My Latest Fixation

My Latest Fixation

by My Latest Fixation
HistorySociety & Culture
Season 1
Did Andrew Jackson’s Parrot Curse at His Funeral?
Andrew Jackson’s parrot Poll may have been the most unexpected guest at a presidential funeral—a real household bird whose alleged profanity became one of the strangest stories connected to the Hermitage. In this darkly whimsical history episode, Joshua explores Poll’s purchase as a gift for Rachel Jackson, Andrew Jackson’s letters asking about “poor Poll” after Rachel’s death, and William Donelson’s unforgettable description of the bird as “fat and saucy as ever.” He also looks at Andrew Jackson’s duels, his failed assassination attempt, the legendary 1,400-pound wheel of White House cheese, and the complicated legacy of the man behind the myth. This is a story about a parrot, a funeral, a historic Tennessee home, and a minister who remembered a “wicked parrot” swearing so loudly that someone had to carry it from the house. It is also a story about grief, memory, slavery, Indian Removal, the Trail of Tears, presidential coins, and the strange details that keep history from becoming too polished. Did Andrew Jackson’s parrot really curse at his funeral? The story comes from Reverend William Menefee Norment’s recollection, written down decades after the 1845 funeral. Norment did not name the bird as Poll, and no known contemporary account confirms the incident—but Poll was real, and she was part of the Jackson household for nearly two decades. Were you convinced by the story, or are you on Team Poll or Justice for Poll? Share your thoughts, feedback, or favorite strange historical animal story with My Latest Fixation. If you enjoyed this episode, follow or subscribe, leave a rating or review if your listening app allows it, and share the show with someone who would appreciate a possibly foul-mouthed presidential parrot. Visit mylatestfixation.com for merch, the story behind the show, and more. Spend $50 or more for free shipping. Links & Resources: Stay Connected: mylatestfixation.com Listen & Subscribe: RSS.com Historical resources: The Papers of Andrew Jackson, the Library of Congress Andrew Jackson Papers, The Hermitage, the National Park Service, and the United States Mint. Music by Tunetank from Pixabay Keywords: Andrew Jackson parrot, Poll the parrot, Andrew Jackson funeral, Andrew Jackson swearing parrot, wicked parrot, Reverend William Menefee Norment, Andrew Jackson history, Rachel Jackson, Andrew Jackson letters, Andrew Jackson Hermitage, The Hermitage Tennessee, Andrew Jackson plantation, Indian Removal Act, Trail of Tears, Andrew Jackson giant cheese, Andrew Jackson assassination attempt, Andrew Jackson Presidential Dollar, presidential pets, strange animal history, funny history podcast, weird history podcast, dark history podcast, folklore podcast, My Latest Fixation.
S1 · E18
Sep 5, 2026
37:29
Rhinestones, Red Lips, and Superpowers: A tribute to Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Hayden Panettiere
A tribute to Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Hayden Panettiere—three unforgettable performers whose work changed music, horror, film, television, and the lives of the people who found themselves in their stories. In this darkly whimsical memorial episode, Joshua remembers Dolly Parton’s legendary songwriting, 9 to 5, Rockstar, Dollywood, and the worldwide impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library; Tim Curry’s transformation from Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show to Pennywise in Stephen King’s It, Wadsworth in Clue, Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island, and Nigel Thornberry; and Hayden Panettiere’s unforgettable roles in Heroes, Scream, Until Dawn, and Nashville. This is a story about rhinestones, red lips, and superpowers—but also about legacy, creative courage, mental-health honesty, childhood literacy, queer cult cinema, horror icons, and the strange little pieces of art that help us survive. What is your favorite Dolly Parton song, Tim Curry performance, or Hayden Panettiere role? Share your memory with My Latest Fixation and help keep their stories moving through the world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, share, and visit mylatestfixation.com for merch, the story behind the show, and more. Spend $50 or more for free shipping. Links & Resources: Stay Connected: Mylatestfixation.com Listen & Subscribe: Now available on RSS.com. Music by Tunetank from Pixabay Keywords: Dolly Parton tribute Dolly Parton legacy Dolly Parton songs Dolly Parton 9 to 5 Dolly Parton Rockstar Dolly Parton Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Dolly Parton Grammy Awards Dolly Parton Oscars Dollywood history Dollywood jobs economic impact Dolly Parton Imagination Library Dolly Parton books for children Tim Curry tribute Tim Curry legacy Tim Curry Rocky Horror Picture Show Dr. Frank-N-Furter Tim Curry Pennywise Tim Curry It 1990 Tim Curry Clue Tim Curry Wadsworth Tim Curry Legend Tim Curry Muppet Treasure Island Tim Curry Nigel Thornberry Tim Curry stroke Hayden Panettiere tribute Hayden Panettiere legacy Hayden Panettiere Heroes Claire Bennet Save the cheerleader save the world Hayden Panettiere Scream Kirby Reed Hayden Panettiere Until Dawn Sam Giddings Hayden Panettiere Nashville Juliette Barnes Hayden Panettiere postpartum depression Hayden Panettiere memoir celebrity memorial episode pop culture tribute podcast horror movie podcast folklore and pop culture podcast
S1 · E17
Aug 27, 2026
36:16
Cincinnati Chili History: Skyline, Gold Star, and the Empress Burlesque Theatre
Skyline Chili may be Cincinnati’s most recognizable food icon—but it did not invent Cincinnati chili. In this episode of My Latest Fixation, I try Skyline Chili for the first time, confront the local Skyline vs. Gold Star rivalry, and investigates why Cincinnati puts its famously spice-forward chili on spaghetti. Along the way, I trace the story back to Empress Chili, the original Cincinnati chili parlor opened by the Kiradjieff brothers in 1922 beside the Empress Burlesque Theatre in downtown Cincinnati.cincinnati+1 I explore the immigrant roots of Cincinnati-style chili; cheese coneys, three-, four-, and five-ways; Skyline’s 1949 arrival in Price Hill; Gold Star’s beginnings in Mount Washington; and the very theatrical, very late-night world of the Empress Burlesque Theatre.skylinechili+1 Plus: Nashville chili expectations, Grandpa’s mandatory spaghetti-with-chili rule, and why a food can be objectively confusing but still mean “home” to an entire city. In this episode: My first—and deeply conflicted—Skyline Chili experience Skyline Chili vs. Gold Star Chili What makes Cincinnati chili different from Texas-style chili What a three-way, four-way, five-way, and cheese coney actually are The Kiradjieff brothers and the origin of Empress Chili The Empress Burlesque Theatre at Ninth and Vine How the original Cincinnati chili recipe and its “Ways” evolved Why Skyline did not invent Cincinnati chili A listener challenge: try Skyline, Gold Star, and Empress Chili in Alexandria, Kentucky Places and foods mentioned: Skyline Chili Gold Star Empress Chili, Alexandria, Kentucky Empress Burlesque Theatre Cincinnati chili Cheese coneys Three-ways, four-ways, and five-ways Listen if you like: regional food history, Cincinnati history, immigrant food traditions, strange local customs, diner lore, burlesque history, and passionate arguments about shredded cheese. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, share, and visit mylatestfixation.com for merch, the story behind the show, and more. Spend $50 or more for free shipping. Links & Resources: Stay Connected: Mylatestfixation.com Listen & Subscribe: Now available on RSS.com. Music by Tunetank from Pixabay
S1 · E16
Aug 20, 2026
26:55
The Loveland Frogman: Ohio’s Most Endearing Cryptid
The Loveland Frogman: Ohio’s Most Endearing Cryptid What happens when a strange animal sighting, a late-night police report, a handful of contradictory details, and decades of local storytelling all collide? In this episode of My Latest Fixation, Joshua heads just outside Cincinnati to Loveland, Ohio—a charming Little Miami River town with an unexpectedly enduring cryptid: the Loveland Frogman. From an eerie 1955 roadside encounter to a 1972 police sighting near Riverside Drive, the Frogman has never had one settled appearance. Is he an amphibious humanoid? A reptile? An iguana with unfortunate timing? Or is he proof that darkness, headlights, and human memory make a deeply unhelpful committee? We explore how this strange local story grew beyond its original sightings, why Loveland embraced its resident cryptid, and how the Frogman went from a confusing figure on a dark road to a beloved part of the town’s identity—complete with a mascot, T-shirts, and a festival. Because the best folklore is not always the kind that can be proven. Sometimes, it is simply the kind a community decides to keep. In This Episode The 2016 Pokémon Go encounter that brought the legend back into the spotlight Joshua’s unexpected move to Cincinnati and his first tornado-siren experience Why Loveland, Ohio, is the perfect place for an imperfectly explained monster The original 1955 Loveland Frogman sighting Loveland police officer Ray Shockey’s 1972 encounter near the Little Miami River How local legends change through repetition, contradiction, and collective imagination The iguana theory—and why “a lizard had a confusing evening” may be the funniest answer How Loveland adopted the Frogman as a local symbol Why cryptids become useful, beloved pieces of civic identity If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, share, and visit mylatestfixation.com for merch, the story behind the show, and more. Spend $50 or more for free shipping. Links & Resources: Stay Connected: Mylatestfixation.com Listen & Subscribe: Now available on RSS.com. Music by Tunetank from Pixabay
S1 · E15
Aug 12, 2026
21:31
Here and No Further: Boundaries and the Powers They Hold.
Explicit
Here and No Further: Boundaries and the powers they hold. What are boundaries—and why can setting them feel so difficult? In this episode of Joshua’s Latest Fixation, we explore the meaning of boundaries through folklore, history, emotional self-awareness, and the everyday power of saying no. From haunted thresholds and vampire stories to the Roman limes, the Radcliffe Line, and the Berlin Wall, we look at how boundaries have always shaped ideas about safety, belonging, access, ownership, and power. We’ll also talk about emotional boundaries: protecting your time, energy, privacy, space, dignity, and consent. You’ll learn why boundaries can feel frightening or grief-filled, how to communicate them clearly, and why respecting someone else’s limits is part of being a decent human being. I’m not a licensed therapist. This episode is based on personal experience, years of therapy, reflection, and a genuine belief that the world would be a better place if we learned to respect boundaries, apologize when we cross them, and make life a little easier for one another. In This Episode What boundaries are and what they protect. Why thresholds and doorways appear so often in folklore. How vampires, fairy lore, haunted houses, and old taboos treat boundaries. How the Roman limes turned borders into systems of power. What the Radcliffe Line and Berlin Wall reveal about exclusion and control. Why emotional boundaries can feel difficult, frightening, or grief-filled. The difference between controlling someone else and protecting yourself. Simple phrases for setting clear boundaries. Why “no” is a powerful form of discernment. How to recognize boundaries when they get messy. Questions to help you notice where your own limits may be. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, share, and visit mylatestfixation.com for merch, the story behind the show, and more. Spend $50 or more for free shipping. Links & Resources: Stay Connected: Mylatestfixation.com Listen & Subscribe: Now available on RSS.com. Music by Tunetank from Pixabay
S1 · E14
Aug 4, 2026
30:16
God’s Perfect Clock: Carbon‑14, Crime Scenes, and Cosmic Spite
Carbon-14 dating, radiocarbon dating, half-life, archaeology, and crime scene science all come together in this episode of My Latest Fixation. Inspired by Castle Rock and its “God’s Perfect Clock” metaphor, this episode explains how Carbon-14 works, why scientists use it to date organic material, artifacts, bones, parchment, and bog bodies, and how calibration curves help turn radiocarbon years into calendar dates. We also dig into the science behind radioactive decay, the atmospheric carbon cycle, the bomb spike from nuclear weapons testing, and why Carbon-14 is one of the most important tools in archaeology, forensic science, and historical research. If you’re interested in carbon dating explained, radiocarbon dating for beginners, archaeology podcast episodes, forensic history, or spooky science with a sense of humor, this episode is for you. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, share, and visit mylatestfixation.com for merch, the story behind the show, and more. Spend $50 or more for free shipping. Links & Resources: Stay Connected: Mylatestfixation.com Listen & Subscribe: Now available on RSS.com. Music by Tunetank from Pixabay
S1 · E13
Jul 28, 2026
28:09
Everyone’s the Villain in Obsession (Except Andy Richter): Toxic Romance, Cursed Wishes, and Horror Love Stories
Explicit
Obsession (2026) looks like a love story, but it plays like a curse. In this episode, Joshua and his partner My dig into Curry Barker’s supernatural horror film about Bear, Nikki, and a One Wish Willow that turns “I’d do anything for you” into a literal nightmare. We talk about obsession, codependency, cursed romance, and why almost everyone in this movie is a villain in their own way—Bear’s pathetic insecurity, Ian’s snake‑energy selfishness, Nikki’s weaponized devotion, and Sarah’s quiet. Along the way, we compare Obsession to classic Monkey’s Paw–style horror, unpack how desire and control get dressed up as “true love,” and ask whether romance tropes and smutty fantasy can actually warp the way we see real relationships. We also get into fan theories about whether Nikki is possessed, how the wish rewrites reality, and whether Bear’s bloody breakdown might be a full psychological collapse instead of a simple curse. Content warning: Obsession earns its R rating with graphic violence, intense psychological horror, and disturbing relationship dynamics. If you’re sensitive to heavy horror or toxic romance, please take care of yourself and check content warnings before watching. Perfect for listeners who like horror that digs into toxic relationships, cursed wishes, and the thin line between “grand romance” and “actually this is a walking red flag.” If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, share, and visit mylatestfixation.com for merch, the story behind the show, and more. Spend $50 or more for free shipping. Links & Resources: Stay Connected: Mylatestfixation.com Listen & Subscribe: Now available on RSS.com. Music by Tunetank from Pixabay
S1 · E12
Jul 24, 2026
56:38
“Bless You”: The Death Wish We Say After Every Sneeze
What if “bless you” isn’t just polite… but a leftover survival reflex from a time when a sneeze could mean you were about to die? In this whimsical, eerie, and nerdy deep dive from My Latest Fixation, we trace the strange history of what might be the most automatic phrase in the English language—from the plague‑ridden streets of the Byzantine Empire to modern‑day grocery store aisles. Along the way: Pope Gregory the Great, medieval fear of sudden death, spiritual theories about wandering souls, and why different cultures respond to sneezes in completely different ways. It’s a story about germs, ghosts, etiquette, and the tiny rituals we repeat without thinking. Because the next time you say “bless you,” you might be echoing a centuries‑old moment of panic… disguised as manners. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, share, and visit mylatestfixation.com for merch, the story behind the show, and more. Spend $50 or more for free shipping. Links & Resources: Stay Connected: Mylatestfixation.com Listen & Subscribe: Now available on RSS.com. Music by Tunetank from Pixabay
S1 · E11
Jul 19, 2026
22:12
Please Respect My Superstition
Explicit
In this eerie, nerdy deep dive, My Latest Fixation explores the strange history and psychology of the “knock on wood” superstition—why we tap the table after saying something hopeful and call it “not jinxing it.” This episode traces the ritual from pagan sacred groves and Christian symbolism to old British children’s games and modern anxiety habits, showing how a tiny gesture became a global superstition about luck, protection, and fate. Along the way, you’ll hear about trees as powerful witnesses, wood as a zone of safety, and how small rituals help us manage uncertainty without ever admitting we’re nervous. If you’re into folklore, history of superstition, ritual psychology, or the weird ways humans try to control the future, this is the episode to queue up—preferably with a desk nearby, just in case. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, share, and visit mylatestfixation.com for merch, the story behind the show, and more. Spend $50 or more for free shipping. Links & Resources: Stay Connected: Mylatestfixation.com Listen & Subscribe: Now available on RSS.com. Music by Tunetank from Pixabay
S1 · E10
Jul 10, 2026
27:22
Not My Monster: The Strange Rise of ...
Explicit
Not My Monster: The Strange Rise of ... In this episode of MyLatestFixationPod, we trace how Kasing Lung’s mischievous character Labubu jumped from indie art books into Pop Mart’s blind-box machine and wound up everywhere—from TikTok unboxings to celebrity bags. We unpack the design language of “weird-cute,” the psychological pull of variable rewards and secrecy, and Pop Mart’s deliberate scarcity and resale dynamics that transform toys into trophies. Along the way we examine community rituals (unboxings, trades, and chasers), the vintage-beanie-baby echoes in modern collector culture, and why small, face-like objects are so easy to anthropomorphize. I share a mini blind-box puzzle, a soft take on competing Hirono designs, and one collector’s confession about what these figures mean when they stop being objects and start being characters. Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or already mid-collection, this episode explains how a little monster with teeth captured a global moment. Keywords: Labubu, Pop Mart, blind box, toy craze, designer toys, collectibles, unboxing, resale, kawaii, weird-cute. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, share, and visit mylatestfixation.com for merch, the story behind the show, and more. Spend $50 or more for free shipping. Links & Resources: Stay Connected: Mylatestfixation.com Listen & Subscribe: Now available on RSS.com. Music by Tunetank from Pixabay
S1 · E9
Jul 1, 2026
24:05
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