Professional Weirdo Podcast

In recent years scientists have been disappearing or dying. And it's not the first time in history that it's happened. Let's review what's happening.  This episodes songs are: What’s Happening? By the Byrds Dana Katherine Scully by Tacocat And Weird Science, by Oingo Boingo Sources: https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/21/us/deaths-disappearances-scientists-investigation https://www.new...

Listener discretion is advised for this episode. We'll be talking about three murders in Illinois that went unsolved for over 20 years.  Today’s songs are: The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin Until Then by Orcas Sources: https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/03/13/convicted-killer-indicted-in-womans-78-slaying/ https://www.chicag...

We're celebrating one year of the podcast by revisiting "What Little Girls Are Made Of" but unlike Episode 2, this time we'll talk about women who did big things, but without killing someone! Today’s songs are: Joyful Girl by Ani DiFranco The Waitress by Tori Amos You Don’t Own Me by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper (I mean, you knew thi...

I've been discovering some surprises during genealogy research, including the Picts of Scotland, a mysterious group of people in the early Middle Ages. Songs I recommend with today’s episode can be found on the Spotify playlist I made to accompany this podcast. For each episode I’ve done or will do, I’ve pulled together a few songs. The ones for this episode are: Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk...

I love Bigfoot. Let's talk about him. Let's talk LIKE him - WHOOP! Let's talk about him talking.  Songs for today’s episode: Bigfoot by Autumn Orange Woods by Bon Iver Bigfoot by Mt. Joy Somebody’s Watching Me performed by SaxSquatch - that’s right, a guy in a costume who plays saxophone.  Ratamahatta by Sepultura https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5jIkaamOZlCwtd2peUk9lF?si=0238d524a...

Sharing some weird info about holiday tradition and other cold weather trivia. Also, I botch some Icelandic words and we learn about the unfortunate fate of the Yule Goat.  Songs for this episode: Hazy Shade of Winter - the Bangles Two Weeks in December - Skullcrusher Candles - Daughter A Long December - the Counting Crows The Commander Thinks Aloud - The Long Winters Staralfur (the Staring Elf) -...

Continuing the theme of the Halloween episode, we'll be talking about strange things people have encountered while driving. Some stories verified, some not verified, but all weird.  Songs for this episode are: Lost Highway by NightCrawl Black Night by Cheryl Thompson A Tombstone Every Mile by Dick Curless Sources: https://www.kadn.com/news/only-on-news15/i-believe-that-it-was-god-that-had-me-...

Happy Halloween! We're celebrating with our spooky number 13. This one is all a personal story about a late night on a lonely highway. I hope it gives you a case of the skedaddles.  Songs for today's episode:  Seeing Things by the Black Crowes That’s the Way by Led Zeppelin Highway Star by Deep Purple Take a listen to all the songs I've put together to accompany each episode's...

Grab your broom and cauldron! We're talking about witches!  Songs for today’s episode: Season of the Witch by Donovan Growling Old Man and Cackling Old Woman / Pig Town Fling by Margaret MacArthur Witch by Belly Small Town Witch by Sneaker Pimps Burn by King Woman Sources: https://www.dictionary.com/e/witch-ingredients/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch...

Let's be tombstone tourists together, taking a look at some unusual graves around the world.  Songs I recommend with today’s episode. 6 Underground by Sneaker Pimps Funeral Singers by Sylvan Esso My Body’a a Zombie for You by Dead Man’s Bones Graveyard Blues by John Lee Hooker Sources: https://oldweirdscotland.com/cursed-stones-of-the-doune/ https://mymacabreroadtrip.com/the-cursed-grave-of-s...

In this episode we continue our look at cults. See, you listened to the first part and now you can't escape it.  This episode contains mention of abuse, murder, suicide, and the sexual abuse of minors. Discretion is advised. If you are ever struggling and need help is available by calling 988 in the U.S. or visit this site for resources around the world:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/ba...

I didn't know what I was getting into when I started this episode. And that's what a lot of people in these stories probably thought, because we're talking about cults. Join me, won't you? This episode contains mention of abuse, murder, suicide, and the sexual abuse of minors. Discretion is advised. If you are ever struggling and need help is available by calling 988 in the U.S...

Let's go exploring! I'll take you on a tour of some abandoned towns, where all residents have left, or entry is restricted.  Songs: Ghost Town by The Specials Cold Reactor by Everything Everything Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth by the Primitive Radio Gods The Pit by Mouse Rat Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Beach,_Missouri https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portlock,_Alask...

Dive into parasomnia and sleepwalking - and all the other things that can go wrong in our sleep. And listen to a few stories where "sleepwalking" led to murder. Allegedly. Supposedly. Brutally.  Songs:  I’m Not Falling Asleep by Andy Shauf Sleep to Dream by Fiona Apple Heavy Water/I’d Rather be Sleeping by Grouper, and  Wake Up by Arcade Fire Sources: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/361...

We're getting "far out" and talking about UFOs. What’s your theory? Weird weather phenomena? Experimental, top-secret military aircraft? Little green spacemen?  Songs I recommend with today’s episode can be found on the Spotify playlist: Outer Space by John Grant 3rd Planet by Modest Mouse Oh! You Pretty Things by David Bowie - because of course Bowie is gonna be recommended for the...

Weather is weird, and we're going to be talking about some of the weirdest. And learning fun weather terms. Give it a listen - you'll be BLOWN away. Songs I recommend with today’s episode - there’s 5! F5! Sun is a Hole, Sun is Vapors by Godspeed, You Black Emperor Whirlwind by the Gits Lightning Bolt by Jake Bugg Raining Blood by Slayer Land of Sunshine by Faith No More Sources: https://...

Don’t we all hoard something a little? I have a footlocker of Pez dispensers. 34 potted plants. A SMALL suitcase of stickers. For this episode I'll tell you stories to inspire spring cleaning. Song recs for this episode are on the Professional Weirdo Podcast Spotify music playlist:  The Recluse, Cursive Collector, Here We Go Magic Wondrous Place, Drug Store Romeos Sources: https://lithub.com/...

This week I said goodbye to 23andMe and removed my data from their database. When I took the test 4 years ago I only had one slight surprise in my results. But there are a lot of other people out there who had much bigger surprises in store.  Music recommendation for this episode:  Strangers by Portishead What I Am by Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians To find these and more recommended songs for...

As the saying goes, it’s sugar and spice, and all things nice. That’s what little girls are made of. In digging around for these stories, I found a few examples of the sugar. Enough in fact, that I’m planning to do another episode down the road on that. But today’s episode is all about those little girls who were cooking with spice.  Music recommendation for this episode:  Will & Worry by Land...

Our oceans aren’t shy about coughing up all kinds of strange items. In this episode I kick-off the podcast by telling you a few stories about what's washing up.  Music recommendation for this episode:  Professional Weirdo by The Haxans Rock Lobster by the B-52's To find these and more recommended songs for this podcast, check out the Spotify Professional Weird playlist https://open.spoti...