

The Backstory: Blizzards, Survival, and Cannibalism
As we try to shake off mountains of snow here on the East Coast, it’s a time to remember some of the most challenging moments when human beings have had to find a way to survive in a frigid wilderness. In some cases . . cannibalism was the only way out. Feel free to DM me if you have a story you’d…

The Backstory: The Sex Scandal That Foreshadowed the Epstein Case
Jeffrey Epstein’s files have upended peoples’ lives and resulted in the first arrest of a royal family member in 400 years. But the beginning of the end for these big shots actually took place over 60 years ago during an earth shattering sex scandal in London. Feel free to DM me if you have a stor…

The Backstory: Do the Winter Olympics Matter Anymore?
The Winter Olympics Could Be the Last Gasp of a 3000 Year Old Competition. Or . . It Could Be the Games That Bring It Back to Life. Feel Free to DM Me if You Have a Story You’d Like Me to Dig in To. On Facebook It’s Patty Steele and on Instagram Real Patty Steele

The Backstory: Valentine’s Day: From Blood and Sacrifice to Roses and Chocolates
Human attachment is thousands of years old . . but Valentine’s Day started off as a blood soaked Roman pagan fertility festival. The romance element is a pretty recent development. As usual, the Victorians reinvented it, taking it from a bloody sacrifice to roses and Valentine cards. If you have a…

The Backstory: The Getty Kidnapping: Tons of Money, No Heart
As we’ve seen playing out in the news, the kidnapping of a family member can lead to unspeakable heartbreak. But for one family, the abduction of their 16 year old son, elicited not much more than a yawn. That is, until kidnappers mailed them a body part. Please DM me if you have a story you’d lik…

The Backstory: From Pig Bladders to the Super Bowl
As we get ready to party with the Super Bowl, we take a look at the wild rise of the sport of football. We’ll explore it’s gruesome beginnings and it’s glorious evolution into America’s most watched sporting event. Feel free to DM me if you have a story you’d like me to cover . . on Facebook it’s …

The Backstory: What Really Happened When a Jumbo Jet Vanished . . Forever
How does a commercial jet carrying 239 people simply disappear . . forever. This is the story of Malaysia Flight 370, which vanished into thin air almost 12 years ago. It is still the greatest mystery in aviation history, but what really happened has become a whole lot clearer. DM me if you have a…

The Backstory: Beer: The Accidental Invention That Changed Civilization
The Super Bowl is days away, and while you’re sipping or guzzling your favorite beer, think about where it originated and how it actually came to be. We’re starting the story with a mistake that happened 13,000 years ago. DM me if you have a story you’d like me to cover. On Facebook, it’s Patty St…

The Backstory: Captured! The Olympic Snowboarder Turned Drug Kingpin
A month ago we talked about the Olympic snowboarder turned international drug lord, Ryan Wedding. After a decade in hiding he turned himself in last Friday. But why? More on his life running a Mexican cartel, as well as what motivated his surrender. Feel free to DM me if you have a story you’d lik…

The Backstory: The Sex Worker Who Saved Seattle
When the Great Fire of 1889 burned all of Seattle to the ground, one woman stepped in to help rebuild it bigger and better. She was one of the wealthiest people in the Northwest, but she also ran the ritziest bordello in the city. Here’s the thing: when the chips are down, even stuffy Victorians wo…