00:00 People really do run off to join the French Foreign Legion, as discussed in a podcast episode from March 7th, 2013.

03:15 The French Foreign Legion is a military group known for their toughness and continuous action, with over 7,000 legionnaires and a history of involvement in conflicts since 1830.

06:45 In 1830, King Louis Philippe created the French Foreign Legion as a way to deal with the threat posed by Parisian radicals and former soldiers who were attracted to France after the July Revolution.

10:29 In order to join the French Foreign Legion, recruits had to provide various documents and certificates, but the commandant had the discretion to accept or recruit someone even without all the required paperwork, leading to the practice of joining under an assumed name for the first year of service. This tradition, which allowed recruits to leave their old identities behind, was mandatory until 2010 but is now optional. The Legion offers a fresh start and a second chance for individuals, even those with minor criminal records, although they now have stricter criteria and do not accept murderers. Previously, only foreign nationals could join the Legion, but now French citizens can also enlist and gain citizenship after three years of service.

13:59 During the first year in the French Foreign Legion, recruits are restricted from having civilian bank accounts, getting married, wearing civilian clothes, buying a car, and traveling abroad, and they must wear their uniform at all times.

17:25 The Spanish foreign legion was formed in 1920 but is now called the Spanish legion and is made up of Spaniards, and some people suggest that America could try something similar with the influx of non-Americans in the country.

20:40 The episode concludes with a listener mail about autopsies and the extraction of vitreous fluid from the eyeballs using a needle, as well as the difference between cause and manner of death.

24:19 The hosts wrap up the episode by thanking a listener for writing in and providing information on how to contact them, and then there are several ads for other podcasts and products.