The Man Who Ate Everything

Podcast Summary: After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
Episode: "The Man Who Ate Everything"
Hosts: Anthony Delaney & Dr. Kat Byers (guest)
Release Date: March 30, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the bizarre and macabre history behind Tarar, an infamous Frenchman from the late 18th century known for his insatiable appetite and apparent ability to eat nearly anything—including live animals, inanimate objects, and possibly human flesh. Joined by historian Dr. Kat Byers, host Anthony Delaney investigates how much of Tarar’s story is fact, how much is legend, and explores the medical, social, and cultural implications of his condition.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Introduction to Tarar (01:05–07:14)

Who Was Tarar?
- Possibly a nickname; real name unconfirmed.
- Born near Lyon around 1772.
- Known for consuming extreme (and often horrifying) things: snakes, cats, gold watches, and more.
- Described as “an incomparable eater.”
- Physical appearance: average build, unusually soft hair, prone to excessive sweating.
Context: Host Anthony welcomes frequent guest Dr. Kat Byers, referencing her “grizzly” history specialties (cannibalism, morgues, etc.).
Memorable Moment: Kat jokes about being the show's most recurring guest—“I'm just waiting in the corridor all the time because you let me in” (02:59).

2. Early Life & Appetite Mythology (07:14–12:10)

Tarar as a Boy
- Outwardly healthy, but increasingly ravenous.
- Reportedly ate up to a quarter of a cow daily as a teenager—though Anthony and Kat doubt this “biography as myth-making.”
- Ultimately, his appetite became a burden, leading to rumors of homelessness.
Life as a Street Performer
- Tarar joined traveling street fair performers, making a living by shocking onlookers with his eating feats: apples, pebbles, corks—anything available.
- Notably, he was of average size, not a “giant”—contrary to expectations for someone labeled a glutton.

3. Medicalization & Military Service (12:10–15:05)

Entry to Medical Records
- Hospitalized multiple times after eating dangerous items; Parisian doctors intrigued, baffled.
- Eats due to what’s later termed “polyphagia”—pathological hunger.
Military Involvement
- During the French Revolution, drafted into the army; even quadruple rations weren't enough.
- Collapsed from exhaustion and hunger; became a “medical curiosity” under observation.

4. Tarar under the Microscope: The Appetite Examined (15:05–19:30)

Experiments by Doctors
- Doctors prepare a meal “for 15 German laborers”—Tarar eats it all, then naps (16:18).
- More shockingly, is given live animals (cats, snakes, etc.) to consume—he obliges.
  - Anthony (reading Dr. Percy’s account): “Holding the animal alive by the neck… tore its belly with his teeth, sucked the blood and soon left nothing but the skeleton..." (18:09).
Polyphagia Explained (15:19–15:30)
- Kat notes the term originates in relation to Tarar, referring to insatiable hunger; later speculated to have physiological (possibly thyroid, neural) roots.

5. Spy Missions & Escalation (19:30–24:44)

Unusual Role: Spy
- The army saw potential: Tarar was made to swallow a box containing secret documents to smuggle through enemy lines, meant to be retrieved upon excretion.
- The plan failed; Tarar’s odor, constant hunger, and inability to speak German got him caught. After harsh treatment and a failed mission, he was sent back to France.

6. Descent into the Grotesque (24:44–27:23)

Medical Experimentation & Marginalization
- Doctors try remedies: laudanum, “loads of hard-boiled eggs,” tea—nothing works.
- Tarar sneaks out to butcher shops, is found eating bodies in hospital morgues, and is implicated (without proof) when a baby disappears from the hospital. This leads to his final expulsion.
Pathos Amid the Horror
- Anthony: “This poor man actually must have been feeling pretty bloody sh*t about himself…he keeps returning to these hospital institutions. And it’s like, that’s kind of sad” (24:44).

7. Contextualizing Tarar: Other “Great Eaters” (27:23–30:47)

Analogous Cases
- Kat references other “great eaters” of the era, e.g. Charles Domery (“ate 174 cats in a year”) and Jacques De Feliz (“nearly died swallowing a large eel”).
- Implication: While extreme, Tarar was not unique.

8. The End of the Line: Death & Autopsy (31:17–39:37)

Final Years & Death
- Tarar reappears in Versailles in 1798, dying of advanced tuberculosis.
- Swallows a fork; claims it’s stuck, but the true cause is likely his illness and years of abuse to his body.
- Autopsy findings:
  - Enormous, distorted esophagus and stomach allowing him to swallow large objects.
  - Anthony: “You could fit a cylinder that’s like a foot round down there…” (37:36).
  - No fork found; “It probably just came out with everything else at some point” (38:47).
- Terrible smell; extreme diarrhea near death—highlighting the grotesquery and suffering in his last days.

9. Fact vs. Myth? (41:24–43:19)

Historical Reliability
- Dr. Percy’s testimony (army surgeon, Arc de Triomphe honoree) is considered credible, even if some claims seem outlandish.
- Kat: “There’s no reason for Percy...to make this story up. Like, he has a full career” (42:34).
- Broader context: extreme eating persists, from Michael Lotito (who ate a Cessna plane in the 20th c.) to modern “professional regurgitators.”

10. The Human Angle & Modern Echoes (43:44–45:38)

Contemporary Compassion
- Discussion of how someone with Tarar’s condition might be perceived and treated today.
- Historical comparisons to other ostracized medical curiosities (e.g., Joseph Merrick—the Elephant Man).
- Kat: “They did do a fair amount of investigation over many years trying to figure out what was wrong with her, and not just so that they could wait around and autopsy him…” (40:26).
Pop Culture Legacy
- Recent novel “Glutton” by A.K. Blakemore is based on Tarar’s life.
- Michael Lotito, “the man who ate a plane,” even ate his Guinness World Records award.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Tarar’s fame: “Every time that the brilliant Dr. Kat Byers appears on After Dark, people just lose their minds because she brings the grizzly…” — Anthony Delaney (01:37)
On show structure: “Our producer has structured this episode as if it were a meal. And that’s fitting…” — Anthony Delaney (03:57)
On the legend: “He was an incomparable eater. Snakes, sheep, medical implements, gold watches, cats…by the end, it was said he even ate human beings and drank the blood of others.” — Anthony Delaney (01:05)
On spectacle and marginalization: “It’s this very uncomfortable othering of different types of bodies. And we see it in these fairs all the time.” — Anthony (10:09)
On extreme acts: “He tore [the cat’s] belly with his teeth, sucked the blood and soon left nothing but the skeleton. Half an hour later, he rejected the fur in the manner of carnivores and birds of prey.” — Dr. Percy, quoted by Anthony (18:09)
On sorrow: “This poor man actually must have been feeling pretty bloody sh*t about himself at this moment in time...” — Anthony (24:44)
On medical curiosity: “Let’s really test this out. Let’s see what this guy can do.” — Kat (16:03)
On myth and reality: “There’s no reason for Percy, an Army surgeon… to make this story up. Like, he has a full career.” — Kat (42:34)

Important Segment Timestamps

Tarar’s background / introduction: 01:05–07:14
Mythical early appetite: 07:14–12:10
Medicalization & military: 12:10–15:05
Appetite experiments (cats, dogs, etc.): 15:05–19:30
Military spy endeavor: 19:30–24:44
Morgue incidents & missing child: 24:44–27:23
Similar cases in history: 27:23–30:47
Decline, death, & autopsy: 31:17–39:37
Myth or reality analysis: 41:24–43:19
Reflection & pop culture legacy: 43:44–45:38

Tone & Style

Conversational, humorous, irreverently macabre.
Hosts frequently joke about their own lack of medical expertise (“There are two doctors in this room and we are not medical doctors…this is showing our limitations of the digestive system…” – Anthony, 19:54).
Empathetic towards the profound suffering underlying Tarar’s grotesque legend.

Episode Overview

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Introduction to Tarar (01:05–07:14)

Who Was Tarar?
- Possibly a nickname; real name unconfirmed.
- Born near Lyon around 1772.
- Known for consuming extreme (and often horrifying) things: snakes, cats, gold watches, and more.
- Described as “an incomparable eater.”
- Physical appearance: average build, unusually soft hair, prone to excessive sweating.
Context: Host Anthony welcomes frequent guest Dr. Kat Byers, referencing her “grizzly” history specialties (cannibalism, morgues, etc.).
Memorable Moment: Kat jokes about being the show's most recurring guest—“I'm just waiting in the corridor all the time because you let me in” (02:59).

2. Early Life & Appetite Mythology (07:14–12:10)

Tarar as a Boy
- Outwardly healthy, but increasingly ravenous.
- Reportedly ate up to a quarter of a cow daily as a teenager—though Anthony and Kat doubt this “biography as myth-making.”
- Ultimately, his appetite became a burden, leading to rumors of homelessness.
Life as a Street Performer
- Tarar joined traveling street fair performers, making a living by shocking onlookers with his eating feats: apples, pebbles, corks—anything available.
- Notably, he was of average size, not a “giant”—contrary to expectations for someone labeled a glutton.

3. Medicalization & Military Service (12:10–15:05)

Entry to Medical Records
- Hospitalized multiple times after eating dangerous items; Parisian doctors intrigued, baffled.
- Eats due to what’s later termed “polyphagia”—pathological hunger.
Military Involvement
- During the French Revolution, drafted into the army; even quadruple rations weren't enough.
- Collapsed from exhaustion and hunger; became a “medical curiosity” under observation.

4. Tarar under the Microscope: The Appetite Examined (15:05–19:30)

Experiments by Doctors
- Doctors prepare a meal “for 15 German laborers”—Tarar eats it all, then naps (16:18).
- More shockingly, is given live animals (cats, snakes, etc.) to consume—he obliges.
  - Anthony (reading Dr. Percy’s account): “Holding the animal alive by the neck… tore its belly with his teeth, sucked the blood and soon left nothing but the skeleton..." (18:09).
Polyphagia Explained (15:19–15:30)
- Kat notes the term originates in relation to Tarar, referring to insatiable hunger; later speculated to have physiological (possibly thyroid, neural) roots.

5. Spy Missions & Escalation (19:30–24:44)

Unusual Role: Spy
- The army saw potential: Tarar was made to swallow a box containing secret documents to smuggle through enemy lines, meant to be retrieved upon excretion.
- The plan failed; Tarar’s odor, constant hunger, and inability to speak German got him caught. After harsh treatment and a failed mission, he was sent back to France.

6. Descent into the Grotesque (24:44–27:23)

Medical Experimentation & Marginalization
- Doctors try remedies: laudanum, “loads of hard-boiled eggs,” tea—nothing works.
- Tarar sneaks out to butcher shops, is found eating bodies in hospital morgues, and is implicated (without proof) when a baby disappears from the hospital. This leads to his final expulsion.
Pathos Amid the Horror
- Anthony: “This poor man actually must have been feeling pretty bloody sh*t about himself…he keeps returning to these hospital institutions. And it’s like, that’s kind of sad” (24:44).

7. Contextualizing Tarar: Other “Great Eaters” (27:23–30:47)

Analogous Cases
- Kat references other “great eaters” of the era, e.g. Charles Domery (“ate 174 cats in a year”) and Jacques De Feliz (“nearly died swallowing a large eel”).
- Implication: While extreme, Tarar was not unique.

8. The End of the Line: Death & Autopsy (31:17–39:37)

Final Years & Death
- Tarar reappears in Versailles in 1798, dying of advanced tuberculosis.
- Swallows a fork; claims it’s stuck, but the true cause is likely his illness and years of abuse to his body.
- Autopsy findings:
  - Enormous, distorted esophagus and stomach allowing him to swallow large objects.
  - Anthony: “You could fit a cylinder that’s like a foot round down there…” (37:36).
  - No fork found; “It probably just came out with everything else at some point” (38:47).
- Terrible smell; extreme diarrhea near death—highlighting the grotesquery and suffering in his last days.

9. Fact vs. Myth? (41:24–43:19)

Historical Reliability
- Dr. Percy’s testimony (army surgeon, Arc de Triomphe honoree) is considered credible, even if some claims seem outlandish.
- Kat: “There’s no reason for Percy...to make this story up. Like, he has a full career” (42:34).
- Broader context: extreme eating persists, from Michael Lotito (who ate a Cessna plane in the 20th c.) to modern “professional regurgitators.”

10. The Human Angle & Modern Echoes (43:44–45:38)

Contemporary Compassion
- Discussion of how someone with Tarar’s condition might be perceived and treated today.
- Historical comparisons to other ostracized medical curiosities (e.g., Joseph Merrick—the Elephant Man).
- Kat: “They did do a fair amount of investigation over many years trying to figure out what was wrong with her, and not just so that they could wait around and autopsy him…” (40:26).
Pop Culture Legacy
- Recent novel “Glutton” by A.K. Blakemore is based on Tarar’s life.
- Michael Lotito, “the man who ate a plane,” even ate his Guinness World Records award.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Tarar’s fame: “Every time that the brilliant Dr. Kat Byers appears on After Dark, people just lose their minds because she brings the grizzly…” — Anthony Delaney (01:37)
On show structure: “Our producer has structured this episode as if it were a meal. And that’s fitting…” — Anthony Delaney (03:57)
On the legend: “He was an incomparable eater. Snakes, sheep, medical implements, gold watches, cats…by the end, it was said he even ate human beings and drank the blood of others.” — Anthony Delaney (01:05)
On spectacle and marginalization: “It’s this very uncomfortable othering of different types of bodies. And we see it in these fairs all the time.” — Anthony (10:09)
On extreme acts: “He tore [the cat’s] belly with his teeth, sucked the blood and soon left nothing but the skeleton. Half an hour later, he rejected the fur in the manner of carnivores and birds of prey.” — Dr. Percy, quoted by Anthony (18:09)
On sorrow: “This poor man actually must have been feeling pretty bloody sh*t about himself at this moment in time...” — Anthony (24:44)
On medical curiosity: “Let’s really test this out. Let’s see what this guy can do.” — Kat (16:03)
On myth and reality: “There’s no reason for Percy, an Army surgeon… to make this story up. Like, he has a full career.” — Kat (42:34)

Important Segment Timestamps

Tarar’s background / introduction: 01:05–07:14
Mythical early appetite: 07:14–12:10
Medicalization & military: 12:10–15:05
Appetite experiments (cats, dogs, etc.): 15:05–19:30
Military spy endeavor: 19:30–24:44
Morgue incidents & missing child: 24:44–27:23
Similar cases in history: 27:23–30:47
Decline, death, & autopsy: 31:17–39:37
Myth or reality analysis: 41:24–43:19
Reflection & pop culture legacy: 43:44–45:38

Tone & Style

Conversational, humorous, irreverently macabre.
Hosts frequently joke about their own lack of medical expertise (“There are two doctors in this room and we are not medical doctors…this is showing our limitations of the digestive system…” – Anthony, 19:54).
Empathetic towards the profound suffering underlying Tarar’s grotesque legend.

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Summary

Episode Overview

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Introduction to Tarar (01:05–07:14)

2. Early Life & Appetite Mythology (07:14–12:10)

3. Medicalization & Military Service (12:10–15:05)

4. Tarar under the Microscope: The Appetite Examined (15:05–19:30)

5. Spy Missions & Escalation (19:30–24:44)

6. Descent into the Grotesque (24:44–27:23)

7. Contextualizing Tarar: Other “Great Eaters” (27:23–30:47)

8. The End of the Line: Death & Autopsy (31:17–39:37)

9. Fact vs. Myth? (41:24–43:19)

10. The Human Angle & Modern Echoes (43:44–45:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Segment Timestamps

Tone & Style

Further Reading/Viewing

Summary

Episode Overview

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Introduction to Tarar (01:05–07:14)

2. Early Life & Appetite Mythology (07:14–12:10)

3. Medicalization & Military Service (12:10–15:05)

4. Tarar under the Microscope: The Appetite Examined (15:05–19:30)

5. Spy Missions & Escalation (19:30–24:44)

6. Descent into the Grotesque (24:44–27:23)

7. Contextualizing Tarar: Other “Great Eaters” (27:23–30:47)

8. The End of the Line: Death & Autopsy (31:17–39:37)

9. Fact vs. Myth? (41:24–43:19)

10. The Human Angle & Modern Echoes (43:44–45:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Segment Timestamps

Tone & Style

Further Reading/Viewing