Loose Units: The Podcast

This week on Loose Units, John and Paul continue their look at bullying and suicide in the Emergency Services.If you're feeling vulnerable or triggered, or like you need to talk to someone, call Lifeline on 131114, or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. You can also get in touch with the folks over at standbysupport.com.au. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TW: SUICIDE. This week, we have a long overdue talk about bullying and suicide. John brings several very personal stories to the table, and Paul talks about his experiences being bullied. Part two will air next week.If you're feeling vulnerable or triggered, or like you need to talk to someone, call Lifeline on 131114, or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Loose Units: Hot Stuff Coming Through, we talk flaming rats, listener questions, using acid to get rid of bodies, and even what happens when a beloved brand of doll gets stuck where the sun doesn't shine. Prepare for a very odd, very special chat between Paul and John. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's bonus Loose Ends, John tells Paul that his grandma taught the Crossbow Killer, and they discuss whether there may have been any early warning signs. They also answer a fiery listener question, and delve into the difference between a synthetic and an ivory snooker ball, specifically ones stuck into bodily orifices! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Loose Units: Hot Stuff Coming Through, John talks Paul through some of the hazards that come with trying to keep a house warm during the winter. They chat about how heat can render a corpse impossible to identify, what happens when someone sits on a pavlova magic egg, and about fresh laundry busting into flames!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You heard us. An actual ghost story. This week's bonus episode of Loose Ends begins with a super-creepy tale, features a cracker of a listener question, has some talk about the upcoming Electric Blue release, and finishes with imagery so gross, Paul had to terminate the call! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Time for our Queen’s Birthday special episode of Loose Units! We talk watching the Royal Wedding overseas, which swiftly leads to a truly shocking story about Dad finding a body by the side of the road whilst living in Thailand. Paul and John then discuss the infamous 1992 Windsor Castle fire! It’s a jam-packed Queen’s Birthday episode, so grab some scones, string up some bunting and have a listen! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on our bonus Loose Ends, Paul and John discuss booby traps, what happens when firefighters enter an apartment and the occupant has no idea they’re there, and more! Paul and John even learn that they both harbor some truly odd, and embarrassing, bathroom secrets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, John answers some sticky questions, leading he and Paul to some uncomfortable places... including how this ex-cop John would dispose of a dead body.Hypothetically, of course.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Loose Ends, Christine comes on to tell about the time someone cut her brake lines. No, really. Also, John and Paul finally talk about that vital pillar of father-son relationships: the bad Dad joke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we return to stories about the police! John and Paul talk police scanners, breaking into police stations to steal uniforms and weapons, and what happens when someone takes an APC for a joyride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John and Paul talk about getting off your f*cking phone whilst driving, then they dive into stories about skydiving, basejumping and other hair-raising falls. They also talk, for some reason, about the logistics of catching a very, very heavy baby. And they even talk about how John would survive if he jumped out of a building. It's a hilarious, and truly stupid, episode of Loose Ends! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Loose Units, John and Paul follow a lead from last week's episode... and end up discussing John's weird link to a truly horrifying series of murders carried out by a disturbed individual. TRIGGER WARNING: Graphic violence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Loose Ends, John and Paul talk antiques! John tells Paul all about his time as an antique dealer, about treasures hidden in furniture, and more weird tales. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, after a chronic case of the giggles, John and Paul talk back-burning. What is it, how does it work, and just how wrong can it go? John also talks Paul through a back-burning related incident which took place during his time helping run a funeral home.Don't forget: You can now pre-order Paul's second book based on John's stories, Electric Blue! Grab yours ahead of time right here: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/electric-blue-9781760897772 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul's sequel to Loose Units, ELECTRIC BLUE, is available for pre-order now! You can grab it right here: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/electric-blue-9781760897772 - and the boys discuss what it's like for Paul to have a second book about John hitting bookstores this father's day. They also talk about Paul and Tegan's car getting written off and their interactions with some truly lovely police, and John reveals that he once tried to create a kids book about a... wait. A talking sausage? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, John tells Paul a terrible story he was entrusted with involving an unspeakable tragedy that took place on the side of the road one morning many decades ago. It's a disturbing story which provokes a very intense talk between John and Paul about the responsibilities of people with jobs as high-stakes as firefighters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's bonus episode of Loose Ends, Paul and John delve into spontaneous human combustion, John tells Paul a truly bizarre and eye-opening story about firemen rescuing a possum, and they get to the bottom of what being a "koala" really means! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turns out that being a relief firefighter leads to some pretty weird nights at the station. In this revealing episode, John takes Paul through one weird night involving undies, KFC and a mysterious snooker room. he also reveals what it was really like moving from station to station, and explains to a horrified Paul one of his stupidest station Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus phonecall episode, Paul and John discover that... yeah. John maybe DID drive an ambulance. He also tells Paul the story of the time he helped deliver a baby, and Paul confesses that maybe John didn't nail it when he named his son! It's a bumper bonus Loose Ends this week, and we hope you enjoy it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, at long last… arson. Why do arsonists light fires? John and Paul discuss the bizarre, terrifying and baffling motivations behind one of the worst crimes there is. John reveals some of the frightening practices of the most cunning arsonists, talks about arsonists who are also firefighters, and confesses to his first encounter with fire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's bonus episode, John tells Paul some INCREDIBLE stories from his time working at the Sydney Opera House, and Paul gets grilled on why he doesn't have his drivers licence yet. They also talk about what happened when John got his very first speeding fine! It's a surprising, packed and frankly slightly spooky episode of LOOSE ENDS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many firefighters die on the job? How does CPR work? What emergency powers do firies get? This week on Loose Units, John tells Paul an array of fascinating stories, including one of his most grisly. They also discuss The Bootlicker, an infamous figure from the world of NSW firefighting.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self isolation getting you down? Paul and John are here with a huge bonus Loose Ends! John tells Paul a very, very odd story about a mysterious rug, then they stray towards some proper forensic detective work. They also discuss Paul's upcoming book, the sequel to Loose Units! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ex-firefighter John and author son Paul talk ladders. Scaling these things to fight fires from terrifying heights was a huge part of John's job. But the scariest part of being a ladder driver? Maneuvering these incredibly cumbersome vehicles through city streets at high speed with the siren going. A scary, intense and hilarious episode of Loose Units: Hot Stuff Coming Through is here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Locked inside? Bored? Restless? Don't worry, Paul and John are now doing weekly bonus episodes for you. Loose Ends is a phonecall from Paul to John, with your favourite Loose Units answering listener questions, no matter how bizarre. This week, some people smuggling, and a thrilling tale involving John's infamous red underpants. You won't want to miss this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this thrilling and terrifying episode. John tells Paul what it’s actually like to crawl into the heart of a house on fire. They delve into what it’s like to have your firefighting efforts ambushed by arson, and about the time John donned a hazmat suit to deal with a chemical spill that could have killed him in the process Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turns out the fire brigade in the 90s was crammed full of platinum-grade f*ckwits. In this revealing and thrilling episode, John tells Paul about the New Years Eve shift from hell, and the boys go in hard on some fire fighters who truly let the team down. You won’t want to miss this one.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So what is it actually like to go through a day as a firefighter? This week, ex-cop and ex-firey, John Verhoeven, walks his son, author Paul Verhoeven, through the details. From rocking up to clocking out, this episode is a detailed behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to work at a fire station.If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to go back and catch up on prior seasons of Loose Units! And if you love the show, feel free to leave us a rating and a review on iTunes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Loose Units: Hot Stuff Coming Through, John tells Paul about some truly terrible road accidents, and about what happens when a fast-moving body meets an immovable object. The lads speculate about what would happen if a kid tried to use a fire hose, make lots of frankly odd and off-colour jokes about sliding down the pole, and John confesses to the time he burned something very, very valuable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TW: SUICIDE. This week, ex-firefighter John tells his son, Paul, about some of the truly odd cases he handled on the job. From finding a dead man with a medal on his chest to a mysterious call to Luna Park, it’s all stations go on this week’s episode of Loose Units: Hot Stuff Coming Through! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John, ex-cop and ex-firey, walks his author son, Paul, through the basics of firefighting! How do you actually put out a fire? It sounds simple. Fire plus water equals no fire, right? Wrong. Firefighters have a hell of a complex job, and it’s time for us to learn the fundamentals from an expert who has put out countless horrifying blazes. This episode is a masterclass in what fire and firefighting are ACTUALLY like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ex-cop John Verhoeven and his son, Paul Verhoeven, embark on a new season of Loose Units! This time: John's ten years as a New South Wales fire fighter. But how do you actually join up? And how bizarre and taxing are the entrance exams? And why, John, why would you sign up in the first place? Loose Units: Hot Stuff Coming Through has arrived! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this glorious, disgusting, revealing episode of Loose Units, we do a crossover event with My Dad Wrote a Porno! Host Jamie Morton sits down with Paul, and they talk in-depth about what it's like to tell your Dad's confronting stories. They also play a game called Horny For Justice... and Jamie reads an erotic crime story written by John! It's extremely NSFW, but you'll never hear a true crime podcast crossover like this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An update on season three, as well as info on a NEW live Loose Units show!Find out more at facebook.com/looseunits Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final installment of Loose Units: NSFW, John tells Paul some terrifying stories about his time in work cover, a gruesome adn explosive death, and finally, Paul finds out the single moment that drove his Dad to join the New South Wales Fire Brigade. It's a special New Year's Eve episode of Loose Units - don't forget, the boys are doing an extra live show in Brisbane on the 10th! Head to facebook.com/looseunits for more info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BEST! CHRISTMAS PRESENT! EVER! Because you're our favourites, Paul and John sat down in the studio for this HUGE Crimesmas episode! Christine calls in and the Verhoevens talk about doing Christmas as a cop, and Tegan Higginbotham rocks up to talk about her bizarre run-ins with the law. It's a proper Christmas episode, Loose Units everywhere, so enjoy and have a fantastic holiday! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Loose Units: NSFW, Dad nearly finds out the secret ingredient in Coca-Cola during a gruesome investigation, Paul finds out a new layer of weirdness to dad's police origin story, and we leap into the tough, complex world of unions in the 1980's.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did John leave the police force and spend several years investigating disturbing industrial accidents? How did he apply his police skills to this surprisingly fraught job? This week we kick off a special three-parter, Loose Units: NSFW! Paul finds out about an untold era of John's career after the force, and hears about a horrifying accident involving molten rubber and a tragic explosion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered what it would be like to road trip with the Loose Units crew, heading from live show to live show on their sold out tour? Well, join us for this rare fly-on-the-wall (well, fly-in-the-car) episode, with Paul, John and Tegan trekking from Melbourne, to Bendigo, the Mount Gambier, to Horsham, and finally to Adelaide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Loose Units: Mum’s the Word, my ex-cop mum Christine talks about being a trailblazer, a woman in the police force who had male cops refuse to work with her because of her gender. She also talks about being a bloody brilliant driver during a chase, working in internal affairs, and the REAL story of how she and Dad got together whilst on the force. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jumping fences in an A-line skirt, attending an armed holdup, facing down a man armed with a shotgun, and literally talking someone down from a ledge. Find out exactly what it was like being one of the first female officers in the NSW police force… from my ex-cop mum.Part two of Loose Units: Mum's the Word will be out next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lone body, mummified, fifteen metres down a cliff. Detectives from the city with an agenda. And John... with a length of rope and a job to do. In this episode, ex-cop John tells son Paul about a truly strange case, and the disturbing (and revealing) autopsy that followed. He also explores the forbidden depths of the ancient prison cells beneath Sydney's streets.Head to facebook.com/looseunits to pick up tickets for Loose Units LIVE in Bendigo and Adelaide before they run out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A staggering, disturbing look at death by suicide from the perspective of an ex-cop. John takes his son, Paul, through a terrifying ocean suicide, a tragic aviation death, a surreal hanging, and the time he himself almost died at sea. WARNING: this episode deals almost entirely with suicide.DO NOT MISS our Bendigo live show on the 27th of November: https://bit.ly/2WGDGi4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John reveals a complex trade secret: how does safe-cracking work? Turns out it's super, super complicated. The boys also discuss a how to use iron filings to take fingerprints, and turning a stack of palm prints into break in a major, major case in Australian crime history.Remember, tickets to our live Adelaide show are on sale NOW! https://bit.ly/31VArUB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this bizarre episode of Loose Units, John and Paul literally walk through a live crime scene and speculate on what happened. John talks about how to pick locks, being asked by Spooks to help break into secret places, and speculates on whether the guy from The Staircase actually did it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this horrifying new episode, John tells Paul about one of his most grisly cases involving a complex, tragic death. He also tells Paul how he once gave a ride to a pair or unlikely passengers, and he and Paul talk about revolutionary fingerprinting techniques! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WARNING: This episode contains nature of a graphic sexual content.This week on Loose Units, John tells Paul about what happens when you realise you've run into a criminal before, and how to square away the desire to exact some kind of revenge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Loose Units, John tells Paul about some of the worst motoring accidents he encountered - and was almost involved in - during his time in forensics. He also tells Paul a very odd perk that people in Internal Affairs were afforded... and guess whose wife was in Internal Affairs? Also, tickets are almost sold out for the very first Loose Units LIVE in Sydney! Get your tickets at giantdwarf.com.au! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that in the eighties, footy players were given positions on the police force? This episode, Paul finds out how his ex-cop Dad found working with celebrity athletes, and they discuss the time one of Australia's most violent crimes inadvertently saved John's life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.