Shows
You Are GoodThe Hunger w. Chelsey Weber-Smith"Humankind dies one way, we another." In which we deconstruct vampires, addiction and serial monogamy in The Hunger with Chelsey Weber-Smith.Chelsey Weber-Smith (and American Hysteria) online:https://www.chelseywebersmith.com/This episode was made possible by your support! Thanks to everybody who supports us on Patreon and Apple Plus.https://www.patreon.com/youaregoodAlex’s zine!https://www.patreon.com/HighOccultureCarolyn's re...2025-04-161h 25You Are GoodThe Hunger w. Chelsey Weber-Smith"Humankind dies one way, we another." In which we deconstruct vampires, addiction and serial monogamy in The Hunger with Chelsey Weber-Smith. Chelsey Weber-Smith (and American Hysteria) online: https://www.chelseywebersmith.com/This episode was made possible by your support! Thanks to everybody who supports us on Patreon and Apple Plus.https://www.patreon.com/youaregoodAlex’s zine!https://www.patreon.com/HighOccultureCarolyn's re...2025-04-163h 05You Are GoodMulholland Drive w. Chelsey Weber-SmithIt's strange calling yourself. In which we, along with our very best pal Chelsey Weber-Smith, unpack Mullholland Drive and mourn and pay our respects to our spiritual Daddy David Lynch.THERE IS AN EXTENDED CUT OF THIS EPISODE ON PATREON AND APPLE PODCAST SUBSCRIPTIONS!Chelsey Weber-Smith / American Hysteria online:https://www.chelseywebersmith.com/MULHOLLAND DRIVE - An Interpretation by Guest Contributor Tim Greaves:https://www.money-into-light.com/2014/03/mulholland-drive-interpretation-by.html?m=12025-02-191h 27
American HysteriaInvasion of the Drones with Podcaster Gabe LennersGabe Lenners is the host of the new podcast Obscurum: Invasion of the Drones, which explores a mysterious wave of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena that happened in Nebraska and Colorado back in 2019, an event that has a lot in common with the recent wave of supposed drones seen in New Jersey and surrounding states. For this episode, I don my flexible skeptic hat while Gabe tells me about his illuminating experience reporting from the ground, first seeing drones himself, and then interviewing locals about their bizarre and sometimes frightening encounters. We also discuss some of the explanations from different government...2025-02-171h 00American HysteriaThe Jersey DevilThis Urban Legends Hotline episode features listener Brandon's inquiry about the legend of the Jersey Devil, a cryptid that has haunted the Pine Barrens of New Jersey for three hundred years. We will explore the various historical events that produced this creature's folklore: a dime museum's elaborate hoax, a radical Puritan woman said to have birthed a monster, a bitchy Quaker feud rife with satanic accusations, and the impoverished people of the Pine Barrens who helped cultivate the tale as a mode of protection. Become a Patron to support our show and get early...2025-02-1055 minAmerican HysteriaContext Clues: The Devil Went Down to JerseyThe famous cryptid known as the Jersey Devil will be the focus of our upcoming Urban Legends Hotline investigation. This episode will provide some context using excerpts from previous topics we have covered. Full episodes to check out:The Cannibal Pig People of Pig Hill (2023)Fake News (2020)Urban Legends (2021)Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentOr subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple PodcastsSound design and Production...2025-02-0353 minAmerican HysteriaYou Just Lost The Game with 'Spirits' PodcastJulia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin are the hosts of the podcast Spirits, a history and comedy show focused on mythology, folklore, and urban legends. Each week they pour a drink and deep dive into stories similar to the ones we cover here. On this episode, my new friends tell me the history of an early 2000s fad called The Game, one that you, dear listeners, have unfortunately already lost. Check out the Spirits podcast!Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus content2025-01-271h 16American HysteriaChicken Soup for the Soul pt. 2 with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'Sarah Marshall and I are back for a second helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul, the 1993 best-selling collection of "inspirational" and "true" stories. In part two I tell Sarah about the pair of motivational wealth coaches who created the book and then explain what is currently happening at Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment as new leadership has led it down a dark and exploitative path (allegedly). We'll talk more about the book's messages of neoliberal mysticism and prosperity gospel manifestation and put it all in the context of what is currently happening with the Chicken Soup for...2025-01-201h 37American HysteriaChicken Soup for the Soul pt. 1 with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'Many of you will remember the 1993 best-selling book of inspirational stories, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and its bite-sized, sappy triumphs of the human spirit. But shining a modern light on this book today, the collection hits a little bit differently. For part one of this two-part series, I tell podcaster Sarah Marshall of You’re Wrong About the history of this iconic text and read her some of its most batshit stories, and together we discuss their confusing and downright damaging messages. In part two, I’ll tell Sarah about the two motivational wealth coaches behind Chicken Soup for...2025-01-131h 24American HysteriaIn Pursuit of Pardons with Podcaster Shannon Lynch of 'The Alley: DC’s 8th and H Case'Shannon Lynch is the host of the podcast The Alley: DC’s 8th and H Case, a detailed look at the 1984 murder of DC resident Catherine Fuller and the eight young Black men who were convicted and sentenced to life in prison for a crime they did not commit. In this episode, Shannon will take us through the crime, the flawed investigation and trial, as well as the suppression of evidence that could have exonerated these men decades ago in hopes that the more their story is heard, the more likely it is that they will be granted a pr...2024-12-301h 06American Hysteria(Throwback) The Horror of Hallmark with Podcasters Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed of 'You Are Good'Because so many Hallmark writers and directors also make horror movies, I called in podcasters Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed of 'You're Wrong About' and 'You Are Good' to discuss the similarities between these two seemingly polar opposite genres.Subscribe to You Are Good and You're Wrong AboutGet tickets for our Live Show called A Massive Seance in SF and LABecome a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentHosted by...2024-12-231h 04American HysteriaBeyond Belief: Fiction or Fiction with Guide to the Unknown PodcastRemember the late '90s mystery show Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction? where you had to figure out which stories were true and which were fake? For this episode I tell the wild life story of the mysterious man who provided the "true" stories which were certainly beyond belief. I'm joined by wonder-siblings Will Rogers (our voice actor!) and Kristen Rogers-Anderson of Guide to the Unknown, a podcast that explores urban legends, the paranormal, horror movies, haunted places, and creepy pop culture. We take a trip down memory lane to discuss this cheesy gem which was also an early i...2024-12-161h 13American HysteriaThe Great Glawackus Hoax with Pat and Val of Connecticut CryptidsPatrick Scalisi and Valerie Ruby-Omen are the creators of the 2023 book Connecticut Cryptids: A Field Guide to the Weird and Wonderful Creatures of the Nutmeg State. Together they have documented Connecticut's most important cryptids, those elusive, folkloric creatures that have not been proven to actually exist but that pop up in different forms throughout time and all over the world. For this episode, Pat and Val tell me the wild story of the Glawackus, a 1966 hoax that got totally out of hand.Get a copy of Connecticut CryptidsGet...2024-12-0959 minAmerican HysteriaThe Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeFor the 100th anniversary of the Macy's Parade, we are looking at the chaos energy that has always animated this cultural institution, from its explosive balloon disasters to its surprisingly unruly origins.Get tickets for A MASSIVE SEANCE Live Show with You're Wrong About:linktr.ee/amassiveseanceBecome a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentOr subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple PodcastsLeave us a message on our Urban Legends Hotline or...2024-11-2658 minAmerican HysteriaContext Clues: All the World Loves a ParadeThis episode will give some context for our upcoming episode about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, its unbelievable chaotic origins and its totally out of control early days. Excerpts will be included from our War on Christmas Special, Haunted Attractions, Early Drag Queens pt. 1, and Toy Riots.Get tickets for A MASSIVE SEANCE Live Show with You're Wrong About:linktr.ee/amassiveseanceFull episodes to check out:War on Christmas Special (2019)Haunted Attractions (2021)Early Drag Queens pt. 1 (2023)Toy Riots (2019)2024-11-1847 minAmerican HysteriaArtificial Unintelligence with Perry CarpenterPerry Carpenter is the author of the new book FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions. For this episode, we are discussing what it means to live in a world where artificial intelligence is altering our reality more and more, how we can navigate a deeply uncertain digital future, and what it all has to do with human nature and the nature of folklore.Check out Perry book FAIK hereFind The FAIK Files podcast on Apple and SpotifyFind the Digital...2024-11-111h 22American HysteriaBuried Alive!In the 19th century, America and Europe experienced a panic over premature burial, believing that anyone could be accidentally declared dead and entombed before their time was really up. Led by a movement of quacky Spiritualists, the panic culminated in the creation of safety coffins with mechanisms that promised to save anyone who awoke six feet underground. Mere decades later, burial artists began performing all over America as a part of advertising gimmicks. They spent months underground in decked-out coffins, and the public could pay a dime to look down a viewing chute and see these "living corpses." For...2024-10-281h 00American HysteriaContext Clues: Grave Mistakes'Buried Alive,' our upcoming Halloween special, looks at the American fear and fascination with premature burial. We'll explore the panic that swept the nation in the 1800s, leading to the creation of safety coffins for those potentially entombed too soon, and the spectacles drummed up by eccentric performers who competed to see who could stay buried alive the longest. This episode provides more historical context through excerpts from our previous episodes, Death, The 12 Foot Skeleton, and Quackery.Get tickets for A MASSIVE SEANCE Live Show with You're Wrong About:linktr.ee...2024-10-2149 minAmerican HysteriaI Was a Teenage Poltergeist with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'Today Sarah Marshall transports us to the old world of British Hysteria to reveal the mysterious story of the Enfield Poltergeist and joins me at the seance table to discuss the great unknown and the ghosts we know. Donate to help those affected by the recent hurricanes:Mutual Aid Disaster ReliefBelovedAshevilleCentral Florida Mutual AidListen to You're Wrong About and You Are Good wherever you get your podcastsBecome a Patron to support our show and...2024-10-141h 38You Are GoodScream (1996) w. Chelsey Weber-SmithThere are certain RULES that one must abide by in order to successfully survive a horror movie! In which we go back to slasher school and revisit Scream with the incandescent Chelsey Weber-Smith. Chelsey's American Hysteria can be found online here.Magpie Cinema Club's cover of Red Right Hand and all their other songs can be streamed HERE!https://linktr.ee/magpiecinemaclubCorn Telethon streams on 10/15! https://www.corntelethon.com/2024-10-091h 20American HysteriaSkibidi ToiletGeneration Alpha has made the uncanny, creepy, and chaotic YouTube series 'Skibidi Toilet' into a viral YouTube sensation, so much so that a famous director may soon be taking it to the big screen, despite the fact that the phenomenon has been called both brainrot and dangerous to the youth. On this episode, we will explain what Skibidi Toilet is, hear about similar internet videos enjoyed by Millennials and Gen X, and learn about famous art movements like net.art, Dadaism, and Surrealism to see if we can fit the seemingly meaningless Skibidi Toilet into an important artistic lineage. 2024-10-071h 04American HysteriaContext Clues: Brr Skibidi Dop Dop Dop Yes YesOur upcoming episode is about the massively successful and deeply uncanny YouTube series Skibidi Toilet, the first content that Generation Alpha's influence has made into a world-wide sensation. Billions of views on YouTube and TikTok are attributed to the original videos and the innumerable fan videos that followed, and soon we may see this bizarro phenomenon on the big screen with a famous director attached. Skibidi Toilet has been called both brainrot and dangerous to the youth, and in this Context Clues episode we will explore transgressive creations of previous generations as well as some other online content that...2024-09-301h 04You Are GoodGarden State w. Niko Stratis and Chelsey Weber-Smith"If you can't laugh at yourself, life is going to seem a whole lot longer than you'd like." Y'all remember Garden State? Let's talk about Garden State with Niko Stratis and Chelsey Weber-Smith!Niko can be found online here.Chelsey's American Hysteria can be found online here.Magpie Cinema Club's cover of New Slang and all their other songs can be streamed HERE!https://linktr.ee/magpiecinemaclubYou can pre-order Carolyn Kendrick's new record...2024-09-251h 20American HysteriaThe Untold History of the NYPD with Chenjerai Kumanyika of Empire CityDr. Chenjerai Kumanyika is a Peabody Award-winning audio journalist and an assistant professor of journalism at New York University. His latest podcast, Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD “takes listeners on a journey to uncover the hidden history of the largest police force in the world – from its roots in slavery, to rival police gangs battling across the city, to everyday people who resisted every step of the way.” With the national spotlight yet again on the corruption and escalating violence of this increasingly militarized police force, it is necessary to understand the true roots of the NY...2024-09-231h 03American HysteriaTaylor Swift Decoded with Pop Music Journalist Brittany SpanosBrittany Spanos is a senior writer for Rolling Stone Magazine who has taught a course at NYU called Topics in Recorded Music: Taylor Swift, which analyzes "the culture and politics of teen girlhood in pop music, fandom, media studies, whiteness and power as it relates to her image." Today we are talking about conspiracy theories that come from within the hardcore Swiftie fanbase, and the ones that come from outside, often via the right wing media. Follow Brittany Spanos on Twitter and InstagramBecome a Patron to support our sh...2024-09-091h 04
Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & FolkloreAmerican Hysteria w/ Chelsey Weber-SmithWe are digging into urban legends near and far with our guest, Chelsey Weber-Smith of American Hysteria. We chat about the cross section of poetry and moral panic, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and where fear comes from. Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of conspiracy theories, spiders, clowns, child endangerment, home invasion, attempted murder, necrophilia, queerphobia/homophobia, illness, transphobia, patriarchy, GuestChelsey Weber-Smith is a queer, nonbinary poet-turned-podcaster working to understand both American culture at large as well as the mysteries of their own hu...2024-09-0455 minAmerican HysteriaElvis is Alive!The life of the conspiracy theory that claims Elvis Presley faked his death is an almost unbelievable journey through gimmick-crazy hucksters and true blue believers, the tales turning the king of rock and roll into something more like a cryptid than a superstar, evidence caught in blurry photographs and in secret messages, all covered up by shadowy forces. This zany story shows how conspiracies theories are born, how they transform, and how they never seem to die, no matter what, much like Elvis himself, allegedly.Become a Patron to support our...2024-09-021h 11American HysteriaContext Clues: The King is Dead ProbablyThe idea that Elvis Presley did not die in August of 1977, that he instead faked his death, has become one of the most famous and enduring conspiracy theories of all time, essentially elevating the former superstar to the status of a cryptid. For this context clues episode, we are revisiting our 2022 episode called Fangirls which covers the rise of music fandom, including Elvis'. Next week we will explore the bizarre, fantastical creation of the Elvis is Alive movement and the many strange players that brought this tale into the conspiracy theory hall of fame....2024-08-2655 minAmerican HysteriaThe Disney Gimmick That Conjured a Ghost with Jim Perry of EuphometOur paranormal correspondent Jim Perry is back to tell us about his recent ghost hunt inside the Queen Mary ship, where he discovered that Walt Disney had installed some ghostly gimmicks decades ago, inadvertently creating a haunting that continued on long after Disney sold the vessel. We discuss what happens when horror entertainment influences our consciousness and helps to create our modern relationship to the paranormal.Listen to Euphomet wherever you get your podcastsCheck out SpectreVision's other podcastsBecome a Patron to support our show and...2024-08-1258 minAmerican HysteriaTarantism: Dancing Mania pt. 2 with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'For part two of our series, we are returning to the phenomenon called 'Tarantism' that began in the Middle Ages in southern Italy where the bite of a local spider caused bizarre and contagious symptoms almost like that of demonic possession and the only antidote was trance-like, vigorous dancing. Today we look at all the theories about what caused this dancing mania: Was it all truly a reaction to the venom? A religious possession? A full-blown hysteria? A feminist revolt? Or an archaic cult’s secret rituals? Sarah and I explore these ideas and add a few unorthodox ones of...2024-08-051h 22American HysteriaTarantism: Dancing Mania pt. 1 with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'The phenomenon called 'Tarantism' began in the Middle Ages in southern Italy where the bite of a local spider caused bizarre symptoms almost like that of demonic possession. The only cure was to dance vigorously for hours or days with the dance itself seeming to become contagious. Was it all truly a reaction to the venom? A religious possession? A full-blown hysteria? A feminist revolt? Or an archaic cult’s secret rituals? Sarah and I try to figure it out over this two part series. Become a Patron to support our show and get ea...2024-07-291h 05American HysteriaSpider Slander: Confronting the Myths with Expert Rod CrawfordRod Crawford is the curator of the arachnids and related research collections at Seattle’s Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. His website called Spider Myths debunks the many misconceptions about spiders, and for this episode, he joins me to discuss some of these urban legends and bogus facts. Many of them may surprise you!Check out Rod Crawford's website Spider MythsBecome a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentOr subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple PodcastsF...2024-07-2246 minAmerican HysteriaThe Average Person Swallows Eight Spiders a Year in Their SleepFor this Urban Legends Hotline episode, we are dissecting the myth that the average person swallows a certain number of spiders in their sleep by following this false fact's bizarre and mysterious trail on the early internet, looking at other spider-related urban legends, searching for pop culture references to spiders in mouths, as well as old newspaper articles about the alleged dangers of swallowing spiders, and analyzing the surprising theories behind American's fear of these eight-legged freaks.Thanks to listener Rebekah for her submission!Become a Patron to support...2024-07-151h 01American HysteriaPretendians: Indigenous Identity Fraud with Robert Jago and Angel EllisFor this episode, the hosts of the new podcast Pretendians, Robert Jago and Angel Ellis, explain Indigenous Identity Fraud, the phenomenon of scam artists pretending to be indigenous in order to receive certain kinds of benefits. We talk about the motivations of these Pretendians, how they get away with it, the effects these charlatans have on the indigenous peoples they attempt to emulate, and how these living caricatures overshadow the true identities of various indigenous communities.Listen to Pretendians wherever you get your podcasts!Become a Patron to support...2024-06-1753 minAmerican HysteriaA Terrorist Attack on the Furries with Nicky WoolfFur and Loathing is a new investigative podcast from Nicky Woolf about an unsolved 2014 chlorine gas attack on the world’s largest Furry convention, an assumed safe place for those who create animal avatars using elaborate costumes. Nicky takes me through the case, shares his experience at a recent convention, discusses misconceptions and urban legends about the Furry community, and explains a dark subculture that lurks in the fringes of this otherwise inclusive and colorful world.Subscribe to Fur and Loathing wherever you get your podcasts!Become a Patron to...2024-06-1052 minAmerican HysteriaLong Live the Ray Cat with Emperor X and Matt KieltyReporter and Radiolab producer Matthew Kielty and musician Chad Matheny (AKA Emperor X) were both part of a 2014 episode of the 99% Invisible podcast called Ten Thousand Years that asked the same question we did in our Talking to the Future episode: how do we communicate warnings about nuclear waste to humans ten thousand years in the future when language, symbols, and familiar technologies have all fallen away? Matt was a contributor to the episode, helping bring the strange story to a much larger audience while Emperor X created a folk song containing lore about the Ray Cat (that biologically...2024-05-2058 min
Fascination StreetChelsey Weber Smith - Poet / Podcast Host (American Hysteria)Chelsey Weber SmithTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Chelsey Weber Smith.Chelsey is the host of the amazingly popular podcast American Hysteria. In this episode, we chat about why they got a master's degree in poetry, and how that specific degree helps in their current career. We also get into the pitfalls of running a small business and how to avoid some of them. Next up, we jump into the podcasting world. We discuss their first foray into podcasting with the Behind True Crime podcast, and some of the struggles...2024-05-2051 minAmerican HysteriaTalking to the Future: Nuclear SemioticsHow do we warn people 10,000 years in the future about nuclear waste sites that will remain extremely dangerous for longer than human civilization has existed? When language, symbols, and technologies are lost to time, how can we get our message across? Atomic Priesthoods, Radiation Cats, Forests of Thorns, manufactured folklore, these are just a few of the unorthodox ideas of government-sponsored academics trying to answer this baffling puzzle.Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentOr subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple Podcasts2024-05-131h 07American HysteriaContext Clues: Going NuclearFor some context for our upcoming series that we have not yet revealed, we will revisit excerpts from our past episodes: Horror Movies pt. 1, The End of the World, and Alien Abductions pt. 1 and 2. We encourage you to listen to the full episodes!Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentOr subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple PodcastsSound design and Production by Riley Swedelius-SmithEdited by Miranda ZicklerHosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith2024-05-0643 minAmerican HysteriaMagical Overthinking with Amanda MontellAmanda Montell is the host of the podcast Sounds Like A Cult as well as the author of the new book The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality, a collection of personal essays on various cognitive biases, those flawed ways of thinking that were very important for early humans but now cause all kinds of problems in our technologically advanced world. Amanda explains why these cognitive biases originally existed, how they manifest in the personal and political, and what we can do to understand, combat, and maybe even harness them to our advantage.2024-04-291h 05American HysteriaFrancine and the Wolves of Wall Street with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'Sarah Marshall joins me to chat about how, in 1968, one unsuspecting young woman’s bustline almost caused a stock market bust when thousands of Wall Street employees became obsessed with watching her walk to work. I also tell Sarah about an absurd 20-year-long craze called Girl-Watching that taught "genteel" men the "refined art" of covertly checking out women, as well as the avant-garde artist and feminist responses to the treatment of Francine Gottfried who would come to be known as the Wall Street Sweater Girl.Become a Patron to support our show and get ea...2024-04-221h 17
You're Wrong AboutHoax Spectacular! with Chelsey Weber-SmithSarah talks with Chelsey Weber-Smith, host of American Hysteria, about some of their favorite hoaxes—from the Loch Ness Monster to the Taco Liberty Bell—and ponder the value of pranks in a world of misinformation. You can find Chelsey here.You can find American Hysteria here. Support You're Wrong About:Bonus Episodes on PatreonBuy cute merchWhere else to find us:Sarah's other show, You Are Good[YWA co-founder] Mike's other show, Maint...2024-04-011h 03American HysteriaThe Society for Indecency to Naked AnimalsIn the late 1950s, an organization known as SINA started a campaign with the mission of clothing naked animals for the sake of decency. Today we will look at this bizarre moral crusade and its leader, whose life you'll have to hear about to believe.Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentOr subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple PodcastsFind us on Instagram @americanhysteriapodcastLeave us a message on our Urban Legends Hotline or get your mitts on some...2024-04-011h 06American HysteriaWhen Conspiracies Aren't Just Theories with Journalist Tom RisenJournalist and author Tom Risen is here to tell me about some of the real conspiracies that the CIA and the FBI were involved in from the 50s to the 70s and how, in 1975, one senator finally took these agencies to task, revealing shocking truths that would be used for decades to make the conspiracy theories we know today seem far more plausible. Tom writes about government surveillance and spy agencies and is the co-author of the bestselling book 'The Last Honest Man: The CIA, the FBI, the Mafia, and the Kennedys—and One Senator's Fight to Save Democracy,'"...2024-03-251h 16American HysteriaBigfoot's Big Adventure with Author John O'ConnorJohn O'Connor is the author of The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster, a cross-country adventure and investigation into the lore around Bigfoot as well as the personalities of those who spend their lives chasing this elusive creature.Get John's book hereProducer and Editor: Miranda ZicklerAssociate Producer: Riley Swedelius-SmithHosted by Chelsey Weber-SmithGo to factormeals.com/americanhysteria50 and use code americanhysteria50 and use code americanhysteria50 to get 50% off your order 2024-03-1853 minAmerican HysteriaGang Initiations pt. 2For the second part of this Urban Legends Hotline episode, we are continuing to explore various tall tales of ruthless gang initiations from the 1990s onward, as well as looking at the sweeping anti-gang laws of the 80s and 90s that had devastating effects on communities and categorized entire neighborhoods as gang associates, enacting severe punishments based on erroneous assumptions and outright lies.Call for a Ceasefire and Help End Civilian SufferingLeave us a message on our Urban Legends HotlineBecome a Patron to support our...2024-03-0454 minAmerican HysteriaGang Initiations pt. 1For this Urban Legends Hotline episode, we are answering a listener message about a story of street gangs initiating wannabes with frightening rituals including driving around with their headlights off and murdering the first good samaritan who gives them a courtesy flash. We'll explore several scares that have flared up due to different versions of this urban legend, as well as real crimes wrongfully blamed on these initiations, all leading to the feeling that street gangs were creeping into the suburbs, looking for human sacrifices.Leave us a message on our Urban Legends Hotline2024-02-261h 01American HysteriaContext Clues: Ganging Up'Gang Initiations' is the topic of our upcoming series, and this episode will provide extra context using excerpts from three previous episodes—Urban Legends, Drugs, and Dangerous Teens.Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentOr subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple PodcastsThank you to our sponsors:Factor’s delicious, ready-to-eat meals make eating better every day easy. Head to factormeals.com/americanhysteria50 and use code americanhysteria50 to get 50% off.Sound desi...2024-02-1937 minAmerican HysteriaThe Paranormal Entertainment Industry with Sapphire Sandalo and Jim PerryToday I'm joined by paranormal corespondent Jim Perry of the podcast Euphomet and Sapphire Sandalo of the podcast Stories With Sapphire as well as the TV shows Ghost Town Terror, Paranormal Caught On Camera, and Paranormal Nightshift. We'll discuss what it’s like to work on very different kinds of projects in the supernatural sphere and get a little behind the scenes look at classic reality ghost shows. We’ll talk about the dream of diversifying away from the formulaic industry of ghost bros and Christian-influenced endings to allow the paranormal to take different forms, understood in different ways by v...2024-01-2256 minAmerican HysteriaThe Indiana Cyclone: America's First Munchausen Case with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'In this episode I tell podcaster Sarah Marshall a truly wild story I uncovered about the first recognized case of Munchausen Syndrome (Factitious Disorder) in the United States. An alleged professional wrestler and American folk anti-hero called the Indiana Cyclone faked symptoms of injury and illness while blowing through hospitals across the country from the 1950s to the 1970s, leaving a bizarre kind of terror in his wake.Catch Sarah and I at SF SketchFest on Feb 2nd and Feb 3rd!Make sure you listen to You're Wrong About and You Are...2024-01-151h 15American HysteriaSea MonkeysThe novelty pets known as Sea Monkeys have delighted and disappointed millions of American children since they were first marketed in the early 1960s, with the nostalgia-fueled craze returning decade after decade, even after the creator was linked to Neo-Nazi activities. Described in the highly exaggerated ad copy as the most lovable pets in America, these tiny, allegedly monkey-like aquatic creatures are actually nothing more than microscopic brine shrimp, usually used as fish food in pet stores. In this episode, we will look closely at the history of Sea Monkeys and their ingenious but controversial creator, and take you...2023-12-1859 minAmerican HysteriaHallmark Christmas Movies [rewind]This is a rerelease of last year's holiday special! Find our new merch at americanhysteria.com/merchThey usually go something like this: A cranky career woman from the big city who has lost the true meaning of Christmas arrives in a small town where she falls in love with a handsome handyman or baker or Christmas tree farmer and together they vanquish whatever big business force threatens the idyllic community. The Christmas spirit leads her to let go of her own ambitions and embrace a more traditional lifestyle and of course, someone's dad is always Santa...2023-12-121h 00American HysteriaMarilyn Manson's Rib Removal(explicit content warning) This *Urban Legends Hotline* episode dives deep into the viral myth that 90s shock rocker Marilyn Manson had ribs surgically removed so that he could perform autofellatio. We'll look at two other famous and controversial artists who also had this rumor attached to them, learn about another related tale that went around during Victorian times, and see how the rib removal story became perhaps the most widely told pop culture urban legend of the Millennial generation.Call our Urban Legends Hotline and share a teenage tale you heard growing up2023-11-2052 minYou're Wrong AboutOur Dearest Fears with Chelsey Weber-SmithThis week, American Hysteria’s Chelsey Weber-Smith gives Sarah some exposure therapy.You can find Chelsey / American Hysteria here. Support You're Wrong About:Bonus Episodes on PatreonBuy cute merchWhere else to find us:Sarah's other show, You Are Good[YWA co-founder] Mike's other show, Maintenance PhaseLinks:https://www.chelseywebersmith.com/https://www.teepublic.com/stores/youre-wrong-abouthttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/yourewrongaboutpodhttps://www.podpage.com/you-are-good2023-10-301h 02American HysteriaThe 12 ft. SkeletonHome Depot's 12 ft. Skeleton decoration first premiered in the fall of 2020 and sold out immediately, the nationwide obsession fueling an underground black market. Memes and tweets made 'Skelly' the hottest Halloween fad of the last three years, and for some reason, the internet's biggest crush. For this episode, we will not only explore how the craze around this big old bone daddy unfolded, but we will also take you through our centuries-long bizarro relationship with human skeletons, both the fake and the very real, and we will consider the role they have played in the development of dark humor...2023-10-231h 01
Indecent with Kiki AndersenSo Extra: A Hell of A Lot More with Chelsey Weber-SmithIt's always "Hail Satan," and never "How is Satan?" Seriously, he must be really burnt out from being the source of all of everyone's problems for thousands of years. American Hysteria host Chelsey Weber-Smith continues to point out that he's the OG scapegoat. But he's far from the only boogeyman we blame when things in our world go badly.Chelsey Weber-Smith is the writer, co-producer, and host of American Hysteria, a show that investigates our moral panics, urban legends, conspiracy theories, and archetypes, basically our special brand of fantastical thinking. They also write country music...2023-10-1917 minIndecent with Kiki Andersen"Do You Have a Moment to Talk about Satan?" with Chelsey Weber-Smith (American Hysteria)If you found out all of your neighbors, co-workers and vague acquaintances were cannibalistic, demon-worshipping child molesters, would that make you feel better or worse about the nature of reality, overall? American Hysteria's host Chelsey Weber-Smith calls out the Devil as a convenient scapegoat for people who want to oversimplify the problems facing our world.Chelsey Weber-Smith is the writer, co-producer, and host of American Hysteria, a show that investigates our moral panics, urban legends, conspiracy theories, and archetypes, basically our special brand of fantastical thinking. They also write country music and rambles around t...2023-10-1346 min
Pod Only KnowsChick Tracts - with Chelsey Weber-SmithIf you happen to fall within a certain (fairly broad) age range, there is a very good chance that somewhere, at some point, you have encountered Chick Tracts.Jack Chick's horrific, over-the-top, feverish warnings about what happens if you don't accept Christ before you DIE!!!! have literally littered city streets and coffee shop tabletops for decades.Chick Tracts are outlandish and, if you don't happen to be an ultra fundamentalist end times Christian, deeply offensive. But they are also interesting and, from an artistic perspective, clever and accomplished. In fact, purely in terms of how man...2023-09-261h 11You're Wrong AboutThe Cottingley Fairies with Chelsey Weber-SmithThis week, Sarah tells her favorite kind of story to American Hysteria’s Chelsey Weber-Smith: one where two girls hoaxed the world without trying very hard.You can find Chelsey + American Hysteria online here. Buy ‘Lullaby’ on Bandcamp here. Support You're Wrong About:Bonus Episodes on PatreonBuy cute merchWhere else to find us:Sarah's other show, You Are Good[YWA co-founder] Mike's other show, Maintenance PhaseLinks:2023-08-071h 05
Digital FolkloreChelsey Weber-Smith | UnpluggedWelcome to our 4th installment of Digital Folklore Unplugged.These unplugged episodes are all about stripping away the fancy production elements so that we can give you access to raw (or slightly edited) interviews with folklore experts.Today’s guest is Chelsey Weber-Smith. Chelsey is the creator and host of American Hysteria, a show that probes the depths of our collective anxieties, our shared stories, our cultural myths and legends, and even those mass panics that occasionally sweep through the nation.American Hysteria is not just a podcast, it's a journey into the hea...2023-08-0758 min
UnspookableFurby's Revenge with Chelsey Weber-Smith of American HysteriaThis week is a special episode with one of our favorite podcast creators. Chelsey Weber-Smith of American Hysteria sits down with the Unspookable team to revisit a late 90s toy that I think most of you will remember, one that is making headlines once again as it hits the department store shelves of July 2023. Join us as we look at the urban legends, conspiracy theories, and freaky stories that enchanted the Furbies of yore, and what our mini panic can tell us about our human nature and America at large on this special collaboration between American Hysteria and Unspookable.2023-07-1749 min
V Interesting with V SpeharMoral Panics and Urban Legends with Chelsey Weber-Smith, Nonbinary Wins, Deepfake Election 2024Two performers made history this week when they became the first openly nonbinary actors to win Tony Awards. AI-generated images and videos are infiltrating politics, causing concern over the dangerous potential of deepfake technology in the 2024 presidential election. And V chats with “American Hysteria” podcaster Chelsey Weber-Smith about the phenomena of moral panics, urban legends, and the legacy of “Jackass.” Follow Chelsey Weber-Smith on Instagram @chelseywebersmith and @americanhysteriapodcast and on Twitter @AmerHysteria. Keep up with V on TikTok @underthedesknews and on Twitter @VitusSpehar. And stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @Lemo...2023-06-161h 01
Thrive with MotionJason and Chelsey MagnessWelcome to the Thrive with Motion podcast, where we delve into the exhilarating world of adventure racing and share the captivating stories of those who live life on the edge. In this series, we have the privilege of introducing you to Jason and Chelsey, the remarkable couple behind the Bend adventure racing team.
Jason and Chelsey's story is a testament to the power of pursuing passions as a couple, the significance of teamwork in adventure racing, and the invaluable lessons that can be learned through challenging experiences. Their dedication to each other, family, and their s...2023-05-2356 minAmerican HysteriaThe Ghost Children of Munger Road*Urban Legends Hotline* Lauren's story: On a rural road outside Chicago, the ghosts of children killed in a school bus-train collision are said to push cars uphill, off the tracks, and out of harm's way, leaving their handprints in baby powder dusted on the bumper by local legend-tripping teenagers. So we investigated this urban legend, versions of which are told in small towns all over the country, by searching through old newspapers for related historical crashes, and then by unearthing reports of bizarre "mock accidents" that have occurred near Munger Road for decades. I even headed out all by...2023-05-0848 minAmerican HysteriaThe Horror of Hallmark with Podcasters Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed of 'You Are Good'Because so many Hallmark writers and directors also make horror movies, I called in podcasters Sarah Marshall and Alex Steed of 'You're Wrong About' and 'You Are Good' to discuss the similarities between these two seemingly polar opposite genres.Subscribe to You Are Good and You're Wrong AboutBecome a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus contentFollow American Hysteria on social media:Twitter: @AmerHysteriaInstagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcastFind our merch at americanhysteria...2022-12-191h 00American HysteriaOur Halloween Open MicFeaturing poems, fiction, nonfiction, AND A GROUP SONG with work by Sarah Marshall (You're Wrong About, You Are Good), Alex Steed (You Are Good), BJ Colangelo (This Ends at Prom), Will Rogers (Guide to the Unknown), Carolyn Kendrick (You're Wrong About, You Are Good), Miranda Zickler (Kuinka), Riley Swedelius-Smith (American Hysteria), and Chelsey Weber-Smith (me duh)To get an mp3 of our Halloween song, head to patreon.com/americanhysteriaIn order of appearance:Will RogersGuide to the UnknownBJ...2022-10-3144 min
Crawlspace - True Crime & Mysteries323 // American Hysteria W/Chelsey Weber-SmithCheck out our Crawlspace subscription service where we have a bonus show and ad-free episodes! https://crawlspace.supportingcast.fm/Use promo code, "Crawlspace" for your first month FREE!Check out our Missing subscription service where we have a bonus show and ad-free episodes! https://missing.supportingcast.fm/Use promo code, "Missing" for your first month FREE!In this episode Tim Pilleri & Lance Reenstierna have the wonderful privilege to speak with Chelsey Weber-Smith, the creator and host of the fantastic show, American Hysteria.AMERICAN HYSTERIA EXPLORES HOW FANTASTICAL THINKING HAS...2022-10-1956 minYou're Wrong AboutThe Donner Party with Chelsey Weber-SmithYou may:1. Travel on the established trail2. Take the Hastings CutoffWhat is your choice?Chelsey Weber-Smith (American Hysteria) tells Sarah about the Donner Party. Here's where to find Chelsey:WebsiteTwitterSupport us:Bonus Episodes on PatreonBonus Episodes on Apple PodcastsDonate on PaypalBuy cute merchWhere else to find us:Sarah's other show, You Are Good [YWA co-founder] Mike's other show, Ma...2022-08-291h 04You Are GoodNow and Then w. Chelsey Weber-Smith“All women have a garden, and a garden needs a big hose to water it.” We talk coming of age under the specter of a long dead Dear Johnny, movies for kids who love studying old newspapers, and Now and Then with our bestie Chelsey Weber-Smith! You can find Chelsey on Twitter and you can find American Hysteria here! The episode was sponsored by Knack Factory and Cornbread Hemp. Multitude handles our ad sales! You Are Good is a feelings podcast about movies.2022-07-131h 07
1999: The PodcastTHE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT: "The Woods" - with American Hysteria's Chelsey Weber-SmithStarring Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard as themselves – or people who happen to have their exact names – and written and directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, 1999's 10th-highest grossing film, The Blair Witch Project was produced on a budget of less than a half million dollars and grossed $248.6 million at the box office. One of the founding films in the "found footage" genre, the film was perhaps most famous for the unprecedented marketing campaign that led up to its release.The movie made innovative use of a relatively novel outlet called "the W...2022-05-161h 19You're Wrong AboutJuliet's Balcony with Chelsey Weber-SmithWhat do Chopin, Kylie Jenner, baby carrots, and the War of the Worlds all have in common? They’re all part of Sarah and Chelsey Weber-Smith’s speedrun through common misconceptions—plus a little Satanic Panic, as a treat.Here’s where to find Chelsey:Chelsey + American HysteriaSupport us:Bonus Episodes on PatreonDonate on PaypalBuy cute merchWhere else to find us:Sarah's other show, You Are Good[YWA co-founder] Mike's other show, Maintenance Phase...2022-03-2852 min
American HysteriaBoy BandsBehind every manufactured boy band there is what the press calls a Svengali, a puppet master who assembles the group and styles everything about them. This episode will introduce us to the eccentric producers and talent agents who have long shaped pop music from behind the curtain.American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-SmithSound design by Clear Commo StudiosResearch and co-writing by Riley SmithCo-produced and edited by Miranda ZicklerVoice Acting by Will Rogers and by Riley Smith2022-03-0754 min
American HysteriaFangirlsHysterical fangirls have become so commonplace in popular music that we hardly pay attention to them anymore, no matter how loud they scream. But there was a time when the screaming, crying, fainting teenage fan was seen not only as a psychological puzzle but also as a major threat to the American empire. Today we’ll cover four eras of landmark swooning starting in the mid-1800s and heading through to Beatlemania, taking a look at the moral panics they inspired and the new power these teenage girls were able to create with just the power of their screams....2022-02-2147 min
Stories with SapphirePast Lives, with Chelsey Weber-Smith (American Hysteria Podcast)This week's episode is all about past lives. Do you believe in them? First, I tell the story of a young woman who believes that she knew her best friend in a previous life. Then, I speak with Chelsey Weber-Smith (Host of American Hysteria), a skeptic who had a baffling past life regression meditation. Ch 1: Soulmates, submitted by Amanda Ch 2: Solomon J Solomon, with Chelsey Weber-Smith Listen to American Hysteria https://open.spotify.com/show/4VjkwFSQpgnHwugtqJwSxD?si=7baea749deb5495b https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/american-hysteria/id1441348407 https://www.instagram.com/americanhysteriapodcast...2021-12-0837 minYou Are GoodThe Rocky Horror Picture Show w. Chelsey Weber-Smith of American HysteriaNEW EPISODE! It's just a jump to the left! Let's The Rocky Horror Picture Show [and do the Time Warp] with the fabulous Chelsey Weber-Smith of American Hysteria!You can find Chelsey / American Hysteria here: Twitter and on the Information Super Highway.The Music of You Are Good: Vol I can be found here!We made a playlist to accompany this episode! It's comprised of songs that come to mind when we all think about this movie.You Are Good is a feelings podcast about movies.You can find us...2021-10-1300 min
Your Will Be Done: The Real Life Journey of Ambitious Women Discovering Jesus & Letting Him Lead!(GUEST INTERVIEW!) Chelsey Sarah Smith On How Intuition Led Her To Hiring A Coach, Manifesting A New Business, & Finding Her Purpose!In this episode, I'm interviewing one of my very own private clients and course students, Chelsey Sarah Smith! Chelsey has experienced massive life transformation in a very quick period of time and through working together, she's not only discovered a bigger vision and purpose for her life beyond her current Beachbody business, but she manifested the vehicle to living it out as a Rapid Transformational Therapist/Hypnotherapist.
I hope you enjoy hearing her story and that it reminds you to trust your own intuition and to take action on those things in your heart that light you u...2021-08-2354 min
American Hysteria#ElsagateIn 2017, YouTube Kids was embroiled in a major scandal when it was discovered that a dark underbelly of inappropriate cartoons, computer animations, and live action videos were lurking just under the surface of the supposedly safeguarded app. With themes of injections, sexuality, violence, scatology, and much more, we will explore these bizarre, uncanny valley videos made by mysterious content creators using low-budget methods and popular characters like Elsa, Spiderman, Peppa Pig, and Shrek in order to generate clicks. But is that their only goal? Some believe in a larger conspiracy to harm our children, but one thing is for...2021-08-1647 min
American HysteriaRewind: The Mandela EffectIn preparation for our upcoming *Weirdest Episode of All Time*, we are rereleasing this minisode on a mysterious phenomenon where large numbers of people remember an event or cultural detail differently than it really was. From the spelling of 'Berenstain Bears' to the funeral procession of Nelson Mandela, people have explored these cognitive discrepancies through the lens of both mass psychology and of course, the multiverse theory. We'll see how the internet expanded these odd mis-memories into an enormous world all their own. Next week, we'll look at the #Elsagate controversy of 2017, when scores of uncanny valley-esque hauntingly inappropriate...2021-08-0914 min
American HysteriaTalking to Strangers with Comedian Chris Gethard (Part Two)(Make sure you listen to part one first!) Today, Chris shares his experience becoming a sudden villain in the fringe conspiratorial zeitgeist, and then we move gracefully on to sharing the value we have found in talking to strangers, him as a podcaster who has conversations on an anonymous hotline, and myself as a former hitchhiker. Chris hosts the podcast Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People, stars in a new stand-up special Half My Life, and is the author of Weird New York.Watch Chris Gethard: Half my Life Listen to Beautiful Stories...2021-07-1929 min
American HysteriaDangerous Attractions with Comedian Chris Gethard (Part One)Chris Gethard is a stand-up comedian, podcaster, actor, filmmaker and author of Weird New York as well as an editor at Weird New Jersey and Weird US, all of which cover local ghost stories, urban legends, and roadside attractions. Over the next two episodes we will be discussing the most dangerous waterpark in history, the last vestiges of American tourist traps, the outrageous 1980s and 90s childhood experience, what urban legends can tell us about cultural clashes, and much more of all that we hold dear. Part two is out next week.Watch Chris...2021-07-1257 min
American HysteriaGender Lies and Liberation with Trans Historian Susan StrykerSusan Styker is the author of Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution as well as a filmmaker, distinguished professor, and longtime activist for the LGBTQ community. She began transitioning in the late 1980s, a very different era for gender nonconformity than the one we find ourselves in today. In this episode we discuss fragmentation within the wide rainbow umbrella, issues between feminists and transgender women, and how to deal with the generational and ideological gaps that have long broken up our potential solidarity.Become a Patron to get access to Chelsey's other po...2021-06-2848 min
American HysteriaGender Reveal PartiesOver the last ten years, Gender Reveal Parties have exploded, figuratively and literally. Parents, communities, and social media followers alike can witness the moment that parents and families find out the sex of their future baby, but lately, these parties have gotten so out of hand as to cause massive wildfires, explosions, damage to homes, injuries, and death. For this episode, we will try to figure out what in the world is going on here by exploring the history of gendered baby items, of the strange divination methods once used to guess the biological sex, and take a look...2021-06-1442 min
American HysteriaThe Skeleton of Chelsey Weber-SmithFinally, it is ME CHELSEY WEBER-SMITH as our interview guest, questioned lovingly by our producer Miranda Zickler. We will discuss season four, what I learned, what we didn’t cover and why, the power of the Rainbow Coalition solidarity, couples we would make out with in a haunted house, a dream dinner party with Mary-Kate and Ashley, the importance of Teen Dramas, and yes that’s right, I talk for too long about my spiritual journey and current relationship to the Great Unknown. Thank you for a great season everyone! We will be back soon.Be...2021-05-1049 min
American HysteriaUrban LegendsThe kids' book series Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark was based largely on urban legends, and when I read them for the first time I realized that I had heard them before, but as something true that happened to a friend of a friend. For our season four finale, I will be sharing my own journey with contemporary myths, from that first book series through the 1998 teen slasher Urban Legend, the landmark work of Mr. Urban Legend, and the man who finally got to the bottom of the most memorable story from my mom’s own childhood: Th...2021-05-031h 00
American HysteriaHorror Movies, pt. 2The genres of modern scary movies known as slashers, meta-horror, torture porn, and social thrillers, each tell us about the anxieties of the generation in which they came to exist. Like part one, this episode explores the themes present in some of the most important films in the horror canon; themes of feminism and satanic ritual abuse, of Reagan-era morality and greed, of moral ambiguity in times of war, and those that are coming to define the smoldering culture wars we find ourselves in today. With a never-ending series of sequels, each new American terror resurrects our collective fear...2021-04-1957 min
American HysteriaHorror Movies, pt. 1Horror movies, consistently written-off by critics, exist unbound from mainstream respectability and because of this, they can often tell us the brutal truth. For this two-part series, we will be investigating what horror movies, their plots, their victims, and their villains reflect back to us about the dominant repressed fears of each generation. From the Big Bug movies of the atomic era, the earliest monster movies of post-WWI eugenics, the psychotherapy gender-panic of Psycho inspiration Ed Gein, to the new age of gore born from the violence of the late 1960s, horror movies may be vital in helping us...2021-03-2952 min
Public IntellectualAmerica is Losing Its Mind. Again. with Chelsey Weber SmithChelsey Weber Smith runs the American Hysteria podcast, so who better to come on to discuss America's various conspiracy theories, cults, and moral panics? Chelsey and Jessa discuss the links between the Satanic Panic and Q, how abuse of authority leads to con men and frauds, how the greatest threat to your child is you, and why Jim Jones was right (for a while). Yes, America is falling apart, but America is always falling apart. Support this podcast: http://patreon.com/publicintellectual http://jessacrispin.com2020-12-071h 03
Greatest Day Podcast#61: Preparing For The Holidays With Nutrition Coach Chelsey BirdYou’ve heard me talk about the work being done over @keynutrition. And it’s because they provide education and support for people to build healthy relationships with themselves and food/nutrition. No “good or bad” foods, just a healthy, sustainable approach that allows you to be you, enjoy your favorite things, and meet your goals.
Today I am thrilled to share with you one of their amazing coaches Chelsey Bird and the discussion we had about preparing for the holidays. My favorite part of our discussion was about making the people and the experiences the focus of the day, not the...2020-11-2455 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsConspiracy: Chelsey Weber-SmithWho is really behind conspiracy theories? From the idea that the CIA killed Kennedy to the idea that people actually walked on the moon, we’ve all heard conspiracies ranging from the slightly plausible to the downright bizarre. But where do these theories come from? Are they themselves created by some nefarious shadow government? Or do they arise naturally as people attempt to make sense of the world. If you're curious to know the truth behind conspiracy theories, listen to this episode with guest Chelsey Weber-Smith. Chelsey is the host of the American Hysteria podcast, a former conspiracy theorist an...2020-11-031h 15
Nite Drift with Jim PerryThe making of Euphomet Season 1 with Chelsey Weber-Smith of American Hysteria and Davis TylerHost JIM PERRY welcomes Euphomet Season 1's production team of American Hysteria's CHELSEY WEBER-SMITH and Photographer / Audio Editor DAVIS TYLERRecorded in front of a live PATREON audience, we discuss the making of Euphomet Season 1, American Hysteria, and a life-changing experience on the Queen Mary.We reference the making of the following episodes in-depth:005 Vortex Jumper | https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/e8sda0007 The Sasquatch Code | https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/e8sd9p017 The Grey Ghost | https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/e8sda1Obscura 002 | We Are...2020-10-201h 30
Girls Talking Life#44 Chelsey DeMatteis [Season of Rebellion] Chelsey and I are talking about how God pursued her in the midst of her rebellion. Chelsey shares about her upbringing and how, when she didn’t want to go to church anymore, her parents let make her own decision and faithfully put her in the Lord’s hands. She tells us that for a season her life was “fueled by lust and rebellion and secrecy.” She was caught in a cycle of making poor decisions and covering them up. But then God intervened. Chelsey shares a story of God interrupting her in the middle of her mess to...2020-08-1747 min
The Overwhelmed Nurse PodcastLeaning into community with nurse and founder of Tribe RN, Chelsey RodgersJoin me as I interview nurse and founder of Tribe RN Chelsey Rodgers about the importance of community in nursing and how her FB community Tribe RN is supporting and empowering nurses - especially now as we battle the Covid pandemic. Connect with Chelsey: FB www.facebook.com/groups/TribeRN | website www.tribe-RN.com | IG @TribeRNOfficial | email: chelsey@tribe-RN.com ||| Join The Overwhelmed Nurse FB group for self-care and stress management resources as well as daily live guidance in meditation, yoga, and breath work www.facebook.com/groups/overwhelmednurse | website robinsmithcoaching.com | IG @nurselifecoach | email Robin.e@robinsmithcoaching.com
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PRIDEThe Gay Agenda With Chelsey Weber-SmithYou might not realize it, but America has a long history with fantastical thinking. Chelsey Weber-Smith takes us through one of the most persistent conspiracy theories of the 20th century: The Gay Agenda.Be sure to follow Chelsey and American Hysteria on IG! And catch up on American Hysteria before season 3 drops February 17, 2020.Your host is Levi Chambers, co-founder of Gayety.Follow the show and keep up with the conversation @Pride.*This podcast is not affiliated with Pride Media.2020-01-2933 min
Be Here For A WhileConspiracy Theories & More w Chelsey Weber-Smith!Chelsey Weber-Smith is the host of Rachael's new favorite podcast, American Hystertia. It might be safe to call this podcast a new obsession for Rachael, as she binge listened to the entire catalog of episodes in less than a week. American Hysteria is a podcast that explores the moral panics, conspiracy theories, and fantastical thinking of American culture from the puritans to the present.
Chelsey uses history, sociology, psychology, and even biology to try to get at the heart of why we fear the wrong things and how the long history of these fears inform our current politics and culture. On...2020-01-161h 13
Everyone I KnowEpisode 107 - The Hysterical Cast with Chelsey Weber Smith of American HysteriaGuest: Chelsey Weber Smith of American Hysteria! Topics: An Interview with Chelsey of American Hysteria, Toy Riots, Internet Challenges2019-08-291h 00
American HysteriaThe End of the WorldIt has been said that the apocalypse is as American as apple pie, and for our season finale we are exploring different versions of the end of the world, the hyper-religious, the new age, and the scientific, as well as Chelsey’s personal experience with the 2012 Mayan Apocalypse. The stories we tell about the end of time tend to involve not only a series of cataclysmic, devastating events, but also the saving of an elect few, and the punishing and death of the rest. While none of the end times predictions have come to pass, major leaps in technology ha...2019-03-2544 min
American HysteriaSatanic Panic: Part Two*Please be aware that this episode talks about child sexual abuse* We recommend listening to part one of Satanic Panic first. In 1980s America, when 60% of people believed that devil worship was a serious problem, two new characters, Stranger Danger’s murderous pedophile and the Satanist, blurred into a new villain and psychological archetype: The Satanic pedophile. In part one, we saw how Satanic hysteria was sown through pop culture, sensational media, and religious hucksters, causing the widespread fear of Satan’s influence over children and their behavior. We touched on the cultural anxieties that were raging during this time...2019-01-0737 min
American HysteriaSatanic Panic: Part OneThis episode is part one of our two-part series on perhaps the most mystifying moral panic in US history, the 1980s and early 90s 'Satanic Panic.' For this episode, Chelsey covers the rise of organized Satanism beginning in the late 60s, as well as the adversarial countercultures of the hippies and the metalheads, and their apparent Satanic crimes that would be hailed as proof of their evil, as well as proof that teens, as well as children, were in serious moral peril. Satan was allegedly hypnotizing the youth with secret messages in backwards rock songs, teaching them occult...2018-12-1035 min
American HysteriaThe IlluminatiFor this episode, we'll explore the mother-of-all conspiracy theories, the Illuminati, an alleged secret society and their evil world domination plan known as the New World Order. Chelsey takes a stroll down memory lane with friend Austin Smith, to a time when they believed in the Illuminati and found what seemed like proof. We’ll explore the history of the theory itself, why some people are more prone to believing than others, and how at the heart of the theory lies a dark ideology that has affected our culture into the present.Check out A Culture of Co...2018-11-2636 min
American HysteriaStranger DangerThis episode explores the evolution of American's bogeyman, the Stranger, and reveals how rare these types of kidnappings really are. Through looking at the sensational child snatching crimes that have shaped our culture from the 1800s to the 1980s, and how we have responded to them in the media, in books, with PSAs and made-for-TV movies, host Chelsey Weber-Smith explains the problem with Stranger Danger and what this moral panic might be covering up.American Hysteria is written and produced by Chelsey Weber-SmithProduced and edited by Rod RodriguezShow...2018-11-1232 min