The Absurd

We start with a listener submitted story about the root of garden gnomes. Real people who were paid to live on the premises of the wealthy, remain unwashed and unshorn for years to play the role of a resident hermit. Next we’ll learn about a German man who at the age of 22 began a quest to visit every country on earth on his bicycle. Then Rod will tell us about the reason we as humans are able to...

We’re going to start this episode with looking at some strange and even scary rites of passage practiced around the world. Next, Mel will tell us about a woman whose parachute failed and she fell 4,000 metres and landed on a colony of fire ants. But hold on, there’s more. Then Rod will look at a news story in which a man died in his hotel room while travelling with the supposedly possessed Annabel...

Ed Gein was a serial killer whose crimes inspired the films Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs. Need we say more? Next we’ll meet an Iranian man who lived at the airport in Paris for 18 years! Then we’ll meet Myrtle Corbin who was born with four legs and two pelvises but sure didn’t let that stop her from having an interesting life. Ever been caught in a traffic jam? Miserab...

In a notable medical case, doctors in China temporarily grafted a man's severed hand to his leg to preserve it while his arm injury was treated. The man, Xiao Wei, lost his hand in a work accident and doctors grafted it to his ankle to maintain blood supply. Next, we’ll learn about another absurd Tiktok thingy wherein people are doing their own botox injections at home. As you should be aware, it’...

Medical scientists in France have found a woman with a brand new blood type. Even more interesting, she is the only person in the world with that specific blood type. We all need to sleep, and many of us love to sleep. But did you know that there are different approaches to sleeping among the world’s cultures? Next we’ll learn about the carnivorous New World Screwworm Fly, whose young (maggots) po...

We’re going to start off with a trip down to New Zealand where a man had a very unpleasant experience with some compressed air. We honestly didn’t know something like this was even possible. Next, Mel takes us to India where we learn about the terrifying ritual of baby tossing. Then we’ll visit an event in which people named Josh fought over the right to retain the name. Lastly, we’re going back t...

Welcome to our Canada Day episode in which all the stories are Canadian in origin. To start, Mel will tell us a truly shocking and awful story about a maternity home that operated in Halifax from the 1920’s to the 1940’s. This is not a happy story, folks. Next, while remaining in Halifax, Rod will tell us about the largest man-made explosion prior to the atomic bomb, when in 1917, two ships explod...

To start off, Rod will take us back to 1976 when three men abducted a school bus full of children, and buried them alive inside a bunker along with water and food in hopes of securing ransom money. Yikes! Next, Mel will tell us about the practice of punishing people for playing bad music by means of the “shame flute”. Not gonna lie. Could still be used today. Then we’ll meet Gunther VI, a German S...

Mel will take us back to olden times where we’ll meet Xerxes the Great, a Persian ruler. While trying to get his invasion force across the Bosporus strait (between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, things went very wrong. So, he decided to take out his anger on the sea. Yup. Then Rod will tell us a very strange yet somewhat hilarious story about a man whose female boss told him he must stop wea...

We start off this episode with a new segment known as Darwinianisms. Following that, Rod will tell us about a deadly book. One that has literally caused the death of several people since it’s release in the late 19th century. Mel will then take us Down Under for a bizarre murder case involving some not to tasty mushrooms. We will then learn of a judge’s ruling in Quebec which states our constituti...

Mel is going to start us off with a little history trip to look at the largest, most drunken parties in British history. People these days have nothing on the past. Then Rod will take us to 1960’s Zagreb to look at a bizarre case involving a missing woman. They looked everywhere except the most obvious place. Then we’ll take a flight where a male flight attendant was found dancing naked in a busin...

We’re off to Turkey where a young mother visiting from England with her family died. Definitely sad, but what’s really infuriating and ridiculous is the seeming incompetence and negligence of the medical staff, police, and local government. Next, Mel will tell us about the origins of the words hysteria/hysterical and the utterly absurd and disturbing treatments that were utilized to counter this s...

We answer listener-submitted questions about the show, about us, and about food.

Mel will start us off by introducing us to Dr Martin Couney, also known as 'the Incubator Doctor', who was best known in medical circles and public view for his amusement park sideshow , "The Infantorium", in which visitors paid 25 cents to view prematurely born babies displayed in incubators. Yup! Next, Rod will tell us about a very long and strange extramarital affair that led to a murder case....

This is a first. An episode with Rod flying solo. The reasons why Mel is not here are revealed in the episode. Where could she be? Rod will make good on an earlier promise when he explains the history and purpose of the Rhinoceros Party. Next, he will introduce us to a new segment of The Absurd, and in doing so, he will take us to Iraq, where a man thought it would be a good idea to buy a lion for...

Mel will introduce us to Charles and Juniper. A couple very much in love and who spend almost all of their time together since they first met in high school. They would like to be married but the government won’t permit it. Why? Because Juniper doesn’t exist. Rod will then take us to Montreal where two men are facing charges after their roommate died and they left her decomposing body on the couch...

Our first story takes us to China where a woman became trapped in an elevator following some strange circumstances. Even scarier, she died after being stuck in the elevator for over a month. Still in China, Mel will tell us about the Canopia rainforest themed restaurant where patrons can pay over $700 CAD for a 15 course meal containing some … absurd dishes. One which has drawn the ire of official...

Mel will start us off with a collection of absurd little items such as ketchup as medicine, Knocker-uppers, the origin of the Three Musketeers bar, and medical chainsaw, Next, Rod will take us to Los Angeles for a murder case involving a young Canadian woman. While the police have closed the case, many find their explanation to be … absurd. Then we’re off to Turkey where we’ll meet a family with a...

South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape in the world, and a woman there thinks she has come up with a way to address it. Sometimes a serious problem requires a serious approach, and while her approach might be brutal, so too is the matter it addresses. Then we’re off to Australia, where Mel will tell us about a case where a woman receiving IVF was given the wrong embryo. Then Rod will te...

From the 1920’s until the early 70’s, posing with people in polar bear costumes was all the rage in Germany. Pictures of whole families, soldiers, workers, sports teams, and children can be readily found, and all of them are delighted to do so, Even the kids. Then we will learn about the birth of three Dire Wolf pups this year. What’s the big deal about that you ask? Well nothing, except Dire wolv...

Anyone with kids or remembers being a kid has experienced the request to check for monsters in the bedroom. Of course there are no monsters. Right? A 66 year old woman in Germany proves it’s never too late to have a baby. Or even your tenth baby. Rabies is a truly terrifying disease with a mortality rate of virtually 100% and an agonizing death. Bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons are the most commo...

Mel will take us back a hundred years to look at some accepted medical practices of the day. Think any of these should be reintroduced? I’ve got a couple in mind. Then Rod will introduce us to an Indian man who bought the most expensive dog ever, and a one of a kind dog at that. Next, have you given any thought as to what you want done with your remains when you pass away? I suspect we all have th...

Ever seen the Jim Carrey movie, The Truman Show? It’s a fantastic movie with a fascinating premise. But it could never really happen. Could it? Parents have always loved their babies, but judging by some of the things that were once considered normal to do with their babies might make you think otherwise. Next, we will learn about a previously unknown species of worm which was found in the Siberia...

A woman on a recent flight had some type of mental incident which saw her completely disrobe and run down the aisle. She also began striking the fuselage of the aircraft, and assaulted a flight attendant. While on the subject of flying, we’ll meet Reg Spiers, an Australian man who desperately needed to get home from the UK, but with no money, what could he do? How about ship himself home in a crat...

Mel will take us to 18th century England where we will meet Jeremy Bentham. A philosopher, jurist, social reformer, and all round great guy. When he died, his request to be preserved was honoured, and in a most … odd way. Next, Rod will tell us about the incredible and harrowing tale of Phineas Gage. A man who miraculously survived a hideous injury which left him scarred both physically and mental...