Do Go On

410 - The Exploding Whale of Florence Oregon (with NICK MASON)

Aug 30, 2023

01:49:22

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Episode guests

NICK MASON

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Quick takeaways

The explosion of a dead whale on an Oregon beach captivated the world's attention and resulted in blubber raining down on spectators.

The event sparked contrasting reactions among residents, with some feeling embarrassed while others embraced it by establishing the Exploding Whale Memorial Park.

People with ADHD often develop temporary obsessions and become experts in niche topics before moving on to new obsessions.

Deep dives

Blowing up the Whale

In 1970, a dead whale washed up on the shores of Florence, Oregon. With the goal of disposing of the carcass, engineers from the Oregon State Highway Division decided to blow it up using half a ton of dynamite. The explosion resulted in chunks of blubber raining down on spectators, with some narrowly escaping injury. While the explosion itself was captured on film and gained widespread attention, the cleanup and removal of the whale remains proved to be a challenge. Sea gulls were nowhere to be found, and the remaining chunks were too large for them to handle. Eventually, the highway crews buried most of the carcass on the beach, effectively ending the spectacle.

Introduction

3min

Light banter and discussion of previous appearances and pop culture references

2min

The Format and Discussion of a Sea Animal

2min

The Explosive Decision: The Story of the 45-Foot Sperm Whale

6min

The Exploded Whale Incident

11min

Controversies of Whale Carcass Disposal

16min

Exploding Whales and the Humane Technique of Carcass Disposal

4min

The Exploding Whale in Florence, Oregon

4min

The Explosive Whale Incident in Oregon

16min

10.

Exploding Whale: A Celebration of Mistakes

9min

11.

Multiple Podcasts and the Mattel Cinematic Universe

12min

12.

Banter and Vegemite with Brian

22min

13.

Blowing Up Heads, Welcoming New Members, and Concern for Dave

6min

On the 9th of November, 1970, a 45-foot sperm whale carcass washed up on the shore of Florence, Oregon. The way they decided to dispose of it has become a thing of legend. The Weekly Planet's Nick Mason joins us for this wild ride!

This is a comedy/history podcast, the report begins at approximately 07:50 (though as always, we go off on tangents throughout the report).

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Do Go On acknowledges the traditional owners of the land we record on, the Wurundjeri people, in the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders, past and present.

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING:

https://www.ohs.org/blog/beached-whale-blow-up.cfm

https://allthatsinteresting.com/exploding-whale

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/13/oregon-whale-explosion-anniversary/

https://www.theexplodingwhale.com/evidence/resources/transcript

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-17285112

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-12/wa-leads-way-using-explosives-to-euthanase-sick-beached-whales/7081946

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