In this episode, we explore the real Blue Fugates of Kentucky, the fictional but historically grounded world of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, and the science behind the rare condition methemoglobinemia. We also break down the Twisted & Uncorked episode that re-popularized this Appalachian medical mystery — all while sipping a blue moonshine cocktail: Cussy’s Elixir.

A moonshine-based blue cocktail inspired by Cussy Mary Carter from The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Blue Houdini Moonshine
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz honey syrup
• Top with sparkling water (or ginger ale)
• Garnish with lemon twist or edible wildflower

Shake, strain, pour over ice, enjoy.

• The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_Woman_of_Troublesome_Creek

• The Blue Fugates – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Fugates

• Methemoglobinemia – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia
• Cleveland Clinic – Methemoglobinemia Overview https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24115-methemoglobinemia
• NCBI Bookshelf – Methemoglobinemia (Clinical Review) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537317/

• Twisted & Uncorked – Episode 210: I’m Blue Da Ba Dee Da Ba Da (Conspiracy) https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-210-i-m-blue-da-ba-dee-da-ba-da-conspiracy--67782725

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🎶 Music Credits: Music by Vlad Krotov, Sound Effect by Akiva Vita For updates visit our 💻 Website

In this episode of Medical Media Mixer, we explore Girls & Their Monsters by Audrey Clare Farley — the haunting true story of the Dionne quintuplets and how science, society, and media collided to shape our understanding of mental illness. We unpack the ethics of human experimentation, the historical roots of psychiatry, and the ongoing debate of nature versus nurture, while examining how voices, behavior, and diagnosis are understood across time and culture. Paired with The Quad cocktail, this episode blends history, medicine, and media to question who defines “madness,” and at what cost.

Book & Background

• Girls and Their Monsters (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Girls-Their-Monsters-Quadruplets-Madness/dp/1538724472/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0
• Wikipedia overview: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_and_Their_Monsters

Mental Health & Psychiatry

• Hearing Voices Network: https://www.hearing-voices.org/#content
• Nature vs. Nurture in mental illness (review article): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8702084/
• Family history and schizophrenia risk: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1181880/
• Creation of the NIMH (75-year history PDF): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/NIMH-Celebrating-75-Years-508_0.pdf

Cocktail

• The Quad cocktail recipe (Difford’s Guide): https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/2884/the-quad

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🍸 Cocktail recipes drop on socials every weekend before the episode airs 🍹

If you love the podcast, please join our 💳 Patreon to support our continued success!

If you don't want to commit to a monthly contribution, you can always donate on ☕️Buy Me a Coffee

🎶 Music Credits: Music by Vlad Krotov, Sound Effect by Akiva Vita For updates visit our 💻 Website

Summary: This episode explores the tragic story of Patricia Stallings, wrongfully convicted for poisoning her son due to a misdiagnosis of methylmalonic acidemia (MMA). We discuss the medical background of MMA, the legal implications, and media portrayals—including podcasts, documentaries, and Lifetime movies—that brought this case to public attention. Learn how medical science corrected a grave miscarriage of justice and the ongoing lessons for rare disease awareness.

Resources & Links:

• Patricia Stallings – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Stallings
• Without a Kiss Goodbye (1993) – IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108581/
• Forensic Files – “Deadly Formula” Episode https://youtu.be/8AAM2Pi44v8?si=Pi-afyTb2knWVVB-
• Methylmalonic Acidemia – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylmalonic_acidemia
• NCBI – Misdiagnosis of MMA https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• JAMA Neurology Review https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology
• International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health – False-Positive MMA https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
• Unsolved Mysteries Wiki https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Patricia_Stallings#:~:text=Details%3A%20On%20July%209%2C%201989,suffered%20from%20chronic%20gastric%20distress.

Inspiration: Patricia Stallings’s story is one of misunderstanding, suspicion, and eventual truth. This cocktail is dark, mysterious, and layered, representing the tension and uncertainty of her case, with a subtle bright note at the finish to symbolize vindication and hope.

• 1.5 oz Dark Rum (deep, rich, symbolizes the shadow of suspicion)
• 0.5 oz Cherry Heering or Cherry Liqueur (hint of danger, red “warning” tone)
• 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice (sharp clarity, representing truth cutting through deception)
• 0.25 oz Maple Syrup or Honey (soft sweetness, resilience and hope)
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters (complexity, the moral and legal undertones)
• Garnish: Lemon twist or cherry (symbolizing resolution and recognition)

1. Fill a shaker with ice and combine dark rum, cherry liqueur, lemon juice, maple syrup, and bitters.
2. Shake well until chilled.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with a cherry or lemon twist.

Tasting Notes:

• Flavor: Dark, layered, slightly tart with a sweet finish
• Symbolism: Shadows of false accusation, tension of uncertainty, and a final note of truth

💡 Optional Twist:

• Serve smoky with a small mist of smoked rosemary or cinnamon to symbolize the murkiness of being wrongly accused.

• For a lighter variation, use spiced rum instead of dark rum.

New episodes every Monday → Hit that subscribe button! 🔔

⭐️ Rate and Review

🍸 Cocktail recipes drop on socials every weekend before the episode airs 🍹

If you love the podcast, please join our 💳 Patreon to support our continued success!

If you don't want to commit to a monthly contribution, you can always donate on ☕️Buy Me a Coffee

🎶 Music Credits: Music by Vlad Krotov, Sound Effect by Akiva Vita For updates visit our 💻 Website