Buzzed and Baffled

Episode 52, and we’re headed to Wisconsin—because nothing says “things are going great” quite like a rogue wallaby on the loose. Yes, today we’re talking about Chesney the Wallaby, a marsupial who woke up one day and said, “actually… I’m done with captivity” and just ✨left✨. Now, before you think this is just a quirky animal story, let’s be clear—this is a personality type. Because Chesney’s ene...

Episode 51 dives into one of the strangest, most chaotic real-life investigations you’ve probably never heard of—featuring Sam Lipman-Stern and Pat Pespas. What started as two coworkers at a sketchy telemarketing company turned into a decades-long mission to expose a massive scam hiding in plain sight. Working out of a call center packed with ex-cons, addicts, and absolute mayhem, they realized th...

Episode 50—can you believe we made it this far without completely getting canceled? Today, Nicole takes the wheel and oh… she chose chaos. We’re diving into the wild and deeply unsettling story of Samantha Azzopardi—a case that is equal parts confusing, tragic, and “wait… what is actually happening?” And Kyla? You can relax. For once, this is not your fault. Nicole is officially coming for your cr...

Episode 49 and—everyone stay calm—Kyla has officially done it: she’s picked a story that is not about eugenics. We didn’t think we’d see the day, but personal growth is real, and we’re proud… and also a little suspicious. This week, we’re heading to Wisconsin to talk about the mysterious and unsettling death of funeral director Dan O’Connell—a case that is equal parts bizarre, tragic, and deeply u...

Welcome back to Episode 48—where chaos has a name, and apparently, it’s Ken. Today, we’re diving into the legendary story of Ken Allen—the world’s most charming escape artist, a primate with a knack for breaking out and absolutely refusing to be contained (emotionally or physically). But that’s not the only Ken in today’s episode… because Nicole also has a dad named Ken, and while we can’t confirm...

Welcome back! In Episode 47 we’re heading to Battle Creek, Michigan—where breakfast was never just the most important meal of the day… it was a full-blown family feud. Today we’re diving into the dramatic, petty, and surprisingly weird rivalry between brothers John Harvey Kellogg and Will Keith Kellogg. What started as a shared mission for health, wellness, and a little thing called corn flakes qu...

In Episode 46 on Buzzed & Baffled, Nicole and Kyla pour a glass and dive into a story that’s as unsettling as it is unbelievable. For decades, one man drifted from city to city, leaving behind a trail of mysteries that went unnoticed for far too long. It’s a case that stretches across the country, spans years, and raises a lot of uncomfortable questions about how someone could hide in plain si...

Today we’re heading to Northern California to talk about a place that was built with big promises, serious intentions, and a legacy that still lingers—Sonoma Developmental Center. At first glance, it looks like a quiet, almost picturesque campus tucked into wine country. But behind the manicured grounds and official mission statements is a complicated story shaped by its era, its ideals, and the p...

Episode 44 was almost a logistical nightmare. Delayed plans, travel drama, and at least one moment where Kyla and Nicole seriously questioned all their life choices. But Napa? Napa still delivered. After fighting their way there, the girls landed at Castello di Amorosa, where the vibes were immaculate, the wine was flowing, and suddenly everything was right with the world. This episode is proof th...

Episode 43 was a little bit of a disaster but we got our shit together. Episode 43 takes us to California, where optimism, ambition, and a whole lot of confidence collide with catastrophic reality. This week, we’re talking about the St. Francis Dam—a structure built to secure the future and instead unleashed one of the deadliest man-made disasters in U.S. history. We’ve got rushed decisions, ignor...

Welcome back to Buzzed & Baffled, where the wine is vintage and the facts are… surprisingly bird-heavy. This week, Episode 42 is for Nicole, because we’re talking about her favorite avian icon: crows. We’re sipping on a 2009 vintage—aged, mysterious, and a little unhinged—while diving into the incredible story of Canuck the crow, a bird so smart, chaotic, and iconic he honestly feels fake (but...

This week on Buzzed & Baffled, we’re diving headfirst into a time when childhood meant less playground and more peril. We’re talking chimney sweeps crawling through soot-filled death traps, the Abernathy brothers setting off on a “boys will be boys” adventure that absolutely should not have happened, and—Kyla’s favorite topic—good old-fashioned child labor. It’s grit, it’s grime, it’s wildly u...

Fasten your seatbelts, because Episode 40 takes a sharp turn into true-crime turbulence. On Buzzed & Baffled, we’re pouring a glass and diving into the history of flight attendants — the glam, the grit, and the rules that were downright unhinged — before circling around one of the most infamous aviation-adjacent cases: the murder of Helle Crafts. No details ruined, just enough intrigue to make...

This week on Buzzed & Baffled, we’re talking about a story that sounds like it cannot be real—and yet somehow is. It’s got small-town vibes, trusted adults, crossed boundaries, and enough red flags to stock a Home Depot. We’re diving into the case of Jan Broberg: a story that forces you to sit with some deeply uncomfortable questions about trust, manipulation, and how adults can fail kids in w...

Welcome back to Buzzed & Baffled, where the wine is flowing, the snacks are questionable, and the stories are… deeply unsettling. 🍷🔥 This week, we’re cracking open a bottle, nuking a couple of Hot Pockets, and tiptoeing into a case that proves nature is not always your friend. Episode 38 dives into the twisted world of Matthew Hoffman—a story that seems quiet on the surface, almost outdoorsy...

What could possibly go wrong with a medical device designed to sit inside the human body for years? As it turns out… a lot. Today’s episode unpacks the history of IUDs and the infamous Dalkon Shield—a device once marketed as revolutionary and later recognized as one of the most dangerous medical failures in reproductive healthcare. Buckle up, because this one is as baffling as it is important.

Welcome back to Buzzed & Baffled. Tonight, we’re pairing a glass of wine with a name synonymous with power, privilege, and prestige: Clark Rockefeller. But as the wine opens up, so does a story filled with secrets, control, and a reality far more unsettling than appearances suggest. Trust us—you’re going to want a full pour for this one.

Welcome back to Buzzed & Baffled. If you thought Part 1 was bleak, buckle up—because now we’re officially in the “from bad to historically horrific” portion of the Donner Party story. In Part 2, we’re picking up in Truckee Lake, where winter has fully locked in, food is disappearing fast, and hope is being rationed even more carefully than supplies. From desperate decisions and impossible choi...

Today, we’re diving into the harrowing tale of the Donner Party as they ventured into the treacherous Sierra Nevada mountains and reached Truckee Lake, a pivotal moment in their tragic journey. We'll explore the challenges they faced, the decisions that led them to this crucial stop, and the lessons learned from their experiences. But that's not all! We'll also uncork a fascinating discussion on h...

Pour yourself a generous glass and settle in, because this episode uncorks one of the strangest, most unsettling family sagas to ever drift out of the California foothills. The Hammer family’s story is part true crime, part tragic legacy, and part “wait… what?”—the kind of tale that leaves you swirling your wine just to buy your brain a moment to catch up. We’ll wander through generations of secre...

Grab a glass and settle in as we uncork one of the most unbelievable true-crime stories in American history. In this episode, we dive into the 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping—when a school bus full of children vanished, triggering a nationwide panic and a rescue story that’s stranger than fiction. We break down the chilling plan, the improbable escape, and how a small town was forever changed. Pour you...

This week on Buzzed & Baffled, we uncork a glass and dive into the wild world of two internet legends: Cinnamon the capybara, the chill queen of snack-sharing, and Freya the walrus, the beloved boat-sinking icon who stole hearts across the globe. Join us as we pair their larger-than-life stories with the perfect pour, exploring viral fame, animal antics, and the surprisingly human emotions beh...

They called her Diamond Doris Payne — the woman who could walk into Cartier, smile at the salesman, and walk out with a diamond worth more than most people’s homes. No guns. No disguises. Just elegance, confidence… and impeccable taste. Tonight, we’re pouring a glass of something rich and complex — much like Doris herself. Maybe a deep red with notes of danger, or a sparkling white with a hint of...

Welcome back to Buzzed and Baffled — the podcast where a little wine helps us dive into history’s mysteries and tragedies. Tonight, we’re heading into stormy waters, back to November 1975, when the mighty freighter Edmund Fitzgerald vanished beneath the waves of Lake Superior. Was it the weather, the ship’s design, or something more? Grab your glass, steady your sea legs, and join us as we sail th...

What happens when a small Wisconsin town with way too many ghost stories crosses paths with one of New York’s most creative—and chaotic—art schools? You get “Second Salam.” Whitewater, Wisconsin has been called the second Salem—witch legends, haunted cemeteries, and a university that swears it’s not cursed. Meanwhile, over at Pratt Institute, students have been seeing things that make artistic ins...