recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Let's Eat Our Neighbors

"This week we are blessed to have the hosts from the podcast Knowledge Fight! With Dan and Jordan we discuss the deeper insanity that is Alex Jones and his early childhood. We also learn about Moose, If Alex can in fact "get it" and when one actually becomes a man. Big thanks to Knowledge Fight and please check out their podcast!"

## Alex Jones

### Presented by: Knowledge Fight

Category: Conspiracy

Alex Jones has two things in common with Anton LaVey:

1. They were satanists at least one time (one could make the argument that Jones was twice the Satanist LaVey was).
2. They up so many damn lies about themselves, it's difficult to work out the truth.

Alex Jones, meme fodder, is the host of the show Info Wars were we spreads right-wing conspiracy theories. In many, if not most cases, his conspiracies lead back to something his selling. Money is going to be worthless in the apocalypse Gold is the way to go. And Jones just happens to have a gold guy.

Takeaway: Everything he believes comes second to the grift.
Vampire Goat Yoga Pants

""

Chelsea tells us two fitness cults. The first was SoulCycle, a fitness club chain in New York. While not an actual cult itself, it displays some distinctly cult tendency. It costs more than $30 per session and encourages people to attend multiple class per week. They have participants write goals and will except no "excuses", including poverty, work and school. Instructors will adjust people's machines without asking and without regard for their safely. Members of the club will arrange their work schedules to sign up for classes and some refuse to live far away from a club.

However, SoulCycle is nothing compared to Lululemon. Lululemon did all of the above, but took it deeper. They would try to prevent employees from leaving by making their managers beholden to staff positivity. If your tried to leave, you would have to explain why to everybody and be made to feel like you were betraying your "friends".

In 2011, one employee murdered another when she was caught stealing a pair of paints. The victim suffered more than 300 injuries. The woman was convicted and sentence to life without parole.

## Chupacabra

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Cryptid

El Chupacabra, literally the goat-sucker, is a relatively new cryptid. It was first sighted in Puerto Rico in 1995 when 8 sheep were found dead, each with two puncture wounds in the neck. It's similarity to a case 20 years earlier was noted at the time. Sightings exploded after that and came in from all over the world, even as far as Russia.

The Chupacabra is sometimes described as being bear-sized and some as being described as being a canid. This has led to the belief that the Chupacabra, if it exists at all, is some known animal with mange. However, most descriptions describe it as being scaly with spine spikes. The explanation for this, of course, is aliens.

In fact, it probably was an alien. The first sighting was made by a women who had just seen *Species*, a movie with a very similar alien creature in it.

T
We Need to Overthrow Heaven

""

**Content Warning: Murder, Suicide, Sexual Assault of Minors**

Angel's Landing Commune was a short-lived, but nonetheless horrifying cult from the area of Wichita, Kansas.

A man going by the name Lou Castro arrived with his circle of friends in Kansas in the early 2000s. He arranged the purchase of a house from a real estate agent named Jennifer Hutson, whom he charmed into leaving her husband and bringing her two daughters with her. Despite having no clear source of income, the family lived lavishly.

Castro claimed to have died and been reincarnated with angelic spirits, including an angel of death. He used this an the threats of divine reprisals to keep control of his family. At the same time, he manipulated Hutson's daughters in submitting to assault from him.

In 2003, Castro's former lover Patricia Hughes died in and apparent drowning. Around two and a half laters, Hughes's widower died in what was ruled an accident, but was believer by his friends to be a suicide. Hutson would also kill herself at the same interval later.

Castro was discovered when Hutson's eldest daughter, Sarah, invited her boyfriend over and saw Castro grope Sarah's sister. He wrote a letter to the FBI and the case was finally taken seriously. Lou Castro, ultimately discovered to be named David Perez, was convicted and sentenced to 80 years in prison.

Takeaway: Any system that sustains itself on human suffering needs to be destroyed.
Ghost

An undead entity. The following ghosts have been covered by Cults, Cryptids and Conspiracies:

* The Bell Witch, episode 125
* Bloody Mackenzie, episode 23
* Haunted Dolls, episode 104
* The Henry Jewett Players, episode 140
* The Ghostbusters Ruling, episode 142
* Ghost Mountain, episode 168
* Greenbriar Ghost, episode 175
* Green Man, episode 191
* Polvegia, episode 115
* The Whaley House, episode 65
* The Winchester Mystery House, episode 126
Beach Of Lies

"This week has a lot of content about Young Living and incorrect health diet practices. Remember to always do your own research even beyond listening to us. If you feel you need help for stopping unhealthy eating habits then please reach out to loved ones."

## Multi-level Marketing

### Presented by: Chelsea

Category: Conspiracy

Multi-level marketing (MLM), better known as pyramid schemes, are type conspiracy that are illegal in the United States, although there are loopholes that people can use to get around them. The involved the mark buying a product to sell. The person at the top gets the money, the people below end up in debt. They end up having to pull more people into the scheme to get out of it.

Chelsea does a round up of two MLMs, Young Living and Jilly Juice. They both jump onto the health cult band wagon and sell miracle cures. They differ in the nature of these cures. Young living focuses on essential oils, which have some positive effects in aromatherapy, but can be deadly when ingested, like Young Living recommends. They are currently facing lawsuits.

On the other hand, Jilly Juice cleverly avoids FDA reprisal by not selling the cures themselves, but the recipes to make the,. The company follows the "cleanse" path of cures, and tells customers to purge "toxins" from their bodies. This is dangerous for many reasons, including increased salt intake, leading to kidney failure.
Internet Clowns

"Chelsea's back! And she's here to tell you about the website left behind after the mass suicide of the Heaven's Gate cult members. Afterwards you can enjoy Cristina talking about terrifying clowns because she lives to feed your nightmares."

## The Heaven's Gate Website

### Presented by: Chelsea

Category: Cult

When doomsday cults with suicide pacts finally go through with it, that's usually the end of the story. At the very least, things wind down. However, this is not the true of Heaven's Gate. Before they committed mass suicide, they set up a website. And, now that they're gone, the website is still active.

The two who run it are unknown, but they still believe and will still give you all the information of Heaven's Gate if you want it, but they will not encourage people to commit suicide. This may be for legal reasons or it maybe because they don't believe in that aspect of it. They did, after all, stay behind.

Takeaway: Ride or die website.

## The Clown Craze in 2016

### Presented by: Cristina

Category:

Clowns are, historically, an offshoot of mimes ("scene mimes" as Cristina puts it). And after *It* and John Wayne Gacy and even deeper, ancient, psychological reasons, clowns count as the number one fear of many people. So when David Bowie returned to his home dimension at the dawn of 2016 and took the glue holding the universe together with him, you can imagine how terrifying it was when the clowns attacked.

The "first" of the craze (creepy clowns go back much further) was when a boy reported to his mother that clowns had tried to get him and his friends to go with them in the woods and had later followed them home.

They story hit the news and other stories were reported in the news cycle. It eventually inspired copycat "pranks". Sightings reached 49 states (Indiana already had the vice president) and people (mostly college kids avoiding studying for finals) were told to not engage.

And then they just sort of vanished.

Takeaway: Don't be the clown you want to see in the world.
Jack Dies At The End

"Ever wonder where the study of rocket fuel came from? Or how about how dark sex magick can create the perfect women? This Episode has got it all just like all the hottest night clubs in New York! Enjoy the life and times of Jack Parsons."

## Jack Parsons

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Everything

This episode is the Avengers of the podcast and I refuse to spoil a single second of it for you.
The Devils' Hole

"Ever wonder about albino cannibals or spectral grandmas? Well join us as we explore Ghost Mountain in Pennsylvania! Its got it all from haunted mine shafts to evil root cellars. As always stay safe out there and a special shout out to you listeners. Yes you, keep being wonderful."

## Ghost Mountain, PA

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Ghost

Ghost Mountain, or Haycock Mountain by it's proper name, is a mountain in Pennsylvania which is the center of numerous legends.

The most famous of these are the Alibino Cannibals that are said to dwell there. Various accounts of their origin from escaped circus performers to failed scientific experiments to even aliens. What is agreed upon is that inhabitants live on the mountain in concrete, windowless homes. While they are reported to be barely human, running around on all fours and communicated with each other like animals, they still remain human enough to cause problems for anyone passing through. They are said to setup roadblocks and will shoot rock salt at any care on their territory. Travelers on foot are in even more danger. They are said to be cannibals after all.

One account claims they're not humans at all. An anonymous author wrote in a letter that as a young teen a Catholic priest had used him and his friends, who claimed to have telepathic abilities, to locate the tunnels in the mountain. The inhabitants of the mountain were really "big eyed" aliens, similar to the Greys. The author also talked about a group with in Catholic Church that was trying to oust them.

Another account talks of actual ghosts. On the base of the mountain, a woman claimed, there was a wine cellar. She and all of her friends had each gone in their and each came out with a different story of what they had scene. However, they all seemed to agree that a shadow person lived there.

Other ghosts include a translucent little old lady who can be seen knitting through a window in a house across the street from the wine cellar and a ghost of a man who hung himself in a covered bridge. If you stop your car and turn it off and on three times, it won't stop. If you turn of your engine and honk your horn three times before turning on your lights, you can see the body of the hanged man. It's similarity to a Texan legend and yet another involving of a covered bridge in Pennsylvania was noted.

The mountain is also said to have once held a lake known as the Devil's Hole. It was said to be bottomless and a portal to hell if you sank. A flood ultimately destroyed the hole in 1956. There is no proof this lake ever existed.

Takeaway: If it's old, people will up stories about it.
Eerie Weasel

"Ever wonder how a supernatural creature could ruin a teenager? How about how a ghostly mongoose can threaten to harm a whole family? In this weeks story we discuss the Dalby Spook or also known as Gef the Mongoose. Be safe out there and be nice to the local wildlife supernatural or otherwise."

## Gef the Mongoose

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Ghost

Gef the Mongoose was a creature that appeared to the Irving family living on the Isle of Man in the 1930s. Claiming to be the spirit of a mongoose from New Delhi. His presence in the house was a mixed bag. He would threaten to shoot the father and eavesdrop on the neighbors, but he would also turn off the stove if the family forgot and would warn of unexpected company.

No one could determine what the Gef was. Pictures of Gef were inconclusive. People have speculated that the daughter, Voirrey, who Gef was particularly attached to, was involved. One camp believes Gef was a poltergeist. Others believe that she was a ventriloquist, but she denied that to her death and Gef spoke to people when she was not around.

Takeaway:
We Contain Multitudes

"This week Cristina talks about whats truly deep inside the earth! Maybe there is an earth within an earth. Listen and see. Chelsea talks about the death of a certain religious figure. The Vatican is way more in depth then we ever knew."

## Hollow Earth

### Presented by: Christina

Category: Scientific Theory

The idea that the Earth is follow is by no means new. Many ancient and not-so-ancient civilizations have beliefs of underworlds, such as the Greeks and Christians. Some people erroneously believe that Buddhism has a similar ancient belief, but it was actually developed by a Westerner in the 1800s.

The first known person to suggest it as a scientific hypothesis is Edmund Hailey, inventor of the comet. He actually believe that the Earth it self was inside another hollow earth. Most commonly in these stories is that the entrances to the inside the hollow center can be found at caverns, especially at the North and South Poles. Many expeditions were made to find them and to this day, people search satellite photos in search of them.

What lays within the center of the Earth, aside from the final resting place of Jules Verne, is a matter of some debate. One popular theory is that extinct animals such as dinosaurs and mammoths live there, while others believe the unfortunately not extinct Nazis escaped there. Por qué no los dos?

However, if you're a believer in modern science, there are excuses to believe the hollow Earth is fiction. Testing of seismic waved have developed a blueprint of the Earth (it's still not flat, guys) and extensive drilling has failed to found a route to the center. And, as is the common destiny of all things, the Hollow Earth Hypothesis is a victim of gravity.

Takeaway: These theories have basis in fact.

## Pope John Paul I

### Presented by: Chelsea

Category: Conspiracy

Albino Luciani was born in 1912, though he is more commonly known by his professional moniker, Pope John Paul I. His desire to become a priest started when he encountered a Capuchin monk when he was 10 years old and his father told him to be on the side of the workers. He joined seminary a year later, where was found to be "too lively". Nevertheless, he was ordained at the age of 23 and made a cardinal in 1973.

When the previous Pope died in 1978, Luciani was elected and opined that his reign would be brief. Having been frail and sickly his entire life, Pope John Paul I (a name he chose deliberately, because he knew there would be more) died at the age of 65, a short 33 days after his election.

By all accounts, he died peacefully in his sleep, smiling through an apparent heart attack. Rumors began to fly that he was actually murdered, in part because the Vatican changed details surrounding who actually found him. Most commonly, it is believed that he was murdered to prevent the corruption of the Vatican bank to become known. While the corruption was genuine, there is no evidence to suggest foul play.

Takeaway: We all contain multitudes.
MKULTRA Stole Time

"Chelsea tells us about one of the many, many upsetting conspiracies surrounding the MK ULTRA project and Cristina is finally convinced to tell all of us about the Phantom Time Theory."

## Project Monarch

### Presented by: Chelsea

Category: Conspiracy

Project Monarch is an alleged offshoot of the genuine and documented MKULTRA project. Writer Cathy O'Brien claims to have been part of it, having suffered abuse during her childhood. She goes on to claim that several Hollywood stars and celebrities, mostly women, were victims of the program who's goal was to create sex slaves for the illuminati. The most famous alleged victims are Brittney Spears and Amanda Bynes (Disney being a major player in the project), but others include:

* Marilyn Monroe, the first victim
* Katy Perry
* Beyoncé
* Rihanna
* Lady Gaga
* Shia LaBeouf
* Ke$ha
* Corey Haim
* Corey Feldmen

More than one person on the above list suffered through actual abuse in Hollywood.

Takeaway: You don't need a conspiracy for people to be terrible.

## Phantom Time

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Conspiracy

The Phantom Time Hypothesis, first put forward in 1991 by Heribert Illig, posits that much of the Middle Ages was made up. The theory began as small jump a few years so that Pope Sylvester II, conspiring with Emperor Otto and Emperor Constantine, could reign in the year 1000. It eventually grew into a nearly 300 year time skip that even Anime wouldn't attempt.

Proponents of this theory point to the belief that their is little surviving from 614 to 911, both in terms of writing and in terms of artifacts and that European culture allegedly stagnated during this time. They also look at historical figures such as Charlemagne and determine they accomplished too much to be real.

However, other civilizations existed in Europe at this time and astronomical records show that the year is accurate.

Takeaway: Historical context is important. Count the eclipses.
Fraud and Vandalism

"Chelsea talks about the Tamam Shud case and Cristina recounts a story from the 1800's of a man who blames Wendigo's for the murder of his family. Also, everything is aliens."

## Anastasia

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Historical Mystery

Anastasia Nikolavena was the youngest daughter of Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia. She was murdered along with the rest of her family in 1918 during the Russian Revolution. Almost immediately, there were rumors that she had survived.

In part this was because there no official account of what happened to her and her family in until 71 of years after their deaths. The Bolsheviks had signed a treaty with the Germans who were demanded the safety of the princesses who were German by blood. The royal families of Europe were all interrelated and they didn't want retaliation. Another reason is that the accounts differ. Some say Anastasia survived the initial firing squad only to be shot in the second round. Another said she was stabbed to death by bayonets. For years, all anyone knew is that she was probably dead based on the royal families effects being found dumped down a mine shaft.

Several people over the years claimed to have been Anastasia. The most famous was Anna Anderson, who was able to fool people who knew her, who spend years trying to prove to the German government she was the lost princess. However, a DNA test after her death proved she had no relation to the Russian royal family. She is believed to have been a missing Polish woman with a history of mental illness. Other claimants include Eugina Smith, who made her living off the story and a nun who kept up the claim until her death and was buried under the name.

The idea that Anastasia survived was one of the nicer things to believe, compared to the reality, buy in 2007 her body, and the body of her sister, was found and positively identified. They had been buried separately to prevent them from being found.

## Toynbee Tiles

### Presented by: Chelsea

Category:

The Toynbee Tiles are a series of art installations found around the Americas, mostly centered around Philadelphia. They're made using linoleum and tar paper, the at acts a glue to keep them in place until the weight of cars going over them in the roads set them and reveal them.

The tiles all contain, in some form the following message:

TOYNBEE IDEA

IN MOViE '2001

RESURRECT DEAD

ON PLANET JUPITER

However, some contain other messages, including on in the with an anti-Semitic and anti-Communist rant. The main message is based on the works of Toynbee, who believed that humans could be resurrected if their bodies could be reformed. Therefore, the afterlife is possible if we could build it. The tile creator believe in terraforming mars, apparently unaware that gas can't be terraformed.

A documentary on the tiles tracked down the creator, who did not want to be known. Out of respect, their name is not listed here.
Spooktober part 2; Deadly Banana Beer From The Deep

"Christina starts us off with some not so great historical context from the 80's to 90's. This cult misinterpreted the ten commandments for sure. Chelsea brings up a mysterious race of peoples from the past who loved to ruin peoples day. Hashtag get wrecked by the people of the sea."

## The Sea People

### Presented by: Chelsea

Category: Historical Mystery

The Seas People we’re a tribe of people who terrorized Europe on the middle east, arriving by boat and raiding villages, much like the Vikings would do 2,000 years later.

While the origin of the Sea People is unknown, some possible explanations include:

* Atlanteans

* Philistines

* Early Vikings

Most historians agree it was almost certainly the Atlanteans
Bribing At The Car Wash

"Ever wondered exactly how corrupt the Brazilian Government really is? Join us today as we discuss the scandal that led up to the appointment of the president Jair Bolsonaro; Car Wash, or Lava Jato. Stay safe out there and wear a mask friends. Story begins at 29 minutes."

## Operation Car Wash

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Conspiracy

Lest you think that only your nation is corrupt Cristina brings use the story of Operation Car Wash from Brazil. (If you're actually from Brazil, then...well done.)

Operation Car Wash is a case of something small spiralling out. Thus called because if started at a car wash, it began as investigation into money laundering. Car washes are cash-based, making them easier to use as a front. The investigation implicated a company called Petrobras, which is a leading oil seller in brazil. They were discovered committing a laundry list of crimes, including burglary bribery, embezzlement and burglebezzlement.

The investigation went international as Petrobras doesn't just deal in Brazil. All told, 11 countries became involved.

Takeaway: Nothing stays hidden forever.
Irradiated on The Moon

"Chelsea talks about a certain Brazil tragedy involving nuclear material. Don't let your kid play in nuclear dust please. Cristina takes on a grand daddy conspiracy involving the moon! Did we ever land there and is it made of cheese?"

## Brazilian Nuke Incident

### Presented by: Chelsea

Category:

The Instituto Goiano de Radioterapia was a hospital in Brazil that was abandoned in 1985. They did this knowingly leaving radioactive material behind.

In 1987, Roberto dos Santos Alves and Wagner Mota Pereira broke into the hospital looking for salvage for sale. The took what they found home for disassembly. Inside one of the units was glowing blue powder. The two men began suffering from radiation poisoning that very night.

They would both undergo amputation. The daughter of a scrapyard owner, 6, died when she rubbed the powder on herself and some of it got onto her food. All told, 4 people died and nearly 250 were contaminated.

Takeaway: This isn't a video game. If it's glowing and shouldn't be, leave it alone.

## Moon Landing Conspiracies

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Conspiracy

The moon isn't real. But that doesn't mean we didn't land on it.

In 1969, NASA landed 3 men on the moon, becoming the first people in the modern age to reach it (the Vikings made it there C. 1000 A.D.

However, many people who (correctly) recognize the moon as fake, believe this never happened. Their reasons for the hoax are:

* To win the Space Race
* To get NASA funding (Table talk: Knowing how funding debate and struggles are, I can respect this one)
* To distract from the Vietnam War (It didn't work).

There are numerous reason why the landing on the fake moon was real, but here's the zeroth reason: The Soviet Union had the technology to track us and would have 100% tattle on us.
Eight Meters

Drop bears are real.

Drop bears are a species of animal native to parts of Australia. Related to and in appearance similar to the koala bear, drops bears are larger, with orange mottling on their fur. They get their name from their tendency to drop down on their prey, much like big cats such as the leopard. One of the more caked animals on the continent, it's noted for having "cushion for the pushing".

Drop bears are statistically more likely to drop down on tourists (the third leading cause of death in tourists) than local Australians, leading to the theory that they can recognize differences in accents. Travellers to Australia are advised when hiking in areas inhabited by Drop Bears to spread vegemite on themselves and speak in Australian accents. Wearing forks in your hair is also known to scare off drop bears, as the tines will stab the bear and force them to run off.

The Drop Bear is a descended from *Thylacoleo carnifex,* a now-extinct marsupial lion (as much a lion as the Tasmanian tiger is a tiger). Traces of the *Thylacoleo carnifex*'s scratches can still be found ancient in trees in the regions still inhabited by their descendants to this day.

### Takeaway

Australians like to have a laugh. Send Chelsea more Tim Tams.

## Trivia

* Patreon Skit: Cristina and Mal nearly get a divorce.
Sea Me Now

"Welcome to the sea themed podcast! Where Cristina talks about our ancestors (maybe) and Chelsea talks about a ghost ship that also may or may not have existed."

## The Aquatic Ape Hypothesis

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Scientific Theory

First developed by Max Westenhöfer (who didn't believe humans were apes) in the 1940s, the aquatic ape hypothesis is the idea that humans evolved as adaptation to living semi-regularly in water. Westenhöfer dropped up theory, which was picked up by Alister Hardy in the 1960s. He believed that humans hunted on and in the shore, unable to compete with other apes. The evidence of this theory includes:

* Largely hairless bodies.
* A layer of fat
* Webbed hands and feet
* A weak sense of smell
* Bipedalism
* Trachea in the throat
* Tears and sweat
* The missionary position

The hypothesis is not popular within the scientific community. They point out, for example, that other apes gain fat in captivity. Some of the points while true, are erroneously stated as only in existing in humans and aquatic animals. All of the pieces of evidence can be explained from the accepted model. One thing that came of the aquatic ape research is the understanding that the savannah landscape we think of ubiquitous to our early evolution didn't develop until after bipedalism.

Takeaway: Obvious beliefs aren't always set in stone.

## The Ourang Medan

### Presented by: Chelsea

Category: Historical Mystery, Conspiracy

At some undetermined point in time in the something in the 1940s. The ship was found in the Straits of Malacca after a telegram reading, "“All officers including captain are dead, lying in chartroom and bridge. Possibly whole crew dead." After some undecipherable code, the final message was, "I die".

The location was determined and the S.S. Silver Star went to investigated. When hailing the ship failed boarding party discovered the crew dead and strew about the ship. All of their eyes were open and upward and some of them had expressions of terror. The ship was cold, but the bodies were already decaying. They could find no damage to the ship itself.

The boarding party's attempt to tow ship were aborted when the smelled smoke. They barely escape the ship before he caught fire, exploded and sank.

There's nothing to suggest the Ourang Medan even existed at all. There is no ship manifest or any records of it existing (though the Silver Star did exist). If it existed, it's suggested that the Ourang Medan was carrying chemical weapons from Japan's Unit 31 after WWII. If this is true, it's possible that the chemical leaking killed everyone and the events were covered up.

Takeaway: Lumberjacks make up the best cryptids, but sailors make up the best ghost stories.

## Trivia

* Cristina proposes the episode that would become Flat Earth Showdown.
The Everlasting Faint

"This week lets talk about Greenbrier, WV and how the supernatural solved a most terrible crime! The courtroom drama is thick with this one and also if you are just gosh dang sure enough you can convince anyone of anything. Hey stay safe out there y'all and go vote!"

## The Greenbriar Ghost

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Ghost

Elva Zona Heaster was a woman who lived in West Virginia in the late 19th century. After having a child outside of marriage, she married a blacksmith named Trout Shue in October of 1896 (Fish was not the father).

3 months later, she was dead. Her body had been found a boy Fish had sent to the house. Her cause of death changed several times, but was always some flavor of "women troubles". Fish was by all accounts distraught, preparing the body for burial himself (unusual at time) and hold vigil over the body.

Shortly after her daughter's death, Elva's mother started seeing the ghost of Elva appearing to her in bed. She insisted that these were not dreams and that Elva told her Fish had murder her. Her persistence was enough to get Elva's body exhumed (*highly* unusual at the time) and a second autopsy performed. This time the cause of death was determined to be strangulation and Fish, who was required to be present, was arrested on the spot.

At the trial, the defense attempted to bring the point of the ghost up to discredit Elva's mother. It backfired and Fish was sentenced to life in prison.

Takeaway: If someone you know was murdered, hope for the ghost.
Sneeple On This Flat Earth

"This weeks got it all! An interesting topic about a woman who has all the insider knowledge on how the Reptile aliens are infiltrating our world. Buy the Orgon! A crystal wrapped in wire with a penny to protect yourself."

## Sherry Shriner

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Conspiracy

Sherry Shriner is cult leader who's cult, Faction Four, can best be described as a variation of Gnosticism. After a series of visions that came from night terrors, she came to believe that Jesus was either the son of the Devil or the Devil himself. His usurpation of the true son of God, Yeshua, was a plot in the King Jame's Bible.

Faction 4 is a who's who of conspiracy theories:

* Lizard people
* The Devil and his wife live in France
* Rose Quartz can dispel evil spirits, but only if you buy from her.
* Biblical Codes

Shriner was connected to the death of one-time follower, claiming that NATO had murdered because she'd failed to kill Shriner. She died herself in 2017 of natural causes.

Takeaway: Be the cause of the end of the world. Only don't.
Dummy Thick Bros

"This week we discuss a totally real historical figure that helped to shape Britannia and was involved with King Arthur and the holy grail. Just don't mess with ladies in lakes OK?"

## Merlin

### Presented by: Mal

Category: Historical Mystery

While based on supposedly people, the Merlin we know today largely owes himself to the Welsh monk Geoffrey of Monmouth (who would never lie to you). He created him by combing Myrrdin Wilt, a seer who when mad and ended up living in the forest, and Ambrosius Aurelianus, a war leader. Geoffrey changed his name to Merlin, because Myrrdin was too close to the French word for "shit" and called Merlin Ambrosius.

Merlin was born to a mortal woman and Incubus, and was supposed to be evil. However, he was blessed at the moment of his birth and became a prophet. He figures into many legends, particularly the legend of Kind Arthur. He saved a castle from sinking by diving to fighting dragons underneath the foundations and later arranged for the birth of King Arthur by Igraine and Uther Pendragon. He still lives, but was trapped in a tree by Nimue, one of the ladies. Another story has him impaled by a snake in one of Scotland's many deserts.

Merlin was said to have made many prophecies, including the sinking of a ship, which actually happened.

Takeaway: No matter how badass of a wizard you are, your hubris will be your downfall.

## Trivia

* Patreon skit: Fixing a sinking submarine.
Jill Dando and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls

"Delve into the world of crystal skulls (yes, like the terrible Indiana Jones movie) and the mystery of the death of Jill Dando!"

## The Crystal Skulls

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Hoax

The Crystal Skulls are a series of artifacts that many believe are ancient and possibly mystical in origin. In the most popular version of the legend, while 12 of the crystal skulls, each made of rock quartz, have been found, there remains a 13th one at large. All of human knowledge is kept in the skulls. When the 13 are reunited, humanity will be able to access said wisdom.

The best known of the skulls belonged to Anna Mitchell-Hedges who claimed to have found it on an archaeological dig with her father in modern-day Belize in a collapsed temple. No record of her presence or the discovery of skull was note at the dig and the skull, a far cry from the thousands of years it was alleged, could only have been made with modern tools. It was later revealed to have been bought years the dig.

Still, Mitchell-Hedges professed the story until her death in 2007. She believe that Mesoamerican priests had used it to will people to death and had even claimed to have done so herself.

Other notable skulls are held in museums in Britain, France and the Smithsonian. All of them have them have been determined to be modern creation and no example of genuine ancient Mesoamerican crystal skulls have ever been found.

Takeaway: If you have the ability to fake ancient, mystical artifacts, do it.

## Jill Dando

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Unsolved Murder

Jill Dando was a reporter for the BBC on their Crimewatch program, the UK equivalent of Unsolved Mysteries. Tragically, Dando became the center of her own unsolved mystery when she was murdered outside her home in 1999.

Dando was shot with a 9mm gun. The murder was over in 20 minutes. A rarity in England, the gun was thought to either be a modified gun or and illegal one. She was pronounced dead on arrival.

Numerous theories have been put forward:

* A jealous ex-boyfriend
* A work rival
* Revenge from an investigation
* A mistaken identity.
* Connection to a Q Anon-style conspiracy.

Among the more likely theories is that she was murdered by a crazed fan. A man named Barry George was accused and convicted of the crime on the basis of previous stalking and sexual abuse as well as gun powder residue. He served 8 years in prison until his conviction was overturned after it was discovered the police had misrepresented the presence of police guns at the arrest.

Her murder has also been linked to the War in Kosovo that was going on at the time. A number of people were assassinated in a similar fashion in England in connection to the war at the time and Yugoslavian leaders had called for her death following her speaking out against the war.

Takeaway: Sometimes the creep guy isn't the murder.

## Trivia

* Chelsea and Cristina claimed they would never record in the same room again.
Respawn Point

**Content Warning: Child Death**

On May 6, 1957, Joanna and Jaqueline Pollock, two young girls living in England were victims of vehicular homicide.

In October of the following year, their parents gave birth to twins, a prediction made by the father, despite the mother having no history of twin in her family and the doctor only detecting one heart beat throughout the pregnancy. This would have been odd enough, but the twins had different birthmarks. Jennifer had mark on her waist that matched one Jaqueline had, as well as having one on her forehead that matched Jaqueline's scar.

Things became weirder as the learned to talk. They asked for toys that belonged to their sisters that had been put away. The made believed having injuries matching the ones their sisters sustained from the crash and had a fear of cars. Their parents had moved from the town they had been living in after the deaths, but moved back later and the twins recognized local landmarks.

Reincarnation, case closed? Not quite. The twins dad was a fervent believer in reincarnation and believed the twins would be reincarnation of his daughters, even before birth. He claimed he never spoke of his daughters to the twins, but it's not impossible they overheard them. The twins also had four older brothers who were old enough to understand what happened and would have been able to talk about their sisters to Jennifer and Gillian.

For further information on research into reincarnation, look into the work of Ian Stevenson.

Takeaway: It's way more interesting to look at things from an academic point of view.

## Trivia

* Patreon Skit: A restaurant's specials (redone).
Game Over, Man

"This week Chelsea continues her 5 part series on how we got to where we are politically today. Gamergate was an intense situation for those for media and gaming inclined and changed the landscape for anyone in gaming forever. Please stay safe out there and go vote!"

## Gamergate

### Presented by: Chelsea

Category: Conspiracy

Gamergate began when Zoe Quinn's ex-boyfriend posted a 9000 word rant online after they refused to get back together with him. The post alleged that Quinn slept with Nathan Grayson, a game reviewer on Kotaku, in exchange for favorable reviews on their game *Depression Quest*. Despite the fact that Grayson never reviewed the game, and any reference to it predates their relationship, the cause angered the element online that already didn't want women in what they thought of as their spaces and began harassing Quinn.

The rage extended to other figures, such as Anita Sarkeesian, a YouTuber who created a series of videos discussing her views on sexism in video games and Brianna Wu, another independent developer.

Steve Bannon saw the anger in this portion of the internet and deliberately targeted them as a part of the base in the 2016 election.

Takeaway: The internet has given people the ability to collaborate.
Final Nightmare VII

"This week we showcase the Final Fantasy House and the manipulative tactics used to hurt people. Please understand that abuse is not OK and that if you need help you can visit www.thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-7233. Stay safe out there citizens of Bummersville and know we care. Also black lives still matter and that wont ever not be the case."

## Final Fantasy House

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Cult

In the early days of the internet, fandom and roleplaying alright exist. Enter Syd, a college student who found himself caught with a group of people who believed, or at least claimed to, they were reincarnations of characters from the video game, Final Fantasy 7. He first met them on a chat room, where one of them claimed to be Hojo. Hojo believed the Syd was a character named Zack from the game.

Their chatting continued until he eventually went to meet them. Aside from Hojo, there was also a Jenova and an Aerys. While he realized it wasn't roleplaying and they lived this belief, he ultimately ended up living there. Hojo and Jenova would use Syd to pay for all their expenses, to the point that Syd had to "steal" food from work that was set to be thrown out to survive. He was also pressured to sleep with Aerys, because their characters had been an item in game. He was watched at all times and might find himself locked out if left for anything other than work.

The final straw came when his shoes were stolen. He finally made contact with friends and family. He escaped and runs a website to warn people about the group, which may still be active.

Takeaway: Only worry about kids being cringey when someone is being hurt.

## Trivia

* Patreon Skit: Dance lessons
* Jen, one of the housemates, would (possibly) Kinning Isn't Easy
Snowball Fight in the Senate

""

Climate change, that humans our damaging our environment to the point of existential crisis, has been well documented by science for decades. So of course there are deniers. Such denials are based on, but not limited to, the following "pillars".

* Science denial. This based on the resentment of people who weren't privileged enough to go to college. These leads them to support politicians who are anti-intellectual. Of course, there is no scientific basis. If scientist were actually lying for grant money, more of them would be doing it.
* Economics. It's claimed that it would too expensive to do anything. In reality, today it would cost 1% of the world's GDP (or the loose change in Jeff Bezo's couch) to fix. In 30 years, it will cost 20%. The also claim the that it would destroy jobs. In reality, it would create many more.
* Crisis. We'll be better equipped to fix it then, so why not wait. This fails to take in account that we may end up waiting too long.
* Political. Other countries aren't doing it, so we might as well not. However, relatively small areas have the ability to dictate action. Electric cars are one the rise nation wide, because of California law. It would be more expensive to make two sets of cars, so they make ones that can be sold in California.

Takeaway: It's not too late. Call your senator.
Lets Hunt Ghosts

"This week we have a special guest Kristyn who is here to fill us in on some theater drama from the east coast. We're all very sick this week so we may sound sleepy but hey we didn't wanna leave you hanging. Speaking of hanging, was it cancer that killed this theater master? Also everyone should in fact break a leg."

## Henry Jewett Players

### Presented by: Krysten

Category: Ghost

The Huntington Theater, originally the Henry Jewett Theater, was built in 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts. It was ranked as the 3rd most haunted theaters in the worlds, boasting as many ghosts.

The first is of Henry Jewett, an actor born in Australia in 1862 and the founder of the Henry Jewett players and the theater that housed them. He was Shakespearean actor. With the Depression, he was forced to close the theater in 1930. He died of cancer some months later.

However, rumors persist that he hung himself in the theater and haunts the theater to this day. He appears as Macbeth and is known to play pranks on the theater's actors. He can also be seen in the balcony watching rehearsals.

The second is The Lady in White. Seen mostly in the dressing rooms, she is believed to be the ghost of a wardrobe mistress. She is reported as finding things thrown and personal belongings missing if they leaving the dressing room messy. Krysten found the mirror broken in the hall after leaving a mess.

The third and final ghost belongs to a woman who died falling from the window on the fire escape in 1999. She remains unidentified. Known as Girlfriend, if you don't acknowledge her when you enter and leave theater, she will take your things. Krysten had her had stolen, only to have it returned to her after she apologized.

## Trivia

Patreon Skit: Mal assigns the tiers as theater roles.
The Folly of Man

The Tamam Shud case refers to the the discovery of an unknown man sitting dead on the beach in Australia 1948. All attempts to identify the man have failed. He was reportedly scene walking on the beach, though forensics have determined that he must have died lying down. Almost of all of the tags in his clothing had been carefully removed and he had expensive cigarettes in his cheap cigarette box. He was eventually linked to a suitcase through analysis of the thread, but that also turned up no leads.

The case takes it's name from a piece of paper found int he sewed up watch pocket of his pants. It was torn from a copy of the *Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam* that was found thrown into the backset of a car belonging to a pair of brothers. Inside the book was what appeared to be a code that has also defied explanation, though recently people have claimed to discover micro code referring to plans for an airplane that the British were developing at the time. This, plus the fact that the edition of the book was never officially in print (and the whole case, really) have led people to believe the man was a Cold War era spy.

The closest he cam to ever being identified was by a nurse named Jessica Thompson, who reacted as if she knew him, but denied it. Her family, particularly her daughter, believes that shew knew the man and that he fathered her son, due to her name being written in his version his book and her son having the same rare earlobe features as the man. The daughter has requested for the body to be exhumed for DNA testing, but this has thus far been denied.

The Thamam Shud case will likely never be solved, because ever answer leads to more questions and the one aspect of the story that can be settled is not being pursued.

## Swift Runner

### Presented by: Cristina

Category:

Swift Runner was a Cree Native American living in modern-day Alberta. He worked s a trapper and guide until he was kicked out of his village for being a violent alcoholic just before winter, forcing him and his entire family to go live in the woods with him 25 miles away. This happened just before winter.

Winter is rarely mild in Canada and this was a particularly nasty one. In the spring, Swift Runner returned to the village alone, but acted suspicious when they asked after his family. The people of the village relayed their concerns to the local Mounties who agreed to investigate. Shortly thereafter, Swift Runner himself arrived at the Mounties to explain that his wife had committed suicide and his family had starve to death. He agreed to take the Mounties to his camp.

At the camp, they found human skulls in the remains of the fire and promptly arrested Swift Runner, who confessed to eating his family over the course of the winter, which he blamed on being possessed by a Wendigo. His trial was brief and hisi became the first legal hanging in the territory.