Midnight Facts for Insomniacs

Outlaws and Renegades: The Hells Angels

Part myth, part mayhem, and all leather-clad rebellion: welcome to the shadowy world of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. 
In this week’s episode, Shane and Duncan explore the mystique and mysticism of a legendary biker gang, from the notorious riots and murders that publicly defined them to the fiercely-guarded code of honor that binds them. So grab a cup of coffee, or perhaps something stronger, and buckle up for an adrenaline-fueled ride through the turbulent history of the HAMC. 
~Become an Insomniac! Support 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

Instruments of War: Medieval Weaponry

Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD!
On this week's episode, Shane and Duncan delve into the dark and deadly world of medieval warfare to learn how people fought, killed, and survived in the Middle Ages. From the elegant and lethal longsword to the gruesome and gory morning star, explore the history and science behind some of the most fearsome and fascinating instruments of war ever devised.
~Become an Insomniac! Support 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

Zombies and Incest: The Wild, Kinky World of Japanese Mythology (Shintoism)

Are you ready for a rousing tale of ghosts and gods and taboo brother-sister love? No, this isn't a new streaming series from HBO; this is MFFI's first episode covering the bizarre, freaky world of Japanese Mythology. Join the guys as they uncover the rituals, creation myths, and divine deities of Shintoism, an ancient religion that predates Japan’s recorded history.
**NOTE: THIS EPISODE BEGINS WITH AN EXTENDED UPDATE TO THE PREVIOUS EPISODE. TO SKIP TO THIS WEEK'S TOPIC, JUMP TO 11:00**
~Become an Insomniac! Support 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

AI 2050: The Future of Artificial Intelligence

What will AI look like in 2050? Will it solve all our problems, or create new ones? Will our future AI companions be more “Her” or “T1000"? In the latest chrome-plated, mechanized, fully sentient episode of MFFI, Shane and Duncan discuss the possibilities and pitfalls of generative artificial intelligence, and explore all of the ways it might reshape media, society, economy, and culture.
~Become an Insomniac! Support 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

Artificial Intelligence: ChatGPT, Bing, Bard, and the AI Apocalypse

Ready or not, here they come: the robots have arrived.
Artificial Intelligence has been under development since the 1950s, but viable AI didn't explode into mainstream pop culture until the introduction of ChatGPT in November of 2022. The chatbot has since rocketed in popularity to become the fastest-growing consumer application in history, and prompted an AI arms race that shows no signs of abating. Artificial Intelligence is now piloting cars, painting pictures, composing poems, writing term papers, passing the bar exam, and (presumably) plotting world domination. 
Join Shane and Duncan to explore the technological breakthroughs that made these latest versions of AI possible, and find answers to all of your most pressing questions, including:
What is ChatGPT?
How does generative AI work?
Which AI is the smartest: ChatGPT, Bard, or Bing (Sydney)?
Is there a chance that any current versions of AI are actually sentient? 
How long does the human race have left before the arrival of AI armageddon? 
~Join the Midnight Masses! Support the show by becoming a Midnight Minion, Menace, or Maniac, and unlock exclusive bonus content over at PATREON~Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD~And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!~Instagram~Podcast Website
 

Historical Figures (That Might Never Have Existed)

For millennia, characters like King Arthur and Robin Hood have captivated the masses, inspiring songs and books and films and Saturday morning cartoons, but their reality is obscured behind myth and legend. Prepare for history-bending revelations as Shane and Duncan uncover the truth behind famous figures who might never have existed.
~Become an Insomniac! Support 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

Government Coverups: The Iran-Contra Affair

In the first installment of MFFI’s Government Cover-Ups series, grab your New Coke and Trapper Keeper for a trip back to the 1980s to uncover the truth behind one of the wildest political scandals in American history: the Iran-Contra affair. It’s a saga of guns, drugs, hostages, and lies that shook the White House to its core. 
~Become an Insomniac! Support 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

Old Wives Tales

Can an apple a day keep the doctor away? If you swallow your gum, will it spend years in your stomach? Can walnuts repair floor-scratches? (Spoiler alert: no, no, and yes.)
Everyone is familiar with Old Wives Tales, those dubious snippets of folk wisdom that have been passed down from generation to generation. But where do they come from? And are they all just harmless superstitions, or do any of them contain a grain of truth? Join Shane and Duncan as they explore the true stories behind some of the most enduring Old Wives Tales. 
~Become an Insomniac! Support 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

Accidental Inventions

From Viagra to Super Glue, history is littered with "aha!" moments that were nothing more than lucky accidents. In this bumbling, stumbling episode of MFFI, the boys take a closer look at the flukes and misadventures that led to some of the most successful inventions in human history.
~Become an Insomniac! Support 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

Killer Beasts: Notorious Animal Attacks

Warning: This one is brutal.
On this week’s karma-packed episode of MFFI, cringe along with Shane and Duncan as they delve into some of the most notorious animal attacks in history. From the killing of Steve Irwin (the Crocodile Hunter) by a startled stingray to the public tiger-mauling of Roy Horn (of Siegfried and Roy), explore instances of hubris and outright stupidity that resulted in shocking animal-on-human violence. This episode won’t help your insomnia, but it’s a wild ride…
~Become an Insomniac! Support 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