The night was dark and the sea was raging. The captain of the steam ship Archtor checked his map. There should have been a lighthouse marking the rocky Flannan Islands, but there was no light to guide him. A lighthouse relief vessel, called Hesperus, was sent to investigate the dark lighthouse, and the crew immediately knew something was wrong. The three lighthouse keepers who were stationed there were nowhere to be found.

In this episode, we will explore the disappearance of the light keepers, the official investigation and conclusions, and why this story is still a mystery today.

Hello listeners,

This week, The MCP would like to showcase another history podcast. Fresh Hell Podcast, hosted by Annie and Johanna, is an amazing deep dive history podcast focusing on the macabre. Like the MCP they focus on research and human stories, taking time to explore the historical context behind every topic they cover. They often focus on lesser-known stories, tangents of larger topics that also deserve to be explored. They release a new episode every Friday, diving into stories of murder, mystery, and the macabre.

The episode of Fresh Hell that I chose to share with you all is called This is The Saddest Show. I chose this one because we've covered Freak Shows on the MCP, but didn't have time to really dive into the lives of some of the people who were displayed in this way. This episode talks about Chang and Eng Bunker, the conjoined twins, who were eventually able to take control of their display, and Julia Pastrana, known as 'the Bear Woman,' whom even after her death couldn't escape the exploitation that ruled her life. Annie and Johanna tell their stories in detail, remaining sensitive and non-exploitative when dealing with the complicated issues that wove throughout their lives.

So, please give this episode a listen, and if you like it, you can find part 2 on the Fresh Hell Podcast feed where ever podcasts are found.

Thank you, and I'll be back next time with another episode of the MCP.

Glowing plants and mushrooms are a staple of science fiction and fantasy environments, but did you know these fantastical elements are based on real organisms? This episode should be called glowing non-animal organisms but that doesn't really roll off the tongue. We discuss fungi, moss, algae and plants that glow, using bioluminescence and other unique mechanisms.

CW: Discussions of Religious persecution, and brief descriptions of torture, execution, and abduction. This episode also discusses an area that is currently experiencing violent political strife.

During the Spanish Inquisition, an era of intense persecution of the Jewish communities of Europe, one woman was able to provide shelter and escape to hundreds of Jewish people fleeing persecution. Her name was Doña Gracia Mendes Nasi. Using her vast fortune, intelligence and cunning, she was able to make her own escape, and then assist others in the Jewish community fleeing from the Inquisition.

Water demands respect - it's life-giving, but also extremely dangerous. It's no wonder that tales of dangerous water creatures exist in cultures all over the world and throughout time. One such creature is the Bunyip, whose origins lie with multiple ancient oral traditions of Australian First Peoples. In this episode, we'll discuss these origins, the way the bunyip changed with the arrival of Europeans and after, and the many sightings of this elusive creature.

CW: Discossions of death, crime scenes, and decompostion

Human Taphonomy Facilities, nicknamed Body Farms, are locations where donated human corpses are left to decay in order to study the process of decomposition. This research aids crime scene investigators and forensic anthropologists in determining cause and time of death, both of which can make or break a criminal case. Let's discuss how these facilities came to be and what goes on behind the razor wire fences.

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The Myrtles Plantation is known as the most haunted hotel in America, hosting a very prominent ghost of an enslaved woman named Chloe. Does the history hold any truth to the stories? Let's discuss!

CW: Enslavement, violence, racism and murder.

Mushrooms. So cute. So tasty. So very toxic.

Humans have loved and feared mushrooms since before written history. In this episode, Hallie discusses the tumultuous history of this relationship, and a few of the most deadly mushrooms in the world.

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