In most of the modern world, the average person has an astonishing resource for any disastrous situation: you find a phone, then dial 3 numbers to be immediately connected with someone who can call police, EMTs, fire fighters or other first responders. It's a fantastic concept, and though it remains a work in progress, these resources inarguably save lives. But how did we get here? Join Ben, Noel and Max as they delve into the suprising evolution of emergency call lines -- along with some hilarious examples of calls gone wrong, especially when callers have their own definitions of "emergency."

CLASSIC: Prohibition, Prescriptions and the Rise of 'Medicinal' Booze
31:41

Fort Sauerkraut: North Dakota’s Strange, Ill-Planned Origin Story
38:02

The Bizarre Tale of the 1909 Catnip Riot
35:52