Research + Writing: Selected Works

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Research + Writing: Grim & Mild Presents: Sideshow

One of my favorite projects: a narrative deep dive into the history of the American Sideshow. The task? A reanimation of the people at the center of its history, whose own stories were so often lost or intentionally obfuscated. A history of the spectacle, yes, but also an invitation to engage with the larger implications of the cultural phenomenon and the world that created it.

Every story has a beginning, and the tale of the American sideshow—in many ways—begins in the aftermath of one man’s personal tragedy. Learn how it all began, and what the early days were like, on the inaugural episode of Grim & Mild Presents: Sideshow.

Among the bearded ladies of the Sideshow, Julia Pastrana’s story is the longest: it spans her short life and long death, revealing the lengths some will go to make a buck.

From the Bronx to the silver screen, Schlitzie charmed all who knew him. And for those who loved him, they’d stop at nothing to keep him safe.

The story of Saartjie Baartman is not an easy one to hear, but it certainly gives us an intimate look into how the early traveling sideshow once operated — and how some human bodies were treated in the process.

Humans are drawn to beauty. We decorate ourselves. We primp, we preen, and sometimes...we poke.

Join us as we dive into the colorful world of tattooing—and the mark it left on the sideshow.

When he was born, they called Frank Lentini a monster… but what did that even mean? We’ll follow his story as we learn folklore, magic, medicine, and one man’s quest for the American Dream.

Joice Heth never wanted to be in show business. It wasn’t the world that she came from. But when she met P.T. Barnum, the course of her life took a turn she never saw coming.

Circus trains: they were cities on wheels, integral to the sideshow circuit and home to all performers. Today, they’re a relic of a bygone time…but there’s one train that has solidified its place in the history books due to unthinkable tragedy.

Families are curious. Blood, they tell us, is thicker than water. But what happens if there’s something stronger than blood that keeps you together… for better or for worse?

Centuries of history have led us to this point. The show goes on.

Lavinia Warren was able to travel the world and charm audiences wherever she went. But what set Lavinia apart from many of her peers were the choices she was able to make along the way.

Humans are animals. But at some point throughout the course of evolution, our species got the upper hand.

Behind the glitz and glamour of the stage, darkness lurked. And sometimes, that darkness was inescapable – and lived right in our own homes.

Research + Writing: American Shadows

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Research + Writing: That’s Just Weird

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Research + Writing: Grim & Mild Presents: Bedside Manners

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Research: Lore

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