Medical History Mysteries

About Medical History Mysteries

Ever wondered about the strange cures, bizarre medical practices, and forgotten pioneers that shaped modern healthcare? Medical History Mysteries unearths the most compelling stories from the annals of medicine. Join us as we explore the captivating and often unsettling evolution of medical science. From ancient remedies and medieval plagues to groundbreaking surgical feats and ethical dilemmas, we dissect the fascinating intersection of human ingenuity, suffering, and discovery. Each episode brings to life historical medical cases, scientific breakthroughs, and the enduring human quest to understand and conquer disease. New episodes arrive daily, Monday through Sunday, at 7:00 PM EST, offering a fresh dose of historical intrigue and medical insights. We delve deep into specific events, figures, and concepts, ensuring a thorough and engaging exploration of each topic. Expect well-researched narratives that are both informative and thought-provoking. This podcast is for anyone fascinated by the history of medicine, the human body, and the incredible journey of scientific progress. If you love historical podcasts and uncovering the truth behind medical myths, you’ve found your next obsession. Subscribe now to unravel the past with Medical History Mysteries.

Publisher

Creator at Obomedia

Category

health & fitness · society & culture · true crime

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Jul 2026

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

120 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   They Were the Experiment: How 100 Million Americans Were Tested Without Consent

   They Were the Experiment: How 100 Million Americans Were Tested Without Consent A chill of betrayal: in 1933 two engineers claimed that 100 million Americans were effectively enrolled in a massive, unwitting medical experiment through everyday foods, drugs, and cosmetics - products laced with coal‑tar dyes, glucose substitutes, arsenic, lead and even radium, all sold without required disclosure. How did a law from 1906, regulatory capture, and authoritative endorsements allow lethal products to circulate openly - and who, if anyone, was held accountable? In this episode, we present the story documented in One Hundred Million Americans Pigs by Arthur Kallet and Frederick Schlink and outline the claims they made about American industry, law, and public health. What did Kallet and Schlink say was happening on grocery shelves, in medicine cabinets, and at the cosmetics counter, and why did their book provoke such a national debate? Person: Arthur Kallet and Frederick Schlink Date: 1933 Event: Publication of One Hundred Million Americans Pigs Law: Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 Outcome: Thirteen printings in six months - 100 million Americans were described as enrolled in an experiment in 1933. - The Pure Food and Drug Act had not been updated for 27 years by 1933. - One Hundred Million Americans Pigs went through at least 13 printings within six months of publication. - Cosmetics in the early twentieth century were documented to contain arsenic, lead, and in some cases radium. - A dean at the Columbia College of Pharmacy vouched for a drug whose use later proved fatal to many people. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

2. 

   10 Oct 2026

   The Pitching Machine: Why a Retired Closer Aimed at His Groin

   The Pitching Machine: Why a Retired Closer Aimed at His Groin The thought of a retired major league pitcher aiming a pitching machine at his own groin and pressing record sparks a mix of dread and curiosity: in 2004 a test that "should have ended badly" did not, and the reason reveals Mark Alan Littell's relationship with injury, fear, and performance. How did a single October pitch in 1976 and a career spent standing "in the way" of fastballs and pain lead to a parking-lot experiment decades later? In this episode, we tell the life and career story of Mark Alan Littell from his farm childhood through his major league years and later coaching, explaining the events and choices that culminated in the pitching machine test and the October 8, 1976 pitch that haunted him. What does that one moment, and the physical training that preceded it, explain about Littell's life? Person: Mark Alan Littell Date: January 17, 1953 (birth) Event: October 8, 1976 walk-off home run allowed to Chris Chambliss Location: Wardell, Missouri (farm upbringing) and Yankee Stadium (1976 ALCS) Career: 32 wins, 31 losses, 3.32 ERA, 56 saves across six MLB seasons - Littell was born on January 17, 1953, and grew up on an 800-acre cotton and soybean farm near Wardell, Missouri. - In his senior year at Gideon High School he pitched three no-hitters, a 0.97 ERA, and recorded 127 strikeouts in 69 2/3 innings. - In American Legion ball out of Blytheville, Arkansas, Littell struck out 24 batters in his first game observed by scouts. - Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 12th round of the 1971 draft, he debuted in the majors on June 14, 1973, at age 20. - In 1976, at age 23, he served as the Royals' closer with a 2.08 ERA, 16 saves, and allowed exactly one home run all regular season-the October home run that decided the AL pennant. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

3. 

   9 Oct 2026

   The Secret Injections That Built-and Broke-Eddie Fisher

   The Secret Injections That Built-and Broke-Eddie Fisher Fame and a needle: Eddie Fisher had seventeen top-ten singles and a million-dollar Las Vegas contract while receiving injections he was told were "vitamins"-injections that he later described as methamphetamine. How did the promise of performance-enhancing medicine reshape the voice America loved, and what did it cost him? In this episode, we tell the life and public career of Edwin Jack Fisher from his South Philadelphia childhood to the height of his stardom and the secret medical treatment that ran through his bloodstream. We trace the moments that made him the defining pop tenor of the early 1950s and ask how the injections changed his trajectory. Person: Edwin Jack Fisher Date: born August 10, 1928 Doctor: Max Jacobson Career highlight: seventeen top-ten singles, thirty-five top-forty singles Contract: 1957 Tropicana deal worth one million dollars over five years - Fisher borrowed exactly ten dollars from television producer Bernie Rich on May 12, 1959, minutes before marrying Elizabeth Taylor. - His divorce from Debbie Reynolds took ten minutes on the same day as his wedding to Elizabeth Taylor. - By his mid-twenties Fisher had seventeen top-ten singles and thirty-five top-forty hits. - In 1957 Fisher signed a Las Vegas contract with the Tropicana worth one million dollars for four or more weeks a year over five years. - Fisher later wrote that injections given by Dr. Max Jacobson, described publicly as "vitamins," contained methamphetamine. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

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