Midnight Facts for Insomniacs

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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Midnight Merch
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Episode Transcript
 
~ 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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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 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
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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! 
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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
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Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON
~
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

After Midnight with Chris Renfro: The Top 5 Weird or Unconventional Pets

Chris Renfro from One of Us with Finn and Chris dropped by to help Shane and Duncan come up with a list of the top five unconventional animals to keep as pets. Will trash pandas make the top five? What about snakes or spiders? Which furry (or scaly/spiky) critters are in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord...
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Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams over at the brand new MFFI Patreon: 
PATREON
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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! 
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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"
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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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Podcast Website
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Episode Notes and Sources

Technology Disasters: From Boeing to CrowdStrike

In our high-tech interconnected world, a single software glitch can spiral into global disaster. Tune in this week to discover the hidden stories, the dramatic consequences, and the lessons learned from these monumental failures. From software glitches that crippled planes and healthcare devices, to power failures that left millions in the dark, Shane and Duncan uncover the human errors and systemic flaws behind some of the most infamous tech failures.
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In this episode:
Y2K
CrowdStrike
The Northeast Blackout of 2003
Therac-25
The Morris Worm
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Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON
~
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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Leave an Audio Message!
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Episode Notes and Sources

After Midnight with Alfred Banks: The Top 5 Animated Series of All Time

Rapper/artist Alfred Banks joins the show to debate the 5 greatest animated TV series of all time! Check out Alfred and his recent project SaxKixAve HERE
 
What's in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord...
~
Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams over at the brand new MFFI Patreon: 
PATREON
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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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Leave an Audio Message!
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Instagram
 

The Devil's Rope: How Barbed Wire Tamed the West

Prepare to unravel the twisted history of "The Devil's Rope,” and discover how a simple invention sparked fierce conflicts that transformed the American West.
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In this episode:
The Homestead Act of 1862
Fence Dilemmas 
Leonce Eugene Grassin-Baledans, Michael Kelly, Lucien B Smith
Henry M. Rose
Joseph F. Glidden, Isaac L. Ellwood, Jacob Haish
The "Winner"
Haish and "S Barb" Wire
John Warne Gates, aka "Bet a Million Gates"
Frying Pan Ranch
The Law of the Open Range
Ranchers vs. Cowboys
The Fence-Cutting Wars
Nipping
Blue Devil Gang and the Javelinas
Barbed Wire and the Telephone
~
Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON
~
Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD
~
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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Leave an Audio Message!
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Podcast Website
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Episode Notes and Sources
 

Video Game Scandals: From Hot Coffee To Gamergate

Join Shane and Duncan as they expose a trio of scandals that rocked the gaming community.
From the hidden sex scene that transformed a popular game into a salacious sensation, to digital treasure chests that blur the lines between gaming and gambling, you won’t want to miss this eye-opening journey into the dark side of the industry.
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In this episode:
Hot Coffee (Grand Theft Auto)
Loot Boxes (Battlefront 2)
Gamergate
~
Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON
~
Chat with fellow insomniacs and vote on episode topics via DISCORD
~
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
 ~
Leave an Audio Message!
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Instagram
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Podcast Website
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Episode Notes and Sources