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Hey, it's me, Luke Lamanna. Thank you so much for listening to Redacted. Today we're diving into something different, something that I know you will love. My good friends at Ballin Studios have brought to life another captivating brand new podcast for you to listen to, one that will completely reshape how you see the past. This isn't just history. It's history with a twist. Each week, the 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 Mecca? 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 but 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 is 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, please 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've 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 their 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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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.
Summary of "Ballen Studios Presents: A Twist of History"
REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries with Luke Lamana
Episode: Ballen Studios Presents: A Twist of History
Release Date: May 21, 2025
In this special episode of REDACTED: Declassified Mysteries, host Luke Lamana announces an exciting collaboration with Ballen Studios to launch a brand-new podcast titled "A Twist of History." This episode serves as an introduction to the new series, setting the stage for a journey into the unexpected and lesser-known facets of historical events.
Luke Lamana begins by expressing his enthusiasm for the partnership with Ballen Studios, highlighting the unique approach the new podcast will take toward historical storytelling. Unlike traditional history narratives that focus on dates and prominent figures, "A Twist of History" aims to delve deeper into the "hidden, often forgotten origin stories" that have significantly shaped the present-day world.
Key Objectives of the Podcast:
To illustrate the podcast's approach, Luke plays a compelling excerpt from the first episode of "A Twist of History," titled "How Murder Went Viral." This segment transports listeners back to July 9, 1910, in London, England, narrating the suspenseful escape of a 16-year-old boy and his father from the city.
Narrative Highlights:
Setting the Scene (00:01:25): The story begins with a vivid depiction of a crowded London street, emphasizing the chaotic environment the boy navigates to avoid recognition:
"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."
Atmosphere and Tension: The narrative builds tension by detailing the boy's anxiety and the measures he takes to remain unnoticed:
"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." (01:25)
Climactic Escape: The climax of the story occurs as the boy and his father successfully evade detection and board the London Underground, marking the beginning of their escape from England:
"Their escape from England has begun." (05:12)
Insights and Themes:
Cultural Obsession with True Crime: The clip touches upon the enduring fascination with true crime stories, suggesting that this obsession has deep historical roots:
"Our collective obsession with true crime stories has, of course, exploded in the last several years... But of course, it's not a relatively new thing."
Impact of Technology: The story hints at the role of revolutionary technology in shaping cultural phenomena, although specifics are left to intrigue listeners.
Luke Lamana on Storytelling:
"This isn't just history with a twist. Each week, the 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." (00:00)
Narrator on Cultural Phenomena:
"Doom scrolling one story about a brutal murder... a revolutionary new technology which sparked a cultural obsession that we still can't get enough of." (02:30)
As the episode concludes, Luke encourages listeners to embrace the new venture by following "A Twist of History." He emphasizes the podcast's commitment to unveiling captivating and unexpected historical narratives that promise to reshape listeners' understanding of the past.
Closing Remark:
“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.” (05:12)
"Ballen Studios Presents: A Twist of History" serves as an enticing gateway to a series that promises to enrich listeners' appreciation of history through engaging storytelling and the exploration of pivotal, yet obscure, historical moments. By combining the investigative prowess of REDACTED with Ballen Studios' talent for compelling narratives, this collaboration is set to deliver a fresh and immersive experience for history enthusiasts and curious minds alike.
Follow "A Twist of History":
Available on the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms. Start your journey into the unexpected twists of history by following the show here.