Behind the Walls of the World’s Psychiatric Hospitals
Dr. Sarah Gallup
This podcast examines the history of now-defunct or abandoned psychiatric hospitals. Listen every week to learn about the history of mental health care and the true stories of the people who lived and worked behind the walls.
- 37 minutes 51 secondsEp. 98: History of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Part 1 (1858-1893)
This week we start a series on Sarah's "holy grail" asylum! Learn about why it took 23 years for the asylum to be built and who was involved in the labor. Find out how the hospital took on an additional role in the history of the American Civil War. And discover why there was such a high turnover of superintendents in the early days of asylum life.
Follow the show on Instagram at @behindthewallspod
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Prison Pen Pal Podcast
Hear real stories from prison inmates, their free-world pen pals, family, and friends.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
9 December 2025, 3:58 am - 53 minutes 24 secondsEp. 97: Interview with Jacqui Sanders
This week I interview historian Jacqui Sanders to discuss her study of the children and women of Aradale Mental Hospital in Australia and the release of her new book, Form of Insanity. Find out how Jacqui got drawn to Aradale and to the tragic stories she outlines in her book -- and find out what projects she has lined up next!
Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspod
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
Prison Pen Pal Podcast
Hear real stories from prison inmates, their free-world pen pals, family, and friends.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
28 October 2025, 3:08 am - 36 minutes 6 secondsEp. 96: History of the Fernald State School (1950-2014)
This week's episode examines the final decades of the Fernald State School. Find out about the pivotal moment in Ward 22 that forever changed the school. Learn about the fate of the Science Club members. And discover how the "research" of the past was unearthed.
Main sources for this episode include the annual reports from the Fernald School, as well as the book The State Boys Rebellion by Michael D'Antonio. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.
Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspod
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
Prison Pen Pal Podcast
Hear real stories from prison inmates, their free-world pen pals, family, and friends.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
29 September 2025, 2:38 am - 33 minutes 59 secondsEp. 95: History of the Fernald State School (1912-1949)
This week's episode discusses the years that Dr. Fernald, Dr. Greene, and Dr. Farrell were superintendents at the school. Learn about the legacy of one of the superintendents and how he single-handedly influenced New York and Massachusetts law. Learn about one boy who entered the Fernald State School at age 8 and who quickly became part of a group called "The Science Club."
Trigger warnings for this episode include the use of outdated and ableist language, abuse toward children and dependent adults, and mention of eugenics.
My primary sources for this episode include the annual reports from the Fernald State School website and the book The State Boys Rebellion by Michael D'Antonio. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.
Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspod
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
Prison Pen Pal Podcast
Hear real stories from prison inmates, their free-world pen pals, family, and friends.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
2 September 2025, 2:27 am - 36 minutes 22 secondsEp. 94: History of the Fernald State School (1889-1912)
This week we discuss the first two decades of Dr. Walter E. Fernald's tenure at the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded. Find out how he was able to expand the school in order to quickly grow to over 1,000 residents! Learn about Dr. Fernald's role in the eugenics movement of the early 20th century and what scholars were trying to legalize in the state of Massachusetts.
My primary sources are the annual reports from the Fernald State School website. All other sources are listed at the end of the episode transcript.
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
Follow on Instagram: @behindthewallspod
Prison Pen Pal Podcast
Hear real stories from prison inmates, their free-world pen pals, family, and friends.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
11 August 2025, 3:05 am - 31 minutes 34 secondsEp. 93: History of the Fernald State School (1852-1888)
This week we discuss the many changes in the Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Youth, which included a name change, three locations, and three different superintendents. Find out what an average day looked like at the school, what the guidelines were for teaching children with developmental disabilities, and why they kept moving the school to new locations.
The primary sources for this episode are the annual reports available on the Fernald State School website.
Be sure to follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspod
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Prison Pen Pal Podcast
Hear real stories from prison inmates, their free-world pen pals, family, and friends.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
28 July 2025, 2:54 am - 37 minutes 54 secondsEp. 92: History of the Fernald State School, Part 1 (1845-1852)
This week we look at the early beginnings of what would become the Fernald State School in Massachusetts. At its outset, it was known as the Experimental School for Teaching and Training Idiotic Children. Find out how developmental disorders were classified back in the mid-19th century and what the school hoped to teach their students.
Trigger warning for outdated and ableist language, strong overtones of discrimination and dehumanization, and abuse toward children.
My main sources for this episode include the annual reports from the Fernald State School archives and the Wikipedia page on the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center.
Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspod
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Prison Pen Pal Podcast
Hear real stories from prison inmates, their free-world pen pals, family, and friends.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
14 July 2025, 1:32 am - 28 minutes 14 secondsEp. 91: History of Spinalonga Leper Colony
This week we reminisce about Sarah's recent trip to Crete and her visit to the Spinalonga Leper Colony. Learn about the three different "eras" the island experienced as a Venetian stronghold, Ottoman outpost, and leper colony. Discover more about leprosy, also known as Hansen's Disease, and the stigma surrounding it that persisted for centuries.
Sources used in this episode include the Spinalonga website and Wikipedia articles on Spinalonga and leprosy.
Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspod
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
Prison Pen Pal Podcast
Hear real stories from prison inmates, their free-world pen pals, family, and friends.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
30 June 2025, 2:37 am - 15 minutes 31 secondsEp. 90: Legends and Lore of Camarillo State Hospital
This week we look at some of the paranormal activity and stories that have come from Camarillo State Hospital. Find out about the woman in white, the creepy goings-on in the former children's building, and the Scary Dairy. If YOU have a scary story from Camarillo State Hospital, please let me know!
Follow the show on Instagram: @behindthewallspod
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
26 May 2025, 11:25 pm - 24 minutes 37 secondsEp. 89: History of Camarillo State Hospital Children and Adolescent Programs
In this week's episode, we discuss the history of the children and adolescent programs at Camarillo State Hospital. Find out where children lived when they were first introduced to the hospital and how long it took them to get their own separate program. Learn what types of units made up the Adolescent Treatment Program and what services were offered to them.
My primary source is the Images of America book on Camarillo State Hospital by Evelyn S. Taylor and Mary E. Holt. Other sources include documents from the California State University digital archives.
Follow the show on Instagram @behindthewallspod and on Facebook.
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
Prison Pen Pal Podcast
Hear real stories from prison inmates, their free-world pen pals, family, and friends.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
12 May 2025, 3:10 am - 29 minutes 53 secondsEp. 88: Camarillo State Hospital, Part 2 (1958-1997)
This week's episode explores the final decades of operation at Camarillo State Hospital. Learn about the introduction of the Developmental Center that separated patients with mental illness and those with developmental disorders. Find out how one patient attempted to escape from the hospital before being stopped. And discover when and why the hospital finally came to a close.
My main source for this episode is the Images of America book on Camarillo State Hospital by Evelyn S. Taylor and Mary E. Holt. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript.
Follow the show on Instagram (@behindthewallspod) and on Facebook.
Support the show on Beacons: https://beacons.ai/behindthewallspodcast
Support the show on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/behindthewallspodcast
Prison Pen Pal Podcast
Hear real stories from prison inmates, their free-world pen pals, family, and friends.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
5 May 2025, 3:02 am - More Episodes? Get the App