Midnight Facts for Insomniacs

ENCORE: The (Original) Darwin Awards

ENCORE!
Shane needed a break, but we'll be back with a regular episode next week. In the meantime, if you need to chat or decompress, join our Discord community:
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Warning: if you're not a fan of dark humor, feel free to skip this episode. We won't judge you! For our fellow twisted weirdos...enjoy. 
"The Darwin Awards salute the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who accidentally remove themselves from it in a spectacular manner!"
 
IN THIS EPISODE:
History of the Darwin Awards
Wendy Northcut, opportunist
Death By:
Self-shooting demonstration - Clement Vallandigham
Radish - Sir William Payne-Gallwey
Slow car - Bridget Driscoll
"Wearable" Parachute - Franz Reichelt
Unbreakable-window test - Gary Hoy
The North Sentinel Island natives are restless - John Allen Chau
Beard sabotage- Hans Steininger
Gurney mishap- Edward Juchniewicz
Rattlesnake catch - Joe Buddy Caine
Segway daredevil- Jim Heselden
Cockfight revenge - Jose Luis Ochoa
Cockroach-eating contest - Edward Archbold
...and more
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~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

SHOW SWAP! AHC - Bonnie and Clyde

Hey Insomniacs, we have something very special for you today. We're bringing you an episode of one of our favorite podcasts!
AHC (Asshole Court) is a show in which three lifelong friends--Buddy, Mikey, and Randy--examine the life of a public figure who may or may not be a giant asshole. They assign a preliminary score based on what they already know of the person, and then they delve into the details of his or her life, and at the end they determine the celebrity's final score (rated from 1 to 11: Mr. Rogers to Hitler). Subjects have included Steven Seagal, Connor McGregor, Joe Rogan, Alex Jones, Kanye, Harvey Weinstein, Tom Cruise, Diddy, Andrew Tate, and even Dolly Parton (spoiler alert: not an asshole.)
Since you're presumably a fan of OUR show, we know you enjoy laughing and learning, so we're confident you're going to love AHC. We hope you'll give them a listen, and include asshole court in your regular podcast rotation. Thanks so much for being an insomniac, and we'll be back next week!

Cult of Personality: Charles Manson and the Helter Skelter Murders (Part 1)

In this final topic of spooky season, unravel the sinister saga of the Manson Family and the pint-sized puppet master who convinced his followers that Helter Skelter was more than just a Beatles song. From the infamous Hollywood murders to the courtroom circus that followed, Shane and Duncan explore how Manson’s twisted charisma led to one of the darkest chapters in American history.
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[Throwback Encore] We Are Legion: Exorcism and Demonic Possession

BEGONE, FOUL DEMON!! NO LONGER SHALL YOU BEDEVIL THE INSOMNIACS OF THE MIDNIGHT MASSES
(Apologies for the caps lock, but Satan doesn't respect lowercase.)
What's the difference between a demonic vexation, an infestation, and an oppression? How many demons do you have to host to become Legion? And is the Pope really on Twitter? Join the boys for a deep-dive into hellfire and brimstone in this examination of the disturbing history of exorcism and demonic possession.  
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In this episode: 
Ancient exorcisms in Babylon
Demonic possession in the Bible
Relevant Biblical passages
Jesus, demons, and exorcisms
Judas
Mark 5: My name is Legion
The Pope on Twitter
Official Exorcist of Indiana, Father Vincent Lambert
Demonic entry points and doorways
Sexual abuse and demonic possession
The International Association of Exorcists
Infestations, Vexations, Obssessions, and Subjections
The Exorcist, the movie
Peter Blatty, Linda Blair, Roland Doe/Robbie Mannheim
Cultural impact of the film
Discernment
Qualifications to receive an exorcism
The ritual itself
Notable cases of possession
Jason Dalton and the Uber Demon
The Tanacu exorcism
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Join the Midnight Masses!
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~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~
 

Jack the Ripper: History's Most Notorious Serial Killer

In the shadowy alleys of Victorian London, a sinister figure lurked, leaving a trail of terror that has baffled historians for over a century. Join Shane and Duncan as they delve into the chilling tale of Jack the Ripper, unraveling the gruesome details of his infamous crimes and exploring mysteries that continue to haunt the annals of true crime.
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Join the Midnight Masses!
Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas. 
And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word! 
Midnight Merch
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Encore: The Fiery, Pagan History of Halloween

Why do we wear costumes on Halloween? When did pumpkins and candy get involved? And how the heck do you pronounce "Samhain"?
Listen to find out...
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In this episode:  
Celtic Festivals, Gaelic Origins
Samhain and Beltane
Fairies (The Aos Si)
Bonfires, Livestock, Leaps
Liminal Celebrations
The Romans and Feralia
Pomona
Apple Bobbing? 
Feast of All Martyrs
Pope Boniface IV
Pope Gregory III
All Saints Day (All Hallows Day)
Feast of All Souls
All Hallows Day/Evening
Allhallowe'en
Souling and Allhallowtide
Soul Cakes
Souling Plays
Guising
Mischief Night
Jack O'Lanterns 
Stingy Jack
Turnip Lanterns
Trick or Treating
Candy Corn
Pet Costumes
Calorie Counts
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Join the Midnight Masses!
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And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word! 
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~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~
 
 
 

Madness and Mythos: The Legacy of H.P. Lovecraft

Welcome, insomniacs, to another dive into the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully unsettling. Tonight, we’re exploring the twisted mind behind some of the most bizarre and influential horror ever written: the one, the only, H.P. Lovecraft. Get ready for dark family secrets, eldritch horrors, cosmic dread, crippling phobias, hateful philosophies, and a peek into the life of a man who gave the world nightmares. Buckle up; this one’s going to get weird.
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In this episode: 
Biography 
Style/influences
The Cthulu Mythos 
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Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD
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And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word! 
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The NEW 7 Wonders of the World

Get ready to embark on a globe-trotting journey through time and across continents to uncover the secrets of the New Seven Wonders of the World. From the stunning expanse of the Great Wall to the architectural marvels of Machu Picchu and Petra, from the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza to the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer, delve into the history, mysteries, and controversies surrounding these modern marvels.
As always, Shane and Duncan are your snarktastic tourguides, explaining why these sites were chosen, the stories they tell, and the incredible feats of engineering and artistry that brought them to life.
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In this episode:
Machu Picchu
Christ the Redeemer
The Great Wall of China
Petra
Chichen Itza
The Taj Mahal
The Roman Colosseum
~
Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON
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Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD
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Join the Midnight Masses!
Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas. 
And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word! 
Midnight Merch
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The 7 Wonders of the Ancient World

Prepare for a silly, whirlwind tour of the most epic bucket list in history: the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. From engineering feats that defied logic to legends that refuse to die, Shane and Duncan break down what made these wonders so…well, wonderful. (Or sometimes not.) 
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In this episode:
The Great Pyramid of Giza
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
The Statue of Zeus at Olympia
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
The Colossus of Rhodes
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
~
Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON
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Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD
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Join the Midnight Masses!
Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas. 
And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word! 
Midnight Merch
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Extreme Prisons: From "Squirrel Cage" to Camp 14

Unlock the gates to some of the most bizarre and extreme prisons on Earth. From the rotating madness of “squirrel cage” jails to a Norwegian island where inmates roam free; from an overcrowded powder-keg that erupted into a shocking massacre to the grim horrors of North Korea’s Camp 14, join Shane and Duncan as they uncover the bizarre and chilling realities of incarceration around the globe.
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In this episode:
"Squirrel Cage" (Rotary Jail)
Bastøy Island
Carandiru Massacre
Cebu "Dancing Jail"
~
Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON
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Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD
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Join the Midnight Masses!
Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas. 
And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word! 
Midnight Merch
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Episode Notes and Sources