Too Close to Home Podcast

Welcome back to the uplifting, feel-good story of William Bonin! In the third part of this series, we see his escalation and brutality evolve during both his solo and accomplice-supported murders. With a jail sentence looming on the horizon, Bonin wastes no time in making sure he gets his "fix" before imprisonment. Of course, it doesn't stop there; the ramping up continues after his early release,...

If you're anything like us, you need a bit of a break from the madness of old creepy Billy Bodin, so we're coming at you with one of Jenn's favorite haunts (BA-DUM-TISS)! It is sometimes said you can't walk around any part of historic Savannah without being mere feet above the dead; from its founding in 1733 to present day, Savannah has been infamous for tales of piracy, grave defilement, bizarre...

It begins with some good old satanic panic-era Dungeons & Dragons and city-wide morbid games of Clue, but the games are about to take a much darker turn. Freshly released from prison, a new and improved ("cured?") Bonin has entered a new city, embraced a new group of friends, and is about to begin his first string of brutal, sexual murders. You will learn fairly quickly that when you enter the...

One of the most vile and disgusting serial killers in American history is on full display as we begin the dark, dark drive down a highway system of terror and death. In part 1 of this horrifying series on the man who will come to be known as "The Freeway Killer", we look at Bonin's questionable early school life, increasingly violent urges, military service, and "extended" stay at Atascadero State...

In part 2 of our series on the legendary Yeti, we continue learning the mysteries and controversies surrounding the eponymous cryptid. The surprises keep coming as we discuss everything from Yeti hand heists involving Jimmy Stewart, to US government-mandated rules for Yeti hunting (during the Cold War nonetheless), to modern evidence brought to us by sources such as the BBC and Destination Truth’s...

While you were trekking up the snow-covered mountains of the Himalayas, you saw a large footprint you couldn't explain... you heard calls that echoed across the peaks... maybe it's a sign of oxygen deprivation, maybe it's a sign of the abominable snowman... the legendary Yeti! A staple of Himalayan and Buddhist folklore, the Yeti has evaded and entranced the eyes of everyone from locals to the con...

The clock has ticked its last tock for the mad monk of Pokrovskoye and the Romanov dynasty. For the finale of this series, we first discuss the Looney Tunes-like assassination of Grigori Rasputin: a man who just refused to die, and more than you ever wanted to know about the fate of Rasputin's most prized "possession". We then proceed down more somber territory as we cover the imprisonment, tighte...

Grab your nearest bottle of Madeira wine, and ready your most touching drunken sermons! In Part 3 of our series, Rasputin goes off the deep end with his drinking habits and theatrical antics. While the powerful and stinky libertine parties, a wedge is being drawn between Rasputin, the populace, the government, and the royal family… one that spells the beginning of the end for the Romanov dynasty.

In part 2 of our series on the controversial history between Rasputin and the Romanovs, we start with Tsarina Alix’s desperate attempts to birth a male heir, and how the canonized Seraphim perhaps worked a miracle to usher the birth of son Alexei: an heir to the royal curse. How will they secure their dynasty in this dark hour? Enter Rasputin, who entranced the royals and populace with his mystici...

There lived a certain man in Russia long ago… whether you know him as the subject of a disco hit or the villain of an animated classic, the mysteries surrounding Grigori Rasputin have captured the imagination for over a century. We begin part 1 of this series with a twofold story. In one hand, we discuss the early life of the mad monk and the curious (and stinky) journey that led him to St. Peters...

This is NOT an April Fool’s joke! We are back and ready to spread the sickness, baby! We hope you have missed us as much as we have missed you! For our first episode of 2023, we are keeping things light and warming up the palate for all the madness that will follow; we are discussing the two-dicked Canadian terror of Lake Utopia… a cryptid affectionately known as Old Ned! He has been sighted throu...

It has been an amazing first year, and we are wrapping up this season of content with some good old-fashioned game show nostalgia... and bigfoot, because that is how we roll! We will break down 4 bigfoot variants' looks, temperaments, hobbies, eating habits, and everything in between. Which one would you choose to be kidnapped by? There is only one way to find out! From all of us at Too Close To H...

Stephen and Cary may have been brothers, but they were alike in blood only. While one embodied goodness, the brother we are covering in part 2 of this series had wires crossed from the beginning. Exacerbated and awoken from the vast familial and media attention surrounding Stephen, Cary’s murderous tendencies led to a killing spree in 1999 which made him known as the Yosemite Park Slayer.

As we all are enjoying our families during this holiday season, it is important to remember that some families out there have missing loved ones. Rachel Carroll from Tamaqua, Pennsylvania reached out to us seeking help in finding a loved one of her own: Jesse Farber-Rex. In this special episode, Rachel was kind and brave enough to allow a personal interview to help shed light and bring exposure to...

In this heart-wrenching series, we are looking at the tragedies that fell upon the Stayner family, and these events are on completely different ends of the spectrum. In part one, we look into the kidnapping and sexual abuse of 7-year old Stephen Stayner at the hands of child molester Kenneth Parnell. Stephen's innocence is matched only by the goodness in his heart, and his bravery saved not only h...

"... And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood..." This is where the road ends, and it is a dead-end filled with pain and blood. For the series finale on Ji...

In the spirit of the spooky season, we are giving you a bit of a palate cleanser before we go off the deep end in the bitter Jonestown finale! Trust us… you need it. In our first Halloween special, we explore one of the OG’s of horror legend: the headless horseman! We bet some of you didn’t know the history of this ghastly equestrian goes deeper than the titular character from Sleepy Hollow; it ha...

Make sure you have used the latrine hole and buckle up tight, because we are putting the pedal to the metal in this rickety People's Temple bus. Destination? Jonestown! In this super-sized penultimate episode in our People's Temple series, we explore in-depth the destitution plaguing Jonestown, the daily physical and mental abuse, and the unrest which followed. With defections, political attention...

Scott Mackenzie once sang, "If you're going to San Francisco, you're going to meet some gentle people there". This song was not written with Jim Jones in mind! In part three of this in-depth series, we see the establishment of the People's Temple headquarters in San Francisco, the rise of Jim Jones' short-lived political career, the escalating abuse, and what became the Temple's biggest ideology s...

In the formative years of your average new church, one may expect the usual fare: growing your congregation, fundraising efforts, and even refining your philosophy and vision. When it comes to the People’s Temple, however, this fare also includes amphetamines, headshots with healing powers, congregational F*%# chants, and a healthy dose of Socialism! In part 2 of our series on Jim Jones and the Pe...

Hold onto your butts and mind the flavor-aid, because this is part one of a massive series on Jim Jones, the People’s Temple, and all the groundwork laid for Jonestown. We are going back to the beginning and looking at Jim Jones’ childhood, his “career” path, and the events which led to the founding of the People’s Temple. The story of the mother of all cults begins now!

Welcome back to our sickness everyone... we have missed you immensely! After bouts of COVID for both families, school starting up again, and some much needed R&R, we are back with a vengeance! We are coming at you hard with some fun and the seer of despair himself: The legendary Mothman! Many people have heard about the events of Point Pleasant, but those piercing red eyes have actually been s...

A certain movie taught us that ohana means family... and that remains true even in the afterlife! As we whisk ourselves away to the beautiful island chain of Hawaii, you notice that there may be more around you than luau's and rich cuisine. When you hear a storm approaching, with the echoing sounds of chanting and drums all around you, it may be a foreboding sign of the ancestor warrior spirits kn...

Welcome to the southernmost point of the United States, where Cuba is next door, hurricanes abound, and weirdness lurks around every corner! Today we feature the colorful history of Key West, a fear-inducing doll that demands your reverence, and a “doctor” who remained infatuated with a beautiful woman… even after her death. The Conch Republic is calling; are you brave and weird enough to answer?

The 3rd Infantry Division has a very storied history; it is famously known for the defense of the Marne River during World War 1, and for decorated soldier Audie Murphy, but it is also infamous due to a cult/paramilitary group which grew within its own ranks. In this not oft publicized story, we discuss what makes this a “too close to home” story for Jimmy, the life and downfall of leader Isaac Ag...