The Freak Show

Apologies for making you see the words "rat" and "lung" and "worm" all strung together like that, but don't worry - it gets worse after you press play. Megan makes you listen to a whole 15 minutes about it!  But first, Lauren tells the story of a soldier in the Japanese army so committed to his country that he fights World War II for a few extra decades. We'...

We've got another freaky one for ya, freaks!  First up, Megan gets Lauren's blood boiling with the Ernie Awards, an Australian tradition of "celebrating" the gross shit men say and do each year. Then Lauren ignores the true horrors of the Cold War era and focuses instead on some of the kookier stories. You're welcome! Enjoy, happy Pride, and send us some gd topics to thefr...

Happy summer, freaks! Hope you're staying as hot as a marathon runner in the early 1900s.  This week, Megan brings us a truly horrifying holiday in the woods, complete with murder, snow mobiles and everyone's favorite uncle Randy.  Then Lauren tells the ridiculous story of the 1904 Olympic Games and a very ill-fated marathon.  Sorry about the audio, but if you want us to do better, you c...

We're getting deep this week, freaks!  First up, Lauren keeps it light with some of her favorite gems from @DepthsOfWikipedia. Then Megan makes Lauren want to die with far too much information about the bottom of the ocean.  Got a freaky topic for us? Email it to thefreakshowpod@gmail.com

We're back with two women who are, in VERY different ways, both terrible at crimes. First up, Megan shares the wild story of Harvey Marcelin who just can't seem to stay out of trouble. Then Lauren decides to finally learn what the deal is with Patty Hearst.  Got a topic for us? Send it over to thefreakshowpod@gmail.com. 

This week, Megan reveals her unfounded and deep-seated hatred of geocaching, which is more lame than freaky, but we'll give her a pass this one time. Then Lauren (clearly this week's winner) tells us about all the little bugs we don't know we're eating. Yum!  We'll be back in a couple weeks, freaks. In the meantime, email topic suggestions to thefreakshowpod@gmail.com. 

Another episode full of stories that will keep you up at night (hopefully) and warm your hearts (temporarily). Megan tells stories that make us question what we know about sleepwalking – mainly, can you murder someone while you do it? Then Lauren introduces us to Toby Dorr, a woman swept up in romance and dog hair to the point of committing several felonies.  Come for the freaky stories, stay for...

Accidental Theme Episode Alert!  In yet another sign that Megan and Lauren are truly best friends, this week they each brought a rare medical diagnosis with life-alerting effects. Cute!  Megan illuminates the symptoms of Chromosome 6 Deletion and tries to convince Lauren it's a bad thing. Then Lauren shows how horribly things can go when a hydrocephalus diagnosis is missed.  Enjoy, stay freak...

Ooh boy we've got a doozy of an episode for you today, freaks! First up, Megan wins the episode immediately with graphic descriptions of old (and new) torture methods that leaves us all a little clammy. Then Lauren tells the story of Jose Salvador Alvarenga, a fisherman who floated in the ocean for over a year. OVER A YEAR YOU GUYS. Sorry / hope you like it  / send us suggestions at thefreaks...

This week, we've got two truly despicable women to celebrate Women's History Month!  First up, Lauren profiles Georgia Tann who manages to turn the miracle of adoption into a disgusting, traumatic get-rich-quick scheme. Then Megan tells the "survival" story of Belle Gibson, heavy on the " ".  Stick around to the very end for a delightful and uplifting surprise!  And f...

It's a big day, freaks! Megan's birthday AND International Women's Day?? This episode is the perfect way to celebrate.  First up, the birthday girl shows us that women really can do anything men can do – even gruesome murders. You go (to prison) girl!  Then Lauren tells us the love story of the Lonely Hearts Killers, whose execution just happens to fall on Megan's birthday. Cut...

Wow, we've got a fun one for you today, freaks!  First up, Lauren takes us on a journey around the world, but instead of passport stamps, you get regional myths and misinformation about menstruation!  Then Megan gives us what we've all been waiting for: Stuff We Put Up Our Butts in 2021.  Got a freaky topic or a gosh dang high note? Send it to us at thefreakshowpod@gmail.com.

We're back with a DOOZY of a Freak Show, brace yourselves freaks!  A million trigger warnings for Lauren's topic: Fred and Rosemary West, easily the worst couple ever covered on the pod. Sorry x a million for making you hear about their various crimes. Then Megan goes back to her roots and covers the life and tragic death of Brittany Murphy. WOOF! 

We're back with an oddly compatible pair of freaky stories.  First up, Lauren tells the story of Brigitte Gerney, aka the Crane Lady, and her very harrowing walk home from the dentist. Then Megan ups the stakes with the tragic story of Kyle Plush trying to get his tennis gear out of his minivan.  Got a freaky story that may or may not involve someone getting stuck somewhere? Email it to us at...

TO: The Freaks FROM: The Freak Show Just in time for Valentine's Day, Lauren tells us a second chance love story that's not... quite as romantic as you might hope. Then Megan spoils the plot of the new, sad Marvel installment: The Alaskan Avenger. JK this is a real story that is honestly just very awful. Pairs well with waxy chocolates and heavy pours of red wine. 

We're back, freaks!  After an unplanned (but very much needed) break, Megan and Lauren are back and arbitrarily calling this Season 5.  First up, Lauren sheds light on some pretty messed up ways to shed pounds with the worst fad diets in history. Then Megan tells the story of Axton Betz-Hamilton and her family's awful identify theft saga. Feels good to be back getting freaky every week....

Happy Halloween Week, freaks!  To celebrate this most spooky time of year, Lauren kicks things off with truly awful details of maybe the scariest haunted house ever - Blackout. 0/10 would not recommend. Then Megan takes us through a good ol' fashioned Halloween murder from the 1950s.  Treat yourself to some candy, tag us in your costume pics and as always, send topic suggestions to thefreaksh...

It's spooky season, freaks, and we're getting into it!  First up, Lauren goes back into the world of poltergeists with the haunting of Alma Fielding and her ghost hunter pal Nandor.   Then Megan takes her hatred of road rage to greater heights with AIR RAGE (ha). It's been getting a lot of press these days, but turns out, it's been around for about as long as air travel has exi...

In this episode, Lauren confirms two things we already knew about her: she's no bartender and dang does she not know anything about money!  But she tries her best to untangle the web of lies that Sam Israel III told in an epic Ponzi Scheme gone wrong.  Then Megan, in a classic Megan topic, tells us about Foreign Accent Syndrome, something that is probably real but sounds totally fake.  Enjoy,...

What? A new episode of The Freak Show?  Megan and Lauren are back yet again - so sorry for the sporadic nature of Season 4, but we're doing our best - with two freaky topics that could not be more different. First up, Megan continues her newfound interest in deadly balls of gas with the story of Ludger Sylbaris, one of the only survivors of a horrific volcanic eruption. Then Lauren gets into...

Uh oh, freaks... we got an accidental cannibal episode for you this week! First up, consensual cannibalism: Megan tells us the story of Mao Sugiyama fulfilling his dream of watching someone eat his severed penis. Bone appetit, am I right?  Next, the ... other kind: Lauren introduces us to Dmitry and Natalia, aka the Russian Cannibal Couple, who really enjoyed documenting their various crimes/meals...

We're back! And like the very professional podcasters we are, we may or may not be back next week. But it's summer! We're busy! Get over it!  This week, Megan chronicles the hundreds of very dumb selfie-related fatalities, also known as (sorry) killfies.  Then Lauren ruins the plot of Elizabeth Banks' newest movie Cocaine Bear. Don't worry, they just started filming so you...

A surprise Thursday pod!  We're a couple days late, but just in time for the long holiday weekend. So... sorry / you're welcome?  Today, Lauren dips a toe into the pool of shit that gets her all fired up: racist white people! It's the classic, but little known tale of the 1974 Kanawha County Textbook Controversy.  Then Megan tells us all about Ming, the tiger of Harlem, who really j...

Your freaks are back with another episode full of things you probably don't want to hear!  First up, Lauren gives us an update on the situation in Australia. The short version? It's terrible right now!  Then Megan tells us all about the 1986 disaster at Lake Nyos in Cameroon. The short version? It's a lake that let out one big poisonous fart!  Stay freaky, y'all.

Unintentional Theme Alert! This week's episode is all about lonely men.  First, and definitely least problematic, Lauren tells us all about one of Chicago's oddest tourists, Aditya Singh.  Then Megan destroys us all with the story of Anatoly Moskvin, a Russian man who does NOT know the proper ways to deal with loneliness.  Enjoy, I guess? And as always, send us your topic suggestions, hi...