Midnight Facts for Insomniacs

Dry America: The Prohibition Debacle

It makes perfect sense that a comedy podcast would cover this week’s topic, because prohibition was a joke.
If you’re not familiar with the story behind the bootlegging, moon shining, home-brewing chaos of 1920s America, you’ll want to listen to this week’s episode and learn all about the giant clusterf*** that was the 18th Amendment.   
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Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD
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In this episode:
Prohibition Through the Ages
The Code of Hammurabi
Beer Bartering
The Puritans, Pilgrims, and Alcohol
The American Temperance Society
Women's Christian Temperance Union
Drys vs Wets
Visitation Bands
Carrie Nation
The Anti-Saloon League
Wayne Wheeler
Wheelerism and Pressure Politics
Prohibition and the Ku Klux Klan
Blue Mondays
World War 1 and the War Against German Brewers
The Food and Fuel Control Act
The Alcoholic Blues 
The Volstead Act and an Epic Mustache
The 18th Amendment 
Connecticut and Rhode Island, Heroes
Woodrow Wilson's Veto Attempt
The Conundrum of Enforcement
Section 29
Vine-Glo
Warren G. Harding Flouts the Law
Congress Flouts the Law
Congress and the Man in the Green Hat Flout the Law
Everyone Flouts the Law
Smuggling, Brewing, Bootlegging, Bathtub Gin, Moonshine
NASCAR
Denatured Alcohol
Al Capone
The Stock Market Crash
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Repeal
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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! 
Midnight Merch
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Instagram
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Podcast Website
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Episode Transcript
 
~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

How it Ends: The Most Likely Extinction Events

Like it or not, the earth has an expiration date. Billions of years from now the sun will expand and swallow the planets of our solar system...but there’s no guarantee humanity will even make it that far.  
 
So what are the most likely end-time scenarios? Will the end of civilization  come at our own hands via nuclear conflict or rogue Artificial Intelligence? Or will nature take us out via plagues or asteroids or super-volcanoes?
 
Listen along for a final countdown...
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Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD
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In this episode: 
The Doomsday Clock
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
Anthropogenic Risks vs Non-Anthropogenic Risks
The Global Catastrophic Risk Conference
Close Calls (NORAD fails)
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
Gold Bullion
International Rivalries
Nuclear War
Asteroids (Boomsplode Cataclysm)
Artificial Intelligence
Super-volcanoes
Yellowstone Caldera
Long Vally Super-Volcano
Climate Change, briefly
Pandemic, briefly
The Great Deoxygenation
Red Giant/White Dwarf
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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
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Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info
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Podcast Website
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Episode Transcript
 
~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

Weird Science: Psychology Edition

Humans like to believe that we're the pinnacle of evolution, but are we truly logical, rational creatures? If so, why do we self-sabotage? Why do we cling to irrational beliefs even when they make our lives difficult? Do we control our own motivations and behaviors, or are we under the influence of psychological phenomena that most of us barely understand? 
 
Brains are weird. Here's proof.  
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Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD
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In this episode:
Cognitive Dissonance
The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon
The Scarcity Principle
Mere-Exposure Effect
False Consensus Effect
Belief Perseverance
Attribution Errors
The Spotlight Effect
Illusion of Transparency
Recency Bias
The Madonna-Whore Complex
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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
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Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info
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Podcast Website
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Episode Transcript
 
~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

Host Swap: Scottish Facts and Fictions

By popular demand via the MFFI Discord, Shane and Duncan swap roles for a special episode recorded on April Fools Day!
Follow along in this Scottish-themed extravaganza as Duncan demolishes the beloved historical farce that was Braveheart, and answers questions that no one ever cared to ask, like, "Have there been any tandem Scottish serial killers?" and "Where is the world's largest hedge?" (Hint: it's in Scotland.)
Will this host-swapping Freaky Friday craziness ever happen again? Maybe! Probably not! But who knows? Give the episode a listen and then drop your opinion in the discord:
Meet the Midnight Masses! Join Shane and Duncan and the rest of the Insomniacs on Discord.
https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN
 
In this episode:
Braveheart dissected and debunked
Robert the Bruce speaks in platitudes 
Mac Vs Mc
Scottish slavery
Grave-robbing serial killer duo Hare and Burke
Scotland sucks at currency
Mòrag of Loch Morar
Chicken Tikka Masala
The largest hedge
Bonnybridge UFOs
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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! 
https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html
 ~
CONTACT:
Leave an audio message:
https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/
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Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback:
+1 (408) 596-4603
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Email:
mailto:midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com
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Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/
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Discord:
https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN
~
Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info:
www.shanerogers.net
 ~
Episode Transcript:
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/y9mbtb/Scotland.pdf
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Website: 
www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com
 
~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~
 

Diets Debunked: The Sketchy Science of Health and Weight Loss

Meet the Midnight Masses! Join Shane and Duncan and the rest of the Insomniacs on Discord:
https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN
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What's the most effective weight loss plan? Do any of the trending "diet tips" on the Internet actually work? Why does the keto diet make your breath smell like death? 
Join the guys for an exploration of the wild history of nutrition science through the ages, and learn which (if any) fad-diets are legit. 
 
In this episode:
The shifting, shifty food pyramid
Fletcherism
The cigarette diet
The Hay diet
Atkins
The paleo diet
The raw food diet
Food replacement (SlimFast etc)
 
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! 
https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html
 ~
CONTACT:
Leave an audio message:
https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/
~
Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback:
+1 (408) 596-4603
~
Email:
mailto:midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com
~ 
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/
~
Discord:
https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN
~
Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info:
www.shanerogers.net
 ~
Website: 
www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com
~
Episode Transcript:
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/ngp55z/Diets.pdf
 
~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~
 

Uncool: Failed Fads and Terrible Trends

We humans are suckers for the latest crazes and fads, but it's easy to forget that today's TikTok dance will be tomorrow's Macarena. Today's iPhone will be tomorrow's Blackberry. Today's skinny jeans will be tomorrow's skinny jeans. You get the idea. 
 
Join the guys for a rollicking trip through the fad-tastic misfires of yesteryear, from carob to merkins. 
 
In this episode:
Water Beds
Carob
Merkins
Dance Marathons
Mailbox Baseball
Pogs
Magic Eye (Autostereograms)
Sea Monkeys
 
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! 
https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html
 ~
CONTACT:
Leave an audio message:
https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/
~
Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback:
+1 (408) 596-4603
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Email:
mailto:midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com
~ 
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/
~
Discord:
https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN
~
Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info:
www.shanerogers.net
 ~
Website: 
www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com
~
Episode Transcript:
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/zmgay6/Fads.pdf
 
~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~
 

Substandard Superheroes: The Bad, the Worse, and the Ugly

Not all heroes are created equal. Join the boys for adventures in mediocrity as they explore the least "super" heroes from comic book lore. 
 
In this episode:
The Silliest:
Big Bertha
Leather Boy
Squirrel Girl and Monkey Joe
Arm Fall Off Boy
Fortress Lad
Mnemonic Kid
Color Kid
Cypher (Doug Ramsey)
The Red Bee (Rick Raleigh)
NFL Superpro (Phil Grayfield)
The Black Condor (Richard Grey Junior)
Vibe (Francisco Ramone)
Strong Man
Gin Genie
Hawkeye?
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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! 
https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html
 ~
CONTACT:
Leave an audio message:
https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/
~
Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback:
+1 (408) 596-4603
~
Email:
mailto:midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com
~ 
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/
~
Discord:
https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN
~
Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info:
www.shanerogers.net
 ~
Website: 
www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com
~
Episode Transcript:
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/mx3pbt/SUBSTANDARDSUPERHEROES.pdf
 
~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~
 

Misnomers and False Advertising

A peanut isn't a nut, a king crab isn't a crab, a koala isn't a bear, and the funny bone isn't a bone. Listen to this week's episode to find out all of the ways in which your entire life is a lie. 
In this episode:
Funny Bone
King Crab and Horseshoe Crab
Jellyfish and Starfish
Koala Bears
Dry Cleaning
Coconut and Peanut
Horned Toad
Head Cheese
Guinea Pig
Pencil Lead
Tinfoil
Glow Worms and Fireflies
Holland
The 100 Years War
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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! 
https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html
 ~
CONTACT:
Leave an audio message:
https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/
~
Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback:
+1 (408) 596-4603~
Email:
mailto:midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com
~ 
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/
~
Discord:
https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN
~
Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info:
www.shanerogers.net
 ~
Website: 
www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com
~
Episode Transcript:
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/mq95bj/MISNOMERS.pdf
 
~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

Forbidden Tourism: The Most Dangerous Locations on Earth

Exploring new locations can be fun, but there’s a fine line between “adventure” and “ordeal.”
Join the the MFFI boys for a whirlwind tour of four deadly destinations that you won’t find on Trip Adviser. From flaming desert-craters to islands packed with vipers, from zombie-bacteria-caves to cannibal jungles, there’s a little something (awful) in this episode for everyone. These are the kinds of tourist traps you’ll never escape...
In this episode: 
Snake Island, Brazil
(Ilha da Queimada Grande)
The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan
(Darvaza Gas Crater)
George Kourounis
Naica Crystal Cave, Mexico
(Cueva de los Cristales)
Sentinal Island, India, Bay of Bengal (The Andaman Islands)
The 1956 Andaman and Nicobar Islands Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Act
Dudnath Tiwari
~
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! 
https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html
 ~
CONTACT:
Leave an audio message:
https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/voicemail/popup/?from=https://www.podpage.com/midnight-facts-for-insomniacs/
~
Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback:
+1 (408) 596-4603~
Email:
mailto:midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com
~ 
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/
~
Discord:
https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN
~
Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info:
www.shanerogers.net
 ~
Website: 
www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com
~
Episode Transcript:
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/qmjvby/ForbiddenTourism.pdf
 
~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~

MFFI Challenge: can Shane make an entertaining episode from the world’s most hated subject?

Full disclosure: no one suggested this week’s topic. Why would they? Only an idiot would attempt to make an interesting podcast episode out of the history and specifics of taxation. 
Shane is that idiot. 
He’s also a giant nerd, and believes that global finances can be fascinating. Duncan is skeptical. Can Shane make taxes interesting? Listen to find out...
In this episode:
Egyptian Shat 
Sin Taxes
The Russian Beard Tax
The Rosetta Stone
Types of Taxes
Tariffs 
Scaled vs Flat (progressive/regressive) 
Capital Gains
~
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! 
https://midnightbonus.weebly.com/midnight-merch.html
 ~
CONTACT:
Leave a voicemail or shoot us a text with comments, suggestions, or feedback:
+1 (408) 596-4603
Email with topic suggestions etc:
mailto:midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com
~ 
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/midnightfactsforinsomniacs/
~
Discord:
https://discord.gg/4KUWbgj4PN
 
~
Shane's Comedy Schedule and Info:
www.shanerogers.net
 ~
Website: 
www.midnightfactsforinsomniacs.com
~
Episode Transcript:
https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/vfjdxr/TAXES.pdf
 
~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~