That Time The Mona Lisa Was Stolen

Just the mention of the name “Mona Lisa” sparks images of a cherub faced woman, half-smiling, hanging on a wall at the Louvre.  This is true of almost EVERYONE on the planet, but that was not always the case.  As a matter of fact, the Mona Lisa is kind of famous for being famous, and all that started with it being stolen from the Louvre in 1911.  Noah Charney is a Art History expert with an exceptional knowledge of art crime, and the tale he weaves is really unbelievable.  Almost as unbelievable as there being three Noah Charney’s in the world, all to the day exactly the same age.  That is also really true and you will learn everything in this episode.

*Bonus* Pablo Picasso – Art Thief

Contrary to popular movies, most art crime is NOT perpetrate by some private art collector in order to enhance their collection.  Oh well there is one notable exception:  Pablo Picasso!  Check out this bonus episode and learn how Picasso got wrapped up in the Mona Lisa caper, and what he actually had stolen.

The First Vampire

It is Halloween again, and what is more iconic at this time of year than vampires, werewolves, and witches?  I thought it was about time we dedicate a whole episode to them, so Noah Charney is back on the show to discuss their origins.  It turns out that these creatures first appear in Slavic myths around the 4th century and the werewolf & the vampire are actually the same creature!  It wasn’t until very modern stories started to separate them into two different monsters.  Still we see the origins that eventually become legendary parts of the story:  A wirey, tall, gaunt undead creature that is nocturnal, can only be killed with silver bullets, they drink blood to reproduce, can only enter a house when invited, and can turn into a wolf or a swarm of black butterflies (later bats).  This creature smelled like garlic and was not repulsed by it, but that plant still plays a prominent role in the story.  Listen to original stories from the part of the world that used to be called Transylvania!

The Legend of Baba Yaga

As promised, Noah and I discuss the “Three Goddesses” story, one of them being the Baba Yaga, who is the prototype for our modern conception of the witch.  She has a big nose, long chin, a house on chicken lags, and for some reason there is a focus on her saggy breasts.  On, and she doesn’t ride around a broom, but it is involved.