Chasing Immortality Podcast
1) Diane de Poitiers: Liquid Gold
This week's episode explores a woman whose self-preservation was much more pragmatic than it was optimistic: Diane de Poitiers, royal mistress to King Henry II of France (among many other things.)
2) Henrietta Lacks: Immortality Exploited and Reborn
Henrietta Lacks wasn't looking for immortality. She was looking to be healed, and was exploited by her doctors. Today we share a story of lives saved and diseases cured and the fight for justice and r...Show More
3) Ray Kurzweil and the Singularity of Endless Optimism
4) Sokushinbutsu: Self Mummification
Listeners, usually our episodes are about greedy individuals searching for immortality to satisfy their own need for glory. Rarely do we get to share a story of those who are seeking eternity in an at...Show More
5) The Real Nicholas Flamel
We're back, intrepid listeners. This week, dive into the real Nicholas Flamel, from his bookbinding-youth, to studies of alchemy to his empty grave.
6) Rasputin: The Man Who Can't Be Killed
This week we catch up with Rasputin as he trips balls, executes a minor coup, gets slit from groin to gullet, and still manages to avoid death--for a little while, anyway.
7) Elizabeth Bathory, aka It Gets Way, Way Worse
This episode, we explore the darkest side yet of the search for immortality with an alleged inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, Elizabeth Bathory, aka the Blood Countess.
8) The Terracotta Legacy of the Dragon Emperor
This week's topic involves incredibly advanced weaponry and rivers of mercury. Allow us to introduce you to Emperor Qin Shi Huang and his army of terracotta warriors.
9) FM-2030
This week we'll hear about the poster boy for "transhumanism," FM-2030: a former Olympic wrestler and basketball player whose name sounds like an all Muzak, all the time radio station.
10) James Bernard Schafer
Today we learn about a metaphysical cult, James Bernard Schafer, and how prunes play into immortality.