EPISODE 170: Dirt Eaters
In this episode…
Care for a bit'o'dirt? Patrice, Marleah, and Courtney discuss a bizarre story from Starkville, MS, where people were discovered digging up dirt to eat. They explore the history and cultural significance of geophagy, citing various traditions and the medicinal properties of kaolin clay.
In this episode of The Strange South, hosts Marleah, Patrice, and Courtney dive into the peculiar world of geophagy—the practice of eating earth and clay. The episode begins with some light banter and technical difficulties, before transitioning into a story about a house in Starkville, Mississippi, where people repeatedly dug up the homeowner's garden to eat the soil. This leads to an exploration of various cultural traditions that involve eating clay, including those from West Africa, indigenous tribes, and European settlers. The discussion covers the health implications, historical context, and the modern-day persistence of these practices. The hosts also touch on related folklore and rituals involving soil, making for an intriguing and educational listen.
00:00 Introduction to The Strange South
00:58 Technical Difficulties and Greetings
01:09 Episode Number Confusion
02:04 Eating Dirt: A Southern Folklore
07:57 Historical and Cultural Context of Geophagy
11:51 Modern Implications and Practices
17:16 Graveyard and Crossroads Dirt
21:30 Health Implications of Eating Dirt
27:31 Conclusion and Teasers for Next Episode
