Disturbing History

History

About

Disturbing History is a dark history podcast uncovering the strange, sinister, and little-known stories the past tried to bury. Each week, we explore unsolved mysteries, secret societies, forgotten crimes, eerie folklore, lost civilizations, historical conspiracies, and disturbing events that never made it into your high school textbook .Hosted by author, investigator, and storyteller Brian King-Sharp, Disturbing History dives deep into: Unsolved historical mysteries Secret societies and hidden power structures Dark folklore and urban legends Lost colonies and vanished civilizations True crime cases buried by time Historical conspiracies and cover-ups Paranormal events rooted in real history Through immersive storytelling and investigative research, we uncover the shadowy corners of the past — the uncomfortable truths, forgotten tragedies, and disturbing secrets that shaped our world.If you’re fascinated by dark history, obsessed with unexplained events, or drawn to stories that blur the line between fact and legend, this podcast is for you. Because the past isn’t always dead. Sometimes it’s just been buried. Follow Disturbing History and turn on automatic downloads for weekly deep dives into history’s most unsettling stories.

Episodes

  • The Real "Wild West"

    This episode of Disturbing History uncovers the true nature of the American Wild West, contrasting popular myths with historical realities. It delves into the lives of figures like Wild Bill Hickok and the Earp brothers, and examines event…

  • The Resurrection Men in America

    This episode of Disturbing History examines the history of "resurrection men" in America, focusing on the illegal trade of bodies for medical education. It covers significant events like the 1788 Doctors' Riot and the 1878 John Scott Harri…

  • The Forgotten Horror of the Lake Shawnee

    This episode details the history of Lake Shawnee in West Virginia, beginning with a 1282 sickness, continuing through colonial settlement and Native American attacks in the 1700s, and covering its time as a popular amusement park from the…

  • The Real Stranger Things?

    This episode delves into the Montauk Project legend, exploring alleged secret operations like mind control and time travel at Camp Hero. It contrasts these claims with the documented history of the military base, from its WWII origins to i…

  • Diamonds Are Forever

    This episode of Disturbing History details the manipulation of the diamond market, starting with the discovery of diamonds in South Africa and the formation of the De Beers cartel. It covers the cartel's strategies, including a secret deal…

  • Who Found America First: Columbus or the Vikings?

    This episode explores the Norse settlement of North America around 1021 AD, centuries before Columbus, using solar storm data and historical accounts like the sagas. It delves into the voyages of Erik the Red and Leif, the Vinland colony,…

  • The American Gold Rush

    The American Gold Rush episode of Disturbing History debunks common myths, revealing the tragic realities of the period. It details the decimation of the Native Californian population, the exploitative "Act for the Government and Protectio…

  • The 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre

    This episode details the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre, where Mormon militia and Paiute warriors killed nearly all members of a migrating wagon train. The massacre involved a deceptive truce, the systematic killing of men, women, and chil…

  • The Aurora Texas Alien Crash

    This episode of Disturbing History investigates the 1897 Aurora, Texas, airship crash, exploring witness accounts, investigations, and theories about whether it was an alien encounter or a hoax to save the town.

  • Eugenics in America

    This episode details the history of eugenics in America, covering its origins, key figures like Charles Davenport, and its influence on sterilization laws, immigration policies, and Nazi ideology. It highlights the experiences of victims a…

  • The Battle of Blair Mountain

    The Battle of Blair Mountain was the largest US armed conflict since the Civil War, involving 10,000 union-seeking miners against industry forces. It highlights themes of class warfare, corporate power, and historical erasure.

  • The Horror of Holmesburg Prison

    This episode details the disturbing history of Holmesburg Prison, where inmates were used as human test subjects in unethical experiments involving infectious diseases, dangerous chemicals, and mind-altering drugs. The research, funded by…

  • The SR-71 Blackbird: The Cold War at Mach Three

    This episode details the SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest air-breathing manned aircraft, focusing on its Cold War reconnaissance missions, engineering challenges, and the elaborate CIA operation to procure Soviet titanium for its construction.…

  • The Berlin Wall

    This episode details the construction and impact of the Berlin Wall, covering its 28-year history from post-war division to its eventual fall. It discusses the Stasi, escape attempts, and pivotal moments like Kennedy's speech and the event…

  • The Hatfield and McCoy Feud

    This episode of Disturbing History examines the Hatfield-McCoy feud, detailing its origins in Civil War violence, land disputes, and systemic failures. It covers key events like the murder of Asa Harmon McCoy, the romance of Roseanna McCoy…

  • The Monkey Trial

    This episode examines the history of the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial in Dayton, Tennessee. It explores the origins of the case as a manufactured publicity stunt and analyzes the roles of John Scopes, William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow, a…

  • The Bonus Army: America Attacks Its Own

    In the summer of 1932, World War I veterans protested in Washington D.C. for bonus payments. President Hoover authorized the Army, led by General MacArthur, to clear their encampment, resulting in violence and the burning of the camp. This…

  • The Phantom Airships of the 1890's

    This episode details the 1890s phantom airship sightings, including accounts from California, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas. It covers witness descriptions of crafts and occupants, and investigative efforts.

  • The Real Moby Dick

    In 1819, the whaleship Essex sank after a whale attack, leading survivors to an uninhabited island. Their subsequent 93-day ordeal at sea involved starvation, dehydration, and cannibalism, with only eight of the twenty crew members survivi…

  • The Amityville Horror

    This episode covers the 1974 Ronald DeFeo Jr. family murders in Amityville, New York, and the subsequent claims of paranormal activity by George and Kathy Lutz during their brief stay in the house. It also examines skepticism and counter-e…

  • Tesla's Death Ray

    This episode traces the life of Nikola Tesla, focusing on his invention of a 'death ray' weapon and his rivalry with Thomas Edison. It covers his early life, education, major inventions like alternating current, and his significant contrib…

  • The Nazi Bell

    This episode of Disturbing History examines Die Glocke, a purported Nazi SS weapons program exploring anti-gravity and exotic physics, linked to SS General Hans Kammler and Project Riese. It separates historical fact from speculation regar…

  • Operation Northwoods: America's False Flag

    This episode examines Operation Northwoods, a 1962 proposal by the Joint Chiefs of Staff for false flag operations intended to provoke a war with Cuba. It details the plan's origins, President Kennedy's rejection, and the document's declas…

  • Who Killed Martin Luther King Jr?

    This episode of Disturbing History examines the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., exploring the official narrative involving James Earl Ray and contrasting it with evidence of government involvement and the 1999 civil trial verdict.

  • The CIA Acoustic Kitty Project

    This episode of Disturbing History details the CIA's Acoustic Kitty Project, a Cold War initiative that surgically implanted surveillance equipment into cats. It discusses the program's significant cost, development challenges, operational…

  • The Vampire Panic of New England

    This episode explores the New England Vampire Panic, where rural communities, facing tuberculosis, practiced rituals like heart burning on the dead. It covers cases from the Tillinghast family to Mercy Brown, examining the intersection of…

  • The War Of The Worlds

    This episode of Disturbing History examines the 1938 Orson Welles radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds. It questions the extent of the alleged mass hysteria, analyzing the broadcast

  • The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan

    This episode of the Disturbing History Podcast examines the historical practice of Bacha Bazi in Afghanistan, exploring its roots in ancient pederasty, its evolution through various regimes, and its connection to modern child exploitation…

  • DH Ep:67 The Betty and Barney Hill Alien Abduction

    This episode covers the 1961 UFO encounter of Betty and Barney Hill, detailing their experience, the subsequent hypnosis sessions, and the case's influence on UFO reports and research.

  • DH Ep:66 Shadows Over the White House

    This episode of Disturbing History covers two White House mysteries: the ghost of Abraham Lincoln, whose sightings span over 150 years, and the unexplained death of President Zachary Taylor in 1850, which was later investigated for poisoni…

  • DH Ep:65 The Curse Of Oak Island

    This episode of Disturbing History details the enduring mystery of Oak Island, Canada, focusing on the Money Pit, the tragic deaths of six men, and ongoing treasure hunting efforts. It covers historical excavations, recovered artifacts, an…

  • DH Ep:64 "In Event of Moon Disaster"

    This episode analyzes "In Event of Moon Disaster,"

  • DH Ep:63 The Night I Turned Off the Grammys

    This episode of Disturbing History deviates from its usual true crime focus to discuss the increasing politicization of entertainment and culture over the past two decades, exploring how activism, corporate strategy, and social media algor…

  • DH Ep:62 The Holocaust

    This episode details the Holocaust, from its antisemitic roots and the rise of Nazism to the systematic genocide of six million Jews and others. It explores acts of resistance, rescue efforts, the liberation of camps, and the ongoing impac…

  • DH Ep:61 911

    This episode of Disturbing History details the events of September 11th, 2001, the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. It covers the planning, the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the passengers' actions on Flig…

  • DH Ep:60 AIDS

    This episode of Disturbing History details the AIDS epidemic

  • DH Ep:59 Did We Fake The Moon Landing?

    This episode of Disturbing History investigates the moon landing conspiracy theories, presenting arguments about the waving flag, stars, shadows, and radiation. It contrasts these with scientific evidence, including lunar samples and inter…

  • DH Ep:58 The Bay Of Pigs

    This episode explores the Bay of Pigs invasion, detailing its roots in Cold War paranoia, the CIA's flawed planning, and the invasion's devastating consequences.

  • DH Ep:57 The McCarthy Hearings: America's Reign of Fear

    This episode examines the McCarthy Hearings and Senator Joseph McCarthy's impact on 1950s America, detailing his tactics, the Red Scare, the Hollywood blacklist, and the Lavender Scare, ultimately serving as a warning about fear and accusa…

  • DH Ep:56 Brain Candy

    This episode of Disturbing History examines how our thoughts and behaviors are manipulated, tracing origins to public relations pioneer Edward Bernays and the evolution of media. It details how television and the internet created an attent…

  • DH Ep:55 The Cold War

    This episode covers critical Cold War moments, such as Stanislav Petrov

  • DH Ep:54 The War On Drugs

    This episode of Disturbing History questions the true aims of the U.S. War on Drugs, suggesting it prioritized racism, fear, and control over public health. It examines how policies from 1875 to the present have disproportionately harmed m…

  • DH Ep:53 American Concentration Camps

    This episode of Disturbing History details the forced imprisonment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans during WWII, exploring the decades of anti-Asian racism that preceded it, the government actions taken, and the profound psychological an…

  • DH Ep:52 The Weird Meteor

    The Weston Meteorite episode of Disturbing History details the 1807 meteorite fall in Connecticut, its scientific documentation by Benjamin Silliman, and its impact on American science and culture.

  • DH Ep:51 The Odyssey Project: Kids For Sale

    This episode covers the "Odyssey Project," a large-scale child trafficking operation in the US linked to serial killers Dean Corll and John Wayne Gacy. It details the mail-order network, the client lists that were destroyed, and the persis…

  • DH Ep:50 The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

    This episode details the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, a 40-year US Public Health Service study starting in 1932 where 600 Black men in Alabama were deceived and denied treatment for syphilis. The experiment continued even after penicillin…

  • DH Ep:49 The Civil War

    This episode of Disturbing History details the American Civil War, emphasizing slavery as the core issue. It covers the historical context from 1619, failed compromises like the Three-Fifths Compromise and the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and key…

  • DH Ep:48 The Yuba County Five

    The Yuba County Five episode of Disturbing History recounts the 1978 vanishing of five friends after a basketball game. Their car was found abandoned miles off course in the snow, and four bodies were later recovered. The circumstances sur…

  • DH Ep:47 The African Slave Trade

    Episode 47 of Disturbing History examines the African Slave Trade, detailing European demand and the involvement of African kingdoms and merchants. It traces the trade from its 1441 origins, its link to the colonization of the Americas, an…

  • DH Ep:46 Christopher Columbus

    This episode of Disturbing History examines the life and actions of Christopher Columbus, challenging the sanitized version of his story. It details his miscalculations, his arrival in the Americas, and the subsequent enslavement and explo…