Mad Tea remains ad free, to help us in this effort please consider becoming a supporter for as little as $1 on Patreon, your support helps us continue what we do and will expand our vision. SUPPORT US HEREA man walks into a hospital seeking care. Days later, he’s dead—his body broken, his ribs shattered. The official response? “These things happen.”In this episode, Matt Bodett and Megan Sterling uncover two of Dunning’s final and most chilling scandals. The first is the brutal death of George Pucik, an immigrant wrongfully institutionalized, beaten to death, and discarded. The second? A macabre tale of stolen bodies, smuggled from the asylum morgue under cover of night, with whispers of a secret “killer ward” where the unclaimed simply… disappeared.As political cover-ups tighten their grip and officials silence whistleblowers, one thing becomes clear: the corruption at Dunning wasn’t just about greed—it was about power, and who society deemed disposable.This is the final chapter in the Dunning series, but its echoes remain. Some histories refuse to stay buried.
--------
31:27
Dunning - Part 4
Politicians had a saying: "To the victor go the spoils." But what happens when the spoils are the lives of asylum inmates?In this episode, Matt and Megan unravel the Boodlers’ Scandal—a web of corruption so deep it bled Cook County dry while inmates at Dunning starved, shivered, and suffered. From rotten meat and stolen funds to secret backroom deals in smoke-filled saloons, this was a system designed to profit off neglect.Meet Clem Periolat, the "Bean Man" whose spoiled groceries lined the pockets of officials. King Mike McDonald, the gambling kingpin who pulled the strings. And Dr. John Spray, the asylum superintendent who ruled with a pistol on his hip.As reformers tried to expose the truth, they were met with threats, bullets, and powerful men who always seemed to slip away untouched. But when a doctor refused to stay silent, the scheme began to unravel—leading to trials, resignations, and one dramatic escape to Canada.This is the story of how greed devoured the asylum system. And how, despite it all, the ones who suffered most were never the ones on trial.
--------
37:32
Dunning - Part 3
Chicago’s politicians had a saying: "To the victor go the spoils." But what happens when the spoils are the lives of asylum inmates?In this episode, Matt and Megan unravel the Boodlers’ Scandal—a web of corruption so deep it bled Cook County dry while inmates at Dunning starved, shivered, and suffered. From rotten meat and stolen funds to secret backroom deals in smoke-filled saloons, this was a system designed to profit off neglect.Meet Clem Periolat, the "Bean Man" whose spoiled groceries lined the pockets of officials. King Mike McDonald, the gambling kingpin who pulled the strings. And Dr. John Spray, the asylum superintendent who ruled with a pistol on his hip.As reformers tried to expose the truth, they were met with threats, bullets, and powerful men who always seemed to slip away untouched. But when a doctor refused to stay silent, the scheme began to unravel—leading to trials, resignations, and one dramatic escape to Canada.This is the story of how greed devoured the asylum system. And how, despite it all, the ones who suffered most were never the ones on trial.
--------
28:00
URGENT!! Mad/Disability Activism Today
This episode breaks down the alarming resurgence of asylum-like policies targeting disabled people, tracing the echoes of past abuses into today’s political landscape. As politicians propose work farms for the mentally ill and police detain people for appearing unstable, it’s clear that the rhetoric has shifted, but the oppressive mindset remains. We urgently examine how forced care is being weaponized and who truly benefits from these policies.This conversation is too important to miss—please listen, share widely, and help us expand the dialogue around the continued oppression of mad and disabled communities. Support us on Patreon. We cannot keep doing this work without you! Thank you!!
--------
46:27
Dunning - Part 2
As Illinois grew, so did its need for asylums—but the path to so-called “care” was paved with legal loopholes, power struggles, and devastating personal costs. In this episode, Matt Bodett and Megan Sterling dive into the forgotten histories of madness in Illinois, tracing the forces that shaped its asylum system.From Dorothea Dix’s cross-country fight for humane treatment to Edward Mead’s ill-fated Chicago Retreat, we follow the reformers, the laws, and the failures that defined Illinois’ approach to madness. Along the way, we uncover the disturbing legal maneuvers that allowed women to be institutionalized without a trial, leading to the infamous case of Elizabeth Packard—a woman locked away by her husband for daring to speak her mind.Colonialism, racism, asylum advocacy, and resistance all collide in this story of a state struggling to decide what to do with those it called insane. And at the heart of it all? The early foundations of what would become Dunning.Mad Tea is produced by PRESS HERE and is a project of the Center for Mad Culture. Learn more about them at madculture.orgInformation for the Dunning series is taken from the book DUNNING: Special Report, published by The Center for Mad Culture in 2024 and written by Matt Bodett. Copies of this book can be purchased through their website.
For too long, mad voices have been silenced, dismissed, or medicalized—it's time to change that. Mad Tea explores the histories, stories, and creative expressions of madness, amplifying its insights, resilience, and brilliance. We challenge stereotypes and reframe madness as a way of understanding culture, art, and activism.
This podcast is an extension of The Center for Mad Culture, a space dedicated to mad voices. Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.
You can support this podcast by finding us on Patreon, where you'll have access to exclusive content!
Ireland