Midnight Facts for Insomniacs

Despite what the American Supreme Court would have you believe, corporations aren't actually people, but it turns out that companies can be just as stupid and irrational as any individual human. And when large corporations make mistakes, the consequences can range from hilarious to horrifying. From colorful beads that roofied kids to airbags that went boomsplode, these are the most notorious product recalls in 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

From Australia's anti-bunny legislation to Caribbean profanity bans, from lonely Swiss Guinea Pigs to the protected Royal Fish of Britain, Shane and Duncan explore some of the world's strangest laws. ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

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. ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

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... ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

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. ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

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 MFFI DISCORD. ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

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) ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

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 ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

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? ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

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 ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

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 ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

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 ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

TW: This episode is not for the faint of heart. Seriously, like, for reals. If you don't have a VERY dark sense of humor, feel free to skip this one. No judgment. MFFI true-crime crossover, part 2! Edmund Kemper III was a stone-cold psychopath, and the primary inspiration for the movie-villain Hannibal Lecter. An incestuous, sadistic, necrophiliac cannibal who murdered his grandparents and his own mother, Kemper is easily one of the most depraved killers of all time...and he lived 5 minutes from the MFFI studio. This one hits close to home, literally. In this episode: Baby giant Carnell Kemper Senicide Overkill Institutionalized Attending Cabrillo College, life with Carnell The Jury Room Law Enforcement Aspirations Teeth Cleaning Engagement Little Zapples The Spree Begins (Berkeley CA) Mary Ann Pesce and Anita Mary Luchessa Irrumatio Aiko Koo Rosalind Heather Thorpe and Alice Helen Liu Matricide Decapitation Dartboard Apprehended Incarceration ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Finally, an MFFI true-crime crossover! In the 1970s, a small California surf town earned the nickname “Murdersville USA.” As bodies piled up with no explanation or apparent connection, the Santa Cruz Police Department became increasingly desperate. Gun sales shot through the roof, and the entire beachfront community devolved into panic. It would take years for law enforcement to unravel the convoluted chain of events and confirm that multiple serial killers had been simultaneously operating out of the same tiny town...and one of them was a six-foot-nine necrophiliac cannibal named Edmund Kemper. And guess where MFFI is based? In fact, it turns out that the Sleepless Cell (the MFFI podcast studio) is located mere blocks from the former house—and grisly homebase—of one of the most notorious psychopaths in American history. Join the boys for a terrifying romp through the blood-soaked history of Santa Cruz. In this episode: Santa Cruz in the 70s The Ohta residence mass murder John Linley Frazier Herbert Mullin Earthquakes and telepathy Victims: Lawrence White Mary Guilfoyle Father Henri Tomei Jim Gianera+1 Kathy Francis+2 the Henry Cowell killings Fred Perez Ed Kemper intro ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

We like to think we’re in the golden age of medicine, but the truth is that the healthcare industry is still rife with misinformation and hucksterism. Tune in this week for some eye-rolling examples of modern snake oil, and then check out episode 15 for an overview of notorious historical quackery. In this episode: K Tape Supplements Essential Oils and Aromatherapy The Secret Penile Extenders Whole Body Cryotherapy Goop ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Way back in episode 2 ("Heists"), Shane and Duncan learned all about the most notorious criminal masterminds in history. In this episode, they meet the B Team. Join the boys for a glorious celebration of schadenfreude, and delight in the misadventures of inept, bumbling criminal wannabes. In this episode: Adventures with Flakka (Patrick Rempe) Facebook dummy #1 (John Mogan II) Penguin heist (Rhys Owen Jones & Keri Mules) ATM blowtorch (??) Britain's Dumbest Criminal (Jamie Sharp) Alias misfire (Shareeka Strawn) Bringing a knife--and a bat--to a gunfight (Derrick Mosley) ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

This episode was a doozy. It turns out there's a ton of hard science behind memes, plus bucketloads of history, and this week's MFFI is packed. In this episode: Richard Dawkins and The Selfish Gene Mimeme/Mimema/Mossy Bugs Chad, M*A*S*H, and "Kilroy was here" Frodo Lives! Andre the Giant has a posse Mike Godwin The first digital meme: The emoticon, by Scott E Fahlman Godwin's Law Michael Girard and the Dancing Baby meme Mr. T ate my balls Deidre LaCarte and The Hamster Dance The Cuban Boys on the Canadian charts Harry Whittier Frees and his lolcat postcards LOLcats rule the 'net Icanhascheezburger Rick Rolling, FAILblog, Rage Comics All your base are belong to us Dank Memes Scumbag Steve Grumpy Cat Change my Mind Distracted Boyfriend Ermahgerd Kombucha girl White guy blinking Pepe the Frog ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

QAnon is straight-up bonkers. How bonkers? I'm glad you asked. Join the boys for an episode that goes way, WAY down the rabbit hole. In this episode: Q Clearance 4Chan 8Chan 8Kun Tripcodes The Cabal Satanic pedophile hollywood elites The Deep State The Great Awakening The Storm Adrenochrome Jim Watson is Q (or at least Q adjacent) Terminology WWG1WGA Alice in Wonderland ARM Do your research ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

The third installment in the MFFI "scandals" series focuses on infamous TV shenanigans. Small screen, big drama. In this episode: Adam Richman: Thinspiration Paula Deen: Tasty racism Charlie Sheen: Tiger blood Shannen Doherty: High maintenance Isaiah Washington: Hate crimes and misdemeanors Kevin Spacey: Unusual suspect Matt Lauer: Trap doors All of Fox David Letterman: Don't negotiate with terrorists ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

They may not be true, but they're creepy as hell. In this episode: The Hook Murderer in the Backseat Ghost Hitchhiker Green Man Slender Man Bloody Mary Kidney Theft LSD Tattoos ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

The ability to sue your fellow citizens is a cornerstone of civilized society, and our legal system has often functioned as the last resort for the most vulnerable members of this nation. To put it simply: suing the hell out of each other is a sacred American tradition. But some lawsuits are just effing dumb. These are those lawsuits. In this episode: Shayn Proler vs. Fire Jimmie Dimmick vs. the Victims Allen Heckard vs. Genetics Jian Feng vs. the Truth Stella Liebeck vs. Evil Corporate A-holes Two Guys vs. One Inch (the Subway Suit) Emile Ratelband vs. Rationality ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

You downloaded, we listened. In part 2 of one of the most popular MFFI episodes, Shane and Duncan reveal the meaning and origin behind more of the most-requested common sayings and idioms. In this episode: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth Fall off the wagon Long in the tooth Cold shoulder Face the music Close, but no cigar Welcome wagon Get out of Dodge At the drop of a hat Salt of the earth Second wind Heard it through the grapevine ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Back by popular demand! More cryptids, weirder cryptids, and cryptids with funnier names. For the second installment in the cryptids series, the focus is North America (US and Canada). Enjoy! ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

What's the difference between an MRA and a MGTOW? Should you even care? Probably not, but we'll tell you anyway. Join the guys for a weird and occasionally uncomfortable journey through the confused, incestuous network of online communities collectively known as the manosphere. *TW: There is discussion of sensitive topics in this episode, including brief references to sexual assault.* In this episode: The history of PUAs Ovid and the Ars Amatoria ("Art of Love") Don Juan (Don Giovanni) Giacomo Casanova Jack Hanley and Being a Gentlemen's Guide to Guide to Scientific Seduction in 8 Easy Steps Norton Hughes Johnathan's Guide Book for the Young Man About Town Eric Weber and How to Pick Up Girls! Neil Strauss and The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists Mystery (Erik Von Markovik) PUA Techniques and Terminology: Peacocking Negging Approach Anxiety Targets, Sets Sarging Last Minute Resistance Assuming Familiarity Keno Escalation/Compliance Test HBs and the hotness scale Template of a pickup Dr. Bianca Fileborn VH1 and The Pickup Artist The Manoshpere: Men's Rights Activists MGTOWs Incels Red Pill The appeal of PUA DISCORD ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Lucifer. Satan. Beelzebub. Prince of Lies. The Devil has a thousand names, a chip on his shoulder, and major daddy issues. He also has one hell of a backstory. Join the MFFI guys as they piece together the convoluted mythology of Satan, from his origins as a minor Egyptian deity to his ultimate Christian incarnation. In this episode: The Book of Enoch (Dead Sea Scrolls) The Book of Isaiah and the Sketchy Origin of "Lucifer" The Book of Job and the Satanic Bet The Jewish Perspective Shaitans and Islamic Devils Ezekiel and Revelations The King of Tyre Dante Alighieri and the Pettiness of the Divine Comedy The Circles of Hell and Torture Porn Demonic Aesthetics Links to Pan and Bes The Medieval Devil The Enlightenment Devil John Milton, Paradise Lost, and the Sympathetic Devil Eve, the Serpent, and the Toad The Modern, Sophisticated Devil The Fine Print (Devil's in the Details) ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Not just your garden-variety screwups; these were epic, painful misfires that everyone should have seen coming. (We’re lookin' at you, Quibi.) In this episode: Microsoft BOB New Coke Nintendo Virtual Boy Olestra (Olean) Subprime Mortgages The Pontiac Aztec The Segway The No-Phone Toilet Golf ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

We have ways of making you talk... In this episode: Interrogation Techniques: Bargaining, Lying, Guilt Trips, Flattery "Pride and Ego Up" Vs. Down Reading Body Language Good Cop/Bad Cop Intoxicants (Sodium Pentathol etc) Suggestibility Morals and Grey Areas Legal Limits of Interrogation Law Enforcement Deception Scenarios Torture and "Enhanced Interrogation" Methods of Torture Reliability and Results Three Degrees of Torture Legality of Torture ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

The next generation of gaming is about to arrive, which makes this the perfect time to take a look at how we got here. Join the boys for a guided tour through the cutthroat history of gaming, and the battle for the living room. In this episode: Edward Uhler Condon and the NIMATRON Ferranti and the NIMROD Ralph Baer and the Brown Box Magnavox and the Odyssey Atari and the VCS (2600) Activision 1983 Atari Shock, ET, and subpar PacMan The rise of Nintendo Famicon becomes the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) NES becomes the Super NES TurboGrafx-16 and the 16-bit revolution The Atari Jaguar flames out The rise of Sega The genesis of the Genesis The story of Sonic The golden era of SNES: Metroid, Street Fighter, Zelda, Mega Man The rise of Sony 32 and 64 bits The Nintendo 64 The Sega Saturn Playstation crushes the competition The decline of Nintendo and the Gamecube debacle Microsoft gets in the game Enter the Xbox Xbox 360 and the Red Ring of Death Playstation 2 Playstation 3 Xbox One Xbox Series X and the Playstation 5 ~ 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

Scammers and con artists are unavoidable facts of life, but only a select few manage to take the art of deception to the next level. All of the unscrupulous scumbags in this episode reached the pinnacle of scumminess, and perfected the art of the con. In this episode: International Sleazebag Uri Geller Disgraced Televangelist Peter Popoff Unlikely Shaman Juliette D'Souza Infomercial Psychic Miss Cleo ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Modern researchers are expected to follow strict ethical guidelines, but it wasn't always this way. For thousands of years, scientific experimentation was a free-for-all, and while American psychological experiments may never have reached Josef Mengele levels on the Evil Meter, there have been some notorious misfires that were downright disturbing. Follow along as Shane and Duncan explore some of the sketchiest psychological experiments every conducted. In this episode: The Milgram Experiment Robber's Cave The Monster Study The Stanford Prison Experiment ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

In an episode that is long overdue, the boys explore the biology and science of sleep, and offer useful tips for tackling sleep disorders (including...you know). ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Warning: if you're not a fan of dark humor, feel free to skip this episode. We won't judge you! For our fellow twisted weirdos...enjoy. "The Darwin Awards salute the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who accidentally remove themselves from it in a spectacular manner!" IN THIS EPISODE: History of the Darwin Awards Wendy Northcut, opportunist Death By: Self-shooting demonstration - Clement Vallandigham Radish - Sir William Payne-Gallwey Slow car - Bridget Driscoll "Wearable" Parachute - Franz Reichelt Unbreakable-window test - Gary Hoy The North Sentinel Island natives are restless - John Allen Chau Beard sabotage- Hans Steininger Gurney mishap- Edward Juchniewicz Rattlesnake catch - Joe Buddy Caine Segway daredevil- Jim Heselden Cockfight revenge - Jose Luis Ochoa Cockroach-eating contest - Edward Archbold ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Ask and you shall receive! Listeners have been requesting an episode about weird and scary animals, and MFFI finally delivered. Be careful what you wish for... In this episode: Star-nosed Mole Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko Black Dragonfish Deep Sea Isopod Tapeworm Duck-billed Platypus Box Jellyfish Japanese Spider Crab Poison Dart Frog Giant Centipede ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

This one is unofficially subtitled "off the rails." If you're not a fan of tangents and silliness, maybe skip the second half. But if you enjoy a healthy dose of nonsense with your midnight facts, enjoy! In this episode: Challenger Deep James Cameron, badass Stats Ocean ghosts Mermaids and Sea Cows Why is the ocean blue? Underwater lakes, rivers, and waterfalls Tsunamis, dehydration, algae Mythology Cthulu Godzilla Kraken Sirens Bruce ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Lost civilizations have been puzzling archaeologists and transfixing the public for centuries. From multilayered honeycombs to underground mazes to underwater metropolises, these are some of the most fascinating lost civilizations in history. In this episode: Thonis-Heracleion Troy Catal Huyuk Easter Island Derinkuyu ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

In the first ever “Insomniacs Inbox” episode, Shane and Duncan respond to listener feedback, get schooled on Irish names, and pick sides in the Great Emu War. In this episode: Pumpernickel origins Hair misconceptions The Great Emu War Penguin oops Ozzy and the bat Name fiascos ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

From Bigfoot to Nessie to the Jersey Devil, Shane and Duncan break down the lore and origins of the most popular cryptids. In this episode: Nessie Bigfoot The Dobhar-Chu The Jersey Devil The Chupacabra ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

These aren’t your grandma’s fairytales. Gather ’round for a soothing rendition of "How Some Children Played at Slaughtering" and the infamous "Goose Girl," plus all of the uncensored versions of your childhood favorites. Sweet dreams! In this episode: Legends and Myth vs. Fairytales The Brothers Grimm How Some Children Played at Slaughtering The Goose Girl The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage Little Red Cap Cinderella Snow White Hansel and Gretel Rumpelstiltskin The Frog Prince ...and more. ~ 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

Before there were printing presses and modern mass-produced books, there were tablets, tomes, and scrolls. Some were full of wisdom, some were full of...you know. Follow along as Shane and Duncan explore ancient documents, and Shane learns that "texts" is the most obnoxious word to have to say fifty times in a single episode. Yay! In this episode: The Devil's Bible (the Codex Gigas) The Emerald Tablet The Code of Hammurabi The Book of the Law The Magna Carta ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

In part two of the MFFI "Scandals" series, Shane and Duncan cover sex, drugs, and murder in tinseltown. In this episode: Mel Gibson VS a paper bag Hugh Grant’s impulse purchase Swan Dive off the H Tim Allen, drug mule The Hollywood Madame, AKA coke and quaaludes The Fappening The Black Dahlia ~ 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

When you step on a crack, do you immediately worry about your mother's back? Do you avoid walking under ladders, or regularly toss salt over your shoulder? If you do, that's honestly kind of weird, but also surprisingly common. And Shane and Duncan are here to tell you why. In the latest MFFI, the boys explain the psychology behind superstition, and how the most common superstitious beliefs were formed. In this episode: The psychology of superstition Cats Ladders Salt Judas Clover Cracks Horseshoes Knock on wood Rabbit's feet Mirrors ...and more ~ 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

Humans can be amazing creatures. Nellie Bly revolutionized mental healthcare and circumnavigated the globe; Violet Jessop beat incalculable odds and survived unimaginable tragedy (multiple times). People can also be fork-eating, dolphin-masturbating wackjobs. Join Shane and Duncan for a bit of both. In this episode: The Insatiable Tarrare The Unsinkable Violet Jessop The Badass Nellie Bly The Necrophiliac Carl Tanzler The Dolphin-Pleasuring Violet Howe Lovatt ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Murder, suicide, more murder, also...music! Plus some extra murder. This is a dark one. Enjoy! In this episode: The Beatles are bigger than Jesus Phil Spector is a murderer Milli Vanilli is tragic af Marvin Gaye is a cautionary tale ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Where are all the aliens?? According to scientists, the Milky Way galaxy should be teeming with life, but when we point our telescopes and radio dishes at the sky we find nothing but stale, empty space. Is it possible that we’re actually alone in the universe? Join Shane and Duncan for an exploration of the fascinating Fermi Paradox, and learn what science tells us about the alien conundrum. In this episode: Lunch with Enrico Fermi Where are the aliens? The crazy, mind-boggling, existentially terrifying scale of the universe Counting sand The Great Filter Apex-predator-civilizations theory (Great White Sharks of the universe) Infiltration theory Interspecies communication, exponential technological progress, and interpretive dance ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Don't rapture me, bro! In the 666th episode of MFFI (not really) Shane and Duncan get cryptic with eschatological prophesies and learn all about the end of the world as we know it. In this Episode: Ragnarok Mayans and the 2012 Phenomenon The book of Enoch Revelations Judgment Day Tribulations Rapture Preppers Bugging out ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Which is the smallest bone in the human body? The largest muscle? Which of your fingernails grows fastest? At what time of day are you tallest? If you ironed out all of the wrinkles from your brain, which shark would you resemble? Shane and Duncan provide answers to these and other pointless questions in the latest episode... In this episode: Brain wrinkles T-Rex thighs Presbycusis Tongue prints Heart location Lung size Nail length Ossification Aging sucks ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

All is not as it seems in the House of Mouse. Grab your fastpass and buckle up for a journey behind the scenes of the happiest place on earth. It's going to be a bumpy ride. In this episode: Walt's demons Steamboat blackface Copyright fascism Trademark shenanigans Handsy Tigger The underwear dilemma Lemmings reprise Matterhorn basketball Cryogenics Club 33 Disneyland cats Alligator infanticide Go-away green Forced perspective, smellitzers, and the psychology of Disneyland ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

Legends never die, they’re just recycled. Torture, betrayal, incest...ancient myths are woven so tightly into modern culture that they're inextricable from psychology, commerce, science, and marketing. In the latest quarantine episode, Shane and Duncan chat about the myths and legends that have shaped the modern world. Did we mention incest? In this episode: The Primordial Deities The Titans Incest and The Olympians Frankenstein The Olympics Psychological Conditions (Oedipal Complex, Narcissistic Personality Disorder) Mythological Branding ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

First rule of secret societies: you do not podcast about secret societies. Secret rituals, secret initiations, secret handshakes. From the sinister to the ridiculous, here's everything you need to know about the most notorious secret (and not-so-secret) societies in history. In this Episode: Knights Templar Freemasons Illuminati Skull and Bones ...and more ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM

What qualifies as a "superpower," and do superhumans exist? Are there any drawbacks to being extraordinary? Don your cape and spandex for an entertaining exploration of the mutants among us. In this episode: Unbreakable bones Tetrachromacy Mr/Mrs Fantastic? The Loci technique Aquapeople ...and more. ~ 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 [email protected] ~ Rep the show! Grab a tee or mug at the MIDNIGHT MERCH store and spread the word. ~ Follow us on INSTAGRAM