Have you ever wanted to build your own submarine? I admit, I was a little shocked to find out how many men and women—but mostly men—who feel almost obsessively compelled to sink into the deep sea. Despite the 2023 fatal implosion of Stockton Rush's much more highly funded submarine, Titan, these amateur backyard enthusiasts are willing to take the risk. Why?In SUBMERSED, author Matthew Gavin Frank explores the origins of this compulsion, from the diving bells of Aristotle and Alexander the Great to the Confederate H. L. Hunley, which became the first submersible to sink an enemy warship before itself being sunk during the Civil War. The deeper he plunges, however, the more the obsession seems to dovetail with more threatening traits. Following the grisly murder of journalist Kim Wall at the hands of eccentric entrepreneur Peter Madsen aboard his DIY midget submarine, Frank finds himself reckoning with obsession's darkest extremes. Weaving together elements of true crime, history, and the physical and mental side effects of sinking to great depth, Frank attempts to get to the bottom of this niche compulsion. Join us to explore the unexpected overlaps between the desire to descend -- and a penchant for unspeakable violence.

Episode was recorded live January 22, 2026.

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