May 8 2021

Selects: How Snake Handlers Work

Selects 55 min 9 movies discussed
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Snake handling ranges from professional snake milkers for antivenin to religious handlers who tend to get bitten and sometimes die from it. Either way, it can be a dangerous business. Learn all about snake handling in this classic episode.

AI Summary

# How Snake Handlers Work

This SYSK episode explores the fascinating world of snake handling in all its forms, from professional herpetologists and snake milkers who extract valuable venom, to rescue workers who safely remove snakes from people's homes. But the real focus is on the religious practice of holiness serpent handling in Appalachia, where believers handle venomous snakes as an act of faith, convinced they're protected by the Holy Spirit when commanded by God to do so. The hosts dig into why these handlers surprisingly survive more often than you'd expect, the mistreatment of the snakes involved, and the remarkable story of Bill Haast, a self-taught snake expert who spent decades experimenting with venom on himself.


Movies Discussed

Atlanta
Atlanta
2016 TV-MA
★ 8.0
"From Atlanta to only murders in the building, it's all on Hulu. — Referenced in the Hulu advertisement promoting shows available on the streaming service."
Billy on the Street
Billy on the Street
2011 TV-14
★ 6.4
"it's time for oh, you know what it's time for? Facebook questions. All right, so what we do here is when listener males have dried up a little bit, we put it out to the people on Facebook to send in questions, and we'll answer over the next two episodes, as many as we can that aren't dumb. It's sort of a rapid fire thing starting no, I'm like Billy on the street. — Josh compares the rapid-fire format of answering Facebook questions to the comedy show Billy on the Street." — Josh
First Blood
First Blood
1982 1h 33m
★ 7.5
"John Rambo. In the very beginning of First Blood when he drives them across the bridge. — Josh explains he would replace John Rambo and handle the situation differently by not going back into town." — Josh
Jackass
Jackass
2000
★ 6.6
"I saw the Jackass bit the other day, again, where Johnny Knoxville and the gang get in there, and this thing bites. — Chuck describes a memorable scene involving Johnny Knoxville in a pit with an anaconda or python that bites him repeatedly." — Chuck
Jackass Number Two
Jackass Number Two
2006 R 1h 33m
★ 6.6
"I think it might have been in the sequel, where python or anaconda and one of those pits of little red balls. — Chuck mentions possibly seeing the snake scene in a Jackass sequel." — Chuck
Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building
2021 TV-MA
★ 8.4
"only murders in the building — Referenced in the Hulu advertisement as an example of shows available on the streaming platform."
Snake Salvation
Snake Salvation
2013
"There was that TV show which really you're clearly not media shy if you're doing a reality show. No, it was called Snake Salvation and sorry, not 2014, but 2013. It was on Nat Geo. — Chuck describes a reality TV show on National Geographic about religious snake handlers that featured Pastor Jamie Coots." — Chuck
The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale
2017 TV-MA
★ 8.2
"blessed be the fruit — Referenced in a Hulu advertisement opening the episode as an example of immersive entertainment available on the platform."
The Shining
The Shining
1980 2h 24m
★ 8.2
"For The Shining. Wink emoticon. — Greg Stork mentions it as the movie/character he would replace himself in if he had the choice."

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