The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi

Step beyond the bright lights of classic Hollywood and into the forgotten world of  Ed Wood's Fringe Hollywood .   Long before Ed Wood became a cult icon and the subject of Tim Burton's acclaimed film, he was hustling to make movies on the margins of the film industry - renting bare-bones soundstages, scraping together casts of unforgettable characters, and creating films that somehow outlived man...

What if the most memorable graduation speech of all time was never actually a graduation speech? On this episode of The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi , we take a deep dive into "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)," the 1999 spoken-word hit that offered life advice to an entire generation. From its origins as a newspaper column falsely attributed to Kurt Vonnegut, to its transformation into an inte...

Step into a supersized dose of nostalgia on this episode of The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi ! Joe dives deep into the wild, colorful world of McDonald's nostalgia, Ronald McDonald history, and some of the most sought-after McDonald's collectibles ever made. First, Joe talks with Randy Kalin, a performer and magician who spent more than 30 years working as Ronald McDonald, sharing incredible behind...

MTV Changed Pop Culture Forever...Let's Rewind 📺 This episode of The Odd Podcast dives deep into the wild, colorful, and culture-shifting history of MTV. From the moment "Video Killed the Radio Star" launched the network in 1981, MTV didn't just play music videos, it reshaped music, fashion, celebrity culture, and an entire generation. In this episode, I take you on a nostalgic journey through th...

Heather O'Rourke is forever etched into horror history as Carol Anne Freeling , the wide-eyed little girl who delivered one of the most iconic lines in movie history: "They're here." Cast in Poltergeist (1982) at just five years old, Heather instantly became one of the most recognizable child actors of the 1980s and a defining face of supernatural cinema. Before and after Poltergeist , Heather app...

In this episode, Joe Parisi explores the #1 songs of the 1990s as ranked by the Billboard Hot 100 . From chart‑toppers that shattered records to songs that launched major careers, and even a few that completely disappeared from the cultural conversation. This is a deep dive into what the charts were really telling us. The Billboard Hot 100 isn't just about hits. It's a snapshot of a moment in time...

Get ready for an irresistibly nostalgic deep dive into one of the most delightfully quirky parts of Pee-wee's Playhouse: the iconic claymation "Penny" segments! In this episode, we explore how these whimsical shorts were created, uncover who "Penny" really was, and connect the dots to a surprising web of pop-culture oddities that all tie back to her. I'm joined by two incredible guests: Prudence F...

Author and Podcaster Mark Malkoff joins Joe for an in-depth discussion about Johnny Carson's fascinating life and career. Mark recently released the book "Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey to Find the Genuis Behind the Legend". If you love hearing stories from Hollywood's Golden Age, and exclusive stories from behind the curtain of The Tonight Show, this episode is right up your alle...

Diving in to the legend of 2Pac with 9x New York Times Best Selling Author Jeff Pearlman. In October 2025, Jeff released his latest book "Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur".   Follow Joe @joeparisivo Follow Jeff @jeff_pearlman

In this spine-tingling episode, Joe Parisi explores the legacy of Elsa Lanchester, the unforgettable actress who brought The Bride of Frankenstein to life. But the story doesn't end on screen. Recently, true-crime and Hollywood historian Scott Michaels ( Dearly Departed Tours/Findadeath ) uncovered the mysterious truth about the whereabouts of Lanchester's remains. Hear how decades of rumor, misin...

On this episode of The Odd Podcast with Joe Parisi , we explore a lesser-known chapter of Elvis Presley's life, his deep passion for karate. Joe is joined by special guest  Billy Stallings , also known as Spa Guy , who owns and operates the Tiger Man Dojo & Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, the very same dojo where Elvis trained from 1970 to 1974. Learn how Elvis got into martial arts during his Army...

Join Joe Parisi and Brian Pocrass for a fun deep dive on Back to the Future Part 2.  It's a trip back in time to 1989 when we all saw what things were possibly going to look like in 2015. We discuss everything from the lesser known cast members to filming locations and screen used props.

Joe Parisi exlplores the incredible story behind the 1996 alt rock song "Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth with Money In My Hand" by Primitive Radio Gods. Follow Joe @joeparisivo

Join Joe as he discusses a recent trip to Las Vegas and all of the fun & quirky pop culture-related things he had on the itinerary, including a David Copperfield show at the MGM Grand, Maroon 5 at the Dolby Theatre, a desert road trip to see Area 51, the town of Rachel Nevada, the Little A'le'in, The Clown Motel, The Sphere, filming locations from Swingers and Back to the Future 2, the 2pac Memori...

On this episode we take a DEEP DIVE on Steve Urkel Mania, which managed to sweep the nation in the 90s. We discuss Family Matters, TGIF, Urkel Merchandise, Crossover Episodes, Lost Media, and so much more. Hollywood insider Brian Pocrass joins Joe Parisi for a fun discussion that will pull you right back into the glorious 90s!

Joe Parisi and Brian Pocrass take a deep dive on the 1993 cinematic classic Dazed and Confused. They discuss the film in depth, along with many of the other coming-of-age highschool films they enjoy.   Follow Joe on insta @joeparisivo

A recap of Joe's recent trip to Hollywood that was packed full of Hollywood history, filming location visits, iconic LA haunts, and more.  PLUS, a full 30+ minutes on the special Odd Podcast field trip to Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary. This is the final resting place of Marilyn Monroe and hundreds of other Hollywood celebrities. Brian Pocrass joins the show live from...

Examining the bizarre and fascinating life and career of a fringe Old Hollywood celebrity known as The Amazing Criswell.  Joining me is the author of the book " Fact, Fictions, and the Forbidden Predictions of the Amazing Criswell", Edwin Lee Canfield.   Instagram: @joeparisivo  

    A deep dive into the 1996 film Swingers.  Joe Parisi is joined by Deena Martin Delucia, who played Christy (The Vegas Waitress).

  Al Leong has probably been in your favorite action movie. In fact, he's probably been in half of the action movies you saw in the 80's and 90's.  Join Joe Parisi and Al Leong for a fun discussion about the martial arts film genre and Al's incredible life on screen.

  A deep dive on the 1986 pro-wrestling comedy "BodySlam". Join host Joe Parisi and cast member Michael Moynahan, who played "Pee Wee Hutchens" as we discuss this somewhat obscure 80s cult classic.

If you spent time watching ABC's TGIF lineup in the 90's, this episode is for you!  Join Joe Parisi and guest Brian Pocrass as they take a deep dive into one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 90s.

A deep dive into the 2004 classic Napoleon Dynamite.  Join Joe Parisi and Trevor Snarr (who played "Don" in the film) for a fun look back at this highly influential movie.

F_ _ _ FACE!  In 1989, Fleer released their annual set of baseball cards, having no idea what was about to happen and what had slipped past them.  A few weeks after the cards started being sold, word started to spread that the Bill Ripken card  in the set featured a very explicit phrase written on the handle of the bat he was holding in the picture.  As the company scrambled to halt production, sa...

Dissecting the 1985 John Hughes classic "Weird Science".   Joining Joe Parisi is longtime Hollywood character actor Britt Leach who played the father of "Gary" (Anthony Michael Hall) in the film.  Also, Rhonda Wong joins the show.  Rhonda worked as a background performer in the iconic party scene at the end of the film and was in the blue kitchen!