Phineas Gage: The Man Who Survived a Railroad Spike Through His Brain

Kat Has Questions: True Crime and Unsolved Mysteries · Nov 19, 2025 · 9m

In 1848, railroad foreman Phineas Gage survived one of the most unbelievable accidents in medical history — a three-foot iron rod blasted straight through his skull and out the top of his head. Against every odd, he lived.

But survival was only the beginning.

Friends said Gage changed after the accident — his personality, his behavior, even the way he interacted with the world around him. Was this a medical miracle, a tragedy, or the moment neuroscience truly began?

In this episode, Kat explores the real story behind Phineas Gage, what actually happened that day, and the decades of science…