Doomsday: History's Most Dangerous Podcast
Doomsday is a history lesson that easily disguises itself as a horror story. We explore the most traumatic, bizarre and most awe-inspiring but largely unheard-of disasters from throughout human history and around the world including the science behind every disturbing detail. If you like shipwrecks, decapitations, things that melt, living blankets of insects and people screaming for their lives, Doomsday is the podcast for you.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/doomsday-history-s-most-dangerous-podcast--4866335/support.
DOOMSDAY AFTERMATH | The St Pierre Volcanic Bio-Swarm of 1902
Well hello, and welcome to Doomsday Aftermath! A remastered retrospective update-a-sode as requested by you, the listeners. Remastered? Oh yes. We are revisiting Episode 2: The St Pierre Volcanic Bio-Swarm of 1902, and I sound like I recorded it at a summer camp on a potato I science-faired into a microphone. Also, I sound like I left my car running outside and I have somewhere I needed to be. I was just young and inexperienced. There’s not much I can do about that, but I’ve cleaned up the audio, and plumbed my brain for all the behind-the-scenes details and memories.
The Batavia Shipwreck Disaster and Massacre of 1629 | Episode 114
Imagine being nearly Tetrised to death in the throes of a massive shipwreck. Now, imagine yourself sitting on a deserted island and watching as the remains of that ship are slowly beaten to death by the waves, and thinking “well, at least things can’t get any worse”. Then you meet the surviving crew and wonder if it’s too late to swim back to the wreck.
On today’s episode: we’ll debunk the notion of the romance of life at sea by revealing why every famous mariner you ever heard of probably smelled like sun-baked se...
The Cadaver Synod Legal Disaster of 897 AD | Episode 113
I read an awful lot so you don’t have to, so to save you some time, according to a book titled “Is Eating People Wrong”, it is. Well, on today’s story, I’m happy to say you won’t have to worry about cannibalism. There will be a body. And there will be some things that will happen to that body – the kind of stuff you wouldn’t wish on your grandmother, but no nibbling. Let me just say, this will be a very different kind of episode.
On this episode: Welcome to our very first legal...
The Air Florida Potomac River Disaster of 1982 | Episode 112
A pilot friend of mine spent more time practicing touch and go landings than anyone I’ve ever met. His reasoning was, that take-offs and in-flight procedures are irrelevant, the only thing that means anything is the landing. I asked, what if your take-off was your landing, and he said zero stars, do not recommend.
On today’s episode: you will learn what makes Florida such a sparkling tropical jewel for snow weary travellers; you will see what happens when a 200,000 lb plane lands on a 4,000 lb car; and you will hear about a disa...
A Quick Update (Our Cup Runneth Over With Pee)
PEE PEE POO POO is finally LIVE!
Yes, that’s really what it’s called. What is it, some of you ask? It’s the most childish-sounding adult party card game you’ll ever fall in love with. Imagine an oddly strategic game of Poker meets Go Fish, but with Pee, Poo, and Fart cards.
If you've ever wanted to help the show and have a stupid amount of fun doing it, now's your chance. And if that's not your thing, but you appreciate the effort, you can always make a simple donation without purchasi...
The Nevado del Ruiz Armero Volcano Disaster of 1985 | Episode 111
Live. Laugh. Lava (or Lahar as one Patreon listener pointed out). Except in this case, less lava, and more mud, and ash, and trees and water, and buildings, and cars, and boulders the size of cars, and bits of roadways, and people, and all kinds of debris flowing as a fast-moving river with the consistency of wet concrete.
On today’s episode: you will learn how native Colombians were able to send European visitors scrambling to their deaths with a word, including jumping into active volcanoes; I’ll teach parents of young children the best...
The Corsican French Cup Stadium Disaster of 1992 | Episode 110
No one shows up to work expecting to make history, but today’s story shows how one small, irreversible decision created the one of the worst days at work in US History. If that “fork in the road” moment had played out in any other way, today’s episode would mostly just be me chatting up Texans and offering up some gardening tips.
On today’s episode: we will be travelling to beautiful Corsica, and learning why people not from there think the locals are xenophobic, blood thirsty monsters; we’ll learn how when it comes to architectu...
The Eséka Train Disaster of 2016 | Episode 109
We've described some pretty fairly awful commutes on this show before. On today's very special "return-to-Africa" episode, all people wanted to do was get to work, but the weather got bad to the point where the road said "you shall not pass, your life is in danger". The train took a look at all this and said, "hold my beer”.
On today’s episode: you will learn how the location of today’s story sounds toasty and hot to the uninitiated, but is actually one of the wettest places on earth; we will describe a claust...
The Dave Matthews Poop Bus Disaster of 2004 | Episode 108
You’ve maybe heard that during an accident, time slows. Truth is, it’s an illusion. Your brain flips into high-alert, and processes visual information in way higher detail, which makes the experience feel longer. Of all the episodes and stories we’ve shared on this show before, this is the one story you would absolutely not want to appreciate in high-detail slow-mo.
On today’s episode: you’ll find out how cholera and typhoid-laced fart water led to the reinvention of one of the world’s cleverest and most innovative cities; you will find out why crapping...
The Texas City Disaster of 1947 | Episode 107
No one shows up to work expecting to make history, but today’s story shows how one small, irreversible decision created the one of the worst days at work in US History. If that “fork in the road” moment had played out in any other way, today’s episode would mostly just be me chatting up Texans and offering up some gardening tips.
On today’s episode: you will find out why parts of Texas smell like money, and why that money smells unbreathably pungent and caustic; we will explore how there can come a point wh...
The Kursk Submarine Disaster of 2000 | Episode 106
I believe the most frightening vehicle to travel from point A to point B in would be a submarine – and I am including cable cars, and rocket sleds, and tightropes, and wingsuits, and early diving bells, and high-altitude balloon gondolas, and luge sleds, and the kind of fixed-wing plane where you have to walk on the wing, and human cannonballing, and ziplining over a volcano in that analysis. Let’s see if today’s story changes my mind.
On today’s episode: you will learn why the history of victory in human warfare favours how much you rese...
The Carrington Geomagnetic Superstorm of 1859 | Episode 105
I do love a story where almost no one dies, but if you’ve listened to this show long enough, you know I also really do enjoy a bad day at work episodes where the opposite is true. In today’s story, no one dies. That said, some people are going to lose their hair and have their fingers soldered or arc-welded together at work.
On today’s episode: you will see how the simple act of going blabbity blah turned the most physically unimpressive animal on Earth into its most dangerous one; you’ll learn why I’m c...
The Black Saturday Bushfires of 2009 | Episode 104
There is a strong anthropological argument that controlled fire is humanity’s first invention. Among the many gifts it bestows upon us, being able to survive colder climates is one of them. As you will soon see, in today’s episode, that will not be an issue.
On today’s episode: you’ll hear about one of the deadliest and most destructive forces on the planet can play a kind of peekaboo and then grow 300 feet tall and make you foul yourself; you will learn what the actual deadliest animals in Australia are (and number one will surprise y...
The Norwegian Cheese Fire Disaster of 2013 | Episode 103
You might think the worst thing cheese can do is cause indigestion, or elevated cholesterol, or the need to punch more belt holes - maybe even the occasional fart sneaks out. But on today’s episode, you will learn, as it turns out, we’ve catastrophically underestimated it.
On today’s episode: we’ll visit a postcard perfect country that’s ridiculously beautiful from top to bottom, but on a map looks vaguely testicular and chewed; you will walk through the history of cheese before sampling a platter of the world’s most nauseating varieties; and not to spoil...
The Kaprun Funicular Disaster of 2000 | Episode 102
If you think the worst thing that can happen while skiing is trying not to scream while the ski patrol figures out why your leg’s bending that way, we have a lot to teach you about skiing. Spoiler: mountains can cook and kill people. Don’t say this podcast doesn’t teach you things.
On today’s episode: you will learn why Frankenstein was more graceful on stolen corpse feet than you are in snowboots; you’ll learn why diagonal tunnels basically act as nature’s secret logistical flamethrowers; and we’ll see how a $40 appliance perma...
The Yukon Riverboat Disaster of 1906 | Episode 101
The Yukon River is famous for its remoteness and scenic vistas and history, where very little may seem to happen – but in 1906, one man’s lack of situational awareness and fine-motor skills created the greatest, cattle-based pyrotechnics display the world had ever seen.
On today’s episode: you will see how miners and prostitutes used to travel in style in the far sub-Arctic North; you will hear about what may be the clumsiest bad-day-at-work episode we’ve ever discussed; and you will find out at what point an incinerating cow flips from piquing your appetite to inducing e...
The Mount Hood Field Trip Disaster of 1986 | Episode 100
You ever go on a field trip at school and every time you look over your shoulder, there’s a teacher or chaperone giving you the stink eye? Well try to imagine a field trip where you look up and all your old relatives are waving you into a tunnel of white light.
On today’s very special milestone 100th Episode: you’ll hear about my school trip to a French strip club; you would learn about a man of God who unintentionally brought a flock of young faithful to meet him; and you will see why I b...
The Core Disaster Moviesode of 2003 | Episode 99
BEFORE WE BEGIN – the best way to enjoy today's stupidity is in the form of video, which as a special thank you to all of you for another great year, I have edited together and made FREE at patreon.com/funeralkazoo. No strings attached. Just a gift to you all, with hopes for happy holidays and a fantastic new year.
–––––
You ever watch a big, blockbuster sci-fi action adventure movie that turns out to be so bereft of technical and scientific merit or accuracy that you almost start to like it? Me neither! <...
The Regent's Park Skating Disaster of 1867 | Episode 98
Nothing says ‘fun afternoon’ quite like adding cutlery to your feet, bruising most of your body, and then going for a nice swim. And to clarify, when I say nothing, I mean because that’s not something that anyone has ever said before.
On today’s episode: we’ll see how the former digs of axe murderers and corpse thieves and child labour body pits became one of the most beautiful green spaces in London; we’ll learn why early ice skates were only marginally more comfortable than being eaten by wolves; and we’ll learn why Victorian f...
The Edmund Fitzgerald Disaster of 1975 | Episode 96
The average lake around the world is about the size of a large parking lot – the kind of thing you might try to skip a stone across. The current World Record for stone skipping is 88 skips. If you were to skip a stone across the lake we’re visiting today, it would have to beat that number by about 406, 912 and it would be bouncing across the water for about three hours.
On today’s episode: You’ll learn about the most boat-hungry lakes anywhere in the world; you’ll see why you would rather be beaten half-to-de...
The Great Wanggongchang Armory Disaster of 1626 | Episode 95
To begin today’s tale, allow me to share a translation of an ancient Chinese joke: Three men were looking at the clouds. One points to a cloud and says, that cloud is shaped like a horse. Another points to a cloud and says, that one is shaped like a whale. The third man points to a mushroom-shaped cloud, and everyone dies.
On today’s episode: you’ll find out just how badly ancient China wanted nothing to do with you; you’ll learn about an explosion so large, people miles away had to clear limbs and geni...
The Air Africa Congo Halloween Crashtacular of 1996 | Episode 94
Take the most frightening death you can imagine, now double it. Then double it again. And then add fire. This is our Halloween episode, and by the time we’re done, your favourite horror movie will have all the impact of a baby food commercial. I’m not saying you’ll never sleep again, but I’m not not saying it. I am apologizing in advance, and I remind you that a Doomsday barf bag is only an email away.
Back when we did the Sknyliv Airshow Disaster episode, I had grave concerns about her aggressively violent and gory it...
The Cave Creek Platform Disaster of 1995 | Episode 93
The most unusual thing about today’s story is that almost everyone is going to bruise their lungs. For your sake, I hope it’s from laughing. Not everyone will be so lucky.
On today’s episode: you’ll hear about the one part of your body I want you to consider more worthy of fiddling with than your genitals; if you’re a stickler for building codes, we’re going to take you on a beautiful, potentially one-way hike to see some shoddy-ass worksmanship; and we’ll see what makes helicopter rescues as frightening as whatever you d...
The Uruguayan Rugby Aircrash Disaster of 1972 | Episode 92
We’ve done episodes where people lose their teeth. We’ve done episodes where have them melted out of their heads, or frisbeed out by debris, or punched out by bulls, or even blown out of their heads by lightning. But we’ve never done an episode where the most horrifying thing that happens is you maybe get something stuck in them.
On this episode: we’ll take off on one of the least enviable flights in history – which is saying a lot; we’ll learn just what staggeringly awful places hunger can take an underfed...
The Beer & Whiskey Flood Drinking Disastersode of 1814-1875 | Episode 91
It’s rare for us to have an episode with so many feces mentioned right off the top, but do not worry, refreshments will be served.
On this episode: we’re doing another one-of-a-kind episode here, and I’ll explain the rules as get into it, but for all those listeners who love our more unhygienic content, have we got a treat for you. We’re talking about the only consumer product you can blow out your nose while friends and strangers cheer you on; we’ll discuss more context and uses for plop and manure than you c...
BONUS | The Smallville Alien Rocket Crash of 2025
As a lifelong, dyed in the wool, comic book enthusiast, it behooves me with the recent release of the new James Gunn Superman movie to share this short Patreon segment pulled from our recent Greensburg Tornado Disaster of 2007 episode.
Back in 1938, to his creators, Kansas represented the humble origins and strong ethics we associate with the Superman we know today. They believed that no other State would have produced a character that more strongly embodying the traditional values of truth, justice, and the American way. But that was 1938, and we loved and welcomed him, and a lot has c...
The USS Enterprise Explosion of 1969 | Episode 90
Today, we will be spending the day on board a whole bunch of ships sharing a long and storied heritage. Sadly, we’re going to spend most of our time on the one that crew members called “The Mobile Chernobyl” .
On today’s episode: we’ll see what it feels like to survive something that peeled through six inch steel plates like taffy; in our safety segment, you’ll hear the first use of the term “enriddlement”; and before we’re done we’ll boldly go where Starships sometimes explode.
And if you were listening on Pa...
Peril, Apocalypses and Moviesodes | Doomsday Mailbag 9
Hello, and welcome to the inglorious return of Doomsday: History’s Most Dangerous Mailbag Minisode!
We’ve seen an awful lot of $@!# across time and space and it’s only natural that you would have questions – so here is your chance hear them answered. Maybe learn something a little gross, maybe a little interesting. This is my chance to publicly answer some of the friendly, odd and occasionally gross questions that feed in through our various social media channels.
I really wanted to get actual content to you ASAP after some recent tomfoolery with my health, and a Mai...
The Greensburg Tornado Disaster of 2007 | Episode 89
A wind could remove your hat. A stronger wind might steal your lawn furniture. The kind of wind we’re talking about today renovated Pre-War and Mid-Century Midwestern homes into more “open concept” dwellings.
On today’s episode: we’re going to take a look at what happens when you’re visited by a storm so powerful, they invent a new scale just to define it; we’ll see what it feels like to have your house reduced to the consistency of straw and blown away in what many call the most frightening thing that can happen to you...
BONUS | The Waffle House Index: America’s Strangest Dining Minisode
We’ve been a lot of places together on this show. I’m trying to think of the weirdest. Nuclear reactors, insane asylums, the mouths of volcanoes; but now, by fan request, it’s finally time that we visit our strangest location yet: a restaurant. And before we begin – IHOP you survive the experience!
On today’s episode: we’re visiting an American institution, recognized around the world for it’s bizarre duality as a magnet for cartoonish levels of violence (for an all-day breakfast place) – and its role as America’s most well-respected king of disaster logistics.<...
The Niagara Schoellkopf Power Station Disaster of 1957 | Episode 88
You know how when you have a good idea, you get a little lightbulb over your head? What if you had a bad idea, and a million cubic feet of rock collapsed on you.
On today’s episode: why the tourist bureau for today’s story drink so much; how the people in today’s episode work with equipment that would rattle an melt your skull off and sometimes want to cry and eat each other; and why the phrase “well, I’m glad that’s all over” is rarely misapplied this badly.
And because you...
The Scotch Cap Lighthouse Disaster of 1946 | Episode 87
Today, we’re going to witness a light so bright it would instantaneously and irreversibly turn your corneas into charcoal, and oddly, it’s the least dangerous thing about our story.
On today’s episode: why the tourist bureau for today’s story drink so much; how the people in today’s episode work with equipment that would rattle an melt your skull off and sometimes want to cry and eat each other; and why the phrase “well, I’m glad that’s all over” is rarely misapplied this badly.
And because you are listening to th...
The Great Johnstown Flood Disaster of 1889 | Episode 86
We’ve had a lot of episodes underground, and none of them have been underwhelming. In fact, if you’re not fans of claustrophobia, choking, burning, or being trampled, today’s episode may be a little overwhelming.
On today’s episode: we will discuss how some of the richest men in America created a boiling, black mountain of crap as powerful as a small nuclear blast; we will – for only the second time in the show’s history, describe a disaster made worse by a liberal and unexpected application of barbed wire; and we’ll fin...
The Great Baku Metro Fire of 1995 | Episode 85
We all complain about commutes. We all think we have it pretty bad. But unless your commute includes choking on toxic fumes, or being claustrophobically trampled in the dark while on fire, prepare to eat your feelings.
On today’s episode: we learn what makes the world capital of mud farts so fascinating; we’ll discover why Soviet utilities designed for the utilitarian benefit of the masses are so flammable; and I’ll make you understand the analogy that you don’t survive a skydive accident just to get eaten by alligators.
And because y...
The British Airways Unscheduled Ejection Disaster of 1990 | Episode 84
Ever have a day at work so bad you wanted to climb, jump, or get sucked out a window?
On today’s episode: we answer the question, is 2025 in fact as awful a time to fly as it looks; we’ll find out why you’ve never seen 400 mph wind exfoliation spa before; and we’ll compare a commercial airliner to the Titan Submersible that imploded not that long ago.
And because you are listening to this as a Patreon supporter, you get to enjoy an additional 8 minutes where we discuss: how a distrus...
The Loma Prieta Earthquake Disaster of 1989 | Episode 83
What’s the worst thing you ever saw at a sports game? Someone throw a battery at a Make-a-Wish kid? Sure, if you’re from Philly, but what if you were from California.
On today’s episode: we’ll talk about zombies and crucifictions and collapsing buildings before we even get into it; we’re going to watch the shortest baseball game of all time; and we’re going to cut off one of your limbs in one of the more claustrophobic ways possible.
And if you were listening on Patreon… you woul...
The Hammond Circus Train Disaster of 1918 | Episode 82
Do you know the difference between your guts and balloon animals? Organs are ever-so slightly more flame resistant!
On today’s episode: you’ll learn how to squeeze every penny out of a beloved animal corpse; I’ll accidentally teach you why fire is the best way to get rid of leaves, or a body; and you’ll learn the surprisingly simple thing you should do if you found yourself full-bodied origamied into debris.
And if you were listening to this as a Patreon supporter, you get to enjoy an additional 8 minutes where we discus...
The Cherry Mine Disaster of 1909 | Episode 81
We’re going to hell! Well, not hell exactly. We’re going to rural Illinois, but for the purposes of this introduction, we are going to be spending time today in hell.
On today’s episode: you’re going to learn why fourth graders make such poor employees; you’ll learn how to properly panic like a professional; and you will learn how to tell people to “get out” using nothing but a shotgun and morse code.
And if you were listening to this on Patreon… you would also learn the story of the Patron Sain...
The Dusseldorf Airport Disaster of 1996 | Episode 80
Do you like fire but hate airports? Have we got the episode for you.
On today’s episode: we’ll be pulling off the front of our skulls and spending some time fingering our limbic systems; we’ll learn why not all fire rescue services are created equal; and we’ll find out how hot it needs to be for your skin to melt off.
And if you had beenlistening to this as a Patreon supporter, you get to enjoy an additional 8 minutes where we discuss: why calling Germans stoic clock-watching robots is consid...
BONUS | The Doomsday Fifth Anniversary Meltdown of 2025
Let's all blow our sad kazoos in honour of a milestone I didn't see coming. FIVE YEARS we've been doing this, and I know a lot of people were never able to make their way through the whole back catalogue, and for good reason. So I sat down and did the math:
We've shared 3,489 minutes together! That's just episode time.
That’s just over 58 hours of listening to me trying to make you throw up but then earning your respect back by teaching you how to sew your own arm back on. I tried to figure out h...
