Sea Cucumbers, Witch Hunts, Exploding Teeth, Pencil Love

Originally aired August 20, 2019 Hold the Sea Cucumber Guest: Steven Purcell, Associate Professor, Southern Cross University Sea cucumbers are everywhere—or at least they should be. But, because they're in high demand as delicacies, medicine, and gifts, they’re dying out faster than they can reproduce. Why that should worry everyone. Witch Hunts Guest: Rev. Brian A. Pavlac, Professor, History, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, PA Thousands of people died in witch hunts from the 1400s to the 1800s, as fear and superstition roiled communities. However, some towns wouldn't tolerate witch hunters, or never even feared witchcraft to begin with, while other towns saw neighbors turn viciously on each other. Why the difference? We find out what led to the rise of witch hunts and to their general disappearance. But our guest warns us not to think that they never happen today.  The Appleseed Guest: Sam Payne, host, The Appleseed, BYUradio Mining your experience for a good story. Memories and stories.  Barely Believable Stories from the Annals of Medical History Guest: Thomas Morris, author, “The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth and other Curiosities from the History of Medicine” A soldier who seemed immune to death, no matter how many injuries he sustained. A patient who performed his own appendectomy. A man who had had enough and decided to surgically remove his own bladder stone.  Pencil Love Guest: Caroline Weaver, owner, CW Pencil Enterprise In our digital world, what is lost when we don't write out our thoughts by hand? If they don't learn cursive, how can kids read the Constitution as it was originally printed? Do you ever take pleasure in the simple pencil? It's really a thing of beauty, according to this aficionado.