Episode

Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
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1:02:02
Published: Sat May 08 2021
Description

Snake handling ranges from professional snake milkers for antivenin to religious handlers who tend to get bitten and sometimes die from it. Either way, it can be a dangerous business. Learn all about snake handling in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chapters
This episode of Onward with Rosie O'Donnell explores snake handling both in the context of religion and as a job or hobby, and discusses the possibility of creating new senses for humans.
00:00 - 02:02 (02:02)
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Snake Handling
Summary

This episode of Onward with Rosie O'Donnell explores snake handling both in the context of religion and as a job or hobby, and discusses the possibility of creating new senses for humans.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
The speaker discusses the difficulty of recording a show on snake handling while also commenting on Amy Goodman's tasteful salt and pepper hair.
02:02 - 03:48 (01:46)
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Snake Handling
Summary

The speaker discusses the difficulty of recording a show on snake handling while also commenting on Amy Goodman's tasteful salt and pepper hair.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
People who handle snakes religiously do it through total and complete faith, a practice known as holiness serpent handling.
03:48 - 06:44 (02:56)
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Religion
Summary

People who handle snakes religiously do it through total and complete faith, a practice known as holiness serpent handling. The handling of snakes in this way is rarely seen in person but considered a sacred act for the participants.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
This podcast episode discusses the various aspects of snake handling that are not limited to religious practices, but also includes scientific study, rescue and recovery operations.
06:44 - 09:39 (02:54)
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Snake Handling
Summary

This podcast episode discusses the various aspects of snake handling that are not limited to religious practices, but also includes scientific study, rescue and recovery operations. The myths surrounding the danger of snakes are challenged and debunked.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Learn about the different types of snake hooks and how to use them to catch and release snakes without harming them.
09:39 - 12:13 (02:33)
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Snakes
Summary

Learn about the different types of snake hooks and how to use them to catch and release snakes without harming them.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Join Rosie as she explores the relationship between our brains and experiences by answering unusual questions to better understand our lives and realities.
12:13 - 16:32 (04:18)
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Rosie O'Donnell
Summary

Join Rosie as she explores the relationship between our brains and experiences by answering unusual questions to better understand our lives and realities.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Professional snake handlers follow the rule of not getting hurt, as venomous snakes can strike up to one-half the distance of their body length, while non-venomous snakes use constriction to suffocate their prey.
16:32 - 20:19 (03:47)
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Snake Handling
Summary

Professional snake handlers follow the rule of not getting hurt, as venomous snakes can strike up to one-half the distance of their body length, while non-venomous snakes use constriction to suffocate their prey. Snake venom is collected from snakes to create anti-venom to save the lives of people bitten by venomous snakes.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
The traditional way to milk venom from a snake involves holding it behind the head and giving a little squeeze to milk the venom glands.
20:20 - 22:53 (02:33)
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Snake Milking
Summary

The traditional way to milk venom from a snake involves holding it behind the head and giving a little squeeze to milk the venom glands. Using gloves such as chainmail or Kevlar gloves can make it difficult to feel what is going on, which is crucial in handling and milking snakes.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
During a Jackass stunt involving a pit full of red balls and a python, Johnny Knoxville was bitten two to three times.
22:53 - 28:36 (05:43)
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Johnny Knoxville, Jackass, Python, Snake Handling
Summary

During a Jackass stunt involving a pit full of red balls and a python, Johnny Knoxville was bitten two to three times. It's important to have multiple people present when handling snakes in case of emergency, with at least one person for every five feet of snake except in the case of an anaconda or reticulated python which requires one person for every three feet.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Religious snake handlers take little to no precautions when handling venomous snakes during their services, with many people believing that they worship the snakes themselves.
28:36 - 32:27 (03:51)
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Religious practices
Summary

Religious snake handlers take little to no precautions when handling venomous snakes during their services, with many people believing that they worship the snakes themselves. This practice is still prevalent in churches throughout Appalachia, with the potential for serious injury or death.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
The use of venomous snakes during religious services has led to arrests due to illegality of keeping them in some states.
32:27 - 37:17 (04:49)
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religion
Summary

The use of venomous snakes during religious services has led to arrests due to illegality of keeping them in some states. Deadly snakes like cottonmouths and rattlesnakes are used, putting both the practitioner and public in danger.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
Snakes typically don't strike at humans because it doesn't make evolutionary sense for them to do so and the numbers show that there are relatively few deaths from snake bites despite many people handling them.
37:17 - 43:20 (06:02)
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Snakes
Summary

Snakes typically don't strike at humans because it doesn't make evolutionary sense for them to do so and the numbers show that there are relatively few deaths from snake bites despite many people handling them. The fear and respect that snakes have for humans is reduced when they are raised in captivity, making them less likely to strike.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
A man fulfills his childhood dream of opening a snake house and goes on to experiment with using snake venom in clinical trials to treat diseases like Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis before ultimately injecting a cocktail of 32 different snakes into himself everyday.
43:20 - 46:42 (03:22)
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Snake venom
Summary

A man fulfills his childhood dream of opening a snake house and goes on to experiment with using snake venom in clinical trials to treat diseases like Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis before ultimately injecting a cocktail of 32 different snakes into himself everyday.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
In 1977, a six-year-old boy was bitten by a venomous snake in a Miami-based serpentarium, leading to its closure seven years later.
46:42 - 51:08 (04:26)
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Miami, serpentarium
Summary

In 1977, a six-year-old boy was bitten by a venomous snake in a Miami-based serpentarium, leading to its closure seven years later. The incident led to a significant shakeup in the regulation of such facilities.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
The speaker recommends the book Middlesex and praises the author's writing.
51:09 - 53:31 (02:22)
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Book Recommendation
Summary

The speaker recommends the book Middlesex and praises the author's writing. The book is described as a great all-around read.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
A listener suggests a podcast topic on color blindness and deficiencies after Chuck mentions his possible color deficiency.
53:31 - 55:42 (02:10)
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Color blindness, Live shows
Summary

A listener suggests a podcast topic on color blindness and deficiencies after Chuck mentions his possible color deficiency. Sam Horn also drops hints about upcoming live shows overseas.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
The 90s had a lot of both good and bad music, but overall there were plenty of good bands and listenable singles.
55:42 - 59:59 (04:17)
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Music
Summary

The 90s had a lot of both good and bad music, but overall there were plenty of good bands and listenable singles. However, a significant portion of the music on the radio was deemed awful at the time.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know
The transcript contains ads for other podcasts available on the I Heart Radio platform including Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman and Onward with Rosie O'Donnell.
59:59 - 1:01:34 (01:34)
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Podcasts
Summary

The transcript contains ads for other podcasts available on the I Heart Radio platform including Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman and Onward with Rosie O'Donnell.

Episode
Selects: How Snake Handlers Work
Podcast
Stuff You Should Know