The Freak Show

It's our first episode recorded together since March 2020 and you know what, you can tell!  Lauren gets back to winning Rock Paper Scissors to go first (finally), and introduces us to James Morison, very much not a doctor, who thinks he can solve all medical problems with a single pill. Then Megan breaks down all the details of the unfortunate "science" experiment of Biosphere 2, co...

This week we're bringing you a classic Freak Show pairing - two men who did really bad stuff.  First up, Megan (who's gotten really good at rock paper scissors this season) tells the story of real life urban legend Cropsey, terrorizing Staten Island one kid at a time. Then Lauren introduces us to The Chameleon, a Frenchman with a penchant for impersonating missing teenagers.  Got a freak...

Apologies in advance for Lauren's terrible audio in the first half. We pinky promise it's all better by minute 22.  Shout out to all star freaks Audrey and Rachel for today's topics: unfortunate chimney deaths and the woman who makes Lauren believe in reincarnation, Shanti Devi. Enjoy the episode, enjoy the sunshine and enjoy the couple of minutes it takes you to email us some topic...

Welcome to Science 101, freaks. Let's hope no one has to use that weird safety shower in the corner at any point during this episode.  This week, Megan tells us all about the world's most obscure disease that's been plaguing lumberjacks for decades. Then Lauren, for some reason, talks about ants.  Hope everyone's staying safe, getting vaxxed and being freaky.  As always, send u...

Happy 420, freaks! We're told this episode pairs nicely with a freshly rolled weed stick. First up, Megan does her part in ending the very stupid and sometimes deadly trend of gender reveal parties. Then Lauren recounts the unlikely survival story of Juliana Koepcke.  Got anything that freaks you out? Send it to us at thefreakshowpod@gmail.com.  Got an unvaxxed arm? Get that thing vaxxed alre...

Hope you haven't gotten too comfortable this season, freaks, because we're back with actual freaky topics this week. First up, Megan ruins sleep, which is honestly just mean. Fatal Insomnia? No thanks. Then Lauren reads letters from the Westfield Watcher, the exact kind of neighbor no one wants.  Enjoy, get the vax when you can and as always, rate review subscribe! Send us topics and hig...

This week, we became an Official Podcast when Megan recorded from inside a closet! It's an exciting time to be a freak, that's for sure. First up, Megan tells us about her new neighbors with a series of Florida Man headlines. Then Lauren introduces us to our new favorite person, Erwin Kruez, a German man who mistook rural Maine for San Francisco. Ladies, he's single! (Jk he's d...

This week's episode is all about balance.  First, a delightfully weird woman and her enormous, confusing house. Then, a dark and terrifying cult story. Best of both worlds!  Enjoy, keeps those masks tight and show us your secret list of freaky facts you've got on your phones at thefreakshowpod@gmail.com. 

This one goes out to all the freaks we love - you're all our Valentine's.  (Two days late, still counts.) First up, Lauren crushes the storytelling with the man, the myth, the airplane hijacker, DB Cooper. Then Megan keeps everyone's favorite tradition alive with her annual report of Stuff That Went Up Butts.  Spoiler alert: 2020 did not result is less stuff up butts.  Enjoy, spread...

Whether those two names mean something to you, or you have no idea who they are... this episode is for you. Get your freak pants on and settle in as Lauren and Megan tell the stories of two truly horrible people.  First, Tania Head who, like many of us, was NOT in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Then Mark David Chapman, who unlike many of us, finished reading Catcher & The Rye.  And always, ke...

Welcome to Season Four, freaks!  We made it through 2020, and guess what - nothing's different on the other side. So to help us get through yet another week, Megan and Lauren are keeping things light in episode one.  We're talking the history of "pets" in the White House, and the world's most expensive search for a toilet. But don't think we're getting soft. Next...

Merry Season 3 Finale, Freaks!  We've made it through 2020 and honestly, we're just as surprised as you are. To celebrate, Lauren takes us on a whirlwind tour of terrifying Christmas traditions from around the world.  Then Megan shows us the true reason for the season with the story of family (and acquaintance) annihilator Ronald Gene Simmons. Thanks, Megan! It's just what we wanted...

Oh my!  It's our penultimate episode of 2020 (and Season 3) - who else is ready to wrap up the freakiest year on record?  This episode features Megan spilling all the secrets of Skull & Bones, one of Yale's dumbest secret societies. Then Lauren takes us to Scotland in the 1800s for some good ol' fashioned grave robbing and murdering.  Stay safe, keep those masks on and get ready...

Season 3 just keeps on coming, freaks!  This week, Megan and Lauren each tackle topics that have been on their lists since the very beginning: an unsolved murder in Australia, and the one and only Baby Jessica. It's the perfect episode to enjoy while staying inside, or social distancing, or wearing a mask, or celebrating the fact that we're finally in the last month of this truly hellish...

We're keeping it light for our first ever 30th episode, because... everything else is bad right now? First up, Megan tells real life horror stories of babies switched at birth. Then Lauren talks about nature's weirdest experiment: the platypus.  Enjoy, be thankful, wear a mask and stay safe, freaks. 

Disclaimer: Megan's topic is THE WORST. Listen at your own risk. Freaks, we're getting into the thick of the holiday season, so consider this episode our first gift to you. Megan's gift is terrible - it's tapeworms and we're so sorry. Lauren's gift is so much better - it's a cure for your wanderlust, a list of the worst places to travel.  Stay safe, wear a mask,...

Season 3 may or may not just go on forever... you're welcome, freaks. This week, Lauren takes us back to one of our favorite places: Japan. This time to meet Takeshi Kuwabara, who appears to be a nerdy IT specialist looking for love, but is really so much more.  Then Megan (nose) dives into one of her biggest fears: tiny planes. Do you see what we did there?  Enjoy, wear a mask, and thank wha...

It's Election Day, have you voted?  Enjoy this freaky episode as you wait in line or just wait anxiously in a dark corner for the results to start rolling in.  Lauren keeps it light (weightless, actually) with stuff floating in space. Then Megan shares a truly freaky story of Swedish twins having a very bad day.  Enjoy. Keep your mask on. We love you. 

Happy Halloween week, freaks! Enjoy two very random, very freaky stories as you paint your face for various spooky Zooms. First up, Lauren with a hippo story that can't be unheard. Then Megan reveals the identity of one of the most successful hermits in modern history. Stay safe, wear a mask, and have you voted yet or no? 

A Tuesday evening episode? Who do we think we are? In what should be the Season 3 finale, but isn't because nothing is normal this year... Lauren uncovers how much more messed up the Salem Witch Trials were than any of us remember. Then Megan introduces us to the star of all our future nightmares, Israel Keyes.  Stay safe, wear a mask and HAVE YOU VOTED YET?? 

Oops, we skipped September!  We're back to freak you out just in time for the spookiest season of all – all of 2020.  First, Lauren celebrates female empowerment with the story of a lady serial killer. This is what equality looks like, freaks. Then Megan treats us to a list of very dumb deaths. Some are fun, most are terrible. Enjoy, wear a mask, make a plan to vote, and for God's sake s...

Brace yourselves, freaks, this one's a doozy. Lauren finally leans into the world that most freaks her out – far right conspiracy theories and their Lord and Savior Donald Trump (sorry). Then Megan just crushes the game with a story that should be a fictional horror movie, but is in fact true.  Keep listening, keep masking and just send us a damn high note already! 

Freaks, we all knew it was coming. And today's the day. Megan is here to expose the freakishly mean truth of Ellen Degeneres.  Then Lauren lightens the mood (not really) with the true nightmare of floating in the middle of the ocean for over 12 hours.  Stay freaky. Stay safe. Keep those masks on and send us some dang high notes! 

This week, Lauren and Megan share the shittier sides of two things they love. Lauren, figuratively, about a hot yoga craze. Megan, literally, about her all-time #1 favorite band.  Stay cool, stay safe, stay freaky. And keep those damn masks on! 

Two phenomena that really just shouldn't exist!  Try not to barf as Lauren shares the deepest, darkest secret of her home state: army worm invasions. Then enjoy the uplifting tale (not really) of Balloon Boy from 2009.  And remember: if you're truly freaky, you'll wear the damn mask.