The Modern Meltdown
Weird Crap in Australia
Welcome to "Weird Crap in Australia," a podcast hosted by Holly and Matthew, a husband and wife team with a passion for all things strange and unusual in the land down under. Each episode, Holly, a trained historian, and Matthew, a pop-culture enthusiast, dive into the weird and wacky aspects of Australian history and society. From the colonial era to the present day, they explore topics such as aliens, monsters, ghosts, and true crime, uncovering the stories and legends that have fascinated Australians for generations. As a social historian, Holly provides a unique perspective on the cultural...
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The Modern Meltdown
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Podcast website
Latest episode
Jul 6, 2026
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Episodes
Episode 028 - The Legend of the Kelly Gang Part 3 (1869-1880) 16.12.2018 1:20:12
Ned Kelly, perhaps Australia’s most famous outlaw, became a symbol of resistance against colonial authority in the 19th century. Born into a poor Irish immigrant family, Kelly rose to infamy as the leader of the Kelly Gang, a group of bushrangers who terrorised the state of Victoria. Known for their daring bank robberies, brazen confrontations with the police, and Kelly's iconic homemade armour, t...
Episode 027 - The Legend of the Kelly Gang Part 2 (1869-1880) 09.12.2018 56:00
Ned Kelly, perhaps Australia’s most famous outlaw, became a symbol of resistance against colonial authority in the 19th century. Born into a poor Irish immigrant family, Kelly rose to infamy as the leader of the Kelly Gang, a group of bushrangers who terrorised the state of Victoria. Known for their daring bank robberies, brazen confrontations with the police, and Kelly's iconic homemade armour, t...
Episode 026 - The Legend of the Kelly Gang Part 1 (1869-1880) 02.12.2018 57:30
Ned Kelly, perhaps Australia’s most famous outlaw, became a symbol of resistance against colonial authority in the 19th century. Born into a poor Irish immigrant family, Kelly rose to infamy as the leader of the Kelly Gang, a group of bushrangers who terrorised the state of Victoria. Known for their daring bank robberies, brazen confrontations with the police, and Kelly's iconic homemade armour, t...
Episode 025 - The Haunting of Picton Tunnel 25.11.2018 46:05
The Picton Tunnel, located in the New South Wales town of Picton, has long been the subject of eerie tales and ghostly encounters. The tunnel, which was constructed in the 1860s, is infamous not only for its dark history but also for the reported supernatural activity that has occurred within its walls. Over the years, many have claimed to experience strange phenomena, including unexplained noises...
Episode 024 - Australian Outlaws Part 5: The Lady Bushrangers (1861-1936) 18.11.2018 42:29
While bushranging was largely a male-dominated world, two remarkable women defied the odds to become legendary figures in Australian history. Mary Ann Bugg and Jessie Hickman were both infamous bushrangers who fought against the oppressive colonial system. Mary Ann Bugg, the daughter of an Indigenous woman and a European man, played a key role in helping her partner, the notorious bushranger, in h...
Episode 023 - Australian Outlaws Part 4: Captain Moonlite/Moonlight (1842-1879) 11.11.2018 1:03:38
Captain Moonlite, one of Australia’s most infamous bushrangers, left an indelible mark on the country’s colonial history. Born in Scotland as Andrew George Scott, he arrived in Australia as a convict, but after a failed escape attempt, he became a notorious outlaw. Captain Moonlite’s story is one of complex motivations – he turned to bushranging, not only to escape the harsh penal system but also...
Episode 022 - Australian Outlaws Part 3: The Bathurst Rebellion (1830) 04.11.2018 37:42
In 1830, one of the most significant uprisings in early Australian history took place at Bathurst, New South Wales. The Bathurst Rebellion was led by a group of convicts, tired of the harsh conditions imposed by the colonial authorities. Armed with little more than basic weapons, they staged a desperate and bloody revolt against the system that had oppressed them. Although the rebellion was swiftl...
Episode 021 - Australian Outlaws Part 2: The Cannibal Bushrangers (1824-1825) 29.10.2018 1:04:53
In the rugged wilderness of Tasmania, one of the most chilling tales of survival and murder emerged during the early 19th century. The Cannibal Bushranger, a notorious outlaw, is remembered for his gruesome acts that shocked the fledgling Australian colony. After escaping from a penal settlement, he and his companions resorted to horrifying measures to stay alive, with reports of cannibalism amids...
Episode 020 - Australian Outlaws Part 1: Black Caesar (1788-1796) 22.10.2018 36:45
In the early 19th century, one of Australia’s first bushrangers, Black Caesar, terrorised the New South Wales colony. Originally an African slave who had escaped captivity aboard a ship, Caesar became a feared outlaw, known for his strength and cunning. Operating in the coastal regions, he led a gang of fellow fugitives, targeting settlers, and is remembered not only for his crimes but also for hi...
Episode 019 - Ghost Lights of Australia 14.10.2018 43:03
Across the vast, dark expanses of Australia’s outback, strange and eerie lights have been spotted for centuries, with the most famous being the Min Min Lights. These mysterious orbs of light have been reported in various regions, particularly in the outback near the Queensland and Northern Territory border. Sightings often describe them as glowing orbs that hover or move erratically across the hor...
Episode 018 - Banjawarn Station and Aum Shinrikyo (1987-1995) 07.10.2018 52:05
In the mid-1990s, the remote Banjawarn Station in Western Australia became the unlikely site of a covert and chilling connection to one of the most notorious cults in modern history – Aum Shinrikyo. This Japanese doomsday cult, responsible for the deadly 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attacks, had set up a secret chemical weapons testing facility on the station’s vast, isolated property. Their goal w...
Episode 017 - The Rum Rebellion (1808) 01.10.2018 47:22
In 1808, one of the most unusual events in Australian colonial history unfolded – the Rum Rebellion. This was a violent and pivotal uprising against the New South Wales colonial government, instigated by the colony’s military officers and led by Major George Johnston. The rebellion was fueled by a power struggle between Governor William Bligh, whose strict policies angered many, and the New South...
Episode 016 - The Phantom Cats of Australia 24.09.2018 43:08
Australia’s wilderness has long been the setting for eerie tales of phantom cats, with sightings of large, mysterious felines that are believed to be either escaped exotic pets or the descendants of big cats brought in by early settlers. These legendary cats, often described as panther-like, have become part of the country’s folklore, with many reports of people spotting them in remote bushland, w...
Episode 015 - The Death of Azaria Chamberlain (1980) 16.09.2018 56:34
The disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain in 1980 shocked Australia and became one of the most controversial and tragic cases in the country’s history. Just nine weeks old, Azaria was taken from her family’s campsite in the Northern Territory by a dingo, according to her mother Lindy Chamberlain. Despite the lack of physical evidence, Lindy was wrongfully convicted of her daughter’s murder, a convic...
Episode 014 - The Legends of Pilliga Forest 09.09.2018 45:08
The Pilliga Forest, a vast and mysterious expanse in New South Wales, is home to some of Australia’s most eerie legends. Known for its dense trees and eerie silence, the forest has long been a source of paranormal activity and sightings of strange creatures. Among the most notorious tales are the encounters with large, unknown monsters that lurk within its depths. From shadowy figures to reports o...
Episode 013 - Pine Gap Listening Post 02.09.2018 1:01:09
Pine Gap, a secretive and highly sensitive Australian facility, has long been at the centre of international intrigue and conspiracy theories. Located just outside Alice Springs, this U.S.-Australian joint military base is a key player in global intelligence gathering. Known for its vast satellite communications capabilities, it plays a crucial role in monitoring military activities worldwide, mak...
Episode 012 - The Kickboxing Kangaroo 26.08.2018 50:00
Kangaroos, the iconic symbols of Australia, are not just beloved national creatures—they're also known for their unexpected and powerful display of strength and agility. From their unique hopping gait to their powerful kicks, these animals can be more dangerous than most people realise. One particular kangaroo became famous in the 1980s as the "kickboxing kangaroo," a mascot for Australian sportin...
Episode 011 - The True Stories of Wolf Creek Part 5: The Truth Behind the Title Cards 20.08.2018 46:44
Across Australia, thousands of people go missing each year, and while many are located, a significant number remain unaccounted for. The statistics surrounding missing persons cases are staggering, with some vanishing under mysterious circumstances, while others are lost to the unforgiving Australian wilderness. From backpackers lost in the outback to those caught in tragic accidents, the numbers...
Episode 010 - The True Stories of Wolf Creek Part 4: The Kimberly Killer (1987) 13.08.2018 47:08
The remote Australian outback became the setting for a terrifying killing spree that left five people dead. A charismatic yet unstable man terrorised the Kimberley region, ambushing unsuspecting victims in a series of brutal attacks. The murders, marked by their shocking violence and randomness, sparked fear in a once peaceful part of Australia and led to a nationwide manhunt. The case raised unse...
Episode 009 - The True Stories of Wolf Creek Part 3: The Snowtown Murders (1992-1999) 06.08.2018 1:01:30
A string of gruesome discoveries in Snowtown, South Australia, revealed one of the most disturbing crimes in Australian history. What appeared to be an abandoned bank vault held a horrific secret—barrels filled with human remains. The investigation uncovered a twisted web of manipulation, torture, and murder that shocked the nation. The case became infamous not just for its brutality but for the d...
Episode 008 - The True Stories of Wolf Creek Part 2: The Falconio Disappearance (2001) 30.07.2018 52:48
British backpacker Peter Falconio vanished without a trace on a remote stretch of the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory. His girlfriend, Joanne Lees, survived a terrifying ordeal, escaping from an unknown attacker in the darkness of the outback. Despite an extensive investigation and a conviction, Falconio’s body has never been found, leaving lingering doubts and unanswered questions about...
Episode 007 - The True Stories of Wolf Creek Part 1: The Backpacker Murders (1989-1992) 23.07.2018 58:12
Backpackers travelling through Australia began to vanish without a trace. Their remains were later discovered in the Belanglo State Forest, revealing a chilling pattern of violence that would shock the nation. The case exposed the dangers lurking in the Australian wilderness and led to one of the country’s most infamous criminal investigations. Though justice was eventually served, the crimes left...
Episode 006 - The Great Emu War (1932) 16.07.2018 40:32
Australia went to war… with emus. After a surge in emu populations devastated Western Australian farmland, the government deployed soldiers armed with machine guns to cull the birds. But the emus proved to be surprisingly tactical, dodging bullets and outmaneuvering their pursuers. What was meant to be a simple operation became a farcical military failure, earning the emus a place in history as th...
Episode 005 - The Monsters of Australian Waters 09.07.2018 57:27
Beneath Australia’s waters lurk two of the most formidable predators on Earth—sharks and crocodiles. From the saltwater crocodiles that dominate the northern waterways to the great white sharks patrolling the coastline, these apex predators have ruled for millions of years. With chilling attacks, near-mythical sightings, and legendary encounters, their presence has fuelled both fear and fascinatio...
Episode 004 - The Somerton Man (1948) 02.07.2018 1:09:12
The mystery of Somerton Man continues to baffle investigators and armchair detectives alike. On December 1, 1948, a man’s body was discovered on Somerton Beach near Adelaide, South Australia. He was well-dressed but had no identification, and there were no signs of injury or foul play. Even more puzzling, a small scrap of paper was found in a hidden pocket of his pants, reading "Tamam Shud," meani...
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