Weird Brunch

This episode brought to you by brown teeth.  Hayly befriends the original 1800s rich-people-swindler, Cassie Chadwick. Whitney defines job catfishing: what Ali Ayad did when he founded the 2020 fake digital design agency MadBird, and robbed hundreds of people of their services for 6 months.  Lisa gives us the science behind bad vibes, and the now-proven reason behind getting the willies. 

This episode brought to you by Sheila's Weekly. Whitney investigates the conflicting life and death of Cindy James. Hayly exposes the lies and delusions of influencer Belle Gibson. Lisa takes us on a Gilded Age tour of New York real estate. 

This episode brought to you by russet potatoes. Whitney launches into Starfish Prime and the race to nuclear bombs in space. Lisa tracks the infamous Kandahar Giant that was purportedly taken down by U.S. special forces in Afghanistan in 2002. Hayly encounters Gregor MacGregor, a Scottish conman who defrauded hundreds while creating 1822's own Fyre Fest, aka Poyais.

This episode brought to you by tyranny. Hayly gets acquainted with Billy Cottrell, the original "Florida Man" mayor of Cedar Key who reigned as a tyrant until U.S. forces intervened. Whitney details the history of Martha's Vineyard Sign Language.  Lisa discusses the abduction and disappearance of six-year-old Timmothy Pitzen.

This episode brought to you by probiotic thoughts. Lisa skips confession and opts for the age-old tradition of sin-eating.  Whitney details the mysterious disappearance and unexpected reappearance of Steven Kubacki. Hayly joins a gang of buffoons who plot to steal the body of President Abraham Lincoln and hold it for ransom. 

This episode brought to you by the Ikea family. Whitney fails upward with three of the worst startups of all time. Hayly remembers the life and mysterious death of Ronni Chasen, publicist to the stars.  Lisa is allured by the sordid and audacious history of Princess Caraboo.

This episode brought to you by the color brown. Lisa hikes into the outback to find Australia's newly sighted Yowies. Carina cashes in her fake money in the sandy ex-town of Singapore, Michigan. Whitney makes a bet with the Comte de Rochambeau.

This episode brought to you by sweet old ladies. Rebecca Cohen uncovers the real life horror inspiration for A Nightmare on Elm Street, Asian Death Syndrome. Lisa encounters Dorthea Puente, a sweet elderly woman in appearance, but a killer and swindler by nature. Whitney discusses the origins of Santa Claus, and hops down the chimney with the original Saint Nicholas.

This episode brought to you by the future of plastics. Whitney runs down the list of the world's most dangerous toys, including your own at home radioactive energy lab. Hayly details the mediocrity of Amy Bishop, a female mass murderer and delusional intellectual. Lisa recounts the heroic journey of Joe Medicine Crow, a Native American writer, historian and war chief of the Crow Nation . 

This episode brought to you by flirtatious bible verses. Lisa sashays into the American National Ballet that was founded and mismanaged by two skilled liars, Ashely & Doug Benefield, with political ties that go all the way to the top of the GOP. Whitney goes nuclear with America's most deadly energy drink, Radithor.  Hayly accidentally researched a story we've done in the past year (see S2 EP...

This episode brought to you by bag ladies. Hayly unravels the mysterious and unsolved case of the Sodder family. Whitney wrestles with wild tales of the Redneck Rave. Lisa details the tragic Keddie camping murders.

This episode brought to you by the Crypt Keeper.  Rebecca Cohen finds the deadly and lonely tale of Joyce Carol Vincent. Lisa recounts a 5 limbed monster in Enfield, the haunted Hotel del Salto in Colombia, and the story behind the term "saved by the bell." Whitney scales the walls of Fort Monroe, Virginia. A base so haunted that the U.S. Army acknowledges its existence. 

This episode brought to you by schlamassels. Carina sinks into two of America's most poorly designed skyscrapers, The Millennium Building in San Francisco and 432 Park Avenue in New York City. Lisa explores the tragic death of Brittany Murphy and her creepy husband Simon Monjack. Whitney time travels to the Roman empire where an ambitious poisoner known as Locusta of Gaul learns how to make a kill...

This episode brought to you by the spirit of Johnny Weir. Whitney jumps into a variety of haunted lakes.  Lisa takes a stab at the history of Sid Vicious & Nancy Spungen. Hayly details the lives of Ron & Joy Holiday and Chuck Lizza, who danced a little too close to their performance tigers and didn't end up quite as lucky as Siegfried & Roy.

This episode brought to you by toeology. Lisa details the war crimes and "salvation" of General Butt Naked in the First Liberian Civil War. Hayly raps with the Fox sisters, and has some fun with Spiritualism.  Whitney joins the Barker/Karpis Gang and their crime loving matriarch, Ma Barker.

This episode brought to you by Angela Lansbury. Lisa details the life of Christine Keeler and the Profumo Affair. Hayly spills the beans on the McDonald's Hot Coffee Case and scorched grandma, Stella Lieback. Whitney recounts the near-execution experience of Siti Aisyah, the oblivious assassin. 

This episode brought to you by too much Chicago talk. Lisa sifts through the dramatic mob story of Bumpy Johnson. Carina gives the first-person account of the dog lady prison escape. Whitney recounts Samuel Bronfman's kooky kidnapping.

This episode brought to you by Jason Isbell's tweets. Carina looks at the (almost) rise and (bloody) fall of Lee Miglin. Whitney excoriates Thomas Midgley for his bad, bad chemistry. Lisa revisits the scandal and mystery of Vince Foster's death.

This episode brought to you by hating Justin Timberlake. Whitney looks into the Bermuda, wait, no, the Lake Michigan Triangle. Hayly tells us about "Dr." D. Gary Young's miseducated misadventure to total oiliness. Lisa dives into the softer side of Yakuza life and its surprising history.

This episode brought to you by 2001's banned songs. Carina digs into the murderous history of Ireland tennis star Vere St. Legere Goold. Whitney figures out just how big bootlegger Mahalia Collins Mullens really was. Lisa details the life-saving freak show for premature babies that really did help?

This episode brought to you by Jesse Ventura's security clearances. Carina recounts the many predictions of the Lady of Lawers. Whitney dives into all the strangest Olympic sports. Lisa tells the story of Kathryn Bolkovac, an actual whistleblower.

This episode brought to you by mavericks. Lisa looks at the life of Norma Lee Nelson, the reluctant spokesperson for AND against abortion. Carina finds America's first known intersex resident, Thomas/ine Hall, who got an unusual legal punishment. Whitney follows the ill-fated voyage of The Mignonette, a cannibalistic feast followed by a trial.

This episode brought to you by huge-ass decks. Whitney digs into the hidden history and present state of government cheese. Lisa uncovers the grisly details about Charles Rogers and his piecemeal parents. Carina follows the exploits of CL Blood, a con man, a blackmailer, and a killer?

This episode brought to you by dog tags jingling. Lisa discovers the very literal origin of the garden gnome. Whitney tracks the downfall of RainFurrest in 2015. Carina tries to keep up with everything Helen Dettweiler did her life.

This episode brought to you by witch therapy. Carina investigates the Mother God cult of Crestone, Colorado. Whitney figures out why some people in rural Kentucky are literally blue. Lisa digs into the deep history of the Viper Room in Los Angeles.