Caustic Soda

Science Blunders

04 Jun 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Rosie Redfield joins Joe, Kevin, and Toren to talk about NASA and the Shadow Biosphere, blinded scientists all over the place, extreme solutions t...

Vlad the Impaler

28 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In another installment of our "Evil Dudes in History" we explore the history and legend of the Wallachian voivod Vlad Tepes, the inspiration for the m...

Vietnam War

21 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Horsetrack Hooligans podcaster and Vietnam War movie afficionado Jordan Pratt joins us to talk about the Gulf of Tonkin incident, The Battle of Hue, O...

Horses

14 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode: Przewalksi's horse, quartering, Caligula's horse Incitatus, diving horses, Clever Hans, horse racing, and that's just the first half!

Sleep and Sleep Disorders

07 May 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Sexsomnia sells! Dr Rob joins us to talk about a whole host of sleep disorders including chronic insomnia, sleep paralysis, night terrors, Kleine-Levi...

Blunt Weapons

30 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Sticks and stones will break your bones, and so will a heck of a lot of other things! Lisa Gemino joins Toren, Joe, and Kevin for a look at all kinds ...

The Sun

23 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

We are joined by solar physicist Dr. Ian O'Neill of Discovery News and astroengine.com as we discuss solar flares, coronal mass ejections, the Carring...

Caustic Soda Live Extravaganza 2012

16 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Not one, not two, but three guests join Toren, Joe, and Kevin for a live podcast event in Vancouver, BC on Sunday, March 25, 2012! We welcome Dr. Rob,...

Ebola

09 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Jenna Capyk joins us to discuss the lighter and darker side of ebola. Spoiler alert: it's mostly dark. Plus news and pop culture, plus Lesser of T...

Sports Injuries

02 Apr 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin, Joe and Toren bring you organized sporting riots in France, a multi-billionaire ancient sports hero, hockey skates to the throat and all sorts ...

Ghost Towns

25 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Some of the most wretched and caustic ghost towns are discussed, including "blue sky mine" Wittenoom, Picher's chat piles, Oradour-sur-Glane's nazi ma...

Sexually Transmitted Infections Part 2: Syphilis

19 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

RN Katie Scoular returns for the science and rather unpleasant history of that old Neapolitan bone-ache: syphilis. Plus news & pop culture. Music: "H...

Hoarding

12 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Joe, Kevin, and Toren have gathered up so much information on compulsive hoarding in this episode it's threatening to tip over and crush us all under ...

Followups 6

05 Mar 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Ian Boothby, The Simpsons comics writer and co-host of Sneaky Dragon podcast, joins Kevin, Joe and Toren to talk about cyclopean albino sharks, crab p...

Cocaine

27 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Kevin, Joe, and Toren cover cocaine-laced products with papal approval, cocaine intake options, some personal insight on cocaine addiction from a frie...

Burns

20 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The secret world of burns is investigated with the help of veteran firefighter Allan Newell. How does one distinguish the four degrees of burns? What'...

True Bugs

13 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Forensic entomologiest Gavin Pitts joins the hosts to talk about the hemiptera order of insects, more commonly known as 'true bugs.' Assassin bugs, ch...

Tsunami

06 Feb 2012

Contributed by Lukas

This episode Joe, Kevin, and Toren look at the giant waves known as tsunami. You'll hear about the biggest and deadliest waves known to man, incredibl...

Demons

30 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Succubi, oni, pishacha - call them what you will. Whether they're scapegoats for serial killers or epilepsy, demons have been a part of human culture ...

Pol Pot

23 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing the Evil Dudes in History series, Kevin, Toren, and Joe look at Cambodian Communist leader Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. Music: "Call Me I...

Cholera

16 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

This episode's got it coming out of both ends! Toren, Kevin, Joe are joined by Almost Dr. Jenna to talk about cholera. Death by vomit and diarrhea, ch...

Film Fatale

09 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Comedy Film Nerd Graham Elwood joins Kevin, Joe, and Toren to talk about the perils of making moving pictures - film tragedies! The Crow, The Ten Comm...

Kidnapping

02 Jan 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Express kidnappings, the "millionaire tour," the Lindbergh baby, the Cudahy kidnapping, Chowchilla school bus incident, and more. Plus news, pop cultu...

Quackery

26 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Step right up, Soda Jerks! What the boys at Caustic Soda have for you today is going to REinvigorate, REvitalize, REVULGARIZE you with their astoundin...

Wolf Attack!

19 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Death by wolf! Toren, Joe and Kevin discuss the many wolf attacks throughout history, the "sex lock", and the mighty Dire wolf! Music: "The Wolf Wobb...

Rasputin

12 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing the "Evil Men In History" series Joe, Kevin, and Toren check out Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin. Just how evil was this Russian that was so ha...

Doomed Expeditions – Part 2

05 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Toren, Joe, and Kevin are back with guest Jessica Pink for the second half of the podcast of DOOOOOOM! Music: "Funeral March" by Frederic Chopin I...

Doomed Expeditions Part 1

28 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Jessica Pink joins us to talk about our top seven doomed expeditions, in which we find out why you shouldn't name your ship "Terror," how not to treat...

Brainwashing and Mind Control

21 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Join Kevin, Joe, and Toren with guest Dr. Rob Tarzwell as they discuss MK Ultra, Psychic Driving, LSD, and High Energy Electroconvulsive Therapy! Plus...

Bad Cop, Bad Cop

14 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In our "Bad Cop, Bad Cop" episode, we look at some of the most corrupt, venal, and downright outrageous abuses of police power past and present, as we...

Cancer

07 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Cancer! Dr. Rob returns as our expert for the big 'C'. We discuss how jabbing radioactive beads in your prostate works, how mustard gas led to chemoth...

Halloween

31 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Costumes, the confusing origins of Halloween customs, Devil's night, old-fashioned candy vs. chocolate bars, candy-poisoning urban legends and of cour...

Axes of Evil

24 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

A brief history of axes and notable murders, news items, movies, comics and "The Lesser of Two Evils": murder by axe or murder by sword? Music: "Butc...

Flies ‘n’ Maggots

17 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Caustic Soda is a labor of larva! Get to know the bot, tsetse, tumbu, bat and coffin fly, not to mention screw worm, sheep ked and ant decapitator. Al...

Dystopias (Recorded Live at VCON)

10 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Special guests science fiction legend Larry Niven and Buffy/Angel/Firefly editor Lisa Lassek join Kevin, Joe, and Toren at Vancouver's VCON! We cover ...

Bacteria

03 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

E-Coli, Salmonella, gut bacteria social networks (no, really!) and lots more infectious awesomeness! Jenna Capyk joins Kevin, Joe, and Toren for a pod...

Followups 5

26 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It's Fünf for the whole Familie! More shark, crocodile AND bear attacks, self surgery, decapitations, Chinese internet addiction boot camps, art made...

Sexually Transmitted Infections Part 1: Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and HPV

19 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Caution, cyprianophobes! Katie Scoular doles out the facts on three of the most common STIs: the slang, the history, and the science. Plus news, pop c...

Scorpions

12 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

What you don't know about scorpions can kill you! The biggest, the oldest, the deadliest, plus scorpions in biological warfare! Music: Raymond Scott ...

Small Arms

05 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Mike T. joins Joe, Toren, and Kevin to talk about small arms -- firearms carried by an individual soldier. From the "grenade on a stick" beginnings of...

Human Sacrifice

29 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Our Human Sacrifice episode features vikings, Aztecs, Incans, Olmec sacrifical bogs, the Peruvian temple of doom, the Decapitator god, Egyptian & viki...

Robespierre

22 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

This week Caustic Soda returns to "Evil Men In History" with a discussion of Maximilien Robespierre, source of the French Revolution's "Reign of Terro...

P.O.W. Camps

15 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Horsetrack Hooligans' Jordan Pratt joins us to talk about P.O.W. Camps from the Civil War to Guantanamo Bay. MUSIC: Roy Rogers "Don't Fence Me In" ...

Tobacco

08 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

First hand, second hand and third hand smoke, tobacco enemas and medicinal use of smoke, plus all the usual detrimental health effects of tobacco, not...

Submarines

01 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Toren, Kevin, and Joe once again welcome Chris Woods for a look at submarines, from the early days of the man-powered Turtle to the nuclear powered Na...

Near Earth Objects

25 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Fraser Cain of Universe Today and Astronomy Cast joins Toren, Joe and Kevin to talk about meteors, comets and asteroids including the Torino Impact Ha...

Tuberculosis

18 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Tuberculosis! It's not just for lungs any more! Almost Dr. Jenna Capyk joins Joe, Toren, and Kevin to talk about the disease infecting one-third of th...

Electricity

11 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Shock talk with special guest Derek Mack. We discuss the different kinds of burns and bodily harm caused by electricity, the war of the currents, macr...

Rats

04 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Scurrying, skittering, and scampering into your ears, it's the Caustic Soda rats episode! Toren, Joe, and Kevin look at the brown rat and black rat. I...

Assassinations

27 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Politically motivated murders! Hashshashin, Julius Caesar, Abraham Lincoln, the failed assassination of Teddy Roosevelt, the assassination that starte...

Fisticuffs

20 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Lisa Gemino joins the Caustic Soda crew to talk about "punchy kicky stuff". The one-inch punch, MMA, Houdini, Tinku, Krav-Maga, Panantukan, "buttons" ...

Followups IV

13 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Sagawa the cannibal, Bruno the bear, a slavery-based syphilis cure, Hitler's death, and LSD cults and SQUIIIIDSSS INNNNNNN SPAAAAAAAAACE! It's an enti...

Ted Bundy

06 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

America's most well-known serial killer-rapist-necrophile is Caustic Soda's next Evil Man In History. Kevin, Toren, and Joe discuss Ted Bundy, the "sa...

Slime

30 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Snottites, star jelly, caca de luna, hagfish slime, marine mucilage, sneeze modellers, snail slime cream, and all things slimy! Our iRiff of "The Blo...

Funerals

23 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Caustic Soda puts the fun in funeral! Guest Arinn Dembo joins us to talk neanderthal cave burials, cremains, martyriums, slave sacrifice, wife-burning...

Tanks A Lot!

17 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Toren, Joe, and Kevin are joined by Kerberos Productions' Martin Cirulis to talk about landships,or "tanks". We'll hear about Britain's attempts to hi...

Cults

09 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Joe, Toren, and Kevin are joined by Rebecca Dart to talk about cults! We talk about Brother XII, who claimed to be the Egyptian god Osiris, Shoko Asah...

Leprosy

02 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Microbiologist Jenna Capyk joins Joe, Toren, and Kevin to talk about Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy. What the heck is it? Does it cause your ...

Jack The Ripper

25 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Today Toren, Joe, and Kevin take a look at the most famous serial killer in history: London, England's very own Jack the Ripper. Music: Guy Lombardo ...

Crocodilians

18 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The science and history of the biggest and baddest man-eating, death-rolling crocodiles and alligators. Plus how to survive a crocodile attack and "Le...

Mudslide

11 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Watch out, mysophobes! History's worst mudslides, the world's largest mud volcano, and man-made lakes that failed epically, All this plus how to survi...

Hitler

04 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

How did Hitler rise to power? Why did he hate the jews? What was the Night of Long Knives? Did Hitler invent blow-up dolls, fart during staff meetings...

Followups / Year One Poll

28 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Has it really been a year already? Kevin, Joe and Toren are joined by Australia's Steve Parker for a look back at our first year of podcasting. We'll ...

Alcohol

21 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Rob Tarzwell guests. Dipsomania, alcohol poisoning, drunken war elephants, weird and disgusting potables from around the world, sherry enemas PLUS...

Hoaxes

14 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

NOT A HOAX! Guest host Chris "Kerberos Productions" Stewart reveals the truth about Operation: Mincemeat and other WWII magic, Piltdown Man, Protocols...

Blizzard

07 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The worst blizzards in history including The Storm of the Century, The Cleveland Superbomb, the Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888, and The Great Die Up, Al...

Dinosaurs

28 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

What were the biggest, baddest and weirdest dinosaurs? Did killer algae take them out? What's the deal with brontosaurus? Was T-Rex a cannibal? Who fo...

Killer Robots

21 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Caustic Soda, robot fighters! We pit our powerful podcasting techniques against robotic threats like the biomass consuming EATR, firearm-wielding TALO...

Slavery

14 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Slavery is alive and well in today's world, and the CS crew pulls no punches. Slaves regaining their freedom in Aztec society, British slaves on the B...

Blood

07 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Guest Dr. Rob Tarzwell talks bloodletting, transfusions gone wrong, toxic shock, hemophilia, ebola, polycythemia, lymphoma and other blood disorders. ...

Followups II

31 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets' guitarist Warren BANKS! joins the crew to do another round of follow-ups and listener mail, including: Japanese ...

Seven Deadly Sins: Lust

24 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The Caustic Soda crew talks about vagina dentata, cross-species mating attempts in the animal kingdom, Captain America with a burrito in his pants, th...

Art

17 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Supreme artist of the omniverse Chris Woods joins the crew to talk about murderabilia, Honore Fragonard's flayed dancing babies, art as torture, Theod...

Bonus Content – Body Worlds Book Contest Winner Announcement

16 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Toren, Joe, and Kevin give a few shoutouts to the fans that entered our Body Worlds Book Contest and then make the draw to see who the lucky winner is...

Seven Deadly Sins: Envy

10 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

The science of schadenfreude! The Texas-Cheerleader-Murdering-Mom! Tonya Harding! Drug-induced fatal car accidents! All this plus exploding breast imp...

Crime Scene Investigation

03 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Author Don Debrandt gives his expert testimony on Crime Scene Investigation techniques such as body farms, anthropometry, dactyloscopy, entomology, an...

Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath

27 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In our fifth (and extra-explicit) installment of The Seven Deadly Sins, we discuss road rage (and "Carma"), catharsis, destructotherapy, "going postal...

A Very Caustic Christmas

20 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Was the star of Bethlehem a supernova? What raunchy pagan festivals did Christianity co-opt for Jesus' birthday? How many butchered children did Saint...

Seven Deadly Sins: Pride

13 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Caustic Soda is PROUD to present our newest installment on the Seven Deadly Sins: Pride. We discuss body dysmorphic disorder, comorbidity,cankles, foo...

Bears

06 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Bears! Polar bears, grizzly bears, brown bears, black bears, panda bears and yes, we even talk about poohs! You'll hear about bears eating faces, butc...

Seven Deadly Sins – Sloth

29 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Thaasophobics, never fear! We did a lot of work looking at sloth (and sloths!), idleness, apathy, avolition, aboulia and laziness! The result is here ...

Explosions

22 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Today we talk about explosions. High and low, big and... well, mostly big. Frightening, deadly and completely uncontrolled! Music: Kablam by The Da...

Seven Deadly Sins – Greed

15 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Chris "Sword of the Stars" Stewart joins us to discuss the fourth circle of Hell, Marcu Licinius Crassus' realty schemes, El Dorado, war profiteering,...

Deformity

08 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Kerberos Productions' Chris "Stewie" Stewart joins us to talk about physical deformities. Ribeiroia, sirenomelia, and a whole bunch of other complicat...

Seven Deadly Sins – Gluttony

02 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Part one of our seven part series on the Seven Deadly Sins: GLUTTONY! With special guest Chris "Stewie" Stewart. How do you cook a cockatrice? What is...

Caustic Soda at Bodyworlds

25 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Recorded on-location at the Telus World of Science Bodyworlds exhibit, Caustic Soda takes a look at the fascinating, gruesome world of the human body....

Sex (Part 2)

18 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Cinema Sewer's Robin Bougie is still with us as we talk about penile plethismograph, 3 day coke-caused priapism, tubgirl, Lemon Party and concrete ene...

Sex (Part 1)

12 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Robin Bougie joins Kevin, Toren, and Joe for a special sexy (and therefore EXPLICIT) episode. What are phimosis and paraphimosis? How about penis fenc...

Decapitation

04 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Is there life after decapitation? Can chickens really live without a head? After listening to this week's "Decapitation" episode please blink your eye...

Follow-Ups

27 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

What is toxoplasmosis? Who is the 'Tyrant Leech King?" How much memory in an isopod? Does Hercules fight with his thighs? Are MacDonaldland characters...

Fecal Matters

20 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Warning: This podcast is full of shit! Drop the kids off at the pool, lay some brown carpet, make some trouser chili, take a load off your mind, put N...

Earthquake

13 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Don't panic, get under a nearby load-bearing doorway and cover your head -- it's time for earthquakes on Caustic Soda! Music: Theme to an Earthquake ...

Iraq War

06 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Pack up your MREs, grab your weapon and kiss your best girl or boy goodbye -- Caustic Soda is heading to war! Special guest Jordan Pratt joins us from...

Apes!

30 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Get your filthy ears on us you damn dirty listeners! It's time for Caustic Soda's APES episode! Song: Abba Dabba Dabba Honeymoon by Hoagy Carmichae...

Self Surgery

23 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do if you're the only doctor on a Soviet Antarctic expedition and your appendix starts acting up? If you're not a wuss, you operate on you...

Killing Spree

16 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Caustic Soda's talking about killing sprees and we're not gonna stop! It's a killing spree spree! Today you'll hear about the 'yellow son of a bitch' ...

Buried Alive

09 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

"I've done far worse than kill you. I've hurt you. And I wish to go on... hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her. Marooned for...

Tentacles

02 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Cephalopods! Today the Caustic Soda crew takes a look at octopuses, squid, cuttlefish and all their tentacular, ink-spewing, camouflaging glory! Im...

Air Disasters!

26 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Caustic Soda's going down in flames with our latest episode - Air Disasters! Special guest Lucas Black joins us all the way from the UK via the magic ...

Psycho Therapy

19 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Caustic Soda your hosts Kevin, Joe, and Toren are joined once again by Dr. Rob. We discuss the gruesome, horrible "treatments" from the past ...