389:   A History of Axe Murder w/ Rachel McCarthy James

389: A History of Axe Murder w/ Rachel McCarthy James

Author: Blue Ewe Media May 12, 2025 Duration: 1:06:11
Much like the wheel, the boat, and the telephone, the axe is a transformative piece of technology―one that has been with us since prehistory. And just as early humans used the axe to chop down trees, hunt for food, and whittle tools, they also used it to murder. Over time, this particular use has endured: as the axe evolved over centuries to fit the needs of new agricultural, architectural, and social development, so have our lethal uses for it. Rachel McCarthy James, who wrote "The Man From the Train" with her father Bill James, returns to the show to talk to share some of the history of this iconic tool and weapon. She shares examples of how it's been used for violence over the centuries - from the Vikings to Henry VIII to Lizzie Borden. Her new book, out on May 13, called "Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder". The author's website: http://rmccarthyjames.com/ The author's publisher page: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250276735/whackjob/ Get started with Factor here to get 50% off plus FREE shipping on your first box!: http://factormeals.com/notorious50off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Step back in time and explore the darkest corners of the past with Most Notorious! A True Crime History Podcast. This isn't just another crime show; it's a deep dive into the historical context that shaped infamous acts and the figures behind them. From the ruthless gangsters of the Prohibition era to the chilling methods of Victorian-era murderers, each episode unpacks a story rooted in its specific moment in history. Host Erik Rivenes acts as your guide, conducting thoughtful interviews with authors and historians who have dedicated years to researching their subjects. These conversations move beyond sensational headlines to deliver nuanced narratives filled with detail and scholarly accuracy. You'll hear about forgotten tragedies, legendary outlaws, and societal disasters, all presented with a focus on understanding the why and how within the framework of the past. Tune in for a compelling blend of education and narrative, where every story is a piece of historical truth, often more fascinating and complex than fiction. This podcast from Blue Ewe Media connects the dots between crime and history, offering a rich, thoroughly researched listening experience for anyone curious about the shadows cast across different centuries.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Most Notorious! A True Crime History Podcast
Podcast Episodes
MoNo Encore: The Murder of Frank Richardson w/ Kimberly Tilley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:29
Original Publication Date: 4/3/22 On Christmas Eve, 1900, 44-year-old dry goods store owner Frank Richardson was shot to death in his Savannah, Missouri home. Suspects included his wife Addie, his teenage lover Goldie Wh…
417: The Shipwreck of the Mignonette w/ Adam Cohen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:06
On May 19, 1884, the yacht Mignonette set sail from England on what should have been an uneventful voyage. When their vessel sank in the Atlantic, Captain Thomas Dudley and his crew found themselves adrift in a tiny life…
416: Nazi Germany’s Bungled Operation Condor w/ Gavin Whitehead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:52
In 1942, two Abwehr German agents, including Johannes Eppler, slipped into Cairo to gather intelligence for Rommel’s desert campaign, getting help from local allies like the famous dancer Hekmet Fahmy and Anwar Sadat. De…
415:  The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald w/ John U. Bacon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:04
November 10, 2025, marked the fiftieth anniversary of the sinking of the freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald during a vicious Lake Superior storm. All 29 crew members were lost, a tragedy later memorialized in Gordon Lightfoo…
414: The Martha Wise Murders w/ Rod Kackley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:41
In the winter of 1924-1925, quiet Medina County, Ohio, was shaken to its core. Martha Wise, an ordinary farm widow with an extraordinary obsession, slipped arsenic into her family’s food and water. Three of her relatives…
413:  Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday & Tombstone w/ Mark Lee Gardner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:10
Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were two complicated men whose steadfast friendship became one of the legendary relationships of the American West. Both were flawed, and often on uncertain moral ground, yet their bond carrie…
412: The Killing of William Woodward w/ Jerry Aylward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:13
In the early hours on a rainy autumn night in 1955, on a lavish country estate in Oyster Bay Cove, esteemed New York socialite Ann Woodward fired both barrels of her custom-made shotgun into the head of her husband, mult…
411:  The Murder of Zoya Fyodorova w/ Chris Pouy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:12
My guest is Chris Pouy, who shares an astonishing true story of love, betrayal, and murder on this latest episode of Most Notorious. His grandmother, Zoya Fyodorova, was a celebrated Russian actress who fell in love with…