Gilded Trash

Send us Fan Mail Is it propaganda, or just capitalism being lazy? Crystal and Scott dig into the PR playbook that's been shaping what you eat, buy, believe, and salute for over a century.  We start with Edward Bern's, freud's nephew and the father of modern PR, and his greatest hits: Torches of Freedom, bacon and eggs, and a few darker campaigns.  Then we hit lobster-fed pigs, Liste...

Send us Fan Mail Halloween night is supposed to be fun until you hear someone describe the exact sound of boots crossing a kitchen floor, feel the bed dip like a person just sat down, and realize you can’t move. We kick off this bonus mini-episode by swapping two scary stories, starting with a first-person encounter in 1990s Waynesboro, Pennsylvania: a young mom alone with her toddlers encounters...

Send us Fan Mail We bounce from festival weekends and a Pittsburgh concert high into a surprisingly deep dive on why humans cling to superstitions. We trace everyday habits like knocking on wood, fearing black cats, spilling salt, and saying bless you back through ancient history, culture clashes, and the psychology of perceived causality.  • renumbering the show and leaning into lucky numbers  •...

Send us Fan Mail We catch up on Johnstown life, from the revamped downtown park and sweet treats to fall events, karaoke, and a packed Slavic Festival full of real-deal Eastern European food.  Then we go deep on AI, simulation theory, and our “Reed Recursion” strange loop idea about humans creating intelligence that might try to recreate us.  • reacting to the redesigned downtown park and how peop...

Send us Fan Mail We start with a local “blessing box” food program that looks a lot more like a hustle once you follow the money, the marketing, and the “donation” language. Then we spiral outward into AI fears, parenting independence, and why modern life feels more dangerous even when the numbers often say otherwise.  • a Derry-area food box controversy and why “minimum donation” language matters...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Mask Reviews to talk about how a masked food reviewer can push real support toward family-owned restaurants in Johnstown. Along the way, we get into content strategy, small-town culture, and why community solutions matter more than corporate convenience. • how Mask Reviews starts and why the character works • creating immersive food experiences and making life mor...

Send us Fan Mail We jump from viral internet chaos to true crime and paranormal lore, then keep circling back to the same uncomfortable truth: mental health is messy, personal, and easy for society to mishandle. We debate obsession, boundaries, meds, masking, and accountability, while still making room for ghosts, Skinwalker Ranch, and the fear of something touching your feet in the dark.  • corre...

Send us Fan Mail We take a step back and answer the questions people keep asking about what Gilded Trash is, how we pick topics, and why our “trashy with a touch of class” motto is really about how you treat people. Then we jump from human behavior and outrage culture into paranormal takes, comedy life, TikTok rabbit holes, and a rapid-fire round that gets brutally honest.  • defining what “Gilded...

Send us Fan Mail We bounce from comfort TV and celebrity chatter into the harder question of how anyone stays sane in a world built on sound bites, spin, and endless “truth” fragments. We argue our way through policy, platforms, and the Mandela effect, then land on a simple filter that saves us every time: trust and verify. • Seinfeld vs Curb as a lesson in polish, tone, and why characters feel “r...

Send us Fan Mail We start with summer life and comedy updates, then zoom out into why celebrity breakups hijack our feeds and our emotions. We connect the Jelly Roll and Bunny XO news cycle to parasocial relationships, social media perception, and what actually keeps a marriage steady through messy seasons.  • July comedy plans, competitions, and what we have been fixing at home  • Why the Jelly R...

Send us Fan Mail We connect everyday life with bigger patterns, from raising a baby and watching a new wave of families form to asking why human behavior repeats no matter what era we live in. Then we pivot into con artists and serial liars, including how social media turns sympathy farming into a lifestyle and how online bullshit can spill into real courtrooms.  • life with a curious kid and noti...

Send us Fan Mail Our lives flip upside down in the best way as we adjust to having a new little one at home, and we talk through what it feels like to raise a kid again at this stage. We recap a Pigeon Forge trip that suddenly turns family-friendly, then spiral into true crime, alien disclosures, AI weirdness, and the nostalgia that comes with wanting to share our world with him.  • the shock of a...

Send us Fan Mail We hang out with local legend Frank George and trade stories about comedy, Johnstown pride, and the old rules that shaped a tight community. The laughs are loud, but the real point is serious: either build a better hometown or stop waiting for it to change on its own. • road comedy, open mics, and staying sharp outside the city • remembering Donovan and what community looks like i...

Send us Fan Mail We chase a wild karaoke announcement with real cash prizes, then zoom out into why music feels like a real language that crosses politics, grief, and even literal language barriers. We trade stories about radio, MTV, playlists, documentaries, and the songs that carried us through the hardest and best parts of life.  • Karaoke judging at Harrigan’s in downtown Johnstown with DJ Hei...

Send us Fan Mail We come back for Season 3 with a real reset: Crystal reclaims her name, we ditch video, and we build a setup that lets us record anywhere without the extra noise. A highway billboard pulls us into a Pennsylvania true crime case where the “facts” change depending on who’s framing them, and we end by reminding you to question every neat narrative.  • Crystal dropping the stage name...

Send us Fan Mail We trace a ghost word from Roanoke through writers and outlaws, dig into why raccoons are evolving alongside our cities, and then confront how predators exploit kids on major platforms while companies look away. Gratitude, humor, and music breaks give way to a direct call for vigilance and action. • Croatoan’s trail across Roanoke, Bierce, Poe, Black Bart, and Amelia Earhart • pla...

Send us Fan Mail We chase comfort food into kitchen science, then tackle hard questions about faith, intent, and the ethics of altar calls, before detouring into Bigfoot, word nerd delights, and a stack of live show plugs. Warm, curious, and a little feral, we cook, question, and invite you to the table. • new recording space energy and a run of fall cravings • beans vs no-beans chili and texture...

Send us Fan Mail We chase the spirit of Halloween through music lore, debunk candy myths with logic, and share how we built a living room comedy club that actually works. Community plans, kitchen wins, and a bold pitch for a boutique funeral parlor bring humor and heart together. • Misfits lore, Samhain explained, 90s rumor nostalgia • What defines a true Halloween movie, not just horror • SNL ske...

Send us Fan Mail We trade Halloween vibes, Exorcist III lore, and a Bloody Mary quest for a warm tour through food, comedy, and building a home event space, then close with love for John Candy and a firm stand against victim-blaming in the Matthew McDonald case. Small wins, big rants, and a community that shows up for jokes, pizza, and each other. • Haunting new intro and making the theme song per...

Send us Fan Mail We swap home upgrades and oven joy for a surreal detour into “TikTok court,” then reset with comedy wins, karaoke chaos, and a serious pivot to free speech, faith, and a local missing person case. The goal: laugh honestly, speak freely, and help find Matthew McDonald. • house makeover and event space progress • eight months without an oven, pizza party plans • fried chicken detour...

Send us Fan Mail We commemorate the 15th anniversary of Anthony Ray Barlup II's passing by exploring the supernatural connections that followed his death. • Anthony was a wild, adventurous teenager who loved ghost hunting with his family • The complicated family dynamics that shaped Anthony's childhood and teenage years • How taking mushrooms helped Alanna and Scott process their grief a...

Send us Fan Mail We celebrate our one-year podcast anniversary by reflecting on the cryptid-hunting adventures that have shaped our journey from Squonkapalooza to exploring the mysterious Chestnut Ridge of Pennsylvania. • Exploring cryptid conventions and paranormal hotspots across Pennsylvania • Discovering local legends like Becky's Grave and tracking down the history behind the myths • Fin...

Send us Fan Mail We take you on our UFO adventure to Pennsylvania's Roswell – the Kecksburg UFO Festival where we meet renowned paranormal researchers and dive deep into cryptid culture. • Celebrating Alanna's 50th birthday week with unforgettable adventures • South Mountain Hotel remains our favorite place with great staff, food, and atmosphere • Exploring the Kecksburg UFO Festival, si...

Send us Fan Mail We explore political cults, internet drama, and summer beach debates while diving deep into the paranormal hotspots of Pennsylvania. • Jeffrey Epstein's list becoming a political football and why people shouldn't have based their vote on expecting its release • The viral TikTok drama of a woman bringing antipasto salad to a gathering where she wasn't directly invite...

Send us Fan Mail Scott and Alanna return after a two-month hiatus to share the dramatic life events that derailed their planned move to Nashville, including the shocking discovery of Alanna’s three-month-old grandson born to her estranged daughter. • Reflecting on their comedy shows at the Masonic Temple, in Altoona and venues in Waynesboro • Navigating the Maryland child welfare system as grandpa...