Why Toronto Buried Its Lost Rivers | 3,5K Underground Miles Explained
Beneath Toronto’s bustling streets lies a hidden world most people never see — over 3,400 miles of tunnels, storm drains, and pumping stations that carry water where rivers once flowed. In this episode, we uncover how Toronto transformed its natural creeks and valleys into one of the largest underground sewer networks in North America.From lost waterways like Garrison and Taddle Creek to the engineering mega-projects that reshaped the city, this story reveals how politics, public health crises, and rapid growth buried Toronto’s rivers forever. What was once open water now flows in darkness — a hidden layer of the city’s forgotten history.
4 Sep 18min
Why 20,000 Tanks are Abandoned in the California Desert
Deep in California’s high desert, row after row of U.S. Army tanks, Humvees, and armored carriers sit baking in the sun. More than 20,000 vehicles, lined up like a mechanical graveyard, stretch across 36,000 acres of barren land. To the outside world, it appears to be mass abandonment—but the truth is far more complex.In this episode, we uncover the hidden history of Sierra Army Depot, the Army’s vast storage site for America’s war machines. From its World War II origins to the Cold War buildup and its modern role as both scrapyard and lifeline for the military, this is the story of how and why California became home to the largest tank depot in the United States.
30 Aug 17min
The Lost Tunnels of Wieliczka Salt Mine | 180 Miles Forgotten
Beneath the quiet town of Wieliczka, Poland, lies one of the most extraordinary underground creations in human history. Stretching for over 180 miles, the Wieliczka Salt Mine holds chapels carved entirely from salt, a vast cathedral, and even an underground lake once sailed upon by visitors. For centuries, it has drawn kings, scientists, and artists into its shadowy depths.But not everything has remained on display. Sealed-off shafts, hidden monuments, and forgotten sculptures have been rediscovered in recent decades—remnants of a working mine that also became a place of faith, devotion, and artistry. From the world’s largest underground chapel to a forgotten salt obelisk for an emperor, this is the story of the Wieliczka Salt Mine’s lost wonders and why they still captivate today.
28 Aug 22min
Why New York’s Smallest Private Island Was a Secret Spy Base | Rat Island
When you hear “Rat Island,” your mind might jump to something grim—but the truth is far more fascinating. Tucked between City Island and Hart Island in the Bronx, this rocky outcrop has quietly witnessed some of the strangest chapters in New York City history. From Revolutionary War espionage to yellow fever quarantines, it’s been a hideout for spies, a prison for the sick, and a retreat for artists and outcasts.In this episode, we uncover the hidden story of Rat Island—New York’s only privately owned island. You’ll learn how a lone seaman lived in isolation for years, why Broadway actors gathered here in the 1930s, and how a Swiss statue wound up watching over the waves. Rat Island may be small, but its legacy is larger than life.
23 Aug 10min
What's Inside the U.S. Capitol Building?
Since 1793, the U.S. Capitol has stood not just as a seat of government, but as a deliberate message. From its Roman-inspired columns to the massive Civil War dome, the Capitol was designed to project power, unity, and divine destiny. Every stone, mural, and chamber told Americans—and the world—that this was more than politics. It was permanence.In this episode, we reveal how the Capitol became America’s greatest piece of architectural propaganda. From fires and war to expansion and survival, discover how this building shaped the nation’s identity while symbolizing its endurance.
21 Aug 17min
Why The Last Private Subway in America was Abandoned | Leonard’s Underground Transit
Hidden beneath the streets of Fort Worth, Texas, lies the story of America’s only privately-owned subway—a transit system unlike anything else in the nation. Built in 1963 by Leonard’s Department Store, this free underground shuttle carried thousands of shoppers from a 5,000-car riverfront parking lot directly into the store’s basement.In this episode, we uncover how Marvin and Obadiah Leonard turned a bold idea into a reality, why it became a hit with customers and office workers alike, and what ultimately led to its quiet closure in 2002. From golden spikes to abandoned tunnels, this is the forgotten tale of Fort Worth’s Leonard Subway.
16 Aug 15min
The Story of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Have you ever heard of a town named after a game show? Welcome to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico—a real place with a name that sounds like a dare. But this quirky rebrand wasn’t just for laughs. It was a last-ditch effort to save a dying spa town, and it worked… at least for a while.Originally called Hot Springs, the town was once a desert retreat drawing presidents, movie stars, and thousands of tourists. But by the 1940s, its glory days were fading—until a national game show offered a strange lifeline. When the town agreed to rename itself after Truth or Consequences, it became an instant media sensation. The name stuck, the tourists came back, and the town became a symbol of offbeat Americana.\n\nIn this episode, we dive into the bizarre but true story of how one New Mexico town risked its identity—and became a legend in the process.
14 Aug 10min
Why Abandoned Beer Caves Keep Causing Sinkholes in Iowa
In the summer of 2014, a sinkhole in downtown Cedar Rapids cracked open a forgotten chapter of American history. Beneath the city, engineers discovered vast brick-lined chambers—19th-century beer caves once used to store thousands of barrels before refrigeration changed brewing forever.These underground vaults tell the story of immigrant brewers, the rise of Iowa’s beer industry, and how Prohibition sealed away a hidden world. In this episode, we uncover how these caves were built, why they vanished, and what remains today beneath the streets of Cedar Rapids.
9 Aug 13min
