From umbrellas that distribute rain to radios that print the news, here are the most useless pieces of technology ever foisted an unsuspecting public. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Radio Newspaper Xybernaut POMA Kerastese Hair Coach Umbrella Drone Vacuum Cleaner Shoes iSmell Amazon Astro ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript  

A quick announcement from the guys. ~ 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 ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript  

What's in a name? A lot, actually. Names are more than just labels; they carry meanings, stories, and histories that reveal our origins, cultures, and personalities. In this episode, you’ll learn about the ancient roots of some common and uncommon names, the trends and influences that have shaped naming practices over time, and the surprising ways that names can affect our lives. From the ancient annals of civilization to the latest naming trends, join Shane “Gift From God” Rogers and Duncan “Dark Skinned Warrior” MacEwan for an enlightening journey through the fascinating netherworlds of nomenclature. ~ 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 ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript  

Rapper, producer, all-around entertainment dynamo, and long-time member of the midnight masses Alfred Banks joins Shane and Duncan this week to generate a list of the most re-watchable movies ever. Can three opinionated guys from different generations find common ground? And what's in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord...   Make sure to check out Alfred Banks over at Underdog Central! ~ Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams over at the brand new MFFI Patreon:    PATREON   ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website

Hey insomniacs, get ready to peel back the astroturf on sports scandals that are as cautionary as they are captivating. In this episode you'll learn about the Black Sox, who threw the World Series for a bribe, and the Vikings, who threw a sex party on a lake, and Rosie Ruiz, who threw away her dignity to "win" a marathon...and more. This is everything they don't teach you in PE class. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Rosie Ruiz and the 1980 Boston Marathon The 1919 Black Sox The 2005 Minnesota Vikings Sex-Boat Scandal Danny Almonte, the Not-So-Little League Pitcher The Spanish Basketball Team in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics  ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript  

Strap in and prepare for liftoff as Shane and Duncan take you on a jet-fueled ride through the history of space exploration. From the Nazi origins of space-flight to the audacious Apollo missions that captivated the globe, from the unexpected launch of Sputnik to the Space Shuttle's triumphs and disasters, this episode unveils the pivotal moments, groundbreaking achievements, and tenacious spirit that propelled humanity's reach into the final frontier. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   The V-2 Rocket Wernher von Braun The R-7 Rocket ICBMs Sputnik Project Vanguard Sputnik 2 Laika Animals in Space Sputnik 3 The Vanguard TV-3 Failure Redstone Rockets Explorer 1 NASA and the NDEA John F. Kennedy We Choose to Go to the Moon The Apollo Program The Saturn V Rocket Apollo 11 A Small Step for (a) Man Apollo–Soyuz Mars Landings The Space Shuttle Columbia and Challenger Disasters The International Space Station SpaceX Blue Origin The Falcon 9 Rocket The Orbital Reef ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript  

Why did humans first venture into the dark and mysterious depths of the ocean? What discoveries and dangers did they encounter along the way? And how will the ocean-exploring community regroup and flourish in a post Titan-submersible world?  Prepare for a deep dive into the history and current state of ocean exploration as Shane and Duncan reveal the fascinating stories of the pioneers, adventurers, and scientists who dared to brave the final frontier on Earth.  ~ 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 ~ ~ In this episode:   Pre-Boat Humans The First Boats Free Diving Diving Bells Diving Suits Atmospheric Diving Suits Submersibles Submarines SCUBA The Titan Disaster ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript  

Prepare yourself for a wild ride, insomniacs, because we're diving headfirst into the realm of quirky sports, where ancient traditions meet bizarre modern-day challenges. Ever heard of Kok boru? It's like a game of "grab the goat" on horseback. Yeah, you read that right. How about the adrenaline-fueled sport of wife carrying? Who needs a gym membership when you can jog through obstacle courses with your spouse strapped to your back? So kick back, relax, and get ready to be entertained by the most bizarre sports you've never heard of... ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Calcio Storico Kok Boru Wife Carrying Hot-Pepper Eating ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript  

It's an AHC takeover! On this week's rowdy, irreverent, NSFW installment of After Midnight, all three guys from the AHC podcast join Shane and Duncan to come up with a definitive list of the top five biggest jerks in fiction. From Mr. Burns to Freddy Krueger to Zach Morris, which epic a**holes will make the list?    Thanks to Randy, Buddy, and Mikey for providing this week's hijinks; you can check the AHC podcast here: https://www.ahcpodcast.com/   What's in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams over at the brand new MFFI Patreon:    PATREON   ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website

Welcome, insomniacs, to a captivating late-night rendezvous with the fascinating world of deviant subcultures. Grab your oversized plushie, dust off your fedora, slip into your favorite anime cosplay, or don your tracksuit—it's time to celebrate the extraordinary diversity of our world, one subculture at a time. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Furries Bronies Pervy Otaku Gopniks ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript  

Hail Satan! In the latest 1980s-throwback episode of MFFI, Shane and Duncan explain how sensationalized accusations and false memories led to the persecution of innocent people, the destruction of families, and the rise of a new form of religious extremism.   So turn off the lights, grab your crucifix, and take a trip down memory lane to experience the most notorious episode of mass hysteria since Salem: the Satanic Panic. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:    Historical Precedent The Red Scare Anton Lavey and the Satanic Bible The Rise of the Moral Majority Satanic Serial Killers Cults Mike Warnke and the Satan Seller Lawrence Pazder and Michelle Proby Michelle Remembers Hypnosis and Recovered Memories The Kern County Day-Care Cases The McMartin Preschool Trial The West Memphis 3 Paradise Lost  ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript  

On the latest episode of After Midnight, Blind Mike from the Why Are You Laughing podcast joins the guys to discuss the top 5 comedy routines of all time. From Jim Jefferies' viral take on gun control to Norm Macdonald's shallow graves to Seinfeld's involuntary luge, which all-time classic comedy bits will make the cut? What's in your top 5? Tell us in the Discord... ~ Access the entire back catalog of After Midnights, plus bonus episodes and video livestreams over at the brand new MFFI Patreon:    PATREON   ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website

Part myth, part mayhem, and all leather-clad rebellion: welcome to the shadowy world of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club.  In this week’s episode, Shane and Duncan explore the mystique and mysticism of a legendary biker gang, from the notorious riots and murders that publicly defined them to the fiercely-guarded code of honor that binds them. So grab a cup of coffee, or perhaps something stronger, and buckle up for an adrenaline-fueled ride through the turbulent history of the HAMC.  ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Hells Angels: "Organized Crime Syndicate" Recent Convictions The Dutch Ban The Apostrophe Debacle Founding of the Angels Fontana, CA Otto Friedly The "Pissed Off Bastards" Frank Sadilek and The Death's Head Insignia Charters Corporate Angels Joining: "Han Around" to "Associate" to "Prospect" Top Rocker, Bottom Rocker, Full Patch One Percenters Hunter S Thompson, The Hells Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga 81 The Culture of the Hells Angels H.A. and Race Ralph Hubert “Sonny” Barger Altamont Meredith Hunter and Alan Passaro Harrah’s Hotel and Casino, Laughlin Nevada 2002 ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript  

Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD! On this week's episode, Shane and Duncan delve into the dark and deadly world of medieval warfare to learn how people fought, killed, and survived in the Middle Ages. From the elegant and lethal longsword to the gruesome and gory morning star, explore the history and science behind some of the most fearsome and fascinating instruments of war ever devised. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   The 3 Criteria: Effectiveness, Cost, and Status Chain Mail Plate Armor The Water-Powered Triphammer War Horses Horse Armor: The Full Bard Peytrals, Chanfrons, Criniere, Caparisons The Helmschied Family Pre-Swords: Spatha and Gladius Knightly/Long Swords Sword Anatomy: Blade, Fullers, Cross Guards, Pommels Axes Axe Anatomy: Eye, Cheeks, Toe, Heel, Beard, Butt War Hammers Maces Lances Spears Bows: (Recursive, Long, Cross) Shields Seige Weapons: Trebuchets and Catapults ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript

Are you ready for a rousing tale of ghosts and gods and taboo brother-sister love? No, this isn't a new streaming series from HBO; this is MFFI's first episode covering the bizarre, freaky world of Japanese Mythology. Join the guys as they uncover the rituals, creation myths, and divine deities of Shintoism, an ancient religion that predates Japan’s recorded history. **NOTE: THIS EPISODE BEGINS WITH AN EXTENDED UPDATE TO THE PREVIOUS EPISODE. TO SKIP TO THIS WEEK'S TOPIC, JUMP TO 11:00** ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   AI Episode Update The Two Japanese Religions: Shintoism and Buddhism Kami (Spirits) Kegare (Impurity) Kiyome (Purity) Animism Shinkai (Shadow World) Torii (Gate) Priests and Priestesses Kami-dana (home shrines) The Four Affirmations: Family, Nature, Purity, Festivals (Matsuri) Buddhist Funerals The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki The Imperial Family (The Yamato Line) Takamagahara (The Plain of High Heaven) Kotoamatsukami (The Five Gods, Original Kami) The Zoka Sanshin: The High Creator, The Divine Creator, and the Central Master The Kamiyo-nayo (Paired Gods) Izanagi and Izanami  Creation of Japan With Amenonuhoka (The Heavenly Bejeweled Spear) Hiroku/Ebisu (The Leech Child) Yomi (Land of the Dead) Amaterasu (Kami of the Sun) Tsukuyomi (Moon Kami) Susanoo (Storm Kami) Jimmu, the First Emperor The Humanity Declaration Yokai/Mononoke (Shapeshifting Spirits) Nekomata (Cat/Demon Spirits) The Oni (Demon Yokai) Shuten-doji, King of Oni Raiko the Hero Hannya Masks The Bancho Sarayashiki (The Dish Mansion at Pancho) Okiku and Aoyama Tessan The Ring ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript

What will AI look like in 2050? Will it solve all our problems, or create new ones? Will our future AI companions be more “Her” or “T1000"? In the latest chrome-plated, mechanized, fully sentient episode of MFFI, Shane and Duncan discuss the possibilities and pitfalls of generative artificial intelligence, and explore all of the ways it might reshape media, society, economy, and culture. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   The Swaggy Pope The Dartmouth College Rockefeller-Funded AI Conference John McCarthy Coins the Term "AI" Deep Learning NLP The Data Age Advanced Tamagotchi  AI Tutors Insurance Autonomous Vehicles AI Catfishing: Filters, Deepfakes Bold Glamour Coconut Kitty Replika and the Emotional Connection Robot Sexting AI and the Economy General AI The Singularity Alignment Research Misalignment Open AI Risk Assessment AI Warfare   ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript

Ready or not, here they come: the robots have arrived. Artificial Intelligence has been under development since the 1950s, but viable AI didn't explode into mainstream pop culture until the introduction of ChatGPT in November of 2022. The chatbot has since rocketed in popularity to become the fastest-growing consumer application in history, and prompted an AI arms race that shows no signs of abating. Artificial Intelligence is now piloting cars, painting pictures, composing poems, writing term papers, passing the bar exam, and (presumably) plotting world domination.  Join Shane and Duncan to explore the technological breakthroughs that made these latest versions of AI possible, and find answers to all of your most pressing questions, including: What is ChatGPT? How does generative AI work? Which AI is the smartest: ChatGPT, Bard, or Bing (Sydney)? Is there a chance that any current versions of AI are actually sentient?  How long does the human race have left before the arrival of AI armageddon?  ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Overview ChatGPT LaMDA Blake Lemoine Bing/Sydney GPT-4 Jailbreaking Sydney and the New York Times How to Build a Generative AI Large Language Models and Natural Language Processing Generative Adversarial Networks (GANS) Stable Diffusion and DALL-E Open AI  Peter Theil, Elon Musk, and Sam Altman Capped For-Profit Model RHLF Bard ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript

For millennia, characters like King Arthur and Robin Hood have captivated the masses, inspiring songs and books and films and Saturday morning cartoons, but their reality is obscured behind myth and legend. Prepare for history-bending revelations as Shane and Duncan uncover the truth behind famous figures who might never have existed. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Sun Tzu Robin Hood Tokyo Rose King Arthur Spokespeople: Betty Crocker & Aunt Jemima ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript

In the first installment of MFFI’s Government Cover-Ups series, grab your New Coke and Trapper Keeper for a trip back to the 1980s to uncover the truth behind one of the wildest political scandals in American history: the Iran-Contra affair. It’s a saga of guns, drugs, hostages, and lies that shook the White House to its core.  ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Ronald Wilson Reagan, the Actor The Hollywood Blacklist  President of the Screen Actor’s Guild Ronald W. Reagan, Informant Governor Regan Candidate Regan President Regan Nicaragua in the ‘80s  The Sandinistas  Fall of the Samosa Dictatorship The Contras (Counterrevolutionaries)  Democrats Sweep Congress  The Boland Amendments  “The Enterprise” Richard Secord Oliver North The Iran Iraq War Operation Eagle Claw Israel, Intermediary Manucher Ghorbanifar, Sneaky Snake National Security Adviser Robert MacFarlane Shipments Commence Hostage Release John Poindexter The Scheme Unravels Eugene Hasenfus, Lucky Pervert  Mehdi Hashemi Fawn Hall and the Shredding Party Cleaning House and the Tower Commission Congressional Inquiry  Oliver North, Celebrity Traitor Repercussions  George Bush  The Cover-Up Complete  ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript

Can an apple a day keep the doctor away? If you swallow your gum, will it spend years in your stomach? Can walnuts repair floor-scratches? (Spoiler alert: no, no, and yes.) Everyone is familiar with Old Wives Tales, those dubious snippets of folk wisdom that have been passed down from generation to generation. But where do they come from? And are they all just harmless superstitions, or do any of them contain a grain of truth? Join Shane and Duncan as they explore the true stories behind some of the most enduring Old Wives Tales.  ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Does Coffee Stunt Your Growth? Can you Catch a Cold From Having Wet Hair? Should You Pee on a Jellyfish Sting? Does an Apple a Day Keep the Doctor Away? If You Cross Your Eyes Will They Get Stuck Like That? Should You Wait 30 Minutes to Swim After Eating? Will Self-Love Put Hair on Your Palms? Should You Feed a Cold and Starve a Fever? If You Shave, Will Your Hair Grow Back Thicker and Faster? If You Swallow Your Gum, Will it Stay in Your Stomach for Years? Can a Penny on the Train Tracks Derail a Train? Is There a Chemical That Can Detect and Reveal Urine in a Pool? Can Sitting Too Close to the TV Make You Blind? Can Spicy Food Cause Ulcers? Will a Watermelon Seed Sprout in Your Stomach? Do Cats Smother Newborn Babies? Can Peanut Butter Remove Gum From Your Hair? Can Walnuts Repair Floor Scratches? Do Wooden Spoons Keep Water From Boiling Over? Does Hot Water Cause Temporary Infertility?  ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript

From Viagra to Super Glue, history is littered with "aha!" moments that were nothing more than lucky accidents. In this bumbling, stumbling episode of MFFI, the boys take a closer look at the flukes and misadventures that led to some of the most successful inventions in human history. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) Peter Dunn and Albert Wood Dr. Nicholas Terret PDE5 and GMP Time Magazine and The Potency Pill Super Glue Dr. Harry Coover Eastman 910 I’ve Got a Secret Durabond Slinky Richard and Betty James Slinky Physics  Hookes Law, Compression Waves Slinkies in Space Velcro, the Zipperless Zipper George de Mestral David Letterman and Velcro Gender Fluidity NASA Matchsticks Tao Gu and the Fire Inch-Stick Chemical Matches Jean Chancel François Derosne John Walker and Friction Lights Play-Doh  Noah McVicker and Kutol Joseph McVicker Kay Zufall Rainbow Modeling Compound Play-Doh Pete The Doh-Dohs ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript

Warning: This one is brutal. On this week’s karma-packed episode of MFFI, cringe along with Shane and Duncan as they delve into some of the most notorious animal attacks in history. From the killing of Steve Irwin (the Crocodile Hunter) by a startled stingray to the public tiger-mauling of Roy Horn (of Siegfried and Roy), explore instances of hubris and outright stupidity that resulted in shocking animal-on-human violence. This episode won’t help your insomnia, but it’s a wild ride… ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Animal Attack Facts Danger Level: Cats vs. Dogs Danger Level: Humans vs. Snakes Unprovoked Ferrets Defense Strategies Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn Roy vs. Mantecore Timothy William Dexter aka Timothy Treadwell aka Grizzly Man The Death of Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard Werner Herzog and Jewel Palivak The Crocodile Hunter (Steve Irwin) Terri, Robert, and Bindi The Stingray Dingoes Got My Baby Alice (Lindy) Lynn Chaberlain-Creighton and Michael Chamberlain Azaria Chantel Loren Chamberlain Uluru  Greg and Sally Lowe The Conviction The Pardon The Vindication Sandra Herold, Charla Nasha, and Travis the Chimp  ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript

Welcome to the "Social Media Schadenfreude" episode, in which Shane and Duncan delve into the misfortunes of the fortunate. First up: MySpace, the has-been of the social networking world. Next: TikTok, the latest all-singing/all-dancing/all-spying flavor of the month. And last but not least, the endless stream of drama and chaos that is Twitter, from its beginnings as a 240-character bullhorn to its current incarnation as the pet project of a billionaire in freefall. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Primitive Social Media Samuel Finley Breese Morse Morse Code Telegraph Chat Culture  The Rise of the Internet  BBS CompuServe CB Simulator CBIG and the Rise of Online Dating America Online AOL's Disastrous Merger with Time Warner Classmates.com: The Proto Facebook Sixdegrees.com: The Proto MySpace Friendster: Proto MySpace #2 MySpace: The First Juggernaut Tom Anderson, Everyone's Friend Lord Flathead The Top 8 News Corp. Acquisition Specific Media and the Justin Timberlake era of MySpace The Ascendence of Zuckerberg  Odeo Spawns TWTTR The Founders: Noah Glass, Biz Stone, Evan Williams, & Jack Dorsey Backstabbing and Drama at Early Twitter Twitter's Big Break: SXSW The Myth of Musk The Elon Era at Twitter Crashes and Burnings Trashfires Galore Is There a Rock Bottom? ByteDance Spawns Douyin Douyin Spawns International TikToks  Trump v. TikTok Government v. TikTok TikTok is Shady AF The All-Powerful Algorithm "Toxic" Content The Current State of the Socials ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript    

From Nixon's infamous Smoking Gun audiotape to the OJ Simpson "lost confession,” cases of missing and recovered media have commanded public attention and left a lasting impact on the cultural zeitgeist. In this week's muckraking episode of MFFI, Shane and Duncan unearth the most fascinating and bizarre cases of lost-and-found media in history. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Christine Chubbuck and the First On-Air Suicide Fritz Lang's Metropolis O.J. Simpson, The Lost Confession The Nixon White House Tapes ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript    

How is Santa Claus connected to cannibalism? Which Christmastide holiday commemorates the slaughter of children? How should you decode the cryptic numerology message 20+C+M+B+22? And what's with all of those airborne reindeer? Welcome to Ghosts of Christmases Past, in which Shane and Duncan explore how tree-worship and animal sacrifice evolved into the bizarre, festive, highly commercialized holiday we know today. So whether you're feeling the Christmas spirit or just feeling jaded and grinchy, grab a cup of heavily-spiked eggnog, get cozy by the yule-log, and join the boys as they unpack the fascinating pagan history of Christmas. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Christmastide Christmas Eve The Feast of Saint Stephen, Protomartyr Childermas, The Feast of the Holy Innocents Herod the Great The Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, Octave of the Nativity, Solemnity of Mary The Feast of the Holy Family 12th Night, Epiphany Eve Chalking the Door Saturnalia The Holiday of Yule Yule Boar, Yule Goat, Yule Log Anglican Revelers vs. Puritan Grinches The Story of the Nativity December 25th Becomes the Arbitrary DOB Christenmas, Christ Mass, and Xmas Christmas Trees Saint Nicholas of Myra, aka Saint Nick, aka Nicholas the Wonderworker Sinterklaas  Christmases Around the World Reindeer Thomas Nast Haddon Sundblom and Coca-Cola   ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript    

Which countries have abolished the death penalty, and which countries execute the largest number of convicts? What are the most popular methods of dispensing capital punishment? Who was the last person executed publicly in Europe, and America? Has anyone survived a public execution? Find out the answers to all of these disturbing questions and more in this week's punitive, vengeful, and relentlessly morbid episode of MFFI.  **Note: this episode includes all of the graphic details you'd expect based on the topic. If dark humor isn't your jam, there's no shame in skipping this one.** ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   The Most Popular Methods of Execution: Guillotine, Firing Squad, Gallows, Gas Chamber, Lethal Injection, Electrocution Jamestown and The First American Execution: Captain George Kendall The Current State of the Death Penalty in the States Virginia and Texas Vie for Capital Punishment Supremacy Furman v. Georgia and the 4-Year Pause (1972-1976) Unitary Trials Capital Punishment Resumes The Supreme Court Chips Away at the Death Penalty Federal Versus State Charges TFG Reinstitutes Executions Federal Executions: The Worst of the Worst Lethal Injection and Julius Mount Bleyer Death-Cocktail Shortages Current State of Capital Punishment Worldwide The Rationale for Public Executions The Last Public Executions: Rainey Bethea (Kentucky 1936) and Hamida Djandoubi (France 1977) The Death Penalty as a Deterrent Capital Punishment for Lesser Offenses (Drug Dealing, Blasphemy, Apostasy)  Failed and Botched Executions Antonio Franks, 1872, Fiji Arguments for and Against the Death Penalty Exonerated Death-Row Inmates Conclusions   ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript    

Few characters from pop culture are as divisive as clowns. Simultaneously endearing and terrifying, the archetype of the clown has persevered throughout the ages despite being reviled by a significant portion of the world’s population. There’s even a word for the fear of clowns: coulrophobia. So how did ancient jesters and tricksters evolve into the unsettling, white-faced, crazy-haired clowns of today? And what makes the figure of the clown so durable? Find out in this week’s buffoonish, pratfalling, skin-crawling episode of MFFI. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Ancient Egypt and the "Dangas" Ancient Greece Ancient Rome and the “Stupidus”  Court Jesters and Fools Loki The Hayuka Carl Jung's "Trickster" Archetype Commedia dell'arte The Pierrot The Harlequin Joseph Grimaldi ("Joey") Philip Astley and the Circus The Whiteface, the Auguste, the Character and the Hobo Emmett Kelly’s “Weary Willie” Charlie Chaplin (Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr.) Music Hall and Vaudeville Marcel Marceau, Michael Jackson, and the Art of Mime Bozo the Clown Fear of Clowns: Coulrophobia The Joker Stephen King's It The Clown Panic of 2016 Insane Clown Posse and the Jugallos  Terrifier 2 and "Art the Clown" ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript    

Super strength, super hearing, the ability to fly; many of the standard superpowers from comic books are commonplace in the animal kingdom. But those abilities barely scratch the surface when it comes to the awesome potential of evolutionary adaptation. In this latest episode, Shane schools Duncan on the most unique and powerful critters in the animal kingdom. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   The Ninja Slug (Ibycus rachelae) Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) Mimic Octopus and Wunderpus photogenicus Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) Flea (Siphonaptera) Frog Hopper (Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript    

Every society faces an inevitable dilemma: what to do with dead bodies? Join Shane and Duncan as they travel across the globe and throughout history to explore Sky Burial, plastination, "Dancing with the Dead," and the most famous death ritual of all: mummification.  ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   The World's Oldest Known Burial Site: Qafzeh Death Rituals Around the World Famidihana: Dancing With the Dead (Turning of the Bones) Buddhism and "Sky Burial" Viking Funerals South Korean "Death Beads" Western Funerals Mummification Autolysis and Decomposition Putrefaction Intentional vs Unintentional Mummies Otzi the Iceman Juanita, the Peruvian Sacrifice Egyptian Mummies The Book of the Dead The Ka, the Ba, and the Akh The Journey Through Duat The Hall of Maat The Judgment of Anubis Heart-Weighing Ammit The "Most Perfect Method"  King Tut (Tutankhamun)  Howard Carter and the Discovery of King Tut's Tomb The Death Mask The Legacy of Mummification Plastination Vladimir Ilyach Ulyanov Lenin Summum: The Mummy Cult ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript    

Which famous foursome is considered the first punk band? What did CBGB stand for? In what city did punk originate? What was the wild television moment that made The Sex Pistols a household name?  From the first on-stage snarls to punk's final wheezing gasps, follow along with Shane and Duncan as they trace the rise and fall of punk music. ~ 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 ~ In this episode:   Redefining Rebellion The Evolution of Punk 60s Garage Rock: MC5 and the Kinks Iggy Pop and the Stooges, The New York Dolls 1970s Socioeconomics Hilly Kristal and CBGB Hillbilly Poetry Wayne County/Wayne Richards/Jane County The Revalons, Television, Patti Smith PUNK Magazine  The Ramones Danny Fields and His Mom Malcolm McLaren, Vivian Westwood and SEX The Sex Pistols are Assembled Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious The Infamous Bill Grundy Show Meltdown The Sex Pistols Tour the American South The Demise of the Pistols Sid and Nancy Punk Factions: Hardcore, Political, Pop Political: The Dead Kennedys Hardcore: The Bad Brains, Black Flag, Minor Threat, the Germs Horror Punk: The Misfits Pop Punk: The Stiff Little Fingers, The Descendants, Bad Religion The Rise of Skate/Surf Punk: Offspring, NOFX, Green Day, Rancid Riot Grrrls: Bikini Kill, Buggy Bear, Slant 6, Bratmobile The Warped Tour and the Death of Rebellion Punk Goes Full Pop: Blink 182, Sum 41, Good Charlotte, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance etc  ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas.  And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word!  Midnight Merch  ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~  Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript