30 Morbid Minutes

Disney controls its family friendly image with an iron, four-fingered fist, but even the all-seeing Mouse House can’t anticipate every casualty – including the tragic deaths of park visitors or staff. Between 2006 and 2020, more than 20 people have met their end while at Florida’s Magic Kingdom, and countless others have died in fatal incidents at other parks around the globe. We investigate the main causes while attempting to debunk some infamous myths and rumors.

One of history’s most sadistic and violent rulers, Vlad the Impaler earned his reputation and nickname by driving stakes through the bodies of thousands (yes, thousands), mostly enemies, some friends. Legend and myth have also come to associate Vlad as one of the inspirations for the eponymous villain of Bram Stoker’s Dracula – but is this entirely the case? We dive into the history of Vlad’s penchant for revenge, his tyrannical rule, and his lasting impact on popular culture.

Reincarnation, the belief that the soul takes on another form after bodily death, is a cornerstone of many religions. Would you change your life choices if you knew your karma would follow you, even after death? We explore the notion of death and rebirth, and investigate stories of young children who claim to remember details of their past lives.

Cloning was once considered the stuff of science fiction. Now, to many, it’s the future and the natural evolution of humanity’s progress, survival, and experimentation as a species. To others, it’s an abomination; playing god. In this episode of 30 Morbid Minutes we’re diving into the background of and types of cloning, the ethical questions, and how much the science has changed in the last thirty years.

Exploring the origins of the modern tombstone and what the future of memorial monuments might hold. Plus, we break down the anatomy of epitaphs, and share some of history’s most bizarre and funny ones.

History’s obsession with being prematurely buried alive, and what to do if you do find yourself six feet underground with no escape. We look at how this became a very real problem in the Victorian Era, and some of the inventions created to prevent unintentional dirt naps.

With a renewed interest in and demand for exorcists worldwide, we’re looking at the Vatican’s relatively new “exorcist school,'' and what it takes to become a fully-fledged exorcist. Plus, how an exorcism is performed, and the Roman Rite, a text that serves as the official guidebook. We’re also investigating who can request an exorcism and why, and the dangerous stigmas surrounding religious cleansing.

Overflowing cemeteries and rampant disease forced 18th century Parisians to find a new place to inter the dead; the Paris Catacombs, a series of abandoned mining tunnels running 200 miles beneath the city. We cover the circumstances that led to the creation of this mass tomb, learn about the enthusiasts known as "cataphiles," the past and presence perils of this macabre landmark, and more.