Midnight Facts for Insomniacs

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
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Introducing "BEEF" - Beer vs. Gin: The Battle of Great Britain's Favorite Beverages

Hey insomniacs, we're off until next week, but in the meantime we wanted to introduce you to a show from the award-winning podcast host Bridget Todd. It’s called “BEEF," and each episode tells the story of legends in their field who tried to stomp out the competition, only to find their enemies becoming the driving force in their success, ultimately changing the world as we know it.
Today's episode is "Beer Versus Gin: The Battle of Great Britain’s Favorite Beverages." We think you’ll enjoy it as much as we did, so give it a listen and we’ll be back next week for a regularly scheduled episode.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO MORE "BEEF"
Enjoy! We'll be back next week with a regular episode...

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
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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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(Sample) After Midnight Livestream: Japan-Trip Debrief

In which the guys spill all of the green tea about their recent misadventures in Japan...
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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Invasive Species: Claws, Tusks, and Karmic Retribution

Well if it isn’t the consequences of our actions.The spread of humans around the globe has accidentally—and sometimes intentionally—led to the introduction of non-native species to vulnerable habitats. And when an animal or plant arrives at a new location, it’s going to do what a critter instinctively does: devour other plants an/or animals; breed, spread disease, and breed some more, all while viciously competing for local resources. It’s a tale as old as time; species gonna species.   
From felines to amphibians, from vines to hogs, join Shane and Duncan as they explore the most destructive invasive species in history, and explain how the clumsy human efforts to fix our own mistakes often makes the consequences much, much worse…
 
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In this episode:  
Cats
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Feral Swine
Kudzu
Cane Toads
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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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The Pulse-Pounding History of Rollercoasters and Theme Parks

Get ready to plunge into the adrenaline-pumping history of roller coasters, amusement parks, and theme parks. From ancient Russian ice slides to the stomach-churning steel giants of today, discover the twisted tales behind iconic rides and learn about the masterminds who turned thrills into a global phenomenon. Buckle up and keep your arms and legs inside the podcast at all times, it’s going to be a bumpy ride…
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In this episode:  
Medieval Festivals
Pleasure Gardens
Dyrehavsbakken
Brakemen
A.C.E: American Coaster Enthusiasts
Vauxhall
The White City
Coney Island
Russian Mountains (Sliding Mountains)
Nicolas Beaujon and the Promenades Aeriennes
Centrifugal Railways
Lamarcus Adna Thompson, Father of the Rollercoaster
The Gravity Pleasure Switchback Railway
Mauch Chunk Gravity Railroad
The Cyclone
Tubular Steel
The Matterhorn
The Formula Rossa
The Kingda Ka
Disney
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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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Deadly Viral Trends and Challenges

Join Shane and Duncan as they venture into the dark and baffling world of dangerous viral trends. From laundry detergent consumption to milk-crate balancing, uncover the psychological allure, societal impact, and potentially lethal consequences of these hazardous internet fads.
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In this episode:  
The Saltine Challenge
The Cinnamon Challenge
The Tide Pod Challenge
The Salt and Ice Challenge
The Milk Crate Challenge
The Skull-Breaker Challenge
The Sleepy Chicken Challenge
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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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From Chernobyl to the Amazon: The World’s Creepiest Ghost Towns

Prepare for an eerie, unsettling journey through the silent streets of the world’s abandoned ghost towns. From a city frozen in time by the Chernobyl disaster to the slavery-staffed coal mines of Hashima Island; from the jungle experiment known as Fordlandia to a reputedly–haunted western settlement that boomed and busted with the tides of gold fever, Shane and Duncan embark on a thought-provoking reflection on the impermanence of human settlements and the enduring stories they leave behind.
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In this episode:  
Pripyat (Ukraine)
Fordlandia (Brazil - Amazon Rainforest)
White Oaks (New Mexico)
Verosha (Cyprus)
Oradouer-sur-Glane (France)
Plymouth (Montserrat)
Hashima Island, aka "Battleship" Island (Japan)
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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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The Wild World of P.E.T.A

Where is the line between activism and extremism? In this furry, feathered, fanged episode, MFFI tackles one of the most divisive and controversial organizations of modern times: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. 
PETA’s relentless pursuit of a singular goal has sparked global debate, controversy, scandal, and plenty of eye-rolling. From extortion tactics to undercover operations, from legal victories to losses in the court of public opinion, MFFI explores all of the drama, ethical dilemmas, and cultural shifts caused by PETA's aggressive fight for animal welfare. Follow along as Shane and Duncan wrestle with their own conflicted viewpoints and attempt to answer the age-old question: Do the ends actually justify the means? 
*WARNING: Episode includes descriptions of animal abuse
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In this episode:  
The World Before PETA
Tactics and Controversy
The Vegan Society of 1951
Peter Singer and "Animal Liberation" 
Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco
PETA-Lingo
Guiding Principles
The Breakthrough: Silver Springs
Campaigns and Successes
Ag-Gag Laws
Controversies
Unhappy Meals
PETA and Euthanasia
Conclusions
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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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The Scandalous, Grifting History of Megachurches

In today’s supersized praise-worthy episode, MFFI uncovers the scandalous stories behind the rise of megachurches and explains how a few ambitious, unscrupulous grifters turned piety into profit and faith into a financial formula. From the pulpit to the bank vault, explore the controversial rise of these religious empires and the charismatic leaders who plunder the pockets of their congregations.
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In this episode:  
Just How Mega is a Megachurch? 
Gigachurches
The Business of Faith
Lakewood and Joel Osteen
The First Megachurch (1861): Charles Spurgeon and the Metropolitan Tabernacle
The First American Megachurch: Foursquare
Aimee Semple McPherson
The Prosperity Gospel
Oral Roberts
Vanco Payments
Kenneth Copeland, Demon-Face
World Changer's Church
Creflo Dollar and Project G650
The United States Inquiry in the Tax-Exempt Status of Religious Organizations
Deep Dive: Hillsong Church
Frank Houston and the Hills Christian Life Center
Brian Houston, Ned Flanders of Evil
Geoff Bullock, Darlene Zcheck, and the Hillsong Band
"The Church I See" 
The Rise and Fall of Carl Lentz and Hillsong NY
Accusations and Confessions
The Fall of Frank and Brian
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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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Podcast Website
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Episode Transcript