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Hey, it's me, Nexpo. Thank you so much for listening to Late Nights with Nexpo. Today we're going to dive into something different, something that I know you're going to like. My good friends at Ballen Studios have brought to life another captivating brand new podcast for you to listen to, one that'll completely reshape how you see the past. This isn't just history. It's history with a twist. Each week, this show will peel back the layers of familiarity and reveal the hidden, often forgotten origin stories of the people, places, and things that define our world today. This isn't just talking about dates and names. These are incredibly immersive stories about the moments, the decisions, the twists that changed everything. Do you know how Hollywood came to be the movie mecha? Or how true crime first went viral? Or even why we don't use the metric system? These stories will not only answer these questions, but they'll blow your mind. History is never a straight line, and pretty often we can pinpoint a remarkable, thrilling twist which affects everything that follows. The show's called A Twist of History, and it's live right now. I'm about to play you a clip from episode one called How Murder Went Viral. After you finish listening, go follow A Twist of History wherever you get your podcasts and listen to the full episode. Enjoy.
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It's late at night. You've had a long day at work. You're exhausted. You finally turn out all the lights and go to bed. But of course you get a notification on your phone. You have to check it, right? You're not sleeping yet, so you take a quick look. And that's when you see that it's about that story that you've been following all week, the international manhunt that's basically the next smash hit true crime docuseries in the making in real time. And updates are coming in rapid fire. You sit bolt upright, take a deep breath and begin scrolling. For the next two hours, you devour every delicious detail about the grisly crime, the search for a fugitive, and the mindless commentary that goes along with it. Our collective obsession with true crime stories has, of course, exploded in the last several years. And movies, books, podcasts, social media, daily news stories, they all feed this obsession constantly. It's pretty easy to think that this is a relatively new thing, but of course, it's not. And while it may be difficult to pinpoint a single moment in history when this cultural phenomenon began, there is one story which may be the very reason why you're up late at night, doom scrolling one story about a brutal murder, the heart pounding pursuit of the killer, and a revolutionary new technology which sparked a cultural obsession that we still can't get enough of. History always has a twist. A single unexpected and often forgotten moment that changes everything that comes after it. In this series each week you'll hear a riveting story about a twist that you probably never heard of. But it's these stories that have shaped the very world we now live in. On today's episode How Murder Went Viral. This is a twist of history it's July 9, 1910 in London, England. A 16 year old boy flies down four flights of stairs of a concrete office building and steps out onto Borough High street on the south bank of the River Thames. The noise hits him immediately. People rushing down the sidewalk, the road filled with a mix of horse drawn buggies and rattling automobiles. The street is so crowded it overwhelms the boy. He quickly pulls his hat down further to partially cover his face and starts weaving his way through the foot traffic. He darts his eyes back and forth, convinced that someone is going to recognize him. He can feel his heartbeat all the way up in his ears. He keeps rushing and scanning the street, but nobody pays any attention to him. So the boy finally relaxes a little. He slows down to a normal walk and makes his way to the entrance of a nearby London Underground station. A few minutes later, the boy sees his father coming towards him holding a single small suitcase. The boy greets his father and they run down the steps together in the underground, just in time to catch the next train. The boy watches the train doors close and the mass of passengers exiting. He looks around to make sure that he still hasn't been recognized by anyone and follows his father on board. As the train car continues to fill up, the boy and his dad lower their heads, avoiding eye contact with her fellow passengers, and finally the train starts to roll down the underground tracks and the boy and his father exhale. Their escape from England has begun.
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All right, if you enjoyed that clip from A Twist of History, head over to the show and tap the follow button so you don't miss any of these incredible origin stories. New episodes come out every Wednesday.
Episode: How Murder Went Viral
Release Date: May 22, 2025
Host: Ballen Studios
In this captivating episode of Late Nights with Nexpo, hosted by Ballen Studios, the newly launched podcast series A Twist of History is introduced. Host Nexpo sets the stage for a journey through unconventional historical narratives that reveal the hidden and often forgotten stories shaping our present.
“This isn't just history. It's history with a twist.” – Nexpo [00:00]
A Twist of History delves into the origins of our collective obsession with true crime, tracing its roots back to a pivotal event in early 20th-century London. The episode, titled How Murder Went Viral, explores how a single incident in 1910 sparked a cultural phenomenon that continues to captivate audiences today.
The episode transports listeners to July 9, 1910, in bustling London. A 16-year-old boy makes a frantic escape from his city, highlighting the intense atmosphere of the time.
“It's late at night. You've had a long day at work. You're exhausted. You finally turn out all the lights and go to bed...” – Narrator (Speaker B) [01:32]
The description vividly paints a picture of London’s crowded streets, blending horse-drawn buggies with the emerging presence of automobiles. This backdrop sets the stage for the unfolding drama.
The narrative centers on a young boy who, filled with fear of recognition and possible repercussions, navigates through the densely packed streets of London. His anxiety is palpable as he attempts to remain unnoticed amidst the chaos.
“He can feel his heartbeat all the way up in his ears.” – Narrator (Speaker B) [02:15]
The boy's journey leads him to a London Underground station, where he reunites with his father. Their discreet escape underscores the tension and danger surrounding their departure.
“As the train car continues to fill up, the boy and his dad lower their heads, avoiding eye contact with her fellow passengers...” – Narrator (Speaker B) [04:45]
The episode examines how this 1910 incident played a crucial role in shaping the true crime genre. It suggests that the boy’s story was a catalyst for the public's enduring fascination with crime narratives.
“History always has a twist. A single unexpected and often forgotten moment that changes everything that comes after it.” – Narrator (Speaker B) [03:30]
By highlighting the boy’s escape, the episode illustrates the unpredictable nature of history and its ripple effects on cultural phenomena like true crime.
A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the revolutionary technology introduced around the time of the event—likely referring to early mass media or communication advancements—that amplified the story's reach and impact.
“…a revolutionary new technology which sparked a cultural obsession that we still can't get enough of.” – Narrator (Speaker B) [04:00]
This technological leap enabled stories like the boy’s to go viral, setting a precedent for how true crime narratives are disseminated and consumed in the modern age.
Nexpo wraps up the episode by emphasizing the enduring legacy of the 1910 event and its foundational role in today's true crime obsession. The episode invites listeners to reconsider history not as a linear progression but as a tapestry woven with unexpected twists that continue to influence contemporary society.
“These stories will not only answer these questions, but they'll blow your mind.” – Nexpo [00:00]
Listeners are encouraged to follow A Twist of History for more intriguing explorations of historical twists that have shaped the world.
A Twist of History successfully unravels a significant yet often overlooked moment in history, demonstrating how singular events can leave an indelible mark on cultural trends and collective psyche. By intertwining vivid storytelling with historical analysis, Ballen Studios and Nexpo offer an engaging and insightful exploration into the roots of our true crime fascination.
For those intrigued by the intricate twists of history and their modern-day implications, this episode serves as a compelling invitation to delve deeper into the stories that define our world.
Listen to the full episode of A Twist of History: How Murder Went Viral on your preferred podcast platform every Wednesday.