Well, I Laughed

A true-crime saga that starts with a dressage horse and ends with a shooting. In this jaw-dropping episode, Maia and Grant unpack the wild and winding tale of a barn drama that spirals from elite-level horse training into Facebook call-outs, police showdowns, and a shocking act of violence. After Maia moves her prized mount to a prestigious facility run by ex-Olympian Michael Barone, tensions buil...

Who was the "Irish Hamilton"? Join us in learning the jaw-dropping saga of Richard Martin, a man of passion who was just as likely to shoot you in a duel as he was to defend an innocent animal. Dubbed “Hair-Trigger Dick” for the 100-plus duels he survived and “Humanity Dick” for dragging a battered donkey into court and writing the world’s first anti-cruelty law, Martin was an 18th-century Irish M...

A listener episode! Listeners of Well, I Laughed share their connections with this week's theme "Down to Business". Polly details an uncomfortably close connection with a man known as Dr. Death. Ashley emailed in about the dangers of donating blood in a story so funny, we almost passed out. Nicole writes in with a friend or foe, deal or no deal story about a high school romance gone wrong. And War...

Grant takes the opportunity to share some "weird stories from Australia." He introduces us to an underground, deadly underwater cave system in the middle of a cow field known as "The Shaft" in Australia. Next, he covers the disappearance of Harold Holt. The Australian Prime Minister (and spear fisher) who was abducted by aliens, eaten by a shark, or something way more normal and boring. Finally, w...

Was Mulan real? Did Mulan exist? And, if so, how accurate is the movie Mulan? This week we get down to business to uncover the history behind our favorite female warrior. Maia spotlights three extraordinary women whose boldness and brilliance helped reshape East Asian and global history: Tamoe Gozen, a Japanese Samurai from the 12th century, whose bravery and romances were featured in Heike monoga...

A listener episode! Listeners of Well, I Laughed share their connections with this week's theme "Friend or Foe". from a chilling backyard skeleton discovery and a spirit finally laid to rest, to a 5th-grade art prize snub that turned into a marriage proposal. You also shared enemies-to-lovers glow-ups, high school heartbreaks, and a museum specimen bag labeled “99.9% sure it’s a bat.” Plus: ketami...

What happened to Laci Peterson, and did the media get it all wrong?  In this deeply researched episode, Maia and Grant unpack one of the most polarizing true-crime cases of the early 2000s: the trial of Scott Peterson. Maia walks us through the mysterious circumstances and tragic death of Laci Peterson. We meet her husband Scott Peterson, learn his alibi, and end up with some serious open question...

What is eco-terrorism and... is it all bad? In the 1990s the US government found out what happened when you anger young environmentalist and the power of positive reinforcement for things like sabotage. Grant covers who was the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the degree to which their crimes deserved the label "terrorist". Saviors of the planet, terrorist, or both? This week's episode of Well, I...

Laugh, cringe, and question everything you thought was normal—this jam-packed listener episode has it all. Maia and Grant spiral through a whirlwind of chaos, comedy, and oddly relatable life hacks—starting with the brilliance of a “receiving hour” to curb messaging guilt. From there, it’s off to the gym: Maia recounts a cardio mishap that ends in a starfish-shaped crisis, while Grant shrugs his w...

Criminal justice, true crime, and the bonds of family all clash in today's podcast episode! It starts with a story we've heard before. An innocent man is convicted of a crime he did not commit. Facing life in prison few believe in his innocence or his chances to overturn his conviction. Fortunately, for his sister, this is a hill she is willing to die on. Learn who is Kenny Waters, who is Betty An...

OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! And a story as odd as any we've told. A potentially unsolved mystery. A podcast episode about a spooky (and at times hilarious) cryptid that takes us from the streets of London, to the Isle of Man, to the space between walls. You will not believe what the creature ends up being, or what is ends up saying. That is, if you believe the story at all. Depends on the hill you'r...

Three true crime episodes in a set, well that's a first. The set, a Swedish Bank. The Players, Jan-Erik Olofsson, Sven, Sven, Maybe another Sven?, Kristen Enmark, Brigitta Lundblad, Elisabeth Oldgren, and Clark Olsson. Key events, The streets of Stockholm are swarmed as everyone wants to get in on the most exciting robbery of the summer. Bullets are fired, loves are forged, and Kaj Hansson makes a...

Jump back into one of the greatest unsolved heists in history? In Part 2 of our deep dive into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft, Grant and Maia pick up the story 48 hours after 13 masterpieces vanished—and the chaos really kicks in. From a scrapped smoke-bomb plan in the ’80s to Myles Connor’s audacious Rembrandt heists, they trace a tangled web of mobsters, shady art dealers, and maybe a...

A true-crime episode! Grant takes us to Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the night of the Gardner Museum Art Heist—the largest art robbery in modern history. We meet Myles Connor, Boston’s top art thief, wonder whether night guard Richard Abath was an unlucky bystander or an inside man, and learn about Isabella Stewart Gardner, the eccentric woman who built the museum and swore its lay...

Dive headfirst into a bizarre (and surprisingly emotional) parade of prophetic dreams that hit a little too close to home. We’re talking moose people on a mission, dogs turning into fully clothed humans, and a priest with psychic winter gear. From eerily accurate pregnancy dreams to a rainbow flag so powerful it sent missionaries packing, these stories blur the line between funny, freaky, and full...

Who was Victor Hugo, and why was he so cool? In this podcast episode about Les Misérables and it's creator, Grant shares the fun loving life of the great French writer, Victor Hugo. Part history podcast, part lifestyle guide, Hugo helped define and describe the era he lived through. We learn about the writing of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and the writers commitment to the less fortunate, both in...

In this chilling episode, Maia Warner and Grant Thomas dig into the twisted tale of Maria Martin—a young woman whose secret romance ended in betrayal, murder, and a shallow grave beneath the floorboards of a crumbling Suffolk barn. Set in 1827 and powered by prophetic dreams, shady love letters, and a suspiciously well-timed disappearance, this true crime saga has it all: scandal, séance vibes, an...

It is our first listener episode! Listeners from the Well, I Laughed universe share stories about surviving family curses, gay haircuts, a terrible first date story, and the unsettling "St. Mikulas" tradition in Prague! An episode of shocking, surprising, and funny episodes all about being Out and About. From blooming grief tulips to devils in daycare, this listener-powered chaos cruise has everyt...

Drag is art, drag is exciting, drag is… old? This week, Maia explores the history of drag. From drag in Ancient Greece and Rome and male only casts, to more contemporary artist like the work of Julian Eltinge. Maia shares the life of William Dorsey Swann, who was America’s first drag queen, or at least one of them. Taking us to the Drag Balls of Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance and the extrava...

Where did the phrase “coming out of the closet” come from? Is history gay? And if it is, why is gay history a secret? This week’s podcast episode looks at famous gay people in history. Including gay Kings of England and America’s first gay president, at least potentially. Grant and Maia also take on the controversy of learning gay history. Explore the perks of being a spinster. Before ending with...

Stories from the Reddit AITA page. The challenge of being a new mom with a clueless new father. A family that respects their daughters wishes. A family prank that went too far. And disappointing husbands that could do more to support their spouse. A series of funny Reddit stories about people who might have taken it a little too far. Excessive force AITA!   Grant Thomas and Maia Warner take you on...

A podcast on workers rights and the labor movement! Striking workers and unsafe working conditions, a uniquely American story. This week, Grant explores two historic moments in the labor rights movement. The Haymarket Riot in Chicago and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York. We learn more about Albert Parsons and Lucy Parsons, Clara Lemlich, and even get a surprise appearance from gild...

Today’s podcast episode is about a famous school rivalry. The rivalry between Denver University and the Colorado School of Mines. Maia covers some pranks that go too far. Pranks with explosives, hostages, and lots of ways to go wrong, at least a little. It is about more than a game of football, or a big white M on the side of the mountain. An episode on school pride and smart people doing dumb thi...

Stories from the Reddit AITA page. For Valentine's day we cover terrible dates. Being too honest with your friend about their dating expectations. Reacting to sudden hostility while grabbing drinks. And telling your friend they’re wrong, even when pressured not to. Four Reddit stories about dating, and terrible dating experiences.   Buckle up for the grand finale of “Plenty of Fish,” where Maia an...

Do aliens exist? Or are we alone in the universe? In this week’s podcast episode we explore Fermi's Paradox. Maia covers topics like the “great filter theory”, the day a UFO sighting stopped a football game with Ardico Magnini, the “coso artifact”, and the US Congressional Hearing on UFO sightings and the testimony of Retired Maj. David Grusch. An episode that addresses the question, if there are...