Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"Well, you know, when it comes to all wildlife, a bop in the nose, a bop in the nose will do it. Usually it does. There's something about a bop in the nose even with a bear." — Marcus Parks
"Well, Captain Pollard and these three men took it teenagers. They were all floating 1,500 miles west of South America with the half-eaten corpse of shit-nate Samuel Reed." — Henry Zebrowski
"The only reason why the nantucket whaling business finally ed was because a superior and more abundant source of lubricant was discovered in 1859. That substance was petroleum." — Marcus Parks
This episode of The Last Podcast on the Left chronicles the catastrophic voyage of the whaling ship Essex, which was destroyed by a sperm whale in 1820. The narrative focuses on the brutal survival efforts of the 21 crew members who escaped in whaleboats. Faced with dwindling provisions, extreme dehydration, and the constant threat of the elements and marine predators, the survivors were forced to make unimaginable choices. The podcast details their descent into starvation, the psychological disintegration, and the eventual resorting to cannibalism to stay alive. It contrasts the experiences of different boats and individuals, highlighting the leadership struggles, the physical and mental deterioration, and the desperate attempts to navigate vast oceans with limited resources.
The narrative emphasizes the harsh realities of their situation, from the inedible nature of hardtack to the critical lack of fresh water and the psychological torment of seeing companions succumb to the elements or starvation. The episode also touches upon the cultural context of whaling, the superstitious beliefs of sailors, and the societal acceptance of certain extreme survival tactics at sea. It draws parallels to other historical survival events and explores the long-term psychological impact on the survivors and their community.
Ultimately, the episode recounts the eventual rescues of some survivors, the discovery of those left behind on islands, and the grim fate of those lost at sea. It concludes by examining the aftermath for Captain Pollard and the crew, their return to Nantucket, and how their harrowing experiences influenced later literature, notably Herman Melville's Moby Dick. The episode also reflects on the history of whaling and its eventual decline, replaced by new industries.