Hyperfixation Time

Last week, Danny took us down a rabbit hole with Tarot and Oracle cards. While Erin was showing her Tarot deck, she pulled a few cards just to show the artwork on it, however, after review, we think those random cards were trying to tell us something! We have been reevaluating things with the pod lately... it's been over a year now, and we want your feedback! What do you like? What do you not...

Ep. 39 - Tarot cards: mystical fortune-telling tool, portal to the unknown… or a centuries-old card game that got a *very* interesting rebrand? This week, Danny deals us into the history of tarot. We’re talking about where the cards actually came from, how they became associated with divination, some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding them, and what a tarot reading is really supposed to do....

Ep. 38 - Lizzie Borden took an axe… or did she? 🪓 This week, Erin takes Danny back to Fall River, Massachusetts in 1892 to dig into one of America’s most infamous unsolved murder cases. We’re going beyond the creepy nursery rhyme to look at who Lizzie Borden actually was, what happened inside the Borden house on August 4, the strange details surrounding the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, and...

Ep . 37 - You’ve probably walked past a Little Free Library without thinking much about it. A tiny house, some books, take one, leave one. Simple, right? Apparently there is SO MUCH more to them. This week, Danny takes Erin through the history of Little Free Libraries, how they became a worldwide phenomenon, what emotions they might bring someone, and some of the creative, weird, and wonderful ver...

Ep. 36 - Somewhere along the way, we were all convinced quicksand was going to be a legitimate problem in our adult lives. And yet… nothing. This week, Erin finally investigates the strangely dramatic world of quicksand. What actually is it? Where does it happen? Can it really swallow you whole? And most importantly, did movies and cartoons completely lie to us? We’re separating quicksand fact fro...

Ep. 35 - On this episode, Danny is taking us back to the summer of 2016, when parks were packed, PokéStops were sacred gathering places, and perfectly reasonable adults were wandering around outside trying to catch a digital Pidgey. With Pokémon GO recently celebrating its 10-year anniversary, we’re looking back at the game that became a full-blown cultural phenomenon almost overnight. Danny dives...

Ep. 34 - Why do we feel like a new year, a birthday, a move, or even a Monday gives us the chance to become a completely different person? This week on Hyperfixation Time , we're diving into the fascinating psychology behind fresh starts. We explore the Fresh Start Effect, why our brains love symbolic new beginnings, how temporal landmarks help us separate our past selves from our future selves, a...

Ep. 33 - What do you get when you mix puppets, catchy songs, body horror, and an alarming amount of psychological trauma? Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared , of course. This week, Danny introduces Erin to one of YouTube's most iconic and unsettling web series. Together they unravel the strange world of Red Guy, Yellow Guy, Duck, and the ever-growing list of questionable teachers who somehow mak...

Episode 32. You've heard people shouting "I've got a text!" and debating Casa Amor like it's a major world event, but what exactly is Love Island UK? In this episode of Hyperfixation Time! , we're diving headfirst into the sun-soaked, chaos-filled world of Love Island UK. Whether you've never watched a single episode or you've always wondered why millions of peopl...

Ep. 31 - This week on Hyperfixation Time, Danny takes us on a road trip through three roadside attractions that feel less like tourist destinations and more like someone’s beautifully unfiltered imagination escaped containment. From the sprawling industrial jungle gym of City Museum, to the towering handmade chaos of Bishop Castle, to the surreal, labyrinthine fever dream that is House on the Rock...

Ep. 30 - Spring means baby animals everywhere, but helping wildlife is a lot more complicated than most people think. In this episode of Hyperfixation Time, we break down what to do if you find baby birds, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, possums, fawns, and more. We cover common myths, when to intervene versus when to leave animals alone, and the basics of wildlife rehab from an everyday person’s pe...

Ep. 29 - They were only supposed to be gone for three days... It’s been decades. In this episode, Danny takes us into the wild, emotional, and occasionally bizarre story of the dogs of Chernobyl, from abandoned pets to fully adapted survivors. We’ll talk about how they’ve managed to live in the exclusion zone, the humans who still look after them, and the moment the internet collectively panicked...

Ep. 28 - Cadaver dogs might sound spooky at first, but there’s so much more than meets the nose. In this episode of Hyperfixation Time, Erin and Danny dig into the fascinating world of these highly trained pups. From the science behind their incredible sense of smell and the history of their training to surprising fun facts and real-life stories, we explore how cadaver dogs bring closure to famili...

Episode 27 - In this episode of Hyperfixation Time, Danny surprises Erin and brings in our friend Amy, who takes us on a deep dive into the rich, expressive world of American Sign Language (ASL). **Before we begin, we want to be clear: we are not Deaf or hard of hearing, and we’re not experts. This episode comes from a place of curiosity, respect, and a desire to learn, not to speak over the Deaf...

Episode 26: Ben Platt What does it take to become the voice of a generation — and then have everyone turn around and argue about it? This week, Erin's hyperfixation is Ben Platt: a kid who grew up performing, became a Broadway legend before 25, and made the world cry every single night as Evan Hansen. We're getting into his full history, his impact on musical theater, the controversies that follow...

Episode 25: The Lunar New Year and the Chinese Zodiac Per Danny's husband Dwight's request, we’re ringing in the Lunar New Year the Hyperfixation Time way. This week Danny looks into the traditions, myths, and how different countries celebrate the holiday. Think of this as your friendly deep dive into one of humanity’s oldest and most meaningful annual celebrations. Let us know what you learned or...

Episode 24 - Are Love Languages a breakthrough, or just astrology for people in relationships? This week on Hyperfixation Time, we dig into what this wildly popular framework gets right, what it oversimplifies, and how it shows up in our real lives. From acts of service to words of affirmation, we talk about how we try to love, how we want to be loved, and why those two things don’t always line up...

Episode 23 - This week, Danny takes us inside her favorite band, AJR. We dive into their history, their unmistakable sound, their ties to theater, and what makes them such ridiculously lovable human beings. From big feelings to bigger hooks, philanthropism to the importance of a trappers' hat, this episode is all about why AJR’s music hits so hard and sticks around in your brain. If you like pop s...

Episode 22: What if simply standing up felt like sprinting a mile? In this episode of our POTScast...(get it?), we have our first guest presenter! Erin invited her sister, Dr. Katie who is an expert in POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) to unpack a condition that turns everyday movements into full-body events. We explore what POTS actually is, how it affects the nervous system, why i...

Episode 21 - Yoga has traveled a long way. In this episode, Danny explores the roots of yoga, its spiritual foundations, and how it’s been reshaped in the modern world. We dive into breathwork, intention, accessibility, and the complicated space between tradition and commercialization, with honesty, curiosity, and zero pressure to touch your toes.**FOLLOW US! We will release a historical video of...

Episode 20 - Pop punk didn’t just soundtrack the 2000s, it rewired an entire generation. From Warped Tour parking lots to MySpace top eights, this era turned power chords, emotional chaos, and eyeliner into a cultural movement. Some of us may still be missing that era and continuing to try and bring out the 15 year old "goth" or "emo" side of them... (*spoiler - both Danny and Erin still are.) In...

Episode 19 - Welcome back to Hyperfixation Time - Episode 19! From ancient cities carved into stone to modern marvels that feel almost unreal, the New Seven Wonders of the World are proof that humans are pretty ambitious. Danny takes us on a whirlwind tour of these iconic landmarks and their history. **FOLLOW US! We will release a historical video of the two of us that will either be cute or reall...

Episode 18 - New Year’s isn’t just glitter and countdowns. Around the world, it’s also a night for strange visitors, ancient omens, and creatures said to slip through the cracks of the calendar. In this episode, we dive into the mythical beings tied to New Year traditions, where they came from, and why fresh beginnings so often come wrapped in fear. **Also we will release a historical video of the...

Episode 17 - Sorry all! Our video didn't work for this episode buttttttttt..... Not all holiday traditions are warm and fuzzy. Of course we had to do a spooky-yet-festive topic. In this episode, Danny teaches us about stepping into the dark folklore of Krampus , the horned figure who punishes instead of rewards. Rooted in Alpine legend and winter fear, Krampus blurs the line between moral lesson a...

Episode 16 - This week on Hyperfixation Time, we’re climbing into the treetops to meet the binturong, also known as the bearcat (and no, it’s neither). From its prehensile tail and slow, arboreal lifestyle to the baffling reason it smells like buttered popcorn, we break down what makes this elusive mammal so strange and fascinating. We also explore the folklore and cultural superstitions surroundi...