Midnight Facts for Insomniacs

BEGONE, FOUL DEMON!! NO LONGER SHALL YOU BEDEVIL THE INSOMNIACS OF THE MIDNIGHT MASSES (Apologies for the caps lock, but Satan doesn't respect lowercase.) What's the difference between a demonic vexation, an infestation, and an oppression? How many demons do you have to host to become Legion? And is the Pope really on Twitter? Join the boys for a deep-dive into hellfire and brimstone in this exami...

Despite what the American Supreme Court would have you believe, corporations aren't actually people, but it turns out that companies can be just as stupid and irrational as any individual human. And when large corporations make mistakes, the consequences can range from hilarious to horrifying.  From colorful beads that roofied kids to airbags that went boomsplode, these are the most notorious prod...

From Australia's anti-bunny legislation to Caribbean profanity bans, from lonely Swiss Guinea Pigs to the protected Royal Fish of Britain, Shane and Duncan explore some of the world's strangest laws. ~ Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content. ~ Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via...

It makes perfect sense that a comedy podcast would cover this week’s topic, because prohibition was a joke. If you’re not familiar with the story behind the bootlegging, moon shining, home-brewing chaos of 1920s America, you’ll want to listen to this week’s episode and learn all about the giant clusterf*** that was the 18th Amendment.    ~ Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supportin...

Like it or not, the earth has an expiration date. Billions of years from now the sun will expand and swallow the planets of our solar system...but there’s no guarantee humanity will even make it that far.     So what are the most likely end-time scenarios? Will the end of civilization  come at our own hands via nuclear conflict or rogue Artificial Intelligence? Or will nature take us out via plagu...

Humans like to believe that we're the pinnacle of evolution, but are we truly logical, rational creatures? If so, why do we self-sabotage? Why do we cling to irrational beliefs even when they make our lives difficult? Do we control our own motivations and behaviors, or are we under the influence of psychological phenomena that most of us barely understand?    Brains are weird. Here's proof.   ~ Be...

By popular demand via the MFFI Discord, Shane and Duncan swap roles for a special episode recorded on April Fools Day! Follow along in this Scottish-themed extravaganza as Duncan demolishes the beloved historical farce that was Braveheart, and answers questions that no one ever cared to ask, like, "Have there been any tandem Scottish serial killers?" and "Where is the world's largest hedge?" (Hint...

What's the most effective weight loss plan? Do any of the trending "diet tips" on the Internet actually work? Why does the keto diet make your breath smell like death?  Join the guys for an exploration of the wild history of nutrition science through the ages, and learn which (if any) fad-diets are legit.    In this episode: The shifting, shifty food pyramid Fletcherism The cigarette diet The Hay...

We humans are suckers for the latest crazes and fads, but it's easy to forget that today's TikTok dance will be tomorrow's Macarena. Today's iPhone will be tomorrow's Blackberry. Today's skinny jeans will be tomorrow's skinny jeans. You get the idea.    Join the guys for a rollicking trip through the fad-tastic misfires of yesteryear, from carob to merkins.    In this episode: Water Beds Carob Mer...

Not all heroes are created equal. Join the boys for adventures in mediocrity as they explore the least "super" heroes from comic book lore.    In this episode: The Silliest: Big Bertha Leather Boy Squirrel Girl and Monkey Joe Arm Fall Off Boy Fortress Lad Mnemonic Kid Color Kid Cypher (Doug Ramsey) The Red Bee (Rick Raleigh) NFL Superpro (Phil Grayfield) The Black Condor (Richard Grey Junior) Vibe...

A peanut isn't a nut, a king crab isn't a crab, a koala isn't a bear, and the funny bone isn't a bone. Listen to this week's episode to find out all of the ways in which your entire life is a lie.  In this episode: Funny Bone King Crab and Horseshoe Crab Jellyfish and Starfish Koala Bears Dry Cleaning Coconut and Peanut Horned Toad Head Cheese Guinea Pig Pencil Lead Tinfoil Glow Worms and Fireflie...

Exploring new locations can be fun, but there’s a fine line between “adventure” and “ordeal.” Join the the MFFI boys for a whirlwind tour of four deadly destinations that you won’t find on Trip Adviser. From flaming desert-craters to islands packed with vipers, from zombie-bacteria-caves to cannibal jungles, there’s a little something (awful) in this episode for everyone. These are the kinds of to...

Full disclosure: no one suggested this week’s topic. Why would they? Only an idiot would attempt to make an interesting podcast episode out of the history and specifics of taxation.  Shane is that idiot.  He’s also a giant nerd, and believes that global finances can be fascinating. Duncan is skeptical. Can Shane make taxes interesting? Listen to find out... In this episode: Egyptian Shat  Sin Taxe...

TW: This episode is not for the faint of heart. Seriously, like, for reals. If you don't have a VERY dark sense of humor, feel free to skip this one. No judgment.    MFFI true-crime crossover, part 2! Edmund Kemper III was a stone-cold psychopath, and the primary inspiration for the movie-villain Hannibal Lecter. An incestuous, sadistic, necrophiliac cannibal who murdered his grandparents and his...

Finally, an MFFI true-crime crossover! In the 1970s, a small California surf town earned the nickname “Murdersville USA.” As bodies piled up with no explanation or apparent connection, the Santa Cruz Police Department became increasingly desperate. Gun sales shot through the roof, and the entire beachfront community devolved into panic. It would take years for law enforcement to unravel the convol...

We like to think we’re in the golden age of medicine, but the truth is that the healthcare industry is still rife with misinformation and hucksterism. Tune in this week for some eye-rolling examples of modern snake oil, and then check out episode 15 for an overview of notorious historical quackery.  In this episode:  K Tape Supplements Essential Oils and Aromatherapy The Secret Penile Extenders  W...

Way back in episode 2 ("Heists"), Shane and Duncan learned all about the most notorious criminal masterminds in history. In this episode, they meet the B Team. Join the boys for a glorious celebration of schadenfreude, and delight in the misadventures of inept, bumbling criminal wannabes.    In this episode: Adventures with Flakka (Patrick Rempe) Facebook dummy #1 (John Mogan II) Penguin heist (Rh...

This episode was a doozy. It turns out there's a ton of hard science behind memes, plus bucketloads of history, and this week's MFFI is packed. In this episode: Richard Dawkins and The Selfish Gene Mimeme/Mimema/Mossy Bugs Chad, M*A*S*H, and "Kilroy was here" Frodo Lives! Andre the Giant has a posse Mike Godwin The first digital meme: The emoticon, by Scott E Fahlman Godwin's Law  Michael Girard a...

QAnon is straight-up bonkers. How bonkers? I'm glad you asked. Join the boys for an episode that goes way, WAY down the rabbit hole.    In this episode: Q Clearance 4Chan 8Chan 8Kun Tripcodes The Cabal Satanic pedophile hollywood elites The Deep State The Great Awakening The Storm Adrenochrome  Jim Watson is Q (or at least Q adjacent) Terminology WWG1WGA Alice in Wonderland ARM Do your research ~...

The third installment in the MFFI "scandals" series focuses on infamous TV shenanigans. Small screen, big drama.  In this episode: Adam Richman: Thinspiration Paula Deen: Tasty racism Charlie Sheen: Tiger blood Shannen Doherty: High maintenance Isaiah Washington: Hate crimes and misdemeanors Kevin Spacey: Unusual suspect Matt Lauer: Trap doors  All of Fox David Letterman: Don't negotiate with terr...

They may not be true, but they're creepy as hell.   In this episode: The Hook Murderer in the Backseat Ghost Hitchhiker  Green Man Slender Man  Bloody Mary Kidney Theft  LSD Tattoos ~ Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content. ~ Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ Send Sha...

The ability to sue your fellow citizens is a cornerstone of civilized society, and our legal system has often functioned as the last resort for the most vulnerable members of this nation. To put it simply: suing the hell out of each other is a sacred American tradition.    But some lawsuits are just effing dumb. These are those lawsuits.    In this episode: Shayn Proler vs. Fire Jimmie Dimmick vs....

You downloaded, we listened. In part 2 of one of the most popular MFFI episodes, Shane and Duncan reveal the meaning and origin behind more of the most-requested common sayings and idioms.  In this episode: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth Fall off the wagon Long in the tooth Cold shoulder Face the music Close, but no cigar Welcome wagon Get out of Dodge At the drop of a hat Salt of the earth ...

Back by popular demand! More cryptids, weirder cryptids, and cryptids with funnier names. For the second installment in the cryptids series, the focus is North America (US and Canada). Enjoy! ~ Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content. ~ Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD...

What's the difference between an MRA and a MGTOW? Should you even care? Probably not, but we'll tell you anyway. Join the guys for a weird and occasionally uncomfortable journey through the confused, incestuous network of online communities collectively known as the manosphere.  *TW: There is discussion of sensitive topics in this episode, including brief references to sexual assault.* In this epi...