American Hysteria
chelsey weber-smith
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23 Listeners
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Top 10 American Hysteria Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best American Hysteria episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to American Hysteria for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite American Hysteria episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Sea Monkeys
American Hysteria
12/18/23 • 59 min
The novelty pets known as Sea Monkeys have delighted and disappointed millions of American children since they were first marketed in the early 1960s, with the nostalgia-fueled craze returning decade after decade, even after the creator was linked to Neo-Nazi activities. Described in the highly exaggerated ad copy as the most lovable pets in America, these tiny, allegedly monkey-like aquatic creatures are actually nothing more than microscopic brine shrimp, usually used as fish food in pet stores. In this episode, we will look closely at the history of Sea Monkeys and their ingenious but controversial creator, and take you through the comic book ad copy that marketed junky novelty items directly to children using language both deeply misleading and hilariously hyperbolic.
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This episode was written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith
Sound design by Clear Commo Studios
Research Assistant: Riley Swedelius-Smith
Producer and Editor: Miranda Zickler
Voice Acting by Will Rogers
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4 Listeners
Womb Wars pt. 1
American Hysteria
08/01/22 • 60 min
Featuring flamboyant abortionists, dangerously determined doctors, problematic feminists, opportunist politicians, and one sneaky pope, this two-part series will explore the surprising origins of the anti-abortion movement long before Roe v. Wade changed everything. We'll see how the bodies of those who can get pregnant have been used as potent weapons of both population wars and power grabs by forces seeking to control the future.
Head to Podvoices.help for information on how you can get involved in the fight for abortion rights
Become a Patron and support our show!
Follow American Hysteria on social media:
Twitter: @AmerHysteria
Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast
Find our merch at americanhysteria.com
American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith
Produced by Miranda Zickler
Sound design by Clear Commo Studios
Voice Acting by Will Rogers
Research and edited by Riley Smith
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3 Listeners
Toy Riots (Rerun)
American Hysteria
12/26/22 • 41 min
Tickle Me Elmo, Beanie Babies, Cabbage Patch Kids, Pokemon cards. These trendy toys all inspired parental parking lot brawls and suburban shadow economies. For our Christmas hangover, we revisit the outrageous toy riots that marked the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, many of which flared up around the holiday season. Includes a little interview with my Grannie about her experience securing a Tickle Me Elmo AT ALL COSTS.
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3 Listeners
1 Comment
1
We Are All Pro Wrestlers with Entertainment Journalist BJ Colangelo
American Hysteria
01/08/24 • 73 min
Pop culture correspondent and major Pro Wrestling fan BJ Colangelo and I discuss the quirky history of this manly soap opera, its changing landscape in terms of gender and sexuality, as well as the complicated psychology of kayfabe, in which staged performances are presented as genuine.
Read BJ's Review of The Iron Claw
Check out her podcast This Ends at Prom
Check out our new merch line Folk Devils United
Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus content
Or subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple Podcasts
Leave us a message on our Urban Legends Hotline
Hosted Chelsey Weber-Smith
Produced and Edited by Miranda Zickler
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3 Listeners
Boy Bands
American Hysteria
03/07/22 • 54 min
Behind every manufactured boy band there is what the press calls a Svengali, a puppet master who assembles the group and styles everything about them. This episode will introduce us to the eccentric producers and talent agents who have long shaped pop music from behind the curtain.
American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith
Sound design by Clear Commo Studios
Research and co-writing by Riley Smith
Co-produced and edited by Miranda Zickler
Voice Acting by Will Rogers and by Riley Smith
Become a Patron and support our show!
Follow American Hysteria on social media:
Twitter: @AmerHysteria
Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast
Find our merch at americanhysteria.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3 Listeners
1 Comment
1
Our Dearest Fears with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'
American Hysteria
10/30/23 • 76 min
For our very special two-part Halloween conversation, Sarah Marshall and I are going to be sharing the less serious things that scare us: our favorite phobias, eerie feelings, and uncanny upsets. In this episode, I share the things that freak me out, from stilts and spiders to giraffes and medieval art. in order to hear all about what freaks Sarah out, head to the You're Wrong About feed, do not miss it my ghouls!
Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus content
Or subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple Podcasts
Leave us a message on our Urban Legends Hotline
American Hysteria is produced and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith
Edited by Miranda Zickler
Sound design by Clear Commo Studios
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3 Listeners
09/23/24 • 63 min
Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika is a Peabody Award-winning audio journalist and an assistant professor of journalism at New York University. His latest podcast, Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD “takes listeners on a journey to uncover the hidden history of the largest police force in the world – from its roots in slavery, to rival police gangs battling across the city, to everyday people who resisted every step of the way.” With the national spotlight yet again on the corruption and escalating violence of this increasingly militarized police force, it is necessary to understand the true roots of the NYPD, and see that even after close to 200 years, so much remains the same.
Listen to Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD
Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus content
Or subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple Podcasts
Find us on Instagram @americanhysteriapodcast
Leave us a message on our Urban Legends Hotline or get your mitts on some merch at americanhysteria.com
Producer and Editor: Miranda Zickler
Associate Producer: Riley Swedelius-Smith
Hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3 Listeners
Snuff Films
American Hysteria
05/09/22 • 55 min
Snuff films are alleged murders filmed for the purpose of distribution, an urban legend that has been circulating since the porn wars of the 1970s. We'll explore the Manson Family rumor that first sparked the story, the hoax film that led to feminist protests, the Christian organization that laid the foundation, and a mysterious home movie found tied to a cluster of balloons. We'll also see what it all has to do with Winnie the Pooh as well as what it can teach us about how false stories can be used in a variety of ways by groups with different agendas.
Become a Patron and support our show!
Follow American Hysteria on social media:
Twitter: @AmerHysteria
Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast
Find our merch at americanhysteria.com
American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith
Sound design by Clear Commo Studios
Researched and edited Riley Smith
Produced and editing by Miranda Zickler
Voice Acting by Will Rogers
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2 Listeners
All the Other Snuff with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'
American Hysteria
05/23/22 • 58 min
*CW: Brief description of animal abuse, some brief descriptions of death*
Sarah Marshall is the host of our sibling podcasts You’re Wrong About and You Are Good, and is also an expert on satanic panic in all its myriad forms. Today we discuss the decade that produced snuff urban legends, the other horror movies that added to the lore, and learn about the way this tale continues to express itself on the shadowy dark web.
Make sure you listen to You’re Wrong About and You Are Good
Become a Patron and support our show!
Follow American Hysteria on social media:
Twitter: @AmerHysteria
Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast
Find our merch at americanhysteria.com
American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith
Produced by Miranda Zickler
Sound design by Clear Commo Studios
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2 Listeners
The Indiana Cyclone: America's First Munchausen Case with Sarah Marshall of 'You're Wrong About'
American Hysteria
01/15/24 • 75 min
In this episode I tell podcaster Sarah Marshall a truly wild story I uncovered about the first recognized case of Munchausen Syndrome (Factitious Disorder) in the United States. An alleged professional wrestler and American folk anti-hero called the Indiana Cyclone faked symptoms of injury and illness while blowing through hospitals across the country from the 1950s to the 1970s, leaving a bizarre kind of terror in his wake.
Catch Sarah and I at SF SketchFest on Feb 2nd and Feb 3rd!
Make sure you listen to You're Wrong About and You Are Good (duh duh duh!)
Check out our new merch line Folk Devils United
Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus content
Or subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple Podcasts
Leave us a message on our Urban Legends Hotline
Hosted Chelsey Weber-Smith
Produced and Edited by Miranda Zickler
Music direction by Riley Swedelius-Smith
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2 Listeners
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FAQ
How many episodes does American Hysteria have?
American Hysteria currently has 248 episodes available.
What topics does American Hysteria cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on American Hysteria?
The episode title 'Sea Monkeys' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on American Hysteria?
The average episode length on American Hysteria is 44 minutes.
How often are episodes of American Hysteria released?
Episodes of American Hysteria are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of American Hysteria?
The first episode of American Hysteria was released on Nov 5, 2018.
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