Episodios

  • Ep. 63: People of Seacliff Mental Hospital (Janet Frame, Part 1)
    Jul 8 2024

    Send us a Text Message.

    This episode features one of Janet Frame's short stories, "Gorse is not People," which was featured in The New Yorker on August 25, 2008. Link here: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/09/01/gorse-is-not-people

    References to this work are from part two of Janet Frame's autobiography, An Angel at my Table.

    Check out our Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast

    Check out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast

    Join us on Instagram: @behindthewallspod

    Support the Show.

    Más Menos
    33 m
  • Ep. 62: People of Seacliff Mental Hospital (Lionel Terry)
    Jul 1 2024

    Send us a Text Message.

    This week's episode discusses the life, crime, and escapes of Lionel Terry. Find out what brought him to New Zealand and why he committed this hate crime. Learn about how he escaped from both Sunnyside Mental Hospital and Seacliff Mental Hospital multiple times and who finally convinced him to stay.

    Trigger warning for strong racist ideologies espoused by Terry.

    This episode draws heavily from the book The History of Seacliff by Frank Tod. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

    Visit our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast

    Visit our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast

    Support the Show.

    Más Menos
    40 m
  • Ep. 61: History of Seacliff Mental Hospital, Part 3 (1921-1992)
    Jun 25 2024

    Send us a Text Message.

    This week's episode examines the history of Seacliff Mental Hospital after the tenure of Sir Truby King until the closure of Seacliff and Cherry Farm. Learn about how people who had been diagnosed as "mentally defective" were treated. Brace yourself for the deadly and devastating event that finally caused administration to call for a new hospital location. And find out what brought Seacliff to a close once and for all.

    This episode relies heavily on the book The History of Seacliff by Frank Tod and an anthology entitled 'Unfortunate Folk': Essays on Mental Health Treatment 1863-1992, edited by Barbara Brookes and Jane Thomson. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

    Check out our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast

    Check out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast

    Support the Show.

    Más Menos
    52 m
  • Ep. 60: History of Seacliff Mental Hospital, Part 2 (1889-1920)
    Jun 17 2024

    Send us a Text Message.

    This week's episode looks at the history of Seacliff Lunatic Asylum during the tenure of superintendent Dr. Truby King. Find out what improvements he made to the asylum and what clinical interests sidetracked him along the way. Learn some of the reasons why he became infamous in New Zealand and some of the reasons why we should review his legacy with caution.

    Primary sources for this week's episode include Frank Tod's book The History of Seacliff and an anthology entitled "Unfortunate Folk": Essays on Mental Health Treatment 1863-1992, edited by Barbara Brookes and Jane Thomson. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

    Check out our Patreon page (with new content!): http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast

    Check out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast

    Support the Show.

    Más Menos
    40 m
  • Ep. 59: History of Seacliff Mental Hospital, Part 1 (1840-1888)
    Jun 10 2024

    Send us a Text Message.

    This week's episode examines a lot of history that led to the construction of the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum in New Zealand. Learn why New Zealand had six asylums built within a 20 year span in the mid-1800s and still required more space. Find out why the architect of Seacliff fled to Melbourne following construction of the asylum.

    My main sources for this episode include The History of Seacliff by Frank Tod and an anthology called Unfortunate Folk: Essays on Mental Health Treatment 1863-1992 edited by Barbara Brookes and Jane Thomson. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

    Check out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast

    Check out our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast

    Support the Show.

    Más Menos
    38 m
  • Ep. 58: People of Taunton State Hospital ("Jolly Jane" Toppan)
    May 27 2024

    Send us a Text Message.

    This week's episode examines the life and crimes of "Jolly Jane" Toppan. Find out why Jane is considered the first female serial killer in the U.S. and how she escaped detection for almost 20 years.

    The main source for this episode is Pretty Evil New England by Sue Colette. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

    Visit our Patreon page: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast

    Visit our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast

    Support the Show.

    Más Menos
    52 m
  • Ep. 57: History of Taunton State Hospital, Part 3 (1926-2024)
    May 9 2024

    Send us a Text Message.

    This week's episode examines the past century of treatment at Taunton State Hospital and explores the changes that have occurred during that time.

    This episode borrows heavily from the book A Brief History of Taunton Lunatic Hospital 1854 to 2016 by Joseph Langlois. All other sources will be listed in the episode transcript.

    Support the Show.

    Más Menos
    38 m
  • Ep. 56: History of Taunton State Hospital, Part 2 (1886-1926)
    Apr 30 2024

    Send us a Text Message.

    This week's episode examines 40 years of the history of Taunton State Hospital. Find out what notorious true crime story may (or may not) have a connection to the hospital. Learn how treatment at Taunton was ahead of its time in so many ways.

    My primary source for this week's episode is the book A Brief History of the Taunton Lunatic Hospital 1854 to 2016 by Joseph Langlois. All other sources wil be listed at the end of the episode transcript.

    Check out our Beacons page: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast

    Check out our Patreon page (currently under construction): http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast

    Support the Show.

    Más Menos
    36 m