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Return to the Sea
- The hosts discuss their previous podcast episode on Blackbeard.
- They jokingly contrast the pirates' situational homosexuality with the more intentional acts in the Essex story.
Essex Tragedy
- The Essex, an American whaling vessel, sank in 1820 after a sperm whale attack.
- The crew's struggle for survival involved cannibalism, mirroring the Donner Party tragedy.
Moby Dick Inspiration
- Herman Melville's Moby Dick was inspired by the Essex tragedy.
- Melville's detailed descriptions of whaling life, including "gams" (whale ship meetings), aimed to reflect the boredom punctuated by intense moments.