Shows
The Weirdest Thing"Holy sh*tballs!"We've got another WILD art-heist story this week. Amelia tells Scotty the tale of WIllem de Kooning's 1955 masterwork "Woman-Ochre," the...ahem...eccentric couple who (likely) boosted it from the University of Arizona Museum of Art, and the New Mexico antique-store owners who played an integral role in its eventual rediscovery.2025-05-091h 21
The Weirdest ThingTWT Pocket Size #10: "Hearts of Darkness"/"Every Little Step"Scotty and Amelia dive into two of their favorite respective documentaries this week, specifically dealing with big egos, wild creative visions, and singular artistic ambitions. They start with 1991's "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse," which is about the making (and near unmaking) of 1979's "Apocalypse Now," and how the out-of-control production nearly drove director Francis Ford Coppola over the edge. They follow that up with 2008's "Every Little Step," which details the casting process behind the 2006 Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line," and how that process--cattle-call auditions, grueling rehearsals, brutal callbacks--reflects the storyline of the original 1975 musical.2025-04-301h 13
The Weirdest Thing"The Dark Side of the Rainbow."Scotty's been teasing this one for awhile. This week he delves into another rock-and-roll urban legend--and the history of his all-time favorite band--when he tells Amelia the story of Pink Floyd's 1973 album "The Dark Side of the Moon," and its strange (and disputed) connection to the classic 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz."2025-04-251h 14
The Weirdest ThingTWT Pocket Size #9: 2025 TV Roundup: The Traitors/Yellowjackets/The PittWell, it's no surprise Scotty and Amelia have a lot to say about the latest seasons of "The Traitors" (Peacock) and "Yellowjackets" (Showtime), but they're also boiling over with opinions on probably the best new show of 2025--HBO's surprise new medical drama "The Pitt."
WARNING: This episode is FULL of spoilers. If you want your ears to remain properly virginal on the respective shows discussed, the timecodes are listed below:
"The Traitors" discussion: approx. 2:30 to 15:00
"Yellowjackets" discussion: approx. 15:00 to 27:20
"The Pitt" discussion: approx: 27:20 to the end.2025-04-1642 min
The Weirdest Thing"Thanks, Mom..."In this first episode of 2025, Scotty and Amelia speak briefly about the personal losses that kept them away from the podcast for the past few months, before paying tribute to the lives and bodies of work of two fallen icons of both Hollywood and New Mexico--Gene Hackman and Val Kilmer.2025-04-111h 27
The Weirdest Thing2024 Wrap-up: Part Two!From the feminist horror of films like Zoe Kravitz' "Blink Twice" and Anna Kendrick's "Woman of the Hour," to the Brat-era "girl pop" of Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter, Amelia and Scotty talk about some of the prevailing pop-culture trends they observed in 2024.
WARNING: Spoilers for "Blink Twice" and "Woman of the Hour."2024-12-201h 50
The Weirdest ThingTWTPocket Size #8: Pet PeevesFlames! Flames on the side of my face! From online drama to grabby doorknobs, Scotty and Amelia go through just a few of the things that set their emotional pots to a boil.2024-12-1142 min
The Weirdest Thing2024 Wrap-up: Part One!This year was...well, it sure was something, wasn't it? This week, Scotty and Amelia decided to focus on the positive and talk about what they loved from this epic brick-to-the-face of a year. From gigantic, empire-destroying sandworms to massive, genre-busting albums, they take you through some of their very favorite pop-cultural artifacts of 2024.2024-12-061h 45
The Weirdest ThingTWT Pocket Size #7: Comfort WatchesNovember was an upsetting month for most of us (for obvious reasons), so Amelia and Scotty decided to offer up a few of their favorite pop-cultural security blankets for your listening pleasure. Do you like watching burly dudes (and more than a few ladies) pound hot metal into swords then smack them into things to see if they'll break? Or maybe you'd rather laugh along with the trials and tribulations of a small-town parks and recreation department in Pawnee, Indiana?
Yes... these are their favorite comfort watches.
And prepare yourself for a very important The...2024-11-2751 min
The Weirdest ThingTWT Pocket Size #6: Favorite TV PilotsIn this not-so-pocket-sized Pocket Size episode, Scotty and Amelia break down a few of their favorite TV pilots of all time. These shows exposed us all to the terrifying mysteries of a distant island in the South Pacific and the uncanny creepiness of a logging town in the Pacific Northwest, took us into the hallowed hallways of the White House and an advertising firm in 1960s Manhattan, and more. And these are those initial episodes that hooked us and made us come back for more.
NOTE: Due to ... well, gestures broadly at the world ... Scotty and Amelia...2024-11-131h 00
The Weirdest Thing"Mountain devils."Scotty takes us back a full hundred years to introduce Amelia and the listeners to a true North American icon. That's right... we're finally meeting the big hairy lunk himself--Bigfoot--with the story of the Ape Canyon Incident of 1924.
Don't tell Mothman, lest he get jealous...2024-11-0852 min
The Weirdest ThingTWT Pocket Size #5: Haunted PlacesA particle accelerator haunted by the ghost of a pioneer woman...train tracks protected by the spirits of dead children...Amelia and Scotty close out spooky season with this Pocket Size episode about just a few of their favorite haunted places.2024-10-3030 min
The Weirdest Thing"Old timey sick burn."We're coming up on the end of spooky season (technically, at least; Scotty might argue the point), and so Amelia is taking us out onto the high seas with a few harrowing tales of ghost ships. From a flash-frozen crew drifting through the arctic ice to a spectral South American party boat, this episode has it all...including perhaps the most famous confirmed ghost ship of all time.2024-10-251h 06
The Weirdest ThingTWT Pocket Size #4: Urban LegendsCreepy literary houses, terrifying true(ish) crimes, and one infamous Hollywood myth... Scotty and Amelia take you into a few of their favorite urban legends for this latest Pocket Size spooky season entry.2024-10-1646 min
The Weirdest Thing"Redrum..."Scotty FAMOUSLY hates Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" (1980). He hates it so much, in fact, that he's never even bothered to ask Amelia what she thinks about it. This week they rewatch and discuss the filmmaker's take on the classic Stephen King novel, talk about how it works as a horror movie and as a film in general, and then tackle Mike Flanagan's divisive 2019 adaptation of King's bizarro sequel, "Doctor Sleep."
Will Scotty change his mind? Will Amelia add this film to her recent Favorite Scary Movies list? Will anyone ever come up with a better screen name...2024-10-111h 40
The Weirdest ThingTWT Pocket Size #2: Amelia's Top 5 Scary Movies!In our second Pocket Size episode, Amelia continues to celebrate spooky season with her list of her top 5 scary movies. These are all such bonafide, indisputable classics that even a horror dork like Scotty can brook no argument here.
WARNING: Again...these are all CLASSICS. So don't come complaining to us about spoilers.2024-09-181h 01
The Weirdest ThingTWT Pocket Size #1: Scotty's Top 5 Romantic Comedies!Wait, what's happening? An episode on an off week? And on a WEDNESDAY?!?
It's fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes! Volcanoes! The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together...MASS HYSTERIA!
Actually, Scotty and Amelia have just decided they can't get enough of talking to each other on microphone...and that means talking to y'all, of course. So on the weeks where they're not doing a main episode, they've decided to keep the conversation going. About what, they don't...2024-09-0444 min
The Weirdest Thing"Bureaucratic bullsh*terry."Amelia takes us back to the tragic and infamous 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese and explains how it contributed to the development of the emergency "911" telephone system--but she also talks about how the bureaucratic bullsh*ttery of this episode's title has lead to flaws which continue to plague that system to this very day. Plus, Scotty and Amelia spend a few minutes at the top of the episode talking about Aaron Sorkin's sometimes brilliant but often frustrating 2012 "West Wing"-followup "The Newsroom" (available to stream on Max). And Amelia gets Scotty excited about the upcoming Jason Reitman film "Saturday Night,"...2024-08-161h 07
The Weirdest Thing"IHOP steak."This week Scotty and Amelia discuss two deeply beloved films...well, beloved by them, at least. These are movies that received a shocking amount of (at best) apathy or (at worst) hatred from fans and critics at the time of their release. But your cohosts have taken them into their homes and hearts like abandoned puppies in a snowstorm.
Scotty's pick is the 1997 film "The Rainmaker," based on the novel by John Grisham, starring a fresh-off-the-apple-truck Matt Damon, and co-written and directed by a then down-on-his-luck Francis Ford Coppola. Critics didn't hate the movie, but audiences largely...2024-08-021h 42
The Weirdest Thing"Not trauma porn."Scotty pays tribute to one of his favorite actors -- the recently departed Donald Sutherland -- with this episode's story about the making of the 1973 horror classic "Don't Look Now," along with his review of the film and Sutherland's performance (spoiler: he's a pretty big fan). And Amelia kicks things off with an impromptu endorsement of her new favorite brand of kombucha!
SPOILER WARNING: Scotty tries to avoid major plot details for "Don't Look Now," but there are a few minor reveals along the way.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses the death of a child.2024-07-191h 25
The Weirdest Thing"Bullying seamen."We've got another short episode this week. Scotty brings you the tale of an Edwardian-era Clash of the Titans, when the burgeoning legend of escape artist and illusionist Harry Houdini was very nearly undone by an eager young gym owner--and future horror writer--named William Hope Hodgson. Plus Scotty and Amelia UNAPOLOGETICALLY discuss the recent casting announcement for season three of The Traitors.2024-06-0752 min
The Weirdest Thing"Dedicated oddballs, glamazons, and creatures of the night..."This week Scotty does a deep dive into the history of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," and describes how it went from smash stage hit to cinematic flop to perhaps the most beloved cult film of all time. He and Amelia conclude with a conversation about the more positive aspects of fan culture, and how it can provide a refuge for folks who've been otherwise excluded from the mainstream.2024-05-101h 22
The Weirdest Thing"A golden ear."This week Amelia presents a bit of an amuse-bouche of an episode, with her story about the history of "the Wilhelm scream" and how it became perhaps the most recognizable sound effect in movie history. Scotty and Amelia also reminisce fondly about a few of their not-so-glamorous experiences on movie sets over the years.
To watch a compilation of clips of the Wilhelm scream, click here: https://youtu.be/Zf8aBFTVNEU?si=G0nt1Jzr6vPhtwzd
To hear the full original recording of the scream, click here: https://blog.freesound.org/?p=15152024-04-2655 min
The Weirdest Thing"Great Story! -- Our 100th Episode"HELLO, boils and ghouls! We made it to 100 episodes! And in celebration, we've got yet another WEEEIRD story for you this week! Your GhouLunatic host Scotty takes his partner Amelia deep into the rat-infested catacombs of 1950s horror comics, where rotting corpses rise from the grave and the putrid stench of pearl-clutching U.S. Senators threatens to bring down an entire industry of writers, artists, and misfit FREAKS!
Would you like us to stick around for another 100 episodes? Well, kiddies...be careful what you AX for...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!2024-04-121h 24
The Weirdest Thing"The Hipster Effect."This week Amelia talks about the concept of generations--from Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway's storied "Lost Generation," all the way up through today's "Zoomers" and Generation Alpha. And she and Scotty use irrefutable science and logic to determine which of the previous century's many generations is, in fact, the best (spoiler alert: it's obviously Generation X).2024-03-291h 45
The Weirdest Thing"Ramon Raquello and His Orchestra..."Don't adjust that dial (actually do, because Scotty kind of screwed up the level on his audio track )...this week's episode is about an alien invasion. Or so Orson Welles would have you believe. That's right; Scotty is bringing you the story of Mercury Theatre on the Air's infamous 1938 broadcast of H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds," the "panic" it created, the headlines it generated, and he finally answers the eternal question: was Welles a total genius, a massive douchebag, or maybe both at the same time?
WARNING: Scotty really did kind of mess up...2024-03-151h 41
The Weirdest Thing"F.T.S.O.D."Break out your popcorn buckets, because Scotty and Amelia are going back to the movies this week with a special Oscars episode. They start off with some strong opinions about two of this year's big Best Picture contenders: Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" and Cord Jefferson's "American Fiction." They follow that up with some, er, maybe less strong opinions about Alexander Payne's "The Holdovers" and Celine Song's "Past Lives." They close out with a few thoughts on "Godzilla Minus One" and "Saltburn," two films that got some serious Oscar buzz but came up short on nominations.
2024-02-161h 51
The Weirdest Thing"A threat to the patriarchy."This week Scotty reviews a pair of documentaries about two seminal bands who coincidentally share the same morbid name, while Amelia relates the story of the inspiring life and work--and the infuriating death--of Cuban-American artist Ana Mendieta. They conclude with some more Oscar talk; Scotty finally shares his thoughts on "Barbie" and talks about "The Zone of Interest," while they both rave about "Society of the Snow."
CONTENT WARNING: Amelia's story discusses sexual assault, violence against women, murder, and suicide.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2024-02-022h 06
The Weirdest Thing"Germanism and gloom..."Happy 2024, everyone! For our first show of the new year, we have a couple wildly different stories for you. Amelia tells the tale of how one guy stole an idea and turned it into one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world. Meanwhile, Scotty details the sad life and strange death of Edgar Allan Poe. Since we're coming into Awards Season, we also spend a few minutes at the beginning talking about the movies "Oppenheimer" and "The Iron Claw."
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2024-01-192h 12
The Weirdest Thing"Sushi on the bagels."Happy holiday season, everybody! We've got a couple wildly divergent stories for our final episode of 2023. Scotty talks about the strange--and disturbing--rise of Andrew Dice Clay, and how the comedian became trapped within the ugly confines of his own character. Amelia provides a refreshing glass of egg nog, however, with her discussion of the origins of some popular Christmas traditions. We also spend a few minutes at the end talking about our favorite Christmas songs.
CONTENT WARNING: Scotty's story deals with racism, misogyny, and homophobia, and features language the listeners may find objectionable.
This podcast...2023-12-081h 33
The Weirdest Thing"All the coyotes..." (with Shannon C.F. Rogers)This week Scotty and Amelia welcome author/longtime friend Shannon C.F. Rogers onto the pod to discuss her new novel "I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom" (2023, Feiwel & Friends), named one of the "20 Best Books to Read in July" by Kirkus Reviews and one of "The Best New YA Books of July 2023" by Paste Magazine.
We also talk about fan fiction,"The Animorphs," grief, growing up in New Mexico, the teenage mind, "Breaking Bad," and more. And Shannon even brought the WEIRD with the story of a terrifying creature from Filipino folklore. This was a fun, wide-ranging conversation...2023-11-101h 24
The Weirdest Thing"If it's for science, it's fine..."We're closing out spooky season with a couple spooky-adjacent stories this week. Scotty talks about the bizarre and ultimately deadly story of the "Hammersmith Ghost," and Amelia takes us through the history of one of Disney's most popular rides: the Haunted Mansion.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-10-271h 27
The Weirdest Thing"The Scottyist thing you've ever Scottyed..."We're leaning hard into spooky season this week. Amelia talks about the grisly origins of the infamous "The Girl with the Green Ribbon" story, while Scotty takes us through the making and ignominious release of the "cursed" horror movie "Incubus," the first film ever made in the constructed Esperanto language.
CONTENT WARNING: Our stories this week touch on murder, execution, and suicide.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-09-291h 25
The Weirdest Thing"Cluedo!"To really kick off the start of spooky season, we're easing in and going only lightly creepy this week with the histories of two murdery/eerie board games. Scotty kicks things off with the creation of the Ouija Board, and Amelia takes us back into the billiard room with a candlestick and the origin story of the game "Clue." We also spend a few moments at the beginning talking about the documentary series "Shiny Happy People," and we have a ton of fun at the end dream-casting our perfect "Clue" movie remake.
CONTENT WARNING: The "Shiny Happy...2023-09-151h 46
The Weirdest Thing"Debunk the debunktions..."In an interesting role reversal, Amelia is the one who goes super dark this week with her story about the enduring mystery of the "Atlanta Blood House." Meanwhile, Scotty takes us back to Seattle with the infamous "Lexicon of Grunge" hoax.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-09-011h 15
The Weirdest Thing"Everyone wants to go to The Sewer!"This week Scotty talks about how a down-on-his-luck Detroit musician became a cultural icon on another continent without him even knowing about it, and Amelia explores the very strange and twisty tale of "Miranda Grosvenor," the "Sweet Talker to the Stars."
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-08-181h 28
The Weirdest Thing"Kuzka's Mother..."Welcome to another episode that only makes sense in the land of The Weirdest Thing. This week Amelia talks about the history of some of our very favorite cocktails... which she'll need to combat the stress dreams caused by Scotty's story about the Tsar Bomba, the largest nuclear weapon ever created. Mix yourself a drink and join us to watch the world burn!
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-08-041h 37
The Weirdest Thing"Thank you, Puritans! You d**ks..." (with Elizabeth Dwyer)Scotty's got family in town this week, so Amelia brought in actor/screenwriter and longtime friend Elizabeth Dwyer to guest host. They talk about the movies "Striptease" (1996) and "Hustlers" (2019), and how the cinematic depiction of sex work has evolved over time. And is it true that all you youngs have decided you don't want sex scenes at all anymore, period? Amelia and Elizabeth have thoughts.
CONTENT WARNING: Lots of sex talk this week. If you've got kids in the car with you...earmuffs!
To order Shannon C.F. Rogers' acclaimed new YA novel "I'd Rather...2023-07-211h 41
The Weirdest Thing"I WILL survive..."We're back with another yin-yang episode this week. Scotty goes grim with the story of South Africa's Boesmansgat sinkhole and the tragic death of cave diver Dave Shaw, and Amelia lightens(??) things up with an examination of changing beauty standards of the industrial era and how Coco Chanel and Josephine Baker turned tanning into a thing.
CONTENT WARNING: Scotty's story deals with drowning and all sorts of underwater unpleasantness.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-07-072h 00
The Weirdest Thing"Fun and such."Happy (continued) Pride Month! This week Amelia talks about the importance of "Bob Damron's Address Book" to pre-Stonewall gay culture, and Scotty continues his exploration of the life and work of author, filmmaker, queer icon, and shameless Hollywood gossip-monger Kenneth Anger.
To read Anger and filmmaker Stan Brakhage's cuckoo-bananas correspondence, go to: https://www.desistfilm.com.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-06-231h 47
The Weirdest Thing"Literary softboi."Happy Pride, everyone! This week Scotty presents Part 1 of his exploration of the life and career of author, filmmaker, and queer icon Kenneth Anger. Meanwhile, Amelia invites us all to experience the disaster bisexual dumpster fire that was Hans Christian Andersen.
To watch Kenneth Anger's "Fireworks" (1947) in its entirety, go to: https://vimeo.com/425202939
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-06-091h 31
The Weirdest Thing"P*ssy propulsion."In one of the stranger episodes we've done, Amelia talks about erotic performance artist, sex columnist, and celebrated burlesque dancer Honeysuckle Divine, while Scotty goes full tinfoil hat with the Nibiru Cataclysm Hypothesis and the very real possibility that there's a ninth planet lurking somewhere at the far reaches of the solar system.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-05-261h 38
The Weirdest ThingThe first ever Weirdest Thing AMA!!Welcome to the very first (and maybe only) Weirdest Thing ask-me-(us)-anything! After soliciting questions from our listeners, Scotty and Amelia talk about the genesis of their friendship, how the podcast got started, why softball is (maybe) a sexist sport, and the most embarrassing thing Scotty ever saw Amelia do. Nothing was off limits!
Link to watch "SEND" (2010), the first short film Scotty and Amelia worked on together: https://vimeo.com/16763539
Link to the "Horror from the High Desert," Scotty's new horror podcast: https://linktr.ee/horrorfromthehighdesert
Link to tickets for Duke...2023-05-121h 42
The Weirdest Thing"You wanna see something really scary?" (with Rebecca Rowland)Amelia is out of town this week, so horror writer and editor Rebecca Rowland is back for another impromptu edition of A Weirdest Thing! This week she and Scotty talk about some of their earliest influences–from the movie "Time Bandits" (1981), to the darkest episode of The Smurfs and the grislier work of Clive Barker–and how it all informed their development as horror writers.
To buy Rebecca's novella "Shagging the Boss," go to https://www.filthyloot.com/product/shagging-the-boss-rebecca-rowland/
To pick up her new anthology "American Cannibal," go to https://rowlandbooks.com/american-cannibal
To...2023-04-281h 31
The Weirdest Thing"Slenderman Barbie."Scotty's here to bum everyone out this week with the story of the Hartford Circus Fire of 1944 and the enduring mystery of "Little Miss 1565." Luckily Amelia is on hand to cheer us all up with a deep dive into the history of Barbie, one of the most revolutionary and iconic toys of all time. Plus, the inevitable spoiler-free discussion of the second season of Showtime's "Yellowjackets."
CONTENT WARNING: Scotty's story covers a LOT of death, including that of children.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-04-141h 42
The Weirdest Thing"Flying guillotines, basically."RIOT!! This week we delve into two of the dumbest music-inspired free-for-alls in recent history. Amelia details the infamous "Disco Demolition Night" at Chicago's Comiskey Park in 1979, and Scotty goes into the story of the Metallica/Guns 'N' Roses Stadium Tour of 1992 and its resulting "Battle of Montreal."
CONTENT WARNING: This week we talk about racism, sexism, and homophobia, and there are a few brief mentions of child abuse.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-03-311h 49
The Weirdest Thing"Go touch some grass..."Plans changed at the very last minute and we decided to do another impromptu movie episode, inspired by our viewing of "Cocaine Bear." This week we compare that film to last year's "The Menu" and talk about horror comedies in general. Also: a classic Amelia Ampuero Weirdest Thing rant!
WARNING: MASSIVE SPOILERS!! If you have not seen either "Cocaine Bear" or "The Menu," you should wait until you get a chance to catch up with them before listening to this episode.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes some discussion of suicide.
This podcast is...2023-03-171h 51
The Weirdest Thing"The amygdala hijack phenomenon..."This week Scotty goes through the history of the "jump scare," and Amelia details some past and current food trends that have helped shape society.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-03-032h 13
The Weirdest Thing"Ptooey on all this warlock naysaying..."In this return to THE Weirdest Thing podcast, Amelia talks about the fascinating history of the T-shirt, while Scotty takes us through the making of one of the biggest cinematic debacles of all time.2023-02-172h 06
The Weirdest Thing"Stalin's 'O' face..."Welcome to 2023! To celebrate the new year (and Friday the 13th), we're coming at you hot and hard this week with a few infamous curses. Scotty talks about three cursed tombs–including that of Egypt's Tutankhamun–while Amelia discusses the Superman curse. Plus some fairly extensive geekery around comic-book movies in general.
CONTENT WARNING: Amelia's story mentions suicide.
NOTE: When Scotty refers to Warren Beatty in relation to 1978's "Superman," he OBVIOUSLY meant Ned Beatty. He knows. You don't need to @ him.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2023-01-132h 18
The Weirdest Thing"Meat landscape."This week we decided to talk about two holiday season movies that manage to not be about Christmas. Scotty chose the classic animated film "An American Tail" (1986), which has become a bit of a Hannukah tradition for many Jewish families. Meanwhile, Amelia chose "Knives Out" (2019), a movie that is rapidly becoming the "'Die Hard' of Thanksgiving."
SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't seen "Knives Out," you should definitely watch it before listening to this episode.
To get your tickets for the 6th Annual Ugly Sweater Revue, visit the Duke City Repertory Theatre website.2022-12-0900 min
The Weirdest Thing"ABSOLUTELY fireproof!"We've got a couple morbid stories for you this (yuck) Black Friday. Scotty relates the wild, violent tale of the Bloody Espinosas of southern Colorado, while Amelia takes us deep into the mystery of "disaster ghosts."
CONTENT WARNING: This week's stories mention sexual assault, murder, plane crashes, and deadly fires. Happy Thanksgiving!2022-11-251h 30
The Weirdest Thing"...the boy that buys the beef."Spooky Season continues here at the Weirdest Thing podcast! Amelia takes us on a tour of some of Hollywood's most haunted hotels, and Scotty details the sordid lives and extravagant crimes of Scotland's Burke and Hare.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode is full of murder.2022-11-111h 42
The Weirdest Thing"The goth kids have it wrong..."Happy Spooky Season! This week Scotty talks about the New England vampire panics of the 18th and 19th century, and Amelia gives the true story behind the Winchester Mystery House. Plus some general musings about true crime and hauntings.
To read Scotty's short story "Basically Normal" in the Dark Matter Magazine Halloween Special, go to https://darkmattermagazine.shop/blogs/halloween-special-issue-2022. The issue is FREE to read online through Halloween!
To RSVP for the last weekend of "Opinionated Slut," go to https://www.dukecityrep.com/shows. The shows are being streamed live, so you don't even...2022-10-281h 41
The Weirdest Thing"Go past the smush smush..."We're coming into your earholes this week with a couple major natural disasters. Amelia talks about the 1985 Mexico City earthquake and the subsequent "Miracle of Hospital Juárez." Scotty describes the Great Peshtigo Fire of 1871, which remains the deadliest fire in U.S. history.
CONTENT WARNING: This week's stories both detail crushings, burnings, boilings, drownings, and just about any other horrible way you can think of to die. Proceed with caution.2022-10-141h 27
The Weirdest Thing"I'll show you the life of the mind!"Scotty tried to claim we were being lazy this week, but Amelia violently disagreed. Either way, we have another research-free movie episode for you guys, where each of us picked a favorite film that we knew the other would probably never watch on their own. Scotty chose the Coen Brothers' 1991 black-comic Hollywood horror/noir Barton Fink, and Amelia selected Alfonso Arau's 1992 adaptation of Laura Esquivel's magical-realist novel Like Water for Chocolate.
As Amelia said: to know these movies is to know us.
WARNING: We go DEEP into spoiler territory with both of these films, so...2022-09-302h 18
The Weirdest Thing"A sloppy three and a half..."THE Weirdest Thing is back! And this week we're coming at you with a couple stories about conflicts within the entertainment industry. Scotty kicks things off with Van Morrison's "revenge album" against Bang Records, and Amelia does a deep dive into the infamous Comedy Store strike.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses suicide.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2022-09-161h 59
The Weirdest Thing"Hot garbage." (with Mandy Connor)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 much much more. We also detail a shared haunting experience in Boston, and Mandy thoroughly freaks Scotty out with a terrifying story from her childhood that she'd never told him before.
...2022-08-261h 37
The Weirdest Thing"This means war!"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 story talks about animals murdering other animals.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2022-08-052h 05
The Weirdest Thing"A blob of need..."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 and murder.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2022-07-152h 29
The Weirdest Thing"Words are spells..." (with Danielle Robertson)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 podcast is powered by Pinecast.2022-06-101h 20
The Weirdest Thing"A Giraffe of Lions and Bears."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 for the summer. Break a leg, Amelia!
CONTENT WARNING: Amelia's story talks about the physical effects of intestinal disease, along with other disgusting things.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2022-05-051h 34
The Weirdest Thing"Paul is dead! Elvis lives!"This week Scotty and Amelia dive into two of the greatest conspiracy theories in the history of rock music.2022-03-241h 47
The Weirdest Thing"The moneyed intruder at the gate..."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 by Pinecast.2022-02-241h 43
The Weirdest Thing"What's wrong with suckling eroticism?!?"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.2022-02-101h 36
The Weirdest Thing"F***ing Illuminati sh*t..."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.2022-01-271h 26
The Weirdest Thing"Like, for real dead."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 deals with sexual assault.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2022-01-131h 55
The Weirdest ThingThe Weirdest Thing Afterschool Special Christmas Yuletacular!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.2021-12-232h 20
The Weirdest Thing"Easy to steal, easy to hide..."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 explicitly describe the murder of police officers.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-12-0900 min
The Weirdest Thing"Stuff your bird loosely."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 podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-11-251h 42
The Weirdest Thing"Humbug Billy."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.2021-11-111h 26The Weirdest Thing"Death Chair In Readiness!!!"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 1959.2021-10-211h 30The Weirdest Thing"Malicious schadenfreude."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.2021-10-072h 17The Weirdest Thing"Depression-era Photoshop."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 https://www.stonehamstudios.com
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-09-231h 58The Weirdest Thing"General awfulness..."This week Scotty talks about the bizarre and tragic death of scientist Frank Olson and his connection to the CIA's infamous Project MKUltra, while Amelia discusses the court case Madrigal v. Quilligan and California's shameful history of forced sterilizations. Plus a bonus, mostly spoiler-free discussion of Nia DaCosta's new "Candyman" movie.
CONTENT WARNING: this week's episode includes mentions of suicide, animal death, medical and scientific abuse, and humans being generally terrible to each other.
Trailer for Netflix's docuseries "Wormwood" about Frank Olson: https://youtu.be/b01DL8DTUGM
Link to the documentary "No Más B...2021-09-092h 30The Weirdest Thing"A perjurer of his own soul..."This week Amelia takes us through some of the most fascinating and bizarre "locked-room" murder mysteries in history, and Scotty dives into the terrifying (just ask Amelia) urban legend of the "black-eyed children."
CONTENT WARNING: There are some moderately graphic descriptions of wounds, as well as a few mentions of infanticide.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-08-192h 06The Weirdest Thing"Aunt Tillie, stop!"On this week's episode Scotty takes us into the terrifying true story that inspired "The Exorcist," and Amelia talks about the infamous murders(?) at Greystone Mansion in Los Angeles.
CONTENT WARNING: This week's episode talks about suicide.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-08-051h 43The Weirdest Thing"Confidently making mistakes."This week Amelia discusses the various tragedies and absurdities surrounding the Curse of the Hope Diamond, and Scotty finishes off his series on baseball by talking about the Negro Leagues and the life and career of legendary pitcher Satchel Paige. Plus a quick discussion of the Cleveland Indians' name change to the Cleveland Guardians.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-07-291h 54The Weirdest Thing"Murder lobbyists..."This week Scotty talks about Shoeless Joe Jackson and the “Black Sox” scandal of 1919, and Amelia takes us deep inside Yellowstone National Park’s “Zone of Death.” Plus a brief discussion of Peacock’s new—and incredibly disturbing—limited series “Dr. Death.”2021-07-221h 29The Weirdest Thing"They ain't gonna win no more!"Take me out to the ballgame! This week Amelia tells the story of the Battle of Chavez Ravine and the controversy surrounding the construction of LA's Dodger Stadium, and Scotty takes us through the ridiculous history of baseball's most famous curses.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-07-081h 37The Weirdest Thing"Some real 'pick me' energy..."This week Scotty takes us through the wild tale of the infamous Philadelphia Experiment, and Amelia explores the fascinating–and disturbing–world of serial-killer groupies.
(CONTENT WARNING: This week's episode touches on issues of sexual abuse and violence.)
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-07-011h 34The Weirdest Thing"Welcome to Halifax!"This week Amelia talks about the surprising reason behind a three-decade rise in violent crime, and Scotty discusses the disastrous Halifax explosion of 1917.2021-06-241h 33The Weirdest Thing"The category is...!"Happy Pride, everybody! In honor of this month's celebration, Scotty talks about heavy metal god/gay icon Rob Halford of Judas Priest, while Amelia takes us through the fraught but inspiring history of ball culture.
(CONTENT WARNING: This week's episode touches briefly on issues of sexual abuse.)
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-06-1000 minThe Weirdest Thing"Kennedy solved!!"This week Amelia tells the haunting and heartbreaking story of Japan's "tsunami ghosts," and Scotty introduces us to "the first artist to walk on the moon," Alan Bean.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-06-031h 28The Weirdest Thing"Do eyelashes have feelings?"This week Scotty explains how author/artist/filmmaker Clive Barker completely redefined the horror genre at the end of the 20th century, and Amelia talks about the shameful legacy of "yellowface" in both American film and theatre. Also, be sure to listen all the way to the end to hear Scotty get fact-checked in real time!
(CONTENT WARNING: This episode deals with themes of racism, as well as some sexually explicit content)
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-05-202h 14The Weirdest Thing"He sounds like a f***ing pill!"Another biographical episode! This week Amelia takes you through the incredible life and even more incredible deeds of the unstoppable Dr. Margaret "Mom" Chung, and Scotty wrestles with the troubled life and complicated legacy of one of his literary heroes, horror author H.P. Lovecraft.
(CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of racism and suicide.)
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-05-142h 25The Weirdest Thing"Shhleeping with Shhtackelberg..."We've got another musical episode for you! Scotty talks about blues legend Robert Johnson and whether or not he sold his soul to the Devil, and Amelia discusses Ludwig van Beethoven and the mystery woman behind his legendary "Immortal Beloved" letter.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-05-062h 04The Weirdest Thing"Hysterical paroxysms!"This week on The Weirdest Thing Amelia explains how concerns about female "hysteria" lead to one of the greatest inventions in human history, and Scotty talks about the bizarre life and even more bizarre death of "the Mad Monk" Grigori Rasputin.
For information on PMDD, go to https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/premenstrual-syndrome/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-04-291h 56The Weirdest Thing"Pirate throuple."Ahoy, mateys! Welcome to The Weirdest Thing's maritime episode. Scotty talks about the Bermuda Triangle and the mysterious case of the Carroll A. Deering, and Amelia introduces us to badass lady pirate Anne Bonny!
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-04-221h 27The Weirdest Thing"Tickling the dragon's tail."Welcome back! This week Amelia takes us deep into the history of lowrider culture, and Scotty tells the story of the infamous -- and deadly -- "demon core."
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-04-151h 38The Weirdest Thing"Take me to the Pleasure Zoom!"Welcome to our NON-Murdery Musical Extravaganza! Scotty gets all choked up about Carl Sagan and the Voyager Golden Record, and Amelia introduces you to the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet.
To learn more about the Golden Record and its contents, go to https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/golden-record/
To hear the Golden Record Playlist on Spotify, go to https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6pcuzwZSIw7OgL149bgJmZ?si=CvHovS5UQ0WDdLmVgttsuA
To hear the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet in full, go to https://youtu.be/zPGf4liO-KQ
This podcast...2021-03-041h 41The Weirdest Thing"...you kill the bogey."It's another aviation-themed episode of The Weirdest Thing. Amelia tells the harrowing but also inspiring story of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571... known to the world as the Miracle in the Andes. Scotty relates the absolutely bonkers tale of what happened to the crew of Federal Express Flight 705. These are stories about people doing WHATEVER it takes to survive!
CONTENT WARNING: This episode involves air disasters, cannibalism, and violence.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-02-251h 41The Weirdest Thing"Monster Machine!"Sorry for the delay! Scotty got knocked on his butt for a couple days by his COVID booster, but he's back in fighting shape now. We have couple creepy Los Angeles stories this week: Scotty talks about the infamous "Los Feliz Murder Mansion," and Amelia relates the odd and possibly supernatural history of the Knickerbocker Hotel. Plus a slightly spoilery discussion of the new Netflix documentary series "Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel" (don't worry, there's a timecode warning if you want to skip that part).
CONTENT WARNING: Both of these stories touch on issues...2021-02-191h 57The Weirdest Thing"...a little Barnum & Bailey."It's celebration time! February is both Black History Month and Women in Horror Month. Amelia tells the incredible story of Paul R. Williams, architect to the stars and the first black architect west of the Mississippi. Scotty takes you through some of his favorite women who write horror fiction, from the early Gothic era up to now.
Scotty would also like you to know that when he referred to "Robert W. Campbell's 'The King in Yellow,'" he meant "Robert W. Chambers." You don't need to email him. He's not stupid.
This podcast is powered...2021-02-112h 08The Weirdest Thing"Three or four bites of decadence."This was supposed to be a food-themed episode, but Scotty didn't read the rules. Instead, he tells us all about the Voynich Manuscript, possibly the most mysterious book in existence. Amelia (who did read the rules) takes us through some of our favorite foods' bizarre origin stories.
CW: We also have a discussion at the top of the show about the multiple abuse allegations regarding two celebrities.
Anyone interested in actually seeing the Voynich Manuscript for themselves should go to https://beinecke.library.yale.edu/collections/highlights/voynich-manuscript
This podcast is powered by...2021-02-042h 00The Weirdest Thing"Brains!!"The human brain is a wonderful, mysterious thing. This week Amelia takes us on a deep dive into the bizarre world of mirror neurons, and Scotty relates his own personal journey with synesthesia. Plus, Scotty talks about getting his first COVID vaccine shot! All you New Mexicans who still need to sign up, go to https://cvvaccine.nmhealth.org!2021-01-281h 50The Weirdest Thing"Bad Trash..."Happy Inauguration Week! This week on The Weirdest Thing Podcast, Amelia and Scotty decide to lighten things up and talk about the genesis of two works of art they find inspirational. Scotty tells the story of how Stephen King's wife, Tabitha, rescued his first novel from the dustbin. Amelia describes the origin and composition of Sam Cooke's undisputed masterpiece. Plus, our gushing review of the new film "One Night in Miami..."
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-01-211h 46The Weirdest Thing"Thank a Roosevelt!"Episode Notes
Welcome to the government overthrow edition of The Weirdest Thing Podcast! Amelia relates the tragic story of the Wilmington Massacre of 1898, and Scotty talks about an absolutely asinine plot to replace Franklin Delano Roosevelt with a fascist cabal in 1933.
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2021-01-141h 54The Weirdest Thing"Choose Dolly!"Episode Notes
Welcome to the Mega Murdery Musical episode of The Weirdest Thing Podcast! This week Scotty takes you deep into the horrific tale of the Norwegian "black metal" murders, and Amelia gives you a primer on the fascinating history of murder ballads. Plus some solid Dolly Parton appreciation at the end!
CONTENT WARNING: Scotty's story is particularly grim this week, and does include a fairly graphic description of a suicide. If you'd rather just skip to the somewhat less grim discussion of murder ballads, his story ends at about 1:33:35.
Also, for all...2021-01-072h 26The Weirdest Thing"Don't holler!"Episode Notes
Happy Hanukkah from The Weirdest Thing! This week our cohosts delve into the bloody deeds and bizarre death of gangster Dutch Schultz, and the absolutely badass life of "Queen of the Policy Rackets" Stephanie Saint-Clair. You'll also find out exactly what Scotty and Amelia think about the "Harry Potter" movies, Kubrick's "The Shining," and "Game of Thrones."
This podcast is powered by Pinecast.2020-12-172h 02