Episode Four

An exploration of the tragic wreck of the Iolaire, a wealthy man’s yacht turned into a transport ship that went aground on the rocks of the Outer Hebrides, killing at least 201 sailors as they approached their home port.

NOTE: A year ago this month, Susan Ferman and I began laying the groundwork for a historical podcast that explored the various natural and man-made disasters, focusing on the stories of the people who lived through them and the heroes who stepped in to rescue. Sadly, after researching and hosting three episodes, Susan fell ill and passed away. We had done so much work that I didn’t want it all to go sit fallow, but it took some time for me to conceive and execute a reboot. Susan left me with a pretty good list of disasters for future episodes. We have different styles, so the show is not going to be quite the same as hers, but I will do my best and dedicate this series to her memory, and twenty percent of all proceeds will go to the American Lung Association in Susan’s name. 

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Catastrophic Calamities is a production of Pulpular Media.

Visit us at www.pulpular.com and check out our other podcasts like True Crime Historian telling stories of the scandals, scoundrels, and scourges of the past, and Portals To Possibility, an improvised comedy talk show that proves you don’t have to be human to be good people.

If you want to help defray the cost of this podcast and make a contribution to the American Lung Association in the name of Susan Ferman, visit us at www.patreon.com/catastrophiccalamities.

Sources for this podcast include a booklet Sea Sorrow, the story of the Iolaire Disaster, and articles from the Stornoway Gazette and other newspapers of the era.

Check our show notes and social media posts for links to some terrific websites regarding the Iolaire, including one from the National Library of Scotland and Visualizing the Iolaire, an interactive tour of the Outer Hebrides.