The Weirdest Thing

Welcome to the last episode of A Weirdest Thing! To close out this Amelia-less era, Scotty invited his Boston bestie Mandy Connor on to have a full-on horror-fan geek out. We cover our mutual love of Stephen King, our personal criteria for what makes "good" horror, books and movies that freaked us out as kids, Scotty's experience participating in the infamous "Grossout Contest" at KillerCon, and m...

This week Scotty talks to Bram Stoker-winning horror author Gwendolyn Kiste about her life, work, and influences. We also discuss her upcoming historical horror novel Reluctant Immortals, and its examination of the "forgotten women" of both Stoker's Dracula and Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. Reluctant Immortals will be released on August 23! Click the link for more information: https://www.simonand...

This week Scotty and actor/comedian/rock star Lauren Poole have a wide-ranging conversation about everything from theatre, the best lessons ever learned from teachers, the enduring power of Korn, writing music, going viral, touring with indie legends, and (of course) Lauren's kickass band Prism Bitch. Check out Prism Bitch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PrismBtch Check out Scotty being an a...

Welcome back to THE Weirdest Thing Podcast! This week we delve into two unexpected and very different conflicts. Scotty talks about the shocking Gombe Chimpanzee War of 1974 and its implications for our understanding of human behavior, while Amelia explores the Chocolate Wars and how they spurred innovations that changed how we make, eat, and market food to this day. CONTENT WARNING: Scotty's stor...

This week Scotty welcomes celebrated author Sara Tantlinger onto the podcast to talk about poetry, writing horror, psychopaths, historical serial killers, and her Bram Stoker-nominated collection The Devil's Dreamland: Poetry Inspired by H.H. Holmes. CONTENT WARNING: This week's episode talks about murder in many of its various forms. Links: The Devil's Dreamland: Poetry Inspired by H.H. Holmes: h...

Amelia is BACK for an episode of THE Weirdest Thing Podcast! This week we cover two absolutely badass women in history. Amelia talks about Linda Coffee, the unsung hero of Roe Vs. Wade and the battle for reproductive rights, while Scotty discusses the too-short life and immense musical legacy of Mia Zapata, lead singer of The Gits. CONTENT WARNING: This week's episode talks about sexual assault an...

This week guest host Danielle explains how stand-up comedy has its roots in the racist history of minstrel shows and describes how one performer decided to push back, and Scotty talks about the particularities of Jewish humor and how it manifested in the famed "borscht belt" of the Catskills. Plus, a palate-cleansing clip of the incredible Moms Mabley! https://youtu.be/4h0t_teqE_E CONTENT WARNING:...

This week Scotty welcomes actor/comedian Danielle Robertson on to talk about acting, improv, standup, and the unexpected ways that horror and comedy intersect. Link to Amelia's reading of Scotty's short stories "In the Woods," "Mary," and "Mouse Trap," recorded after Duke City Repertory Theatre's performance of "Ghost, Ghost, Come Out Tonight" (Halloween, 2019): https://vimeo.com/718982673 This po...

This week we welcome our first guest host, horror author and editor Rebecca Rowland! Rebecca takes us through the Salem witch hysteria of 1692, while Scotty talks about the book Michelle Remembers and the beginning of the Satanic Panic. Plus a conversation about writing horror, editing, and the upcoming charity anthology Dancing in the Shadows: A Tribute to Anne Rice , co-edited by Rebecca and fea...

We're (hopefully, knock on wood) marking the decline of the COVID-19 pandemic with a couple stories about historical plagues. Amelia takes us deep into the gross and deadly 1854 Broad Street cholera epidemic of London, and Scotty talks about the infamous and bizarre "dancing plagues" of Europe. This is Amelia's last show for awhile, recorded just before she departed for Barter Theatre in Virginia...

We've got another odds-and-ends episode for you this week, where we talk about four of the lesser-known cryptids/bogeys from around the world. This podcast is powered by Pinecast .

This week we talk about two horror movies that aren't horror movies, but actually are horror movies: John Frankenheimer's "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962) and Damien Chazelle's "Whiplash" (2014). This podcast is powered by Pinecast .

This week Scotty and Amelia dive into two of the greatest conspiracy theories in the history of rock music.

Happy 50th episode! This week Scotty talks about the infamous (and goofy as hell) legend of the Bell Witch of Tennessee, and Amelia explains how the Gilded Age's conflict between old and new money lead to the creation of New York's Metropolitan Opera . Plus a brief, spoiler-free discussion of the Netflix show "Inventing Anna" and some much needed Mötley Crüe appreciation. This podcast is powered b...

Once again we're celebrating Black History Month and Women in Horror Month! Amelia takes us through the fascinating cultural and culinary history of soul food, and Scotty talks about author Anne Rice and her influence on both horror fiction and Goth culture. This podcast is powered by Pinecast .

This week we hop across the Atlantic to explore some interesting goings on in Europe. Scotty tells the chilling story of the Order of the Solar Temple, and Amelia tells the significantly less chilling story of the 1976 Judgment of Paris. CONTENT WARNING: Scotty's story talks about suicide, murder (including child death), and some men generally being the worst. This podcast is powered by Pinecast .

Happy New Year! To celebrate 2022, we've decided to go back a hundred years for our stories this week. Amelia delves into the shocking unsolved murder of Hollywood director William Desmond Taylor, and Scotty talks about the making (and near unmaking) of F.W. Murnau's classic film "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror." CONTENT WARNING: There's a brief discussion of the Fatty Arbuckle scandal, which dea...

This week Scotty and Amelia take on three "alt-Christmas" classics — Gremlins, Die Hard, and Edward Scissorhands — and determine whether they are, in fact, Christmas movies. ALL DECISIONS WILL BE FINAL! This podcast is powered by Pinecast .

This week Scotty talks about the controversy that raged around the band Body Count's 1992 song "Cop Killer," and Amelia introduces us to "the first lady of graffiti" Lady Pink. Plus, our continuing discussion of/obsession over the Showtime series "Yellowjackets," and SEVERAL cameos from Amelia's dog Doña. CONTENT WARNING: the Body Count discussion necessitates a look at the lyrics, which explicitl...

Happy Turkey Day from The Weirdest Thing! This week Amelia explains where our Thanksgiving menu comes from, and Scotty talks about the myth of the Wendigo and the dubious history of "Wendigo psychosis." Plus we have a short, mostly spoiler-free discussion of the excellent new Showtime series "Yellowjackets." CONTENT WARNING: Scotty's story discusses cannibalism and family annihilation. This podcas...

This week Scotty journeys back to the Old West to meet New Mexico's very first serial killer, and Amelia talks about some of the deadliest fashion statements in human history. This podcast is powered by Pinecast .

Grab your s'mores and gather 'round the campfire, kiddies! Our good friends Chad Brummett and Abe Jallad join us this week to share some good old-fashioned personal ghost stories. Happy Halloween! Links: "That's Some Scary Sh!t!": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpzhE8PreAnJBt7ZrhePbjA Be sure to come see the premiere of the newest episode about The Painted Lady! Saturday, Oct. 31, at 10:30 p.m....

Welcome to Spooky Season! This week Amelia tells the story of the murder of Grace Brown and the subsequent haunting of Big Moose Lake, and Scotty talks about the enduring mysteries surrounding the deadly Dyatlov Pass Incident of 1959.

This week Scotty talks about the idea of open-air drug markets, including Zurich's infamous Platzspitz Park, and Amelia guides us through the fascinating world of "dark tourism." SPOILER ALERT: Scotty roundly spoils season three of HBO's "The Wire." CONTENT WARNING: In this episode we talk about drug addiction, violence, suicide, and genocide. This podcast is powered by Pinecast .

This week Amelia takes us on a journey through the history of some of the most iconic photos of all time, and Scotty talks about a few of the most "haunted" paintings in recent years. CONTENT WARNING: This episode mentions suicide and the aftermath of 9/11. To learn more about "The Most Beautiful Suicide," go to http://www.codex99.com/photography/43.html To visit Bill Stoneham's website, go to htt...