The Nonessential Podcast

Eva Duga might have been unlucky in love, but she never let that get to her. When she ended up in the employ of an insufferable tryant, she didn't let that stop her either. Even after the law caught up to her, she kept her level head. At least, for a bit.  Sources: Eva Dugan - Wikipedia The Botched Execution of Eva Dugan, 1930 - HistoricalCrimeDetective.com ExecutedToday.com » 1930: Eva Dugan, her...

Leonarda was a very supersticious person, and so when a fortune teller told her she'd have children, but they'd all die, she took it to hart. After 13 of her 17 children died, she decided to turn to her friends for help protecting the remaining four. That's when things get weird.  Source:  Leonarda Cianciulli | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

What happens when the spoiled, frat-boy son of a promenant politician becomes both Pope and Ruler of Rome? Sex, drugs, and whatever the equivelent of rock-and-roll is on a lute. But not everyone was happy with John XII's leadership, or lack therefof.  Sources:  Sinful Facts About Pope John XII, The Party Pope (factinate.com) Pope John XII: The Youngest and Worst Pope in History | by Josh West MA |...

When an enterprising ruler follows up the assassination of his rival with a marraige proposal to the widow, Olga of Kiev has a surprisingly gracious response. Sort of. Of course, we wouldn't be covering this story if things were that straight forward.  Source: Olga of Kiev - Wikipedia  

What happens when the perfect gift turns out to be a stuffed dog that is both sentient and possessive? Listen to Ben read the anonymously-written My Pal Scout and find out!  Source: My Pal Scout | Creepypasta Wiki | Fandom  

This week, Steve stumbles across a creepypasta that mirrors a legendary local haunt. The anonymously written  Big 6, The Ghost Train tells the story of, well, a ghost train. Check it out.  Source: Big 6, The Ghost Train | Creepypasta Wiki | Fandom

Have you ever wanted to go back to your childhood with a bunch of stipulations regarding where you can go and what you can do? Well you're in luck! This week, Ben will outline the very specific steps in order to time travel using nothing more than a bouncey castle or something else. Check out Orangutango's  Another Use for a Bouncy Castle . 

This week, Steve shares an original story based on the  true story of a Siberian hunter who pissed of the wrong tiger. Based on a true story as told by John Valliant in  The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival .   

What happens when the girl of your dreams slips though your sweaty, nerdy fingers, but then you suddenly gain the power of ice? Listen to this week's show, feat. Ice Cold Revenge by DemonPastas

This week, Ben and Steve literally figuratively shoot the shit. It's a weird, wonderful, rambling episode about nothing. And poop.   

This week, Steve reads a creepypasta about an early-morning, public-access Bible show, and an intern who kept sticking his nose where it didn't belong.  Check out Roboky's  12 Mintues

This week, Ben discusses a police investigation into a killer that was so inept and inefectual, that even the murderer himself couldn't take any more of it. Meet Alfredo Galan. Sources: Trish & Wendy.  Alfredo Galan - The Playing Card Killer . Criminal Discourse Podcast. January 27, 2020. Learn The Truth About Alfredo Galan The Playing Card Killer - CDP (criminaldiscoursepodcast.com) Alfredo Galan...

This week, Steve tells a tale of Eugene Hardiman; a man who, despite his best efforts, took the blame for others' misdeeds all his life. At least, until he decided to live up to his misearned reputation.   

Steve and Ben are back this week, with a creepy pasta that dabbles in experimental art ... and  murder! Check out RedNovaTyrant's 'Blood Artist.'  source: Blood Artist | Creepypasta Wiki | Fandom  

This week, Steve brings a horror story about rain that just will not go away. So it's basically about Ohio in the Spring. Except there's monsters, maybe?  Check out Havoc98's  A Month of Rain source: https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/A_Month_of_Rain  

If you were a good girl or boy in 1858, maybe your dad would spend a nickel to buy you the hottest, most desirable candy of the day: Hard peppermint "humbugs." The candy that featured plaster dust, and maybe poison.  Sources: Elliott, Jenny.  How Tainted Treats Led to a Halloween Tragedy in 1858.  Atlas Obscura. How Tainted Treats Led to a Halloween Tragedy in 1858 - Gastro Obscura (atlasobscura.c...

This week, Steve talks about a Cold War-era recon-bomber known as The Kee Bird, which proves that a Nonessential-worthy fate doesn't descriminate between people and inanimate objects.  Source: Kee Bird - Wikipedia  

Wet Straw is the story of a man who just wants to live a low-key life of enjoyment and entertainment. But each night when he goes to bed, his past comes back to haunt him.  Then the story ends and Ben pulls the 'ol switcheroo. Check it out.  Source:  Matheson, Richard. "Wet Straw" from  Nightmare at 20,000 Feet: Horror Stories by Richard Matheson .

Steve's daughter is only two, and he's pretty sure she's not killing people. The protagonist of this week's story, however, has some sneaking suspicious about this ten year old.  Check out TheCusterWolf's 'I Think My Ten-Year-Old is Killing People.'  Source:  https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/I_Think_my_Ten-Year-Old_Daughter_is_Killing_People  

This week, Ben reads a creepypasta about a guy with some overly loud neighbors. Or so he thinks. It's Alexisaac's 'I Have Thin Walls.'  source: I Have Thin Walls | Creepypasta Wiki | Fandom

Over the July 4 weekend in 1966, three friends from Illinios left for a day at the beach. They were seen buying magazines and sunscreen, and seen lounging on the beach until around noon, when another couple noticed the girls enter the water and get on a boat. They were never seen again. Sources: What is the Likeliest Solution to the Indiana Dunes Mystery? | by William Keckler | Medium YOUNG WOMEN...

Claudine Longet was a dancer and actor who, after divorcing her first husband, married Spider-man (or a man named Spider?) Either way, it didn't end well for one of them.

In the 1970's, a small city in Ohio became ground zero for a mysterious and threatening series of anonymous letters. As it turns out, the accusations these letters made weren't comlpetely untrue.  Source: Has the anonymous author of the infamous Circleville letters been unmasked? - CBS News The Creepy Letters That Exposed A Town's Juiciest Secrets — And Ended In Murder | Thought Catalog

Have you ever wondered what happens if you sit in a dark room and stare at a screen for too long? No, because it's well documented. Have you ever wondered what happens if you do that, and then follow some weird cultish advice on how to alieviate your strained vision? Well then check out this week's episode: 'Computer Vision Syndrome' by Tale Foundry.

This week, Steve discusses Robert "The Big Bobbert" Hanssen, FBI agent turned Soviet superspy, who employed a cunning ability to turn over information that had already been leaked, and also a series of fortunate promotions, to remain at large for over two decades. Source: Robert Hanssen - Wikipedia