Some Interesting Curses

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: The episode is a humorous, fact-checked tour of famous curses, using legend, history, and pop-culture anecdotes to examine how stories of misfortune take hold. The hosts discuss Brunswick Springs, the Atuk film project, Tamerlane’s tomb, the Cubs’ Billy Goat Curse, and Jackie Chan’s “curse” as a pitchman, blending skepticism with folklore and emphasizing that some curses are more cultural narratives than supernatural fact.

Main Topics: Brunswick Springs and Abenaki sacred land (Priority: 5/5): A Vermont spring complex considered sacred by the Abenaki becomes the center of a legend that a bereaved woman cursed future profiteers after a violent dispute over exploitation of the site. The hosts trace the site’s history of failed resorts and eventual preservation. The cursed Hollywood script 'Atuk' (Priority: 5/5): The transcript explores the decades-long development limbo of the satirical script Atuk and the deaths of multiple comedians attached to it, treating it as one of Hollywood’s most notorious curse stories while noting similar unmade adaptations exist for other beloved books. Tamerlane’s tomb and wartime legend (Priority: 5/5): The hosts recount the story that disturbing Timur/Tamerlane’s tomb in Samarkand preceded Hitler’s invasion of the USSR, then explain that the supposed inscribed curse is likely a later invention even though the timing of events fed the myth. The Curse of the Billy Goat and the Cubs (Priority: 5/5): A Chicago World Series incident in 1945, when Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis and his pet goat Murphy were denied entry to Wrigley Field, becomes the origin of the Cubs’ long championship drought, which the show frames as a classic sports curse narrative. Jackie Chan’s 'curse' as a brand endorser (Priority: 4/5): The episode shifts to a lighter modern curse claim: several companies and products endorsed by Jackie Chan allegedly failed or collapsed, though the hosts suggest statistics and endorsement volume may explain much of it. Folklore, skepticism, and the appeal of cursed stories (Priority: 4/5): Across all examples, the hosts repeatedly stress that the point is not proving supernatural forces but examining how communities build and preserve curse legends through coincidence, trauma, and storytelling.

Key Arguments: Many curse stories are cultural explanations for bad luck rather than evidence of the supernatural. Brunswick Springs became 'cursed' in the legend because sacred Indigenous land was exploited for profit, and repeated fires reinforced the story. Atuk’s deaths and delays make it a compelling Hollywood curse narrative, but similar attachment-and-collapse patterns happen with other projects too. The Tamerlane curse is likely a retrospective invention, since the alleged tomb inscription was not found in contemporaneous records. The Billy Goat Curse gained power because the Cubs’ performance collapsed after a vivid, public insult tied to a specific event. Jackie Chan’s product failures may reflect the fact that he endorsed many products, making some failures statistically inevitable rather than mystical.

Data Points: Age of Abenaki presence in Brunswick area: about 12,000 years - Used to show the springs were long regarded as sacred land. Mineral springs at Brunswick Springs: 6 springs - Each spring contains different minerals including magnesium, sulfur, bromide, calcium, iron, and arsenic. Minerals named: 6 - The springs are described as having multiple mineral properties. Tamerlane estimated death toll: 17 million - The hosts cite this as the commonly bandied-about figure for his conquests. Share of global population affected by Tamerlane: about 5% - Used to emphasize the scale of devastation during his campaigns. Operation Barbarossa invasion size: nearly 4 million troops - Describes the German and Axis invasion of the USSR shortly after Tamerlane’s tomb was opened. Civilians killed in the Eastern Front context: as many as 16 million - Mentioned in connection with the broader human cost of the Nazi invasion. Battle of Stalingrad Soviet losses: 1.1 million soldiers - Cited as the bloodiest urban battle in history. Atuk filmed before halted production: 8 days - Sam Kinison’s version began shooting before production collapsed. Belushi age at death: 33 - John Belushi died while attached to the Atuk project. Kinison age at death: 38 - Sam Kinison died in a car wreck after being attached to Atuk. John Candy age at death: 43 - Candy died after joining the Atuk project. Michael O’Donoghue age at death: 58 - He also died during Atuk’s long development history. Chris Farley death age: 37 - Mentioned as another star linked to Atuk who died young. Cubs winning seasons during curse era: 15 winning seasons over 57 years - From 1946 to 2003, illustrating the depth of the team’s drought. Cubs first-place finishes in that span: 3 - Shows how infrequently the team contended. Cubs pennants in that span: 0 - No pennants during the curse era. Cubs World Series appearances in that span: 0 - No World Series appearances during the curse era. Cubs postseason appearances in that span: 4 - All four were tied to efforts to lift the Billy Goat Curse.

Pivotal Quotes: "Whosoever disturbs my grave shall unleash a conqueror greater than I." — Narrator/hosts citing the legend: Presented as the alleged inscription on Tamerlane’s tomb, later questioned as likely fabricated. "The Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field." — William Sianis: The curse statement associated with the Billy Goat Curse after he and Murphy were denied entry. "The great northern reaches of Canada" — Chuck: Humorous description during the Atuk discussion when explaining the script’s original setting before Hollywood changes.

Implications: The episode shows how curse stories persist when coincidence, grief, and vivid symbolism align. For listeners and media creators, it highlights the need to separate folklore from fact while recognizing the cultural power of such legends.