Part One: The Naturopathic Doctor Who Bombed a Plane
Summary
Hosts Alex Berezow and Brandy Posey explore the origins of naturopathy, focusing on founder Benedict Lust and his promotion of quack treatments like cold plunges and human bake ovens. They contrast this early era with modern medicine’s rise, noting how naturopathy survived by rebranding to avoid legal scrutiny. The episode then introduces Robert Spears, a prolific con man and naturopath from Missouri who used dozens of aliases and committed serious crimes, setting the stage for his eventual mass murder spree.
Topics discussed
Intro, Banter, and Fanatics Fest Sponsorship
Episode Overview: Con Men and Mass Murder
Introduction to Dr. Benedict Lust and Naturopathy
Vincent Priessnitz and the Water Cure for TB
Modern Science on Cold Water Exposure
Lust's Interest in Osteopathy and Chiropractic
Defining Naturopathy and Anti-Allopathy
Quackery: Arotherapy Ovens and Blood Washing
The Rise of Modern Medicine vs. Quackery
Sponsors: Dovato and Camelback Resort
Ad for The Devil's Quarry Podcast
Lust's Legal Battles and the Second Wave of Naturopathy
Introduction to Robert Spears (Clyde Stringer)
Sponsors: Dovato and Fanatics Fest
Ad for The Devil's Quarry and Nation Possible
Spears' Childhood and Early Criminal Career
Spears' Pattern of Fraud and Identity Changes
Spears in WWI and the Fighter Pilot Myth
The Tender Swindler: Marrying and Robbing Women
Outro, Brandy's Comedy Promo, and Sign Off
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