And That's Why We Drink E462 Dream Mall Rats and Whistleblowing Dogs
Dec 14, 2025
This week, the hosts delve into the eerie history of the Jane Addams Hull-House, including its spooky baby devil hauntings that captivated Chicago in 1913. They also explore intriguing theories about shared dream phenomena related to malls. Additionally, a poignant discussion unfolds around the tragic disappearance of Lauren 'El' Cho, highlighting the uneven media coverage for missing people of color. Interspersed are personal anecdotes about pets, wellness routines, and the quirky world of TikTok conspiracies.
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Community Services Scale Through Local Models
- Jane Addams created services like childcare, public baths, job training and arts programs that inspired hundreds of similar settlement houses nationwide.
- The Hull‑House model scaled into 500 settlement houses by 1920, showing community infrastructure's multiplier effect.
The Devil Baby Rumor That Snowballed
- Em and Christine retell versions of the ‘devil baby’ rumor: Italian and Jewish origin stories explained how a baby became labeled a demon.
- The lore described horns, hooves, wings, oily red skin and even smoking a cigar, fueling crowds and media frenzy.
Rumors Reflect Social Anxiety, Not Facts
- Jane Adams focused her published response on the lived struggles of immigrants rather than defending herself, reframing the myth as social symptom.
- She argued the devil baby myth gave marginalized people a way to process displacement and anxiety.
