When a sleepy volcano in Indonesia began smoking in 1883, a steamship company started selling tickets. Tourists hiked up Krakatoa until the soles of their shoes melted, sure they were watching a harmless spectacle. Three months later, it let loose one of the loudest sounds in recorded history, giving the world one of its first breaking news stories.

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Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Adrien Behn
Story Editor is Carmen Borca-Carrillo
Senior Producer is Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Today’s episode was produced in partnership with Acast Creative Studios. Very Special Episodes is a production of iHeartPodcasts.

When a sleepy volcano in Indonesia began smoking in 1883, a steamship company started selling tickets. Tourists hiked up Krakatoa until the soles of their shoes melted, sure they were watching a harmless spectacle. Three months later, it let loose one of the loudest sounds in recorded history, giving the world one of its first breaking news stories.
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Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Adrien Behn Story Editor is Carmen Borca-Carrillo Senior Producer is Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs Additional Editing by Mary Dooe Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English
Today&rsquo;s episode was produced in partnership with Acast Creative Studios. Very Special Episodes is a production of iHeartPodcasts.

Echoes of Krakatoa [from Very Special Episodes]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2f8394d3-56b4-4445-a4b2-b4f3014f53b4/transcript

Was it the rise of hitchhiking? Lead in the water pipes? Or was it something a little darker in our culture? Bob rings up private investigator and host of the podcast Hell & Gone: Murder Line — Catherine Townsend — to learn why there were so many serial killers in America during the 1970s.

From Ted Bundy to the Night Stalker and John Wayne Gacy, we dive into the “golden age” of serial killers to see how difficult it was to catch predators in a world before DNA testing, cell phones, and surveillance cameras. But that also begs the question: Are there fewer serial killers today? Listen, and find out! 

GUEST: Catherine Townsend, host of Hell and Gone: Murder Line and Red Collar

Listen to Bob Crawford's American History Hotline wherever you get your podcasts. 

Was it the rise of hitchhiking? Lead in the water pipes? Or was it something a little darker in our culture? Bob rings up private investigator and host of the podcast Hell &amp; Gone: Murder Line &mdash; Catherine Townsend &mdash; to learn why there were so many serial killers in America during the 1970s.
From Ted Bundy to the Night Stalker and John Wayne Gacy, we dive into the &ldquo;golden age&rdquo; of serial killers to see how difficult it was to catch predators in a world before DNA testing, cell phones, and surveillance cameras. But that also begs the question: Are there fewer serial killers today? Listen, and find out!&nbsp;
GUEST: Catherine Townsend, host of <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-hell-and-gone-29974699/">Hell and Gone: Murder Line</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/red-collar/id1625003615">Red Collar</a>
Listen to Bob Crawford's American History Hotline wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;

American History Hotline: Why Were There So Many Serial Killers in 1970s America?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/370fa9b3-fd0c-4690-810a-b37a012ac019/transcript

During its first 50 seasons, Saturday Night Live has welcomed legendary actors, superstar athletes, and notable politicians. But for one memorable night in 1977, Lorne Michaels turned the show over to an 80-year-old amateur. 

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On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Search 'Very Special Episodes' on your favorite podcast platform.

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Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Jake Rossen
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs
Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Special thanks to Connie Crawford for sharing her story. And thanks to the great Bill Carter for stopping by! You can read more of his work at LateNighter, or check out his many classic books.

During its first 50 seasons, Saturday Night Live has welcomed legendary actors, superstar athletes, and notable politicians. But for one memorable night in 1977, Lorne Michaels turned the show over to an 80-year-old amateur.&nbsp;
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On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Search 'Very Special Episodes' on your favorite podcast platform.
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Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Jake Rossen Produced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs Original Music by <a href="http://www.elisemccoy.com">Elise McCoy</a> Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English
Special thanks to Connie Crawford for sharing her story. And thanks to the great Bill Carter for stopping by! You can read more of his work at <a href="https://latenighter.com/author/billcarter/">LateNighter</a>, or check out his <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bill-Carter/author/B001HCUSKW?ref=ap_rdr&amp;isDramIntegrated=true&amp;shoppingPortalEnabled=true">many classic books</a>.

Very Special Episodes: Live From New York, It's Your Grandmother

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7520e914-4532-4176-ad80-b28301560237/transcript

Sidney Gottlieb thought he’d erased all traces of Operation Midnight Climax and MK-ULTRA from the government’s collective memory. While the world will never know the full extent of the CIA’s experimentation with LSD, an unlikely source revealed many of the victims. These breakthroughs came courtesy of George White, who testified from beyond the grave.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Sidney Gottlieb thought he’d erased all traces of Operation Midnight Climax and MK-ULTRA from the government’s collective memory. While the world will never know the full extent of the CIA’s experimentation with LSD, an unlikely source revealed many of the victims. These breakthroughs came courtesy of George White, who testified from beyond the grave. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

The Climax

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0b3fd53a-867c-4580-a96f-ae31004737f5/transcript

As the walls closed in on Operation Midnight Climax, George White took lessons he’d learned from a world-class magician to explore the last uncharted frontier of the psychonaut — the general public. It’s how White would make San Francisco’s sanity disappear.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

As the walls closed in on Operation Midnight Climax, George White took lessons he’d learned from a world-class magician to explore the last uncharted frontier of the psychonaut — the general public. It’s how White would make San Francisco’s sanity disappear. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Tripping

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/855dbcec-85cb-4cd1-984b-ae310047375d/transcript

After Frank Olson’s death in New York, George White had to move his whole operation to San Francisco. And the CIA added a twist: while they’d been occupied with using LSD as a mind-control drug, now they wanted him to weaponize sex.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

After Frank Olson’s death in New York, George White had to move his whole operation to San Francisco. And the CIA added a twist: while they’d been occupied with using LSD as a mind-control drug, now they wanted him to weaponize sex. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

A Waste of Sin

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ad23433e-3022-476d-aa96-ae3100473729/transcript

For 70 years, people have debated what happened to Frank Olson at the Hotel Statler. Did the CIA’s grand experiment with LSD lead to the sanctioned execution of a government employee? For George White, Frank Olson’s death would change everything.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

For 70 years, people have debated what happened to Frank Olson at the Hotel Statler. Did the CIA’s grand experiment with LSD lead to the sanctioned execution of a government employee? For George White, Frank Olson’s death would change everything. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

The Window

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/51d7cada-bfdf-4a77-9d9c-ae310047739d/transcript

Today we wanted to share a bonus mini-episode. Here’s how George White’s LSD adventures tied in with the CIA’s increasingly bizarre attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro. We’ll be back with a new installment next Wednesday.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Today we wanted to share a bonus mini-episode. Here’s how George White’s LSD adventures tied in with the CIA’s increasingly bizarre attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro. We’ll be back with a new installment next Wednesday. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Smoking Out Castro

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c8c642b7-5a44-4749-a4f3-ae310047731d/transcript

As the CIA’s LSD experiments went increasingly rogue, an aspiring actress realized what George White had done to her. But unlike others who’d complained, she reported White by name to the New York Police Department.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

As the CIA’s LSD experiments went increasingly rogue, an aspiring actress realized what George White had done to her. But unlike others who’d complained, she reported White by name to the New York Police Department. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Uncharter Waters

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9fe65a0e-2f4a-46df-9b51-ae31004780d1/transcript

To immerse himself in his CIA role, George White needed a new identity. In Greenwich Village, he set up a safehouse and became Morgan Hall, a struggling artist. But it wasn’t long before the wrong kind of people started showing up at his door — including the FBI

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

To immerse himself in his CIA role, George White needed a new identity. In Greenwich Village, he set up a safehouse and became Morgan Hall, a struggling artist. But it wasn’t long before the wrong kind of people started showing up at his door — including the FBI Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

The Pad

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cc96ca7c-cf3d-4472-bd24-ae3100479692/transcript

George White ran the CIA brothel. He watched from a hidden room while men were dosed with LSD — and he convinced himself the fate of the nation depended on it.

Operation Midnight Climax

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