💎 Taboo Treasures Atomic Toys & Candy Cigarettes: How Marketing Made Us This week on Taboo Treasures, Bruce Witkin and Jeff Levine rewind the tape on the most powerful machine ever built — not a weapon, not a computer — but advertising. From the birth of American marketing to the jingles that rewired childhood, we pull the curtain back on how entire generations were engineered one Saturday-morning commercial at a time. We start where innocence met profit: the era of sugar-drunk cartoons, candy cigarettes, and cereal mascots specifically designed to hook kids before they could spell “cholesterol.” Then we move into the shadow economy behind those smiles — ✅ Big Tobacco funding “harmless fun” ✅ Toy companies teaming up with the U.S. Army ✅ G.I. Joe as both patriot and product pipeline ✅ “Be All You Can Be” — and the marketing budgets behind it And finally — the crown jewel of dangerous nostalgia — the most hazardous toy ever sold to American children: the one that literally contained radioactive material. A glowing plaything so surreal it feels like satire… but it was real, it was marketed, and it made kids feel like tiny gods of the atomic age. This isn’t just nostalgia — it’s a forensic dive into the commercials that built America’s childhood… and the industries that cashed the checks. Funny, unsettling, and eye-opening — because the most dangerous toys weren’t always the ones in our hands. Sometimes they were the ideas in our heads. 🎧 Listen to Taboo Treasures For forbidden history, cultural rabbit holes, and the artifacts society tries to forget. New episodes every week from the Evio Creative Podcast Network. 🌒 Evio Network Also this week:     •    The Devil Within — The Sean Sellers case     •    The Ides of April — The Dagger & The Crown     •    Criminal Mischief — TBA true crime     •    The Devil’s Ledger — Haunted highways & Thanksgiving spirits 🛠️ Support Our Sponsors Keep our storytellers fed and caffeinated: 🧥 Quince — timeless essentials 👉 http://www.quince.com/IDES — free shipping & 365-day returns 📱 Mint Mobile — premium wireless, $15/month 👉 http://www.mintmobile.com/DEVILWITHIN 🕵🏻‍♂️ ExpressVPN — keep your data private 👉 http://www.expressvpn.com/DEVILWITHIN — up to 4 months free 🌿 MOOD — legal THC & CBD gummies 👉 http://www.mood.com/DEVILWITHIN — 20% off first order 🐾 Ollie — fresh food for your dog 👉 http://www.ollie.com/IDES — 60% off first box 💼 Monarch — the only financial dashboard that matters 👉 http://www.monarch.com/IDES — 50% off first year 🎙️ Follow Evio Creative Behind-the-scenes, deep cuts, and future lore: @eviocreative · @thedevilwithinpod · @idesofaprilpod · @taboo_treasures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

💎 Taboo Treasures Smart Phones, Dumb People This week on Taboo Treasures, Bruce Witkin and Jeff Levine dial up a blisteringly funny — and painfully accurate — look at humanity’s long, messy love affair with communication technology. We begin with the humble telephone: a marvel that once required etiquette, patience, and a chair in the hallway. Then: the age of spy-gadget glamour — the Bat-Phone, Get Smart’s shoe phone, Cold-War covert comms and pulp-era futurism. But somewhere along the way, the dream curdled… and now billions of us walk the Earth clutching glowing rectangles that track our steps, curate our thoughts, and occasionally zombify us into traffic. It’s witty. It’s weird. It’s a cultural X-ray with jokes sharp enough to sting. And the central question cuts deeper than Wi-Fi: If the machines are getting smarter — why aren’t we? 🔍 What’s Inside     •    Why Alexander Graham Bell might throw his headset off a bridge     •    The absurd genius of early screen technology in pop culture     •    How a “phone” became a wallet, a map, a therapist, and a hypnotist     •    The 21st-century epidemic of attention bankruptcy     •    Why “always connected” somehow made us worse at connecting 🎧 Listen to Taboo Treasures For cultural deep-dives, historical oddities, and the artifacts that shaped — and sometimes warped — our world. New episodes weekly on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube • Everywhere else you listen 🕯️ Sponsor Shout-Outs Support the partners who support Evio storytelling:     •    Quince — luxury basics without luxury prices 👉 quince.com/IDES for free shipping & 365-day returns     •    Mint Mobile — premium wireless for $15/month 👉 mintmobile.com/DEVILWITHIN     •    ExpressVPN — shield your digital life 👉 expressvpn.com/DEVILWITHIN for up to 4 months free     •    MOOD — legal THC & CBD delivered nationwide 👉 mood.com/DEVILWITHIN for 20% off your first order     •    Ollie — fresh, human-grade dog food 👉 ollie.com/IDES for 60% off your first box     •    Monarch — master your money, build real financial clarity 👉 monarch.com/IDES for 50% off your first year 🎙️ More From Evio Creative     •    The Devil Within — true crime, possession, and the shadows we carry     •    The Devil’s Ledger — the strangest story you’ll hear this week     •    The Ides of April — immersive history, told by candlelight     •    Criminal Mischief — real cases, honest reporting, Carolyn Ossorio Follow for drops & behind-the-scenes: @eviocreative • @thedevilwithinpod • @idesofaprilpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎃 Taboo Treasures — “Halloween in Hollywood” Presented by the Evio Creative Podcast Network This week on Taboo Treasures, hosts Bruce Witkin and Jeff Levine trade ancient relics for cinematic ones — exploring the forbidden, blood-stained origins of Halloween in Hollywood. From the grindhouse basements of the 1970s to the studio backlots that birthed the modern slasher, this episode traces how low-budget fear became one of America’s most lucrative exports. You’ll hear how the genre evolved from Hitchcock’s Psycho to Carpenter’s Halloween, and how that one small-town nightmare in Haddonfield forever changed the way Hollywood sold terror. Bruce and Jeff also spotlight the surprising A-listers who got their start screaming in the shadows — from Johnny Deppand Jamie Lee Curtis to Kevin Bacon and Jennifer Aniston — proof that before you can win an Oscar, sometimes you have to survive a knife fight. And in true Taboo Treasures fashion, they dig into the artifacts that made the genre iconic: the mask, the score, the kitchen knife, and the mythology that turned a $300,000 indie into one of the most enduring franchises in film history. 🎬 In This Episode     •    The accidental birth of the slasher film     •    How Halloween (1978) reshaped indie cinema     •    The secret spiritual lineage of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Black Christmas, and Friday the 13th     •    The “final girl” as America’s last moral compass     •    What horror says about guilt, voyeurism, and pleasure 💀 Credits Hosted by Bruce Witkin and Jeff Levine Produced by Evio Creative Original score and mix by Bruce Witkin For media and partnerships, visit eviocreative.com 🕯️ Sponsor Shoutouts Support Taboo Treasures and all Evio Creative shows by visiting our partners: 🧥 Quince — timeless essentials at honest prices. Visit https://www.quince.com/DEVILWITHIN for free shipping and 365-day returns. 📱 Mint Mobile — premium wireless for just $15 a month. Visit mintmobile.com/DEVILWITHIN for unlimited talk and text. 🕵️ ExpressVPN — protect your data everywhere. Visit https://www.expressvpn.com/DEVILWITHIN for up to four months free. 🌿 MOOD — legal THC and CBD gummies shipped nationwide. Visit https://www.mood.com/DEVILWITHIN for 20% off your first order. 🐾 Ollie Dog Food — fresh, human-grade meals for your dog. Visit https://www.ollie.com/IDES for 60% off your welcome kit. 💰 Monarch — take control of your finances at https://www.monarch.com/IDES for 50% off your first year. 📣 About the Network Taboo Treasures is part of the Evio Creative Podcast Network, home to The Devil Within, The Ides of April, Criminal Mischief, and The Devil’s Ledger. Follow @taboo_treasures and @eviocreative on Instagram for upcoming episodes, behind-the-scenes photos, and new announcements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ TABOO TREASURES — “Halloween: The Good, The Bad, and The Dead” This week on Taboo Treasures, hosts Bruce Witkin and Jeff Levine dig into the strange, spooky, and surprisingly historic side of Halloween — a holiday where trick-or-treat meets truth and tragedy. From Andrew Jackson’s dirty 1828 campaign, to the Great Depression’s “Black Halloween”, to the radio panic of War of the Worlds, Bruce and Jeff trace how All Hallows’ Eve became one of America’s most iconic nights of chaos and creativity. They also dive into the darker corners of history — the Monmouth steamboat disaster, Mussolini’s rise, and the eerie coincidences of those who died on Halloween, from Harry Houdini to River Phoenix. And finally, it wouldn’t be Taboo Treasures without music: a countdown of the five most unforgettable Halloween songs — from Monster Mash to Thriller — and the wild stories behind them. 🕯️ In This Episode     •    The 1828 election that redefined American politics — and gave birth to smear campaigns.     •    The Comstock Lode and how silver made Nevada a state on Halloween.     •    The last great cavalry charge and the eerie symmetry of war and memory.     •    The birth of modern Halloween after the chaos of 1933’s “Black Halloween.”     •    War of the Worlds, the radio hoax that terrified millions.     •    The tragic deaths of Houdini, River Phoenix, and Indira Gandhi — all on October 31.     •    The ultimate Halloween soundtrack — from Werewolves of London to Ghostbusters. 💀 Sponsors & Offers     •    Mint Mobile — Unlimited talk and text for just $15/month. Visit http://www.mintmobil.com/DEVILWITHIN and switch today.     •    MOOD Cannabis Gummies — Go to http://www.mood.com/DEVILWITHIN for 20% off your first order.     •    Quince — Luxury essentials without luxury prices. Visit http://www.quince.com/DEVILWITHIN for free shipping and 365-day returns. 🩸 From the Evio Creative Network Check out other Evio Creative originals:     •    The Devil Within — streaming now and the inspiration behind MGM+’s hit series Let the Devil In.     •    The Ides of April — history retold through the eyes of those who lived it. Follow @thedevilwithinpod, @idesofaprilpod, and @taboo_treasures for new episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and weekly releases. For media or sponsor inquiries, contact info@eviocreative.com. 🎧 Taboo Treasures is a production of Evio Creative. Hosted by Bruce Witkin and Jeff Levine. Produced by Bellaire Studios. © 2025 Evio Creative. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

🎙️ TABOO TREASURES “Trick, Treat, and Terror: The Strange History of Halloween” Before the candy and the costumes, before the porch lights and plastic skeletons — there was Samhain, a pagan fire festival marking the end of harvest and the return of the dead. In this week’s episode of Taboo Treasures, hosts Bruce and Jeff trace the dark, fascinating history of Halloween — from its ancient Celtic origins and Druidic rituals to its transformation through Christianity, immigration, pop culture, and good old-fashioned American marketing. How did a night of bonfires and superstition become a billion-dollar industry of sugar, sequins, and nostalgia? What parts of the original festival still linger — buried beneath the masks? And why do we keep seeking thrills in the things that once terrified us? From Samhain to Snickers, from ritual to retail, this episode is a deep dive into how one night of fear became a celebration of fun — and what that says about us all. 🕯️ In This Episode     •    The pagan roots of Samhain and early harvest rituals     •    How All Hallows’ Eve reshaped ancient superstition     •    The rise of American trick-or-treating and commercialized fear     •    Why Halloween endures as our most beloved night of the macabre 💼 Support Our Sponsors 🐾 Ollie — Fresh, human-grade food for your dog. Take the quiz at www.ollie.com/ides for 60% off your first box. 💰 Monarch Money — Smart, simple budgeting tools built for real people. Use code IDES at www.monarchmoney.com (https://www.monarchmoney.com/) for 50% off your first year. 🖤 Quince — Luxury without the markup. Go to https://www.quince.com/devilwithin for free shipping and 365-day returns. 🌿 MOOD — For the days when you need to take the edge off your demons. Visit www.mood.com/devilwithin for 20% off your first order with code DEVILWITHIN. 📱 Mint Mobile — Premium wireless for people who hate overpaying. Go to www.mintmobile.com and use promo code DEVILWITHIN for unlimited talk and text for just $15 a month. 📣 Follow the Mystery     •    Taboo Treasures → @taboo_treasures (https://www.instagram.com/taboo_treasures)     •    The Devil Within → @thedevilwithinpod (https://www.instagram.com/thedevilwithinpod)     •    The Ides of April → @idesofaprilpod (https://www.instagram.com/idesofaprilpod)     •    Criminal Mischief → @criminalmischiefpod (https://www.instagram.com/criminalmischiefpod)     •    For updates and press: www.eviocreative.com (https://www.eviocreative.com/) | info@eviocreative.com 🎃 Taboo Treasures — because sometimes the scariest thing about Halloween… is how much it says about us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the first sharpened stone to jeweled swords worth millions, humanity’s story has always been written in steel. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we trace the long, bloody, and fascinating history of edged weapons. From Stone Age tools, to Bronze Age daggers, to Iron Age swords that shaped empires, and into the modern era of ceremonial blades, these weapons were never just for survival—they were symbols of power, artistry, and fear. And for collectors, they remain priceless. We’ll also count down the top ten most valuable edged weapons ever sold at auction—where craftsmanship, history, and bloodlines collide in staggering sums. Follow & Connect     •    For press & inquiries: info@eviocreative.com     •    Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures (https://instagram.com/taboo_treasures)     •    Don’t forget to rate, review, and follow Taboo Treasures wherever you get your podcasts. 🔥 Taboo Treasures. The stories we’re not supposed to tell—but can’t stop uncovering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Long before tattoos became mainstream fashion statements, they carried layers of meaning—sacred, social, and sometimes sinister. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we trace the fascinating history of tattooing across cultures and centuries. From the ritual markings of ancient Egypt, to the traditions of Native American tribes, to the twisted use of tattoos under the Nazis, and finally to the body art explosion of the modern era—this is the story of how ink on skin became both taboo and treasure. Are tattoos a symbol of identity, rebellion, or survival? The answer depends on where—and when—you look. Follow & Connect     •    For press & inquiries: info@eviocreative.com     •    Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures (https://instagram.com/taboo_treasures)     •    Don’t forget to rate, review, and follow Taboo Treasures wherever you get your podcasts. 🔥 Taboo Treasures. The stories we’re not supposed to tell—but can’t stop uncovering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Few figures in modern medical history are as controversial—or as infamous—as Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Nicknamed “Dr. Death,” Kevorkian became a lightning rod in the 1990s for his role in physician-assisted suicide, challenging society’s deepest taboos about life, death, and the right to choose. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we explore Kevorkian’s rise from a pathologist to a public crusader, the invention of his so-called “suicide machine,” and the fierce legal and ethical battles that followed. Was he a monster? A martyr? Or simply a man ahead of his time? Through the lens of history, medicine, and morality, we unpack the legacy of a doctor who forced America to confront its most uncomfortable questions about dignity and dying. Follow & Connect     •    For press & inquiries: info@eviocreative.com     •    Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures (https://instagram.com/taboo_treasures)     •    Don’t forget to rate, review, and follow Taboo Treasures wherever you get your podcasts. 🔥 Taboo Treasures. The stories we’re not supposed to tell—but can’t stop uncovering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes – Cursing Curses Cursed What does it mean to be cursed—and why are we so fascinated by it? In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we dive into the history of curse words themselves, tracing how language once considered shocking or obscene evolved into everyday expressions. Joining us is a special guest from the UK, offering insight into the cultural differences in profanity and why certain words carry such power across time and place. From there, we unravel the stories of cursed families, including the tragic legacy of the Kennedys, where repeated misfortune blurred the line between coincidence and destiny. And finally, we turn to cursed objects—from the infamous Hope Diamond to a mysterious painting said to have survived multiple house fires, sparking fear and awe in equal measure. Follow & Connect     •    For press & inquiries: info@eviocreative.com     •    Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures (https://instagram.com/taboo_treasures)     •    Don’t forget to rate, review, and follow Taboo Treasures wherever you get your podcasts. 🔥 Taboo Treasures. The stories we’re not supposed to tell—but can’t stop uncovering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who was the world’s first serial killer—and why do these figures still haunt us? In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we trace the chilling history of serial murderers—from Gilles de Rais in 15th-century France, to the so-called Golden Age of serial killers in the 20th century, and the headline-grabbing predators of today. We explore how these killers became dark celebrities, the macabre artifacts they left behind, and why society remains fascinated with their evil. 🎧 Press play for a journey through centuries of terror. 📩 Got a tip or artifact lead? Email us at info@eviocreative.com ✅ Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures ✅ Don’t forget to rate and review Taboo Treasures wherever you listen. #TabooTreasures #SerialKillerHistory #MacabreCollectibles #DarkHistory #TrueCrimePodcast #InfamousArtifacts #GillesDeRais #GoldenAgeOfSerialKillers #TrueCrimeMeetsMyth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes: April 30, 1945. Adolf Hitler takes his own life in a Berlin bunker, using a small pistol that would become one of the most infamous objects in modern history. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we trace the chilling story of Hitler’s suicide weapon—what it was, what became of it, and why collectors and historians still debate its fate. We also explore the broader history of firearms: from one-of-a-kind relics to the rarest and most expensive guns ever sold at auction. 🎧 Press play for a journey into power, death, and the dark allure of notorious weapons. 📩 Got a lead or artifact tip? Email us at info@eviocreative.com ✅ Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures ✅ Don’t forget to rate and review Taboo Treasures wherever you listen. #TabooTreasures #HitlersGun #RareFirearms #MacabreCollectibles #InfamousWeapons #DarkHistory #WWIIArtifacts #MostExpensiveGuns #TrueCrimeMeetsHistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes: On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after launch, claiming the lives of all seven crew members—and leaving behind one of the most haunting artifacts in space history: a battered soccer ball that somehow survived the disaster. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we trace the incredible journey of that ball—from its connection to astronaut Ellison Onizuka, to its miraculous recovery, and its triumphant return to space decades later. We also explore other artifacts tied to tragedy, resilience, and the human drive to reach beyond Earth. 🎧 Press play for a story of loss, legacy, and an object that defied the odds. 📩 Have a lead or story idea? Email us at info@eviocreative.com ✅ Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures ✅ Rate and review Taboo Treasures wherever you listen. #TabooTreasures #Challenger #SpaceArtifacts #NASAHistory #InfamousObjects #MacabreCollectibles #DarkHistory #TrueStoriesFromSpace Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TABOO TREASURES EPISODE TITLE: “The Moon Watch: The Timepieces That Changed History” Show Notes: It was strapped to the wrist of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as they stepped onto the lunar surface—and became one of the most coveted objects on Earth. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we explore the story of the Omega Speedmaster “Moon Watch”—the timepiece that made history on Apollo 11—and how it became a collector’s holy grail. We’ll also count down the rarest, strangest, and most expensive watches ever sold at auction, and the billionaires, collectors, and museums competing to own them. 🎧 Press play to uncover what makes a simple watch worth millions. 📩 Got a lead or story tip? Email us at info@eviocreative.com ✅ Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures ✅ Don’t forget to rate and review Taboo Treasures wherever you listen. #TabooTreasures #MoonWatch #OmegaSpeedmaster #RareWatches #ExpensiveWatches #MacabreCollectibles #InfamousObjects #DarkHistory #LuxuryArtifacts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes: Few toys are as iconic—or as controversial—as Barbie. But in 1996, Barbie became part of one of the most haunting crime stories in American history: the murder of JonBenét Ramsey. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we explore the strange connections between Barbie dolls, child pageantry, and the media circus surrounding the Ramsey case. With special guests joining us at the top of the show, we trace Barbie’s history as a cultural icon, the dark undercurrents of beauty culture, and how a toy became tied to tragedy. 🎧 Press play as we step into a story where innocence, obsession, and horror collide. 📩 Got a tip or artifact lead? Email us at info@eviocreative.com ✅ Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures ✅ Don’t forget to rate and review Taboo Treasures wherever you listen. #TabooTreasures #JonBenetRamsey #BarbieDoll #MacabreCollectibles #TrueCrimePodcast #DarkHistory #InfamousObjects #PopCultureTragedy #TrueCrimeMeetsMyth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes: It wasn’t just a motorcycle—it was the symbol of freedom, rebellion, and a generation’s restless spirit. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we trace the story of the iconic chopper from Easy Rider, the 1969 film that defined counterculture on two wheels. We explore the 1960s movement that shaped the film, the stars who brought it to life, the unforgettable stars-and-stripes helmet—and the mystery of where the motorcycle ended up. We’ll also take you into the world of rare and ultra-valuable collectible motorcycles: from Captain America’s ride to the most expensive bikes ever sold at auction. 🎧 Press play and take the ride. 📩 Got a tip or artifact lead? Email us at info@eviocreative.com ✅ Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures ✅ Don’t forget to rate and review Taboo Treasures wherever you listen. #TabooTreasures #EasyRider #CaptainAmericaBike #RareMotorcycles #MotorcycleHistory #60sCounterculture #MacabreCollectibles #TrueCrimeMeetsHistory #InfamousObjects #DarkHistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes: In 2015, Wu-Tang Clan shocked the world by selling Once Upon a Time in Shaolin—a one-of-a-kind album packaged like a priceless artifact. The buyer? Martin Shkreli, the infamous “pharma bro,” who locked the music away. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we explore the story of the rarest rap album ever made, why it became a symbol of greed and controversy, and how it ultimately resurfaced. We also dig into the world of ultra-rare, insanely expensive vinyl—from The Beatles to Prince—and the collectors who’ll pay anything for the right record. 🎧 Press play for a journey into music, money, and myth. 📩 Got a story lead or tip? Email us at info@eviocreative.com ✅ Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures ✅ Don’t forget to rate and review Taboo Treasures wherever you listen. #TabooTreasures #WuTangClan #OnceUponATimeInShaolin #MartinShkreli #RareVinyl #MusicCollectibles #MacabreArtifacts #TrueCrimePodcast #InfamousObjects #DarkHistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

THE IDES OF APRIL Show Description: The Ides of April is a gripping historical podcast that takes you inside the final 17 days of John Wilkes Booth’s life—from the surrender at Appomattox to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the largest manhunt in American history. Narrated by Alec Baldwin, this immersive series blends dramatic storytelling, historical detail, and expert insight to trace the deadly plot that changed the nation forever. 🎧 The Ides of April is produced by EVIO Creative and available wherever you get your podcasts. 📩 Have questions or feedback? Email us at info@eviocreative.com ✅ Follow us on Instagram: @idesofaprilpod ✅ Don’t forget to rate and review the show. #TheIdesOfApril #LincolnAssassination #JohnWilkesBooth #AmericanHistoryPodcast #PresidentialAssassination #TrueHistory #CivilWarHistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes: December 8th, 1980. New York City. John Lennon is gunned down outside The Dakota, and the world loses a Beatle. When police arrest his killer, Mark David Chapman, they find him carrying a copy of The Catcher in the Rye—a book that, for him, blurred the lines between fiction and murder. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we explore the haunting artifact at the center of this infamous crime. From the history of The Beatles and J.D. Salinger’s iconic novel to Chapman’s obsession and New York’s dark night, we unpack the symbolism of that paperback. We’ll also follow the journey of this chilling collectible—right to the auction block. 🎧 Press play to discover the strange intersection of pop culture, literature, and tragedy. 📩 Got a tip or artifact to share? Email us at info@eviocreative.com ✅ Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasures ✅ Rate and review Taboo Treasures wherever you listen. #TabooTreasures #JohnLennon #MarkDavidChapman #CatcherInTheRye #Murderabilia #InfamousArtifacts #TrueCrimePodcast #BeatlesHistory #MacabreCollectibles #DarkHistory Let me know if you want Instagram post captions, reel descriptions, or YouTube description text for this episode! Ask ChatGPT Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Show Notes: In 1997, the world was stunned by the mass suicide of 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate cult in San Diego. But one detail stood out in every photo of that tragic scene—the matching black Nike Decade sneakers on each body. In this episode of Taboo Treasures, we explore how these now-infamous shoes became a dark symbol of the cult’s final ritual. We trace the origins of Heaven’s Gate, led by Marshall Applewhite, the apocalyptic beliefs tied to the Hale-Bopp comet, and the eerie details of that last night—right down to the poisoned applesauce. 🎧 Press play and step inside one of the most disturbing intersections of commerce, culture, and cult history. 📩 Got a lead or story idea? Email us at info@eviocreative.com ✅ Follow us on Instagram: @taboo_treasurespod ✅ Don’t forget to rate and review Taboo Treasures wherever you listen. #TabooTreasures #HeavensGate #NikeDecade #CultArtifacts #DarkHistory #MacabreCollectibles #TrueCrimePodcast #OccultHistory #InfamousObjects Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TABOO TREASURES TRAILER: Welcome to the World’s Darkest Collection Show Notes: What drives people to seek out the most disturbing artifacts in history? Taboo Treasures is a new podcast that explores the objects linked to the world’s most infamous crimes, cults, and mysteries. From cursed relics to murder memorabilia, we uncover the shocking stories behind the artifacts collectors are dying to own. 🎧 Subscribe now to Taboo Treasures—and join us for a journey into the macabre, the forbidden, and the unforgettable. 📩 Got a lead or a story tip? Email us at info@eviocreative.com. ✅ Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the show. #TabooTreasures #MacabreArtifacts #TrueCrimePodcast #DarkHistory #CursedObjects #InfamousCollectibles #Murderabilia #OccultHistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices