for an exorcism. What followed were 67 intense sessions, ultimately leading to Anneliese's tragic death at 23 due to malnourishment and dehydration. Join us as we explore the thin line between faith and tragedy in this haunting real-life story, right here on Idiopathic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moA9bhSiZRg (And That's Why We Drink)
https://astonishinglegends.com/al-podcasts/tag/Anneliese+Michel (Astonishing Legends)
https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-anneliese-michel/23105422/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-anneliese-michel/24221407/
https://www.unilad.com/music/chilling-photos-anneliese-michel-exorcism-emily-rose-728475-20230209
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29fpnF1DWoQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN2HtbycnhU