Episode 261 – Hobos, Swingers and Masons: Secret Signs in Plain Sight

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Episode Summary:

First, Ben and Celestia discuss the needle-spiking panic fallout, missing kids in Virginia, screw worms, radioactive shrimp and seeing double in Las Vegas. Then our main segment is secret signs and signals! Real or legendary, these signs and markers are throughout human history to tell “those in the know” what to expect (food, sex, danger). From secret codes sewn into quilts to help the Underground Railroad effort to rock cairns and inukshuks, there are many tales of people making an effort to show others a safe path. We also look at the ancient bro code known as Masonic symbols, which manly men have been putting on their erections for generations. And of course we must touch on the world of swinger symbols, where anything from pineapples to a toe ring might be sending signals — or just giving people a laugh.

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cave paintings, code quilts, cruise, Masonic symbols, needle spiking, panic, pineapple, quilts, radioactive shrimp, rock cairns, screw worms, secret code, signs, swingers, symbols, trail markers, Underground Railroad
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Episode 262 – Bigfoot Tracks with Matt Crowley
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Episode 260 – Food History and Flavor Myths with Sarah Lohman

Standard disclaimer: All show transcripts—yes, including this one—was AI-generated and skimmed by at least two busy and fallible humans. They offer an overview of the show but you’ll find occasional typos and glitches and therefore should not be assumed to be accurate or verbatim. Readers who wish to quote anything here for any reason are encouraged to check it against the original audio at the time stamps provided. Thanks.