Midnight Facts for Insomniacs

Every culture has traditions. Some honor the dead. Some feed the local monkey population. Some involve grown men in devil costumes leaping over rows of live infants.
 
In this episode, Shane and Duncan dive into the world’s weirdest festivals, from tomato-throwing mayhem to camel wrestling to an underwater concert.
 
Bring goggles. And maybe a helmet.
 
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Grigori Rasputin was many things: a wandering mystic, a spiritual advisor to the Russian royal family, and according to persistent rumors, extremely difficult to kill. Was he actually a holy man with healing powers, or just a manipulative con artist who helped bring down an empire?
Most of what you think you know about Rasputin is wrong…but the truth is still pretty wild.
~Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content.~Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD~Send Shane and Duncan a message at midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com~Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word.~Follow us on INSTAGRAM

The first episode covered the origins; now it’s time for the bloodbath. In part two of the Zizian cult series, Shane and Duncan unpack the chilling details of the group’s most violent acts: samurai swords, parricide, and a vegan warlord with delusions of grandeur. From the calculated murders to the dramatic downfall, this is the story of how an online ideology turned into a real-world body count.
~Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content.~Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD~Send Shane and Duncan a message at midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com~Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word.~Follow us on INSTAGRAM

They preached compassion, practiced anarchy, and packed a samurai sword. In this episode, Shane and Duncan uncover the bizarre rise and explosive downfall of the Zizian cult—a fringe vegan collective turned militant commune. From utopian ideals to armed standoffs, it’s a tale of charisma, control, and a tugboat full of red flags.
~Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content.~Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD~Send Shane and Duncan a message at midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com~Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word.~Follow us on INSTAGRAM

From creatures that soar through moonlit skies with uncanny precision to those that hunt the forest in utter darkness, discover the fascinating adaptations that make these animals masters of the night.
 
Warning: Episodes may be irreverent, ridiculous, and/or mildly unhinged
 
~Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content.~Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD~Send Shane and Duncan a message at midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com~Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word.~Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Join Shane and Duncan for a journey through the kaleidoscopic world of psychedelics...
Psilocybin (magic mushrooms), MDMA (ecstasy/molly), and LSD (acid)--once the darlings of counterculture--are now the focus of cutting-edge research into innovative therapies for anxiety and depression. In this irreverent host-swap episode, delve with Duncan into the science, the scandals, and the stories that make these substances both fascinating and formidable.
~Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content.~Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD~Send Shane and Duncan a message at midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com~Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word.~Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Sometimes the most dangerous place to be is on the clock.
This week, Shane and Duncan explore workplace events so disastrous that they reshaped industries and regulations worldwide. From the Texas City explosion that turned a harbor into a war zone, to the gas leak that exposed thousands to lethal chemicals, these aren’t just tragic accidents; they’re cautionary tales.
~Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content.~Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD~Send Shane and Duncan a message at midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com~Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word.~Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Surviving a plane crash is one thing, but cutting off your own arm to escape a boulder? Whole different level. In this follow-up episode, Shane and Duncan are back with more jaw-dropping true stories of survival against impossible odds.
First up: the haunting ordeal of the sailors of the USS Indianapolis, who were left floating in shark-infested waters after one of the worst naval disasters in U.S. history. And finally: Aaron Ralston’s infamous, grisly, panic-inducing solo hike gone wrong. 
These stories aren’t for the faint of heart, but they are 100% true. It’s human survival at its most extreme…again.
~Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content.~Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD~Send Shane and Duncan a message at midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com~Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word.~Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Stranded in the Andes. Lost in the jungle. Trapped in the desert with nothing but a questionable grasp of hydration. History is packed with jaw-dropping survival stories—some inspiring, some terrifying, and a few so ridiculous they strain credibility. In this episode, Shane and Duncan dive into the wildest tales of human endurance, sheer luck, and occasionally, just really poor life choices.
~Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content.~Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD~Send Shane and Duncan a message at midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com~Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word.~Follow us on INSTAGRAM

It was the war to end all wars…until it wasn’t. In 1914, a tangled mess of alliances, ancient grudges, and questionable facial hair decisions erupted into one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. From the assassination that lit the fuse to the bizarre weapons and plot twists, this episode unpacks the chaos, carnage, and sheer absurdity of World War I.
Strap in for a deep dive into the Great War—where history meets hilarity, and no mustachioed monarch is safe.
~Become an Insomniac! Join the Midnight Masses by supporting the show on PATREON and unlock exclusive bonus content.~Join the community, chat with fellow insomniacs, and vote on episode topics via DISCORD~Send Shane and Duncan a message at midnightfactsforinsomniacs@gmail.com~Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word.~Follow us on INSTAGRAM